Page 33 of Saved By the Grizzly Bear

“I know. I love you, too. So much. I never expected for this to happen. I mean, I never saw anything on this trip coming. The forced marriage, running into you, my fake proposal to you. Just… you. You weren’t expected, but God, I’m so happy that I did. You saved me from that terrible marriage, from having to spend the rest of my life worried about my parents and fighting all alone for what I want.”

“We’re going to be okay,” he tells me, resting his forehead against mine, and I nod.

I know then that he’s right. As long as I’m with Alec, I’ll be just fine.

I smile for the first time today and relax into my mate’s hold. I’m right where I’m meant to be.

TWELVE

Alec

Five Years Later…

“I can’t believe it took you five years,” Morgan says with a laugh as I organize her skis.

“Well, first you were pregnant with Asher, then pregnant with Millie,” I say with a smile.

“Daddy, look!” Our oldest, Asher, calls as he wiggles around in the snow, trying to climb out of the snow angel he was making.

“Here, buddy. Let me give you a hand.”

I reach over, lifting him up and he beams at me.

“It looks really good,” I tell him, and he smiles proudly.

Our daughter, Millie, is sitting in the sled, watching the people come down the little bunny hill nearby, and I grin as I set Asher in the sled behind her.

“Are you guys ready to go?” I ask them, and they nod excitedly.

They squirm around in the sled, getting comfortable, and I smile down at them. Morgan and our kids are the greatest thing that has ever happened to me. I didn’t think that I could love anyone more than I loved my mate, but then we had Asher and Millie. As soon as they were in my arms, I was wrapped around their fingers.

“Are you ready to go?” I ask my wife, and she nods, looking determined.

“Let’s do this.”

My bear is watching inside of me. He’s standing by and I can tell he’s anxious that our mate will get hurt.

We’ll keep her safe, I promise him, and he grumbles but seems to relax inside of me.

“Let’s go,” I say, taking Morgan’s hand in mine and the rope for the sled in the other.

I drag the kids up the small hill and then stop to help Morgan get into the skis.

“Alright, remember what I taught you. Pizza slice to stop,” I remind her, showing her with my feet.

“Got it. And how do I speed up again?” She asks, and I chuckle.

“I don’t think we’ll need to worry about that right now,” I tell her, and she laughs.

“You’re probably right.”

“Alright. I’ll go down with the kids first. We’ll wait for you,” I say, and she nods.

I climb into the sled behind our kids and laugh as they practically bounce in their seats.

“One, two, three!” I call as I push off, and we take off down the hill.

The ride doesn’t last long, but the kids don’t mind. I get out and drag them out of the way as I turn to watch my mate come down the hill.

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