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  She closed her eyes in the face of his foul breath and tried to turn away but with his free hand, he twisted her head so she was once again looking at him as he backed her up against the wall.

  As a bear shifter, she was strong. But he was a cat. His reflexes were insanely fast. Plus he had at least a hundred pounds on her and with her hands tied in front of her, Zoe was at a huge disadvantage. It was clear what his intentions were.

  Panic flash through her, and she had to force herself to focus. She couldn’t allow herself to get lost to fear.

  Think of Ashton.

  “Don’t do this.” She tried to push against him, but he had her pinned against the rough wooden wall with his hips. She could feel his hard arousal pressed up against her stomach and had to force the nausea down.

  Her senses were clouded with his scent, overpowering her instincts. She tried to fight against him as he reached down and unzipped his jeans, but she could only move a little from side to side.

  Desperation started to creep in. But no, there was no way she would give up and give in to this creep.

  Just when the man moved to pull down the pants of the ridiculous costume she was still wearing, something happened. The hairs on the back of her neck stood up and something inside her leapt to attention.

  Gabe.

  No. Was it possible? How did he know? Was he—

  Before she could finish her thought, the door to the old cabin slammed open. A massive, very angry grizzly bear filled the doorway.

  He was going to kill him. He was going to rip him limb from limb until he begged for mercy.

  Gabe didn’t even need the GPS tracking that Kade provided. He would have found her without it.

  Zoe’s scent. Her fear. Her pain. They filled him.

  Gabe and Kade had made it to the edge of town before shifting into their bears to run through the forest. They could travel faster in their animal form, and he wasn’t about to waste one more second. They moved fast, uncaring about the branches that tore at their fur as they crashed through the trees. When the old hunting cabin came into sight, Gabe could sense the presence of the other Jackson brothers.

  His brothers. Not by blood. But something almost stronger. Friendship.

  Overpowering it all, though, was Zoe. She was scared. She was hurt and she was in trouble.

  She was the strongest woman he knew, but Gabe also knew Billy Benson. He was a massive mountain lion. One of the biggest he’d encountered. Also one of the most troubled. He had no family. No connection. And he’d turned to alcohol. A terrible mistake for a shifter with no tether. He was formidable, and worse: he had nothing to lose.

  But Gabe had everything to lose. And she was inside that cabin.

  Gabe, wait.

  Kade tried to stop him, but there was no slowing him down. He didn’t slow his pace as he crashed directly into the door of the cabin. He knew without looking that the Jacksons would be right behind him, but Billy was all his.

  Zoe’s eyes found his immediately.

  She was safe.

  But that cat was on her. Oh, hell no.

  In a flash, with his cat-like reflexes, Billy spun around, one hand still on Zoe.

  Gabe growled.

  “Wilder. Nice of you to join us.”

  He was done with niceties. Gabe stood on his hind legs and roared. The sound shook the walls of the old cabin. Anyone else would have stepped back. But not Billy. He grinned.

  “Do you want to watch me kill her?” he taunted Gabe. “Or maybe I should just kill you so I can have a little fun with your mate?” He sneered. “Yes.” He nodded. “I think that’s the way to go.” He moved like lightning and shifted so quickly into his animal that Gabe hardly had a chance to brace himself before Billy crashed into him, teeth and claws bared.

  The sting of his claws ripping through his shoulder burned, but Gabe didn’t have time to think about it. He bared his own teeth, and lunged forward.

  Behind him, he vaguely recognized that the Jackson brothers were there. He also knew they wouldn’t step in unless they had to. This was Gabe’s fight and they’d let him have it.

  Billy’s teeth sank into his back leg, and Gabe howled before shaking him free. He twisted and attacked from the side. His claws made a satisfied swipe against Billy’s face, but a moment later the cat was on top of him.

  His black eyes stared into Gabe’s, and he knew he was in trouble because there was nothing but loss reflected back in his blank stare. He didn’t have to hear the words to know what Billy was thinking.

  This is all I have left.

