Page 19 of Stout Bear

Laney rushed out, ignoring the curious glance from a brewery staff member as she passed. She unlocked her car, slid in, and started the engine, tears burning her eyes. She gripped the steering wheel so tightly her knuckles turned white.

Her inner fox raged, demanding she claim her mate. Guilt, shame, and longing overwhelmed her, tears spilling as she drove away from what might have been a perfect moment.

Chapter

Twenty

“Everything’s sanitized and ready,boss. Which batch do you want first?” Chris asked.

“Let’s start with Timberline Sunrise, then we’ll move on to Hidden Falls Hefeweizen,” Max answered.

Chris measured out malt while Marisol double-checked water flow from the BioClean unit. Jonas added hops at precisely timed intervals, monitoring temperature gauges and stirring the wort. Max supervised, occasionally making slight adjustments to maintain the perfect boil. Steam rose from the large brew kettle. The sharp scent of boiling hops mingled with the lighter aroma of fresh barley.

“Temperatures are holding steady. So far so good,” Marisol said.

“Grain absorption looks normal. Next up, we can prep Bear’s Den Amber once this kettle is done,” Jonas added.

Max felt grateful that he could finally get on with his business. But he couldn't shake the memory of Laney running away after their kiss. The unexpected press of her soft lips against his, theelectric jolt that had coursed through his body, the intoxicating scent of her skin—it all haunted him with vivid clarity.

He could still feel the gentle tug as she'd pulled him down to her level and the look of mortification that had crossed her face when she'd broken away. The phantom sensation lingered on his lips, a sweet torment that distracted him even now.

After the wort cooled, Chris and Max drew small samples into tasting glasses. They swirled, smelled, and finally sipped, bracing for any trace of sourness or metallic tang. The team exchanged excited glances when the flavors came out clean and balanced. “That’s it. Timberline Sunrise is exactly how it’s supposed to taste,” Max said.

“We’re back in business, boss,” Chris grinned widely.

With the water clean again, he could focus on crafting the perfect brews for the festival. He exhaled, watching the bubbles rise. There was no odd color, no strange odor, just pure Fate Mountain beer. Gwen, Liv, and Noah stepped into the brewing area.

“The new batches are tasting great,” Max told them.

“That’s the best news we’ve had all week,” Gwen said, giving Max a quick hug.

“We want to finalize the festival details,” Liv said.

“We’ll spotlight Timberline Sunrise, Bear’s Den Amber, and Hidden Falls Hefeweizen,” Max said.

“I’ll push those on social media,” Gwen said.

“Sounds perfect. Let’s get it out there as soon as possible.” Max smiled.

Noah presented an updated spreadsheet on his tablet. He highlighted new line items that allocated funds for the emergency filtration system, showing how he balanced the cuts. “By renegotiating with a few vendors, we’ve kept ourselves in the black,” Noah said.

“Great work, everyone,” Max said.

“This is going to be our best festival yet,” Gwen declared.

Chapter

Twenty-One

The Sweet SummitBakery smelled of freshly baked bread and cinnamon. Display cases showcased glistening pastries. And the gurgle of the espresso machine filled the air. Liv looked up from her half-eaten bear claw and waved at Laney. “I’m so excited you texted me! I’ve got the perfect plan for our shopping spree.” Her nerves eased a little seeing Liv’s friendly smile.

“Thank you for doing this. I really need an outfit for the festival.” Laney slid into the chair opposite Max’s sister, noticing how put-together Liv looked even in casual clothes. Liv pushed a cup of coffee toward Laney. “I’m not good at... fashion.” Laney wrapped her hands around the warm mug.

Liv waved dismissively. “Everyone says that until they find their style. You have gorgeous features—we just need to highlight them.”

Liv and Laney finished their coffees, then walked a few blocks to Evergreen Elegance, a boutique Liv had told her had trendy mountain-town fashion. The showroom had an open floor plan, with soft music playing. Mannequins draped in warm sweaters and stylish dresses lined the front display, while shelves of shoesand accessories occupied the back. They sorted through racks, Liv occasionally holding up items against Laney.

“These blues are totally your color. Trust me, your skin tone loves cool undertones,” Liv said.

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