I didn’t hide my ear-to-ear smile.
“Dammit, I wanted to surprise you.”
“Baby, I’m a shifter. There’s no surprising one of us.”
She rolled her eyes.
“You doing okay with it, though?”
She sobered and looked down at her napkin. “Honestly?”
“Of course.”
She glanced up at me. “I was scared as hell at first. I mean, it’s not like we have known each other—”
“I’ve known you’ve been out there my whole life.” Her cheeks turned pink and I knew my words had embarrassed her. They were the truth, but she was still getting used to this mating. I got that, and I was patient.
“I thought you’d be upset. I thought I should be more upset. Hell, I thought my dad would freak out but apparently he’s ready to be a grandpa.”
That made me happy. Although I had yet to meet her father, I’d spoken to him on the phone and explained how everything had happened, and how I wasn’t giving her up. She was my mate for life.
He was a down-to-earth man, and I liked that. I liked him and was glad he’d given me his blessing to be with his daughter … even if I would have been with my mate regardless. There was no way me or my bear could or would have walked away from her.
“This is what I’ve always wanted. This is what I’ve waited for.” I had her hand in mine still and moved my thumb along her pulse point. “I waited for you, saved myself for you. Even though I didn’t know what you looked like, who you were, I knew you were out there. And I never gave up hope, never stopped searching.” I brought her hand up to my nose and inhaled deeply. “Your scent is ingrained in my body, in my very cells. You’re a part of me now, forever.” Her breath hitched slightly.
“I just thought you’d be upset because it was so sudden,” she whispered.
I was shaking my head before she even finished speaking. “This is my dream come true. You’re my fantasy come to life. All I’ve ever wanted was you, babies, and the love of my mate.” I pulled her hand so she knew to stand. When she was right in front of me I pulled her down onto my lap. She made a slight sound of protest as she looked around, a little embarrassed that I was doing the whole PDA thing.
“Zakari,” she said, her cheeks pink once more.
“Look at me, baby.” She did so instantly. “You are the only thing I’ll ever want. You are the only person who makes me whole, happy, and without you there is no future. This baby is a piece of both of us, and you bet your gorgeous fucking ass I’m over the moon about it.” My bear flashed forward and I heard her intake of breath. She saw him, the possessive fucker who’d kill for her. I also smelled the blooming, sweet aroma of her arousal. The grizzly also brought that out in her.
I grinned and leaned in to nip at her mouth.
“A baby,” she whispered, and I pulled her impossibly closer. It would never be close enough, but it would have to do. “You sure you’re ready for all of this?”
“I’ve been ready for all of this my entire life, mate,” I whispered against her ear. “If you thought I was possessive before you carried my child, you haven’t seen anything yet.” I kissed the shell of her ear and felt her shiver. Placing a hand on her belly, I imagined her getting big and round. God, that would look so beautiful on her.
As if my life couldn’t get any more complete, my mate was carrying my young. Everything had come full circle, and fuck, it was perfection.
* * *
Maddix
I shoved a few water bottles in my backpack, some trail mix, and a few pieces of fruit. I did this hike every week, something that got me away from everyone and everything, had me in the heart of the mountains, where my bear felt the freest.
It was the only thing—at this point—that gave me a moment where I wasn’t losing my fucking mind.
I headed out of my cabin, stepped off the porch, and made my way toward the back property. I’d made this path over the years, the ground worn from my footsteps, from my journey. There was a cave about two hours from the cabin, one that held a small waterfall.
Sitting in front of that waterfall had me connecting with the earth, with myself. It allowed my bear to come forth and just … breathe.
Because at this stage in my life it was all I had.
I had family, my brothers. I had the cabin I’d built with my bare hands, the property that gave me privacy. But it wasn’t enough.
I used this time to really find out who I was. And so, I did this not just for myself, but to help clear my head, to tell myself that one day I would find my mate, that she was out there. But it was hard being optimistic, feeling like life would finally be complete, that the puzzle pieces would all fall in place.