  Billy let out a sound that was part shriek and part howl, and bared his teeth, ready to sink them deep into Gabe’s neck. But before the cat could complete his cry, a flash of black fur crashed into him and knocked Billy off him.

  Zoe.

  She had him pinned to the floor, the roles completely reversed.

  He was much larger than her and should have easily been able to overpower her. Especially because she was injured. Gabe could feel her pain. He could also feel her rage. And he knew Billy was done.

  So did the Jackson brothers. They all entered the small cabin, filling the space as they waited and watched to see what Zoe would do.

  She raised one heavy paw, ready to slash Billy’s throat, but she hesitated, and Gabe knew. He couldn’t let her do it.

  No. He communicated with her.

  I have to.

  No. He repeated himself.

  She looked over at him and for a moment, their eyes locked. For Ashton.

  Her words, unspoken, reverberated loudly in Gabe’s head as she once again raised her paw and brought it down sharply.

  Chapter Nineteen

  “I’m never letting you go.”

  “You better not.”

  Zoe nuzzled into Gabe’s chest and let the warmth envelop her into a cocoon of safety. After the Jackson brothers pulled her off Billy Benson, the man who she’d learned later was the man who’d defined Gabe’s earlier career and almost cost him—and her—everything, and hauled him away, Gabe had wrapped her up in his arms and hadn’t let her go.

  She was quite content to never let him.

  Now that she was back in his embrace, Zoe couldn’t imagine being anywhere else. It seemed like a million years ago that she’d tried to convince herself that she belonged elsewhere.

  She didn’t.

  She knew that now.

  The only place Zoe belonged was with Gabe.

  And Ashton.

  It had taken her way too long to sort that out in her brain. And maybe it had taken a near-death experience, or every single thing she’d ever cared about on the line, but now that she had it figured out, she was never going to let him go.

  Not for anything.

  “You feel so good,” he whispered in her ear.

  They were lying on the old bed of the hunting cabin where Billy Benson had taken her to hold her hostage. Gabe had wanted to whisk her away and take her back to his house, to town, but Zoe couldn’t move. She couldn’t leave. And it wasn’t just because she wasn’t fully healed. Her ribs were still working hard to heal completely.

  She had a little bit more healing to do. The important healing. The healing that involved Gabe. And she didn’t want to waste even one more second.

  “I feel broken.” Zoe laughed. “But with you here, I’ll be okay.”

  “I hate that you’re hurt.”

  “I know.”

  They laid together in silence.

  So much had happened to tear them apart. And at the same time, so much had pushed them together. How was she supposed to know what was right?

  Listen to your heart.

  Her bear, ever vocal, piped up.

  But her bear was right. It was long past time that Zoe listened to her and to her heart.

  She twisted so she lay on her back. “Can I borrow your cell phone?”

  He nodded and reached around him. They’d found some old blankets that were clean and relatively dust free and had laid them d
own on the old bed. A fire now roared in the hearth and the old hunting cabin had been completely transformed from the prison she’d been captured in only a few hours ago. New memories. That’s what was important.

  A moment later, Gabe handed her his phone. “You need to make some calls?”

  “Only one.” She grinned at him, as she quickly scrolled through his contacts and connected the call.

  “Hello?”

  Her heart was instantly soothed at the familiar voice.

  “Hey, buddy.” She forced herself not to cry. “How are you doing?” Gabe had already filled her in on Brian Blackwood going to collect Ashton and taking him up to Grizzly Ridge to spend the night, but she needed to hear his voice for herself.

  “Zoe? Are you okay?”

  She smiled and nodded even though he couldn’t see. Behind her, Gabe pulled her close and pressed his lips to her shoulders. “I’m doing okay, buddy. I just wanted to call and let you know how proud I am of you. That was a pretty scary thing, wasn’t it?”

  “I was brave, Zoe.”

  “You were.” She swallowed back the tears. “You were a very brave little pirate. And I’m so glad you understood what I was trying to tell you. You did the right thing by running away and calling your dad.”

