by V. Vaughn
"I love you, Sammy."
"I love you too, Leo. My mate."
"My soul mate for life." Leo sighs as he moves to lie beside me and pull me into his arms. And for the second time in so long, I fall asleep almost instantly.
Epilogue
Eight years later
Kids squeal and scream as they run around my yard with water guns. I place my hand on my very round belly and smile. Water hits my shirt, and I let out a yelp.
Elise says, "Oh my god, Sammy. I'm so sorry. Adam Joseph! What did I tell you about the moms?"
"Sorry, Mom. Sorry, Sammy," says Elise and Ian's seven-year-old.
"Not a problem," I say. "I was hot, anyway."
"Don't encourage him," chides Elise. "God, I need more wine. Can I get you anything?"
I chuckle. Elise and Ian have eight children in total, and I'm not sure how she keeps it together most days.
"I'm good. Go."
A loud roar comes from Leo as he chases after three-year-old Nicholas, Nina's son. And I laugh when twelve-year-old Sadie hits my husband's back with water and yells, "Run, Nicky. Run!"
"Oh, you're in for it," says Leo as he goes after Sadie.
Her twin, Sophie, is playing a serious game of gin rummy with my mother at the table near us, and if I had to bet money, I'd say Sophie is winning. A few years ago, I decided to let my mother back into my life. She’s been clean for years now, and we’re slowly repairing our relationship.
"Hey," says Nina.
I turn to her to take the glass of seltzer garnished with fresh fruit she brought me.
"Once you have the babies, we don't expect you to host us every Sunday, you know."
"Are you kidding? This is the highlight of my week. Leo's too."
"You say that now. But wait until you haven't slept more than a few hours in a week."
I notice my mother is listening to our conversation, and I look at her. "Then I'll just rely on my mom to hold my screaming children while I take a nap."
"Deal," she says to me with a smile.
I bite a strawberry and savor the sweet flavor as Nina and I watch the mayhem. I ask her, "Are you ready for the gala next Saturday?"
Nina opened a no-kill animal shelter a couple years ago, and she has an annual event to raise funds.
"I think so. You did an amazing job with the silent auction. Thank you."
"No problem. I needed to do something to keep me sane. I don't know what I was thinking, quitting my job before the babies came."
"You were thinking that being off your feet for the last two months of your pregnancy would keep you healthier," says Leo as he comes up behind me and wraps his arms around my round waist to place his hands on my belly.
I laugh. "You're hiding."
"You know it," he says before he plants a quick kiss on my lips. "That Sadie has a mean streak."
Nina says, "She does—" She frowns when she gets that Leo was teasing. "Oh. She does have great aim. Maybe she should be a warrior."
Elise approaches us. "Don't think Ian isn't trying to recruit all of our kids. We could be our own army."
"I'm out!" yells Ian as he comes over to us. His hair and clothing are dripping wet, and he looks at Elise. "Is my bag inside?"
"In the guest room," she says as she hands him her glass of wine for a sip.
He gulps down a mouthful and says, "Once I change, I'll get started on the grill."
"Thanks," I say, and I glance up at Leo, who is still behind me. "I put the skewers in the garage fridge."
"I got them," says Elise. "This might be the only time I get Ian to myself. You two enjoy talking to each other while you can."
"Ai-den," warns Nina, and she takes off to go keep her son, who has shifted into cub form, from getting into a tussle with his twin, who is a cub now too.
I turn to gaze up at my doctor husband. Leo started at a pediatric practice last summer, and that was when we decided it was time to start our family. While he was in medical school, I managed to get my PhD and work as a teacher for eight years, as I had originally planned. And we put our family on hold until both of us were ready. My husband taught me how to take things slowly and let life happen instead of forcing things to fit my master plan.
I reach up and place my hand on his face. "Do you have any idea how much I love you, Leo?"
"I do, Sammy. I suspect it's about as much as I love you."
He leans down and kisses me. His hand slides over my bottom for a quick squeeze.
Seth yells out, "Hey! Looks like he's still got the moves!"
I pull away and grin at Leo. I reach out and place my hand on his chest to feel the threads of our soul-mate connection. I say, "He sure does." And I don't think I'll ever get tired of them.
I hope you enjoyed the final book in Bewitched by the Bear. The Smokey Falls Wolves series has started!
Stand by Your Wolf is out now.
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Did you get them all?
Bewitched by the Bear
Bear Space
Bad Bear
Look What You Made Me Bear
I Knew Bear Were Trouble
You Bear With Me
Check out V.’s world of shifters:
Called by the Bear
Tempted by the Bear
Desired by the Bear
Rocked by the Bear
Bewitched by the Bear
Winter Valley Wolves
V. writes Vampires too!
Called by the Vampire
You can see all her published books at www.violetvaughn.com
About the Author
V. Vaughn lives on the coast of Maine and spends as much time outdoors with her three Portuguese Water dogs as she can. She may have seen a bear or two….
www.violetvaughn.com
