Page 26 of Flare (Bearpaw Ridge Firefighters #17)

Advice

Emily stiffened, and Ward instinctively put his arm around her shoulders. Sophie ’ s finely shaped dark brows rose at the gesture.

“ What did Sheriff Jacobsen say?” Emily asked, sounding apprehensive.

“ The police discovered he ’ s been staying at the Pine Ridge Motel over in Salmon,” Elle said. “ But according to the motel manager, Andrew returned briefly on Saturday afternoon, grabbed his bags, and hasn ’ t been back since.”

Emily ’ s face brightened with hope. “ Maybe he ’ s given up? Gone back to Spokane?”

Ward wished he could agree with her. He exchanged a glance with Uncle Dane, whose grim expression mirrored his own thoughts.

“ I don ’ t think so,” Uncle Dane said, his tone gentle. “ Men like Andrew don ’ t just give up when they ’ ve decided someone belongs to them. And especially not if they ’ re a shifter with a mating bond.”

Sophie ’ s eyes widened. She turned to Matt with an inquiring look. He mouthed, ‘ Later. ’

“ You ’ re right, Uncle Dane,” Ward said, his voice low. “ Andrew ’ s gone off the radar because he ’ s planning something.”

Emily ’ s hopeful expression faded. Her shoulders slumped.

Under the table, Ward felt her hand seek his. Her fingers were ice cold as he gave them a reassuring squeeze. She clung to his hand and intertwined her fingers with his.

“ The whole town is on alert, dear,” Elle assured her. “ And you ’ re surrounded by Swansons here. You couldn ’ t be safer.”

Emily nodded, but Ward could feel her pulse racing beneath her skin. He stroked her hand with his thumb, wishing he could do more to ease her worry.

“ Enough about Andrew,” Aunt Annabeth announced, standing and going to the sideboard, where two large foil-covered cake pans rested. “ Who ’ s ready for dessert? I made cheesecakes.”

“ That sounds great, Mom, but please tell me they ’ re not lavender,” Maggie said in a teasing tone. “ After working the festival all weekend, I ’ m burned out on lavender for a while.”

Everyone laughed. “ Don ’ t worry,” Annabeth assured them. “ I made salted caramel cheesecake with toasted pecans, and blueberry-lemon swirl. And I see Maggie brought a box of cookies from Cinnamon + Sugar.”

Ward ’ s parents had drawn cleanup duty this week. They quickly cleared the table and brought out insulated jugs of coffee and hot water for tea.

The conversation shifted to lighter topics as everyone enjoyed dessert, but Ward remained acutely aware of Emily ’ s subdued mood. He kept hold of her hand beneath the table, a silent reminder that he wouldn ’ t let anything happen to her.

∞∞∞

After dessert, Maggie pushed back from the table and stretched. “ Sophie, Emily, want to go for a walk? I could use some fresh air, and we ’ ve got a ton to catch up on.”

“ I want to know who Andrew is, and what ’ s going on,” Sophie said.

“ It ’ s a long story,” Emily warned.

“ TLDR: he ’ s an asshole, and he ’ s stalking Emily,” Maggie added.

Ward reluctantly released Emily ’ s hand as she rose from her seat. His bear protested at the idea of letting her out of his sight, but he shushed it.

Emily flashed him a quick smile before following Maggie and Sophie out the French doors from the dining room to the back porch.

Ward ’ s gaze lingered on the doorway even after the three of them had disappeared from view.

Dad, passing by with a stack of dirty plates, squeezed his shoulder. “ They ’ ll be fine, son. The property is secure, and Maggie ’ s with her.”

“ I know,” Ward replied.

“ Come and give your father and me a hand with the dishes,” Mom urged, and Ward knew he was in for a benevolent interrogation.

Ward sighed, gathered up a stack of used coffee cups and saucers, and followed his parents into the kitchen.

“ So,” Dad said casually, passing a stack of plates to Ward to put in the dishwasher, “ Emily ’ s back to stay?”

Ward accepted the plates, recognizing his father ’ s tone. “ I think so… if we can, uh, convince that asshole to leave her alone.”

“ I ’ ve always liked her,” Mom added, running water in the sink for the pots that wouldn ’ t fit in the dishwasher. “ I remember when she worked at Justin ’ s restaurant. She ’ s smart. And seems resilient.”

Ward rolled his eyes, knowing where this was heading. “ Way to play investigative journalist, Mom. Just ask me whatever it is you want to know.”

She grinned at him. “ Now, Eddie, that wouldn ’ t be any fun,” she chided with a laugh.

“ I noticed you couldn ’ t keep your eyes off her.” Dad turned on the faucet to fill the sink, then leaned against the counter, crossing his arms. “ Is she the one? What does your bear think of her?”

Ward continued loading the dishwasher while he considered how to answer. His parents had always been straightforward about shifter matters, even though his mother was an Ordinary human.

“ Yeah, she ’ s the one,” he admitted at last. “ My bear ’ s been interested in her ever since high school. But it ’ s complicated.”

“ Because of this Andrew person?” Mom asked. “ Elle told me how he tore that cabin apart. It ’ s going to cost at least five grand to repair or replace all the things he ruined.”

“ Five grand, on top of breaking in and stealing Emily ’ s laptop… that puts him in felony burglary territory right off,” Dad interjected, elbows deep in soapy water but still a lawyer to the core. “ Andrew Brunborn could be sentenced to ten years in prison… once we catch him.”

