Page 78 of Alpha's Claim
He’s on hind legs with his paws resting on the window. His black nose smears the glass.
Teddy sets the pancakes down and motions to the bear. “Get down.”
The bear angles his head to the side. Even though he’s huge, his little round ears are adorable.
“Aww, he’s hungry.” Wren sets down a platter of different flavored syrups and a saucepot of the bananas foster topping she made because it’s my favorite. She drops into a seat beside me.
“You can’t come in,” Teddy lectures Everest. “No bear forms in the house.”
“Everest,” Matthias states quietly.
Everest drops out of sight. I’m not sure when I’m going to get used to seeing a giant bear just hanging out inside a house. Or on a rugby field.
“Will I ever meet him in human form?” I murmur.
Darius stretches his arm over the back of my chair. “He’s shy. We’re opposites. I never let my bear out. He stays in bear form all the time.”
“He needs to get used to being a man,” Teddy says withan unhappy look at Matthias who’s seated at the head of the table.
Matthias nods. “We’re working on it.”
“We’re trying to set the ‘no bear forms in the house’ rule now before the baby comes,” Lana whispers to us. She rubs her round belly, biting her lip. She looks a little guilty, watching Everest lumber off into the woods.
“Good rule,” Darius says, stacking pancakes onto my and Wren’s plates. “It would’ve kept Teddy and me from destroying our bunk beds three times.”
“Us too,” Hutch says around a mouthful of food.
Axel elbows him. “Don’t talk with your mouth full.”
“Remember that one Christmas–” Bern starts, and Canyon laughs, interrupting to say, “We thought we’d catch Santa coming down the chimney–”
“And we tore apart the mortar holding the stones,” Hutch ends the story. The triplets and Axel crack up with laughter. Even Matthias chuckles.
Hutch sobers. “It destroyed the structural integrity of the cabin, and we had to move.”
“Yeah, good times,” Canyon says, and the other triplets elbow him.
Teddy rubs a hand over his face. “No wonder our mother is hibernating.”
I sneak a glance at Darius, but he’s smiling, his face clear. He’s no longer triggered by the stories of him and his brother’s out-of-control bears.
After breakfast, Darius and I go on a hike. Wren and triplets troop along behind us, carrying picnic baskets full of pancakes. After a few minutes, they split off to find Everest.
Darius and I wander hand in hand on a worn trail. The forest is peaceful, with birds chirping and flutteringfrom tree to tree. There’s a smoky edge to the chilly air. Winter is coming. Thanksgiving is almost here.
I have a lot to be thankful for. My family is safe. Wren, Starlight, and I will have the freedom we’ve always longed for, plus all the love and support of our newfound family. This morning’s breakfast was a taste of the gentle chaos of being around so many boisterous bears, and I soaked it in. Wren did too. She’s already made herself at home.
Plus, it’s nice to know, if anyone threatens us, the bears could make mincemeat of our enemies.
“So you’re good with this?” Darius breaks the silence. “Staying on Bad Bear Mountain?”
“I was just thinking this place is paradise. Fresh air, gorgeous views. A sexy Viking in my bed.” I tilt my head. “What about you? Will you miss New York?”
He blows out a breath. I think part of him is coming to terms with how much he loves his family and his home. How much he belongs here. “Not really. My employees mostly work remotely. I could let the lease on my office and penthouse go tomorrow. I wouldn’t even have stuff to pack.”
“It was never really your home,” I say.
“No.”