Through the bond, I feel her melt a little. After so long being strong alone, she still sometimes forgets she doesn’t have to be.
Outside, the night air is crisp. Carla pauses, looking up at the stars.
“What are you thinking?” I ask, studying her profile in the moonlight.
“How different everything is. Six months ago, I was...” she trails off, shaking her head. “And now, I’m here. With you. About to have our baby. Surrounded by family.”
“Regrets?” I ask, though I know through the bond she has none.
“Never.” She turns to face me fully. “You saved me in every way that matters.”
“You saved yourself.” I correct. “I just gave you a ride.”
She laughs, the sound bright in the quiet night. “Some ride.”
“Come on.” I tug her toward the truck. “Let’s get you and our gymnast home.”
As I help her into the truck, she catches my hand. “I love you. You know that, right?”
“I know.” I press a kiss to her palm. “I love you, too.”
The drive home is quiet, Carla dozing against the window. Through our bond, I feel her contentment, her peace. So different from the terrified woman I carried out of that basement.
At home, I help her inside, noting how she moves more carefully these days with her shifted centre of gravity.
“Bath?” I offer. “I’ll run you a warm one.”
“You spoil me.” She sighs, but she’s already heading for the bathroom.
Later, as we lie in bed with my hand splayed over her belly, feeling our cub settle in for the night, I marvel at the journey. From that first glimpse of her in my father’s basement to this moment, proud mates and parents-to-be, building a life together.
“I can hear you thinking,” Carla murmurs sleepily.
“Just grateful,” I tell her, pulling her closer. “For you. For this. For everything.”
“Mmm.” She’s already drifting off. “Love you, too.”
Through our bond, I feel her slip into a peaceful sleep. No nightmares anymore. No fear. Just my mate, carrying our child, and both safe in my arms.
I press a kiss to her hair and close my eyes. Tomorrow, she’ll wake up and head to the coffee shop, serving customers with a smile. I’ll work at the brewery, creating something good with my hands. We’ll move through our day connected by our bond, checking in on each other, sharing the small moments.
Life isn’t perfect. Mitch still struggles with the clan. Some wolves still eye me with suspicion. Carla occasionally has bad days where memories creep in.
But lying here with her heartbeat steady against my chest and our cub safe between us, I know we’ve built something worth fighting for. Something my father tried to destroy but only made that much stronger.
Love. Family. Hope.
A future worth living.
Want more protective bears? More of their stubborn, sometimes brooding, sometimes downright grumpy, attitude?
Check out Mated to the Mountain Bear or read on to get a taste of what you’re letting yourself in for.
MATED TO THE MOUNTAIN BEAR
A BEAR SHIFTER ROMANCE - PREVIEW
1
