17. Epilogue

What was a group of bears called? Gaelynn should Google it later. She wanted to use the proper terminology for what was happening on their deck.

A pile of bears lounged in the late afternoon summer sun. She smiled at the sight. Most of Supe Sec was there. Her and Behemoth’s first party as an official couple was a success, she thought. They’d grilled enough hot dogs and hamburgers for a small army—or a bunch of shifters.

The wolves had gone home, but the bears stayed. Connor was the base of the pile, being the largest. Alexi and Behemoth bookended him, with River splayed across all three.

They barely stirred as she slid open the door and stepped outside. “Y’all are like one massive fur rug.”

Alexi snarled and she popped him in the nose.

“Hush. I should take a picture so you could see this ridiculousness. You’d agree with me.”

River stretched before rolling behind Connor’s back. She emerged a minute later in a loose shirt and sweatpants. “Did you just smack a grizzly in the nose?” She struggled to keep a straight face.

“I did.” Gaelynn smiled sweetly behind her glass of tea.

They both burst into laughter. Connor groaned, and she and River went back inside while they shifted. The boys joined them, all wearing variations on the same outfit River wore, standard issue Supe Sec emergency shifter fashion.

She smiled at the three men. Connor had joined Alexi and River’s team as their sniper. He seemed to be doing well and she knew he enjoyed it.

She was thinking she should have made Behemoth wear sunscreen since his face was red, then she realized he was blushing.

He never blushed.

“What’s going on?”

The four bears poked at Behemoth and he swatted his arm behind him, not connecting with any of them.

He shoved his fingers through his hair. “Um… it’s customary among bear shifters to have family present when…”

He stumbled to a stop.

Alexi cursed. “You’re bungling it. Just spit it out.”

Behemoth growled at him. “Shut up. This is hard.”

Gaelynn’s eyes pinged around the group like she watched a tennis match.

Finally, Behemoth swallowed, straightened his spine and took the few steps to stand directly in front of her.

“Gaelynn, I pledge my heart and my life to you. Do you accept me as your mate?”

Tears sprang in her eyes and her heart swelled. “Are you… are you proposing to me?”

“Kind of? If you want to get married, we can do that too, but this… This is more important for shifters. It’s a forever bond that can’t be broken.”

His eyes bored into hers, and in them she saw hope and a bit of fear.

“Gaelynn Roth, do you accept me as your mate?”

“Yes, Vital Benoit. Behemoth. I accept you as my protector, my grizzly, and my mate.”

The world spun as he plucked her from her feet and threw her over his shoulder. She lifted her head and waved at their friends as he carted her down the hallway to their bedroom. “I guess that’s bye, y’all!”

River smirked, Connor grinned, and Alexi snorted. She heard the front door open and close, and the world spun again as he tossed her into the center of the bed. She chewed on her bottom lip. “Did I do it right?”

“It was perfect. You are perfect.” He crawled over her and framed her face with his hands. “I love you.”

“I love you, too.” She grinned up at him. “Now get down there and suck my clit.”

He chuckled. “I created a monster.”

“Too much?”

He shook his head. “Never. When it comes to this, I crave your control.”

He let her boss him around for the first hour. Then she gave complete control to him. And loved every second.