Anya
Later that night, Cullen took me up the winding trail to his mountaintop home overlooking the valley. He’d built it sturdy and strong with large picture windows in the front. I could see the copper mines in the distance, and a crystalline river cutting through the hillside.
“We can change it however you want it,” he said, coming behind me. He looped his arms around my waist and I settled my head against his chest. “I want this to be your home. Our home.”
I breathed in the cool, crisp air and smiled. “It already is. It’s perfect.”
“Are you scared?”
I shook my head. “I suppose I should be. And I am a little, I guess. But your mother is pretty convincing.”
Cullen laughed. “She’s a true force of nature in every sense of the word.”
“She’s kind of magnificent.”
Cullen nodded. “She has her moments. That’s for sure.”
I turned to face him, going up on my tiptoes. Cullen lifted me off the ground. He started to walk back toward the bedroom, but I stopped him.
“No. I want to be here. I want to look out at Wild Ridge. I like the view.”
“Mmm.” Cullen grew hard against me. My body grew wet with an answering heat. It took no more than that. Just a look. A touch, and I craved him just like the first time. I wondered whether it would always be like that. I knew the answer was yes. Oh, yes. I was his Anam Cara, his fated mate. And he was mine.
Cullen lowered me to the ground, settling me into the plush white living room carpet. I wriggled out of my jeans and pulled my shirt over my head. I spread my legs wide for him. Cullen’s eyes flashed dark as he tore off his own clothes. I gasped. He was magnificent, just like the first time. His cock grew huge and hard and he stroked it as he dropped to his knees before me. Later, I would turn and let him enter me, bracing myself on all fours as he claimed me and nipped me again. It felt so good when he did it. For now though, I wanted to see him. I wanted to watch his face as it filled with ecstasy as he entered me.
Reaching down, I stroked myself. I was slick and wet and more than ready. Cullen came into me slowly, stretching me wide. He fit. We fit. He moved with me as I leaned up and sunk my teeth into his shoulder. Tiny white webbed lines covered his neck where Arkady had left his mark. They would forever remind me of the sacrifices Cullen was willing to take for me. He would give his life again and again. He would protect me. I would protect him and the growing life inside of me.
We fit.
Cullen threw his head back and let his bear eyes flash as he spilled his seed inside of me. I let him take his pleasure, thrusting deep inside of me, filling me with his heat. When he was spent, he turned me. I arched my back as he entered me from behind and stroked me with skillful fingers. He wanted my own growl as I reached my climax. I gave it. I screamed his name and let him claim me. Now and forever.
***
Eight Months Later
“Trust me.” Fiona used the same authoritative tone she’d given to the council of the clans our first night here. I knelt on the floor on all fours, rocking back and forth. My stomach hung heavy with the new life struggling to get out.
“Shh,” Fiona rubbed the small of my back. “Be still, little one. You’ll have plenty of time to let us hear your roar.”
I don’t know how I knew, but the baby inside of me listened to her. He stilled, curling into himself. Bones shifted inside of me as the baby turned and put his head down.
“He’s coming!” I gasped.
“That’s it. Just like that.”
I pushed when Fiona told me to. Heat flowed through me. My insides nearly burst, then I felt a popping release as the baby made his way into the world under his grandmother’s guiding hands. I collapsed on the bed and curled into myself as Fiona tended to us both.
“Well, hello there, little man!” Fiona’s voice broke. I turned and tried to sit up to get a better view. Her eyes glistened with tears as she leaned down and kissed his tiny head. I could just see a mass of black hair sticking up in all directions. Fiona wrapped him in a towel and laid him across my chest.
“He’s okay?” I said through fresh tears. My son looked up at me, shaking a tiny fist in the air at the indignity of it all. I kissed him, drinking in his sweet scent.
“He’s absolutely perfect. So are you. Now do you think he’s ready to meet his daddy?”
I nodded. Fiona didn’t even have time to turn around and open the bedroom door before Cullen burst in. His own hair stood out in peaks and cones where he must have torn his hands through it. A look passed between Fiona and me and we laughed together.
As Cullen sat gently on the bed beside me. Fiona gave me a wink and quietly backed out of the room. I wanted to ask her to stay, but the minute my eyes locked with Cullen’s, I was grateful for our privacy.
Cullen placed a gentle hand over the curve of our son’s skull. Then, he leaned down and kissed him.
“I love you,” he said.
“I love you more,” I answered.
Our son shook his fist again and started to cry. He opened his eyes. They were green, like mine with flecks of brown. As he tried to focus on Cullen, his eyes flashed dark as the bear inside of him growled to life as well. He let out a soft, mewling sound and for an instant, his tiny fingernails sprouted claws, then receded to nails again.
“Plenty of time for that later, little man,” Cullen whispered. His father’s soothing voice seemed to quiet the little beast inside of him. I was grateful. My nipples throbbed in agreement.
“Did you think of a name yet?” I asked.
Cullen smiled. “I had a thought. But now that he’s here, you decide.”
“Tell me.”
“What do you think about Avery Tobias James?”
Fresh tears welled in my eyes. “I think that’s perfect. How long have you been holding onto that one?”
“Since two seconds after we found out you were pregnant.”
“Have you heard anything from him yet?” Cullen’s face grew grave, then he covered and smiled again. It was a sore subject between us and I hated to bring it up, but today of all days, it mattered.
“It’s been six months,” Cullen answered. “No one’s heard anything.”
“Do you think he’s dead?” I hated to even put it into words, but I had to know Cullen’s mind.
He shook his head. “No. We’d all feel it if he were.”
Another vote took place the day Cullen and I were let back into the clans. There was still the matter of Simon’s abandonment of my sister. He had no good explanation. There’s was a one-night stand. He claimed he hadn’t even known she’d gotten pregnant. The thing was, I believed him. Maybe it was my connection to Cullen and now the rest of the clans, but Simon’s grief was palpable when we told him everything we knew. It gutted him. He had doubled over and fell to the ground. After that, he swore me an oath. A grisly thing, he’d drawn a knife across his palm and sealed his promise with blood.
“On my life, on my honor, I won’t return to Wild Ridge until I find my son and bring him home to you,” he’d said.
So far, he hadn’t. We’d heard rumors his quest took him far south. I tried to stay hopeful, especially today, but the more time passed, the harder that was to maintain.
“If anyone can find our nephew, Simon can. He’ll bring him home, Anya. We’ll be a family. I feel it.”
“I feel it too. I just hope it’s not too late.” I didn’t want to say the other fear I had. I’d grown up in the system. I couldn’t fathom what it would be like for someone like my nephew who had bear in him too. For now though, I couldn’t save the world. I could only hold the family I did have close and keep them safe.
I leaned up and kissed my husband again, then pressed my cheek against Avery’s. I felt his aunt’s presence today but kept it to myself. Today was a day for joy and new beginnings. With Cullen and now Avery by my side, I knew I was finally home.
THE END