“I understand. Paula is a wonderful woman, she’s told me about her life here.” Ralph glanced at Axel. “We even talked about us sharing a house here together so that you young people can have some privacy. You don’t want us cluttering up your lives.”
“That’s not true. You are welcome to live with us.” She kissed his cheek. “You gave me a home. So there is always a place in my home for you.” She reached out for Tyler’s hand. “We’ll always be a family.”
Tyler hugged his sister. “Thanks for everything. I hated being away from you all. I hated hiding. I really did think it was the best thing for all of us. I was wrong.”
“But things have turned out right.” Jenessa nodded toward Colleen who was talking quietly to her mom and dad. “They seemed to have healed the rift.”
“They have. For now at least. Hogg is a little volatile,” Tyler whispered.
“Things will settle down until your child is born and then you have the long wait to see if it’s a bear or a wolf.” Ralph chuckled. “Just make sure no one puts too much pressure on the child.”
“You’ll be around to make sure that doesn’t happen.” Tyler hugged his dad. “I’m so sorry I let you down.”
“You didn’t let anyone down,” Ralph insisted. “You did what you had to do for your mate and that is all anyone can ask for. Hogg should be thankful his daughter has a shifter for a mate. It means you’ll always be loyal.”
“Hey, I’m not a shifter and I’m always going to be loyal to my mate.” She searched for Axel who stood back from the family reunion.
“Just like your mom. I am proud of you, Jenessa. I probably don’t say it enough, but you’ve built a good life for yourself. I hope Axel knows that.” Ralph fixed his steely eyes on her mate.
“He does.” She backed away. “I’ll see you all later.”
“Have a good day. I am planning on pinning Hogg down and giving him a good talking to about how important family is.” Ralph chuckled as Tyler looked aghast.
“I think he knows, Dad.”
“I had this whole speech in my head. Someone’s going to hear it.”
“Hogg it is,” Tyler joked.
“Maybe you need to hear it, too,” Ralph said bluntly.
“I already learned my lesson,” Tyler admitted. “And I don’t think I’ll forget it in a hurry. I’m going to need you all by my side when the baby comes. I don’t know a thing about children.”
“You’ll learn,” Ralph assured him.
“Take care of each other.” Jenessa left her dad and brother talking to each other and went to Axel. “I’m ready.”
“To go?” he asked.
“For our life together.” She threaded her arms around his waist and held him close.
“I like the sound of that.” He kissed her cheek and they walked to the car.
They got in and she started the engine. “Families, huh?”
“Yours has certainly gotten more interesting.” He leaned back in the seat. “But I think they’re going to be okay. Now Rogue doesn’t have any influence over Hogg.”
“I can’t believe Hogg would rather alienate his daughter than risk losing his solace in the gang.” She drove away from the assembled motorcycles.
“I don’t think he’ll make the same mistake again.”
“And you?” she asked.
“What about me?” Axel half turned to face her. “Are you worried I’ve had a taste of my old life and might stray back to it?”
“Maybe a little. I know you prefer two wheels to four.” She drove back along the road toward the place where the other shifters were assembled waiting to back them up if needed.
“Those days are in the past. Although, I thought you liked riding pillion.”
“I did. I’m thinking of buying us both motorcycles. So we can go touring for our honeymoon.” She grinned. “Don’t worry, that was not a proposal. Accepting that I earn more than you is one thing. I don’t know if your male shifter ego can take too much more.”
“In here.” He pointed to a trail leading into the trees. “And you’re wrong. I have no problem with you taking the initiative in any part of our lives.”
“Really?”
“I would like to stay home and be a househusband, or maybe I could work part-time.” He laughed at the look of surprise she wore as he continued, “My male pride is more than willing to accept being a kept man.”
“Is it?” She couldn’t tell if he was joking.
Axel chuckled. “I’m over that way of thinking. I can’t think of anything better than making a home for our mate and our children.”
“I like the sound of that.” She stopped the car as the others came into view. “In that case, Axel, will you marry me?”
