Page 41 of Fire Bear

She felt his body right beside her, as if they moved as one through the forest. The moon guided them across slopes and through thick underbrush. They sprang over logs, bounding with a power she had never imagined. She glanced at Ash, adoring his fluid motions beside her.

The two bears climbed a ridge, the moon’s light spilling down like a waterfall. The vantage point revealed a forest stretching endlessly, crowned by stars. It was all so beautiful, she could barely contain her joy.

A surge of elation burst from her chest, and she lifted her muzzle in a triumphant cry. The sound reverberated among the pines, and it echoed back as if the forest roared its approval.

Chapter

Thirty-One

TWO MONTHS LATER

Ash satat the kitchen table, the early summer sunlight pouring through the farmhouse windows in gentle rays. He wore a simple T-shirt and a pair of faded jeans.

On the table in front of him lay a tablet. He tapped its screen, bringing up the folder of honeymoon photographs he and Eliana had taken in Hawaii. A small smile curved on his lips as he began scrolling.

Each image sparkled with the vivid colors of pristine beaches and emerald jungles. One shot showed him and Eliana standing on the sands at sunset, the sky awash with gold and orange streaks. Another showcased them holding hands under a waterfall, droplets catching the light in a sunlit arc. He tapped the next photo and paused, letting the memory surge forward.

They had been walking down a secluded stretch of beach, sand warm beneath their bare feet, the ocean breeze teasing Eliana’s hair. She had looked radiant, a glow in her eyes that matchedthe glow of the setting sun. He remembered thinking in that moment how lucky he was.

He had once believed he would never have time for love, yet now he had found it in the most unexpected, beautiful way. Eliana, with her orchard and her determination to preserve her family’s heritage, had brought him purpose beyond duty and a happiness he had never imagined.

He scrolled further, and the images flowed: Eliana snorkeling with bright fish in the coral reefs, Eliana sampling tropical fruit at a roadside stand, and the two of them laughing under the shade of palm trees as they cooled off with fruity drinks. Memories of romantic dinners on open-air terraces also came flooding back.

He lingered on one particular photo of them smiling across a dinner table laden with fresh seafood. They had toasted to their life together, clinking glasses under star-filled skies, with the waves rolling gently below. He could still taste the salt in the air when he thought about it.

He took another sip of coffee, eyes drifting from the tablet to the trees outside the kitchen window. He saw a couple of staff members laughing as they hauled crates across the rows, while others tested the irrigation lines. The orchard, once threatened with destruction, had bounced back stronger than ever.

Eliana had poured her heart into it, rebuilding and improving wherever she could. Now new contracts rolled in, fueling expanded production and a bigger festival on the horizon than the orchard had ever hosted before. The thought of such bustling success filled him with pride for her relentless courage.

He remembered how the community had closed ranks around Eliana, volunteering time and resources to help replant damaged sections. Locals had spread the word about the orchard’s heirloom varieties, drumming up fresh interest from neighboring towns.

Everything had come together so that the orchard not only survived but thrived. The orchard’s story had become a tale of resilience that spread across Fate Mountain and beyond.

He glanced down at the tablet again, eyes settling on a photo of Eliana in a grass skirt and a coconut bra, dancing and laughing. He felt a surge of affection and clicked the device off, as though storing that image in his mind for safekeeping. He placed the tablet aside and leaned back in the kitchen chair, letting the contentment wash over him.

Eliana entered the kitchen. The bright sunlight illuminated her features, and he noticed at once how cheerful she seemed, how her eyes sparkled with an extra measure of excitement. She wore jeans and an orchard T-shirt, her hair loose around her shoulders. He could tell from the way she carried herself that something had lit up inside her.

She halted one step away, tilting her head in a playful gesture. “Looking at our honeymoon photos again?” Her voice was light, teasing.

He grinned, nodding as he stood up to meet her. “Guilty,” he said. “They keep reminding me of how perfect everything was.”

There was a lift to her smile that sent his pulse into a gentle flutter. Her gaze flicked to the tablet, then back to him. She kept her hands behind her back, posture unusually coy. “I havesomething even better than photos,” she said with a grin. Her tone almost sang with anticipation.

Ash felt a wave of curiosity spark through him. “What could possibly top those sunsets and snorkeling pictures?” he asked, stepping closer. She smelled faintly of orchard blossoms and sunshine.

Eliana moved back a fraction, as if stoking the tension, refusing to show him. “You have to guess.”

He raised an eyebrow. A swirl of half-formed ideas darted through his mind, but none quite fit the excited gleam in her eyes. “All right,” he said. “Is it something you found? A new contract? Some festival surprise?”

She shook her head, grin growing wider. “No, guess again.”

He was intrigued yet faintly nervous at her playful secrecy. She shifted her weight and looked at him, eyes dancing. Finally, she brought her hand forward. In it was a small plastic stick with a digital display. It took him a second to register what it was. Then the words on the display sank into his brain: Pregnant.

His mind went blank for a single heartbeat. He felt as though the room spun under him. Then a tidal wave of awe and elation crashed into him, so powerful that he momentarily forgot to breathe. He saw Eliana’s glowing face and finally registered the reality of that positive test. She was carrying his cub.

He let out a shaky breath, voice nearly failing. He could not form a coherent sentence at first, so he simply stepped forward, enveloping her in his arms. She returned his embrace with equal fervor. Their laughter mixed with tears, muffling against each other’s shoulders.

Words tumbled out of him in a rush. “You’re pregnant,” he whispered against her ear, disbelief lacing his tone. “We’re having a baby.”

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