Chief Bear (Bear Shifter Paranormal Romance) (Rescue Bears Book 1) (11 page)

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Authors: Scarlett Grove

BOOK: Chief Bear (Bear Shifter Paranormal Romance) (Rescue Bears Book 1)

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L
evi laid
awake and until Juliet fell asleep in his arms. He couldn’t believe how fantastically lucky he was to have her as his own. She was like a precious flower, ready to open, to bloom and show the world exactly how beautiful and magnificent she truly was.

Levi knew he was helping her unfold. He could feel it in the connection between them. Not only was she bringing something to him that he desperately needed, her sweet kindness, her compassion, her quiet strength. But he was brining something to her as well. Her tender core needed protection. She needed his alpha strength behind her so that no one would ever fuck with her sweet heart again.

God. She was so fucking gorgeous. He grew hard again just thinking of her sweet inner core. Her outer beauty, which was as brilliant as the morning star, was nothing compared to the beauty inside her. He intended to spend the rest of his life learning everything there was to know about that inner beauty and how to better keep it safe.

They woke, tangled in each other’s arms as the pink morning sunlight radiated over the lake below his window. He slid his arm out from under her head and pulled on a bathrobe before going into the kitchen to make a pot of coffee. When she emerged from the bedroom, wearing his extra robe, he had breakfast prepared and a pot of coffee ready to pour for her.

She padded over to him and raised up on her tiptoes to plant a kiss on his cheek. His heart singing, he enfolded her petite, curvy body into his arms.

“I made you breakfast,” he said into the top of her head, smelling her scent.

She pulled away and slid into a chair at the kitchen table that looked out his big picture windows. He brought coffee to the table that was already set with breakfast. He poured her a cup and she brought it to her lips, sipping slowly. She had a faraway look in her eyes as she gazed out the window, contemplating the lake in the colors of the morning sunlight. She looked back at him, her eyes smiling.

“We truly belong to each other now,” she said.

“Charlotte and Harry were not the only ones to commit to each other yesterday,” Levi said.

“Will we get married?” she asked, taking another sip of coffee.

“If it pleases you. My life is now dedicated to your pleasure,” he said.

She giggled at him and reached across the table to take his hand in hers.

“That’s why I love you so much. You’re like a big, hunky poet.”

He cleared his throat, her words throwing him off guard. “I wouldn’t go that far. I’m not the artist of the crew. I’ll leave that distinction to Duke or Angus.”

“I have to disagree. Look at what you’ve done here at the lodge. Look at the way you love me.”

“My love for you is like artistry,” he said with a grin. He could tell Juliet liked his words. “I will drive you back to Portland to pick up your cat and whatever you need at your apartment.”

He had something special planned for Juliet’s ex. The idea had already been working itself out inside his mind while he’d made breakfast. He wouldn’t tell Juliet about it until it was finalized. But he intended to give Juliet her revenge.

“I’d love that. I want to go in to my work and quit right to Ernest’s face,” she said with a giggle.

“Then that’s what we’ll do.”

Levi went to Juliet’s room to pack up her things while she showered. She picked an outfit and dressed quickly.

“I have to say goodbye to Charlotte,” she said while pulling on her shoes.

He watched her dress, feeling closer to her than ever. He loved how she never stopped thinking about other people’s needs. They went down to the lobby just in time to meet Charlotte and Harry as they got into a limo, waiting to take them to the tiny Fate Mountain Airport.

“It was a beautiful wedding,” Juliet said, taking her friend in her arms.

“Thank you for everything, Juliet,” Charlotte said.

“Will you still go on your honeymoon?” she asked.

“The doctor said Harry’s frostbite should be fine with some topical medication. We’ve been given the go ahead to travel.”

“That was a close one,” Levi said, offering his hand to Harry.

Harry’s fingers were still bandaged, but he shook Levi’s outstretched hand. “I can’t thank you and your crew enough for finding me. I got so turned around. I honestly believed I was going to die.”

“You found one of the few places on the mountain to stay out of the elements,” Levi heard Shane say from behind him.

The errant chef emerged from the dining room and came to shake Harry’s hand. Harry shook it vigorously and thanked Shane again several times.

“I almost didn’t include Shane on this mission,” Levi admitted to the couple.

“I’m so glad you did,” said Charlotte.

“Am I on the crew now?” Shane asked, furling his brow and crossing his arms.

Everyone looked at Levi expectantly. Levi sighed. It was time to invite Shane back into the fold.

“Yes. But you have to keep that temper under control.”

“Not a problem, boss,” Shane said, making an accepting gesture with his arms. He turned with a smirk and headed back to the kitchen. “Good luck, you two,” he said over his shoulder.

“We really have to go now,” Charlotte said, leaning in for more one more hug.

Juliet waved goodbye to her friends and watched them drive away in the limo. Turning to Levi, she smiled up at him.

