by Elena Aitken
They finished up with the guest rooms and went downstairs, where Gabe and Ashton were waiting.
“What did I say about resting?” He greeted her with a kiss and pulled her into a tight hug.
“I told her.” Harper laughed. “But she won’t listen to me.”
“That makes two of us.” Gabe kissed her again and Harper disappeared to the kitchen, leaving them alone.
“I’m rested,” she told him. “I’ve been sleeping better than I have in weeks.”
“Were you guys waiting for me?”
Zoe twisted around to look at Ashton.
“Well, I was thinking of spending some time all together as a family, but our son here has other ideas.”
Our son.
The words came so naturally out of Gabe’s mouth, because she knew that was how his heart felt. Ashton was theirs. And there was no doubt, not to anyone, that she loved him with the same ferocity as a mama bear who’d birthed her cub. He was hers. She let the warmth of her love for them both fill her.
“I just want to go with Axel and Ryker,” Ashton said. “They’re going to that hunting cabin to do some repairs.”
It turned out that the old hunting cabin where Zoe had been taken by Billy Benson was on the Jackson property.
It already seemed like a lifetime ago that everything had happened. She’d never felt such rage rush through her before the way it had that night, but she didn’t regret her decision. If she closed her eyes, she could still see the look in the cat’s eyes as she’d stared down into them. For as big as he was, as strong, and as fearless as he pretended to be, he’d never come up against a mama bear before. And in that moment, it was clear to Zoe that Billy knew he’d been beat.
She could have ended him. But instead of slicing his throat, an action she’d never be able to take back, she’d let her heavy paw land against his jaw, hard. The blow had knocked him out and moments later, the Jackson brothers hauled the mangy mountain lion off to teach him a lesson or two before returning him to the authorities, who’d assured them all that he wouldn’t see the light of day for a long time.
In the days that followed, Axel had approached Zoe about the cabin. Did she want them to destroy it? Were there too many bad memories there?
But no. It was quite the opposite, really. Despite the way it happened, that old cabin had been where everything had finally clicked. When she’d finally come into her own as Ashton’s mama bear. No, she didn’t want them to destroy it.
A plan had been put into place and they’d made the decision to make some repairs and fix it up. With the population on the ridge exploding all the time, they could use the extra space and it could be a unique offering for guests.
“Zoe?”
She blinked away her thoughts and remembered where she was.
“What do you think? Should we let him go?”
“They said I could be their tool boy,” Ashton added.
“Tool boy?”
He nodded. “I get to carry the tool boxes and hand them things.”
She couldn’t help but laugh at his excitement. “I don’t see any harm in that,” she said as she looked to Gabe, who shrugged. “We’ll have plenty of time to do things as a family.” A lifetime. “Besides,” she winked, “I was thinking about how nice it would be to cuddle up in front of the fire in that cabin of ours this afternoon.”
“Boring.”
They both laughed as Ashton rolled his eyes dramatically.
“Have fun, kiddo.” Gabe ruffled his hair.
“And take a coat,” Zoe added. “I heard something about snow today.”
“And listen to Axel and Ryker.”
“I will. I will!” Ashton didn’t wait around for more instructions, but spun on his heel and took off out the front door.
“He’s happy,” she said as they watched him run off.
“More importantly, he’s safe.” Gabe wrapped her up again and kissed her.
Zoe couldn’t get enough of his closeness. She couldn’t believe that she’d ever tried to push it away. Even harder to believe that she ever thought she could.
“Now how about we go for that cuddle?”
Zoe couldn’t think of anything she would like more. But before they could make their retreat to the cabin that was tucked back in the trees, there was a crash in the kitchen. “What the hell?”
They rushed into the kitchen to find Kira, heavy with pregnancy, on the floor. Harper kneeled next to her, a cell phone in her hand.
“What happened?”
“Something’s wrong.” Kira gritted her teeth and Zoe could see her struggling to take a breath. “It hurts. It shouldn’t hurt.”
Zoe dropped to her knees while at the same time looking back at Gabe. “Get Nash,” she ordered. “Now.” Gabe took off without another word, and Zoe turned her attention to Kira.
“It’s too soon,” Harper whispered.
Zoe looked up into her friend’s eyes and saw the worry there. The babies weren’t due until January. It was too soon.
“Everything is going to be okay.” She smoothed back Kira’s dark hair off her face. “Just breathe. The babies are going to be okay. You’re going to be okay.”
But even as she said the words, Zoe wasn’t sure she believed them. Shifter pregnancies could be hard. Very hard. And Kira was pregnant with cross-breed babies. Nobody knew what kind of complications could come from that.
Kira’s eyes were wide with fear and whether she believed it or not, Zoe kept on repeating the words. “You’re going to be fine. Everything will be okay.”
All any of them could do was hope she was right.
* * *
THE END
I hope you enjoyed Zoe and Gabe’s story! There’s lots more love to be had at Grizzly Ridge, and still a few sexy shifters that deserve to find their mate.
Check out Natalia’s story in His to Seek.
* * *
AND…don’t forget to join my mailing list where you’ll be the first to hear about new stories, sales and promotions and giveaways!
You can join me here —>
https://elenaaitken.com/newsletter/
About the Author
Elena Aitken is a USA Today Bestselling Author of more than forty romance and women’s fiction novels. Living a stone’s throw from the Rocky Mountains with her teenager twins, their two cats and a goofy rescue dog, Elena escapes into the mountains whenever life allows. She can often be found with her toes in the lake and a glass of wine in her hand, dreaming up her next book and working on her own happily ever after with her very own mountain man.
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To learn more about Elena:
www.elenaaitken.com
[email protected]
Also by Elena Aitken
Bears of Grizzly Ridge
His to Protect
His to Seduce
His to Claim
Hers to Take
His to Defend
His to Tame
His to Seek
Bears of Grizzly Ridge: Books 1-4
* * *
The McCormicks
Love in the Moment
Going for the Moment
Only for a Moment
One more Moment
In this Moment
From this Moment
Castle Mountain Lodge
Unexpected Gifts
Hidden Gifts
Unexpected Endings - Short Story
Secret Gifts
Mistaken Gifts
Goodbye Gifts
Tempting Gifts
Holiday Gifts
A Castle Lodge Collection (Books 1-5)
His to Seek
His to Seek
Available June 24, 2019!
Nothing can stand in the way of fated mates—except maybe themselves.
Despite being named the most eligible bachelor in the country, all billionaire Cyrus Steele wants to do is hide from the spotlight. As a Kodiak shifter, he needs solitude.
However, he also hung
ers for a mate.
So when he meets Natalia Jackson, who's as sexy as she is confident, he's more than happy to accept her offer to hide out together in the Montana mountains. It doesn't hurt that their connection is immediate, intense and so hot, it'll take more than a snowstorm to douse their flames.
But they can't hide forever and when the responsibilities of real life come knocking, Natalia and Cyrus find themselves at odds with what's expected of them and what their hearts are calling them to do. Fated love may be right in front of them but their lives may very well tear them apart.
* * *
Read Cyrus and Natalia’s story in, His to Seek. Available June 24, 2019!
AND…don’t forget to join my mailing list where you’ll be the first to hear about new stories, sales and promotions and giveaways!
You can join me here —>
https://elenaaitken.com/newsletter/
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