Twenty-Two

Ignazio and Bryer led the way up the path to the pavilion while Gerri Wilder and Levi walked on either side of Gaius. His adrenaline spiked the way it always had just before beginning an arena match, and his bear was roaring in anticipation of the spectacle.

When they reached the arched entrance, excited murmurs picked up from inside and the crowd parted to make way. Ig and Bry mostly blocked his view, and he was sure the excitement was directed toward the pair of them, which was perfectly fine with him. Gaius appreciated the diversion, preferring to maintain the surprise for as long as possible. He just hoped the dramatic entrance would be a grand enough gesture to make up for his lack of honesty with Nessa.

He should have told her he wanted her the very second he knew without a doubt she was his. Her desire for him had been so plain he thought she would come around, but had no idea how much stock she’d placed in the matchmaker’s choice.

There would be no more confusion or doubt after tonight, and he resolved never to let those three words go unsaid again. He loved her. He’d probably loved her from the day they met. He had certainly known she owned his heart after their first night together.

The excited chatter picked up in volume as eyes fell on him and the crowd parted further. Past Ig and Bry’s big frames, he caught a glimpse of Nessa’s warm, light-brown skin and black hair tucked up into a complicated coil before she was obscured by a trio of bigger bodies stepping forward. He growled. This was taking too damn long.

Levi bumped him with an elbow. “Chill out, man, she’s right there. Those three are the bears who are in on the surprise. They just asked to be introduced to their hero in exchange.”

Ig and Bry stopped and stepped to the side, making way for three bear shifters to approach.

Gaius had to restrain himself from roaring for everyone to just get out of his way. The first of the three paused and hesitated when Gaius stared him down. “You’re in my way.”

“Okay . . .” the big brown-haired bear drawled. “Guess you really are her mate, aren’t you? Lucky girl.” He gave Gaius a once-over, then winked and stepped aside. The other two looked equally pleased with themselves when they parted, finally revealing a very irate Nessa.

She couldn’t have looked more beautiful, her generous curves all wrapped up in a vivid blue dress. The shimmering fabric cradled her luscious breasts perfectly with gathered lengths stretched and tied at the back of her neck. He ached to hold her again, to sink inside her and hear her calling his name.

The irritated look on her face faded and her big brown eyes widened in surprise when she saw him. “Gaius? What are you doing here?” She darted a glance past him toward the way he had come. Then her jaw dropped and her cheeks flushed. She let out a soft “oh, my” that was muffled by her hand flying to her mouth.

“I’m here for you, baby. Gerri, tell her who you found for her.” He kept his eyes fixed on Nessa’s, which were now starting to brim with tears.

He barely heard the matchmaker’s announcement over Nessa’s squeal of pleasure. She was in his arms so fast the rest of the world disappeared.

“It’s you. Oh my god, it’s you!” Nessa repeated over and over, both laughing and crying as she peppered his face with kisses.

Gaius held her in a death grip, inhaling her sweet, nutmeg scent like he’d been starved for air. “You’re damn right it’s me, Ness. It’s always been me, you crazy girl.”

Around them, the entire pavilion was filled with hushed murmurs as the news made its way to the outer reaches. Whispers of surprise that the woman in his arms was the Blackpaw’s mate only made him hold her tighter.

He’d caught wind the past week of the rumors flying around about his having found a mate. Somehow even retired Champions couldn’t hide from paparazzi. After griping about it to Gerri, she assured him she hadn’t told a soul, but anyone who found out she was visiting him in person would likely draw conclusions.

But none of that mattered now, not when Nessa was finally in his arms again. He gently set her down, then dropped to one knee, wincing at the spike of pain that shot through both joints.

“Oh, Gaius, your knees!” Nessa said, urging him to stand.

“Baby, I need to beg your forgiveness, and there’s only one way to do that. The first night I saw you in the moonlight at my house, I knew I had to have you, not because of anything the matchmaker said, but because from that moment on, everything about my life felt complete.”

