by Amelia Jade
“You live here?” she asked, surprised.
“Um, yes? I’ve thought about buying property in the city, perhaps up by the Koches. But it’s just been me. There was no need for a full-on house.”
“And now?” she asked.
Gray paused. “I dunno, I think living here works.”
He showed her to his room and opened the door upon a fairly standard hotel room. There was a sitting room with television right at the front. A hallway on the left-hand side, created by the bathroom on the right. At the back of the room was the bed, with another TV on the far wall from it.
“Sure. Until the baby is born,” she teased, perfectly accepting of the living accommodations. They didn’t have a kitchen like she did, but the rest of it was much nicer.
“I think we can arrange something,” he joked, and pulled her tight.
They stood there in the room, embracing one another for what felt like eternity. A single tear rolled down her cheek as she thought once more of Jacen and his needless death, and then it was done.
Chapter Thirty
Gray
He finished packing the last of their things, and looked back and forth between the two piles.
On the left were his items. Two suitcases of clothes, and three boxes of miscellaneous items he’d picked up over nearly six months of living in Cloud Lake.
To the right of them, in a mound, was all of Kelly’s…stuff. There was really no better way to describe the nine boxes, three bags, two suitcases, purse and…and…he wasn’t even sure what the other thing was, besides being a bag. A shoulder bag?
“Is something wrong?” Hector asked.
Gray turned to his right and regarded his friend. Then the pile of his mate’s things. Then Hector, and back again.
“I’m sensing that something is,” the other shifter half-laughed.
“She’s been here three weeks,” he complained. “And look at how much stuff she’s already managed to accumulate!”
This time Hector did laugh, not bothering to hold it in. Gray punched him in the shoulder, but it didn’t stop the laughing. Hector reached out a hand to brace himself on the wall as he howled with laughter. Gray stood there, giving him an evil glare, but it still took several minutes for Hector to recover. That’s when Gray hit him with his counter.
“I’m sure Rachel will be glad to know you’re okay with this much stuff.”
Hector’s jaw snapped shut abruptly. “Not funny, man.”
Gray laughed, but the hostility in Hector’s eyes shut him up. “What’s wrong? I thought you were fawning over her like no tomorrow?”
His friend looked away. “I was. Until she stopped responding. I haven’t seen her in days now. Over a week even.”
“Shit, sorry man,” Gray apologized. “I didn’t know.”
“I know, I haven’t told anyone.” Hector sighed. “Sorry I snapped. Not your fault.”
Gray shrugged. That was all that was needed; there was no need for a long conversation about everything. He shouldered Hector and reached down for the bags. Together they carried them downstairs to where the waiting truck sat out behind of the embassy in the loading yard. Gray rarely came out this way, preferring the front doors, but it was convenient now. He’d hoped to be able to avoid using such transportation, but the reality of the matter was, it made sense for him to rent a vehicle for an hour.
“So where’s Kelly at?”
Hector finished putting the last box into the truck as Gray pulled the sliding door closed and ensured it was securely closed. They weren’t going far, but no sense risking it.
“Getting spoiled,” he said. “I sent her to go get her hair cut as well as the nail things girls always like, for her hands and her feet. I forget what the person called them, but Kelly was over the moon about it, so I think I did okay.”
“Nice.”
Gray nodded. “Yeah, they said it should keep her occupied for about three hours. I bought the works, so she’s getting a full shampoo and massage while she preps for her hair, that whole thing.”
His friend whistled. “You weren’t kidding when you said spoiled.”
“Nope, I wasn’t. She’ll come back, and I’ll take her out to show her the new place. It’ll be perfect.”
Hector nodded. They split around the truck and hopped in, both a little nervous. Hector, because he was unused to riding in vehicles, and Gray, because he was unused to driving them. He knew how—he’d taken lessons—but it had still been an…interesting drive to the embassy.
Come to think of it, Hector might have been a little nervous because about that as well. Gray hadn’t crashed them, but there had been a close call or three.
“Don’t worry, I’m going around the town to get there, not through it,” he said as Hector strapped himself in quickly and braced himself.
“That’s a relief.”
He socked him in the arm again for the sarcasm in his reply. Then he fired up the engine and guided the truck out into the streets.
“So she has no idea?”
“None,” Gray said with a grin. “I think. If she does, she’s really, really good at not letting me see that she knows.”
