Page 51 of Stolen Mate

“I don’t need any more bloodshed in this town,” said Jax. “We just went through this with the arctic foxes. You can leave under your own power, Henry, or I’ll ask Colby here to put you in a cage and transport your ass to a zoo in Arizona.”

Knowing he was defeated and had no recourse, Henry’s shoulders slumped, and he started to slink out the exit. “Henry,” called Zak. “As Alpha of Akiak, I hereby banish you from this day forward to your last day on Earth. You are alpha here no more. Violate that banishment under pain of death.”

“That goes for the clan at Mystic River, as well,” said Derek.

Derek almost felt sorry for his sire as he turned away and exited the building.

“We haven’t heard the last of him or the Council,” said Derek to his brother as they too left the Council.

“Not by a long shot. Nor have we heard the last of the Shadow League,” said Zak.

CHAPTER 20

TESS

Journal Entry, September 2nd

I can feel her moving around. She’s a feisty little thing.

I’m not sure why I believe my baby to be a girl, but I do. I keep thinking I should come up with a name, but nothing seems to fit. I suppose I’m hoping that I’ll be inspired. Maybe once she’s here I’ll figure it out.

The small of my back has been cramping all day. I’ve read it’s one of the first signs of labor. It won’t be long now. I’m scared to have her on my own, but even more afraid that someone will take her from me.

She may not have been conceived in love, but by god, she’ll be born in it. I never thought I would learn to love her due to how she came to be. But the first time I felt that little foot kick me, my whole world changed for the better.

I love you, baby girl.

Polaris Compound

Mystic River, Alaska

Several Weeks After the Council Meeting

Tess wasn’t sure how she found the peace and quiet she’d always needed to do her illustrations amid the construction and creation of the compound and living quarters of the Polaris Polar Bear Clan. As Zak had predicted, there were those who wanted never to see Akiak again, and so they and many of the newcomers followed Derek to Mystic River where they established the site. It was noisy and dusty from dawn until dusk, but she, like everyone else, was thriving.

Instead of a large house and smaller outbuildings, Derek had opted to follow his brother’s plan for small cottages for families and large dormitories with private rooms for those who were unbonded. There was a large communal dining/meeting hall where people gathered to share meals and conversation. The links that were being forged in these first few weeks would serve as a basis for all to come.

Curiously, Wyatt had asked to join them at Polaris, as his memories of Akiak were not ones he wanted to revisit. Derek had been glad to have his steadying hand as they built the clan and developed the land they would live on for all the days that followed. Zak had groused, but in the end had convinced Deke to take on the role of his second-in-command in Wyatt’s absence.

They were working steadily, and although many of their people were still living in tents, there was an excitement and joy that came from being a part of something new. Tess and Derek had fallen into a routine—he went into town each day to perform his duties as deputy sheriff and then returned to share their evening meal with the clan.

After dinner many of them went for a run, either up in the heavily wooded lands that separated Polaris from Wolf Run, or along the rocky shoreline. She and Derek often went for a private run or swim after everyone had settled down. Tess enjoyed the freedom of being a polar bear and next to making love to Derek, swimming was her favorite activity. Lara had yet to be turned, mainly because there were several male shifters who had expressed more than a passing interest, and Lara was enjoying playing the field, much to Zak’s dismay.

After dinner, Derek asked her to go for a moonlit walk with him along the shoreline. Their impromptu bonding ceremony may have had all the romance of a foreign invasion, but Derek made up for it every single day, telling her he loved her, bringing her flowers, leaving notes, and other romantic gestures. He’d made a trip in Colby’s jet to get her drafting table, desk, and chair and made a special place for her to work where the light was ideal.

“We need to talk about having a bonding celebration. Both clans want to celebrate with us, especially our people here at Polaris, and honestly, Annie will never let me hear the end of it if we don’t.”

Tess laughed. Annie was a force of nature and had become one of her best friends, as had Cecily, Wyatt’s mate, and Sienna. With Lara in tow, the lot of them got up to all kinds of fun which left their mates grumbling about the bad influence they were on the rest of the she-bears.

“I was thinking we’d wait until we had more of Polaris completed and then have a kind of housewarming and celebration at the same time,” Tess said.

“Ever the practical mate, but fated mates aren’t always about practicality. Don’t get me wrong, I wouldn’t change our impromptu bonding ceremony for anything…”

“Don’t you find it kind of spooky that your grandparents’ rings fit us so perfectly?”

“Not really. They were fated mates. Neither my sire nor my uncle had one. Obviously, my sire took a she-bear to mate, but they were never fated. So, it was almost as if my uncle picked up the rings as an act of faith on behalf of the fates.”

A long, low, mournful howl split the rapidly descending darkness. One long note followed by two short barks, a pause, a short bark, and another long howl.

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