Page 28 of Ash

Instead, the woman he'd known all of his life as one of his mother's dearest friends, wrapped her arms around the woman and hugged her close with a warm and delightful laugh. "You must be Suzannah! Suzannah!"

Hetty would likely be dancing if she wasn't hugging the woman her rounded chest.

"I know it's you!"

Ash took a hint of a step closer, eager to greet her himself.

Hetty broke away, keeping one arm around the woman as she looked at James. "You found her, you crafty old fox!"

James puffed up with pride looking like he might burst with it. If he was in his fox form, his thick, bushy tail might be swishing and twitching with pride. "She arrived in the dark of night with Aaron-"

Ash's bear crouched down and bared his fangs, seething with jealousy.

"And Celeste last night."

Suzannah.

Ash mulled her name over, silently on his tongue.

She smiled at James. "I... I missed the bus when it left the diner we'd stopped at and somehow James," her gaze met the fox's and he nodded, encouraging her to use this name, "had a feeling that something was wrong. He sent Aaron and Celeste to come and get me."

Ash saw James level a gaze at him out of the corner of his eye before the crafty fox looked back at Suzannah.

"I'm sorry I couldn't stay up to receive you, my dear, but I knew that the Winters would get you home and tucked in."

Again, Ash felt his bear snarl at the idea of another man near Suzannah.

Ash didn't have to ask why his bear felt so protective of the woman.

There was no need.

As he stood there, alive and breathing, he knew that the woman standing in Hetty's protective embrace was his mate.

His bear collapsed in relief and rolled around with joy, his massive paws batting at the link between them with giddy, cub-like joy.

Finally.

Yes,Ash agreed.Finally.

Chapter

Six

Suzannah felt the woman beside her give her another hug, this time with just one arm, but it was more warmth in that one arm than she'd felt in years. Warmth that urged her to lean in and relax in her embrace. Suzannah wanted to do just that.

The woman's flame red hair was piled up on her head like a fancy Gibson girl doll. A generous pouf with tendrils falling down around her face and to her shoulders. "I'm Hetty."

Suzannah nodded. "Hetty." She said the name and felt another wave of warmth come over her as if she was standing in front of an oven as the door swung open. "I'm really happy to meet you."

For a moment, Hetty's happiness dimmed and then she blinked again and again as if she was blinking back tears.

Suzannah reached into her pocket and withdrew a handkerchief. "Don't cry." She lifted the delicate square and dabbed at the tears that were gathering on Hetty's cheeks. "Please, don't cry."

"We've missed so many years with you."

Her words stirred up an aching sadness in Suzannah's heart. "Did... did you know about me?"

Hetty shook her head as her lips pinched together. It looked like she was trying to hold back more tears.

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