A Lady's Heart (Takhini Shifters #3)(21)

A wolfish roar of pain turned into a loud shout of anger as Cole took to his feet and whirled on them. "She's gone. She's been gone for half an hour, and now I'll have to track her down all over again."

"Good luck on that," Mandy uttered, ducking closer to Justin's side as the wolf offered her a nasty snarl.

"Back off," Justin warned. "It's hard to eat without teeth, and it's even harder to track someone with a broken sniffer."

Cole snapped at Nadia. "Why didn't you stop her?"

"Because I only stop things from happening that shouldn't." She smirked at him.

He glared. "I did not want to be tied up."

Nadia raised a brow. "You sure, sweetheart? But wait-it's not me who needs to know all your kinky secrets. You'd better discuss that with Danielle when you catch her."

Loud growl. Loud.

"If you catch her."

He didn't bother responding, just turned his back and left at a full sprint, headed after his target again.

Mandy turned to Nadia. "We're going back to Whitehorse. I need to get in touch with my family, at least the part of it who isn't trying to evade a wolf, and figure out what comes next. Thank you for everything you did to make me comfortable during my time here."

Nadia gave her a hug. "I'm going to miss your happy smile. It was nice having a new girlfriend all of my own. You're welcome back anytime."

Mandy pressed closer to Justin's side as he tugged her against his body. "I think we'll be able to come visit."

"Of course we can," Justin agreed.

Saying farewell took a lot longer than she expected … but then again, maybe her expectations all needed to be revised. She'd made a lot of friends who all dropped by to say goodbye while she and Justin were packing, and with one thing and the other, it was a day later before they were ready to hit the road.




       
         
       
        
She stroked a hand over the dash of the camper. "Dale's going to want this back sometime."

"Yup," Justin agreed before flashing her a grin. "But for now, it's ours, and we could check off an item from your list. You mind if we take a shortcut to get home? There's supposed to be a fabulous Aurora Borealis show over the next few nights … "

Mandy hesitated. "You don't think we should go straight home so I can decide?"

"Deciding will take some long walks and lazy mornings to think it all through. It's been eight years. You deserve a few more days."

"I suppose that would be okay. Where are the lights expected to be most visible?"

"Tombstone Park Campground on the Dempster highway."

Holy moly. "That's nowhere near Whitehorse."

"Nope."

She laughed. "That's probably as far north as we are now, and a lot more to the east. How is that a shortcut?"

"I don't know. But-" He pulled a piece of paper from his pocket and glanced at it. "There we go. This is what I meant to say."

She took the note from him, their fingers tangling together before she lifted the paper to the light to read out loud.

Make love under the Northern Lights.

Laughter bubbled up, and she was glad they were still motionless in the parking lot because that meant she could throw herself into his arms. "Funny, I don't remember that being on the list."

"Are you sure? It looks an awful lot like your handwriting-"

Whatever else he intended to say was lost. She was too busy kissing him. Holding him.

Claiming the bear who was her heart.





Epilogue





Dear Susanna,

I'm so pleased you've decided to accept the leadership of Kodiak Island. I know it's a big challenge, but all the people I spoke to when we visited a few weeks ago said you're the perfect person to take over for Nana. I can't tell you how proud it makes me to know you have the skills to take on the reins of the family tradition.

I know, it's kind of a bad pun. Reins, reigns. Let's blame it on the fact I'm a little giddy these days.

There's still been no trace of Danielle from our side. If you hear anything, let me know. I'm sure she's okay. She seemed very competent and determined, and everytime I ask Justin, he says to relax, as if he's got insider information he's not sharing.

Which means since I trust him-I'm relaxing. Hopefully we'll know more soon.

Justin and I will be dropping by again in the spring. We've decided to travel for a while-he's taking a leave of absence from his job and we're pretty much … well, just making a list and doing it. One day at a time. 

I'm so happy.

Your loving big sister,

Mandy





Justin handed the letter back to her when he finished reading it. "She's a great kid. And you're right-everyone we spoke to on the island is on board with her leading, even though she's young."

Mandy finished addressing the envelope. "Fortunately, being young is one thing that will slowly correct itself over time."

He laughed. "True enough."

Watching her move around the apartment-their apartment-was one more hit of pleasure in a long row of happiness.

She floated lazily, rearranging pillows and throw blankets. Hanging up tiny wooden reindeer ornaments. Her hands competent and steady, her eyes full of laughter and joy.

He'd been more than content to provide the labour as they furnished and decorated a two-bedroom place in Whitehorse. It might not be where they settled long term, but for now it was rapidy becoming home. Not only because of knicknacks and now the holiday decorations, but because of the pictures of them that kept showing up daily.

She'd done it again, he discovered. He slid his gaze off her to the frame she pulled from her shopping bag.

"Another one?" he asked with a laugh. "Let me see it."

Mandy all but bounced over to his side, holding out the photo eagerly. "This is my favourite so far."

He could see why. It was a group shot taken the previous week at a barbecue get-together hosted by the other local bears in the area. Jim and Lillie Halcyon had opened their home and hearts to Mandy, especially Lillie.

The ladies were thick as thieves these days, and Justin was so glad. Having new girlfriends in her life was adding to the bloom in Mandy's cheeks.

The photographer had caught them in a moment of laughter, the posed assembly breaking apart into chaos, wearing wide grins and far-from-serious body positions. Evan and Amy were there, Jim and Lillie, Tyler and Caroline, and him and Mandy, all surrounded by more wolves than were safe to contain in one area.

The noise had been over the top, the jokes even worse-it had been like being back at the pack house, with one enormous difference.

He put the photo aside carefully so he could have both hands free to draw her into his arms. "It's almost my favourite," he told her.

Mandy tilted her head to the side, palms resting on his chest. "Which one do you like best?"

"The one we'll take tomorrow."

It took a moment as she considered his answer. "Where are we going tomorrow?"

"I have no idea, yet. But tomorrow, it'll be the picture we take the day after that … "

Her eyes lit with understanding. "We're never going to get around to taking your favourite!"

"We'll be taking pictures from now to forever, and I get to be in all of them with you." He kissed her. Slow and deep and needy until they were both breathless, then answered her. "You promised. I put it on the list."

Mandy blinked hard before her lips curled into a smile. She tugged him with her to the bedroom where in a moment of teasing he'd taken her original list and framed it, hanging it beside their bed.

She leaned in closer to check it out, and for the first time noticed the addition he'd made a few days ago. Her fingers tightened, and laughter burst from her, and then she was hugging him, and all was right in his world, because he knew she was going to work that list until it was done.

Good by him, since the new final item said:

spend my life with Justin, the bear who's madly in love with me