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I had no clue how much if anything my kids knew about shifters. Most humans pretended they didn’t exist, which I’d learned the shifters preferred. I couldn’t recall us ever talking about shifters when they were growing up.

“Ew. Mom!” Laura’s voice raised in a pitch that was probably irritating every dog in the neighborhood. “You’re in your fifties. You’re way too old to have a boyfriend.”

“And yet I do.”

I gave my kids my best ‘stern mom’ look.

“I know I kept anyone I dated after your father and I divorced away from you, but surely none of you are surprised to know that I’ve had relationships.”

Based on the dumbfounded looks on their faces, they actually were surprised.

“Are you serious about that guy, Mom?” Scott demanded. “I mean, you’ve been here what? Two months? How much do you even know about him?”

“How much did you know about Marlena when you started dating her?” I asked, referencing the girl he’d dated for several years. “Or any of your other girlfriends? That’s what dating is all about – getting to know someone so you can decide if they’re someone you want to have a long-term relationship with.”

“And do you?” Caitlin asked. “Want to have a long-term relationship with… with that guy?”

“As a matter of fact, I do.”

In that moment I realized that I was done taking my time. Done dating. I loved Ollie and I was fairly sure he loved me. His bear had accepted me as its mate, and that was the highest level of commitment you could get in the shifter world. Or any world, probably. Why was I prolonging the inevitable?

My kids all started speaking at once and I held up my hand to stop them.

“Let me be clear here,” I said firmly. “I’m very happy to see you, even though you just showed up without calling, but you do not get to come here and criticize me or my life choices. And you do not get to be rude to my family or the man I love.”

A throat cleared behind us. Ollie. “Tea’s ready.”

I walked towards him, linking my hand with his for the short trip to the dining room. The kids followed, settling around the table with expressions that ranged from incredulous to thunderous.

“I’d love to hear all about you,” Sage said cheerfully. “We’ll start with you Caitlin. You’re in marketing, is that right?”

As we enjoyed the tea and cookies that Sage served, the chill in the air began to thaw a bit. Ollie was mostly quiet, at least until the interrogation started.

“Let’s hear more about you, Ollie, since we don’t know anything at all.” As the oldest, Caitlin took the lead as usual. “How did you meet our mother?”

Ollie told them about us meeting at the Harvest Festival soon after I arrived in Greysden, leaving off the fated mate part of the story.

“Ollie served our country in the military for over thirty years,” Sage supplied, obviously trying to help. “He received several medals and commendations for his service.”

I looked at my boyfriend in surprise. He’d never mentioned that.

“I want to see these medals,” I whispered.

Before he could respond Scott spoke up.

“I’ve heard that there’s a lot of domestic violence with military guys,” my son said, his tone uncharacteristically aggressive. “You’d better not hurt my mother. If you so much as lift a hand towards her, you’ll be answering to me.”

He puffed up in what I’m sure was a threatening way, and to his credit, Ollie didn’t laugh. Ollie had at least six inches and fifty pounds on Scott, all of it muscle. And as far as I knew, other than a few schoolyard scuffles, my son hadn’t been in a real fight in his life.

“That’s enough Scott,” I said firmly. “I believe I’ve been clear that my relationship with Ollie is my business.”

“No, that’s okay Nora,” Ollie interrupted, looking at each of my kids one by one. “I want you to hear this clearly. I love your mother and I’d cut off my own paw before I’d hurt her.”

“Paw?” Laura frowned.

“Ollie is a bear shifter,” I said, like it was the most natural thing in the world.

“You expect us to believe that?” Scott asked.