Page 16 of Beauty's Bossy Bear

This isn’t the first time someone tried to get our attention, but this is definitely the most elaborate attempt. If the asshole hadn’t involved Briella, I might’ve felt sorry for him and helped him get a job in the field. But involving my soulmate puts the hacker on my permanent shit list.

You wouldn’t have met Briella if the hacker hadn’t pretended to stalk her, my bear reminds me.

Yes, I would’ve. Don’t forget I was going to visit Jared and Brenna in New York for Thanksgiving. I have no doubt my little Beauty would’ve stolen my heart the second I arrived for the holiday.

I guess the hacker did me a tiny favor getting my mate here a few months early, but I’m still pissed at how the asshole pulled it off.

To make the ride go by quicker, I make a mental list of all we need to get done to move Briella into my home permanently.

Tomorrow, I plan to contact movers and have them pack up her apartment and transport everything here. Then I’m going to build Briella her own personal library on my property so she can stay within the protected confines but still do the job she loves.

My plans take shape as I drive through the gate protecting my house. I draw in a deep breath, realizing I have all the time in the world to enjoy my soul mate without the threat of a stalker hanging over us.

When I walk in the front door, Briella runs over to wrap her soft arms around my waist. “Is it really over?”

“It is.” I pull her curvy body close and lean over to kiss her soft lips while the two Orcs quietly slip out the back door. I make a mental note to send them a cow to slaughter as a thank you before turning back to my soulmate. “I’ll explain everything to you later. Right now, I need to kiss every inch of your body to reassure myself you’re okay.”

“Kiss away, Bossy Bear.”

Epilogue

BRIELLA

ONE YEAR LATER

I juggle the car seat with my three-month-old son and my purse as I unlock the heavy wooden door of the large library my mate built on the Orc settlement.

After the whole fake stalker situation, Kodi refused to let me get a job anywhere he couldn’t keep a close eye on me, so we negotiated. Instead of him building my dream library on our property where no one but me and our kids could enjoy it, he built a massive, modern library on the Arch Orc Settlement.

“Good morning, Briella.” Aric rushes up and takes Cameron’s seat out of my hand. The youngest Arch brother has gotten over his shyness and now treats me like the little sister he never had.

“Good morning.” I smile at him and drop my purse on the counter before flipping the switch on the wall that turns on everything in the library. My husband spared no expense when he planned the stunning building.

This modern library is a stunning fusion of classic inspiration and contemporary design, created to cater to the diverse needs of its patrons, the Orc community. As you enter, you are immediately greeted by large, floor-to-ceiling bookcases that stretch ambitiously toward the high ceilings, their rich, dark wood tones providing a sharp contrast to the bright, airy space. The shelves are meticulously arranged and brimming with books of all genres, their spines offering a colorful mosaic that tempts the visitors to explore further.

Intermixed with these traditional features are state-of-the-art computers, seamlessly integrated into the set-up. These modern workstations are equipped with the latest technology, reflecting the library's commitment to digital access and multimedia learning.

Natural light floods the library through large windows, illuminating the sleek, minimalist interior. Soft, inconspicuous LED lights under each bookshelf ensure that each title is easily readable, merging functionality with design.

An impressive information desk sits in the center of the room with a little nook behind it for me to keep our son occupied when I’m not helping someone in the library. Along the back wall, there are cozy reading nooks and advanced study pods to provide private areas for individuals to study or read their selections.

Each day, several of the Orcs pop in to check on me for my overprotective mate, and I use the opportunity to learn more about them. I’m pretty sure one of my former coworkers in New York would be a perfect match for Oren, but my mate refuses to let me work my matchmaking magic on his Orc friend.

“Do you need any assistance today, female?” Aric asks after he does his security sweep through the library.

I’ve even gotten used to the Orcs calling me female. “I’m getting a load of books around noon,” I tell him and chuckle to myself when I remember the look on the delivery guy’s face the first time he drove up the settlement’s front gates and was greeted by several seven-foot-tall green giants. “Would you mind coming back then to keep an eye on Cameron while I go through it and make sure everything is right?”

“It would be my pleasure.” He smiles, showing off his impressive white teeth and tusks before heading for the door.

“You’re the bestest ever,” I tell him, just to see if I can get him to blush. Yep, there it is, the adorable pink tint to his green cheeks.

Cameron chooses that moment to pipe up and remind me he needs attention.

After I deal with my impatient son’s needs, I turn on the main monitor behind the information desk and press the link to dial my shifter mate. Within a few seconds, his handsome face appears on the large screen. “I made it okay.” It’s a daily routine. I get settled and take care of Cameron then video conference my mate so he can see we made it safely. “But I’m sure you already knew that since Silas dropped me off.”

He smiles and shrugs. “Silas stuck his head in my office and let me know you made it.”

I roll my eyes at his silliness. Even though there never really was a threat to me, he still insists on going overboard with my security. Each of his agents has a day of the week to drive me to the settlement, and my mate picks me up himself in the evenings.

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