by Elena Aitken
Nash’s hand twitched in hers, and Kira’s eyes shot back to her mate. Her eyes scanned him for a few moments but there were no more signs that he was waking. She turned back to Kade. “So what happened?”
“I recorded his confession.” He held up his phone. “And then I threatened him with basically ruining his life if he didn’t immediately get out of Yellowstone and never come back.”
“But he didn’t come back to the house to grab his things or anything.”
Kade shook his head. “Nope. I gave him a ten-minute head start but told him if he wasn’t miles away, I’d drag his ass into the police station myself. I think he got the point.” He grinned again, and actually looked as though he’d enjoyed himself, which he probably did.
“Thank you.” Kira’s shoulders slumped again. “I don’t know what I would have done if—”
“Forget it. That’s what I’m here for. To protect you. You’re my sister—it’s what I do.”
They were silent for a few minutes, Kade’s hand still squeezing hers. Her other hand held tight to Nash. Her two worlds, one in each hand. But it was no longer a choice she was willing to make.
“Kade, I—”
“I think we—”
They spoke at the same time. One look at her brother and she knew he knew her choice. After everything that had happened, how could he not?
“I need to tell you something,” she started. “I told you before that Nash is my…he’s my mate.” Kade nodded. “But he’s more than that. I don’t know how it happened,” she continued, needing to fill the silence. “He’s a wolf and I’m a bear, and…it’s all so crazy, but from the moment I met him, there was something there between us and when we…”
“I know what you’re going to say, Kira.”
“Shifted, it was just like being with him was the most natural thing in the world,” she continued, not hearing Kade. “It’s indescribable. It’s like I was—what? What did you say?”
Kade smiled. “I said, that I know what you’re going to say. I’ve known from the moment I met him and saw you together.” He shrugged.
Kira’s head spun. He knew. He knew that she was going to choose Nash over her family and he wasn’t upset. He wasn’t yelling at her, demanding that this time she choose her family over her mate. She shook her head. “But he’s a wolf.”
Kade chuckled. “I can see that.”
“But I’m a bear.”
He laughed again and shook his head. “Kira.” He squeezed her hand. “I know that too. But he’s your mate.” She nodded, although it wasn’t a question. “And you’re fated.”
Her head shot up. How did he know that?
“I can see it all over you, sister. I just wasn’t sure you knew it. Look, I’m not going to lie and tell you that I’m excited that your mate is a dog.” He winked, but otherwise his face was a mask of seriousness. “But fated is fated. And if you tell me that’s it, I believe you.”
“I told you that once before.” The reminder stung, and Kade flinched as well.
“That was a mistake,” he said softly. “We both know better now.”
Tears filled her eyes. “So you’re not making me choose?”
“God no, Kira.” Kade looked genuinely shocked. “I’m the first to admit that I may not have always been understanding when it came to love and mates. But Ella changed that for me, and now I know what it’s really like. Because of that, I know without a doubt that you can’t choose. It would physically destroy you if I made you pick between your mate and your family. It’s not something I’d ever do. I love you, sis. We all do. And that means we’ll love Nash, too. Besides, he took a bullet for you. If that’s not the sign of a good man, I don’t know what is. Dog or not.” He smiled and wrapped his arm around her.
“But yesterday…” She was confused. So confused. It was only the day before that her brother had stood silently, judging her because her mate was a wolf, and now he was happily telling her that it would all be okay? It didn’t make sense.
“What about yesterday?”
“I told you about Nash, and you…”
“Didn’t say anything?”
She nodded.
“What would you have had me say, Kira? You told me Nash was your mate. And then you proceeded to tell me that you were going to leave without him.”
The realization hit her as Kade explained it.
“I knew if you were fated, really fated,” he said pointedly, “it wouldn’t be a choice at all. The fact that you were willing to leave without him told me everything I needed to know.”
Shame filled her and she looked down at her feet. She should have known. She should have trusted her heart. Trusted her brother. Dammit, she should have trusted herself. “I’m sorry,” she whispered. “None of this would have happened if I hadn’t have—”
“It doesn’t matter.” Kade put a hand on her shoulder to still her. “What’s done is done.”
But it wasn’t done. Because of her, Kira’s brothers had been cast out. Their whole lives had changed. “It’s all my fault, Kade. Don’t you see that? I didn’t know my heart the first time. With Ryan. And everything that happened, it’s all my—”
“We have you to thank.”
“Thank?”
Kade chuckled. “I agree, it wasn’t the easiest way to go about a life change, but because of you, Kira, we were all able to find our mates and live the lives we want to. Because you were brave enough to go after what you wanted, smart choice or not, everything is working out the way it’s supposed to.”
She let that sink in. Everything that had happened to them. The Ridge, their mates, and even Axel’s new cub: it was because of the choice she made.
“Look.” Kade shook her gently and forced her to look up at him. “There is no point beating yourself up over this. It’s done. The important thing now is we have you back and you have your mate. Your true fated mate.” He nodded his head toward Nash. “Everything else we can work through.”
A flood of different emotions washed through her. There was still so much she wanted to say, but finally it came down to one thing. “Thank you,” she said simply.
