by T. S. Joyce
Clinton’s voice broke, and he jerked his head toward an older man and woman near the wall. They were surrounded by four giant men with sandy blond hair like Clinton’s. His mom had her hands clasped in front of her mouth and tears streaming down her cheeks, and she waved at Alyssa and pressed her hand to her chest, like she was trying to keep her heart in there.
“We’re legal to do what we want now,” Clinton said, his eyes so raw, so adoring. “You can have whatever kind of wedding you want. Whatever makes you happy. I just want you for always. Bound to me, my mate, my wife, all of it. I’ve loved you since I was a kid. You were the steady good in my life, even when I thought I would never see you again.” He blew out a shaking breath. “Alyssa?”
“Yes! Yes, yes, yes,” she cried out, dropping down to hug him.
“Wait, woman!”
“I said yes. Yes.”
Clinton settled her back on her feet as everyone was laughing and cheering and clapping around them. “Let me ask you!”
“Yes.”
He chuckled and tried to give her a serious look that failed when his smile peeked through. “Will you marry me?”
“Yes!” Her hands were shaking so bad Clinton had to hold her hand steady to put the big ol’ rock on the finger he’d turned green with his cheap promise ring so many years ago.
The bar erupted with cheering that rattled the walls and shook the floor beneath her feet. Her bear was still new and so overwhelmed right now. Clinton stood and hugged her, lifted her off the ground, and kissed her. She couldn’t breathe with all this emotion roiling through her. She tried to control herself by laying little pecking kisses over his cheeks.
“Hey,” Clinton murmured, easing back. “It’s okay.”
“I’m gonna Change.” Her chest was constricting with the long snarl of her bear.
“No.” He shook his head and smiled at her. “Look at me. Stay with me.”
She dragged air in and nodded over and over as the crowd jostled them. And when she felt in control and smelled less like fur, Clinton set her down and handed her to Audrey, who was bawling even harder than Alyssa was.
And as she was passed from friend to friend for hugs and congratulations, Denison and Brighton Beck hit the first chord of a song and filled the bar with music. Kong and Layla were working hard behind the bar, and every single person in here donned happy smiles.
Her eyes locked on Clinton through the crowd as he talked with his family, and she made her way toward him. Toward her future.
The shifters of Damon’s mountains were cheering and clapping behind her, where they would always be. They would always have her back and wouldn’t let her fall. And Clinton would always be there, strong for her when she was weak, and she swore on everything she would be that for him, too, because after all he had gone through and sacrificed, he deserved to be okay.
Shifters had their rights back, and the future was bright, not only for her and Clinton, but for the children here. The ones who hid tiny owlets, ravens, bear cubs, and dragons inside of them.
And someday she would get to tell her and Clinton’s cubs about their fight to find each other again and their journey to carve out this beautiful existence among these incredible people. These amazing people who had somehow transcended friendship and become family.
She stopped in front of Clinton and inhaled deeply. He smelled of happiness, and she’d never scented that on him before. Not like this.
“I have to tell you something,” he said, pulling her waist to him.
She twisted her engagement ring around her finger and canted her head, mesmerized by that smile on his lips, the one she lived and breathed for. Slowly, she slid her arms over his shoulders and looked up into those blazing silver eyes. “Tell me.”
The smile dipped slightly from his lips, but lingered in the corners. “I love you.”
And there it was—her dandelion.
She wanted to cry and scream and celebrate. He’d been so brave with his admission, and now infinite joy filled the rest of the hole she’d been carrying in her middle.
Alyssa hugged him and nuzzled his face the way her bear told her to. “I love you, too, Clinton. More than anything. You’re mine. My mate. My love.” She smiled as he hugged her tighter, and she whispered softly against his ear, “You were always mine, and now look what you’ve given me.”
