Page 27 of The Bear's Forever Mat
Was it irrational to talk to one part of Cooper while holding on to another? Getting involved with the shifter world meant suspending a lot of expectations.
It took until the next day to track down the sleds, move all of the supplies, and meet with the group of wolf shifters Dixon had assembled.
Alex still looked a little disgruntled but waved it off when Amber asked why he was pouting. “I need to get over myself. Last night the damn wolf pack set up a lottery to decide who won the privilege of being your escorts.”
Amber wrapped him up in a big tight hug. “I promise not to call them good doggies or anything like that.”
She only stayed in his arms for an instant before Cooper silently caught her by the wrist and pulled her free, possessively wrapping her in his embrace and glaring at his brother.
It was Lara who answered with a snicker. “Oh, you go right ahead and call them anything you want. You could get away with murder right now. Someone suggested we should erect an altar to you in the pack house. Amber—goddess of fun winter activities.”
The other surprise as they headed outside to the loaded sleds—Kaylee and James were there as well. They stood in the snow in robes, obviously waiting to shift and join the group.
“What’re you doing?” Amber asked. “I thought you were taking care of my job while I go gallivanting.”
A familiar voice sounded from behind them. “I used to act as the CEO’s secretary, back in the day. I’m perfectly capable of keeping the difficult man in charge under control while you track down your family.”
Amber turned to discover Cooper’s grandparents standing together, Giles’s arm wrapped around Laureen. “Mrs. Borealis?”
“Isn’t that a little formal, my dear? When Kaylee told me what was going on, Giles and I offered to step in for the duration.” She slipped forward, lifting Amber’s hood around her face and tucking her hair in. A very caring and grandmotherly gesture that nearly took Amber’s feet out from under her. “You need your friends with you as you start this journey. Don’t worry about us. We’ll take care of things.”
Grandfather Giles stepped forward as well, his eyes twinkling like always. “No use arguing when she gets an idea in her head. Heaven knows I don’t try.” He leaned forward and gave Amber a kiss on the cheek, then glared at Cooper, who had marched forward instinctively. “Don’t you growl at your grandfather.”
Cooper grinned, all teeth and rumbling noises. “Thank you for your help.”
Amber turned to Kaylee. Her friend smiled and stepped forward to embrace her. “What Grandma said. You need your friends with you.” She lowered her voice. “And an adventure running across the tundra? Dixon was right. It’s going to be a hell of a good time.”
They both laughed, the sound welling up around the group.
As if summoned by speaking his name, Dixon appeared beside them with a happy sigh. “This is so awesome. Although, you know, the one thing we’re missing is theme music. Something to get the blood pumping before a good hard run.”
Others of the pack gathered closer, drawn like flies to honey by Dixon’s enthusiasm.
“Although, sometimes that backfires. Like when you get an earworm, and you only know two lines of the entire song and that’s all you think of for hours on end.” Dixon’s grin hovered on maniacal. “Once, I got that song fromShrekin my head. You know, the one withrock starand…”
Panic filled the wolves’ eyes as Dixon started humming the catchy tune.
“He’s terrible,” Amber whispered admiringly to Cooper, wondering how the young man had survived this long.
Suddenly everywhere people were getting naked, and Amber was trying to find a safe place to look without looking. The wolves slipped into their shifter-friendly harnesses that Lara explained would allow them to detach themselves when they wanted to get free. Final packages were being strapped to the sleds.
James and Kaylee shifted, the bobcat pouncing on her mate in what look like an entirely reckless move considering he was so much larger than her.
But as always, James was kind and gentle with his mate. He dropped willingly to his back, paws in the air as if he were a dead bug so Kaylee could give his face a tongue bath.
It was so much to take in. All these people were gathered to help her. Her and Cooper. There was life and laughter, and under it that lingering sense of sadness.
Yet as always—hope.
Amber twisted toward the gentle giant who was doing the final checks on his sled. As if sensing her gaze, Cooper left his task to return to her side and catch her against him in a giant bear hug.
He brushed their noses together. “Are you ready?”
With a death grip around his neck, she kissed him. Fiercely, possessively. With every bit of the emotion that had been filling her chest for the past hours and days and months and years, if she was being honest.
Sweet words hovered on her tongue, but she kept them back because a howling and whistling wolf pack was not the best audience for her first declaration of love for Cooper.
But it was true. She loved him.