A hush fell over the crowd as he spoke, and his bear rumbled in satisfaction the way it always had when he was in the last stages of a match just before certain victory. Nessa’s cheeks were wet with tears and she bit her bottom lip as he continued.

“Baby, I’m sorry I never told you that I knew. It shouldn’t have taken Mrs. Wilder coming to prove it to you. I should have said so. There are so many things I should have said, but the most important thing is this: I love you, Ness. Will you finally come home with me tonight?”

Nessa nodded and laughed. “Of course, Gaius. There is no place on Nova Aurora I would rather be. Take me home.”

As he hoisted her in his arms and kissed her, the crowd’s cheering rose around them louder than his bear’s roar of triumph. He would have happily carried her straight out to the transport and left right then, but she wiggled and protested, so he reluctantly set her down again. He found himself standing face-to-face with Gerri Wilder, and another older woman whose lovely features gave away her identity as Nessa’s mother. But she didn’t look nearly as thrilled about the situation as her daughter did.

“Gaius,” Nessa breathed. “I’d like you to meet my mom, Nina Baxter. Mom, I guess you were wrong, after all.”

“Pleased to meet you, ma’am,” Gaius said, dipping his head politely. The woman kept scowling. It might have been her daughter’s smug tone, but Gaius would bet it was all his fault somehow.

Nessa’s mother gave him a scathing look, then turned to glare at Gerri. “Is this what you call shifter nobility? This man forfeited leadership of his clan. He has no legacy to offer my grandchildren!”

Gaius bristled and Nessa blurted out a protest, but Gerri held up her hand and leveled a cold stare at the other woman.

“Mrs. Baxter . . . Nina . . . You came to me in good faith more than twenty years ago to secure a mate for your daughter when she came of age. As unprecedented as that is, I always had a high regard for your husband and his family, so I agreed. However, what you desire is of little consequence to the task you set for me. Your daughter’s mate is more than worthy, and while he may not hold rank in his clan any longer, he is likely the most highly revered bear shifter of mating age in all of Nova Aurora. More than that, your daughter loves him.” She nodded toward Gaius and Nessa.

Nessa’s mother turned back to them, jaw clenched. She looked Gaius in his eyes for a long moment. “You had better make my daughter happy. And I want grandkids sooner rather than later, if you think you’re up for it.” She shot a glance at his groin and twisted her mouth derisively.

“Mother!” Nessa snapped. “For your information, there is no man on the planet who could make me as happy has Gaius does. I’ve wanted him for months, but because of your stupid contract with the matchmaker, I believed he wasn’t meant to be mine. But he is now, and you had better believe I’m keeping him, babies or no babies!”

Her mother deflated when she looked at Nessa and finally gave them a grudging smile, much to Gaius’ surprise. “Oh, honey, are you sure about this? I wanted more for you.”

Nessa sighed and shook her head. “No, you wanted more for you, but your life isn’t over. Maybe you should, I don’t know, meet with a matchmaker for yourself. I know a pretty amazing one.” She grinned at Gerri Wilder, who gave her a maternal smile in return.

“Come, Nina,” Gerri said gently, taking Nessa’s mother by the arm. “Your daughter’s right. She has always known what she wants, despite you trying to orchestrate a relationship for her to your own tastes. Let’s divert that energy to find a mate you would be happy with. I think I know just the man, and he happens to be in attendance tonight.”

She gave Gaius and Nessa a conspiratorial wink before leading Nina away.

Gaius looked down at Nessa. “Baby, I hope that’s the last person who stands in our way, because I mean to take you out of here now. Anyone who tries to stop me does so at their peril, and they all know how much power I can bring.”

She stared up at him through wet lashes. “Trust me, I can pack a punch too. Let’s go.”

They were accosted from all sides with well-wishes and congratulations, but true to her word, Nessa didn’t falter. By the time they made the door, she was running ahead and laughing with his hand gripped tightly in hers as he tried to keep up. His knees ached, but he didn’t care a bit, not when his girl was finally going home with him.