Mated to the Wilde Bear novel Chapter 9

“So, you’re DOT. That means you’ll be on site for the rescues this season?” Nash asked.

“Gerald’s still around,” she assured them. “He’ll be back from vacation in a few days. I’m filling in until he’s back and then who knows. I wouldn’t mind it, though. Today was fun to watch.”

“I bet.” Jake gave her an exaggerated wink and Xavier growled.

She laughed. “I meant the crowd. Your alpha caused quite a stir when he refused the medic’s help and opted to carry the guy all the way down.”

“Show off,” Jake said, and Nash shook his head.

“No wonder you didn’t call us,” Nash said. He leaned in and whispered to Laurel. “He just loves the spotlight. Doesn’t want any of us to get the attention.”

She shot Xavier a wry smile, remembering the way he ducked away from the crowd of women who’d shouted for him as he’d walked away from her. “Definitely a diva,” she agreed.

Jake and Nash laughed, and even Lucas smiled at that. Here it was easy to see how their community was so accepting of a crew of bears living so openly as shifters. When they turned on the charm, it was hard to dislike a single one of them.

Throughout a dinner of fish and chips, Laurel smiled more than she had in ages, but she didn’t fully relax. She’d have to be extra careful now not to show her fox, she realized, looking around the table as the guys all laughed and joked. More than once, she had to remind herself all she stood to lose if anyone at work found out about her animal. She’d lost a job before. Friends, family even, over her being a shifter, and she’d promised herself she’d never let that happen again. No matter what. Sitting here around the table with these guys made it tempting, though. They were so easy to be around and clearly wouldn’t care if she was a fox.

But others might. Anti-shifter talk had been growing in this town. A shame, since she’d moved here to escape where it was happening in the bigger cities.

She frowned at that and caught Xavier watching her before she could cover it up.

“You finished eating?” he asked. She nodded. “Walk with me.”