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Ty mouthed something he wouldn’t allow his daughter to hear before stepping away, causing Gerald to laugh.
Gerald escorted Laura deeper into the house, a hand at the small of her back. She felt the contact to her bones.
People around them smiled and welcomed them, a blended group of shifters mingling to their heart’s content. Tonight they had nothing but friends in residence. A bunch of bears and foxes. Fun folks who got along. Ty’s clan of mismatched shifters, including Burke and Grady and their mates. The youngest Chastell had apparently gone to celebrate with other family in Miami.
Laura exchanged pleasantries with the catamount members and noticed a few wolves in attendance known to cause nothing but trouble. It was no surprise to see them drinking spiked rum and taunting the cats.
Gerald shook his head when their host returned. “Seriously, Ty? You invited Axel?”
He chuckled. “He’s good people. Rafe’s over in the corner talking to Stovall.”
Julia came up from behind him holding her daughter, who cooed at her mom. “Eye candy for Christmas, eh, Laura?”
Ty and Gerald frowned at that, but Laura couldn’t blame Julia for stating the truth. The wolf alpha was a pain in the ass, but as pretty as his beta was virile. And her alpha was no slouch, though a good ten years her senior.
She and Julia shared a grin.
Gerald cleared his throat, and Laura snuggled under his arm. “I see no man but you, my glorious red fox. My love, my new roommate, and my attorney if your cousin actually does sue me for stealing you away from the family Christmas Eve bash.”
He grinned. “That’s right. Remember. You need me.”
“I love you,” she corrected and blushed when Ty nodded and cheered, “About damn time.”
Burke chose that moment to approach. “Hey there, newly-mated. So, Gerald, how’d your folks take the mating now that it’s official?”
Gerald sighed. “They love her. If I mess up, I’m in big trouble.”
The cat’s sly grin told Laura to expect shenanigans. Behind them, his brother sighed. “Shoot. I had ten bucks said Colleen kicked him out of the clan for mating a bear.”
Behind Burke’s brother, having been chatting with the brothers’ mates, Laura’s sister groaned. “Really? I had twenty on you being excised from the clan. Darn it.”
“Hailey.” Laura wanted to be mad, but she could only laugh. “Colleen’s not that bad.”
Her mother joined Hailey and raised a brow but said nothing, causing both Gerald and Laura to struggle hiding their mirth.
As the night got under way, Laura felt her mate’s gaze on her no matter where she went. Something she returned frequently, her jaw aching from smiling so much.
She had finally found her special someone, and she had no idea how she’d gone so many years feeling unworthy and lonely.
It wasn’t like Gerald’s love had healed her or anything, but the mate bond had opened up some issues she’d struggled to handle. Talking to her new mate helped them both heal wounds they hadn’t realized they’d carried for so long.
So yeah, maybe his love had healed them both. But only because she allowed it in.
Hailey joined her by the tree for a brief respite while the others gathered around a karaoke machine singing carols. Hailey gave her a big hug. “Yep, you snagged a winner, Sis.”
“I know. I still can’t believe it.” Then she blinked and rubbed her arm. “Ow.”
Hailey pulled her fist back. “That’s for always thinking you weren’t good enough.” Tears filled her eyes. “You’re the best person I know. I love you so much. I’m so happy for you.”
Laura saw nothing but love in her sister’s face. “Aw, you’re going to make me cry.”
“Good. I have ten bucks that you will, so do me a favor and shed some tears.”
They both laughed, though Laura didn’t trust those sneaky cats not to be nearby. “Are you sorry about you and Eric?”
Hailey sighed. “No. It was never going to work. I never felt what you and Gerald have. My gosh, Laura, I can feel the love between you two. He looks at you the way a mate is supposed to look at the love of his life.”
Laura didn’t have to ask if Hailey approved.
