Eventide of the Bear (The Wild Hunt Legacy #3) (43 page)

“Ben?” Amanda prompted.

“Right. I agree.”

“Then I’ll see you tomorrow at three,” Amanda said. “Actually, I’ll be at the barbecue this afternoon for a while, so I might see you.”

“Barbecue.” He frowned. “Hell, I’d forgotten.” Zeb and Shay put on a barbecue at the Wildwood Lodge every couple of weeks during the summer. And everyone would expect to see Ben and his people there. Right. “Yeah, we’ll be there. See you then.”

He’d patrol tonight. Sign papers tomorrow. Leave.

Once they were out of the territory, he’d call and let Zeb and Shay know they’d be down a cahir. To prevent any preemptive moves by Genevieve, they’d decided to keep the move quiet. Speaking of which… “I’d rather people not know I’m selling until the house goes on the market. You good with that?”

The realtor stiffened. “Of course. I consider everything confidential until given permission to share.”

“Great. Thank you.”

As the realtor got in her car and drove away, Ben turned and looked at his home. Small white buds were poking up in the flowerbed Emma had worked on. A light was on over the garage where Ryder was working in his office.

All too soon, everything would be dark again, and weeds would smother the tiny struggling plants. The house’s loneliness chilled his skin.
I’m sorry.

*

With Ben on
her left, Ryder and Minette on her right, Emma walked across the graveled parking area in front of the Wildwood Lodge. The signs of summer were everywhere—the leaves a deeper green, the high cheep of baby birds, tree fairies putting on weight. Planter boxes on the lodge railing displayed budding flowers.

The world was celebrating the fertile season—and Emma was in love.

Ben and Ryder loved her.
Loved. Her.
They’d said so, and neither was a puppy to be infatuated and blurt out something he didn’t mean.

She saw again Ben’s level, careful eyes. “
We love you, darlin’
”. Ryder’s dark velvet voice murmured in her memory, “
We love you, little bear.
” A shiver of delight and sheer wonder ran through her. She’d never dared to dream they’d actually love her back.

Please, please, please, let everything come out right.

“Emma?” Ryder ran his hand up her arm. “You all right?”

“I’m fine.”
Focus, bear.
She glanced at the parking area, only two-third’s full. “I thought there would be more people here.”

“Looks are deceiving. The tavern is just down that path.” Ben pointed at a trail that started in the forested area on the far side of the parking area. “People without cubs park at the Wild Hunt and walk.”

Ben led them around to the back of the lodge and under a purple clematis-covered arbor. As Ben paid for their admission at a reception table, Emma looked around.

One end of a wide patio boasted a massive grill, food-laden tables, and drink-and-ice-filled tubs. Townspeople were milling around, seated at the tables, and playing volleyball and other games on the lawn. A small playground swarmed with cubs, and their squeals of glee rang out into the clear afternoon air.

Her mother had hosted formal dinner affairs. This relaxed Sunday barbecue looked like far more fun.

Ben pulled her against his side. “I think you probably know most of the guests here.”

Ryder shifted Minette to his other arm and took Emma’s hand. Bracketed by her two males, she felt wonderfully claimed, giving her a stable home from which to venture forth.

“I think you’re right,” she said.

In the center of the patio, Alec sat at a table across from the tough old werecat who owned BOOKS.

Angie stood near the barbecue talking with an older human male. It was interesting to see both Daonain and humans at a party. In Pine Knoll, shifters avoided the humans.

The ruthless-looking cahir named Zeb was turning steaks on the grill.

“Ben, you made it.” Shay, the other owner of the lodge walked out of the house with a box filled with beer and soda. The sandy-haired male was almost as wide-shouldered and tall as Ben. He grinned at Minette. “Hey, little one, you want an orange pop?”

Minette edged behind her father, but nodded.

The cahir knelt…and was still taller than the cubling. “I’m Shay. Your daddy Ben and I hunt together.”

A shiver ran over Emma’s skin. The statement sounded so innocent. Minette wouldn’t know they hunted hellhounds.

Shay pulled a can of soda off the plastic ring, opened it, and handed it over, moving as slowly as he would with a wild animal. Bree had a good male.

Releasing Ryder’s hand, Minette held the can with both hands to take a sip. She gave Shay a shy smile.

“Thought you’d like it.” When he stood, he was joined by Bree, who curved an arm around his waist.

“Breanne, have you met my brother, Ryder?” Ben asked.

The way Ryder’s fingers tensed on Emma’s said the construction crew’s animosity had made him wary. He’d have skipped this event if he and Ben hadn’t wanted to present a normal appearance.

Bree smiled and held out her hand. “I’ve been wanting to thank you for the work you’ve done on the pack houses.”

Ryder relaxed. “It was a pleasure.”

“Emma, you’re here. Ryder, Ben, it’s good to see you.” In a purple T-shirt and jeans, Vicki strolled over.

“Vicki, you’re looking well.” Ben paused and took a discreet sniff. “Very well.”

Emma inhaled and caught a hint of something she couldn’t evaluate before the breeze shifted away. No one else seemed to notice. Then again, the grizzly had an incredibly acute sense of smell, even as a human.

“I’m so glad you all came.” Bree turned to Emma. “Especially you, Ms. Bard. Is there any chance we can get you to sing for us?” She hesitated. “Uh. Am I allowed to ask a bard to sing?”

Breanne was human-raised, Emma reminded herself. In fact, from the grief she’d shown when she spoke of her past, her tale was undoubtedly worthy of a song.

Only…I won’t be here. I’ll never hear Breanne’s story.
Pain slashed down, deep enough to hit bone. Pulling in a breath, she forced a smile. “You can do a bard no higher honor than wanting a song.”

