Crash (Moon Burrow Bears Book 7), page 18
“Fine,” I grumbled. “Five minutes is the time limit for each person.”
Hudson didn’t seem to mind being held by our friends. In fact, for a tiny person, he seemed to have plenty of energy stored.
After what felt like an eternity, Hudson was back in Jared’s arms.
“That’s enough excitement for one day,” Micah said. “Greed, go on and tell the other bears outside that visiting times are over.”
Greed blanched. “Even Venom?”
“They can come by tomorrow morning,” Jared said, sounding guilty.
“Tomorrow morning,” I agreed.
Micah nodded. Lenny left the clinic, while Greed and Micah retreated upstairs to their apartment. As for me? I slid next to Jared in bed.
He was the only patient in Micah’s clinic today, fortunately for us. Neither Jared nor I spoke as we watched our baby boy.
Hudson let out an adorable yawn, then promptly fell asleep, sucking on his thumb.
“Do you think he’ll inherit the Church family gift?” Jared asked.
I detected a note of worry in his voice. Knowing Jared saw his gift as a curse his entire life, I didn’t blame him for worrying about our son.
“Hey, even if he can see the future, he’ll have an excellent teacher to guide him,” I said. “I’ll teach him all about being a shifter, and you can guide him about being a psychic.”
“Sounds fair,” Jared said with a laugh. “Crash, it’s been an eventful few months.”
“Yeah, hard to believe that nearly a year ago, you crashed into my life,” I said.
“I see what you did there,” Jared said, eyes twinkling. “If you told me a year ago that I would find my mate, become a bear shifter, and have a baby with the love of my life, I wouldn’t have believed you.”
“Did you just refer to me as the love of your life?” I teased.
“I did. Am I not the same for you?” Jared asked.
By now, I knew him inside out. Jared was just pulling my leg, of course. I leaned over and kissed him on the mouth.
“Yes, you are. Without a doubt,” I told him. “Good, because for a second there I wondered if I needed to find a replacement,” Jared said, smiling.
27
JARED
ONE MONTH LATER
“You ready?” Crash asked me.
He looked over his shoulder, and when he spotted Hudson asleep in my arms, his expression softened.
Crash didn’t need to tell me how much he loved me and our son. It was right there on his face.
“I am,” I answered in my most solemn voice.
Of course, I knew what Crash, Greed, and Lenny were up to. I had secretly hired Rico to find out what the three bear alphas were up to.
Crash was building me a house. That revelation still shook me, because I couldn’t imagine asking my wonderful mate for more.
I mean, sure, it was getting a little crowded in my apartment.
Crash had moved his things there right after Hudson was born, but we both knew it was a temporary solution.
“Watch your step,” Crash said.
He guided me past a grove of oaks, then led me and Hudson to a beautiful clearing.
The cozy cabin in the center looked picturesque and unreal. An old oak tree and tall blades of grass dotted with violet wildflowers surrounded it.
Crash had even attached a swing to a nearby tree. Hudson wouldn’t be able to use that yet, but I could imagine sitting on that swing with my baby boy on my lap.
“Wow,” I whispered.
Crash gave me a side-eyed look.
“You knew about this, didn’t you? Who told you? Was it Greed? It can’t be Micah. Micah’s reliable, but Greed? That guy could never keep a secret.”
“I won’t tell you my source,” I said, smiling. “The three of you did all this?”
“Well, a few of the others also helped out,” Crash said.
He led me to the wide, wrap-around porch. The hardwood felt sturdy under my feet.
The porch swing made me smile. I could already picture Crash and me spending lazy afternoons there—Crash playing with Hudson while I read a book next to them.
Crash also placed my dads’ favorite wicker rocking chairs next to the porch swing. My heart swelled with gratefulness.
The front door had a welcome sign on it, along with a matching mat.
Crash flipped the mat with his feet, revealing a tiny old-fashioned golden key. I handed Hudson over to him and picked up the key.
I opened the door to our magical castle. Well, the cabin to me was a castle because I felt like I’d been dropped into a fairy tale.
Sure, Crash and I had faced plenty of obstacles to get to where we were right now.
We tackled a demon, for crying out loud, but we didn’t need to worry about anyone coming after us anymore.
After Bernard’s death, his companies dissolved. The pieces left behind were fought over by his investors.
As for my house in Fair Creek, Ronda introduced me to Cassie, her real estate friend. Cassie managed to get a good price for the house.
As I walked inside our new home, I noticed Crash had put some of my old furniture in.
Tears welled in my eyes as I wandered into the living room, which came with an enormous fireplace.
I ran my fingers over Ken’s favorite rocking chair, over the framed photographs of Ken, Reid, Jace, and me.
Buster lay curled up on the rug in front of the fireplace. Spotting me, he ran up to me, circled around my legs, then returned to his rug.
“You really do get me,” I whispered to Crash.
I turned to my mate. Since Crash was still holding Hudson, I hugged him from behind.
