The bear jerked away from her suddenly. He shook his large head and paced, growling, barking, as though he was in pain. “Jacob!” Holly called out. Worry suddenly cinched around her heart, and she started to run to him, but Brent caught her by the arms and held her back.
“Wait, darling,” he said. “Just wait.”
Holly watched as the bear tossed himself back and forth, blindly, and her heart hammered in her chest, terrified that he’d pace straight off the ledge. Then, finally, he collapsed, heaving.
Bones snapped. His form shrunk. His black fur receded to a wild mane on his head, trickling down his chest. He was bruised, bleeding, but he was Jacob, human, and Holly felt tears sting again as hot relief thudded in her chest.
“Jacob!” she cried out and ran to him as soon as Brent released her. He was already trying to pry himself off the ground when she dropped and wrapped her arms around him, pulling him into a tight hug. Too tight—he groaned, and she loosened her hold and let out a short laugh. He curled up around her and held her to him, their foreheads touching.
“I love you too,” he murmured when he could finally catch his breath.
She stroked his hair back from his face. “You came back to me.”
“All thanks to you,” he said. “Thank God I married a teacher.”
Holly let out a small laugh at that, nuzzling against him. She felt the rough scruff on his chin as she nuzzled in, loving his warmth, all Jacob. “Let’s go home,” she murmured.
He nodded, though they were far both too spent to move from their spot and they lingered in each other’s arms a moment longer as the waves settled to a low gurgle below.
Chapter 74
Getting back up the side of the cliff proved even more harrowing than going down, especially since Jacob could barely put his weight on his bad leg and kept slipping. Brent remained under him to keep him moving forward and Holly scrambled up ahead of them to help pull the two up once they’d made it to the top.
Trish and Cayden were right where Holly had left them, sitting over the edge of the cliff. When Miranda failed to come out of the cave, Cayden kept his head down, staring at the ocean below. Holly noticed and gave Jacob a nudge, who nodded and limped over to the young man.
“Is she gone?” Cayden asked without looking up.
Jacob crouched down to be level with the boy, though it clearly hurt to do so—Holly saw him wince. “Yes,” he said somberly. “We fought. She slipped off the edge.”
Cayden said nothing, but his jaw tightened. Holly kept her distance, but to her, it looked like he was trying to keep his composure.
“This fight ends here,” Jacob continued, keeping his voice firm. “My clan doesn’t want a war. We don’t want to struggle over territory. We just want to live our lives quietly as a family.”
“Easy for you to say,” Cayden finally spat, his words barbed.
Holly crouched down beside Jacob then and reached out to put her hand on Cayden’s shoulder. “You’re not a bad person, Cayden,” she said. “No one is happy about how this ended. You have a place at the ranch if you want it.”
She glanced at Jacob—right?—and he turning back to Cayden and nodded. “So long as you’re willing to start fresh.”
Cayden kept his eyes locked on the waves below. “You need to go,” he hissed. “Now.”
Jacob pushed himself up and Holly, reluctantly, followed beside him. Jacob leaned against her as he limped to the truck.
“It’s done,” Jacob said heavily. “It’s over.”
Holly squeezed his arm reassuringly, but she wasn’t sure it was over. There was Cayden. Brent. Trish. All the dust still had to settle. But for now, she had Jacob, alive and human, and she had their baby. And with her Alpha man beside her and new life stirring inside of her, they could conquer any challenge that came their way.
“Boss!” Trish hopped beside them and began to plead with Jacob. “I would like to stay here for tonight. Please. Maybe longer. Just to make sure he’s okay.”
“Is that okay with Cayden?” Jacob grunted.
Trish’s head bobbed rapidly as she nodded.
“Alright,” he said. “Keys’re in the truck. Your mom isn’t gonna like it.”
“Thank you.” Trish pressed a small kiss to the side of her face before bouncing off to be with Cayden.
“They’re a strange match,” Holly said absently as she unlocked the Buggy and helped Jacob into the passenger seat.
“I’ve seen stranger,” he said and the corners of his eyes crinkled, amused, as he gave her a pointed look.
She smiled. Couldn’t argue with that.