by Amelia Jade
“I see,” she said, following along.
“Good. Because this,” he continued, motioning to the three of them, “is going to set him off completely. We’ll have to keep an eye out for what his response will be. I have a feeling it’s not going to be pretty.” He grimaced. “I’m really hoping he doesn’t force my hand. I’ve seen enough death lately, I don’t want to have to dole out more.”
“Do you think he’ll do more?” she asked, looking back and forth between the two of them. Despite their assurances, she was worried about what might happen.
“You’ll be fine,” Garrett assured. “He doesn’t want to be ended, so I think he’ll stick to something that more makes our lives,” he pointed at him and Russell, “a living hell, rather than actually hurt someone.”
At that moment the rest of the Ridgebacks, minus Evan, arrived. Garrett and Russell were effectively mobbed by them as Garrett was forced to show them the book, which was followed by hoots of laughter and teasing as his new family looked over the photos of the two of them.
Russell managed to extract himself fairly quickly as she watched, and he moved over to her.
“I’m proud of you,” she told him, giving him an affectionate but short kiss, propping herself up on her toes to reach his level.
“It feels good to have that off my chest,” he confessed to her.
“I’ll bet,” she said sympathetically, hugging him tight. His large, strong arms wrapped around her, holding her close as he took a slow, deep breath, letting it out with what sounded like a relaxing sigh.
The snicker caught both of their attentions at the same time. They turned, looking off to the side beyond the brightness of the lights that lit what would be the dance floor after dinner was served. There they saw Evan, staring at them both.
Pathetic, he mouthed at them, sneering. His eyes promised revenge before he backed out of the exit doors into the dark of the late afternoon light.
“You know,” she said, staying close to her man. “I’m getting really tired of him. He scares me.”
“I agree,” Russell said, his voice tight with concern and tinged with anger. “I think you should stay close to me at all times.”
“That would be nice,” she murmured, looking up at him. “What exactly did you have in mind?”
“You’re moving into the Lodge. With me,” he proclaimed.
“What?” She was too stunned to say anything else.
“Mates need to be near each other. So this solves that problem, and allows me to keep a closer eye on you.”
“Are you claiming me as your own?” she asked softly.
“With every inch of me,” he said gravely. Then he stopped, and looked at her. For just a split second, she saw doubt flash through his eyes, though it was quickly overpowered. “That is, assuming you have no issues with it,” he said.
Gwen pretended to think about it for three or four seconds. “I do not,” she said, before breaking out into a smile.
They kissed again, slightly more passionately this time.
Then she broke away abruptly as something occurred to her.
“Umm, Russell?”
“Yes my mate?” he asked.
“Doesn’t Evan live at the Lodge?”
“Technically, yes. But he’s never there anymore. And any time he is there, he’s not alone. I’m there, or Garrett, or Corey, or Darren. Someone is always around when he is. Unlike when he’s in the city. Where you are. Alone. And more than five minutes away.”
“Okay,” she said, though her nerves were anything but calm at the idea.
“Plus Emma is there often as well. Evan knows better. Besides, I think he’s more out to get me and Garrett than he is either of the two of you. Garrett’s his Alpha, and he knows now that with me being his brother, Evan’s spot as second is in jeopardy.”
“I thought Corey wanted that spot?” she asked, trying to remember the order of command in the Ridgebacks.
“Hell, Corey doesn’t even want his spot as third.” Russell laughed. “Let alone second. No, it was going to be me even before I told Garrett anything,” he said confidently.
“So,” she said, her eyes looking up at him suggestively, “does that mean you’re going to be an officer now? Do I have to salute you, or,” she let her voice turn into a purr, “do I have to call you sir?”
The flare of arousal in his eyes was unmistakable as he stepped closer to her, bending down to first nibble on her neck before whispering in her ear. “I think ‘sir’ is acceptable, don’t you?”
She pulled back to be able to look him in the eyes as she nodded. “Yes sir,” she said, giving him her best innocent and obedient look.
This could be more fun than I thought.
Chapter Fifteen
Epilogue
Gwen pulled her jacket tighter around her as they exited Russell’s truck.
“I’m already realizing that winter here is something I’m going to have to get used to the hard way,” she yelled above the wind.
“Oh come on, it’s not that bad,” her mate said, coming around to the back of the truck to help with her bags.
She eyed him suspiciously, noting the sweater and jeans he was wearing. “I’m not helping you warm up if you catch a cold from wearing just that,” she said.
“Oh no, that’s okay. I know I’m going to be the one warming you up anyway,” he said, raising his eyebrows.
She laughed. The week since the wedding had been a whirlwind of work. Between helping Ferro out at his bar, which was quickly beginning to take shape, and ensuring that Russell’s room at the lodge was in acceptable condition for her, she had been working nonstop. Thankfully Russell’s room was all painted, carpeted, and ready for her to move in now.
Ferro’s, on the other hand, is going to be weeks yet.
She couldn’t get over the devastation that had been caused. They had had to rip out the majority of the walls, replacing one only to start tearing down another, ensuring there was enough load-bearing supports in place as they went. It had been a nightmare. At least now the exterior walls were done and insulated, meaning she wasn’t freezing as she worked.
Her jealousy at the ease with which the bears handled the cold was in no way faked.
On top of all the work though, she had also seen far less of Russell than she might have wished. He and Garrett had spent practically every other moment together as Russell recounted story after story, trying to jog Garrett’s memory. Although it helped Garrett to feel better about himself as a person, unfortunately none of it seemed to be doing anything for his memory. Now, however, she was moving in with Russell, so at least she could see more of him in the evenings and such.
“You’re going to do that by running a hot bath, massaging my feet, and fetching me dinner, right?” she said now, dashing Russell’s advances.