  “I heard you, Zoe.”

  “You heard me?” Behind her, Gabe sat up, obviously listening to the conversation. “But I didn’t say anything out loud.”

  “I know. Cool, right?”

  She laughed. “Very cool.”

  Fated son.

  He’d heard her telepathically because they were fated. She’d heard stories about fated mates communicating, but…

  Zoe pressed her hand to her chest and finished the conversation. “You have fun at the ridge tonight, okay? The Jacksons will take good care of you. I love you, Ashton.”

  “I love you, Zoe.” The words rolled from his mouth easily. “I’ll see you tomorrow?”

  “Absolutely.”

  She disconnected the phone and for the first time in months, everything felt absolutely right. But she still had one more conversation to have. Zoe rolled over, the movement causing her to wince.

  “Zoe? Are you—”

  “I’m going to be okay.” Zoe looked up into Gabe’s eyes. “But only if I have you.”

  She didn’t bother sugarcoating her words. The time for playing coy was long since over.

  “Gabe, I love you.” She looked directly into his eyes while she spoke. “I need you.”

  He moved his mouth to speak, but she pressed a finger to her lips. “Let me finish.” He nodded and she continued. “I stand behind what I said before,” she continued. “You deserve to have everything you’ve ever wanted. But I need you to know something.” She squeezed her eyes shut for a moment. “You and Ashton, you’re all I ever wanted.”

  Her heart swelled and at the same time broke as she spoke because everything had become so clear for her in the last twelve hours. Hell, maybe it had become clear earlier, but she’d been too stubborn to realize it.

  She loved Gabe. He was hers. She was his. Forever. She knew that now.

  But, more than that, was Ashton.

  Chloe was right. That boy was fated to be her son. And she, his mother.

  There was no doubt in her heart that she would gladly give her life if it meant keeping him safe. Maybe she’d needed the dramatic events of the evening to teach her that, but she didn’t think so. Zoe felt it deep in her soul. And she always had. Ashton was her son. Of that, there was no doubt and it was time Gabe knew it too.

  She was so intensely beautiful. Her hair was spread out on the blanket beneath her. Her chest rose and fell in deep breaths, but hitched ever so slightly because of the pain he knew she still felt in her ribs.

  If he could take all the pain away from her, he would. Oh, how he wished he could.

  “I know that sounds crazy,” Zoe protested before he had a chance to say anything. “But—”

  He pressed a finger to her lips to silence her. Gabe was done listening to her objections or her reasons she thought she couldn’t be with him.

  “Stop.” His voice was soft, but stern. “I need you to listen to me, Zoe Karrington.”

  He lifted himself so she was beneath him, safe and protected by his arms. He knew this was one woman who didn’t need his protection, but dammed if he wouldn’t give his life for her anyway. He knew without a doubt in his heart that he would gladly give not only his whole life, but everything he had, for this woman.

  She looked up at him, her long eyelashes blinking mildly as she waited for him to speak.

  “Zoe,” he said again. “You walked away from me once because you let yourself think something that just wasn’t true.” She opened her mouth to object again, but once more he pressed his finger to her lips. “You asked me if I could ever love you the way I’d loved Ashton’s mother. And the answer is no.” She squirmed beneath him, the way he’d expected her to. “But that’s because what I feel for you is so much more,” Gabe continued. “Marie will always hold a special place in my heart. She was the mother of my son. But you…” He took a deep breath and shook his head as he exhaled. “You,” he repeated, “are my fated mate.” Gabe paused a beat while those words sank in. “You speak directly to my heart with every breath you breathe.” He pressed a hand lightly to her chest. “You are mine, Zoe. And I am yours. And that is something that will never change. No matter how you try to talk yourself out of it. Or, try to talk me out of it. Your heart is mine. And mine is yours.” He lifted his hand from her chest to trace the mark he’d left on her neck. “Forever.”

  Forever.

  The word reverberated between them.

