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“Yes, you do,” they growled in unison. “You’ve known there was something else in this world you were meant for.” Bruin dragged his tongue along my mouth repeatedly until I relaxed.

“You’ve felt us watching you… reveled in it, sweet Goldie,” Bear rumbled in pleasure.

“You were meant for us, and we were meant for you.”

I closed my eyes and shook my head, but I wasn’t denying what they said. “I feel that way. God help me… I feel that way too.”

They embraced me, and I felt like there was nothing else in this world that would ever feel this good.

It made no sense. It confused me, frightened me a little, but the overwhelming need to explore what this all meant was stronger than anything that could hold me back.

“Take me home… all three of you.” I pulled back and made eye contact with each one, letting my bears know I meant this. That I wanted it.

And that’s exactly what they did.

EPILOGUE

Goldie

Inever pictured myself having babies. I didn’t even know if that was in the cards for me.

But then life can give you the most glorious, wonderful surprises, and it makes you realize how lucky you are.

And that’s where I was right now. That’s where I’ve been. So lucky that it almost didn’t seem real.

I’d been living with the bears for years now, claimed by them the same way they were claimed by me. We uprooted the home I’d grown up in, brought the animals with us, and built a little farm where we grew our own food and took care of our animals.

I sat in front of the fire, holding the newest addition to our family. Hildie was such a little thing, with blonde fur covering her body.

She had the same golden coloring as my hair and these vibrant blue eyes that seemed unnatural in the most fantastical way.

She was so tiny, the smallest cub out of all my children so far. The boys, Sonny and Gus, had been enormous cubs when theyentered this world, and now, four years later, it was clear they’d taken after their fathers in size.

But little Hildie… I knew she’d take after me, my human side dominant for the first time.

I ran my fingers over her little face, taking note that, although she resembled me in coloring and size, she was still very much a little hybrid.

She had her father’s bear-like facial features, but she had more of a human mouth with fuller lips and a smaller jaw. She had human-like hands, but her nails were these adorable little black claws.

I was amazed at how beautiful my children were, how strangely unique their appearance would seem to others, but to me and their fathers, they were perfect.

I heard Gus squeal in delight as Bear lifted him up and placed our son on his shoulder, tickling his little belly. Ursid did the same with Sonny, flipping him over and setting him back down, only to repeat the process when Sonny cried out for more.

Bruin came over and crouched beside me, staring lovingly at his daughter. Although we knew who fathered each cub, their scent unmistakable as it clung to our children, all three brothers claimed them as their own.

They treated our children as if they were the biological father to all of them.

Our family wasn’t conventional, but it worked for us. And it was perfect.

“My girls,” Bruin growled out in clear pleasure and leaned down to drag his snout gently over our baby girl’s furry little cheek.

He stared at her with so much compassion and love that it choked me up, tightening a fist around my heart until I felt my eyes water.

It was a beautiful sight… seeing these gigantic creatures who looked so fearsome, who were very much dangerous and primal, act so gentle to those they cared about.

Although they protected me and our children with every fiber of their being, I’d never known so much love or such a tender touch in my life.

I was their queen, and the only driving force they had was to make sure their children and I were always protected and cared for.

I reached up and ran my fingers through Bruin’s thick fur, rubbing my hand around his ear and loving the way it twitched in response.

He leaned his head farther into my touch, and I smiled, feeling my heart swell. A second later, Bear and Ursid came to sit beside us, holding our boys.

We sat around the fireplace silently until the children fell asleep.

But I knew the night wasn’t over with. Because as soon as we laid our kids in their beds, my three bears were going to show me exactly how much they desired me… and were ready for baby number four.

The End.