Bear My Baby (Shifter Squad Six 1) (20 page)

“What do you think, Monroe? Are we going to be happy here?” Connor asked, kissing the top of his head.

Monroe looked thoughtful for a moment, before nodding enthusiastically.

“Yes!”

Well, Cassie couldn’t argue with that. Despite everything that they’d gone through to reach this point, she was overjoyed that she’d met this man, no matter the circumstances. Their start might have been rocky, but she knew she had a friend, a partner, and a lover for life now, not to mention a protector. She could stand on her own two feet, yes, but it was
so
much easier when she was allowed to lean on someone every now and then.

This was a new beginning to a story she was sure to love. It would have its ups and downs—that much was certain—but she could be safe in the knowledge that the man by her side was the one she’d always dreamed of. She was blessed with a family and a fresh start and nothing could keep her from taking all she could out of it!

EPILOGUE

Connor

“Would you stop goddamn fidgeting! You’re going to tear through the suit. Hasn’t your mama thought you a single thing about decorum?” Grim huffed, straightening Connor’s tie.

Connor wasn’t exactly sure who was more nervous about his wedding—himself or his team! Okay, who was he kidding, it was
definitely
him. But Grim, Dutch, and the rest of the gang came pretty damn close.

“We got everything in order?” Connor asked, batting Grim away from the seemingly impossible task of making his tie look decent.

He felt like a bear in a penguin suit, and that wasn’t too far from the truth. While they’d all worn uniforms in their day, none of the Squad Six members were eloquent suit wearers. They felt much more comfortable in a pair of jeans and a tank top, jumping over roofs and chasing down bad guys. The only villain they had to control today was the strict wedding schedule and perhaps an unruly uncle or two.

The men stood around in a circle, most of them in the at-ease position. More out of habit than anything else.

“Car?” Connor asked.

“Check. Got that puppy revving and ready to go when the party gets too much,” Grim said, giving a lazy salute.

“Guests?”

“Wrangled,” Thatch said, giving a lazy grin.

He was designated as the head usher. Connor figured that his big mouth had to be good for something.

“Minister?”

“Shaking in his boots since the moment he realized this was a shifter wedding,” Tex chuckled. “I got him, though.”

“Perimeter?” Connor asked, a small smirk playing on his lips.

Yeah, it was a wedding, but most of his friends were ex-military and active goons for hire. There were a lot of people out for his blood or the guts of his buddies, so this was certainly a wedding that wasn’t going to go unguarded.

“Surveillance nests set up, and I have them all checking in with me,” Dutch said, getting a confirmative nod from Grim.

“Patrols in motion since this morning,” Grant added mildly.

“Anything I’m forgetting then, groomsmen?” Connor asked, cracking a smile.

There was a round of chuckles. None of the men there could have expected a simple grab-and-run mission to quite turn into this when they’d set off to tackle Chicago. And yet, here they were, all six of them fretting about Connor’s wedding to the most perfect woman in the world. He was lucky to have friends like that—and not only friends, but brothers-in-arms that he could trust both his life and his wedding arrangements with!

“Bridesmaids,” Dutch commented dryly.

“What about them?”

“I don’t think anyone’s wrangling them yet. But I’m sure I can handle security and taking care of them at the same time. I liked that blonde one,” Dutch said, receiving a hard whack on the back for it.

“Gentlemen, behave. Today, everything has to run smoothly. Save your womanizing for the reception,” Connor said with a wink. “Thank you all for being here. And I think it’s time we go and get this party started.”

“Lock and load,” Grim hooted, with Grant following him and shaking his head slightly.

Connor’s easy smile fell and it was replaced by a serious expression as he walked past the rest of his squad and took his place at the head of the procession. All six of them strode down the aisles set up in a lovely villa in the heart of wine country. The sun was shining above and countless smiling faces looked up at him as he walked past them to take his spot at the altar.

His heart was pounding harder than it ever had. He hadn’t seen Cassie for more than a day and it was eating him up, knowing she was so close and yet so far. His bear paced back and forth nervously within him, making him want to break out and just go find her and elope.

But no. he had made a promise. He wanted to give Cassie the big wedding she deserved. It wasn’t anything too extravagant, but they had all their closest friends and family there. Connor’s side had so much brass and shifter power that they could have taken over half the country just among the first five tows of seats.