“For what?”
“For being my brother. For having my back and for coming to find me. I’m happy to have you back.”
He wrapped her up in a tight bear hug. “Little sister, you have no idea how much we missed you.” He released her and flashed her a mischievous smile. “Also, did you not know that Axel’s mate, Harper, is only half bear? I mean, we love her, and she’s a hybrid. I’m sure we can handle a dog hanging around, too.” She smacked him and he laughed.
She hadn’t known that about Harper. There was so much she didn’t know. But she would.
But first, she had to make Nash understand how much she loved and needed him.
She just hoped it wasn’t too late.
The pain in his abdomen flared with every breath he took and Nash wished again for unconsciousness. That way he wouldn’t have to deal with the red-hot pain. Damn, he’d never been shot before, a fact he was intensely thankful for because fuck, it hurt. Kira’s voice filtered through his fog, and all traces of his pain washed away.
He’d do it again.
And again.
He’d take a bullet for that woman a hundred times over if he needed to. She was everything.
Sleep called to him, but he fought through the exhaustion and forced his eyes open. Instead of his eyes landing on the vision of his love, they fluttered open to…her brother.
“Good morning, dog.” Kade grinned down at him and then he was shoved out of the way and his face was replaced by Kira. She stood over him, concern and love in her eyes.
“Hey.” She stroked his cheek and he closed his eyes to absorb the pleasure of the touch. “How are you feeling?”
“I…I…”
“Don’t try to talk.” Kira’s hands fluttered over him and finally landed on his face. She pressed her lips to his in a kiss that was both unexpected and absolutely perfect.
> “Give the man a chance to heal, jeez.”
But her kiss was healing in all the right ways. Nash lifted an arm and threaded his fingers through her hair, holding her in place. The taste of her on his lips was exactly what he needed, because it meant… What did it mean?
She pulled away and tears filled her eyes. Was that a good-bye? He would absolutely not accept a good-bye. She was his. They were fated. And that meant everything.
“What’s wrong?” He found his voice. “Are you hurt? He didn’t hurt you, did he?”
She shook her head, but still didn’t speak.
“I’ll leave you two alone,” Kade said.
Nash had already forgotten he was in the room. He only had eyes for his mate. There was a soft click of the door and then they were alone.
“Are you okay?”
She nodded.
“He didn’t hurt you?”
“No.”
“Kira, I—”
“Nash, we—”
He managed a small smile. “Let me go first. Please.”
She nodded.
“Kira. When I sensed that you were in trouble earlier, it scared the hell out of me. And when I saw him…that asshole, pointing a gun at you…well, I can’t even…” She grabbed his hand and squeezed. “It terrified me that I could lose you and I knew in that moment, I would never be able to survive without you. I won’t survive without you. But I already knew that.”
“Nash, I—
“I can’t, Kira. We’re fated. You know it and I know it. We were meant to be together, and your family and my family, well…they’ll just have to—”
“Be okay with it.”
He shook his head, not sure he heard her properly. “What?”
Her smile gave him a thrill. “They’ll be okay with it,” she repeated. “They are okay with it. But even if they weren’t…Nash, it’s you. It’s always you. It will always be you.” Tears streamed down her face, but she was still smiling. “I was so worried,” she said. “I thought I lost you. And you’re right. I can’t survive without you. And I won’t.”
Bullet wound or not, he didn’t care. The pain was white-hot as he pulled himself into a sitting position, but it didn’t matter.
“Nash, you’re going to open your wound,” she protested but didn’t try to stop him.
He was healing fast. Besides, it wouldn’t matter if his body healed if his heart wasn’t pieced back together.
“Kira Jackson, I need you more than I need the air in my lungs. I thought I could step back and let you have time to figure out what you needed to do with your family, but I can’t.”
“Nash, I—”
“No. I can’t.” He shook his head. “I just can’t sit back and wait for you to make a choice that could destroy us both. I know the pull of family is strong. I know. I…I feel it too. But I also know something else.” He threaded his fingers through hers and pressed them to his lips. “Nolan and the pack, they aren’t my future. They aren’t my family. You are. It will always be you. I need you to tell me you feel the same.”
“I do.”
Her voice was so soft, he wasn’t sure he heard her properly.
“What?”
“I do,” she said again. “I feel exactly the same, Nash. That’s what I’m trying to tell you. From the moment I let you walk away, I was empty. I can’t live without you either. And I won’t.”
“Come here.” She did as he asked and sat on the side of his bed. He tugged her toward him, needing to feel her.
“Nash, I’ll hurt you.”
“No, babe.” He pulled her into him with as much strength as he could manage. “You’ll never hurt me.” His hands cupped her cheeks and as he held her face in his hands, he held his whole world.
He kissed her softly. There’d be time for heat later when he was completely healed. Although with each passing moment he could feel his strength returning. His cock twitched under the bed covers, obviously feeling more than healed. But no. He had a lifetime to show her exactly how he felt about her. For now, having his mate in his arms was all he needed. Nash nestled into Kira’s neck and breathed deep, inhaling the sexy scent that was all her. He let it fill him, but there was something different. He stopped, and then leaned in and took another breath.
