“And he will be again. He’s been given a gift of something he doesn’t quite understand and that’s why it’s more important than ever that he stays with us so we can watch over him and take care of him. Take care of both of you. If he gets out of line, out of hand, we have ways we know how to handle him.”
“It doesn’t matter now because I know I’ve lost him. I’ve lost my little boy.”
“Nope, you haven’t. We’re going to find him. I promise you one of the shifters will find him. Tracking people down is what we do best.”
****
Hannah had never known people pull together quite like this. Humans could be unbelievable with their kindness and caring in times of crisis, but the shifters were something more. They’d brought her hope, blankets, and friendly conversation to take her mind off the situation. To them she was one of the family and their differences didn’t matter.
It was Nick Pearson and another wolf shifter who finally found Sam halfway between Kalispell and Glacier National Park. He’d shifted back to his human form and had huddled under some rocks because he’d been cold without his clothes. Bear had insisted he go to the hospital and now Hannah sat holding Sam’s hand as he slept snuggled under the blankets.
“Is he going to be okay?” she asked Bear.
“He’s just fine. He’ll probably sleep a long time but besides being tired, he’s better than ever.”
“I was wrong.”
There she’d admitted it. Bear did know best. Liam was right. Sam belonged with shifters.
“I was wrong, okay? Running away isn’t the answer. I can’t handle my son on my own. He has to be around the group to survive, doesn’t he?” she asked him.
“It’s for his own good. And yes, I’m being selfish too,” said Bear leaning over her. He kissed her. “I want you around forever.”
“Forever, really?”
“Oh yeah. You got me hooked pretty quickly.”
“And what won you over?”
“That you didn’t pursue me. I was able to chase you. You know Bears love to chase things. The wiggling ass also helped.”
“So playing hard to get does work?”
“Guess it does when it’s a bear you’re trying to round up. So you think we might make this human-bear shifter with half human-half shifter son work?”
“Are you planning to live over the restaurant with us?”
“Nope, I think we’ll find a cabin in the woods like Nick has. That way Sam will have plenty of room to shift and run with me and I’ll be able to keep him under control. I promise you he won’t hurt any kids, and he’s going to grow into the best bear shifter around. He might even become leader one day. I see it in his eyes.”
She took a deep breath. She felt happier now knowing that Bear would oversee her son’s welfare and coming of age. Finally it wouldn’t all be on her. She’d found that person who would lift the weight off her shoulders.
“I’ll be like Goldilocks, but I’ll only have two bears living with me.”
“Might not be for long. Maybe Sam will have a sibling?” He raised his eyebrows.
“I said I’d never have another child. Way too painful.”
“You said you’d never have sex again either, but I think I’ve shown you it’s pretty damn good.”
She smiled. What was twelve hours of pain if it produced a baby that would be part her and part Bear. Bear’s baby. Yeah, she wanted Bear’s baby growing inside her.
“Maybe we can give it a try. How about living together for a while and if I haven’t driven you crazy in a month, then yes I think we should think about making it permanent. I know we humans aren’t perfect so be fully prepared to bear with me,” said Hannah, hoping Bear caught onto her intentional pun.
He burst out laughing and kissed her. “Something else that made me fall for you.”
“And what was that?”
“That wicked sense of humor.”
The End
www.vanessadevereaux.com
Other Books by Vanessa Devereaux:
www.evernightpublishing.com/vanessa-devereaux
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Evernight Publishing
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Bear With Me Page 13
