Page 27 of Her Embarrassed Bear Mate

Veronica grinned so hard, it made her cheeks hurt. "You're cute."

"I'm picking up poop."

"Yes, but you're charming when you do it," Veronica teased. She meant it though, everything about Alix was charming and so wonderfully down to earth.

Alix's laugh clattered through the quiet morning. "You're funny."

"I try my best." Veronica slipped her hand into Alix's, pleased that she could do that now without worrying. There were surely going to be obstacles in their future, but none of that could taint how happy she felt. Right now, it was just utter bliss to have a peaceful moment where it was just her and Alix and nobody and nothing else to bother them.

Except Princess, who was peeing on every lamp post and wall that she passed. She did it with such dignity too, her curled tail always proudly stuck up in the air like she was completing a mission from the Goddess herself.

Veronica squeezed Alix's hand. "This is nice."

"It is."

"So since we're dating now... then I can do this, right?" Veronica paused and pulled Alix into her, catching her in her arms. The sparkling smile on Alix's face was all the permission she needed to connect their lips. She sank into the kiss, wishing they weren't standing in the middle of the pavement.She wanted more but couldn't let herself get carried away because she wasn't looking to give any nosey neighbour a show.

Alix hummed, a soft and happy sound. "That was so lovely. Feels kind of surreal still."

"But good surreal?"

"Definitely." Alix squeezed her hand. "Hey, but we're not going to be like our parents and rush into things, right?"

Veronica grinned brightly. "Really? So youdon'twant a proposal by the end of the month? Shocking."

"Don't even joke about that!"

"Hmm, maybe it's too soon," Veronica admitted, her eyes rolling up when she thought about their lovesick parents and the stupid engagement party. At least she would get to see Alix but that was the only thing she looked forward to.

SIXTEEN

Alix

After settlinginto her hotel room, Alix took the lift to the ground floor where the engagement party was being held. She didn’t want to think about the insane amount of money Dirk had to have spent to hire the Crescent Lake Hotel as their venue, especially on the night of the crescent moon when rooms were at their most expensive. It had surprised her that they chosethishotel onthisnight and it gave her a bad feeling in her stomach about what was to come.

Everyone knew the night of the crescent moon was when shifters looked for their fated mates. Alix hadn’t thought her mum and Dirk cared about beingfated but since they were here, the most logical conclusion was that they were looking for the Moon Goddess’ blessing.

She just worried about what it would mean for her later because these kinds of events usually ended with everyone going into the lake of fate.

The whole entrance was decorated with flower pieces and there were big custom printed banners with the couple’s name on it. It was all excessive and over the top in her opinion but her mum seemed ecstatic so at least there was that.

She spotted some familiar faces who looked like they had just arrived and went over to them.

Aditi greeted her with a quick hug. "Wowie. I know you said he was posh but this is like posh-posh."

"I can't believe my mum is marrying someone with so much more money," Alix muttered, careful not to speak up too much. There were lots of people, none who were paying her any attention, but still.

Aditi's mum, Rekha, seemed impressed at least. "Oh goodness. They've gone all out. It's stunning! How wonderful. This Dirk must be a good man if he wants to celebrate like this. Alix, what do you think of him?"

Alix searched her brain for the right words todescribe her mum's fiancé. Granted, she didn't know him all that well but from what she'd seen over the holiday, he didn't seem like a bad man. But he didn't seem like a thoughtful cooperative man either. As lovestruck as her mum currently was, in her core, she was an independent woman. Once the pink glasses came off, Alix questioned whether the two would be compatible or if Dirk's overpowering presence would erode her mother's sense of self.

"He seems to be as into mum as she is into him," Alix said eventually, opting for a cop-out but safe response.

"That's good. Equality is important in relationships," Rekha said as she unwrapped her colourful scarf. "I'm going to say hello to some friends. I'll see you girls later."

Aditi waited until her mum was gone before she spoke, one eyebrow raised up. "So... Tell me what you really think of Dirk."

"It's honestly a little irrelevant what kind of man he is, it's just all moving way too fast," Alix said as they ventured further into the large hall. There were people everywhere, most of them strangers although she recognised some of their own friends and family too.

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