He glanced toward the expectant faces of his friends. All of which had heard Jenessa’s proposal. “Yes. As soon as possible.”
“In front of an audience, too. You must be a reformed character.” She grinned as a cheer went out from the shifters gathered there.
“Does this mean the danger is over?” O’Malley asked.
“It does.” Axel got out of the car and was congratulated by his friends.
“Then it’s time for a celebration. Let’s go back to the bar.” O’Malley and the others shifted and headed off toward Cougar Ridge.
All except Kelos. “Got room in the car for one more?”
“Sure,” Jenessa replied. “And thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” Kelos squeezed into the back of the car. “If only I was as free to shift in Cougar Ridge as every other shifter.”
“Next time I organize a posse, I’ll make sure it’s at night,” Axel told him.
“Please do. Although, I would have risked it all for you and your mate.” Kelos shuffled around to get comfortable. “If you need a ring, I can find one in my treasure.”
“No, it’s okay,” Jenessa insisted quickly.
“Now who doesn’t like accepting other people’s wealth?” Axel teased.
Jenessa laughed. “That’s not the reason I said no.”
“Then what is it?” Axel asked.
“I know the exact ring I want.” Color tinged her cheeks. “I’ve known since I was a little girl. And now my wish comes true, I finally have a man to marry.”
“Whatever you want. As long as I’m that man.” He leaned across the car and kissed her lips, ignoring the dragon shifter in the back of the car he said, “I love you, Jenessa.”
“And I love you, Axel. For the man you are. Just the way you are.”
Epilogue
“I can’t believe these plans.” Cooper shook his head as he studied the drawings Jenessa had drawn up of the warehouse area by the docks. “There are stores and a green space for the kids to play.”
“And I’ve spoken to an outreach program, they have agreed to set up an office here so that those who want to retrain can get advice.” Jenessa was super proud of her work and Axel was super proud of his mate.
Axel’s eyes lingered on the ring on her finger. A diamond surrounded by sapphires. Jenessa had insisted she paid for it and he was, surprisingly, all right about it. They were mates, and if he had more wealth than her, he’d have happily shared it with her. Since they were equals in this relationship, then he had to learn to share what Jenessa had built.
Or risk losing her, his cougar added.
Or risk losing her. And nothing was worth that. Not even his stupid pride. They’d seen what happened when pride got in the way of love and fated mates.
“That’s incredible.” Cooper got up and went to the apartment window and looked out across the docks. “I’ve worked hard to help people here. Now I’m ready to make a new start. A new beginning somewhere in the mountains.”
“You have enough money from the sale of the warehouses you own to move wherever you want. Maybe even to retire.” That wasn’t what his old friend planned. They’d talked at length, going over the possible future that la
y ahead of Cooper.
“I’m going to carry on what I started here. I’ve spoken to the guy who runs a similar program over in Bear Creek. I’m going to set up a garage there where people can come and retrain. I’ll focus on shifters who need a new start.” He inhaled deeply. “I can’t wait to wake and smell the mountain air every morning.”
Axel stood up and offered his hand to Jenessa. “I know what you mean. We’re heading home now. And if I don’t leave Cougar Ridge again for a couple of months, that’s fine by me.”
“You really are settling down.” Cooper flashed the engaged couple a grin. “I envy you.”
“You might think differently if you knew how much organizing goes into a wedding.” Jenessa squeezed Axel’s hand. “It’s a good thing I’m only ever doing this once.”
“I thought women were supposed to like all that stuff.” Cooper walked them to the door.
“We do. I do. But I’m looking forward to the next part. When we spend the rest of our lives together.” Jenessa kissed Axel’s cheek. “Then we can think of children.”
“You make a beautiful couple. I wish you every happiness.” Cooper shook Jenessa’s hand. “You’ve made my dreams come true by transforming this area. But you’ve made Axel’s dreams come true and he deserves happiness.”
“Thanks, Coop.” Axel hugged his friend. “Take care of yourself. We’ll see you soon. I can’t wait to help you set up the outreach program.”
