I let her words wash over me as I replayed several memories from our childhood and teenage years. They all seemed different now, knowing she had loved me back then.

“And I’ve spent all this time thinking you were disgusted by me.”

“No...” Her lip quivered and tears began to roll down her cheeks. “Are you kidding? I’ve wanted nothing more than for you to love me for so long.”

“Really?”

She nodded and wiped her tears away. “I didn’t think you had feelings for me because you were always dating someone. You were in such high demand that I didn’t know how to get your attention. I didn’t know how to win you over, and damn, I tried everything I could.”

“You couldn’t win me over because you already had me,” I admitted. I reached up and tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear. “You wanna know the real reason I dated so much? I’ve been trying to find someone who measured up to you—in any way. None of them did; not even close. As soon as I knew a girl couldn’t compare to you, I’d ditch her. My whole purpose was to find someone just like you so I wouldn’t have to risk messing up our friendship.”

“Do you realize,” she said slowly and pointedly, “that if we’d had this conversation in high school, we could have spent all this time together instead of pining for all these years? God, it’s like some kind of tragic romance novel.”

“It seems so.”

She burst into laughter and I had to join her. As I watched her laugh, I felt tension melt from my body. Her words hadn’t fully sunken in, but as they crept closer to my heart, the pain faded.

“What’s that look for?” she asked.

I pulled my mouth into a half smile. “You really love me?”

“I do.” She put her hands on my face and leaned down to kiss me, and I never wanted her to stop.

“So…”

We both turned as Cooper walked into the room. The joy from two seconds before ignited into rage. I looked at Kylie and we both shared the same angry expression.

“I think I owe you both an apology,” Cooper admitted.

I glared and Kylie crossed her arms. “You think so?” she snapped.

I sighed. “Let’s hear it.”

“I’ve been standing out here, listening.” Cooper smiled sheepishly. “So first, I’m sorry for that. But I was pissed at you, Jace. You didn’t explain to me why you dated around like that. I thought you would do the same thing to Kylie and I didn’t want her to get hurt. Especially”—he turned to her—“because I know about your feelings for him. I thought he’d break your heart, so I did mislead you.” He shook his head. “But it wasn’t my place to do such a thing. It was wrong, and I’ve caused you both a lot of unnecessary pain. I’m sorry. If you want to be together, I’ll fully support your decision. You two have been my best friends for just about my entire life, and I want you to be happy.”

“We were ready to give you hell, buddy,” I noted.

Kylie harrumphed. “Who said we’re still not going to? Cooper, you almost destroyed everything! How dare you take this into your own hands and twist his words like that! You almost got me killed!”

That got both my attention and his.

“How?” he asked.

“When I heard Gabby trying to call on the walkie, I called everyone. At the time, I didn’t know everyone was out following a false lead. I couldn’t get a hold of anyone and Jace was the only person left. So instead, I went myself. But the perp almost got me, too! If Jace hadn’t come after me when he saw me shift, I would be dead or tied up in that awful cabin right now.”

Cooper pressed his lips together. “Well, you should have called him, even if you were angry with him. We all have to work together.”

“Yes, but I’m very stubborn; you know that,” Kylie scoffed. “And I didn’t want to.”

I laughed. “Very true.”

Our conversation was then halted by the appearance of the majority of our clan, who poured into the room and took over the place. Kylie ran to Hunter the moment he was visible. I realized she hadn’t even seen her cousin yet in the chaos, and Cooper had said earlier they’d be heading home that night. Hunter’s guys from the Bering Land Bridge National Preserve were all cool, and I was honored that they stopped by to wish me well before heading back north. I mean, I’ve known Hunter forever, too. But back in the day when he’d visit, he was always the aloof, older cousin off reading alone while Cooper, Kylie, and I played in the yard.

Though I loved my clanmates and appreciated their support, I wished they hadn’t stayed for so long; my conversation with Kylie had me reeling and I wanted a few minutes to quietly contemplate what had just happened. There were so many visitors, and they were so loud, a nurse had to come tell them to keep it down.

“You missed the best part,” I told them.

“What’s that?” Max asked.

“The part where I told Kylie I’m in love with her.”

“And that I’m in love with him, too,” Kylie added, squeezing my hand and bending over to kiss me.

The atmosphere in the room changed instantly. They all looked from me to her and back.