Their own ceremony, the one held at moonlight between just the bear and his bride, had happened a few nights ago. As a slight change to the customs of his clan, he had also had their son there to see the moment when his parents promised to always be there for one another. It had been everything he had expected it to be, but he knew that he wanted to celebrate both sides of them, shifter and human. While both ceremonies were equally important, he knew that one spoke to him more and the other to Cassie, and that was all right.

The wait seemed to be excruciatingly long. Never had he felt like he was on pins and needles like this, waiting, watching, expecting. When Cassie finally appeared and the music started, his hard mask of concentration broke and he grinned like a fool.

Spirits above, she’s gorgeous,
he thought dumbly, staring at her like a teenaged boy at the only woman in the world.

The white dress she wore hugged her shape beautifully, fanning out from her hips into a long train that made her look like she was walking on silken foam. The beads that lined her bosom sparkled in the sunshine, but they were nothing compared to the glint in her eyes and the smile on her ruby lips. Her chocolate skin looked delicious next to the whiteness of the dress and he could smell the bouquet from across the room, thanks to the notes of honeysuckle in it.

He watched in a trance as she approached, Monroe running down the aisle in front of her, the pillow with the rings on it jumping up and down in his hands. Grant caught him and picked him up as he reached the end of the aisle and Connor gave him a loving kiss on the cheek. Seeing that little boy made his day every damn time and made him feel like there was so much in the world to fight for.

Grant stepped back with Monroe as Cassie came to the altar. She let go of her father’s arm and he and Connor shook hands.

“Take care of my little girl,” he said, his eyes prickling with tears.

“I will, sir,” Connor said sternly, though it was hard tearing his eyes from Cassie.

He had no intention of letting down his new father-in-law. With that, her father nodded and stepped aside and Connor lifted Cassie’s veil. Her gorgeous hazel eyes sparkled brighter than any gem in the world and he took both her hands as they stood in front of the minister. In her eyes, he could see their whole future laid out for them. Ups and downs, highs and lows, all of them would taste sweet as long as he had Cassie and Monroe with him.

She had that hint of mischief in her eyes that told him she was up to no good again and he couldn’t hide the smirk that curled his lips even as the minister started talking.

“You look gorgeous,” he whispered.

“Thank you. I have some news, you know,” she said, biting her lip in that teasing way she did.

“What news can possibly be more important than our wedding ceremony?” Connor asked with a chuckle, getting a grouchy look from the minister.

“I’m pregnant,” she said, grinning.

Connor’s world ground to a halt, which was surprising since it had been moving in slow-motion to begin with. His heart just about exploded with happiness. Another cub! He grabbed her in his arms and spun her around, grinning wide. Cassie giggled and his team laughed out loud.

“Connor, Cassie! We’re not done yet!” the minister barked.

Connor put Cassie down, keeping his hands on her hips and belly.

“Are you sure?”

“Completely,” she said, beaming.

“The hell’s going on, lieutenant?” Grim asked good-naturedly.

“We’re having another baby!” Connor hollered to the whole crowd, receiving a chorus of cheers in response.

Laughter and good wishes rang out around him, but Connor only had eyes for his bride. He kissed her fiercely on the lips, ignoring the harrumph coming from the minister.

“I love you, Cassie,” he whispered, choking back tears.

“I love you too,” she said her own eyes shimmering with tears as well.

Could a bear be any happier?

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TWIN WOLF TROUBLE EXCERPT

“Shit,” Tex commented matter-of-factly, throwing off his jacket and rolling up his sleeves.

Both of them pulled the duffels up on the seat and unzipped them almost in unison. Madeline yelped and pressed herself against the seat as they pulled out matching assault rifles and ammo belts, hooking the belts around themselves and checking the contents of them.

“Don’t worry, sugar, we’re the good guys,” Tex said, grinning like someone had given him a shot of endorphins.

“I don’t know about that. But for the sake of this conversation, let’s assume that we are. At least this time,” Thatch commented with a smirk.

“The hell’s going on? Who are you?!” Madeline gasped, her mind racing far faster than the train.

“Your knights in shining armor,” Tex said, stepping closer to her and taking her hand.

He kept his green eyes trained on her grays as he raised her hand to his lips and kissed the top of it. Her heart literally skipped a beat. It was ridiculous. His touch made a whole new kind of heat rush through her at supersonic speeds.

“Come on, Prince Charming, let’s save the world and
then
flirt, okay?” Thatch growled, yanking Tex toward the door by his collar. “But I’m expecting to see you later, Miss Madeline. Don’t go too far,” Thatch said, giving her a quick salute and then disappearing out of the door along with his brother.

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