“Is that bear a shifter?” one of the humans called.
“Our mother,” Stig said drily. “Family disagreement.”
“Not in the middle of town,” the second human ordered.
“I’m sorry, Frank,” Leif said. “It won’t happen again.”
Frank lowered his weapon. “Make sure it doesn’t.”
The two men wandered away and entered Gypsy’s.
The freakin’ huge bear shifted, morphing into a furious Ma. She gingerly fingered her bright red nose and wiped her streaming eyes. “What is the puny human still doing here?”
“Fiona lives here now,” Stig said with clear satisfaction.
“She hit me,” Ma roared.
“She started it,” Fiona muttered. “She shouldn’t have scared me.”
Leif ripped his gaze off his mother to gawk at Fiona. “You hit her?”
“This puny human hit her on the nose. Twice,” Fiona said with relish. “She shouldn’t have snuck up behind me. What is she? Six?”
Stig made a choking sound, and Fiona scowled as he struggled not to laugh. She poked him in the ribs.
“Really, Ma?” Leif said. “You stalked Fiona?”
“You said she’d be gone by the time the pack left the ice,” Ma said, drawing herself up tall.
Fiona couldn’t help staring at the woman’s—bear’s—Ma’s smart black dress, complete with a string of pearls. Ma’s words had her stiffening. “You said that?”
“No,” Stig said. “Leif would never have told Ma that.”
“I didn’t,” Leif agreed. “Ma’s words. Never mine.”
“You said Arve would meet us on the ice,” Ma snapped. “I’d hoped you’d all come to your senses.”
Leif sighed. “You really want to have this conversation in the middle of Churchill for everyone to witness?”
“Why don’t you come to Gypsy’s with us for coffee?” Fiona asked.
Ma sniffed, ignoring Fiona’s offer of peace. “I can’t believe my eyes. A human. You’re all playing with the puny human. I can smell you all over her.”
“For the last time. I am not puny. My name is Fiona and I love your sons. I don’t intend to go anywhere, so deal with it.”
“Humph!” Ma said.
Stig yanked Fiona into his arms and gave her a smacking kiss. “Way to go, honey pie,” he whispered.
Pride shone in Leif’s gaze as he smiled at her in approval. “You’re dressed up, Ma. Are you going somewhere?”
“I met a bear out on the ice.” Ma rubbed her nose again. “He lives farther north, and I intend to visit him for a few months. I came to check in before I left.”
“Are we going to have a new brother or sister?” Leif asked.
“No,” Ma snapped. “I don’t wish to bring another ungrateful cub into the world.”
“You’ve done an excellent job,” Fiona said. “Your sons are brave and honorable men…ah, bears. You should be proud of them.”
