Page 31 of Marked By The Grouchy Grizzly

“I love you,” she whispers.

I kiss her temple, feeling like I might float away on the next breeze. “I love you too.”

“And where areyourmates?” Dad asks Victoria and Magnus who are sitting around the table on our porch.

Victoria sighs as she cracks open a beer. “I was hoping you knew.”

“They’ll come when it’s time,” Magnus says, his jaw tightening as he stares out at the mountains. “I’m not worried. Do I look worried?”

“A little bit, yeah,” Dad says. That man has never had a filter and it’s only gotten worse with age.

“I have to go take a whizz,” Magnus says, quickly heading into the house.

I take a deep breath as I flip a burger. I hope his mate comes soon. Magnus has always been the most level-headed out of all of us, especially when it comes to mates, but he’s been having a hard time lately.

I know that seeing me and Lainey together is starting to upset his bear, and now that we have Angelica too—it’s getting rough for him.

“When is it my turn to hold her?” Dad asks, putting his hands out with a big smile on his face.

Angelica sees her loving grandpa and squirms out of Mom’s arms. She lands on her feet and wobbles as she tries to keep her balance.

“Is she about to—?” Lainey whispers, watching with bated breath.

I’m burning the burgers, but I don’t care. My baby girl is about to take her first steps.

Angelica pushes off my mother’s knee and wobbles on her feet, determination taking over her face.

We all gasp, none of us moving.

My heart stops.

Then—

She takes a step.

And another.

Then a third before she wobbles and tumbles forward, right into my father’s arms.

For a second, we all just gape, too stunned to move. Then, we all burst out in cheers.

Lainey lets out a squeal and claps her hands, running over and dropping to her knees beside Angelica. “Oh my God, baby! You did it!”

My mother gasps, pressing her hands to her chest, tears welling in her eyes. “I’m so happy I got to see that!”

“That’s my girl!” Victoria says, rubbing Angelica’s little back.

My father just hugs her, soaking in her baby scent.

And me?

I feel like my heart is about to explode. I drop to my knees and steal Angelica from my dad. Her little hands grasp my face and she giggles, knowing she did good.

“That’s my girl,” I whisper, kissing her all over as shesqueals with delight. “I’m so proud of you, sweetheart. Those legs will take you on many more adventures throughout your life.”

Lainey leans in, kissing our daughter’s forehead, then my cheek. “She’s incredible.”

“Just like her mama,” I say before kissing her lips.

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