“ We should be so lucky.” Ward grabbed a dish towel and began drying the first of the pots his dad handed him. “ Anyhow, Mom, yeah, she ’ s been through a lot with him. Emily needs time.”

Mom nodded thoughtfully. “ That ’ s understandable. But what about you? How is your bear handling it?”

“ I ’ m trying to be patient,” Ward said, shrugging. “ I mean, what else can I do?”

“ That ’ s not what your mom asked,” Dad pointed out mildly. “ She asked how you and your bear are handling the situation.”

Ward straightened and faced his parents. They both looked concerned.

“ Okay, it ’ s hard,” he admitted. “ My bear wants to claim her, to make sure everyone knows she ’ s ours. But Emily isn ’ t ready for that. She asked for time, and I ’ m giving it to her. But—” He broke off, frustrated.

“ But bears aren ’ t known for patience,” Mom finished for him with a wry smile.

“ No,” Ward agreed. “ Things haven ’ t been… easy.”

Dad clapped him on the shoulder. “ I know how overwhelming it can be when your bear recognizes its mate. The instinct to claim, to protect, to possess—it ’ s powerful. But remember, claiming has to be mutual, no matter what your bear thinks.”

“ I know that,” Ward said defensively. He added, “ I ’ m not gonna act like that asshole Andrew. Emily didn ’ t know he was a shifter when he mated her. And then he got all possessive and controlling with her. I don ’ t want to be like that.”

“ Good.” Dad nodded approvingly. “ Because it ’ s the human side ’ s responsibility to rein in the bear ’ s impulses. Especially when your potential mate is human and doesn ’ t understand the power of a mating bond.”

“ Don ’ t worry, Dad. I ’ m not like Andrew.” Ward ’ s tone was sharper than he ’ d intended.

“ I didn ’ t say you were,” Dad said calmly. “ But every shifter faces the same challenge—balancing the animal and human sides. And for Ordinary mates, that balance is critical.”

Mom intervened, her voice gentle. “ Eddie, your father isn ’ t questioning your character. He ’ s just reminding you of something he ’ s struggled with himself.”

Ward ’ s anger deflated as quickly as it had risen. “ I know. I ’ m sorry. I ’ m just…” He trailed off, unsure how to articulate the tumult of emotions he ’ d been experiencing since Emily entered his life.

“ You ’ re in love with her,” Mom said simply. “ And your bear ’ s mating instincts are complicating things.”

Trust Mom to hit the nail on the head. “ Exactly.”

“ For what it ’ s worth,” Mom continued, “ I think the signs look positive. Emily clearly likes and trusts you. And she moved into your place. Those aren ’ t small things for someone who ’ s been hurt the way she has.”

Dad nodded in agreement. “ Your mother ’ s right. Just give it time. A successful mating is more than just chemistry or fate—it ’ s a lifelong partnership.”

Ward sighed and voiced a fear he ’ d barely acknowledged to himself.

“ What if she never wants what I want? What if my bear seals a mating bond with her, and then someday she leaves me like she left Andrew?” The idea sent a physical pain through his chest. “ I mean, she ’ s an Ordinary.

She ’ ll never experience a mating bond like we do. ”

Dad scowled at him. “ From what Maggie told us, Andrew drove his mate away by being an abusive asshole. That has nothing to do with the mating bond and everything to do with him being a terrible person.”

“ Your father ’ s right,” Mom said firmly. “ And I take offense at the implication that humans can ’ t form bonds as strong as shifters.” She brandished a soapy carving fork at Ward. “ I may not feel your father ’ s mating bond the way he does, but our commitment is unbreakable.”

“ I didn ’ t mean—” Ward began.

“ I know,” Mom interrupted. “ You ’ re scared, sweetie.

Maybe Emily can ’ t feel a mating bond the way you do, but if she chooses you despite everything, that ’ s the strongest bond of all.

Think about how many people in this family—myself included—aren ’ t shifters.

But they ’ re still absolutely committed to their mates.

Can you imagine Annabeth ever leaving Dane? Or me leaving your father?”

Ward shook his head, properly chastised. “ No. Of course not.”

“ Exactly,” Dad said. “ Because those relationships are built on love and choice, not just instinct.”

“ And that ’ s what makes them powerful,” Mom added. “ When I chose your father, I chose everything about him—including his bear.”

Ward felt something tight in his chest loosen. “ You ’ re right, Mom.”

“ Of course I ’ m right,” Mom said, returning to the dishes. “ I usually am.”

“ I ’ ve always loved how modest you are, my love,” Dad said with a fond chuckle.

Then he turned serious again. “ Look, son, I know it ’ s difficult.

The waiting, the uncertainty—it goes against every instinct your bear has.

But if Emily is truly your mate, then she ’ s worth waiting for.

And in the meantime, just be the man she needs you to be. ”

“ And from what I ’ ve seen today,” Mom said, “ Emily is developing feelings for you.”

Ward felt a surge of hope at his mother ’ s words. “ You think so?”

“ The way she was looking at you when she thought no one was watching?” Mom smiled. “ Oh yeah. There ’ s definitely something there.”

Dad clapped Ward on the shoulder. “ Just give her the space to come to you. I ’ m sure she will.”

“ Thanks,” Ward said, hugging first his mother, then his father. “ I needed to hear that.”

“ That ’ s what we ’ re here for,” Dad said. “ Now, let ’ s finish up so we can join the others before they think we ’ re in here gossiping about them.”

“ Aren ’ t we?” Mom asked innocently.

Ward laughed, feeling lighter than he had in days.