“Wonderful. Actually…” Breanne bit her lip and looked up at her mate.

“Let me ask her,
mo leannán.
” Shay took Emma’s hand with the gentleness exhibited by extremely large males. “We wanted to ask if you could sing for an hour at all of our summer barbecues. If you agree, Calum will let you move your Sunday performances here.”

Emma hesitated. She wouldn’t be in Cold Creek to sing, not after tomorrow. The pain in her heart ached like a pulled muscle. Soon she’d be without friends, without her work as a bard, without the cubs she’d taught. But, Ben and Ryder and Minette were worth it.

Shay was waiting for an answer.

What could she tell him? “If…” She faltered. Lying to these friends was…hard.

Vicki’s perceptive glance went from her, to Ben whose face had tightened, to Ryder, and finally to Minette.

“I’m—” She thought of nothing she could say. “I need to, um, think.”

“Of course.” Although his gaze had grown disconcertingly sharp, Shay gave her a half-smile. “We’ll discuss it later. How’s that?”

Emma gave a relieved breath. “Thank you. And I’ll be happy to sing tonight.”

“Good enough.”

Vicki was frowning.

Oh, Mother’s grace, I messed up.
Perhaps a quick retreat was indicated. Emma turned to Breanne. “I see some females I haven’t met yet, and I’d love introductions.”

“Of course.”

*

The afternoon passed
into evening marked by lively conversations. Ben would miss these parties. And his friends. And the community. The soft sigh of the sheltering forest seemed to echo his feelings.

He’d miss Breanne’s cooking, too. There’d been enough food that even he was satisfied, although he’d prudently halted a couple of hours ago. Last week, a hellhound had been scented near the south of town, and with Owen gone, Ben’s patrol would be short a cahir. With only him and Alec, if a fight happened, he’d need all the speed he could muster.

Leaning back, he stretched his legs under the table. Quiet had descended along with the setting sun and cooler temperature. Most of the guests had departed. Tables arranged in a petal-like cluster, the cahirs and their families occupied the center of the patio.

Seated at one table, Zeb, Shay, and Breanne took turns making the rounds to replenish their guests’ drinks and food.

Vicki and Alec sat between old Joe Thorson and Wells, the human who’d been Vicki’s boss when she was a spy.

On Ben’s right was Emma, then Ryder with Minette in his lap. She was sucking her thumb and sleepily rubbing the end of Emma’s braid over her cheek.

Alec was studying the cub…and had been all evening, Ben realized.

Alec’s green gaze met Ben’s before the sheriff turned and said to Zeb, “It’s good to have the summer barbeques going again. And I noticed the new playground equipment you added over the winter.”

Zeb acknowledged the comment with a grunt of dismissal.

Ben grinned. The tough cahir wouldn’t admit he had a soft spot for cubs, but he was the one who’d decided to add a playground to the lodge. And he’d built it from scratch. Minette loved the swings, slides, and monkey bars contraption.

After studying the playground, the human Wells harrumphed and remarked to Vicki, “Guess those kids you’re going to have will appreciate the fun.”

Vicki’s mouth dropped open. The retired Marine looked as if she’d been tossed unarmed into a firefight. “You… How can you tell? I haven’t said a word.”

“I’m a spy, Morgan; it’s what we do.” His thin lips curved up. “And you’re rather obviously changing shape.”

“Obviously?” Her gaze met Alec’s, and her swallow was audible. “You knew, too. Didn’t you?”

He shot Wells an irritated frown. “This wasn’t the traditional announcement that Calum had in mind.”

“You
both
knew.” Vicki scowled at her mate. “How?”

Ben suppressed a smile. Having been human until recently, the werecat occasionally displayed amusing gaps in her Daonain education.

Running a finger down her cheek, Alec said, “A female’s scent changes as her body does.”

She growled. “Fucking scent-sniffing, snoopy cats. I’m going to find hot pepper lotion and burn you out for a week.”

Over the laughter rounding the table, Ben heard her ask Alec, “Are you and Calum okay with this? Happy?”

Alec picked her up and set her on his lap so he could kiss her. When she emerged from his embrace, Alec looked equally content.

Ben leaned toward his own female and put his arm behind her back.
Mine
. He met Ryder’s gaze. Even better.
Ours
.

Snuggling his mate against his shoulder, Alec said quietly, “Calum and I are still surprised at how quickly you got pregnant. Are you unhappy?”

She rubbed her cheek against his. “I’m in shock…but happy. Since Jamie’s broken me in, maybe I’ll be an okay mother.”

“You’re an awesome mom,” Calum’s daughter said. “Especially since you’ll let me go to Hector’s party next week.”

“No.” The word came from both Vicki and Alec.

“Jeez.” The girl scowled. “Well, I’m happy anyway. I’m going to be a wonderful big sister. I hope I get at least four new siblings.”

Vicki turned pale, setting off more laughter.

From the glint in Jamie’s eyes, she’d known how Vicki would react. Tricky little female. She must drive her fathers crazy.

At that age, Minette might well have him and Ryder chasing their tails. But she, too, would be an excellent older sister. As a vision of Emma, ripe with his and Ryder’s babies, filled his brain, he pulled her closer.

The strong current of joy pulled him into dreams of the future. He and Ryder would share her and create a family filled with laughter, bickering, and love.

He felt a touch on his chest and looked down into sunlit amber eyes. “Are you all right?” she whispered.

Damn, he loved her. “Oh, yeah.” He ran his knuckles over the sweet curve of her cheek.

“A shame you’ll be on the wagon for the next few months. This is excellent beer,” Wells said to Vicki before lifting his glass. “To the Sergeant.”

Vicki shot him a steaming look, but Ben noticed she had iced tea in front of her, rather than alcohol.