The two of them chuckled and settled back into the drive. Sort of. Gray’s head kept swiveling around, looking everywhere, while Hector tried to be as surreptitious as possible about holding on tightly and not jumping every time Gray tapped the brakes.
***
“Where are we going?”
He grinned, holding her hand as they strolled through the streets. “Your hair looks fabulous, love.”
Kelly blushed and shook her head slightly, sending the glossy tresses of her brown hair bouncing. “Thank you. I love it.”
The stylists hadn’t done much to it. They’d taken a few inches off, but it had been treated with some product or another that made it straight and shiny. Gray had listened, and even made a credible effort to understand what she was talking about. Unfortunately, the information had fled him at some point. Probably when she’d kissed him, but he couldn’t remember. It was all a blur.
Now though, he was back in command, guiding her through the town as he held her hand, taking her out to show off to everyone, letting everyone know that she was his, and that he was proud to have her.
They were also meandering closer to their final destination, not that Kelly had any idea. This was a secret he’d kept from her, and also managed to get Harden to keep from Erika, so that the two friends couldn’t spill the details. He hoped. Even if they had made their way to her through the various grapevine chain of one of the Koche brothers’ mates, to Erika, to Kelly, she hadn’t made a connection, which was good.
“This is really nice and romantic,” she said, leaning into him and walking with her head resting against him for several paces.
“It’s nice to be able to just spend time with you like this,” he agreed, giving her hand a squeeze.
She squeezed back.
“Thank you for spoiling me today. I mean, you do every day naturally, but you know what I mean.”
He grinned. “You’re welcome, darling. I hope you enjoyed it.”
“I did. It’s been so long since I’ve spoiled myself like that! I wouldn’t have been able to anytime soon either, so I really appreciate you stepping in. I feel so relaxed and happy today.”
They walked along for some time after that, making their way across town. They took frequent breaks, and even got ice cream at one point, a particular favorite of his, and all shifters. The number of ice cream parlors back in Cadia was the highest per capita of any store.
“Where are you taking me?”
He covered his reaction as best he could, looking over at her with a carefully assembled look. “What do you mean?”
Kelly smiled. “I mean, where are you taking me?”
“On a walk.”
She lifted both eyebrows, her face screaming disbelief. “Uh-huh. And this walk has an end destination, does it not?”
Gray put on his best condes
cending face. “Well of course. I don’t intend for us to walk forever. So of course we’re going to stop at some point.”
The back of Kelly’s hand hit his upper bicep. “No. That’s not what I meant and you know it.”
He laughed. “I know, I know. We’re just about done, then we’ll head home, I promise.”
Kelly eyed him sidelong, but didn’t press the subject, much to his relief. After all, he didn’t want to explain to her ahead of time that “home” was no longer where she remembered it.
They went off the sidewalk and took a manicured path through a little woodlot, emerging on the other side on the road that marked the unofficial northern edge of Cloud Lake. The sun was starting to set in the west, lighting up the Quicksilver Mountain range to the east that separated Cloud Lake from Cadia. The view from this part of town was incredible, the ground sloping slightly upward compared to the center.
“It’s beautiful,” Kelly said softly, stunned by the visage in front of them.
“That it is,” he echoed, but his eyes weren’t fixed on the landscape.
Eventually Kelly noticed him staring at her and she flushed a rosy pink and got up on her tiptoes to kiss him. “You’re sweet.”
He stroked his hand down her cheek, but didn’t respond, enjoying the silence while looking into her eyes. A smile tickled his lips, twitching them upward slowly, but before it could blossom he leaned in and pressed his lips to her forehead, kissing her several times as he hugged her tight.
“Come on.” Gray took her hand and tugged her along. They were extremely close to their destination.
“What? Where are we going? I thought we were going back?”
“I never said that,” he replied, pulling her gently in his wake.
“Yes…yes you did!” she protested. “You said we were going home.”
“I know,” he said cryptically.
Kelly stared at him oddly, and he pulled her off the side of the road and down a roughly hacked path in the forest on the north side of the road.
“Where are you taking me?” she asked, resisting his pull some more.
“Exactly where I said I was.”
Almost.
“But you said you were taking me—”
The trees cleared in front of them, and Kelly came to a stumbling halt.
“Home,” he supplied as the words stopped coming out of her mouth.
