by Ophelia Bell
Twenty-One
They had booked a huge outdoor pavilion in the nearby park, and guests were already arriving and milling about when Nessa arrived. The party planner who greeted guests with her mother had been a rare extravagance, but not a surprising one. This was the life Nessa’s mother had always hoped for, but had appealed less to Nessa. She loved parties, but hated being the center of attention—being a chef allowed her to experience the energy and excitement from behind the scenes, and she was more gratified by how her dishes were received than she was by actually interacting with the guests.
She tried to pretend that today wasn’t about her, but as she approached the pavilion along a path lined with strings of twinkling lights, heads turned and murmurs of acknowledgment picked up. She almost wished she’d chosen a less flashy dress than the deep blue body-hugging number she wore. It had reminded her of the color of Gaius’ eyes, which was a dumb reason to buy it, but she hadn’t been able to help herself.
Nessa’s entire body flushed under the attention. She wondered if her mate was here yet, and if he knew her identity or if he’d been kept in the dark the way she had been. All her mother had told her was that he was shifter nobility and that Gerri Wilder was bringing him to the party.
Unlike her mother, she preferred not to jump to the conclusion that the man in question was one of the local clan heirs. Once she’d pried the exact quote from her mother, she’d insisted that it could mean anything. There were hundreds of bear shifter clans scattered around Nova Aurora. The northern ones were more numerous than the southern ones. It could just as easily be one of the heirs to those clans as it was one of their own.
As she greeted the friends and acquaintances, she kept her eye out for an unfamiliar face. Would she feel a spark? Would she ever get over this feeling that she was betraying Gaius by even being here?
Everyone kept congratulating her and asking who the lucky man was, to which she could only reply, “You’ll see.” She didn’t want to admit that even she didn’t know who he was, which was honestly starting to get old.
After about an hour, she went to her mother, irritated by the conspicuous absence of anyone who could even remotely be the guy she was waiting for. “If he doesn’t show soon, I’m leaving, Mom.”
“Just a little longer, honey!” her mother said. “Mrs. Wilder just called. She’s bringing him now. Your friends Ignazio and Bryer are on their way too.”
“She didn’t happen to tell you his name, did she?”
Her mother’s gaze darted around the room and she pressed her lips into a hard line. “No, but it has to be one of the three clan leaders’ sons, otherwise I’ve just insulted all three clans by not inviting them.”
“You could have fooled me, because they’re here . . .” Nessa nodded toward the main entrance to the pavilion where a large group had just arrived. Her heartbeat sped up at the sight of the three handsome shifters and their entourages spilling into the big space and spreading out. The party itself picked up considerably with their arrival.
Nessa refilled her drink, hoping more alcohol would help calm her agitation. She forced herself to continue mingling, though all she wanted to do was stand and watch the entryway for signs of Gerri Wilder, who she only vaguely remembered from meeting her as a child.
“Excuse me,” a smooth, deep voice said, and Nessa turned suddenly, nearly spilling her wine. The big, brown-haired man who stood behind her smiled and reached out a hand to steady her. “Whoa, didn’t mean to scare you. You must be Nessa Baxter.”
“Yes, and you are?” she asked, flinching at how snappy her response came out.
He only smiled more broadly. His beautiful, straight white teeth and keen brown eyes fit perfectly in his strong, tanned features. “I’m Jacob Hansgen. Heir to the Green Hill clan. My friends and I have a question to ask, since you seem to be the guest of honor.”
Two other men strolled over with fresh drinks, one of them handing Jacob a full glass. They introduced themselves as Gunther and Teague, the heirs to the Rock Hill and Sunset Hill clans.
“We heard Gerri Wilder is a friend of yours,” Gunther said.
Nessa blinked at the trio and then said, “So it isn’t either of you three?”
“What isn’t?” Jacob asked.
“My mate. Neither of you three are my mate. If you were, she’d have arrived with you, or so I hear.”
