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Lyra settled into the rocking chair next to the baby’s bed.
Marigold was still awake but allowed Lyra to cradle her. It was as if the baby knew Lyra needed to hold her.
“Because,” Timber leaned against the changing table, “the council rarely approves of bears and humans mixing. Socially and … romantically.”
“Is it really that big of a deal?” Lyra found the strength to ask Timber, who crossed his arms over his chest.
“It isn’t to me. But the bear council wants us to keep our bloodlines pure. They believe that mating with humans is physically impossible, and even if it were possible, it would dilute the power of the bear shifters.”
“Oh. Okay.” Lyra wasn’t sure why she felt so deflated.
She looked at Timber, who was staring down at the floor.
He was the first man who made her feel completely, wholly herself. And she had fallen in love with his baby too.
And he wasn’t even an actual man.
“Besides, everyone at the council is stressed out now,” Timber said.
Lyra raised her brows, indicating that he should continue.
Marigold’s breathing had changed, becoming slow and deep. The little one was asleep.
“A bear shifter is killing bears. I’ve been tasked to find him as head of the Montana Maul. We think he’s from Canada and is crossing the border close by.”
The wind was howling, and Lyra stood to put Marigold carefully in her crib before stepping out of her room.
Timber followed, closing the door behind him.
She paced around the living room as a new fear had struck her.
She was in love with a bear shifter who was hunting someone who was killing bear shifters.
Make it make sense,she thought to herself.
But she was even more afraid when she thought that the man she was falling for was in danger.
When Lyra turned, Timber was right behind her, and he took her hands in his.
“I’m scared that you’re going to get hurt,” she whispered. “If someone is hunting you, then …”
“No,” Timber spoke quickly as though to assuage her fear. “They’re killing wild bears. Not bear shifters. And even though they’re not hunting us, it is against the code for us to kill our non-shifting brethren.”
Her shoulders relaxed as the tension and fear melted.
“Okay,” she whispered, then laughed slightly. “Okay. That is good to know.”
“I’ll be fine. We just have to keep our relationship quiet for now. Until the bear council approves it. And it won’t be easy.”
“I don’t care,” Lyra said stubbornly. “I’ll wait as long as I have to.”
Timber smiled. “I knew you were it from the moment you stepped through that door.”
THIRTEEN
TIMBER
This won’t be easy.
