by Ranae Rose
“Congratulations,” Will said, settling a hand on Ronnie’s shoulder. It was easy for him to do – he was as huge as his son. In fact, they were remarkably similar in every respect except for those of age and hairstyle. Will’s dark locks were streaked with ribbons of iron grey and he wore them long, gathered back into a sleek tail.
“Thanks.” Ronnie let go of Violet’s hand and wrapped an arm around her waist instead, pulling her close against his side. “How’s it feel to know you’ll have a daughter before the night’s over?”
“Wonderful.” Will reached out and took one of Violet’s hands, bowing down to brush it with his lips. “I know the ceremony hasn’t taken place yet, but welcome to the family.”
“Thank you.” Violet’s blush deepened as Will released her hand. Family? She’d hardly had time to think past Ronnie and their brand new bond. But Will was right – she was inheriting a whole new family as well. Up until a few weeks ago, she never would’ve imagined herself having any ties to a tribe of bear shifters. But here she was. From what she knew of Ronnie’s grandparents and father, she couldn’t have chosen better. It would be nice to have someone besides her sister and the rest of her packmates to feel close to.
“Wait until you meet Ted,” Will said. “You’ll love him too.”
“What time will he be here?” Ronnie had mentioned to her earlier that his younger brother Ted would be returning from college that night. He’d recently graduated from an out of state university and then completed an internship in the same area – the gathering was, in part, a celebration of his graduation and return.
“He just called,” Will said. “He should arrive in about two hours. I offered to pick him up from the airport but one of his friends had already volunteered. If they can stay out of trouble on the way home they should arrive around nightfall – just in time for the ceremony.” He grinned.
Violet subdued the wave of nerves that flared inside her by breathing deeply, inhaling Ronnie’s scent and letting it wash doubt from her mind. For him – with him – she could do anything. “I can’t wait to meet him. I’ve always wondered what it would be like to have a brother.” If Ted was anything like the rest of his relatives, they’d get along just fine.
After conversation with Ronnie’s family, Violet was able to face the stares of the rest of the tribe with more confidence.
More members filtered in, until there were at least a hundred bear shifters present – men, women and children of all ages gathered from the surrounding mountains, all part of the tribe that was more loosely-knit than a wolf pack, but still close. A wolf pack felt a lot like a family – the bear tribe seemed more like a small community. All of the Roaring Water members were obviously familiar with each other but their homes were more widely spread than the Half Moon Pack’s and in addition to the peace and war chiefs, they were led by a council of elders.
It wasn’t what Violet was used to, but the larger numbers reminded her of Alaska and the arrangement seemed to work out well. People seemed genuinely happy as they spoke, sitting around the campfire and digging drinks out of ice-filled coolers that several families had brought.
Some kids sat close to the flames and passed around a bag of marshmallows that they roasted on sticks collected from the nearby forest’s floor. A little girl shrieked with amusement as her marshmallow burst into flame and a boy that might have been her older brother leapt up and started blowing on it, his face turning red as he did his best to put out the flame. When Violet managed to think past her nervousness, it wasn’t difficult to imagine someday feeling at home around the fire with the many bear shifters.
When a breeze rushed through the clearing, sending a few sparks dancing beyond the edges of the fire pit, it carried a host of familiar scents. Within moments a group of individuals who looked and smelled differently than the rest rounded the side of the cabin.
“You guys made it!” Violet beamed as the Half Moon Pack emerged into the clearing. Every last one of her packmates had come, including Jack and Mandy, the alpha couple, as well as April, Noah, Daniel and Clarissa. Violet loved them but at times it had been hard being the only single wolf in a pack full of happy, mated couples. As she and Ronnie walked to meet the other Half Moon wolves, she felt more at home among them than ever – no more being the odd wolf out. And Ronnie and Jack were already close friends, so it wasn’t as if the pack had anything new to grow accustomed to. Not really.
“We wouldn’t have missed it for the world,” April said, grinning as she held Noah’s hand.
The rest of the pack members murmured their agreement.