Not that she wasn’t going to give in to them anyway, but it wouldn’t do for him to know that just yet. Not until she got that bath.
It was almost December, and winter was starting to rear its ugly head. It wasn’t that cold out today, she knew, but a strong, biting wind was blowing, making it feel much chillier than it was. Gwen had never been built for the cold to begin with, so the bath was as much a necessity as it was a pleasure.
Besides, if everything went well, Russell would join her there…
“Hey, has Emma mentioned anything to you about that crew that destroyed Ferro’s?” Russell asked as they unloaded things into his room.
Their room, she corrected.
“No, nothing at all. I’d been hoping you might have heard more,” she replied. “I figured with you involved with the Consortium things might trickle down.”
“That’s just it,” Russell said, straightening up from setting some bags on the bed. “I haven’t heard a word. Not a peep from anyone.”
“That’s strange.” Gwen said, mulling it over. “They can’t have just disappeared.”
“I agree, but nobody seems to be talking about it.”
; “Although you know that really big bear, umm, Gabriel?” she said, forgetting his name for a second.
Russell nodded.
“Well, the other week, I was wandering around town. I got lost, and ended up in what I now know is Sapphire territory.”
Her mate’s jaw tightened as she said it, but he refrained from saying anything as she continued.
“Anyway, one of them was being rather rude, and out of nowhere Gabriel shows up. He had been at their place for some reason, though he wouldn’t say why. And from there, he went straight to a meeting with Emma at the café where Trestin works.”
“Interesting,” Russell said, mulling it over. “Maybe we should just ask Emma?”
“Ask Emma what?”
Gwen spun to look at the door. Standing in the door they had propped open as they lugged in her bags was Emma.
“About that crew, the ones that attacked us. A bunch of them got away, and nobody has seen them since. Have you heard about them?”
“I’m not really supposed to talk about it,” Emma said. She grimaced. “But I don’t know much. I do know Gabriel was appointed to track them down, but they haven’t been found yet to my knowledge.”
“What was your meeting with Gabriel about?” she asked, before her internal filter could prevent her from saying anything.
“He’s been investigating some other things for me unrelated to the Opal Crew. The rest, I’m sorry, is classified. Though I can tell you that it doesn’t directly concern either of you two. But that’s all I can say,” she said firmly.
“It’s okay, we understand,” Russell said.
“Now, Emma, I have a serious question for you,” Gwen said, stepping outside and looking up and down the length of the building. Russell had told her it was an old motel that had been abandoned after a new road was built, effectively causing the death of any traffic that would need a motel.
“What is it?”
“In the spring, which I’m told is going to come eventually,” she said with a mock shiver, “I want to plant a vegetable garden. Is there anywhere I can do that?”
Russell made a noise behind her that sounded suspiciously like a snicker.
“What exactly was that noise for, mister?” she said, rounding on him, one finger pointed his way.
“A vegetable garden? I mean, does that include potatoes?” he asked, brightening all of a sudden.
“No,” she said. “Tomatoes, peppers, carrots, things like that.”
Russell scrunched up his face in disgust.
“Oh shut up!” she said, hitting him on the arm. “Ow. Besides, I need to eat veggies to maintain my girlish figure,” she said, doing her best to keep a straight face.
“Well I happen to need meat and potatoes,” he replied as Emma watched the banter.
“For what?” she scoffed.
“For my muscles.”
“Here we go,” she said out of the corner of her mouth to Emma, who was laughing and backing away slowly, content to let the two of them be.
“Yes. My muscles. So that I can do this,” he said, dropping low all of a sudden and hoisting her over one shoulder. “Me caveman,” he said in his best imitation of one.
“Put me down!” she screamed, alternating between crying out and laughing as he turned and headed back into their room. “If you hit my head, I swear, you’re sleeping on the floor! No, outside!” she said, but he didn’t put her down, his arm holding her easily over his shoulder.
“How about you be quiet, and I show you what else my muscles are good for?” he said once the door was closed, pinning her up against the wall with ease, at a height that kept her level with his head.
“If you’re going to show me, I’m not sure I’ll be able to keep quiet,” she said mischievously, before leaning in to kiss him.
Gwen had a feeling she could get used to living with Russell.
THE END
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Next Up in Genesis Valley
The story continues where Forgotten Bear ends with Stone Bear: Sentinel. See just what Gabriel is getting up to!
Stone Bear: Sentinel
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Genesis Valley - Recommended Reading Order
Jade Crew: Alpha Bear
Jade Crew: Haunted Bear
Jade Crew: Forgotten Bear
Stone Bear: Sentinel
Jade Crew: Captive Bear
Stone Bear: Phoenix
Want More of These Characters?
Ridgeback Bears
Jade Crew: Alpha Bear (Book 1)
Jade Crew: Haunted Bear (Book 2)
Jade Crew: Forgotten Bear (Book 3)
Jade Crew: Captive Bear (Book 4)
Stone Bears (Genesis Valley Shifters)
Stone Bear: Sentinel (Book 1) – Gabriel
Stone Bear: Phoenix (Book 2) - Uriel
Bluff Bears
Rogue Bear (Book 1)
Outlaw Bear (Book 2)
Broken Bear (Book 3)
Junkyard Bear (Book 4)
Other Series by Amelia Jade
The Wolf Wanderers (w/Terra Wolf)
Cinder Wolf (Book 1)
Feral Wolf (Book 2)
Rebel Wolf (Book 3)
Noble Wolf (Book 4)
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, find her on Facebook.
Profile: Amelia Jade
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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 Fifteen
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Next Up in Genesis Valley
Genesis Valley - Recommended Reading Order
Want More of These Characters?
Ridgeback Bears
Stone Bears (Genesis Valley Shifters)
Bluff Bears
Other Series by Amelia Jade
About the Author
