Page 35

Back to Where It All Began

Bellamy

“Kinda funny that we’re headed back to where it all began.” Beau grinned before he took a swig of his beer. “Never thought you’d be getting mated at a sex club.”

I could do him one better. I never thought I’d have a mating ceremony. “The Stepchild is the only place in Granger Falls that can handle a bunch of rowdy bears and wolves.”

The consolidation of the clans had just begun—our first order of business was bringing the Lynwood clan completely into this realm. They’d been stuck for decades.

“Go big or go home, Bell.” Brad clapped his hand on my shoulder. “Even though you were only the boss for a couple of weeks, I’ve gotta say, you were the best boss I’ve ever had. If you tell Barrett I said that, I’ll totally deny it.”

“Sounds like you’re writing a eulogy.” Barrett grinned as his employees’ mouths dropped. “This guy isn’t going anywhere. His role might be changing a little, but he’s the best in the business, and I’m not ready to let him go.”

“You’ll have your plate full as alpha of the new clan and working with us.” Beau whistled low. “Barrett might need a new second-in-command.”

“Good thing he’s got the perfect guy who can step in.” Clover startled all of us as she wrapped her arms around my waist and kissed me.

“Whoa. Isn’t it supposed to be bad luck for me to see you before the ceremony? Aren’t you supposed to be with your glam squad getting ready?”

She put her hand on her hip. “Are you saying I don’t look gorgeous every day?”

Her hair had been loosely twisted away from her face, and there were little crystals dotting the design. Makeup accentuated her features. But she was still wearing a tank top and leggings.

“You get more beautiful every day. That’s the last thing I’m saying.” I leaned in to kiss her and she drew away. “Don’t tell me you have bad news.”

“Hell no. But if you mess up my makeup, everyone will know I snuck off to see you. And as you just said, that’s totally against the rules.”

I tipped my head toward Brad and Beau. “And you think these guys can keep a secret?”

“Not a chance.” She laughed. “But everyone expects them to spread wild rumors. Can you sneak away for a minute?”

“They can’t start the ceremony without us.” I chuckled. “But don’t want anyone to think we bailed on them.”

She shook her head. “I have a surprise for you.”

Before I had a chance to answer, she pulled me by the hand away from the crowd of bears and wolves and out into the yard. I thought she’d stop there, and I was about to protest that I had a gift for her too, but I’d planned to give it to her tonight, after the ceremony, but she kept going and didn’t stop until we were surrounded by trees and birdsong.

She looked up at me and batted her long eyelashes. “Happy mating day.”

“Can I kiss you now?”

“Almost.” She ran her teeth over her bottom, glossed lip. “It will make more sense when we’re done. The ceremony later is for show. For everyone else. But I wanted something for just us. You deserve to have a special day. You’re the bravest bear I’ve ever met, Bellamy Laredo, and I’m proud to be your mate. So every time you come through this forest, whether you’re in your human or bear form, I want you to remember this is the place we started our life together.”

I didn’t notice the bag slung over her shoulder until she pulled it forward and unzipped it. A long ribbon emerged.

“Are you familiar with handfasting?” she asked.

“Is that a Lynnfield tradition?”

She shook her head. “I wanted to find something just the two of us could do in private, and this seemed perfect. Hold my hand, and we’ll take turns wrapping it, and when we’re done, then you can kiss me.”

“Deal.”

With the ribbon tied around her ring finger, she held out her hand to me. I was surprised to find mine was shaking. She wrapped the ribbon around our wrists.

She gazed up at me. I was more than happy to oblige her with this ceremony. But there was something about feeling her hand in mine, the ribbon holding us together, that hit me. I didn’t know it was possible to fall deeper in love with Clover Crowley, but I had a feeling this woman would surprise me every single day.

“Your turn,” she said with a husky voice.

I circled the ribbon around her wrist, then opened my fingers a little so I could wind it there too.

“That’s not how it’s supposed to be” She laughed.

“Since when do you care about rules?” I leaned in closer. Sweet moon, did I ever want to kiss her. “You’re lucky I don’t tie you against that tree and tell everyone to start the party without us.”

“Naughty bear.”

“You said you wanted me to remember this spot.” I waggled my brows and gave the ribbon another wind. “It would certainly be memorable.”

“You’re not wrong, but I have another idea.” She took a deep, shaky breath, reached into her bag, and pulled out an envelope. “This is for you. I hope you like it.”

It wasn’t easy to open the envelope one-handed. There was a picture inside that looked like it had been printed from an actual camera. It was a little blurry at first, and I needed a moment…holy shit.

“Is this what I think it is?”

Clover nodded excitedly. “I’m pregnant. Only seven weeks—but I asked Chandra about it on our first girls’ night, and she suggested that I opt for fizzy water instead of beer when I said I was late. I didn’t want to tell you until I was absolutely sure. Because this is a mature pregnancy, Chandra wants to monitor me closely and make sure everything’s okay. That’s why she did the ultrasound so early.”

“But everything is…okay?”

“It’s hard to tell, but we’ve passed all the tests she’s given us with flying colors so far.” Clover turned the picture so she could see it too and pointed at the little white dot in the middle. “And you’ve got to admit, she’s gorgeous.”

“She is.” The only thing that could make me look away from the picture was the beautiful woman who was standing beside me. The mother of my child. All that scar tissue that had held my heart together since she’d rejected me melted away. “Do you know for certain we’re having a girl?”

She shook her head. “No, but every time I picture her, she’s a girl.”

“Never thought I’d ever have a chance to be a dad.”

“You’ll be amazing.” She ran her fingers over the ribbons. “I’m so happy we get to do this together. We get to teach our little one magic. The right way. No more secrets. No more lies.”

“Can I kiss you now?”

“Abso-fuckin-lutely.” She shrieked as I somehow managed to lift her off the ground while our hands were still tied together. I spun her around, letting the sun catch the light on the crystals in her hair. She looked like a goddess. A queen.

My mate.

Our lips tangled together as I lowered her feet to the ground, but we were still spinning, the world orbiting around us as we said all the things that words couldn’t. The love between us poured hopes and dreams into the cracks of the pain and heartache from the last fifteen years. But it didn’t make them go away. Those scars, those mistakes would make us stronger.

I drew away from her, a completely different bear than I was the morning she’d walked into my office. I was a broken man who’d stopped dreaming. Now I realized I couldn’t have dared to dream big enough.

“Ready to go do this in front of the clan?” I asked her.

“So ready.” Her eyes widened. “I have to get the dress on. So you’ll still have a little surprise when I walk down the aisle.”

“I have a better idea.” Luck and superstition were the least of my concerns. My mate was pure magic. “I know you plan to have Anders walk you down the aisle and give you away, but let’s do this our way. I say we enter together, and the next time we see our friends and clan, it will be as a family.”

“I love it.” She went up on her tiptoes and kissed me again. “You’ll be an incredible alpha, and the most amazing mate I could ever ask for.”

Thank you!

I hope you enjoyed reading Bellamy and Clover’s story as I did writing it! It’s been so much fun to return to Sawtooth Forest and see things from a different perspective.

Next bear on the case? Beau’s been called up to protect a wolf shifter actress who’s gotten mixed up in some bad business. Not just any actress, his celebrity crush. Can he keep things professional while he’s spending every moment with Kayla?