Before them was a gorgeous two-story home made entirely from huge timbers. Massive trunks formed beams that held up the frame, supplemented by horizontal logs for the walls, all stained a gorgeous dark orangey-brown color. The roof was a uniform black color, contrasting sharply with the design.
Windows and doors had been cut here and there into the frame of the building, turning it into a house instead of a cabin. The front doors were the pièce de résistance however, with their two-story-high glass windows and peaked archway supported by two massive logs that stretched from the ground all the way up to the top, carved into dueling bear motifs on the front.
“But we don’t live here,” Kelly said, her voice tight. “Gray, we don’t live here. We live at the motel. The embassy. We…” she turned to look at him, and her face lit up.
“We live here now,” he said.
“I…Gray…I don’t know what to say. It’s beautiful!”
Behind them the sky turned shades of orange and red as it dipped below the horizon. The light show playing out on the mountains was visible, but neither of them were looking at it. Their attention was only for each other now.
He smiled and took his mate by the hand.
“Come with me. Let me show you our new home, where we’ll start our lives, and our family, together.”
*******
This concludes Bad Bad Bear Dad. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did. Although this story is over, there are more adventures to be had. To get access to my newest stories at the introductory price of just 99c, and for other exclusives, sign up for my newsletter!
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Hey!
Thanks for digging in to my back matter for more books to read. I’ve written a number of series now, in two main worlds. Both worlds have an easy and convenient to read introductory bundle with a number of stories in it that will drag you right into the world.
Cadia
This is the world where the story you just read is set. Not sure where to start? Try reading:
The Dragons of Cadia Bundle (Click)
This 6 book bundle is just $0.99c or FREE with Kindle Unlimited. From there, just follow the links in the back!
Genesis Valley
This is the other world I have written extensively in. There are a number of books in the series, and the order can jump around a bit. The best way to start is here:
Jade Crew: The Boxed Set (Link)
This 7 book collection is also just $0.99c and FREE with Kindle unlimited. Once you reach the end, it will link you to the next series.
Already read both box sets and want more? Flip the page for the complete rundown of all my series and the recommended reading order.
Thanks!
-Amelia Jade
The world of: Cadia
Here are the main series in the world of Cadia. Find them below!
Start with:
Dragons of Cadia: The Complete Dragon Shifter Series.
The Full 6 Book Bundle (Link)
Includes:
Frost Dragon
Fire Dragon
Electro Dragon
Gale Dragon
Fume Dragon
Aurum Dragon
Next:
Base Camp Bears
Green Bearets: Luther
Green Bearets: Aksel
Green Bearets: Jarvis
Green Bearets: Garrin
Green Bearets: Kiefer
Green Bearets: Gabriel
Then:
The Koche Brothers
Blackjack Bears: Pierce
Blackjack Bears: Kean
Blackjack Bears: Gavin
Blackjack Bears: Kassian
Blackjack Bears: Maximus
Then:
Standalones (In Chronological Order)
Big Bad Wolf Dad
Bad Bad Bear Dad
Wing Her Over
The World of: Genesis Valley
This world follows the events in Genesis Valley, where misfit shifters of the world are sent. It is a brutal, vicious place where everyone’s chances have already been used up. This is it. Screw up, and they end you. But amongst the harsh life these bear shifters have eked out for themselves, everything burns brighter. Especially love.
The books in the first two series jump around some if you wish to follow the exact chronological timeline. See the numbers in bold to follow the order.
Start With:
Jade Crew
The Complete Boxed Set (Link)
Includes:
Jade Crew: Alpha Bear [1]
Jade Crew: Haunted Bear [2]
Jade Crew: Forgotten Bear [3]
Jade Crew: Captive Bear [5]
Jade Crew: Outcast Bear [6]
Jade Crew: Hunted Bear[8]
Jade Crew: Fallen Bear [9]
Next:
Stone Bears
Stone Bear: Sentinel [4]
Stone Bear: Phoenix [7]
Stone Bear: Guardian [10]
Then:
Genesis Valley
Blueblood Dragon
Blackmarket Bear
Finally:
The Agency
Sentinel: Bravo Bear
Blackblood Bear
Silver Bullet Bear
Kingpin Bear
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, visit her website or find her on Facebook.
Amelia Jade’s Website
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
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Chapter Thirty
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