“I can’t wait for the ceremony to start,” April continued. “I’ve never seen one like it before. What happens, exactly?”
Violet glanced at the fire so she wouldn’t have to look her sister directly in the eye. They were good at reading each other’s body language – one look and April would be sure to sense Violet’s embarrassment. “It’s pretty simple, really, from what Ronnie’s told me.”
Mercifully, Jack saved her from having to explain further. “Welcome to the pack,” he said, clapping a hand on Ronnie’s shoulder. “We don’t have a ceremony to put you through, but I reckon you’re an official member now.” He smiled as if sharing a private joke, and no wonder – Ronnie had been there for him when even Jack’s own cousins had relocated to Alaska to find mates, leaving him alone. The two of them were like brothers.
“Do my credentials as war chief transfer to the Half Moon Pack?” Ronnie asked, a slight smile belying his serious tone.
“If you wanna be the first to face danger on behalf of the Half Moon Pack, be my guest.” Jack laughed, but it was just a joke – like Ronnie, he was a strong leader, and not one to shrink from danger. It wasn’t surprising that the two of them got along so well.
“Congratulations, you two.” Clarissa stepped forward, her glossy black hair gleaming in the firelight as she leaned in to hug Violet.
Everyone seemed to echo her at once, including Mandy, who gave her the best hug she could considering she was heavily pregnant.
“Thanks, you guys.” Standing there surrounded by her pack with Ronnie at her side, she felt suddenly, dangerously close to tears. She wasn’t one to cry often, but the day had been rife with unexpected emotions and new experiences. It seemed like her relationships had changed with just about everyone who occupied her world, even her pack members. She was still one of them, but now that she had a mate to love, she was even more like them. She was complete, and as she glanced around at all their faces, she realized that that made the pack even more of a whole. “I’m glad you all came.”
“When does the ceremony start?” April asked.
“After dark – it’s tradition for it to take place at night and we’re waiting for Ronnie’s brother, Ted, to show up. He just finished college and an internship out of state and is coming home to celebrate.”
Together, Violet, Ronnie and the pack moved closer to the fire, taking seats by its edge and basking in its warmth as the sun slipped lower and lower behind the mountains, allowing the night’s chill to take over. Clarissa and Daniel gathered a bundle of long, thin sticks and passed them around. When everyone held one, Ronnie found a spare bag of marshmallows and they all began toasting them.
The inside of Violet’s first marshmallow was gooey and delicious beneath its crisp outer shell, but the sweetness was incomparable to the honey-like aroma of Ronnie’s scent and the feeling of contentment that was growing inside her. Surrounded by her mate and her pack, she felt anchored – to them, to the earth and to the rolling Smoky Mountains that stretched around them. It was strange, but she felt more herself than she had in a long time – definitely since she’d relocated from Alaska to Tennessee – as she slid a second marshmallow onto her stick and held it close to an orange flame.
Chapter 6
“Do you want me to get it for you?” Jack asked, removing a blackened marshmallow from the end of a pointed stick.
“No, I’ll get it – I’m not supp
osed to sit for too long without getting up anyway. They say it can cause blood clots.” Mandy rose, placing a hand on Jack’s shoulder for balance.
“I’ll walk with you.” Violet ignored her latest wave of nerves as she stood and left the fireside group behind, following Mandy over a short stretch of wooded terrain to where the nearest road ran. It was narrow and made of dirt – seldom traveled. Jack’s truck was parked at its edge. “Hey Mandy…”
“Yeah?” Mandy asked as she reached for the door, pulling it open and retrieving a bright blue cardigan that lay across the seat.
“There’s something I want to tell you.”
“What is it?” Mandy arched a blonde brow as she shrugged into the sweater, pulling it tight over her shoulders and giving up after a few moments of trying to make it fasten over her round belly.
“It’s about my first day in the Smokies.” Though the fall night was cold, Violet’s cheeks were hotter than they’d been minutes ago when she’d sat in front of the fire, warmed by the flames and Ronnie’s heat.
