Epilogue Elsie
If you'd told me six months ago that I'd fall in love with an eight-hundred-pound Bear Shifter...
I'd have asked where you bought your gummies because they were clearly stronger than anything sold legally.
Yet here I am.
Madly in love.
Hopelessly happy.
And waking up every morning beside the only man I've ever truly loved.
Honestly?
It's not half bad.
Okay.
That's a lie.
It's absolutely perfect.
Every morning starts the same way.
I wake up tucked against Graham's warm chest while he snores softly beside me.
He insists Bears don't snore.
He also insists his Bear “merely breathes enthusiastically.”
It's adorable.
He's wrong.
Completely wrong.
But adorable.
The second I try to sneak out of bed...
One enormous arm wraps around my waist.
“Where do you think you're going, Honey?”
“I have a coffee shop to open.”
“You have five more minutes.”
“You said that ten minutes ago.”
“I'm a Bear.”
He kisses my shoulder.
“We hibernate.”
“Shifters don't hibernate at all, and wild bears do not hibernate in the summer.”
“We emotionally hibernate year round.”
I laugh every single time.
He knows I will.
I've learned a lot since discovering magic is real.
Vampires exist.
Wolves really are as dramatic as paranormal romance novels make them out to be.
Demons, Witches, and Angels are a thing, too.
The Clan gathers every Sunday for dinner because apparently no one is allowed to miss Marcus's barbecue.
Daniel Devlin is every bit as intimidating as he looks...
Until his mate smiles at him.
Then the terrifying Clan Enforcer melts faster than butter on toast.
Marcus pretends Graham isn't his favorite musician.
No one believes him.
Ooh, I've also learned that Bears shed.
At least, my redheaded one does.
Everywhere.
Constantly.
I mean, there is literally fur on everything.
Everything.
My sweaters.
The couch.
The car.
One time, I found a tuft on the honey jar.
“I don't even know how that's physically possible,” I told him.
His response?
“My Bear was helping me open it.”
Helping.
Right.
Still...
I'd choose Bear fur over being alone any day.
Moon & Mug has changed too.
Our Thursday night Poetry, Music & More evenings have become the busiest night of the week.
The bookstore is packed with local artists, musicians, students, retirees, families...
Anyone looking for a place to belong.
Graham usually closes the night with a song.
I still cry every single time.
Last night was no different.
It’s Friday and these days, we close an hour early every Friday.
It is date night, after all.
The last customers are looking through the aisles as I move to the front door.
I flip the sign to CLOSED before turning toward the espresso machine.
It's already cleaned.
Shining.
Done for the evening.
Exactly the way I like it.
Naturally...
That's when the bell above the door jingles.
Three familiar women sweep inside.
Perfect hair.
Perfect makeup.
Perfectly unpleasant expressions.
Stephanie leads the charge.
Of course she does.
She gives the café a slow once-over before looking at me like she's doing me a tremendous favor by existing.
“Well, dead in here as usual.”
Wonderful start.
“Anyway, we just need three lattes.”
I smile politely.
“I'm sorry. The espresso machine's already been cleaned and closed down for the night.”
She sighs dramatically.
“It's only coffee. Just turn it back on.”
“No,” I say pleasantly. “It's actually about thirty minutes of cleaning.”
Another blonde folds her arms.
“You can't make one exception?”
“I could.”
I smile wider.
“I'm choosing not to.”
Stephanie blinks.
Apparently she isn't used to hearing no.
“You know...”
She glances around the crowded bookstore.
“I've heard this place is successful because people around here are friendly.”
“We usually are.”
I nod.
“But right now, the café is closed. I can help you with a different purchase, if you like.”
One of her friends huffs.
“I can’t believe it. This bitch always pulls this and we’re just trying to help you elevate your current clientele.”
Before I can answer...
The back room door opens.
Heavy footsteps cross the hardwood floor.
I don't even have to look.
I know those footsteps.
The three women certainly notice.
Their entire demeanor changes.
Stephanie's smile brightens instantly.
“Oh.”
She smooths her hair.
“I didn't realize you shop here, Graham. How about that dinner? We never got a chance to catch up.”
Graham walks straight toward us.
Doesn't slow down.
Doesn't even glance at them.
Stephanie actually takes half a step in his direction as if he might be coming towards her.
But he just walks right past her.
Past all three of them.
Straight to me.
His hands cup my cheeks so gently it still amazes me those same hands can become paws the size of dinner plates.
“Hi, Honey.”
He kisses me before I can reply.
Deep, passionate, perfect—like always.
“Hi yourself.”
“Missed you.”
“You saw me thirty minutes ago.”
“Worst thirty minutes of my evening.”
I laugh.
He smiles like that's all he needed.
Then he kisses me again.
Sweet.
Tender.
Absolutely unconcerned with the audience.
When he finally pulls back, his forehead rests against mine.
“I love you.”
“I know.”
“I was hoping you'd say it back.”
“I love you too.”
“Better.”
“Um, excuse me! You have customers here!”
Graham slips an arm around my waist before finally acknowledging the women standing nearby.
“Oh.”
His tone is perfectly pleasant.
“I didn't realize we still had company.”
Stephanie frowns.
“We’re just waiting for our coffee.”
Graham looks at me.
Then at the spotless espresso machine.
Then back at me.
He smiles.
“My mate already answered you.”
Mate.
Stephanie's smile falters.
“Mate?”
Graham nods casually.
“My mate.”
His arm tightens around my waist. And he offers an apologetic shrug that somehow isn't apologetic at all.
“Like Elsie said, we don't serve coffee after hours.”
He points toward the window.
“But the diner down the street might be able to help you.”
Silence.
Three stunned faces stare at us.
“Now...”
He looks down at me with those beautiful forest-green eyes that stole my heart the moment we met.
“If you'll excuse us...”
He grins.
“My mate and I have a date.”
Stephanie actually gasps.
Her friends exchange wide-eyed looks.
One whispers, “Mate?”
Another mutters, “Did he just...”
I don't hear the rest.
Because Graham is already leading me toward the back door with his arm around my waist.
“They're staring,” I whisper.
“I know.”
“You embarrassed them.”
“I wasn't trying to.”
“Liar.”
He chuckles.
“I was making a point.”
“And what point was that?”
He opens the door for me.
The cool evening breeze brushes across my face.
He leans down and kisses my temple.
“That the prettiest woman in Barvale is already spoken for.”
I smile so hard my cheeks hurt.
“I love you, Graham.”
“I know.”
He grins.
“But I never get tired of hearing it.”
Neither do I.
Turns out...
Finding your happily ever after isn't the end of the story.
It's just the beginning.
And personally, I think forever looks pretty incredible with a Bear by my side.
The end.