“Wow,” Max said. “Didn’t see that one coming…”

And then a chorus of cheer erupted from the clan. Hearing “congratulations” felt a bit weird; I hadn’t really done anything except be around her. It was like they were assuming much more would come of this. Like a wedding.

I swallowed hard. I should have thought about that part. About what would happen if everything came together and Kylie and I did end up together. Obviously, she’d want to be married one day. And have cubs.

“Took you two long enough to figure it out.” Becca rolled her eyes at me. “I’ve known this was coming forever.”

“Right?” Hunter added. “Even back when we were kids, you’d pull on her pigtails and chase her around, and she’d doodle hearts all over her notebooks with your initials in them.”

“Sounds like true love right there,” his clanmate, Quinton, agreed.

Kylie gasped, her cheeks turning a bright shade of crimson. “You saw those, Hunter?”

“You bet I did. And then there was your journal…”

She looked at him incredulously. “You didn’t…”

“What do you think I spent all my time reading while you guys were horsing around?” He laughed, putting Kylie in a playful headlock while giving her a noogie.

I chuckled. “Next time, maybe point it out and help a brother?” Had I been so blind? Had everyone seen it but me?

The room was full for a long time and it felt good to be surrounded by people who loved me. Especially Kylie. But one by one, they trickled out and I was left alone with her again.

“Finally,” I breathed.

“I know.” She pressed her forehead to mine, then kissed me softly. “I hope they let you out soon. It’s my turn to take care of you.”

“Maybe in another day or so,” I said. I ran my nose along her neck, inhaling her bear scent. “So, what is it like to shift with a major injury?”

“Painful,” she admitted. “But the weird thing is, while I was in bear form, I was my old self again. Like my bones were only injured when I was human.”

“Interesting.”

“I guess there hasn’t been too much research on the whole shifter-with-orthopedic-surgery thing. Especially since we usually heal faster than most.”

“The doctor said something like that to me,” I added. “That I’m healing faster than expected.”

“Good. As long as he doesn’t get suspicious.”

“No, nothing like that. But fast enough to go home in a day or two.”

“I don’t think I can wait much longer.”

I laughed. “Okay, horn dog. Chill.”

“Oh, you don’t want it? I guess you’ve had so much sex in your life, it’s not that interesting to you.”

I shook my head. “Come on. That’s not it. I want you more than I’ve ever wanted anyone before. I wish I’d never slept with another single woman.”

“Too far,” she said. “You don’t have to wish away your past life just because I wasn’t part of every second. We’re together now, and that’s what matters.”

I sighed. “You’ve always been better at living without regret. Teach me how to be like that.”

“Just appreciate what we have now. Like…an empty hospital room.”

A nurse came in not two seconds later. She took my vitals, checked the IV, jotted down some progress notes, and left. She was only there for about five minutes, but it was long enough to interrupt us.

“I guess the empty hospital room won’t do us much good after all,” she said.

“We might not be able to have sex, but surely we can make out a little.”

She giggled and slid her chair closer to my head. She kissed me and ran her fingers through my hair.

“You know, I could…” She reached under the blankets and below my hospital gown. Her warm hand made me rock hard almost immediately, and she began to stroke me, kissing me all the while. I enjoyed every moment of it, even if I was slightly paranoid that a nurse or doctor would walk in.

She sped up her stroking and slipped me her tongue, and as it met mine, they slowly danced together. I playfully nipped at her lip and gasped. “God, Kylie,” I groaned against her mouth. Her hand felt so incredible, it made my head swim—so much that I had to lay back and close my eyes.

Not long after I let myself relax fully, she had me at my peak, letting out a shuddering moan as I came in her hand. She discreetly cleaned me up with a few tissues and kissed me again.

“Thank you,” I whispered, still panting and recovering.

“I just want to take care of you every way I can,” she cooed.

“And I will let you—especially if you’re going to do that.” I winked, but my head started to pound and my wound throbbed. “Can you—” I had to pause as a wave of pain and nausea washed over me. “Tell the nurse I need pain meds?”

Kylie hurried out of the room and came back with the nurse a few moments later. She added morphine to my IV, and I felt a rush of warmth soon after. The medication made my eyes droop.

I squeezed Kylie’s hand and closed my eyes, knowing she would be waiting for me when I woke up.