I sighed, “I did see it. I take it that’s the suspicious activity?” He looked up and nodded as he took a bite of his peach cobbler and his eyes rolled back in his head, “Oh. My. Goddess. Baby, this is really good. It’s just like your grandma’s.” I laughed, “I’m glad you like it.” He sighed, “Can we talk about the books after I enjoy this? I can’t form a coherent thought right now.” I laughed and nodded as I ate my cobbler too. I smiled, “We should buy the stuff for homemade ice cream next time we’re in Canon City. This cobbler is really good with homemade ice cream. But it’s also good cold for breakfast.” He smiled, “I will be eating this for breakfast and probably after every meal.” I laughed, “You don’t want to burn out on it right away, do you?” He laughed, “That can never happen. I’m a bear. We love our fruit and berries.” I asked, “So if I found a place to pick some blackberries?” He gasped, “I would love you forever if you made this with blackberries! Well, I already will love you forever, but you get the point.”
I asked, “You love me?” He blushed (Cutest thing ever), “I have loved you since I was nine. I just hope it’s not too early to be telling you.” I smiled as I got out of my chair and sat in his lap, “I love you too.” He smiled as he wrapped his arms around me and placed a gentle kiss on my forehead. I stood up and smiled, “I will let you finish your cobbler while I start cleaning the kitchen.”
When he was done with his cobbler, he brought his plate into the kitchen then wrapped his arms around me, “That was really good baby. Thank you so much for everything you’re doing.” I furrowed my brows, “I haven’t done hardly anything. Especially nothing major or strenuous.” He laughed, “I appreciate everything you do… big and small.” I smile as I turn around. I put my arms around his neck and jumped to wrap my legs around his waist, “I am happy to help you in every way I can. I love you. I’m your mate. I’m supposed to share your duties. I will not be the kind of princess that sits around and lets everyone do everything for her. That’s not me. If I ask anyone to do anything, it will never be something that could’ve done for myself.” He smiles, “I love that about you.”
I asked, “Would you like for me to call Princess Chloe for you?” He shook his head, “No, I can do that.” I shrugged, “Okay. I will keep looking through the books and see if I find anything else.” He nodded, “Sounds great. But you’re not doing that at the kitchen table.” I laugh as he carries me to the office. He sets me back on the floor and points behind me, then turns me around. I gasp as I find the perfect desk and chair for me. It is a whitewash white wooden desk with wrought iron accents. It has plenty of surface space as it is a corner desk. One surface has a laptop computer and printer, and the other side is empty with a few office accessories on top. I smile, “I love it! Thank you!” The desks are arranged in a way that we will be facing each other as we work. I smiled, “I might get distracted if we are facing each other.” He smiled, “Me too, but this arrangement gives me my very favorite view.” I smiled, “You are too sweet! I like this desk. It’s definitely me.” He smiled, “I thought so too.”
I sat down in my office chair and found it very comfortable. I walked to the kitchen table, grabbed the ledger, and walked back to my desk. I sat down and looked in my desk drawer and found pens, pencils and a notepad. I grabbed a pen and a notepad and started looking through the ledger through an auditor’s eyes. I started writing down each suspicious entry with the monetary amounts and dates next to them. Hmm… Ernie Ball has received nearly ten million dollars over the last two years. How could that go unnoticed? That’s a lot of money!
I looked up at Luke, “Have you really looked through this ledger?” He shook his head, “I didn’t really get a chance to yet. Why?” I explained, “I looked through this ledger as an auditor would. I have written down every single suspicious entry. Did you know that Ernie Ball received nearly ten million dollars over the last two years?” Luke’s jaw hit the floor, “What?! Who the hell authorized that?! We need to look into that elder’s financial records.” I smiled, “I can arrange that.” He shook his head, “No, I need to have my dad do that. I wonder if he knows what is going on.” I shrugged, “There’s only one way to find out.”
Luke called his dad and talked to him about the elder and what we found on the books. His dad agreed that we need to look into that elder’s finances and then he said something that made me blush, “You have one smart mate. I’m glad she caught it. Sounds like this is something you should put her in charge of.” Luke smiled at me, “I was thinking the same thing. All money requests as well as payroll and anything that has to do with kingdom finances will go through her.” His dad agreed and told us that he will announce it to the kingdom at my crowning ceremony. We invited them to dinner tomorrow night and he ended the call.