She rested her cheek against his as they looked out over the shifters and humans celebrating the vote, celebrating their commitment to each other. Tagan, Creed, Harrison, Kong, Damon and Cody Keller stood near the bar, the alphas watching their people and talking to each other through happy smiles. Kids chased each other through the crowd, laughing freely. Alyssa’s family and Clinton’s family were hugging and talking with animated, happy faces. Willa was dancing on the bar in a plaid skirt and her black crop top with the cartoon worm. She was rubbing her round belly and waggling her eyebrows at Matt. Cora Keller and Beck were up there with her, too, dancing like a hundred pounds had been lifted off their shoulders with the results of the vote. On the dance floor, Beaston was swaying from side-to-side with Aviana and Weston. They were in the middle of a dozen other Ashe Crew, Gray Back Crew, Boarlander Crew, and Breck Crew couples. The Beck Brothers’ were slaying a country song, and this was it. This was a moment that made a thousand lifetimes.
Alyssa smiled up at her mate. He wasn’t Crazy Clinton anymore. He was just…Clinton.
He’d given her friends and family, filled her hollow places, and loved her even when she didn’t know who she was. He’d given her a crew she would do anything for and the beautiful sound of laughter that filled Sammy’s Bar.
He’d given her the animal in her middle, and 1010, and a safe haven.
But most importantly, Clinton had fought to stay whole until they could find each other again. He’d given her his whole heart.
Alyssa didn’t want to remember her past anymore. It didn’t matter how she and Clinton found their happily ever after among the shifters in Damon’s mountains.
It only mattered that they had.
Up Next from T. S. Joyce
Harper Keller, the dragon-blooded granddaughter of Damon, will get her story in a brand new series from T. S. Joyce
Bloodrunner Dragon
Coming May 2016
New Release Newsletter Sign-Up
For new releases, exclusive sneak peeks, and giveaways, sign up for T. S. Joyce’s Bear Shifter Romance Newsletter HERE.
Want More of these Characters?
Read T. S. Joyce’s bestselling Gray Back Bears series.
Entire series, available now.
Gray Back Bad Bear (Book 1)
Gray Back Alpha Bear (Book 2)
Gray Back Ghost Bear (Book 3)
Gray Back Broken Bear (Book 4)
Lowlander Silverback (Book 5)
Other Series by T. S. Joyce
Saw Bears
Lumberjack Werebear (Book 1)
Woodcutter Werebear (Book 2)
Timberman Werebear (Book 3)
Sawman Werebear (Book 4)
Axman Werebear (Book 5)
Woodsman Werebear (Book 6)
Lumberman Werebear (Book 7)
Fire Bears
Bear My Soul (Book 1)
Bear the Burn (Book 2)
Bear the Heat (Book 3)
Bears Fur Hire
Husband Fur Hire (Book 1)
Bear Fur Hire (Book 2)
Mate Fur Hire (Book 3)
Wolf Fur Hire (Book 4)
Dawson Fur Hire (Book 5)
Chance Fur Hire (Book 6)
Bear Valley Shifters
The Witness and the Bear (Book 1)
Devoted to the Bear (Book 2)
Return to the Bear (Book 3)
Betray the Bear (Book 4)
Redeem the Bear (Book 5)
Bear Valley Valentine (Valentine’s Day Novella)
Hells Canyon Shifters
Call of the Bear (Book 1)
Fealty of the Bear (Book 2)
> Avenge the Bear (Book 3)
Claim the Bear (Book 4)
Heart of the Bear (Book 5)
Wolf Brides
Wolf Bride (Book 1)
Red Snow Bride (Book 2)
Dawson Bride (Book 3)
About the Author
T.S. Joyce is devoted to bringing hot shifter romances to readers. Hungry alpha males are her calling card, and the wilder the men, the more she'll make them pour their hearts out. Experienced at handling an alpha male of her own, she lives in a tiny town, outside of a tiny city, and devotes her life to writing big stories. Foodie, bear whisperer, ninja, thief of tiny bottles of awesome smelling hotel shampoo, nap connoisseur, movie fanatic, and zombie slayer, and most of this bio is true.
Bear Shifters? Check
Smoldering Alpha Hotness? Double Check
Sexy Scenes? Fasten up your girdles, ladies and gents, it’s gonna to be a wild ride.
For more information about T. S. Joyce and her work, visit her website here.