I took a few seconds to breathe in his wonderful and familiar scent.
“Thank you,” I told him. “For everything. You make me happy, Crash.”
“Babe, I should be the one thanking you. I would still be lonely and empty if you had never entered my life,” Crash said.
“And the seer lived happily with his motorcycle prince and their beautiful son in a lovely cabin in the woods,” I murmured.
“Come on,” Crash said, his voice choked with emotion. “I’ll show you the rest of the place.”
“I’d like that,” I told him.
THE END
Want more of Crash and Jared? Sign up for Fel’s newsletter to get a FREE bonus scene here.
Want more MM paranormal romance? Turn the page to read a preview of my upcoming co-written release, His Winter Fox.
A SNEAK PREVIEW OF HIS WINTER FOX
NICK
I growled, hearing the damn alarm on my phone. I was all groggy and disoriented, trying to find that annoying thing.
Usually, I stashed it under my pillow, but this morning, it had gone rogue and ended up who-knows-where.
After some colorful cursing, I finally spotted it lurking under the bed.
I snatched the phone and fumbled to turn the alarm off, only to realize I had no reason to be up so early.
It was my day off and I didn't have to drag myself to the workshop. I sighed, wishing I'd turned the darn alarm off the night before.
With the irritation fading, I debated whether I should just fall back into bed and go back to sleep. Too bad I was now wide-awake.
I glanced out the window, my breath misting up the glass. When I'd made the move to Fox Haven, it had been a different world.
It was summer then, and the town had looked like something out of a postcard, all green and vibrant.
But now, it was winter, and a blanket of snow had transformed the landscape. Everything was quiet, white, and cold.
Apartment hunting had been a real nightmare when I first arrived here. Small town, limited options.
It was just my luck that I stumbled into Owen's territory.
Owen, the lead alpha of my new pack, had offered me one of the unused cabins the pack owned to rent.
It had been a lifesaver, and I couldn't be more grateful for his hospitality.
As I watched the snow-covered ground and the trees heavy with their frozen burden, it reminded me of why I hated this time of year the most.
This time last year, it was a different kind of cold that had pierced my heart.
I remembered the shock and pain of finding Gary, my fiancé, in bed with my ex-best friend, Ben.
Gary and I had been together for three amazing years, and it felt like the perfect time to finally tie the knot.
I was excited beyond words, and I wanted to make the proposal unforgettable.
So, I did the one thing that meant the world to me: I begged my alpha father for the ring he had used to propose to my omega dad.
I had hoped the ring would bring the same kind of happiness to Gary and me.
With the ring carefully tucked away, I decided to make the evening even more special.
I bought a bottle of the finest champagne I could find, planning to pop it when I asked the most important question of my life.
I couldn't wait to see the look on Gary's face, the joy in his eyes when I asked him to spend the rest of our lives together.
My heart was pounding as I made my way to his apartment.
But when I opened the door, the world came crashing down around me. There he was, the love of my life, in bed with my ex-best friend, Ben.
My entire universe crumbled in that moment and the betrayal still stung. I pushed those awful memories away.
Suddenly feeling trapped in the cabin, the walls closing in on me, I decided that a morning run in the woods as my fox form was the perfect escape.
The need for the freedom and solitude that the forest provided was irresistible.
I washed my face in the cabin's small bathroom, the cold water refreshing against my skin.
I couldn't wait any longer. I had to get out of there. I left the cabin, the door closing with a soft click behind me.
I undressed quickly, leaving my boxers and shirt in a neat pile by the porch, and took a deep breath.
Shifting was always a bit of a rush.
My body transformed. Fur covered my chest and shoulders. I shrank. Bones broke and organs moved.
The world around me changed. I set off into the woods.
At first, this place had felt like a maze, but now, after so many runs, I knew every twist and turn, every hidden nook and corner.
A part of me was still reluctant to call Fox Haven home.
I was more like the outsider, everyone else tolerated but barely knew and I was fine with that. I didn’t come here to make friends.
My paws padded softly against the forest floor, and I went deeper into the woods, the sense of familiarity calming me.
Soon enough, I forgot about Gary and Ben.
As I approached a familiar loop in the trail, my animal senses caught a glimpse of another fox shifter in the distance.
I perked up ears up in surprise. In the pack, there were only two fox shifters with white fur.
One was Cal, a pack enforcer, and an alpha. The other one was Matt, an omega who had recently transferred from another pack, just like me.
I slowed down, my sharp eyes focused on the other white fox. Judging by his smaller size, it was definitely Matt.
I watched Matt as he curiously approached each fir tree in the clearing. What did I know about Matt? Very little.
Matt worked at the pack clinic. He was always friendly and cheerful to our pack mates.
Unlike me, he was sociable and made it a point to attend every town and pack gathering.
But I'd never been a people person, and after the whole mess with Gary and Ben, I'd become even more of a grump.
So, I kept my distance, content to observe from afar.
As Matt stopped by each tree, staring at them for a moment, I was tempted to ask him what he was doing.
