My Bear to Heal (Cypress Valley Shifters #3)

Epilogue

One Year Later

“ See you on Monday, Cynthia!” I call over my shoulder with a wave to Dr. Thomas. Since I started officially working for her, we’ve become a little less formal, and she insists I call her by her first name.

“Have a good weekend, Addie.” She waves before heading into her office.

The telltale rumble of a motorcycle engine draws my attention out the front window of Paws and Pets, the vet clinic that will someday be mine.

I’m finally living all of my dreams, and I couldn’t be happier.

After years of hard work, I’m a licensed veterinarian, working on large and small animals here—at the clinic—and any surrounding farms. Some days, the hours are long, and the patients can be difficult, but I’ve never been so fulfilled.

But my career isn’t the only dream come true .

Smoldering green eyes peruse my body over the top of his dark sunglasses when I step outside. A wolf-whistle echoes through the late summer air as I close the clinic door behind me. “Need a ride home, gorgeous?”

Flipping my wrist, I glance at my watch and bite my lip to stifle a smile. “Sorry, I’m waiting for my boyfriend. Have you seen him? Huge guy. Real scary looking, with tattoos and big muscles. You might want to make yourself scarce—”

Once I’m within reach, his warm hands clasp around my waist, hauling me to his body. The most unsexy shrieking giggle breaks free from my mouth as he nuzzles my neck. “You’re a brat. Why do I put up with you?”

“Because you love me.” Batting my lashes, I press my lips to Tyler’s. “Hi, hotshot. How was your day?”

His grip on my waist tightens ever so slightly, like he can’t stop touching me no matter how hard he tries. “Better now that you’re in my arms. Gertie still won’t let me milk her. Stubborn little hellion.”

I giggle. “Well, it’s your fault. She thinks she’s a pet, not livestock. Who can blame her? You successfully spoiled a goat.”

A low grunt comes from his throat as he rolls his eyes. “We don’t need goat milk, anyway. I give up. I do have a surprise for you, though, sweet rose.”

“Yeah?”

His lips graze my forehead as he nods and settles the helmet over my mane of unruly curls. “Hop on and I’ll show you.”

T he engine rumbles under my body as I squeeze my thighs around Tyler and hang on tight. My cheek rests against his back, his big body blocking me from the worst of the wind.

The twists and turns of the road ahead have my tummy climbing and falling like a rollercoaster ride. The feeling has become addictive, adrenaline buzzing through my veins every time Tyler pulls out the sleek black helmet he bought just for me.

The August sun hangs in the sky, surrounded by white wispy clouds. It’s the perfect evening for a scenic ride… even though I have no idea where he’s taking me.

A few miles later, the road flattens out and turns from blacktop to gravel. Ty downshifts as the tires crunch on the loose surface. “Where are we going?” My eyes catch on a No Trespassing sign as we crawl along. Nerves flutter to life in my stomach. “Are we supposed to be here?”

A deep chuckle has my body jostling against his. “Relax, mate. I’d never put you in danger. Reese owns this land.”

“Oh.” Yep, he’s up to something all right.

Coming to a stop, he switches the engine off and swings his long leg over the bike. Turning his big body, he looms over me, lust and mischief darkening his sparkling green eyes. “What are you up to, hotshot?” I murmur as he unbuckles my helmet and slips in from my head.

I fluff my hair, giving the curls some volume. Tyler’s hungry eyes eat up the motion. Warm hands wrap around my waist as he helps me from his bike.

“What makes you think I’m up to something?” A finger runs down the side of my neck before stroking over the faint bite mark on my collarbone. The subtle move has a fire igniting in my veins. Even after a year, I’m still insatiable for this man. I can only hope we’ll still be like this in another decade… or two.

“You’re always up to something. Didn’t you swap out all the pictures in Reese’s house for pictures of Keanu Reeves last week? You’re a troublemaker!”

He laughs, thumbs stroking my sides. He sighs. “Yeah, that was one of my finer moments. But no pranks, I promise. I wouldn’t do that to you, mate.”

A twig snapping in the distance has my head whipping to the treeline. “Who—”

“Eyes on me, sweet rose.” Strong fingers grip my chin, turning my head until he’s the only thing I see.

His hand slips to rest against his mating mark again. “Adelaide Rose, you’re the best thing to ever happen to me. I was a shell of myself before I met you. You brought me back to life with your gentle voice and sweet smiles. I’ll never forget the day we met. I think I heard angels singing when you hopped out of your dad’s truck.”

Tears prick my eyes, and I sniffle at his sweet words. “Ty—”

He places a finger over my lips, silencing me. “Shh, darlin’. I’m not done. I’ll never be done worshiping the fucking ground you walk on. I want to spend the rest of my life showing you how much I love you. How much I need you. How much you’ve healed me. You were made for me, mate. But I was made for you. Made to take care of you, protect you, and fucking worship at your altar until I breathe my last breath.”