I asked, “Okay, since I am now in charge of all things money related, what entries do you have for me?” He chuckled as he watched me standing there rubbing my hands together, “I do have some entries.” He handed a stack of receipts and PO’s and smiled, “Here you go, my love. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask.” I reply, “Thank you very much, sir. I will take care of these now.” I sit in my chair and start recording the entries while Luke calls Princess Chloe about going to Florida.
When we finished our work, I sat in his lap and smiled, “I think I’m ready for bed. How about you?” He smiled, “I am too. It’s nice to be home with my mate.” I walk upstairs and get my tank top and shorts. I put them on and slip in bed before he slips in beside me. He snuggles up close to me and I can’t help the goosebumps that appear when he buries his face in my neck. I turn around and kiss him. I bury my face in his neck and breathe in his awesome scent. Goddess, I love this man. Then a thought rushes to the front of my mind and my wolf is telling me, “Lady, if you don’t mark him soon, I will take over.” I sighed, “It is time.”
I looked into Luke’s eyes, “Can we mark each other tonight?”
I hope you liked this chapter. I would also love to read your comments. You can also keep up with my shenanigans on my social media at authorshadowlass.
I woke this morning feeling happier than I have ever been. I tried to get out of bed, but there was a heavy arm draped over me. I laid back and thought over last night’s events. Luke had been so gentle and loving with me, it brought tears to my eyes. Not because it hurt, but because I could literally feel how much he loves me. When we marked each other, the feeling of euphoria was more intense than anything I have ever felt in my life. Our marks! I look at my mark on his neck and see a bear curled around a sleeping wolf with a silver full moon in the background. I can’t wait to see his mark on my neck. I gently moved Luke’s arm off of me and walked to the bathroom. I’m looking in the mirror and see our marks are identical. I smile in admiration and I love how the simple thought of him being mine makes me feel. I never thought that I could feel this loved or that I could love someone this much. I’m smiling more than I ever have in my life as I start the shower. I get in as soon as the
I giggle as she runs to me. She hugs me as soon as she reaches me, “I am so happy to meet you!” I chuckle, “I’m happy to meet you too. I just finished making dinner. Have a seat at the table. We can visit and eat together.” I started putting the food on the table when Luke came in the kitchen, “Can I help you bring the food in?” I smiled, “You sure can.” I took the hot-hot out of the refrigerator and grabbed a spoon. I stirred it to make sure all the flavors are melded together. I grabbed a smaller spoon and let him try a bite, “Spicy enough?” He chewed it up and nodded while he swallowed, “That is awesome! My dad is going to love this.” We finished taking the food to the table and sat down. We started filling our plates and Luke smiled, “Dad, you need to try this. Sylvie calls it hot-hot. It’s her grandmother’s recipe.” Luke’s dad took a bite of it and smiled as he ate it. When he swallowed the bite of food, he moaned, “Sylvie, that is amazing. You must teach my mate how to make this
Luke must have overheard me, because I heard him agree, “Now that’s a sight I can’t wait to see.” He wrapped his arms around me and I leaned into him, enjoying the sparks. Zara gushed, “I just love watching you two. I can tell you already love each other.” I smiled, “We do.” Zara laughed, “This guy has loved you for most of his life. He never even wanted to date while he was in high school.” I smiled as I looked at him, “What would you have done if we weren’t mates?” He blushed, “I have no clue. I always just counted on you being my mate. If you weren’t at this ball, I would’ve come looking for you.” I chuckled, “You’re so cute.” He laughed, “Thanks, I think.” I chuckled, “It’s a good thing to be cute. Especially by me.” Zara laughed, “And your mama.” He laughed, “I will always be cute in your eyes.” Zara replied, “Of course you will.” And now it’s my turn to gush, “Aw, you guys are too cute!” Luke smiles, “Okay. Enough with the girly shit. I’m going to go sit with dad and take back my