“Now it’s time for us to get going,” Levi said. “We have to leave now if we want to get to your work before closing time.”

Juliet and Levi went out to the truck and got inside. Levi put some light rock on the radio and they chatted the whole drive back down the mountain. When they arrived at Juliet’s apartment, Levi could see she was already stressed out.

“I’m so over it, I don’t want any of it.”

“Just pack up a few boxes that you need right now, and we’ll have the rest boxed up and brought to the lodge later.”

They packed up her essentials, the cat’s things, and her clothes and shoes. When that was done, she packed up her computer and the rest of the gadgets she used in her work as a graphic designer.

“I have no idea what I’m going to do now with my career,” she muttered.

“Don’t think for a second you can’t find freelance work on Fate Mountain. Besides, I’m fully prepared to take care of you.”

“But I love my work...”

“And now you can do it for love. Besides, there’s tons of shifter businesses in town that would love to have you redo their logos and websites. The lodge could use it, as a matter of fact.”

“Hmm. That is…so true,” she said, giggling.

“I haven’t gotten around to it. I’ve been busy saving lives.”

They took the boxes out to the truck. When they got inside, Levi gripped the wheel and looked over at Juliet. Her expression was tense and nervous.

“Let’s get Snuggles and go,” she said.

“No way. We’re going down to your work. I have something special planned for that asshat boss of yours.”

They picked Snuggles up from the kennel and put him in his crate in the back of the cab before driving downtown to Juliet’s building.

“Okay. I’ll be right back,” she said, unbuckling her seatbelt.

“I’m coming with you.”

“You don’t have to,” she said.

“Protecting you is my job. I take it seriously.”

She deflated and acquiesced. Walking into the building, hand in hand, Levi could sense Juliet’s anxiety going through the roof. She might be nervous now, but in a few minutes she was going to be so satisfied, he could barely contain himself.

They walked into an office space full of cubicles and Levi immediately felt claustrophobic. He couldn’t imagine his beautiful little goddess Juliet working in a place like this. That’s when he spotted the pinched, rat-faced man glaring their direction. Levi’s nostrils flared, taking in the man’s acrid scent.

“There are no guests allowed at work, Juliet. You need to get your man toy out of here,” he man said, approaching them.

“Ernest. This is Levi, my mate. Not my man toy.”

“Whatever he his. You both need to get out of here before I call security.”

“Believe me, security will be arriving soon,” Levi said, knowing his plan would come together at any moment.

“What?” Ernest said.

“I quit!” Juliet spouted as loud as she could without screaming.

There was faint applause from the cubicles. Ernest glared at her just as two big security guards and a cop entered the room.

“What’s this about?” he demanded.

Juliet looked up at Levi with questions in her eyes.

“Ernest Burns, you’re under arrest for corporate fraud.”

“What’s going on?” Juliet whispered as the cop handcuffed Ernest and read him his rights.

“There isn’t much Corey can’t find with his computer. I figured if this guy was so bad to you, he must have some skeletons in his closet. Wouldn’t you know, I was right.”

“I’ve been framed. You heard that man. He had his friend plant information.”

“No. You just aren’t smart enough to cover your trail,” Levi said.

It hadn’t even been that big a challenge for Corey to find Ernest’s unlawful acts.

“He’s a shifter. Why are you taking the word of a dirty shifter?”

That stung, but it didn’t sting so much that Levi couldn’t enjoy the sight of the man who’d hurt his mate being carted off in cuffs.

“Save it for the judge, buddy,” the cop said.

Juliet’s face was so radiant and satisfied, Levi felt himself burst with pride. His first attempt at protecting her had clearly worked. She threw some things from her cubicle in a box and giggled beside Levi as he carried it out to the truck.

“Did you see the look on his face when they read him his rights?” Juliet said, plopping into the passenger seat. She was like a giddy little girl who’d just gotten a pony for Christmas. That made Levi feel amazing. Making Juliet happy was addicting.

“What’s more important is that I saw your face when they took him away. I told you it’s my job to protect you. I’ll never allow anyone to hurt you again, Juliet. No one is going to harm that soft core inside you. No one can even attempt to hurt you without going through me first.”

Snuggles meowed in the back seat, and Juliet leaned over to kiss Levi’s cheek.

“Yes sir, Chief Bear. This wimpy girl is now under your protection.”

“You aren’t wimpy. You’re perfect.”

“I am now that I’m with you,” she said, kissing him again.

Levi let out a satisfied rumble. He had his mate. Really and truly. All the pieces of his life now seemed to fit together. With Juliet by his side, he knew he could do anything. Accomplish any goal. Complete any mission. With her, everything made sense, and together they would create a legacy to be proud of. He looked over at his sweet little mate and smiled.

It was time to go home to Fate Mountain.

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