Page 28 of The Bear's Forever Mat
The words would keep, but the feeling was there, warming her from the inside out. She pulled back and was happy to note that Cooper wore a glassy-eyed expression and looked as befuddled as she felt.
“With you? I’m ready for anything.”
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12
He’d worried at first. Because of course he did.
Still, he should’ve known that Amber hadn’t been blowing smoke when she said she could handle the dogsled, and he didn’t think it was because the dogs were actually shifters.
They’d headed out of town as quickly as possible, finding the open route to the north and west. Amber led the way, with Lara as her lead on the line of wolves hauling the sled forward. This was still familiar territory for the Orion pack, and Cooper wasn’t at all concerned that they would get off the trail. Not with his sister-in-law guiding them.
He opened the line between his and Amber’s headsets. “You’re handling the sled just fine.”
“I took lessons back in the spring. Didn’t realize it was going to come in handy so soon, but yeah. I know what I’m doing.” Ahead of him, she glanced over her shoulder for a moment. The line crackled and then she continued. “You’re not so bad yourself. You do this often?”
“Grandmother insisted we all learn survival skills. Because as she put it, ‘even you seemingly indestructible polar bears might occasionally need other forms of transportation.’”
“She’s the one who gave me the lessons as a present. It’s obviously something she’s passionate about.” Amber’s voice held a smile. “I like your grandma.”
“She’s your grandmother now too,” he insisted. Then he changed the topic before she could protest. “Are you warm enough?”
“If I’m not, I can just run more and ride less.”
Cooper admired the view as the landscape unfolded. The snow was hard-packed and windblown, and they had reached the point where they could travel side by side.
The wolves who weren’t attached to the ropes ran out and back willy-nilly, tongues hanging from their mouths as they grinned with sheer delight. James and Alex ran as well, their lumbering bear forms a sharp contrast with the sleek wolves and the dainty bobcat also keeping pace.
Cooper glanced over at Amber, but she was focused on her task. She didn’t seem the least bit afraid or fazed by the fact she was surrounded by a whole squadron of shifters in their wild forms.
She’s doing well, he pointed out to his inner bear.
Of course she is. You need to stop assuming that I think she’s wrong for us. She’s just notreadyfor us, that’s all.
She’s awfully willing to jump through hoops for being not ready,Cooper said with a touch of annoyance.
While he understood how important it was to find Amber’s brother, this whole delay on completing the mating bond had left a sizzle of frustration running just under his skin. As if the lack of finishing up was somehow making the situation worse.
His bear vanished, and Cooper settled back into concentrating on the task at hand.
They stopped a few times to let everyone rest and switch out the wolves who needed a break.
And to eat. Everyone needed to eat.
The weather was cooperating, the sky overhead blue with wisps of clouds that stretched like ribbons across the wide expanse. Crisp cold made each breath fresh and sharp. It was a glorious day for an outing, and with everyone along, it was more like a party than a serious venture.
Amber pulled food supplies from her sled and passed them out, wandering calmly into the middle of the pack, amidst the wolves. Lara and Kaylee had shifted back, dressed quickly against the cold, and helped her. James and Alex shifted as well and came to join Cooper as he prepared a lunch for everyone not still in their fur.
None of the breaks were for very long, and it still took most of the day to cover the distance to the small village.
They pulled into the clearing in the middle of the square, and a greeting committee met them.
An older woman stepped forward, eyeing the group with curiosity. “Welcome. I’m Chief Starling. Are you looking for a place to stay?”
Amber stepped forward. “Possibly. But also, I’m trying to track down my brother, Mason Myawayan. We heard he might’ve been here.”
The woman frowned. “I think I remember that name, but it was a while back.”
