Total pages in book: 20
Estimated words: 18471 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 92(@200wpm)___ 74(@250wpm)___ 62(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 18471 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 92(@200wpm)___ 74(@250wpm)___ 62(@300wpm)
After I slip the diamond ring on my mate’s finger, I kiss her soft lips and promise, “I’m going to spend the rest of my life making sure you’re the happiest mate on earth.”
“I already am. You’ve already given me the world.”
It’s been quite an exciting day, and it’s not even close to being over.
Clay gives my hand a little squeeze and helps me walk up the steps in front of his aunt and uncle’s house. My mate is carrying the box of fresh honey buns I brought to give his family. It’s been a struggle to keep my mate from gobbling down his favorite sweet before dinner.
Bear shifters have a crazy sweet tooth and a fast metabolism. Clay can scarf down five or six large honey buns at a time without blinking an eye. I’m not going to lie. I’m freaking jealous of my mate’s ability to eat anything and everything without putting on an ounce of weight.
After we met the three Bearly brothers, I was shocked at how much the brothers eat. Every time one of them comes into the bakery, we run out of honey buns.
Our customers are just as bad. When we started running out before lunchtime, we had to put a limit on the number of sweets each shifter can buy.
Before Clay and I mated, I asked Mabel about bear shifters, wanting to know what I’m getting into. My sister explained almost everything to me. Every now and then, I still learn something new about my shifter mate, and I figure it will happen until we leave this world together.
All shifters change to their animal on demand and maintain full control of their inner animal. Bear shifters are a combination of bear and human genes. They tend to avoid large crowds and gatherings, but most shifters live in a community of their own kind. Shifters get along well with humans and, most times, humans can’t even tell when shifters are around. Bear shifters are usually bigger than other shifters like wolves, lions, and tigers. Shifters aren’t immortal, but their strength, large size, enhanced defenses, and inner animals protect them from most harm. When a shifter mates, his life force combines with his mate’s life force for all eternity. We’ll live a long life together and then leave this world together.
This is the first time I’ve ever dealt with other shifters, besides Clay's brothers and parents, and I’m feeling a little out of my element.
“Oh my.” A beautiful woman with long, straight blonde hair and striking black eyes rushes over and pulls me close. “Your mate is gorgeous.” She smiles at Clay while hugging me tight.
“I know, Aunt Tilly.” Holy cow. This is his aunt? She doesn’t look a day over thirty. Clay leans down to give her a kiss on the cheek before pulling me close. “I’m one lucky motherfucker.”
“Watch your language, young man. You might be six and a half feet tall, but I can still put you over my knee.” Her fierce expression tells me Clay’s aunt isn’t joking.
“Sorry,” Clay mumbles. “I’m not really sorry. I wake up every goddamn day and thank the universe for bringing you to me.” His masculine voice echoes through my mind. “I love you, spicy little love.”
“I love you, too.” I blow him a mental kiss. “Let’s get this dinner over with, and then you can take me back to the cabin and show me how much.”
Clay’s aunt turns to me and smiles brightly. “Please, call my Aunt Tilly.” Then she points at the large quiet man standing next to her. “This is my husband, Uncle George.” Wow. When I met Clay’s parents, I instantly realized shifters have awesome genes, but this family is even more genetically blessed than most.
“So nice to meet you both. I brought homemade honey buns from the bakery I own with my sisters.” I smile at them before grabbing the white box from my mate.
“I smelled it the minute you walked in the door.” Uncle George’s kind brown eyes light up. “I know what I’m having for dessert.” He rubs his hands together.
“Thank you, sweetheart.” Aunt Tilly hip-checks her husband out of the way and reaches for my hand. Her eyes zero in on my new ring and she gasps. “Oh my. That’s one heck of a ring. Your mother didn’t tell me you’d gotten engaged.” Aunt Tilly’s eyes narrow as she stares at Clay, waiting for his response.
“I just asked her to marry me. I haven’t told my parents yet,” Clay confirms, and Aunt Tilly almost vibrates with happiness.
“Your parents are going to be so excited.” She rubs her hands together.
“Let me introduce you to the rest of our kids. This is my oldest son, Gabe, and his twin, Grant.” I smile at the shifters but don’t reach for their hands. Clay warned me on the way here that his cousins are insanely close, and they might do him irreparable harm if he beats one of them for touching me.