Page 12 of Trusting Her Bear

“You have it all wrong. You have nothing to be sorry for. I know being there for a short time was horrifying; I can’t imagine being there as long as you were.” She steps close. “I need you to know I don’t hold anything against you. I would do it all again if it meant I could help you and all the others.”

I let out a rough breath. “I want to thank you. Thank you for having hope.”

“You're welcome, but you don’t have to thank me.” She squeezes my hands. “If I hadn’t been taken, it’s possible Logan wouldn’t have met Breeane.”

“And that would have been a shame,” Breeane chimes in.

“True,” I whisper.

“How are you? I was thrilled to know you were friends with Breeane.” Ava looks between us.

“I’m coping. I am working to be better,” I admit.

“I am here for you. I was only there for a short time, but I had nightmares for months. I understand some of what you are feeling.”

“I appreciate it. I have to work through it; I’ll be alright.” I slip my hands into my back pockets.

“I can’t wait for the bakery to be done. River will be your best customer. Revel was excited to spend the morning at the garage with her dads,” she says. I raise a brow. “Revel is my daughter. I told her we were going shopping and she wanted to go to work with Kerian and River. That girl is her daddies’ girl.” She sighs. “She hates shopping.”

“They are so cute with her, though,” Breeane says.

“I would love to meet her.” I lean against the counter, my tension draining.

“She’s coming to the party tonight,” Ava says.

“I need to get the food in a couple of hours. Do you want to come?” Breeane asks.

“Sure.” The twist of fear in my stomach is slowly loosening. I was nervous about the party and facing Logan and Ava.

The difficult part is over. I can handle being around vampires and other shifters.

It’s time to start living again.

I have been around shifters and an occasional vampire my whole life, but I have never seen a group of them as gorgeous as this crew. It was difficult to tear my eyes off the vampire called Bash. He has white hair and startling eyes. I hoped he wouldn’t find it uncomfortable how much I stared, but all he could see was his mate, Marie. She is a gorgeous blonde with tattoos covering one of her arms, and her devotion to her mate is evident with every movement.

I finally met Lucas and Las, Breeane’s other mates, and I have to say, she is a lucky girl. They are wonderful with her and watch her with love and hunger. I approve.

I had heard about multiple mates but hadn’t been around any within our small bear shifter community. Shit, take your pick of your type, and they are in the room.

Ava’s little girl is precious and goes equally from her two dads’ hands. Kerian and River are adorable with her, as Breeane said.

Breeane told me dragon shifters were here, but her description didn’t do them justice. Bishop and Laken are stunning. She told me they were twins, but you just can’t imagine it until you see them in person. They are powerful. I shivered as their eyes met mine. Any shifter would be hesitant around someone that rare. I had never met a dragon before and only heard stories from other shifters. They are both mated to Penny, who has turned into one of their kind. Their sister, Saphira, is kind and beautiful. She lights up the room with her aura.

Elijah, a cheetah shifter, hadn’t taken his arm away from his mate, Saylor. She is pregnant and glowing, basking in her cowboy mate.

“They are kind of sickeningly beautiful, aren’t they?” Sally says as I turn my attention to her.

I stood behind the counter, staring at everyone, waiting to refill my glass and didn’t notice her approach. Breeane introduced us, but I haven’t talked to her since. She is a rabbit shifter and besides Saphira and I, the only person in the room who isn’t mated. I have heard many stories about rabbits being crazy as fuck.

“It is startling,” I agree, taking a sip.

“The only thing that’s missing is the panthers and the dark beauty of Ryker.” She sighs.

“His mate sold us the bakery. I hoped to meet him.” Breeane repeatedly told me how beautiful Ryker is, and how his powerful presence commands a room. The panthers are the ones who started this group.

“Good luck getting him to leave the house. His mate just gave birth. He has barricaded them at his place. The only one who has been allowed in is Bash. The rest of us have had to make do with pictures Serenity has sent us.”

“That's wonderful,” I say.

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