Read Online A Blaze To Bear (Fire Bear Shifters Book 1) by Sloane Meyers - Free Book Online

happened.”
    Zach smirked at Ian. “On the picnic table, huh?” Really classy, boss. I wish you would have gotten a splinter in your ass.”
    Ian smirked back at Zach. “As a matter of fact, I did. She pulled it out for me.”
    Trevor and Luke looked on in confusion as Zach glared at Ian and Hunter tried to slip even further into the corner.
    “What’s going on?” Trevor asked cautiously.
    “Oh, nothing much,” Zach said, his voice full of sarcasm. “Just, you know, Ian and Charlotte mated on the picnic table last night and broke it.”
    Trevor’s eyes widened and he looked over at Ian. “Really? Is he serious?”
    Ian sighed. This was not how he had planned to break the news to his crew that he and Charlotte had mated and bonded. “Yes, Trevor, he’s serious. I mated with Charlotte on the picnic table.”
    Trevor and Luke exchanged a glance and then burst out laughing.
    “Right on, Boss,” Trevor said, reaching over to offer Ian a high five. Ian halfheartedly high fived him, while Luke did a little dance that looked like what a football player does in the end zone after scoring a touchdown.
    “Looks like the chief scored!” Luke said, dancing around.
    Ian couldn’t keep himself from chuckling at Luke’s antics, but Zach was not amused.
    “Alright, everyone move it. Don’t you guys have work to do?” Zach asked, his voice a roar. Trevor and Luke scurried off, but their laughing, jovial voices carried back to the room for several moments after they left. Zach made his way to the door.
    “You have to get her reassigned, Ian. As long as she’s here, infatuated with you, and unaware that you’re a bear… she’s a ticking time bomb. She’s not going to be happy when she finds out the truth. It’s better if she never does.” Zach left the room on those ominous words, storming off with angry, blazing eyes.
    Hunter finally moved away from the corner. He tiptoed toward the door silently, but paused just before leaving the room.
    “I’m happy for you, Boss,” he said shyly. “She’s a great person. Really kind and open-minded. I think if you explain everything to her, she’ll be understanding.”
    Ian reached over and fist-bumped Hunter. “Thanks, buddy. I hope you’re right.”
    Alone at the table, Ian put his head in his hands for a moment before scooping up another giant spoonful of cereal. The wheat flakes were getting soggy, but Ian didn’t even notice as he downed bite after bite. His mind had wandered elsewhere, wondering how to explain his shifter side to Charlotte and what to do about Zach’s protests.
    Zach’s strong opposition had stung a little. Ian knew that Zach had a point. If Charlotte reacted the wrong way when she found out he was a bear, the whole crew would suffer for it. As much as it pained him to do so, Ian realized that he needed to be fair to his crew. This shouldn’t just be his decision. It affected them, and they had a say in it, too.
    With a heavy heart, Ian walked out to the hangar to find his crew, who were all busy inspecting their jumpsuits. The suits were custom-made, and were intended to last each man the whole fire season. After every mission, each smokejumper had to make sure the suits were in good shape and didn’t need any repairs. Everyone who went through smokejumper training had to learn to sew, so they could repair their own suits. The sight of big, burly men at a sewing machine never failed to amuse Ian. Since the crew didn’t have their own airplane, the large hangar had become a makeshift repair room of sorts, with the sewing machines lined up against one of the side walls.
    As Ian walked into the hangar, Zach glanced up from his sewing machine and scowled, then went back to concentrating on his work. Ian sighed. He hated that Zach was pissed at him, but there wasn’t much he could do about it. Hopefully with some time, Zach’s anger would subside a bit.
    “Where’s Charlotte?” Ian asked. He hadn’t seen her at all this morning.
    “She