“What about it?” There was no tone of censure in Mandy’s voice. She’d been kind to Violet over the past several weeks, even after the way Violet had embarrassed herself.
“I know I made a fool out of myself when I first arrived, and you’ve accepted me anyway. I just wanted to let you know… God, this is embarrassing.” She scrubbed the back of a hand across one cheek, as if she could brush the heat of her shame away. It didn’t work. “When I first met Jack, I detected Ronnie’s scent on him. I didn’t know that they were friends and had been hanging out earlier that day – I hadn’t even met Ronnie yet. When I caught a hint of his scent lingering on Jack, I guess for a few minutes, before I realized that Jack was mated, I thought that maybe…”
“You don’t have to say anything else,” Mandy said. “I know what it’s like to sense your mate’s scent for the first time. It can be really confusing.”
“I’ve felt bad about it ever since that first week. I know I acted like a jerk, especially before I met Ronnie and realized that it had been his scent all along. I was stressed over the sudden move, confused and a little jealous. I just wanted to let you know that I’m sorry for the way I treated you. You and Jack are a great couple.”
Mandy smiled. “Thanks. You and Ronnie make a great couple too. If you want, we can pretend like the whole thing on your first day never happened.”
Violet beamed and laughed, unable to help herself. “That would be great.”
“Shall we go roast some more marshmallows before the guys hog them all down?”
“Definitely.”
Underbrush crackled beneath their feet as they made their way back to the campfire and the night’s chill worked its way through the knit of Violet’s sweater, making her skin pebble. Ronnie had driven her to her cabin that afternoon so she could pick up a fresh outfit. Before that, she’d donned an old sweater of his out of desperation after they’d made love. Though it had felt wonderful to be wrapped in something so saturated with his scent, she’d looked laughable in the garment, which had fit her like a baggy dress.
Maybe she should’ve taken a jacket from her closet when she’d stopped by the cabin, but it was too late for that and anyway, the cold wouldn’t be a problem for long. Sitting next to Ronnie was like sitting next to a furnace and when he wrapped an arm around her, she felt warm inside and out.
“Looks like the ceremony is about to start,” Mandy said when they reached the edge of the forest, where the fire danced bright against the darkness. All traces of daylight had faded from the sky, leaving it utterly black, sprinkled with stars that glittered like diamonds in the cloudless night. Everyone had gathered around the fire so that it was surrounded by people, forming a loose ring around the blaze, like they were all cold, or maybe waiting for something.
“You must be Ted,” Violet said as she drifted to Ronnie’s side. A man stood beside him, looking like a slightly smaller and younger version of Ronnie. Still, he towered over Violet as he grinned down at her.
“You must be Violet,” he said, extending a hand.
“Nice to meet you.”
When Ted let go of Violet’s hand, Ronnie took it, wrapping his fingers around hers. As his touch warmed her, she glanced toward the fire. It was going strong and its bright, orange light illuminated the area well. As a wolf shifter, she had a hint of night vision even when in her human form. So did the bear shifters. Between that fact and the illumination the fire provided, everyone would see what was to pass between her and Ronnie almost as clearly as if it were day. “How was your flight?” she asked, shoving the thought from her mind.
“Too long,” Ted said. “I couldn’t wait to get back to the Smokies.” He donned an exaggerated expression of disapproval. “Pennsylvania was fine but no place will ever compare to here for me. It’s a relief to be home.”
“Ronnie, do you want to make your announcement now that everyone is here?” Charles appeared at Ted’s side.
“Yeah. Sure.” Ronnie gave Violet’s hand a squeeze. “I’m just going to let everyone know exactly what went on with the shooting in the park. It’ll only take me a few minutes to explain – then we can move on.”
Violet let the deep timbre of Ronnie’s voice wash over her as he stepped forward and explained exactly what had happened. Everyone listened quietly and when he was done, they seemed to relax in a collective display of relief, though some mumbled angrily about the drunken tourist’s unnecessary act of violence. Regular bears were a part of the mountains too, even if they weren’t shifters.
