Page 53 of Bearly Yours
Emrie
The Valentine Fair was bursting with color and excitement. The day was crisp, cool and beautifully clear, I had my mate who was walking beside me, holding my hand...oh, and I had my Clan hovering around us like I was the sun and they were orbiting me.
I stopped at the gates and turned to them, giving them all my best glare. The one that said I meant business, or my bear would bite them. “I am on a date. So please, for the love of honey, relax a bit, and give us some space!” I said in exasperation. When Mathan looked a little hurt, I hugged him with one arm. “I love that you guys are all here too.” Mathan’s face cleared. “Although,” I narrowed my eyes, “why did no one bring a date?”
Alpha shrugged. “Not going to date when my mate is out there somewhere.”
A pretty standard answer for a shifter. “And the rest of you?”
“I don’t date,” Mateo said, scanning the area around us.
“Neither do I,” Alistair said.
Drew and Taco shrugged. “We wanted to have fun with our Clan this time,” Taco said. “I’ve been with a date before, and it’sokaybut it’s going to be epic this year!” He turned to the restof the Clan. “Am I right?” He held his hand up for hi-fives, and everyone gave him one.
“Taco?”
“Yes, my beautiful Clanmate?”
“You’re a dork.”
He bowed. “Thank you my beautiful Clanmate.”
Mateo flicked him hard on the back of his head, and we all went in the gates, but stood to the side while everyone grabbed a map.
“Thanks for paying for everyone, Roarke,” Alpha Riggs said.
Roarke shrugged. “You guys are Emrie’s brothers.”
Taco nodded and bumped chests with Drew. “That’s right we are!”
“Oh my honey you guys are embarrassing,” I said, hunching into Roarke’s towering frame, and hiding from the people that were passing by, looking over at us in curiosity.
Roarke kissed the top of my head, and hummed a little until I went boneless. Well, obviously not completely boneless, because I was still standing, but all of the stress left my body, and I took a deep breath in and then out through my nose. I looked up at him. “You’re so handy to have around,” I teased.
His lips tipped up at the corners. “I have my uses.” He looked at me as though I was his entire world. I knew it wasn’t true. Even for mates that was a little toxic. But it was a good feeling nonetheless. I kissed him because I could, and I could hear Taco making noises behind me.
“Alpha, do we have to watch our sister kiss her mate all day?”
Roarke pulled away from me and gave Taco a look, and Taco chose to zip his lips. Good choice, Taco. Good choice. Man, I loved my Clan. I laughed and we circled up and decided what we were going to go on first.
“My only request is that we do last ride at 7:50 on the Ferris wheel,” Roarke said, rubbing my back.
I nodded. “We can do that. What about you guys?”
“Bumper hearts,” Mathan said. He smiled at Mateo. “I owe someone some payback.”
“Alpha?” He looked like he had something he wanted to do, but was hesitant to mention it in front of everyone.
He shrugged, like it was no big deal. “I want to visit one of the cupids.”
Mateo nodded. “I do too.”
“Okay, we can add that. What show does everyone want to see?”
“What are the options?” Mateo scooted closer to Roarke and me so he could see my map and the list of event activities.
I pointed at the shows. “There’s a light show after dark over by the water, before everyone leaves to get ready for the ball. There’s a concert on Stage One at 2 p.m., and there’s a magic show at 6 p.m. on Stage Two.