Teague laughed. “God, I wish. No, your mate is on his way with Gerri. We know that much, but . . . are you saying you don’t know who he is yet?”
Nessa’s spine straightened at the appraising look he and the other two were giving her. They liked what they saw, which bolstered her confidence.
“I have no idea, so whoever it is, he’d better be worth the damn wait.”
The trio shared a look and Jacob cleared his throat. “If I tell you the truth, will you put in a good word with Mrs. Wilder for us?”
“A good word? I thought you three had already met with her.”
“Not yet . . . We plan to as soon as we can. Rumors started flying the very second it came out that we were even thinking about it, and all of a sudden, everyone believed we’d already done it. Of course, we’re aware of how that might look to her . . . which is not good. So, we were hoping since you’re friends that you could help set the record straight. We want to meet with her, desperately, but we want to make sure she knows the three of us are a package deal.”
“Oh?” Nessa asked, intrigued as she took in all three big, handsome men. The darker-haired Teague shot an almost desperate look at Jacob.
“We’re a bit attached to each other,” Jacob said. “We want to share a mate.”
“Oh,” Nessa said, giving them all a sly grin. “That sounds lovely. And I’m a little sad that I’m not the lucky girl who gets to be the center of your attention.”
Jacob laughed and shook his head. “You won’t be sad once you find out who your mate is . . .”
Nessa stood up straighter, more than ready for the news when more commotion came from the entrance to the pavilion.
Gunther leaned in and whispered into Jacob’s ear. Jacob turned and nodded, then stooped down to whisper to Nessa. “I guess I won’t need to tell you, after all. You can see for yourself.”
Twenty-Two
Ignazio and Bryer led the way up the path to the pavilion while Gerri Wilder and Levi walked on either side of Gaius. His adrenaline spiked the way it always had just before beginning an arena match, and his bear was roaring in anticipation of the spectacle.
When they reached the arched entrance, excited murmurs picked up from inside and the crowd parted to make way. Ig and Bry mostly blocked his view, and he was sure the excitement was directed toward the pair of them, which was perfectly fine with him. Gaius appreciated the diversion, preferring to maintain the surprise for as long as possible. He just hoped the dramatic entrance would be a grand enough gesture to make up for his lack of honesty with Nessa.
He should have told her he wanted her the very second he knew without a doubt she was his. Her desire for him had been so plain he thought she would come around, but had no idea how much stock she’d placed in the matchmaker’s choice.
There would be no more confusion or doubt after tonight, and he resolved never to let those three words go unsaid again. He loved her. He’d probably loved her from the day they met. He had certainly known she owned his heart after their first night together.
The excited chatter picked up in volume as eyes fell on him and the crowd parted further. Past Ig and Bry’s big frames, he caught a glimpse of Nessa’s warm, light-brown skin and black hair tucked up into a complicated coil before she was obscured by a trio of bigger bodies stepping forward. He growled. This was taking too damn long.
Levi bumped him with an elbow. “Chill out, man, she’s right there. Those three are the bears who are in on the surprise. They just asked to be introduced to their hero in exchange.”
Ig and Bry stopped and stepped to the side, making way for three bear shifter
s to approach.
Gaius had to restrain himself from roaring for everyone to just get out of his way. The first of the three paused and hesitated when Gaius stared him down. “You’re in my way.”
“Okay . . .” the big brown-haired bear drawled. “Guess you really are her mate, aren’t you? Lucky girl.” He gave Gaius a once-over, then winked and stepped aside. The other two looked equally pleased with themselves when they parted, finally revealing a very irate Nessa.
She couldn’t have looked more beautiful, her generous curves all wrapped up in a vivid blue dress. The shimmering fabric cradled her luscious breasts perfectly with gathered lengths stretched and tied at the back of her neck. He ached to hold her again, to sink inside her and hear her calling his name.
The irritated look on her face faded and her big brown eyes widened in surprise when she saw him. “Gaius? What are you doing here?” She darted a glance past him toward the way he had come. Then her jaw dropped and her cheeks flushed. She let out a soft “oh, my” that was muffled by her hand flying to her mouth.