“You understand more than most people how important it is. Partner.” Cooper held the door open and they left the apartment, going downstairs and out into the light.
“Partner.” Axel grinned.
“Just remember, you’re my partner first.”
Axel caught hold of his mate and pulled her into his arms. “First. And forever.”
“Did I ever tell you how much I love you?” Jenessa cupped his face in her hands.
“Once or twice.” He brushed her hair back from her face as a salty breeze swept in from the docks. “And I love you. More than you’ll ever know.”
He kissed her lips, heat flaring between them. Jenessa might have walked into his life looking for O’Malley, but Axel was secure in the knowledge he was the only man for her. Their lives, their futures, and their destiny were entwined forever.
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READING ORDER FOR
Bear Creek Clan and Bear Bluff Clan
Complete Box Set
Or available individually
suggested reading order
(each can be read as a standalone
but why not start at the beginning and get to know all of the characters?)
Rescued by the Bear (Bear Creek Clan Book One)
Finding Her Bear (Bear Creek Clan Book Two)
Tamed by the Bear (Bear Creek Clan Book Three)
Snowbound With The Bear (Bear Creek Clan Book Four)
Biker Bear Billionaire (Bear Creek Clan Book Five)
Bound To Her Bear (Bear Bluff Clan Book One)
Doctor Bear (Bear Bluff Clan Book Two)
Stranded With Her Bear (Bear Bluff Book Three)
A Bride for the Bear (Bear Creek Clan Book Six)
Home Or Her Bear (Bear Bluff Book Four)
Fated To Her Bear (Bear Bluff Book Five)
Lonely Bear (Bear Bluff Book Six)
Wolf Valley Raiders
Complete Box Set Out Now!
Or available individually
suggested reading order
Redeem the Wolf
To Catch A Wolf
Reclaim the Wolf
Awakening the Alpha
Biker Bears
Forbidden Bear
Secret Bear
Christmas Bear Brothers
Complete Box Set Now Available
Or available individually
suggested reading order
Santa Paws
Christmas Catastrophe
Bear Humbug
Fated and Mated
Love at First Site
Her Scars To Bear
Her Choice To Bear
Her Russian Bear
Who’s the Daddy?
Complete Box Set Available
Or available individually
suggested reading order
One Bear and a Baby
Her Bear and a Baby
Second Chance Bear and a Baby
Baby Protector Bear
Return to Bear Bluff
Complete Box Set Available
Or available individually
suggested reading order
The Bear is Back in Town
His Bear’s Necessity
Black Bear Down
Who Bears Wins
When Bears Collide
Wish Upon A Bear
Cowboy Brother Bears
Complete Box Set Available
Cowboy Bear Blues
Cowboy Bear’s Mate
Cowboy Bear’s Fate
Return to Bear Creek
Daddy Bear
Mountain Bear
Honey Bear
Forever Bear
Storm Bear
Silverback Dragon
P.I. Bear
Doctor Daddy Bear
Bad Boy Bear
Silverback Bear
Ranger Bear
Christmas Bear
Hero Bear
Undercover Eagle
Single Daddy Dragon
Secret Baby Bear
Silverback Wolf
Awakened Dragon
Treasure Bear
Silverback History Bear
River Run Wolf
Silverbacks and Second Chances
Cursed Bear
Lucky Bear
Fated Bear
Song Bear
Blind Date Bear
Christmas Bears
Sleighed
Claused
Wrapped
Shifters Prime Sleeping Lions
Complete Box Set Now Available
Living a Lion
Freeing a Lion
Fighting a Lion
Sci-Fi Romance
The Princess and her Alien Rogue
The Princess and her Bounty Hunter
Chosen by the Karal
Complete Box Set
Or available individually
Deceit
Love
Power
Hunger
Devotion
Warriors of Karal
Stranded
Found
Taken
Hunted
Allies
The Dualis
(Mate of the Cave Bear)
Found (Book One)
Lost (Book Two)
Return (Book Three)
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