Page 6 of The Bear's Forever Mat
Chaos. Absolute and completely wonderful family-flavoured chaos swirled around Cooper. He tucked his notebook inside his coat pocket and zipped it closed so he could give his full attention to the afternoon’s festivities.
At noon, the sun was up and as high as it was going to get on this early December day, which meant not very. It offered a cold light that shone on the playground of the local high school where they’d gathered for today’s special event.
Every year, a highly competitive ice sculpture contest was held in Yellowknife. Contestants from around the world entered, and the sculptures were miracles of ice and snow.
A couple years earlier a special community-based version had been started specifically for the high school students. Run a few months before the official event, it was a combination of a pre-holiday adrenaline burner for the youth and a plain good time.
It had been Amber’s idea—because of course it had.
The sponsoring teams for the event were Borealis Gems and Midnight Inc., with a collection of representatives from each company joining the students to help create works of art out of glistening ice. It was all in fun. The prizes were mostly funding given to the various sports and arts groups in the school that needed an infusion of money.
Everyone joined in, learned new skills, and when the sun went down and the contest was over, they ate pizza. Lots and lots of pizza and chips and other junk food, because that was just the kind of party it was.
Grandfather Giles clapped his hands as he stepped forward, motioning in the stragglers from the far corners of the field.
He glanced around at the eager faces. After dodging a snowball, then offering Alex a warning glare, he raised his voice far above what the average eighty-four-year-old should be able to achieve. There was nothing frail about the man, his back unbowed and eyes bright. Only the silvery white in his hair and beard hinted at his age.
“We’re glad you’re all here today. I’m not going to waste a lot of time blabbing at you. The rules are simple—you’ve all been assigned a block of ice and teams of two or more. Everyone needs to participate as you produce your creative masterpiece. Anyone who needs help or wants a power tool assist, give a shout, and one of the sponsors for your team will come by to see what they can do.” He offered Grandmother Laureen a grin paired with a mischievous wink. “My lovely wife and I will be the final judges. You’ve got three hours. Have fun.”
A burst of energy lit up the snow-packed field as teenagers exploded outward in a rush. Groups of two and three scattered across the field to gather around the massive ice blocks that had been set up. Some on tables, some free-standing that were as tall as Cooper.
“You’d better go get started,” Alex taunted. “The sooner you begin, the sooner I can beat you.”
“He’s awfully cocky,” James noted, arms wrapped around his mate as she pulled on a thick pair of fuzzy mittens.
“I’ve noticed that about your brother,” Kaylee offered dryly. “One danger of living in the pack house. He’s getting more wolflike by the minute.”
Cooper pointed them toward a group of three teenagers who were already waving their hands. Alex and Lara had headed in the opposite direction, hand in hand as they rejoined the wolves who were working with their assigned teams.
“Time you got to work as well,” Grandfather Giles said as he settled Grandmother on one of the two chairs set up like a royal dais, then took the other throne. “Much as I hate to admit it, that Midnight Inc. crew has some talented artists. Borealis Gems needs to put in a good show, or your grandmother and I will have no choice but to award all the prizes to our rivals.”
Cooper ignored the older man for a moment, instead turning to look questioningly at Grandmother Laureen. “I thought you were going to be my partner.”
She sighed heavily. “My arthritis is acting up, so I agreed to judge instead. Don’t worry. I found a replacement. She’ll be here soon.”
An uneasy feeling welled in Cooper’s stomach. “She?”
The answer arrived at that moment. Amber popped out from behind the fence and headed straight for them.
This was not good for so many reasons.
“Grandmother,” Cooper scolded mildly. “Carving tools are dangerous if you don’t know what you’re doing.”
One perfect brow arched upward as his grandmother stared him down. Usually it was his grandfather who made Cooper mind his p’s and q’s, but right now it was clear Grandmother Laureen was having none of his nonsense.
She sniffed. “I don’t think you have anything to worry about.”
“It’s just that—”
Disapproval scalded him. “Trust me, Cooper,” his grandmother said mildly. “And be polite. She gave up her day off to replace me.”
Amber waved hello, the other hand occupied with a boxlike carrying case. “Hello. I got here as quick as I could.”
“They’ve just begun,” Grandfather Giles assured her then turned to his wife and spoke quietly, his gaze intent as if they were talking about a thing of vital importance and not to be interrupted.
Cooper glanced at Amber’s bright face. The notebook in his pocket pulsed a warning signal. The list he’d just gone over that said that being alone with her in any capacity was a dangerous thing.
The one that reminded him that the last time they’d been partly alone she’d shivered with fear at a modest display of sexual playfulness between shifters. What was going to happen when he finally did make a move? Would she run from him, and not in a good way?