I grabbed my purse and kissed my mate goodbye. He kissed me and sighed, “I guess I will work on paperwork until you get back. Call me if you want me to rescue you.” I chuckled, “You are too sweet. I will do that.” I put my phone in my pocket and I smile at Zara, “I’m ready. This is going to be so much fun!” I started to walk out the door when I felt a hand grab my wrist and the familiar sparks run up my arm. Luke pulled me back to him and wrapped his arms around me. I’m totally swooning while he kisses me with so much love, I nearly lose my footing. I smile, “You are sweet, but I really need to get going. The sooner I get done, the sooner I can come back to you.” He sighs, “I know, I just don’t like being away from you.” I shake my head, “I will try and get back to you as soon as I can. Is there anything you would like for supper tonight?” He replied, “You?” I laugh, “I mean something we can both have.” He laughs, “How about pizza? There is a restaurant in town called Zuccaro’s Kitchen
I walk up to Luke and kiss him on the cheek. He stands up and hugs me tightly, “I missed you so much! Never do that to me again.” I giggle, “I can’t make any promises, but I will do my best to do it when you have to be busy for the day.” He smiles, “I can live with that as long as you always come home to me.” I chuckled, “I think I can do that. Now, let’s get in the house. I have other stuff that I need to put away.” He asked, “Are your dresses getting altered?” I giggled, “They didn’t need to be altered. I asked your mother to keep them at her house so you can’t peak.” He laughed, “It would seem you know me too well.” I grinned, “I have already figured you out, mister. You have no secrets that I can’t discover.” He laughed, “I’m shaking in fear.” I kissed his cheek and suggested, “Let me go change clothes. I seem to recall you wanted to take me out for pizza tonight.” He chuckled, “I did suggest that.” I went upstairs and Luke followed. I asked, “Do you need to change clothes too?” H
I blushed with all the added attention while Luke beamed with pride. When I finally recovered, I asked, “So who is she?” Luke shrugged, “Just a werebear who wants the title of princess. I could care less about what she wants. The only person who matters to me is you.” I sighed, “It doesn’t help that you are easy on the eyes too.” He cocked his head to the side with a smirk, “Oh really?” I nod, “Yep. I’d do you.” That comment made Rachel and Cody nearly choke on their pizza. Once they swallowed their food, they laughed uncontrollably with Luke. When things settled down, Rachel chuckled, “That was so unexpected from you, Sylvie. Up until this moment, you seemed so quiet and reserved. We didn’t realize that you had this side to you.” I laughed, “Oh, you’ll see, I have many sides. Don’t I?” He nodded his head and chuckled, “Oh yeah. Why don’t you guys come out tomorrow for a barbecue?” Cody looked at Rachel, “What do you think, babe?” Rachel smiled, “We have no plans. We’ll be there.” I s
King Parker smiled, “I love the way you think, my daughter in law. But right now, the problem is not solved. She admitted she was not working alone. We need to find the others.” I asked, “Is she still alive?” He nodded and I suggested, “Then I would love to spend a little time with her. I can find out.” He smirked, “I have no doubt that you can do it. Do you want to do it tomorrow?” I smiled, “I would love to. In the meantime, I would appreciate it if you would withhold food and water.” Luke walked into the dining room and asked, “Who are we withholding food and water from?” I replied, “Emma. She indicated to your dad that she wasn’t working alone to kill me off.” Luke nodded, “Sounds appropriate. Let’s eat.” I moved all the food to the table and we all sat down. Zara laughed, “I don’t think I will ever get used to how we speak so casually about being so cruel to people.” I shrugged, “Our species are the opposite of two extremes at the same time. We are extremely loving and protective
As soon as the potatoes were done, I finished the potato salad and started mixing baked beans. I put them in the oven and started shaping the bread dough for dinner rolls. I covered them with a towel and asked Luke, “Do you want to put the corn on the cob on the grill to cook?” He asked, “Do you want me to?” I shrugged, “I’m good either way. I just need to know so I can start boiling water if I’m going to make them in here.” He smiled, “Okay, I’m going to cook them on the grill. You have a lot to do in here.” I smiled, “You’re so sweet. I need to get a salad going.” He asked, “Don’t you think you have plenty of sides now?” I replied, “Not everyone is going to like everything I’m making.” I started cutting the vegetables for a standard garden salad. As I put the salad in the refrigerator, the doorbell rang and Luke opened the door to greet Cody and Rachel. As soon as they walked in, Rachel ran to the kitchen and hugged me tightly. I smiled and asked, “How are you doing?” She smiled, “I