Mandy's Story (19 page)

Honey shook his head in confusion and
grumbled, “A pup?”

She laughed. “I’ve emailed Zenya, and
she says it takes an extra day or two, but he or she should turn
into a bear cub, too. You need to let me up because we have so much
work to do.”

His grumble was louder this time. “It
will be a week before you change to wolf to finish your
pregnancy.”

His words obviously startled her
because she stopped struggling to get out of bed. “Why?”

“
This is why.” His hand
traveled between her legs and he buried one finger deeply. “And
this.” His other hand covered her breast and then he began rolling
her nipple. “If I can’t have you for fifty-nine days then you owe
me a week… in bed… doing this.”

She gave a deep sigh as his lips
covered hers.

***

Mandy rushed through her shower,
avoiding Honey’s slippery hands each time he tried to grab her. His
frustrated grunts didn’t sway her and she dressed quickly so they
could get back to the cabin. Her mate wasn’t happy when she slipped
back into her short dress either. “Well… next time I’ll bring some
extra clothes and leave them here.”

She smiled behind his back when he
didn’t argue that there would be a next time. He was learning. They
made it through the semi-dark and quiet club, but stopped when
Dmitri appeared in front of them and blocked their path. Mandy
didn’t think and only reacted. She released Honey’s hand and
charged the vampire, throwing herself into his arms. “I love you,
you crazy vampire.”

Growls could be heard echoing off the
cavernous walls of the club as Dmitri pushed her back with a laugh.
“I don’t wish to harm your mate, so you need to behave, sweet
Mandy.”

Honey grabbed her hand and pulled her
against his body. “Control yourself, mate.”

“
You’re no fun.” She
looked at Dmitri and gave him a huge grin. “I’m pregnant, and we’re
heading home so we can prepare.”

Dmitri’s face broke into a huge grin.
“Congratulations. I expect you to name the child after
me.”

“
Blood sucker junior,”
Honey said under his breath, which caused Dmitri to break out in
robust laughter.

Mandy slapped Honey’s arm, which he
continued to clamp around her waist. “Be nice.”

“
I’m trying,” he
grumbled.

Dmitri flashed away with more laughter
trailing behind him.

“
I’m surprised he hasn’t
gutted you by now,” Mandy said.

“
Up until you came into my
life, he didn’t have a reason to.” His arms tightened for a few
seconds and then he released her so they could leave.

They stopped and picked up the mail
before returning to their cabin. Mandy carried one of her surprise
boxes inside. She knew which specialty order this was and planned
to use it before she shifted to wolf for her pregnancy. Honey told
her she could order what she wanted for the baby on the internet
and she agreed. He left her to attend clan business, so she shifted
then ran all the way to Tyboll’s cabin so she could share the news
with him and Patreous.

She managed to refrain from throwing
herself into Tyboll’s arms, but she hugged a squirming Patreous to
her side and kissed his head.

“
Patreous, come here.”
Tyboll didn’t smile at her news.

Mandy’s heart sank because she thought
she’d made progress with the grumbly bear.

Tyboll took his son’s shoulders and
looked down. “A child is a gift. In these times, it’s also a
target. Can you protect Mandy and keep her in your sights until the
baby comes?”

“
Yes, sir. I will guard
her and the cub with my life.” His young voice held fierce
determination.

Tyboll looked at Mandy. “You do not
leave your cabin without him unless Honey is by your side.
Patreous’ responsibility is to watch over you and give his life, if
that’s what it takes to keep you safe. My son will do his duty or
die trying.”

Tears slipped down Mandy’s face. “Thank
you, Tyboll. I am honored by your son’s guardianship.” She wiped
her eyes and gave a trembling smile. “I need to visit Sonora and
give her my news.”

Tyboll pushed Patreous in Mandy’s
direction. “You have a difficult job, son. Watch her closely.” The
bear turned and walked back into his cabin.

Mandy and Patreous sat at Sonora’s
table and enjoyed cookies and milk. Sonora laughed and cried,
flowing between both reactions during their snack. “You have
honored our clan, Mandy. The women are all talking about our
training and almost all want to participate and know how to protect
ourselves. The Kodiak told the few stubborn he-bears who have
protested that it’s an order. There’s grumbling, but the women are
behind you.” She started crying again. “I can’t believe I’m going
to be a grandmother.”

Mandy loved Sonora, but she still felt
like an outsider. None of the other bears visited her and she had
met only a couple of the women. She hoped, after the baby was born,
that she would fit into their clan easier. She hated feeling like
an outcast.

She and Patreous left Sonora an hour
later, and the small bear followed her home before he returned to
his father. She promised to notify him when she next left the cabin
without Honey. Patreous gave a solemn nod and then took
off.

Mandy went into the spare bedroom and
took notes on what she needed to order.

Chapter Thirty-Two

One week later…

Tomorrow his mate would shift to wolf
to hasten her pregnancy. Honey would miss their human skin contact,
but he agreed that this child needed to arrive sooner rather than
later. Nicolas’ pack would arrive the following week and things
would get even more interesting.

Mandy had something in mind for their
last evening before she shifted to wolf until the baby arrived.
Even though he feared what it was, Honey knew he’d enjoy it in the
long run.

She cooked steaks, potatoes, and bread,
and made a large salad. There were two candles glowing on the table
and a medium-sized gift box lying to the side. During dinner, his
eyes strayed to the box again and again, but Mandy shook her
head.

They cleared the table together and
then Honey washed the dishes.

“
Do you think I’m fat?”
Mandy asked as she walked up behind him.

Honey turned and pulled her close, his
wet hands soothing her back. “You’re a week pregnant in human form
and don’t have an ounce of fat on you.” His hand traveled to her
stomach. “Even in wolf form you will only have a small belly while
carrying my child. I look forward to snuggling against
it.”

