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you. You have the balls of a man, but the body of a woman. I always wondered if my mate would be equal to me. But you are more.”
    “You’re just drunk on testosterone,” she said, stroking the back of his neck lightly. But she liked the words he spoke even though she thought they were not true.
    “I’m drunk on you, Mia. The scent of you, the taste of you, the feel of you. You are perfect to me.”
    “I only hope your friends think so.”
    “You want to meet them?”
    “Yes. But not right now. Will you hold me first?”
    “I would love to.” He pulled her close, cradling her against his chest. And they lay like that for a long while, content that this was the time they would step into their new life. That their secret was in the open and their love no longer forbidden.
     
    ***
     
    When they went back down into the bar area of the hangout, Mia felt even more conspicuous in her tight red dress. Especially since everyone else wore leathers in muted colours. Tilting her chin up, she took hold of her nerves and joined Joel as he ordered them drinks.
    “Soda, please,” Mia answered when he asked her what she wanted. “I’m driving my mom’s car.”
    “Not staying the night?” Joel asked, handing her an ice-cold soda.
    “My mom will worry, and she needs the car. So not tonight.” She sipped the cold drink, looking around the bar, which formed part of the bears’ hangout. “Nice place.”
    “Well, when we have a billionaire as a leader, you have to keep the place up together.”
    “Do you actually do any work? Or does he just pay you to hang out with him?”
    “We do plenty,” said Ethan, coming over with another guy, who was introduced as Kris. “But mainly, we try to help people of Bear Creek out.”
    “You’re the good guys, then?” Mia asked.
    “Yes. Not that we’ve ever been bad. But we help Will out when he needs us. Joel here is good with the numbers, and the paperwork. Then we channel money back into the community. Someone’s roof comes off in a storm, we’re there.”
    She laughed. “Like modern-day Robin Hoods.”
    “Yes, only we don’t steal from the rich; he just gives us the money,” Kris said.
    “I wish Wolf Valley worked like that.”
    “I’m sorry how things are there.” Ethan sounded genuine when he added, “You should come and live in Bear Creek until it all settles down.”
    “That is tempting,” Mia said. “If Joel would have me, of course.”
    “I would come with you right now and collect your things if you wanted to move in here with me.” Joel touched her hand, sending shockwaves through her body. She didn’t want to go home and collect anything, because she didn’t want to leave his side.
    “Soon, Joel. I promise. I just have to sort a few things out first.” She leaned over and kissed his cheek. “Will you be patient with me?”
    “Take all the time you need, Mia. I’m not going anywhere.” He placed his arm around her waist and pulled her close.
    “Joel will just have to put up us instead,” another guy said, coming to join them.
    “This is Ion, the youngest of our gang,” Joel said.
    “And the best looking. He always forgets to mention that.” Ion kissed her hand and winked at her. “The most charming, too.”
    “Hands off, Ion,” Joel said, joking, although there was a hint of possessiveness in his voice. A thing she could understand when she looked around the bar and saw the envious eyes of other women on her mate. If one of them so much as touched Joel, she would probably tear their throats out.
    Not that she need worry, because despite being surrounded by all of these charming and good-looking men, the only person she desired was Joel, and she knew he shared the same view about loyalty to his mate.
    Soon , she promised herself. Yes, soon she would move here to be with him. She just needed to sort out her mom and Kurt and then break the news to her own gang they would need a new leader. She didn’t think Kurt would want the job back, and