Page 49 of Chomp's Challenge

“Now you have a new one,” my mom tells her. “Not to replace her, but to hopefully help you navigate being the mate to an obstinate gator.”

“Mom!” I exclaim. “I’m not that bad.”

Maybe you aren’t, my gator whispers, but I can be.

Well, he’s certainly right about that fact! Still, seeing my mate’s brilliant smile at my mom’s words has me shrugging in acceptance. “We want you to stay,” I affirm.

“We’ll get out to your cabin and figure out what we need to do to expand it so all of y’all have privacy,” Spike decrees. Then he stops and says, “Maybe, since you and Ariel are newly mated, we should just build your mom and brother their own place out by the lake. Especially if there’s a chance your other family might visit.”

That’s fucking perfect. “Mom?”

She releases Ariel and dashes the wetness from her cheeks. “It’s everything I hoped for.”

“Then it’s settled.”

And not a single one among us rejects the idea.

“So,” Kodiak drawls as he joins me, watching our mates talking to my mother in the clubhouse. “I see your mark.”

It’s been hours and now that everyone is fed and enjoying drinks, we’ve finally settled. Chewy seems to be fascinated with Spike and I see a bit of smoke curl from his nostrils. He’ll have to get used to it if he wants a mate. Younger siblings and children are sure to follow.

“Yeah. I didn’t expect that,” I confide. “It sort of shocked me in the moment.”

He snorts. “Yeah. Same with me. Mine showed up a few hours later.” He lifts the collar of his shirt and shows me the silvery skin and the scar that proves he’s mated. “I’m proud of it.”

“I wonder if that’ll happen to everyone who mates?” I question. “I mean, we’re kind of in uncharted territory at this point. The way my former congregation was run is not what I want for my family.”

“What do you mean?” he asks.

“Once a male gator reaches puberty, they either have to fight the bull or alpha to use words you’ll better understand to take over the congregation. Most will just leave and find their own lakes to live in, which can get lonely. I wanted to stay because my mom and siblings were there, but I would rebel against him because of how he treated not only my mom, but the other females. I wasn’t strong enough to defeat him then, so I left to keep my mom safe. But my gator and I have already determined that if Ariel and I have boys, they can stay as long as they want until they’re ready to strike out on their own.”

He chuckles and says, “Somehow, I suspect their mother will want them around.”

I nod because I feel like Ariel will be the same way. “How much longer before you and Callie welcome your bundle of joy?”

“A few months, I think. I’m not really sure about the actual time frame since she was turned into a shifter. I don’t know if she’s going to follow what a human gestation period is, or if she’ll be like most shifters. So, I’ve been getting our den ready for hibernation. I want to be ready.”

“I bet you do. Is that why you’re fattening up?” I joke, poking him in the belly.

He blinks like it hasn’t occurred to him until now. “Shit. Yeah, I think so. I won’t be able to leave them and hunt, not at first. My protective instinct is gonna kick in strong. It already is. My bear is fucking impossible right now.”

I snort. “So is my gator and Ariel isn’t even pregnant.”

Kodiak grins. “I bet it won’t be long.”

“I hope so. It’s the one thing that hasn’t happened yet. I’ll be so fucking happy, Kodiak.”

“Yeah. It’s awesome,” he agrees. “Until you feel the need to wrangle your bear because he’s trying to prevent everyone from going near your mate.”

I laugh because I know Gator will be ridiculous. He already is.

I resemble that remark, he snarks. Our mate will be safe and so will any offspring.

He’s so certain it makes me antsy. I want to tell him to chill but there’s no point. He does whatever the fuck he wants anyway. Just wait until we have hatchlings and I have to make him listen.

Not happening, he chumpfs.

We’ll see. Ariel walks over and plops onto my lap, wrapping her arms around my neck. Leaning in, she whispers, “Callie is going to call Cheryl and get me a list of names for a trauma therapist.”

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