He releases the grip on my waist, dropping to his knees in the dirt. “Tyler, what are—”

Pinched between two fingers is my mom’s wedding ring. The golden band forms leaves on either side of a diamond and two emeralds. I have always loved my mother’s ring, hoping she would pass it down to me one day.

Tears stream down my face as my hand covers my mouth with a shocked gasp. “Is that—?”

He nods, deep green eyes glossy with moisture. “Your mom’s ring. Your dad gave it to me, told me to stop wasting time. I’m sorry it took me so damn long to pull my head out of my ass.”

I laugh. “Oh, Tyler. I’d wait a thousand lifetimes for you.”

“Ditto, baby. Adelaide Rose Rademacher, would you make me the happiest fucker on the planet? Would you be my wife?”

I squeal, throwing myself against his chest, arms wrapping around his neck as I pepper his face with kisses. “Yes! Yes! A million times, yes!”

After we pull apart, he slides the ring onto my left hand and it sparkles in the bright summer sun, like the flower it was created to resemble.

“Told you she’d say ‘yes’.”

My head snaps around at the deep, rumbling voice. Everyone is here. Reese has his arms wrapped around Sydney’s waist as she stands in front of him. Wren beams at me from her place at Kiernan’s side. Even Will and Benny wait side by side with the rest of their pack.

Last, but certainly not least, my dad steps from behind my found family, a beaming smile stretched across his face. A wiggling Gertie clutched in his arms.

My brows shoot up on my forehead. “You all knew about this? ”

“I didn’t!” Sydney chirps, crossing her arms over her chest with a huff.

Reese tugs her against his barrel chest. “That’s because you’re shit at keepin’ secrets, Angel.”

“Fine.” Breaking free of her mate’s possessive hold, she rushes me at the same time as Wren. I’m wrapped in their arms, their soothing floral scents surrounding me. “Congratulations! Let me see the rock!”

Sydney clutches my hand in hers, ooh-ing and aah-ing at the diamond ring.

“It’s beautiful, Addie. I’m so happy for you both,” Wren says once her sister has released me from her grip.

Thick arms wrap around me, and I lean into my dad’s familiar, warm body. “Congratulations, bug. I’m so happy for you.”

Spinning to face him, his thumbs wipe the tears from my cheeks. “When did you give him Mom’s ring? It’s beautiful.”

His powerful shoulders lift, then settle. “‘While ago. She’d want you to have it.” Tears shimmer in his eyes, wrinkles crinkling at the corners as he smiles down at me.

I look around at my friends. My family .

Sniffles fill the air as everyone gets a little choked up, but Tyler clears the air. “Alright, now scram. I need some time alone with my mate.”

He waltzes over to me as the rest of the pack wanders back into the woods. “Did they walk here?”

“Bear shifters, remember? It’s probably a twenty-minute run for a grizzly… with someone riding on your back.” He winks. “Speaking of riding. ”

“Oh.” I dodge his hand before he can grab me. Walking to his bike, I stroke a hand over the shiny black paint. “Did you have another fantasy, mate?”

A rumbling growl fills the air. The sound alone has every hair on my body standing to attention as moisture floods my panties. “Do you know how perfect you are, my sweet little rose?”

He’s right behind me, a wall of heat trapping me to his motorcycle. Possessive hands slide up my hips, over my waist, until they knead and squeeze at my breasts through the fabric of my shirt. “Why don’t you remind me? I believe you made promises of worshiping me for the rest of your life. Let’s start right now, shall we?”

He groans. “You’re killing me.” Rough hands spin me to face him. Fire burns in his eyes as he works to get me naked, leaving on my worn combat boots. “Get on the bike, little toy.”

I practically purr under his wolfish gaze as I swing a leg over the black tank and settle my weight against it. The heat of the metal causes me to jolt as my pussy settles against the smooth surface.

“Fucking stunning,” he praises. I shiver at his rough words, rocking my hips against the warm metal until a moan slips out. “Don’t start without me, dirty girl.”

My eyes spring open; I’m not quite sure when I closed them. Too caught up in the lust filling my body under his ravenous gaze. Turning my head, I find a shirtless Tyler, tattooed skin on display, as he pulls the bike key from his pocket. “What are you gonna do with that?” I ask.

He settles behind me on the bike, hot breath puffing against the shell of my ear as he says, “Don’t worry. You’ll like it. I promise.” His arm rubs against the side of my breast as he places the key into the ignition and turns it.

The engine roars to life between my legs, causing me to gasp.