“And now for a happier matter,” said Emmaline, her voice carrying through the clearing.
Everyone fell silent again.
“Tonight we’ll welcome Ronnie’s destined mate into the Roaring Water Tribe and recognize a new mated pair.” She smiled as she turned to face Ronnie and Violet, her dark eyes gleaming as she tipped her head lightly in the direction of the fire.
Ronnie stepped forward, a little closer to the flames, holding Violet’s hand tightly within his own. She moved with him, drawing closer to Emmaline, who stood with her back to the blaze. Ronnie had told her that Emmaline would officiate the ceremony, as was tradition for the peace chief’s mate to do. Violet was unsurprised when Emmaline lifted three beaded necklaces and held them up to the firelight, where everyone could see. Unsurprised and definitely happy, but gut-wrenchingly nervous. Unable to resist, she met Ronnie’s eyes.
The look she saw there took the edge off her nerves and renewed her resolve to make it through the ceremony without faltering. His eyes held a hard gleam, and yet, there was a certain softness beneath that. Flames were reflected in his pupils, reminding her of the fire he’d stirred inside her, of the heat of his body against and inside hers.
“Ronald Sweetwater and Violet Collins are destined mates,” Emmaline continued. “These beads symbolize the beauty and continuity of a mated pair’s bond. If anyone has any reason to speak against these two being recognized as lifemates in the eyes of the tribe, let them speak now.”
In a way, the words were reminiscent of a traditional wedding ceremony. Pressure stung the back of Violet’s eyes and she blinked rapidly. She wasn’t going to turn into a weeping willow. Not now. Focusing on the warmth of Ronnie’s hand around hers, she fought back the stinging sensation and met Ronnie’s gaze with clear eyes. The beads Emmaline held gleamed in her peripheral vision, bright red, teal and warm brown in the firelight. Another moment or two of silence and Emmaline would drape the beads around their necks and over their clasped hands, acknowledging their union on behalf of the tribe.
The silence was shattered before the beads could be lowered. “She’s a wolf.” A female voice rang across the circle, clear and unfamiliar. “How can she be a part of our tribe?”
Violet’s stomach lurched and she forced herself to tear her gaze from Ronnie’s eyes, turning her head to stare over the fire to where someone had protested – actually protested – her and Ronnie’s official joining.
The voice belonged to a woman who stood at the edge of the circle of light the fire cast. Slender and with her dark hair pulled back into a low ponytail, she was perhaps Violet’s age – twenty-five or so. Her brows were drawn together in apparent irritation.
“There’s no rule or custom against members of the tribe taking mates who aren’t bear shifters,” said Charles, easing Violet’s nerves just a little. “And the mate of a member is automatically a member as well.”
Silently, the girl crossed her arms over her chest, compressing her lips into a thin line.
Violet fought the urge to hunch her shoulders as she waited for others to echo the girl’s sentiments. Maybe she’d been wrong to think that she’d feel at home among the tribe – maybe the angry-looking female represented most of the members’ opinions. Violet hadn’t really spoken to anyone outside of Ronnie’s immediate family. Did all of the others see her as an intruder?
Warmth surged into Violet and dulled her doubts when Ronnie added a second hand to the one he’d already grasped hers with. Looking away from the protester, Violet met his eyes again. They were dark yet bright in the firelight, shining with a sort of intensity that brought her thoughts back to what they’d done earlier that day. In light of the memory, what a random tribe member thought seemed to matter less – she and Ronnie were destined mates and they knew it. Those who had doubts would come to see that in time.
The fire crackled, filling the ensuing pause with comforting sounds.
“Does anyone else wish to speak before the tribe recognizes the bond these two share?” Emmaline continued to hold the beads high.
“I do.”
The bones in Violet’s neck practically snapped when she turned her head, a wave of irritation rolling through her when she laid eyes on the same female who’d spoken before. Maybe it wasn’t the tribe that had a problem with Violet – maybe it was just the girl scowling from the other side of the fire. Violet scanned the crowd quickly. All eyes were on the girl.
