Epilogue
Boone
Five years later…
“That one is Blitzen, Daddy. And that one is Zuma.”
Beth is pointing at the reindeer with her little mittened hand, her adorable nose pink from the cold and her brown eyes shining up at me. She’s so cute, I can barely take it.
“Zuma?” I say, gazing at her. “Isn’t that from Paw Patrol?”
She looks at me and then looks back at the reindeer. “No, it’s Santa’s reindeer. He zumas all over the world giving presents.”
“Oh,” I say, chuckling. “Makes sense.”
She beams, proud that I finally get it.
We’re standing by the reindeer pen in the middle of Wildpeak Village’s town square, the same spot where I tried to ruin Christmas five years ago.
It’s the Christmas tree lighting ceremony tonight and the town has gone all out. Ever since my grizzly episode went viral, this place has gotten busier and even more festive. This year, they brought in real live reindeers and have a Santa who’s going to turn on the Christmas tree lights.
“Let’s go find Mommy,” Beth says, grabbing my hand and pulling me toward the food trucks. There’s twinkling lights everywhere and the sound of Christmas carols filling the square. It’s perfect.
My grizzly is practically purring inside me. He’s never been so happy.
I let my cub lead me to where my mate is getting us hot chocolates.
Beth has been a miracle. Four years old and I still can’t believe she’s here. Every time I look at her, I’m shocked that this cute little angel is mine.
I never thought I’d have kids, a mate, and a family. And now that I have them all, I can’t imagine living without these girls.
Veronica has been kicking ass at the news station. She’s a senior reporter now and got promoted to the news desk. She delivers the evening news every day and I couldn’t be more proud of her.
She’s six months pregnant with our second child, a boy, and Beth is so excited to have a brother. I can’t wait to hold another cub in my hands. I’m counting the days until I get to meet him.
“There she is!” Beth squeals, squeezing my hand.
I lift my gaze and lock eyes with my girl. She gives me that devastating smile that always gets me right in the heart. This woman gets more beautiful with every day that passes, and seeing her pregnant with my child… It’s the most gorgeous sight of all.
She takes the three hot chocolates from the guy at the food truck and meets us halfway. “For my little cub,” she says, handing Beth the small warm one with the straw.
“And for my big strong bear,” she says, giving me a flirty seductive look.
“Rawr,” I say as I take it. She laughs.
“When are they turning the lights on?” Beth asks, looking up at the dark tree.
“In about seven minutes,” I say, checking my watch.
I was actually in the logging crew that chopped down that tree and brought it over here.
Since I started a family, I had to give up my secluded cabin and the subsistence living I had going on.
We bought a house closer to town so Beth would be close to her school and could make some friends.
Plus, I didn’t like the idea of Veronica having to drive up and down that mountain for work in the middle of winter and at night.
So I’m in the suburbs now, surrounded by neighbors, but I don’t mind it so much.
And when I’m feeling a little claustrophobic, it’s not too far from the secluded mountain trails.
I also got a job as a lumberjack in a crew. It’s a great group of guys. Leanne’s husband Jake was the one who got me in.
Leanne and Jake met the same night that me and Veronica did. Right there at the same bar.
While we’re waiting, Veronica tells Beth about the time my grizzly bear attacked the tree. Beth has heard this story a hundred times, but she still cracks up when Veronica acts it out.
I laugh as I watch my girl, stumbling around, pretending to be my bear with pepper spray in her eyes.
“Daddy, did it hurt?” Beth asks, looking up at me.
“Nah,” I say with a smile. “I was just upset I couldn’t see your pretty mother anymore.”
“But Daddy, why did you want to attack the tree?”
“Well,” Veronica says, kneeling down to Beth’s height. “Before you were born, Daddy was very grumpy about Christmas. He didn’t like the lights. Or the music. Or the tourists.”
“Like the Grinch?” Beth asks, eyes huge.
“Exactly like the Grinch,” Veronica says. “But bigger. And hairier.”
“Hey,” I grunt.
She winks at me.
“But then I met your mommy,” I say, taking over. “And I couldn’t be grumpy about Christmas anymore.”
“Why not?” Beth asks.
“Because Christmas gave me your mommy,” I say, smiling at them. “And you. And how can I be grumpy about that?”
“Aww,” Beth says, hugging my leg. “I love you, Daddy.”
“I love you too, sweet pea.”
“Alright, Wildpeak Village!” the mayor belts out into the microphone. “Let’s get ready to light that tree!”
I pick up Beth and put her on my shoulders as everyone starts a countdown.
“Ten! Nine! Eight!”
Veronica hooks her arm around mine, steps on her toes, and kisses the bottom of my jaw.
“I love you too,” I whisper.
She just smiles and hugs my arm tighter.
“This is going to be epic,” Beth squeals.
“Definitely,” I whisper. I can’t believe I was against all this. Right now, it seems like the only thing that matters.
“Three! Two! One!”
The square erupts as the tree bursts into light, exploding in a rainbow of color, casting everything in a warm, glittering glow.
There’s gasps and cheers all around me.
Beth shrieks on my shoulders. Veronica smiles up at me, the lights twinkling in her eyes.
“Daddy! Look! It’s magic!”
I look at the tree.
At my mate.
Then up at the girl on my shoulders.
“Yeah, baby,” I say, my heart so full it hurts. “It is.”
For the first time in my life, I feel Christmas all the way down to my bones.
And this grumpy grinch of a grizzly shifter?
He never wants it to end.
The End
(And Happy Holidays!)