Page 112 of The Thief

Tak crossed his arms. “Are you bringing that smoker home?”

Bear’s finger brushed against my back. “Yep. I just have to hook it to the SUV. They’re parked in the back.”

“Good. You’ve been holding out on us, brother. If I’d known you could barbecue like that, I would have bought a smoker months ago.”

“Where’re Salem and Joy?”

“Gone,” Melody replied as she leaned against Lakota.

He snaked his arm around her and lovingly kissed her head.

“I suppose this is good enough,” Bear said.

Good enough? Good enough for what?

Confused by his cryptic statement, I turned my head to look, but just as I did, he pulled my chair back two feet.

“Get up,” he said.

“Well, you don’t have to bite my head off,” I said, jumping out of the seat. “I would have gotten up without?—”

Bear put his large hands on my waist and hoisted me onto the chair.

Startled, I looked down at him for an explanation, but all I saw was love shining in his eyes.

My heart did a somersault, backflip, and a full twist and missed the landing. His hands never left my hips, and I stood several inches taller.

“What are you doing?” I whispered.

“I got something to say.” He steered his gaze to the table. “And it’s mighty important, so I want y’all to listen. I can’t say this happened overnight. She caught my eye the first time we met, and now I’m head over heels for this woman.” Bear took my hand and kissed my knuckles.

Slowly.

Tenderly.

My cheeks flamed with fear and uncertainty. Was he really doing this right here and now, in front of everyone?

Bear’s gaze softened, and his words were just for me. “I’m not trying to put you on the spot, but I can’t do the sneaking around anymore. I thought about it and couldn’t find one damn reason not to love you—not to be by your side and make your battles my battles. I know the stakes, and I’m good with them. The fact you were trying to protect me is how I know you’re the one.”

My lip quivered as I cupped his neck in my hands. No one had ever loved me so unconditionally, and the fact he was accepting me with all my flaws made it that much more meaningful.

“You’re the one,” he repeated, making sure those words were engraved on my soul. “I was gonna wait, but my heart is bursting, and I need the pack to know.” He put his hands on my hips again. “I need you to know.”

If we hadn’t had the room’s undivided attention before, we sure had it now. Besides the jukebox playing Patsy Cline, the place had gone completely silent. Then someone turned the music down.

His chocolaty eyes melted when I smiled down at him. “You light me up with so much of that energy you have inside you,” he continued. “You make everyone around you shine. Every single day, you fuel my fire and build my confidence. I would have never taken this job, but you kept erasing all those doubts. It makes me want to be there for all your dreams.”

“Oh, Bear.” I stroked his cheek.

“I wake up trying to think of how I can make you happy, and I go to bed at night wishing you were in my arms.”

Bear’s fingers gripped my hips before he let go.

He turned his attention to our Packmaster, who sat stoically. “I’m not asking your permission to love Mercy, just so we’re clear about what’s going on. We’ve been keeping our distance lately for all the right reasons but none having to do with us.” Bear swung his gaze back to me, and that piercing look made my body flush with heat. “Mercy Breedlove, I choose you as my life mate. Let me protect you, cook for you, and build dreams with you. I want to love you out loud, in the open,” he said, loud enough that everyone heard that last part. “I want to rub your feet when you’re tired and listen to your stories. Maybe you deserve better, but no one could ever love you more. Here’s my answer, honey.” He took both my hands in his. “No matter what happens after tonight, you’ve got me in your corner.”

I knew what he meant—what he couldn’t say out loud in front of a wide audience. If Tak didn’t approve of the mating, it could mean one or both of us leaving. And if the Argento thing didn’t resolve…

Oh fates, how I love this man.

---