Steady vibrations against my clit have my nipples tightening to the point of pain. I cry out and press harder against the bike, thighs squeezing until my muscles shake. “That’s it, my little toy. Come all over my bike like a good little slut.”

“Oh, fuck. Ty.” My inner walls clench around nothing. Fresh moisture trickles from my opening, making a mess of his pristine bike. My fingers wrap around the handlebars, pleasure overtaking me as I lean forward and rock harder against the vibrations.

Tyler grips my hips, guiding my movements in perfect synchronicity until I’m primed to explode. “Get it nice and messy for me. I need that cunt dripping for my fat cock.” His growling words send euphoria rushing down my spine in waves. “Come for me, my perfect rose.”

The waves grow stronger, crashing into me as the last thread snaps, and I come hard. So fucking hard. I don’t know if it’s the intense vibrations of the bike or how turned on the mix of praising and degrading words get me.

Stubbled skin rubs against my neck, licking and sucking the flesh as I come down from my orgasm. I know he’s going to force at least one more from my body… probably more. The man is a beast when we have sex, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

“Ready for me, little toy?” He doesn’t wait for my answer, instead he uses his grip to pull my hips back until the soft skin of his hard length rubs against the cleft of my ass. He must have gotten his dick out when I was busy getting myself off. “Gonna fuck you here some day.”

I shiver and arch my back. His thumb presses against my tight hole, the tip slipping just inside. It burns, but I want more.

“You want that, dirty girl?”

“Yes, Ty. I want everything you’ll give me. Please, I need you inside me.” My words must snap the last ribbon of his restraint because he slips his thumb free and tugs me back, impaling me on his thick cock. “Fuuuuck!”

Even after all this time, I’m still not used to the stretch every time he enters my pussy. He’s so thick. The burn is exquisite as it fades to pleasure.

He cracks a hand across my ass, the flesh jiggling as I spring forward. “Now ride my cock like a good little mate.”

Ohmygod! Why is that so fucking hot?

Bracing my booted feet on the foot pegs, I circle my hips, working my rippling pussy up and down his shaft. My clit drags against the rumbling bike with every move, pushing me toward another climax.

The bike rocks. Peering over my shoulder, Tyler is leaned back, eyes glued to my ass as his hands spread me wide. “Fuck, darlin’. This ass is a sight to see. And the way your tight little pussy keeps swallowing my cock, it’s a fucking work of art. Mmm, I’m getting close.”

“Me, too,” I whine, working my hips faster, pressing my clit harder against the tank. “I need your knot, mate.”

He growls, sitting forward until his chest presses against my back, sweat slicking us together in carnal bliss. This is when I feel closest to my mate: when we let our beasts come out to play. When all the walls crumble and instinct takes over.

An arm bands around my waist, pulling me back until his knot slips inside my pulsing cunt. “I’m so close, Ty.”

“I know, sweet rose.” The hand around my waist slips up to my throat, squeezing only slightly. His knot swells inside me, stretching my walls even further until I’m teetering on the cliff’s edge between pleasure and pain. Blunt teeth dig into my shoulder as he roars his release, his thick cock pulsing inside me as he coats my womb in his seed. All of this, combined with the intense vibrations against my clit, set me into another pleasure spiral, the orgasm ripping down my spine. My throat burns with a hoarse scream before the world turns black.

“Addie!”

“Hmmm.” Blinking, the soft glow of the sun fills my vision as I come down from my high. “That was amazing.” Tipping at the corners, my lips lift into a dopey grin.

Tyler’s answering chuckle rolls straight to my still buzzing core. “I think you passed out for a second. Fuck, you scared me.” He buries his face against my neck, nostrils flaring as he inhales. On multiple occasions, he’s told me I smell like roses to him, and that’s why he’s always sniffing me. Apparently, it calms him… and his bear. I love how much I can be his comfort and his solace when he’s feeling out of control, when he needs it most.

Right now, the remnants of his worry fade from our mating bond. In its place, love blooms like the field of wildflowers surrounding us as his arms wind around my waist. “I love you, Tyler. And I can’t wait to be your wife. ”

My left hand rests over his, the diamond and emeralds sparkling gently in the sun.

“I love you, too. I’m gonna husband the fuck outta you for the rest of my life.”

I giggle, making him groan as my pussy tightens around his knot.

Once his knot is deflated, he slips from my heat, which has me whimpering. “Later, mate. There’s plenty of time later. And forever.” My chest warms at his words.

They play on repeat as we get dressed and head home. Forever. I get to spend forever with my best friend and my soulmate.

Not quite ready to leave Cypress Valley? Get a glimpse at what life is like the winter after Addie and Tyler's story in Beary Little Christmas.