Page 18 of Mismatched Mates (Special Bear Protectors)

GRANT

T he last notes of the wedding band faded into the cool evening air as I surveyed the thinning crowd. My eyes locked onto Jane, her petite frame somehow commanding attention even as she bustled about, cleaning up discarded champagne flutes. I sauntered over, unable to resist the gravitational pull she seemed to exert.

"Hey there, party planner extraordinaire," I said, flashing a grin. "Fancy a little adventure to cap off the night?"

Jane glanced up, her dark eyes suspicious. "What kind of adventure?"

I leaned in conspiratorially. "How about a shifter run in the woods? Those boys of yours have been angels all day. Bet they're itching to let loose."

Jane's arms crossed over her chest, a physical barrier to match her emotional one. "I don't know, Grant. They've never shifted outside the clan before. What if something happens?"

I placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder, ignoring the spark that shot through me at the contact. "Nothing will happen. I've got years of security experience, remember? Plus, I'm pretty good at handling cubs."

Her lips quirked into a reluctant smile. "Oh really? And how many cubs have you wrangled, Mr. Elston?"

"Well, none technically," I admitted with a chuckle. "But I did babysit a litter of wolf pups once. How different can it be?"

Jane rolled her eyes, but I caught the hint of amusement in her expression.

"Think about it, Jane. When was the last time you really let yourself go? Felt the wind in your fur, the earth beneath your paws?"

Her eyes softened, a wistful look crossing her face. "You know exactly when the last time was.. and look how that turned out."

"Looks like it’s turning out ok to me… so, what do you say?" I wagged my eyebrows in what I hoped was an enticing manner. "Trust me."

Finally, she let out a long breath. "If anything happens to them, Grant Elston, I swear I'll?—"

"Maul me? Tear me limb from limb?" I finished, grinning. "Wouldn't dream of letting it come to that."

She turned, calling out to the boys. "Lance! Brandon! Come here for a second."

The twins' heads popped up like prairie dogs, their eyes wide with curiosity. They bounded over, practically vibrating with energy.

"How would you two like to go for a run in the woods?" Jane asked, her voice soft but excited.

Their reaction was immediate and explosive. "Really?" Lance squealed.

Brandon's jaw dropped. "You mean it, Mom? Like, for real?"

I chuckled, their enthusiasm infectious. "For real, kiddos. What do you say we show your mom how it's done?"

The boys exchanged a look of pure joy before turning back to us, nodding so vigorously I worried their heads might pop off.

As we made our way towards the treeline, I noticed Jane's steps seemed lighter, almost eager. The scent of pine and damp earth grew stronger, and a cool breeze ruffled our hair.

The boys raced ahead, their laughter echoing through the trees. Jane's eyes never left them, but I caught the way her nostrils flared, drinking in the forest air.

"You know," I said, keeping my voice low, "it's okay to enjoy this too. They're safe. I promise."

She glanced at me, a mix of gratitude and lingering worry in her eyes. "I know. It's just... hard to turn off sometimes."

We reached a small clearing, bathed in dappled moonlight. The twins were already shedding their formal wear, giggling as they helped each other with buttons and zippers.

"Ready?" I asked, meeting Jane's gaze.

She took a deep breath, then nodded. "Ready."

As we prepared to shift, I felt like something fundamental changed between us.

"Last one shifted's a rotten egg!" Lance shouted, already half-transformed.

"No fair!" Brandon whined, struggling with his shoelaces.

I chuckled, shrugging off my pants. "Alright, boys, let's make this a fair race. On three, okay?"

Jane shot me a grateful look as she helped Brandon.

"One..." I began, feeling the familiar tingle of the change. "Two..."

The boys were practically vibrating with excitement.

"Three!"

The shift always feels like stretching after a long nap - slightly uncomfortable for a split second, then pure relief. My bones cracked and reformed, fur sprouting across my skin. In moments, I stood on four paws, shaking out my thick gray coat.

Jane's bear form was breathtaking - a dark cinnamon-colored beauty with intelligent eyes. The cubs tumbled around her feet, all baby fat and clumsy paws.

I let out a playful growl, and we were off. The forest floor felt amazing under my pads, rich with scents I could never fully appreciate in human form. The cubs darted between trees, snapping at low-hanging branches and chasing each other's tails.

Jane loped beside me, her powerful strides eating up the ground. There was a freedom in her movements I'd never seen before, like she'd shed more than just her human skin.

I kept a watchful eye on our surroundings, my protective instincts on high alert.

This felt right in a way I couldn't quite explain.

As we bounded through the forest, a faint scent caught my attention. My ears pricked forward, and I felt my hackles rise. Something wasn't right. I tried to place the smell - not quite human, but not a bear or a wolf either. It set my teeth on edge.

Jane glanced at me, her brown eyes questioning. I gave a low rumble, hoping to convey 'everything's fine' while my brain went into overdrive.

The cubs wrestled nearby, oblivious to my sudden tension. I positioned myself between the group and whatever potential threat lurked out there. Jane cocked her head; I’m sure she picked up on the smell too.

I nudged the group towards a small clearing, away from the deeper parts of the woods. The cubs tumbled after a butterfly, still caught up in their game.

I kept my movements casual. What the hell was out there? And more importantly, why did it make every hair of my wolf stand on end?

As we circled back to where we left our clothes, the adrenaline rush of our run slowly ebbed away. The cubs' excited yips mellowed into playful growls.

I slowed my pace, and Jane followed suit. The cubs, picking up on our cues, gradually decelerated their mad dash through the underbrush. We each slowly morphed back into our human forms.

"That was awesome!" the Landon exclaimed, his eyes still wild with excitement.

I chuckled, reaching for my jeans. "Glad you enjoyed it, kiddo. You've got some serious speed for a couple of cubs."

"Mom, did you see us?" Lance bounced on his toes, not bothering with clothes yet. "We were like, zoom! And then Grant was all growly, but in a fun way!"

Jane smiled, already halfway dressed. "I saw, sweetie. You both did great."

"Grant," Jake piped up, struggling with his shoelaces. "Can we do this again sometime? Please?"

The hopeful look in his eyes caught me off guard. It was nice. Unexpectedly so.

"Sure thing, sport," I found myself saying. "As long as it's okay with your mom."

I glanced at Jane, suddenly aware of how domestic this all felt. Me, the eternal bachelor, playing Father to a couple of bear cubs.

Jane's eyes met mine, and I felt a jolt. Not the usual "hey, hot mama" kind of jolt, but something deeper.

"Thank you," she said softly, and I knew she wasn’t just talking about the run.

"Anytime."

As the boys chattered away, comparing their favorite parts of the run, my mind drifted back to that scent I'd caught in the woods. I found myself scanning the treeline, ears pricked for any unusual sounds. The protectiveness surging through me was unexpected.

"You know," I said instead, aiming for casual, "your boys are pretty incredible. They've got your spirit."

Jane's face broke out in genuine smile, unguarded. "They're my whole world," she admitted. "I just hope I'm doing right by them."

"Are you kidding? You're like... Super Mom. Trust me, I've seen my share of lousy parenting."

The words slipped out before I could stop them.

We walked in companionable silence for a moment, and I was struck by how right it felt. No need for constant flirting or witty banter. Just existing in the same space, comfortable. The ease I felt around Jane and her kids, the fierce protectiveness, the way my wolf calmed in her presence - it all added up to something I'd never experienced before.