Page 64 of Beary In Love

His bear perked up at that 'we.' Logan's chest tightened as she stepped between his legs where he sat on the examination table, her small frame fitting perfectly against him.

"I mean it," she continued, pushing her glasses up her nose in that adorably nervous way of hers. "I love you, Logan. I never really stopped, even when I thought I had." Her hands came to rest on his chest, right over his thundering heart. "And yes, I want to move in with you."

Logan's bear roared with triumph inside him. She was choosing them, claiming them just as much as they'd claimed her. The urge to grab her, to mark her as his mate right there on the examination table nearly overwhelmed him. But something in her expression made him hold back, sensing she had more to say.

Her fingers traced one of his newly healed scars. "We'll rebuild this place together. Make it even better than before." A small smile played on her lips.

"I love you too," he said, his voice deep with emotion. His hands came up to cup her face, thumbs stroking her cheekbones. "Never stopped, not once in these past ten years. Even when I tried to convince myself otherwise."

Her eyes widened, a pretty blush spreading across her cheeks.

"I used to dream about you coming back to Saltwater Grove," he admitted, one hand sliding down to rest possessively on her hip. "I had hoped somehow we'd find our way back to each other.Now here you are, saving my animals, protecting my sanctuary." He pulled her closer, enjoying how she fit against him. "Making me fall madly in love with you all over again."

"Logan…" she whispered.

He pulled her even closer, his large hands spanning her waist. His bear purred at having his mate in his arms, safe and willing to build a life with him. The scent of her happiness mixed with the lingering traces of her healing magic, creating an intoxicating combination that made his head spin.

"You have no idea how happy you've made me," he murmured, pressing his forehead against hers. "Having you here, in our home..." His voice roughened with emotion. "It's everything I wanted back then, and everything I want now."

Serena's fingers traced patterns on his chest, right over his thundering heart. "Our home," she tested the words, a smile spreading across her face. "I like the sound of that."

"Good, because I'm never letting you go again." His possessive declaration made her shiver in his arms.

Logan captured her lips with his, pouring ten years of longing and love into the kiss. Her small gasp of surprise melted into a soft moan as she pressed closer, her fingers tangling through his dark hair.

The kiss deepened, transforming into something that spoke of shared dreams and promises. Of lazy Sunday mornings and quiet evenings caring for the animals together. Of a future filled with the kind of love that stories were written about.

When they finally broke apart, Serena's glasses were slightly askew, and her cheeks were flushed pink. Logan's heart swelled at the sight. This brilliant, beautiful witch was his, and this time he'd make damn sure she knew exactly how cherished she was.

"Welcome home, Serena," he said simply.

28

SERENA

Serena wiped sweat from her brow as she helped Logan clear more charred debris from what used to be the wolf enclosure. The acrid smell of smoke still lingered weeks after the fire, making her nose wrinkle. She glanced at Logan, noting the tight set of his jaw as he examined another burned support beam.

"This one's completely shot too," he said, tossing it onto their growing pile of unusable materials.

"We could try reinforcing it with a strengthening potion?" She suggested, though they both knew it wouldn't work on wood that far gone.

Logan shook his head. "Need to replace it entirely." He pulled out his phone, making another note in what she knew was an increasingly expensive list of repairs.

The insurance adjuster had taken one look at the magical residue from Silas's attack and declared it "outside their coverage parameters." Serena had never seen Logan so close to shifting and mauling someone in frustration.

"At least the animals are doing well at the temporary shelters," she offered, trying to stay positive. The local zoo andseveral nearby sanctuaries had taken in Logan's rescued animals while they rebuilt.

"Yeah." Logan attempted a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. "Though that wolf keeps giving the zoo staff attitude."

"She always was particular about her dinner being served at exactly sunset." Serena laughed, remembering the picky wolf's habits.

They worked in companionable silence for a while, but Serena's mind raced through possibilities. Nothing seemed like it would generate enough money fast enough.

"I found another one of your hair ties," Logan called out, holding up a slightly singed elastic band.

"Add it to the collection." She gestured to the small pile of recovered items on a nearby stump. "Though I'm pretty sure half of those belonged to me before the fire anyway."

"True. Your hair ties have been multiplying around here like rabbits since you moved in."

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