BEARly Mated to the Grizzly (Bear Clan 2)

I’d just work the fuck out later, burn off all this shit. But right now, it all sounded pretty damn good.

“Those bear brothers look like they’d eat small children for a snack.”

“For fuck sake,” I muttered and shook my head slowly as I listened to what they said about me.

Bear brothers.

That seemed like an accurate description for who and what we were.

I grabbed a case of water and tossed it on to the bottom of the cart, maybe a little too forcefully as the cart slid forward a couple inches.

Going down the produce aisle, I counteracted all my junk food with fruits and vegetables.

“I’m so out of fucking place.” I muttered those words under my breath, ready to find Ali so we could get the hell out of there.

I had looked up and down every aisle for her, except the last one, which happened to be feminine hygiene products. I was just about to turn and make another round, away from the aisle that would have me looking out of place, when I heard something drop and then her sweet voice ring out a filthy curse word. I grinned.

That was my girl.

I turned the cart down the aisle and saw her crouched, picking up a few boxes that had clearly fallen off the shelf.

“I knew as soon as I heard my mate say ‘fuck’ I was in the right place,” I teased and grinned wider, but when she stood and I noticed what boxes she held, I sobered immediately. My entire body was tense, my gaze darting from her face to what was in her hands.

Pregnancy tests.

I didn’t know what to say, how to react. Obviously, she’d be holding those for one reason.

She thought she was pregnant.

I felt my heart start to race at the very thought she could be carrying my child. How could I have missed this? How could I have not scented that she was pregnant?

And as I inhaled de

eply, trying to take in her scent, I realized her warring emotions had masked the aroma that she had been fertile … and that she was now with child.

I swallowed, my throat feeling tight, the words lodged, poised at the tip of my tongue. “Ali, baby?”

“You didn’t say anything, like didn’t mention you knew I was fertile or pregnant, so I assumed I wasn’t. But I’m two weeks late, my boobs hurt, and I feel like bursting into tears every time a Hallmark commercial comes on.” She lifted up the boxes and gave me this awkward little smile. “It’ll probably say I’m not, but I want to be sure.” It was clear in her voice she was nervous, and as I smelled her anxiousness, her anticipation, the hesitation, there was also the undertone of happiness and joy.

Of hope.

She wanted a baby.

And underneath all of that, I smelled something much sweeter, filled with life … our baby.

I grinned and walked up to her, pulling her into an embrace and burying my face in her hair. I closed my eyes and just held my mate, not caring that people had stopped to stare. Let them. I wanted them to know she was mine, that she was carrying my child.

I pulled back, my hands on her waist, my fingers gently pressing into her waist. “I didn’t sense it before because you have a lot of emotions swirling around. The stress masked it pretty well.” And then I moved back another inch and dropped to my knees in front of her. I looked up at my mate and saw her smiling, her cheeks pink as she looked around.

My PDA was on point when it came to Allison. I wanted everyone to know how much I loved her.

I rested my forehead gently on her belly, focusing on the faint sound of a heartbeat. There it was.

Ours.

God, I felt like a failure for not knowing this, recognizing it sooner. For weeks, I hadn’t known my mate was with child.

I looked up at her and grinned. “Our baby is right in here, Ali.” I leaned in and kissed her stomach, knowing I could’ve stayed here forever. I forced myself to stand, though, then cupped each side of her neck, staring into her eyes.