Page 34 of The Right to Bear Claws (Hollow Oak Mates #6)

ELIAS

E lias woke to the most perfect sensation he'd ever experienced, the steady, reassuring pulse of Kaia's heartbeat echoing through their newly forged bond like a second rhythm in his chest.

She was still asleep beside him, platinum hair spread across the pillow like spilled moonlight, her face peaceful in a way he'd never seen before.

The claiming marks on her hip were healing beautifully, three parallel scratches that would fade into silver scars marking her as his for all the world to see.

His bear rumbled with deep satisfaction at the sight, but it was more than possessive pride. Those marks represented choice, trust, the most intimate gift one person could give another. She'd offered herself completely, and he'd claimed her with reverence rather than dominance.

Through the bond, he could feel her dreams—not the chaotic nightmares that had plagued her before, but soft, warm visions of their future together. A house full of laughter, children with his eyes and her gentle spirit, decades of quiet mornings just like this one.

"You're watching me sleep," she murmured without opening her eyes, a smile tugging at her lips. "I can feel you thinking very loudly."

"Sorry." He pressed a kiss to her bare shoulder. "Still getting used to this connection. I can sense everything about you. Your mood, your location, even your heartbeat when you're in another room."

"It's overwhelming sometimes," she admitted, violet eyes fluttering open. "Like learning to live with someone else's emotions constantly humming in the background. But also..." She rolled toward him, her hand finding his chest. "It's wonderful. Knowing you're there, always, no matter what."

"Any regrets?" he asked, though he could already feel through their bond that there weren't.

"None." Her fingers traced the line of his collarbone. "You?"

"Only that it took us so long to get here."

They lay in comfortable silence for several minutes, basking in the new depth of their connection. But eventually, the scent of coffee and bacon wafting from downstairs made Kaia's stomach growl audibly.

"Family breakfast awaits," Elias said with a grin. "You ready to face the Vane clan as an official member?"

"Are they going to make a big deal about it?"

"Kaia, you're the first mate any of us has brought home in over a decade. They're going to make a huge deal about it."

She laughed, stretching like a contented cat. "Then I guess I better get dressed and prepare for the full treatment."

Twenty minutes later, they made their way down to the cabin's main room where the entire Vane clan had apparently assembled for what was clearly a celebration breakfast. Magnus stood at the stove, manning multiple pans with the efficiency of someone who'd fed a large family for decades.

Thorin and Finn had pushed the dining table against the wall to make room for additional seating, and someone had clearly raided the local bakery for enough pastries to feed a small army.

"There they are!" Magnus boomed when he spotted them, his weathered face splitting into a grin that made him look twenty years younger. "Our new daughter-in-law."

"Dad," Elias warned, but he was smiling too.

"What? I've been waiting thirty-four years for you to bring home a mate. I'm allowed to be excited." Magnus abandoned his cooking long enough to sweep Kaia into a gentle hug. "Welcome to the family, sweetheart. Officially this time."

"Thank you," Kaia said, her voice thick with emotion. "For everything. All of you."

"Don't get sentimental yet," Finn called from across the room. "Wait until you see what Thorin made for you."

Elias's older brother emerged from the kitchen carrying what looked like a small wooden jewelry box, his expression uncharacteristically shy. "It's a claiming gift," he explained, offering the box to Kaia. "Traditional in our family."

Inside, nestled in soft velvet, lay a pendant that took Elias's breath away. Carved from mountain oak and inlaid with silver in intricate patterns, it bore the Vane family crest along with symbols he recognized as protective runes.

"It's beautiful," Kaia whispered, lifting the pendant with reverent hands. "But I can't accept something this elaborate?—"

"You can and you will," Magnus said firmly. "Every Vane mate receives one. It's not just jewelry, it's a ward stone keyed specifically to our family's magical signature. Protection and belonging wrapped up in one package."

"Here, let me," Elias said, taking the pendant from her trembling fingers and moving behind her to fasten the chain around her neck. The moment the wood touched her skin, it pulsed with warm light, recognizing its new bearer and settling into place with obvious satisfaction.

"Perfect fit," Thorin said with pride. "I wasn't sure about the measurements, but the wood knows its purpose."

"How did you have time to make this?" Kaia asked, clearly overwhelmed by the craftsmanship. "We only decided on the claiming yesterday."

