by Amelia Jade
“You’re welcome, but it was meant for her,” the big man said. “I figure she needs it after putting up with you for as long as she has.”
There was a brief moment of shock. Arianna prepared herself for a massive outburst of anger from Ajax. Instead, almost as one, the whole group burst into laughter.
“Damn, it’s good to have you back,” Cedric said as he slapped Ajax on the back. “Now quit being a dick and introduce us to your lovely lady.”
“I’m Arianna,” she said, playing a hunch and stepping forward without hesitation and taking his hand. “Good to meet you.”
The shifter paused for a moment, then beamed. “Oh Ajax. You are in trouble. She is going to be running this place in a matter of days!” he boomed.
Arianna blushed at the backward compliment. She wouldn’t be timid around these people, no. They would respect her for being a straight shooter.
“This is Cedric, my second-in-command,” Ajax explained. “He’s been looking after the place while I was gone.”
“More like partying to celebrate,” the big shifter joked, then grunted when Ajax elbowed him in the ribs.
“Come on,” Ajax said with a smile, taking her hand as others crowded around. “Let me introduce you to the family.”
Not “my” family. Not “our” family. No, just “the” family.
Sometimes, she thought, it really could be that simple.
Arianna smiled and let herself be sucked into the burgeoning celebration, learning everyone’s names and promptly forgetting them, only to learn them a second time.
***
Later that night, as she curled up under a blanket, a real honest-to-goodness wood fire burning in front of them, she nuzzled herself closer to Ajax, feeling the warmth of his skin pressed against hers.
She yawned. The past few days had been catching up with her before they arrived in Genesis Valley. The celebration had sapped whatever strength she had left, and then the past half an hour had drained her of even the reserves she hadn’t known she’d had.
A smile touched her face and she bit her lower lip softly. It had been worth it, especially the last little bit where she could finally be alone with Ajax, in the place she was already calling her home.
It was perfect.
“I love you,” she said, not for the first time since they had cuddled up after their lovemaking session.
“And I you,” he said, gently kissing her head.
She felt the change in his body language before he said anything.
“Arianna.”
“Ajax.”
She turned around in his embrace as he moved his arms.
“I...” he paused, and she felt her eyebrows narrow.
What is he up to?
He swallowed and tried again. “I’ve been thinking about something. A lot.”
“What’s that?”
“I never properly asked you to marry me.”
She smiled. “No, no you didn’t. But then again, we haven’t had a proper courtship either, now have we?”
Ajax laughed softly. “No, we haven’t. But still, I need to know.” His hand disappeared behind the couch to fumble with something.
Her eyes widened as she realized what his fingers closed around.
“When did you have time to get that?” she asked, shocked.
Ajax blushed a violent shade of red, much to her shock.
“I, uh, actually had it made, at a different time of my life,” he admitted. “I thought I knew what I was doing, but now I realize that even back then I was doing it for you. That it was always for you.” He braced himself visibly and opened the black box. “Arianna Jones, will you marry me?”
A normal woman would have been angry that he was using the ring from a previous love to propose. But Arianna knew better. She knew of the pain he had experienced, followed by a period of loneliness that no one should ever have to endure. He wasn’t being cheap, nor trying to pretend that she was someone else.
No, this was a statement from Ajax, that she fulfilled all the ideals of the person he had wanted to marry. So what if that happened to be a different person? She knew how much the concept of a mate, and marriage, meant to him. That just made his gesture even more touching to her, regardless of how awkward it might be for someone else.
This wasn’t someone else’s relationship. This was hers. If others decided to judge her for it, then she would tell them the same thing she told all the others. It was her life, and if they didn’t like it, they could get out.
She knew her answer. Had known it from that moment in the dirty, dingy bar. From the first time his brown eyes had met her blue. She hadn’t understood what was going on then. But she understood it now. So with a smile, she gave him her answer, the only answer she would ever have.
“Yes.”
THE END
This concludes Book 2 of the Genesis Valley series. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did. Although this story is over, there are more adventures to be had. Sign up for my newsletter to be the first to get your hands on the next adventure:
Sentinel: Bravo Bear (The Agency Book 1) due out July 27th.
New Release Newsletter Signup
Amelia Jade’s
Newsletter Signup
Want More of These Characters?
Genesis Valley
Blueblood Dragon (Book 1)
Black market Bear (Book 2)
Ridgeback Bears
Jade Crew: Alpha Bear (Book 1)
Jade Crew: Haunted Bear (Book 2)
Jade Crew: Forgotten Bear (Book 3)
Jade Crew: Captive Bear (Book 4)
Jade Crew: Outcast Bear (Book 5)
Jade Crew: Hunted Bear (Book 6)
Jade Crew: Fallen Bear (Book 7)
Stone Bears (Genesis Valley Shifters)
Stone Bear: Sentinel (Book 1) – Gabriel
Stone Bear: Phoenix (Book 2) – Uriel
Stone Bear: Guardian (Book 3) - Raphael
Bluff Bears
Rogue Bear (Book 1)
Outlaw Bear (Book 2)
Broken Bear (Book 3)
Junkyard Bear (Book 4)
Other Series by Amelia Jade
The Wolf Wanderers (w/Terra Wolf)
Cinder Wolf (Book 1)
Feral Wolf (Book 2)
Rebel Wolf (Book 3)
Noble Wolf (Book 4)
About the Author
Amelia Jade
Amelia Jade loves to write the stories of tall, growly shifter men and the women who come to love them. Living out in the backcountry near the mountains, she keeps her own alpha male close by to keep the bears away and keep her warm. In her downtime (which is rare), she loves to read science-fiction with a dash of fantasy. You can often find her curled up in front of the real wood-burning fireplace, her nose firmly buried in a book or her favorite e-reader. The cold can’t bother her there!
For more information about Amelia Jade and her work, find her on Facebook.
Author Page
Contents
Copyright
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
New Release Newsletter Signup
Want More of These Characters?
Ridgeback Bears
Stone Bears (Genesis Valley Shifters)
Bluff Bears
Other Series by Amelia Jade
About the Author
al Shape Shifter Romance) (Genesis Valley Book 2)