“I’m here for you, baby. Gerri, tell her who you found for her.” He kept his eyes fixed on Nessa’s, which were now starting to brim with tears.
He barely heard the matchmaker’s announcement over Nessa’s squeal of pleasure. She was in his arms so fast the rest of the world disappeared.
“It’s you. Oh my god, it’s you!” Nessa repeated over and over, both laughing and crying as she peppered his face with kisses.
Gaius held her in a death grip, inhaling her sweet, nutmeg scent like he’d been starved for air. “You’re damn right it’s me, Ness. It’s always been me, you crazy girl.”
Around them, the entire pavilion was filled with hushed murmurs as the news made its way to the outer reaches. Whispers of surprise that the woman in his arms was the Blackpaw’s mate only made him hold her tighter.
He’d caught wind the past week of the rumors flying around about his having found a mate. Somehow even retired Champions couldn’t hide from paparazzi. After griping about it to Gerri, she assured him she hadn’t told a soul, but anyone who found out she was visiting him in person would likely draw conclusions.
But none of that mattered now, not when Nessa was finally in his arms again. He gently set her down, then dropped to one knee, wincing at the spike of pain that shot through both joints.
“Oh, Gaius, your knees!” Nessa said, urging him to stand.
“Baby, I need to beg your forgiveness, and there’s only one way to do that. The first night I saw you in the moonlight at my house, I knew I had to have you, not because of anything the matchmaker said, but because from that moment on, everything about my life felt complete.”
A hush fell over the crowd as he spoke, and his bear rumbled in satisfaction the way it always had when he was in the last stages of a match just before certain victory. Nessa’s cheeks were wet with tears and she bit her bottom lip as he continued.
“Baby, I’m sorry I never told you that I knew. It shouldn’t have taken Mrs. Wilder coming to prove it to you. I should have said so. There are so many things I should have said, but the most important thing is this: I love you, Ness. Will you finally come home with me tonight?”
Nessa nodded and laughed. “Of course, Gaius. There is no place on Nova Aurora I would rather be. Take me home.”
As he hoisted her in his arms and kissed her, the crowd’s cheering rose around them louder than his bear’s roar of triumph. He would have happily carried her straight out to the transport and left right then, but she wiggled and protested, so he reluctantly set her down again. He found himself standing face-to-face with Gerri Wilder, and another older woman whose lovely features gave away her identity as Nessa’s mother. But she didn’t look nearly as thrilled about the situation as her daughter did.
“Gaius,” Nessa breathed. “I’d like you to meet my mom, Nina Baxter. Mom, I guess you were wrong, after all.”
“Pleased to meet you, ma’am,” Gaius said, dipping his head politely. The woman kept scowling. It might have been her daughter’s smug tone, but Gaius would bet it was all his fault somehow.
Nessa’s mother gave him a scathing look, then turned to glare at Gerri. “Is this what you call shifter nobility? This man forfeited leadership of his clan. He has no legacy to offer my grandchildren!”
Gaius bristled and Nessa blurted out a protest, but Gerri held up her hand and leveled a cold stare at the other woman.
“Mrs. Baxter . . . Nina . . . You came to me in good faith more than twenty years ago to secure a mate for your daughter when she came of age. As unprecedented as that is, I always had a high regard for your husband and his family, so I agreed. However, what you desire is of little consequence to the task you set for me. Your daughter’s mate is more than worthy, and while he may not hold rank in his clan any longer, he is likely the most highly revered bear shifter of mating age in all of Nova Aurora. More than that, your daughter loves him.” She nodded toward Gaius and Nessa.
Nessa’s mother turned back to them, jaw clenched. She looked Gaius in his eyes for a long moment. “You had better make my daughter happy. And I want grandkids sooner rather than later, if you think you’re up for it.” She shot a glance at his groin and twisted her mouth derisively.
