Page 12 of Having the Bear's Baby

Liam’s mom had arrived about three hours ago. She reminded Emma of the various legends of Annie Oakley. A wild, shoot-from-the-hip belle of the ball who loved to celebrate and bring people together. All this made it a whole lot easier for Emma to get what she wanted, which was to get closer to Liam and meld with the shifter pack.

“The best way to mix with this clan is to be exactly who you are,” Lillian told her. They sat on the back porch, watching the food being smoked and grilled. Food was being cooked inside as well. Lillian’s mother had really stirred up quite a day.

“Oh, I am having a really good time so far, Lillian,” Emma answered. “I love your mom. I want to keep her.”

“You can keep her,” Lillian said. “She wants you to keep her. Make no mistake. Mom doesn’t want some of your attention … she wants all of your attention.”

“Your mom’s adorable, funny, and loving,” Emma replied with a smile.

“Mom has an agenda. She wants to hypnotize you into feeling loved and feeling like this is home. And you should probably call me Lil. Only my favorites can call me Lil.”

“Any advice on how to handle the rest of the day and these ‘welcome to the clan’ festivities your mom is directing, Lil?”

“Pretend your new home is a pirate ship. That’s how today will be. It’ll be like being on a pirate ship.”

“You are funny,” Emma answered.

Liam walked up from behind and put his arm around Emma. She leaned into him, inhaling his scent. His strong, warm embrace sent heat flaring over Emma’s face.

“You are so gorgeous,” Liam whispered in her ear. “Everybody here has fallen in love with you. You became a member of the clan the moment you showed up.”

“I am loving this,” she told Liam. “I have to confess, this day, all of this, it really fills in some personal sinkholes. I never had a family. I had Dad. It was just me and Dad until he passed away a few years ago.”

“How about we sneak off for a few minutes? My mom brings her own brand of thunder and lightning. I wasn’t planning on her being here and throwing a blowout.”

“Where do you want to go?” she asked. “I hope you aren’t feeling like I’m overwhelmed. I’m not. I am having the best time right now. I am really feeling quite charmed by everything so far, especially with you standing next to me.”

“There’s a creek that runs through the woods out back. It’s so beautiful and quiet.”

“I would love to,” Emma answered. The way Liam spoke of the creek, it was evident it was one of those places that, if you allowed yourself to fully embrace its beauty, could weave its way into your soul.

They didn’t tell anybody they were leaving. There were too many little clusters of clan members throughout the den talking and laughing.

They simply meandered off into the wooded area until they traipsed down the loveliest of trails.

“You were spot-on, correct,” Emma told Liam. A small breeze floated by, carrying the nitrogen-rich aromas of the evergreen needles and fern fronds melting into the forest floor. “This is beautiful. I am glad we came here.”

“I am happy you like it. I knew you would,” Liam answered. “I am also happy I am not seeing any symptoms of mom overdose. She has a way of swamping people something fierce.”

“I wouldn’t know,” Emma answered. “I loved your mother immediately, and I want to keep her for myself. I will make her mine.”

“Did you and your dad do much hiking?” Liam asked.

“From time to time, we hiked in parks mostly. Dad was really good at giving me time when he had any. He worked a lot. How about you?” Emma added. “This forest area and the creek you want to show me kind of feel like the very fabric of your being.”

“You are very perceptive. It is, as a bear,” Liam told her. “I want you to be intimate with everything that is dear to me.”

Right after Liam said this last part, he paused and stopped in his tracks. Even though he stared straight ahead, Emma could tell that he wasn’t looking at anything at all. He was listening.

Her first response was to ask him what was wrong. She held her tongue. He would tell her as soon as he figured out what it was. Liam casually reached his arm over and pulled Emma close enough that he could whisper into her ear.

“Here’s the deal,” Liam whispered. “Somebody’s following us. They’ve been following us for a while. There’s more than one. I can pick up some of their mental chatter. They’re shifters, and they’re young and up to no good.”

“Should we be worried?”

“No. We are going to walk forward and then quickly loop around behind them. I am thinking they need to hear what I have to say.”

Emma nodded and followed Liam. They walked forward another fifty yards until Liam veered off the path to the right. They continued to make a long, wide, and looping right turn. Liam slowed to a stop and knelt behind a freshly fallen and robust tree branch.

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