  He’d spoken his truth. He just hoped it was enough. He hoped she understood now. It wasn’t about who came before, or the children they had or wouldn’t have. It was about them. And if they had each other and if they were strong enough, it would be enough.

  “Ashton.” Her voice was barely a whisper, but Gabe heard his son’s name on her lips.

  “Yes,” he started. “He’s—”

  “He’s mine.”

  “He’s—what?”

  Her smile was small at first, but it grew to take over her face. “He’s mine,” she said again. “He’s my son. He’s my fated son.”

  She didn’t look away while she spoke so he knew he hadn’t misheard. It took a moment for her words to connect with his heart, but when they did, Gabe couldn’t stop the smile that took over because it bloomed directly from his heart.

  “What do you…I don’t…”

  “Ashton might not be mine by blood,” she continued. “But he’s mine by heart. He was fated to be my son.”

  Fated.

  The moment she said the words, he knew them to be true. Zoe was fated to be Ashton’s mother.

  Zoe worked to push up to a sitting position. “It’s the craziest thing,” she said. “Or maybe it’s not.” She laughed and the sound was like the most beautiful song he’d ever heard. “I know you told me that I would never understand what it was like,” she continued, and the words coming from her mouth that he recognized as his own cut him like a knife. “It’s okay,” Zoe said quickly, as if she could see the pain it caused him. “Because I know you thought that was true. And so did I.”

  Gabe looked at her with fresh eyes, but still, he didn’t say anything, waiting instead for her to finish. “I let myself believe that I couldn’t understand the love of a mother unless they were mine,” she continued. “But I know now that I don’t need to give birth to Ashton to know he’s mine.” She sat up and grabbed his hands. “I know this all sounds crazy. But Gabe, I love you. And I love Ashton. You are mine. He is mine. Somethings are stronger than blood.” She released his hands and grabbed his face instead. “Do you believe that?”

  He should have seen it earlier—their bond, their connection. The way Ashton just knew. It never should have taken him so long to see what was right in front of his face, but now everything was so clear and he coul
d hardly believe he’d been so blind.

  He looked directly into her eyes and, without hesitation, nodded. “Without even the slightest doubt.” And then, because there was nothing else to say, he pressed his lips to hers and kissed his mate thoroughly until there was no doubt that not only did she belong to him and he belong to her, but they belonged together. All of them. As a family.

  Chapter Twenty

  One week later…

  * * *

  “Are you sure we can stay here?” It was at least the third time Zoe had asked Harper the same question, and of course, the answer was the same.

  “Yes.” Harper fixed her with a stare across the bed in one of the guest rooms that they were making up together. “You’re not going anywhere.” She wore baby Lily in a sling affixed to the front of her, and Zoe let her gaze rest on the baby for a few minutes before turning her attention back to the bed. It no longer hurt her to see babies the way it used to.

  It had only been a few days since Zoe and Gabe had moved from Gabe’s little bungalow in town to stay in one of the new cabins that had just been built on the ridge. Harper and Axel, and pretty much all of the Jacksons, had already told her how happy they were that Gabe had brought her and Ashton to stay. But still, she worried and the last thing she wanted was to overstay her welcome, which was why—even though Gabe insisted she was supposed to be on vacation and taking it easy—she was trying to help out as much as possible.

  “After what you’ve been through,” Harper continued. “You should be here. And Ashton…he needs this right now. This…”

  “Family,” Zoe finished for her.

  Because that’s what the Jacksons were: a big family. And she was part of that now because, as she’d learned, family wasn’t only defined by blood. It was heart. And her whole heart was there with Gabe, Ashton, and the Jacksons.

  “Yes.” Harper smiled. “Exactly. And you know that you’re welcome here as long as you want to stay, now and always.”

  Zoe nodded. Being at the ridge with everyone was nice, but it was only a little vacation. A chance for them to decompress and recharge after what they’d gone through with Billy Benson. As soon as they were ready, Zoe was looking forward to going home again so they could start their life together as a little family, properly this time.