“Mother!” Nessa snapped. “For your information, there is no man on the planet who could make me as happy has Gaius does. I’ve wanted him for months, but because of your stupid contract with the matchmaker, I believed he wasn’t meant to be mine. But he is now, and you had better believe I’m keeping him, babies or no babies!”
Her mother deflated when she looked at Nessa and finally gave them a grudging smile, much to Gaius’ surprise. “Oh, honey, are you sure about this? I wanted more for you.”
Nessa sighed and shook her head. “No, you wanted more for you, but your life isn’t over. Maybe you should, I don’t know, meet with a matchmaker for yourself. I know a pretty amazing one.” She grinned at Gerri Wilder, who gave her a maternal smile in return.
“Come, Nina,” Gerri said gently, taking Nessa’s mother by the arm. “Your daughter’s right. She has always known what she wants, despite you trying to orchestrate a relationship for her to your own tastes. Let’s divert that energy to find a mate you would be happy with. I think I know just the man, and he happens to be in attendance tonight.”
She gave Gaius and Nessa a conspiratorial wink before leading Nina away.
Gaius looked down at Nessa. “Baby, I hope that’s the last person who stands in our way, because I mean to take you out of here now. Anyone who tries to stop me does so at their peril, and they all know how much power I can bring.”
She stared up at him through wet lashes. “Trust me, I can pack a punch too. Let’s go.”
They were accosted from all sides with well-wishes and congratulations, but true to her word, Nessa didn’t falter. By the time they made the door, she was running ahead and laughing with his hand gripped tightly in hers as he tried to keep up. His knees ached, but he didn’t care a bit, not when his girl was finally going home with him.
Twenty-Three
Nessa itched to wrap herself around Gaius, to strip him and make love to him in celebration of this wonderful revelation. But the little two-seater transport they were in didn’t allow for side-by-side seating so she had to satisfy herself with holding onto his hand over his shoulder from the back seat. The Nova Aurora night flew by, the transporter flying over the landscape as quickly as it could go, but it wasn’t a short trip back to the northern mountains.
“There’s our moon, baby,” Gaius said, pointing out the domed glass roof. He squeezed her hand and she squeezed back, leaning her head against the glass and staring up at the silvery moonlight.
“I missed you so much,” she said with a sigh.
“Me too, Ness,” he said, tilting his head down to kiss the tops of her knuckles.
“Sorry about my mom. She has a habit of blowing things out of proportion. If I’d just waited one day . . .”
> “Not your fault, baby. I should’ve told you how I felt when I knew.”
Nessa’s chest ached as she recalled all the times he’d asked her to come home with him. She knew he wasn’t big on sharing, but that last night they’d been together had felt different, and not just because she knew she was leaving. Gaius had been different—more intent on her pleasure at every step. Not that he didn’t always care about her pleasure, but there had been a desperation in both their caresses.
She cleared her throat and rasped, “When did you know?”
The silence stretched for several beats before he lifted her hand and pressed his lips to her palm. His beard was luxuriant against her skin, and she kept her hand against his cheek when he released her, running her fingertips over the silky fur.
“From the first day,” he said, his voice catching on the last syllable.
Nessa didn’t respond, too shocked by the confession to know what to say. She remembered the day they met and how he’d gotten under her skin almost instantly and had stayed there. Had her bear’s agitation been attraction—a certain understanding that she’d met her mate? Yet she’d passed it off as irritation at his bull-headedness.
“Oh, Gaius, I’m sorry I’m so stubborn.”
His deep chuckle reached her a second later. “No, you’re not. But neither am I. We were made for each other, Ness. No sense fighting who we are.”
She smiled and fell into a reverie as she stared up at the moon. It always seemed to remain in the same place no matter how far they traveled, a persistent, undeniable presence. She would never doubt her heart again.
* * *
Nessa woke with a start, heart pounding. She stared up at warm wood beams above, barely registering what she saw over the flash of images from the dream she’d been having.