It was a strange sight, and it piqued my interest, but something held me back. It’s none of my business, I reminded myself.
Besides, there was something about Matt’s cheerfulness that always seemed a little fabricated to me.
He was hiding something. Not that I didn’t have my own share of secrets. Everyone had them.
I growled softly, realizing that I'd never be the social fox of the pack. It wasn't in my nature, and Gary’s betrayal had made me even more withdrawn.
With a shake of my head, I decided to leave Matt to his tree inspection and made my way back to my cabin.
Sometimes, it was just better to stick to what I knew and leave others to their business.
Returning to my porch, I couldn't help but notice the open door to my cabin. Every fur in my body stood up.
My first instinct was worry that an intruder had broken in. Back in my old pack, we'd always been vigilant about locking our doors.
But this was Fox Haven, a different world, and fox shifters around the pack compound rarely bothered with such precautions.
Everyone trusted everyone. It was just that kind of town.
With a sigh, I reminded myself that this wasn't my old pack, and things were different here.
It was more likely that I had an unexpected visitor, perhaps another member of the pack.
Shifting back into my human form, I swiftly donned my shirt and boxers and decided to check who it was.
The delicious scent of freshly brewed coffee pulled me into the kitchen.
As I followed the aroma, it mixed with another familiar smell, and I couldn't help but ask, "Owen, what brings you here?"
I was not happy to see him. Owen, the lead alpha of the pack, was casually pouring coffee into two mugs.
He handed one over to me and I grudgingly accepted.
It wasn't the first time Owen had dropped by for a chat, and it wasn't like he was giving me special treatment.
He was just a more down-to-earth and hands-on kind of alpha compared to the leader I'd known in my old pack.
I found a seat at the kitchen table, wondering what he wanted.
I was always a bit on edge around Owen, but I had to admit that his friendly approach was a refreshing change from the standoffishness of my previous pack leader.
As I sipped my coffee, Owen asked, "Have you eaten breakfast, Nick?"
I replied with a curt, "No."
My mood wasn't exactly sunny this morning. I wondered if he checked the contents of my fridge and cabinets.
If he did, he’d find nothing. I made a mental note to head to town and buy some groceries.
Undeterred by my single-word answer, Owen asked, "We missed you at the last pack meeting. Everything okay?"
The truth was, I hadn't attended the meeting last week because I'd received some unwelcome news – an invitation to Gary and Ben's wedding in the mail.
Why they would send me that, I had no clue. I had made it clear to them both that I wanted no part of their lives.
Still, gripping the invitation card felt like a punch in the gut.
Eventually, I'd decided not to make an appearance at the pack meeting.
I would be in a foul mood and no good to anyone in that state.
Most of my pack mates had given up on me. Owen, though, was trying to get me to open up, to be more sociable.
I owed him a lot, and I inwardly, I knew couldn't keep shutting people out.
So, with a sigh, I admitted, "I was busy, but I won’t miss any more meetings.”
Owen gave me a reassuring nod. "Good. Finish your coffee, and then we can leave together,” he said.
I frowned, trying to process Owen's unexpected invitation.
"Leave together? What? Where are we going?"
I was planning to spend my day off indoors, wrapped up in a cozy blanket, and lazing around.
Maybe if I had enough energy left, I’d run to the grocery store. I was in that kind of mood.
"For the Christmas party planning session, of course,” Owen said, like it was obvious.
I couldn't help but groan. I did remember receiving a reminder in my email from the pack administrator a few days ago.
All pack members were encouraged to attend, and 'encouraged' had been rather heavily highlighted.
How was I going to tell Owen that I wasn't exactly a fan of the Christmas holidays?
I didn't even have the heart to admit that I wanted no part in the festivities.
With a deep sigh, I continued to stare at my half-empty coffee cup while Owen set his own mug down.
He looked expectantly at me, and I had a sinking feeling that he wasn't going anywhere until I complied.
Owen was the only person who knew why I had transferred from my old pack to the Fox Haven pack.
Never once did he bring up Gary and Ben but he could’ve had.
Grunting softly under my breath, I finally relented and finished my coffee. There was really no getting out of this torture.
Then, I finally grabbed my coat, my earlier plans of a lazy day off now forgotten.
"Oh," Owen added as I met him by the front door. He looked me up and down. "You should probably put on some pants as well. It's freezing outside."
Pre-order now!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Felicia loves writing sizzling MM romances with hot Alphas and happily-ever-afters.
Join Felicia's newsletter and receive free books and bonus content: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/h72gmcrud7
ALSO BY FEL FERN
MOON BURROW BEARS
Venom
Axel
Arrow
Bash
Bane
Greed
MOON BURROW RAVENS
Raven Redeemed
Raven Bound
Raven Saved
FOX HAVEN
(co-written with Kara Kitt)
Hots For Mr. Fox
Finding His Fox
Protecting His Fox
WRIGHT AUTO
Wrightfully Wrong
Always Wright
The Wight Mate
