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"I have," she said, her shoulders shaking. "I've heard they are just a bunch of roughed-up bears. I wouldn't say I've heard much but little things here and there."
He frowned, wondering what she had fully heard but decided to just continue with his point. He waved a hand at himself. "I'm the leader of the Montana Mauls. It's my job to keep the northern part of Montana safe and protected. So, I will be gone from home often, just so you know."
He watched her react, wondering if she would pick up on what he was saying. Few people knew about shifters, and he wanted to see if she was one of them.
He watched her eyebrow rise, almost like he was making a joke. So, it was possible she didn't know what shifters were.
"I'm like a guide," he continued. "Making sure that our kind stays safe. I manage the rest of the group and have to keep a check on everything that goes on in our parts."
He waited to see if maybe she would say she knew what he was. And that he didn't need to tiptoe around it. But she didn't. She really had no idea.
He was hoping deep down she had known. He wouldn't have to explain anything to her then.
"So, you're a leader of a group?" she asked, tilting her head to the side.
He nodded. "I am."
They both fell silent. It seemed she was waiting for him to say he was joking, but he wasn't. He was being serious.
Marigold whimpered in her bassinet, and Lyra moved toward her. She lifted the babe into her arms and softly bounced her as she walked.
His heart twisted watching her. He wanted her more now than ever. He gripped his couch, trying to control himself. He inhaled slowly, remaining calm. The last thing he needed was to mess up this new relationship.
Lyra dropped her voice and looked at him, speaking in a teasing tone. "Leader of the Montana Mauls."
He couldn't help but smirk at her, seeing she didn't believe him. He didn't know whether to correct her or let her believe he was joking.
She turned and looked at Marigold as she spoke. "Is your father a gruffly bear? Hmm. Have you seen him be a teddy bear? Does he protect teddy bears from danger?"
He watched as she held Marigold gently, talking to her in a soft, soothing voice. His heart warmed as her loving essence filled him. A part of him he didn’t know was so empty suddenly overflowed with emotions.
But it was a bad idea to allow himself to be with her. A human and a bear shifter mating wasn't possible. He didn't think he'd ever heard of it, and it was against the rules.
Besides, he didn't think it was proper, even if it was a thing. He couldn't disturb the DNA that made a bear shifter.
I can't imagine myself having a child that couldn't shift. I wouldn't wish that on my own child, would I?
His eyes moved to Marigold. At least he had her, his daughter, who was a full bear shifter, no doubt about it.
While she came from a stupid decision and a night he just wanted to let loose, he was glad she was with him. She was a part of his life he would never give back.
He pushed himself off the couch and sighed. "Well, do you have any questions for me? About my job or what I'm expecting of you?"
Lyra laughed at him. "Just a question for you. As the leader, what do you keep an eye out for? What exactly? A person?"
He smirked, hearing she was still using her teasing tone. "Maybe it’s bears?" he joked back. Well, he wasn't joking. He was being serious, but she wasn’t. He decided just to go with it for now.
She moved around the couch toward the kitchen and started a baby bottle. He watched as she flowed through the space, knowing she would fit in well.
SIX
LYRA
Lyra thought that Timber had the appearance of what society used to categorize as a manly man, as in the ones who look like lumberjacks with dark scraggly beards you see on the side of a BBQ sauce bottle. Other than the beard, which was well-kept and neat, the man was a stereotype down to the grunts and groans and shoulders as wide as the Himalayan Mountains.
The days began to repeat themselves, but Lyra didn’t find herself bored. Quite the contrary. Marigold was a sweet, energetic youngster who kept Lyra on her toes. But then there was Timber, who was there all day while she cared for his kin, stuffing himself inside his office where he kept the door shut like a hibernating grizzly.
He would then emerge during meal hours, scarfing down lazy meals until Lyra insisted they have dinner together. It was vital for Marigold to know her father rather than just some woman who took over the spot of both parents.