Mandy went up on her tiptoes and kissed
him gently then lowered her voice to a husky whisper. “Hurry up,
mate, your surprise is waiting.”

Honey finished the dishes in record
time.

Ten minutes later, he stood in a tight
faux-leopard leotard. It covered one pectoral muscle and left the
other bare. Unfortunately, Mandy’s covered both her breasts, and he
grumbled even more. It was the first time he didn’t bother arguing;
he just put the damn thing on.

“
Hi, Tarzan. Me Jane.” She
cocked her hip and eyed him up and down.

“
Uuh.”

“
I don’t like big burly
men and little ole me is scared.” Her lip actually
trembled.

He stared back in disbelief before
realizing this was part of her game.

“
Uuh.”

She walked a wide berth around him, but
stopped when she reached their bedroom door, her hand on the knob.
“I have a few other contenders for my attentions waiting, so if you
want me, you’ll have to catch me.”

Honey charged, but she slammed the door
behind her. He pulled on the knob, but nothing happened. Looking
down at his hand, he realized his crazy she-wolf switched the knob
around sometime during the day and now the lock was on the outside.
He heard the bars being lifted from off the front door and decided
that ordering a bedroom door was worth it. He backed up two feet
and then put all his strength against the wood. The door crashed
against the wall, but he didn’t stop to see the damage as he burst
through the room and out the front door.

He stopped dead… Mandy stood ten feet
off the porch surrounded by male and female bears. They all turned
and looked at Honey. Several snickers came from his
clan.

“
I take it we should have
made an appointment?” Dmitri’s voice flowed through the night as he
stepped from the trees.

Honey looked at his liege and then to
his father, who stood a few feet away from the vampire. Honey
pounded one fist into his chest. “Me Tarzan, what is going
on?”

The Kodiak’s lips actually twitched and
he looked away obviously trying to control himself before turning
back to his son. “Tyboll has asked permission to adopt your mate
and make her family.” The alpha looked to Mandy. “This is an honor,
but it’s your choice. As Honey’s mate, you are part of our clan and
no one can take that from you as long as Honey lives. If adopted,
you become sister to Patreous and daughter to Tyboll. It binds you
forever to the bear family.”

Mandy turned large green eyes to her
mate. Honey walked forward and took her into his arms before she
collapsed.

“
He wants to adopt me,”
she whispered against his shoulder.

Honey could feel her trembling turn to
full out shaking and he soothed her, running his hands along her
back. “It’s the highest honor we give, but it won’t change anything
about us. It’s entirely up to you. He also knows you have a father
that you love. He would be another.”

Mandy pushed slightly away. “Did you
know about this?”

He looked down at the ridiculous outfit
he wore and smiled. “What do you think?”

Her lips quivered and tears rolled down
her cheeks, but she turned and faced The Kodiak. “I have need of a
father and brother within the clan.” She turned her eyes to Tyboll,
who had stood by silently. “Are you sure you want to take me
on?”

For the first time anyone could
remember, the grumpy he-bear smiled. “I have need of a daughter who
can cook.”

Mandy released her mate and launched
herself into Tyboll’s arms. Honey didn’t bother growling, because
in a few minutes Tyboll would be her father. He watched as Mandy
released her hold and then picked up Patreous and twirled him
around. “It will be bad manners to beat your sister in a race, so I
will win every time from here on out.”

Patreous surprised everyone and gave
her a large hug when she stopped spinning. He took her hand and
then looked back at his father. Tyboll walked up to her other side
and took her other hand. They moved slightly so they faced The
Kodiak. The alpha walked forward and placed his hand over her
heart.

“
Inside here is the heart
of a bear. It will forever beat as blood of this pack, and even in
death you shall be remembered as bear.” He removed his hand and
then hugged Mandy.

Clapping and cheering started from all
the bears and slowly one by one, they approached with gifts—some
for Mandy and some for the baby. Honey stood back and watched his
mate with pride.

“
You are a lucky bear,”
Dmitri said.

“
There isn’t a luckier
one.”

Chapter Thirty-Three

Two months
later…

Demetria Sonora was born during the
middle of the night. The small wolf cub had the markings of her
mother. It would be two weeks until she shifted to human. Her
father didn’t care if she ever shifted to bear, she was perfect the
way she was.

The tiny cub was passed to Patreous a
few hours after her birth, and she snuggled into his smaller arms.
He looked at his niece in wonder as her mouth started seeking food.
“Here, she’s hungry.” He gave the small creature back to her
mother. “I will guard her, too, and no one will ever harm
her.”

Mandy, exhausted, full of joy, and once
again human after two months as wolf, looked into her brother’s
eyes. “I know you will. She could not have a better brother to
protect her.” She looked to her father. “Would you like to hold
your granddaughter?”

“
After she eats. I look
forward to her mother’s cooking again on Thursday nights,
too.”

Mandy couldn’t help but laugh. She
turned at the knock on the front door. Honey walked from the
bedroom and let Dmitri in. He rarely popped into their cabin
anymore, and told her his brain couldn’t handle what he might find
if he didn’t give them time to get decent. Surprisingly, the
vampire’s voice blasted throughout the cabin.

“
Something must be done
with that damn she-cat,” the vampire thundered.

Mandy, Tyboll, and Patreous knew who
Dmitri spoke of and grinned because he couldn’t see them while he
stood in the other room. Nicolas’ pack had been with the bears for
seven weeks and Dmitri had gone head to head with one of the
females since their arrival.

“
If you calm down a
little, my liege, I would like you to meet your newest clan member.
Mandy insisted on naming her after you.”