“What’s wrong?” Next to him, Kira shifted so she could look into his eyes. “Nash?”
“Nothing,” he answered honestly. “I think my senses are just a little off right now.”
She sat up and smoothed his hair back off his face. “Of course they are. You’re healing. Let your body work.”
He smiled what he hoped was a reassuring smile, but his mind was still working. “Tell me about Grizzly Ridge,” he said. “When do we leave?”
“You want to go visit?”
“Of course, babe. More than anything I want to meet your family and see where you’re from.”
She nodded enthusiastically, happiness and excitement all over her face. “We can leave as soon as you’re feeling up to it. I put in for holiday time, but…”
“But you’d like to stay at Grizzly Ridge?” Nash already knew Kira wouldn’t want to return to Yellowstone once she got home. The pull of family was strong. Especially if they accepted him as her mate.
“I don’t know for sure, but…”
“It’s okay, babe. We’ll figure it out. Together.”
She dropped a kiss on his nose before she sat up again. “I want to hold my new little niece in my arms and rock her and sing to her and never let her go. I’ve always wanted to be a—” She cut herself off. They hadn’t talked about what their future would look like. Nash hadn’t even really thought about it, considering they were different species, but… “I guess we still have a lot to talk about, don’t we.”
Something clicked in Nash’s head and all the pieces fit together.
A slow grin spread across his face as he realized what the shift in her scent meant.
“Nash?” Worry filled her voice. “You do want cubs…or…well, kids one day. Don’t you?”
Nash took Kira’s hands in his own and pulled her down one more time so he could be sure. “Babe,” he whispered in her ear. “I think we should leave for Grizzly Ridge right away so we can meet our baby’s cousin.”
“What?” She jerked up. “Our baby?”
He nodded and her hands went immediately to her stomach.
“But how…you…how did you…I didn’t even know.”
“Canine senses,” he said, as if it explained everything. “It doesn’t matter, babe.” Tears pooled in her eyes, but he knew this time they were happy tears. “All that matters is that I love you, Kira.” Nash slid his hand over hers and rested it over her stomach. “And we’re going to be a family.”
Chapter Fifteen
Four weeks later…
* * *
Kira didn’t think she would ever tire of holding little Lily in her arms. Her new little niece was the most precious thing she’d ever seen and she’d fallen in love at first sight. In fact, Kira had fallen in love at first sight with everything and everyone in Grizzly Ridge.
Her brothers had greeted her home with open arms. Not that Grizzly Ridge was the home she remembered, but from the moment she’d set foot on the mountain, Kira knew she was truly home. Luke’s mate Chloe and Axel’s mate Harper had accepted her like a sister and even Nash had experienced a warmer welcome than anyone had expected.
There was some initial suspicion, especially from Luke. But Kade explained to everyone what Nash had done for Kira, earning him a great deal of respect from the men, but it was seeing Kira and Nash together that won everyone over.
The love they had for each other just grew with every day.
Just like the baby in her belly.
She still hadn’t told anyone they were expecting. Mostly because she and Nash had decided that with the excitement of returning to Montana and getting settled into the Ridge, it was best if they kept it to themselves. Also, there were so many unknowns. Would the baby be a
cub? Or a pup? They’d decided to keep their little secret under wraps, at least until they figured out a few of the details. Or until she couldn’t hide it anymore. Kira’s stomach was expanding much quicker than she would have expected. If she did the calculations, she was barely three months along. She shouldn’t be starting to show already. But then again, there was a lot she didn’t know about pregnancy. Let alone a shifter pregnancy.
Not that it mattered yet, anyway. Kira had her hands full with little Lily. She’d fallen easily into the role of auntie, and Harper was more than happy to have the help. Especially considering the business of the ranch had only increased due to the summer season, and besides taking care of most of the day-to-day operations, Axel had surprised Kira and Nash with the construction of their very own cabin. Nash had been right: now that they were on Grizzly Ridge, Kira was not in a hurry to leave.
“I’m so sorry.” Harper appeared in the great living room from the kitchen. “Are you okay with her for another minute? I just want your opinion on something.”
“Of course.” Kira rocked the sleeping bundle. “I’m in no hurry. What do you need opinions on?”
“Hold on.” Harper turned and called toward the kitchen, “Ella. Come in here.”
The swinging door opened and Ella came in carrying a tray full of cupcakes, with Chloe right behind her. “It’s wedding cake tasting time.”
“Wedding cakes? Yum.”
“Right?” Harper sat next to her on the couch and gave her baby girl a gentle kiss before she smiled up at Kira. “I’m so glad you’re here, Kira. It’s like things weren’t complete without you and now that you’re back…” Tears welled in her eyes. “Well, I’m just so glad you’re here and we’re all together.”
“And you can finally get married.” Ella laughed as she set the tray down. “But you’re going to need to get those emotions in check if you’re going to make it through the ceremony.”
Harper accepted the tissue Chloe held out to her and wiped her eyes. “I can’t help it. I’m just so happy.” She broke into another sob and Kira and Chloe exchanged glances.
“You’ll see.” Harper pointed her finger at Ella. “If you’re not all hormonal yet, you will be.”