"He's been working on it for two weeks," Finn said with a grin. "Ever since it became obvious you two were heading toward a bonding. Thorin's good at reading the signs."

"We all were," Magnus added, loading plates with enough food to feed a construction crew. "Elias hasn't been subtle about his intentions."

"Thanks, Dad," Elias said dryly, but he was too happy to be truly annoyed.

“Speaking of family and intentions,” Kaia started. If I am Elias is the last one to get a mate, where are all of yours?”

The Vane men looked around each other with mischievous smirks.

“Oh, they’re around. They’re out now, mainly because we like to initiate you into the family, then when it’s too late for you to back out, you get to meet the wives,” Finn said.

“They’re not that bad,” Elias whispered. “They’re just… a lot.”

They settled around the expanded table, and Elias marveled at how naturally Kaia fit into the family dynamic. She laughed at Finn's terrible jokes, engaged Thorin in serious conversation about woodworking techniques, and listened to Magnus's stories about the old days with genuine interest.

"So what's next for you two?" Thorin asked around a mouthful of pancakes. "Besides the obvious honeymoon period."

"I want to formalize my role as the town's dream counselor," Kaia said, surprising Elias with her immediate answer. "Work with Miriam and the Council to establish proper protocols for helping people process nightmares and trauma."

"That's a wonderful idea," Magnus said approvingly. "The town could use someone with your specialized abilities."

"And I'll keep working construction during the day and Night Guard duties when needed," Elias added. "Though I might cut back on some of the longer patrols now that I have more reason to come home every night."

"Smart man," Finn said with a knowing look. "Happy wife, happy life, right?"

"Finn," Thorin warned, but he was smiling too.

"What? I'm just saying, now that our he’s all domesticated, maybe the rest of us can stop worrying about him wandering around like a lost bear."

"I was never lost," Elias protested.

"You were absolutely lost," Magnus said matter-of-factly. "Wandering through life without purpose, doing good work but never quite finding your place. Now look at you." He gestured toward where Elias sat with his arm around Kaia. "Centered. Complete. This is who you were always meant to be."

The words hit deeper than Elias expected, carrying the weight of paternal wisdom earned through decades of watching his children grow and find their paths.

"Speaking of complete," Kaia said softly, her hand finding his under the table, "I never imagined family could feel like this. Safe and warm and... chosen rather than obligated."

"That's exactly what family should feel like," Magnus said gently. "Biology creates connections, but love creates bonds. And you, sweetheart, are definitely loved."

"Group hug," Finn announced, jumping up from his chair. "Come on, don't make it weird. We're having a moment here."

Before either Elias or Kaia could protest, they found themselves surrounded by Vane brothers, pulled into an embrace that smelled like sawdust and coffee and unconditional acceptance.

Through their bond, Elias could feel Kaia's overwhelmed joy, her amazement at finding herself in the center of such fierce, protective love.

"Okay, that's enough," Thorin said after a moment, though his voice was suspiciously rough. "We're going to make her think we're completely sentimental."

"Too late for that," Kaia laughed, wiping tears from her cheeks. "But I love it. All of it."

"Good," Magnus said with satisfaction. "Because you're stuck with us now. No returns, no exchanges."

"I wouldn't want to return this," she said, looking around at the faces surrounding her. "Not for anything in the world."

Later, as they prepared to head back to town, Elias pulled his father aside.

"Thank you," he said simply. "For this, for accepting her, for making her feel like she belongs."

"Son, she belongs because you chose her and she chose you. The rest of us are just grateful to have another daughter to spoil." Magnus clapped him on the shoulder. "But I will say this—I've never seen you happier. Whatever took you so long to find each other, it was worth the wait."

Elias looked across the room where Kaia was laughing at something Finn had whispered in her ear, the Vane family pendant catching the morning light around her throat. Through their bond, he could feel her contentment, her joy, her absolute certainty that this was where she belonged.

"Yeah," he said quietly. "It really was."

As they drove back toward town, Kaia's hand in his and their bond humming with shared happiness, Elias couldn't imagine his life being more complete. His mate, his family, his community—everything he'd ever wanted without knowing he was searching for it.

The claiming had made it official, but this morning had made it real. Kaia Vane, officially and completely, was home.