Betray the Bear (Bear Valley Shifters #4)(36)

Riker looked down at a pile of notes he’d been scratching away at with a number two pencil and stacked them neatly before standing. “We’re here today to decide on a proper punishment for Anya and Joanna.” He turned his head and addressed the council beside him. “The Long Claws were going to declare war either way, Nathan’s death just pushed them into pulling the trigger. Nathan’s bad decisions got him killed and Joanna and Anya didn’t go hunting him. They defended themselves against an abusive tyrant, and shouldn’t be faulted for that. I believe they will both be great assets to Bear Valley, both in the war and after. I have sympathy for a woman who has been so obviously manipulated by a man of power, and I’ve heard no false notes in her confession today. We’ve all heard about her struggle to escape Nathan and flee back to the sanctuary of Bear Valley and every witness account matches up. I believe her time with the Long Claws is through, and my vote is to keep both women as members of this clan. It’s not just up to me to make this decision though. Betrayal is a great and punishable offense and now you must decide with a vote if they stay, or if they are banished.”

He handed the councilman beside him, an older gentleman with a cane propped against the table, a piece of paper.

The scritch-scratching of pencil lead across the thick linen paper unfurled butterfly wings in her stomach and sent her nerves skittering into the atmosphere. Chase sat stoic against the back wall beside Brody, and the only movement from him was the fast and rhythmic shaking of his right leg.

If this didn’t go well, would he follow her? The kindest thing she could do would be to cut him loose and let him go back to his clan. He’d get over her and find a woman he could have a good life with. She loved him enough to make that sacrifice, even though thinking about the pain right now dropped the bottom out of her stomach. Joanna squeezed her hand, and lowered her chin, eyes closed like she was praying. Brody watched his mate intently, like at any moment, he’d rush her and take her in his arms to offer her comfort.

Riker collected the paper from the final councilman and added his own writing, then frowned at the sheet he held up in his hands.

Oh, no.

“Dillon, your writing is horrible.” He squinted, then set the paper on the table before him. “Effective immediately, Anya Bure and Joanna Penn will be official members of Bear Valley. Don’t make us regret our decision to let you stay.”

A small grin cracked her alpha’s face, and relief flooded through Anya like a tidal wave. Chase was already on her, and lifted her in a hug that forced the wind from her lungs. It hurt, bad, but comfort came second to touching him right now.

“Tell me you meant it,” he rumbled against her ear.

Her feet were suspended off the ground and she crossed her ankles and pulled back. “Meant what?”

His grip around her backside tightened. “That you want me as your mate.”

The noise in the room increased as the front door opened and Hannah led in a group of shifters in who’d been waiting on news. Hannah, Corin, Jenny, Blaine, and her entire class that she had been training with swarmed the small office and offered congratulations. Hannah was crying as she turned to hug Joanna, and Anya wondered what Riker had meant when he had said she would need them soon.

Whatever her new clan needed, she would offer it willingly. They had given her sanctuary and friendship. She’d met Chase here among them. Her confidence had blossomed and she learned how to fight for what she wanted. Her future stretched on and on with possibility now.

She’d found a home.

Chase’s eyes burned with hunger and emotion as she turned back to him and rested her elbows atop his strong shoulders. Clasping her hands together behind his neck, she leaned down and kissed him, long and sweet.

Her body was humming with happiness and purpose. He was strong enough to accept all of her—every messed up thing she had done and been through. He was confident enough to teach her how to fight and not feel threatened by the scars of another man.

She loved him. She loved him, and until the end of her days, she’d only want him. She sighed happily with the realization that despite the war that was barreling down on them, casting her future in shadows of uncertainty, she was right where she was meant to be. She couldn’t predict what tomorrow would bring to her new clan, but she was certain that she was meant for this moment in Chase’s arms, surrounded by her friends. If the war took her tomorrow, or if she lived to be a hundred, she would spend every breath adoring him.

A single tear slid down her cheek and she smiled against his lips. Easing back, she touched the side of his face and whispered, “Ask me and I’m yours.”