Forbidden Bear (Bear Creek Biker Bears #1)(22)
“I promise,” Joel said. “She will be happy.”
“No biker deal that goes wrong?”
“Nothing like that at all. We don’t run like the Wolf Valley MC.” The sound of Mia’s bike made him start and then go to the window again. “Here they are.”
Despite her outward calm, Mia’s mom still raced to the door with him. They stood side by side as Mia pulled her bike onto the drive and first Kurt and then Mia dismounted. They were laughing, happy and relaxed in each other’s company.
“It went well, then?” Joel asked.
“We left them still fighting over who was going to wear the jacket and be president. First Traff took over, but Piler soon made a grab for it.”
“Yeah, they are not going to choose democratically,” Kurt added.
“Thanks for going with me, Kurt.”
“My pleasure. Now, you two will come and visit Mom and me when we move.” They walked into the house; Mia went to get her bags, which she would strap on to her bike.
“We will,” Mia promised.
“Great, because I want to keep in touch and I can’t visit you, Mia. For obvious reasons.”
“I know Bear Creek is out of bounds for you, Kurt. We will visit you instead, just let me know the address.”
“We will, but it’ll take a couple of weeks.” Kurt hugged her, while Joel stayed back out of the way and watched them. He couldn’t quite believe that his mate was giving up living in her hometown and with her family just to be with him.
But when they were ready, her bags stowed away, and he was perched on the back once more, the reality of the situation set in. Mia drove off, turning to wave once, before they headed out of Wolf Valley. Only when they were past the perimeter of Wolf territory did he allow himself a loud whoop.
Beneath his hands, he felt Mia quiver as she tried to suppress her laughter. But he could tell she was as excited as he was to be about to embark on the next stage of their lives.
Chapter Twenty-One – Mia
“Now it’s my turn.” He got off her bike, glad to have his feet on the ground. She certainly knew how to handle her bike and, although exhilarating to cling to her, the lack of control was unnerving.
“At least you didn’t have an audience,” Mia said, climbing on the back off his bike, just as the other bears could be heard in the distance.
Joel drove slowly up to meet them. Then stopped and lifted his visor to talk to Will.
“Here’s your cash, Mia. We sold the phones. Now you can either take it or join us in the next deal. We’re riding up over to Cougar Ridge to pick up some computer chips. If you want in, just say.”
She looked down at the money. It belonged to the gang she was no longer part of. But it still wasn’t her money. Then a thought hit her. If she traded the money up, and then handed it over to the Wolf Valley MC, any bad feeling between them and her family would be swept away. Who said money can’t buy you happiness? Well, peace from disgruntled wolves, anyway.
“Sure. Let’s go.”
“This is going to be fun. We can blast our bikes up the highway and then climb through the mountains. Just like old times.”
“Just like old times,” Joel repeated.
Will and the rest moved off, Joel following with Mia on the back. She clung tightly to him, feeling the thrill of riding with the bears. They kept a tight formation, and she could tell they each knew what their role was within the group. It was something the wolves lacked. Discipline. Here there was no vying to be in front to suck up to the leader.
The wind whipped at her jacket as they hit the highway and their speed increased. Mia had to wrap her arms even tighter around Joel, but she trusted him to look after her, so she tried to relax and let the thrill take hold of her. Racing along at breakneck speed, not a care in the world now she had left Wolf Valley behind.
Her soul soared; she was finally free. A new life spread before her like the empty highway, ready to be filled with whatever she wanted. Plus a mate, a bear to love and cherish. Life was good. Resting her head on Joel’s’ back she took in the warmth of him, the smell of him, leather and engine oil, mixed with his own unique bear musk. She smiled, her eyes catching those of Ion as he rode beside them. The biker saluted her, and then sped past. It was an acceptance. The other biker bears looked at her as one of their own now.
Turning off the highway, they sped past sleeping houses, their engines roaring in the ever darkening night, only their headlamps illuminating the road as they headed higher now into the mountains. She had never been this way before; Cougar Ridge was not a place wolves went too often. A little like dogs and cats not mixing, cougars and wolves seemed to have a heightened suspicion of each other.
Yet this was where they headed. The road wound up along the lower slopes of the mountain, the temperature dropping as they came out onto a ridge about a mile below the town. It was here that they stopped and pulled over, the bears removing their helmets. Mia did the same.
“This it?” Joel asked.
“Yes. We’re early, they’ll be here soon. I’ve never known Marv be late.”
“We aren’t going into town, then?” Mia asked, thankful that she would not be put in an awkward situation. Riding with the bears had been awesome; it had made her feel better about herself. If there were a confrontation with the cougars, she would have that stripped from her and replaced by the feeling of being the underdog.