Bearly Healed: Pacific Northwest Bears: (Shifter Romance) (20 page)

“Okay, uh shouldn’t there be screaming and death threats against your mate?” Cassie said, hobbling into the room.

“Hey!” Dax said with a smile that belied his nervousness.

“Oh, that comes later,” Effie said. She looked good all things considered. Cassie could see her eyes were tired, there was some strain around the edges of her mouth. Clearly she had already been experiencing a fair amount of pain.

Cassie deduced her friend had been at this a while. “So how long have you been in labor?”

“This morning-ish,” she said with a wink.

“Dumb ass,” Cassie said, taking up a seat on the other side of the bed from Connie.

“Yeah, well your little drama needed to be handled first. This little dudette I knew was going to be stubborn like her father and take forever at scooting her butt out,” Effie said, sucking in a breath as she stopped rocking and dropped her head to her chest. She was breathing deeply, as Cassie watched her rounded belly develop a terrifying point at the top.

Kenzi was talking calmly to her, stroking her leg in slow movements. She was telling her how good she was doing and to remember to breathe. After what seemed like an eternity Effie raised her head and took a sip of water then went back to their conversation.

This was how the rest of the evening went until the early morning hours when Effie wanted to walk around which lasted all of about two minutes before she made it to the bed. Cassie had tried to get up, but Effie wouldn’t let her. She lay next to her best friend, holding her hand and mimicking the comforting words Kenzi had been using as Effie brought her baby girl into the world. Her husband at her back supporting her body through the painful but miraculous experience.

Cassie had never been through anything like seeing another soul come into the world. Even more surreal, knowing it was two souls. That the beautiful baby in her first love’s arms had a cougar inside her.

“Shit, you make pretty babies, you bitch,” Cassie said, watching her goddaughter in awe. Effie had asked her the day she told her she was expecting. Now Cassie felt an amazing love for the squalling infant. Effie had put the baby to her breast, and she immediately quieted.

“Of course I do. She looks like Dax,” she said looking up at her mate. “And you’ll be happy to know I thought up a better boy name for next time. Gunner,” she said with a smile.

“Jesus, woman, I fucking love you,” he said, planting a kiss on her mouth.

Cassie knew that mom and dad needed some time alone with their new little one. Running her hand over the downy head of her new little niece, she smiled at Effie and stood off the bed. She managed a decent walk to the door without falling and found Cash waiting, leaning against the hallway wall.

He picked her up and carried her over to the couch. He sat with her, wrapping her in a blanket.

“How is everyone?” he asked her.

“She’s so pretty, Cash. You won’t believe it,” Cassie murmured. The exhaustion was hitting her now that her adrenaline was waning.

“I bet. We’ll see her in a bit. Sleep. I’ll watch over you,” he said, kissing her forehead.

Cassie knew there was no safer place in the world than in her big bear’s arms.

T
he next week
was one of the happiest Cassie could ever remember. The Rochon house was soon filled with family. Everyone with the last name Rochon showed up, which meant Cassie got to meet Cash’s family. His mom and dad greeted her like they had known her all their lives. Both of them crying and laughing at their son finding his mate.

Cash’s brothers were a lot like him, though not as big. Which she remarked on, and everyone found vastly amusing for some reason.

His sister immediately started giving her all the tips and tricks on how to handle her new man. Plus, she made sure Cassie knew every embarrassing story that involved Cash over the last three decades. There were a lot of them.

The Hayes family had flown in, and Cassie was able to get re-acquainted with Everett and Layla. She hadn’t seen them since the wedding, but they still looked as stylish and sophisticated as she remembered. From the looks of it, Layla had started dressing Everett. He still had a clear sense of geek going on, but now it was fancy geek.

Cassie also got to meet Stryker’s mate Libby and their daughter Harley. Libby was not exactly what Cass had thought Stryker would hook up with, but who was she to talk? She could only imagine what she and Cash looked like.

Sebastian and Lilibeth Hayes showed up within twenty-four hours of Trixie’s arrival. Last time Cassie had seen Lilibeth, she’d been informed to duck and cover anytime she saw her coming. The gushing cooing woman that swept into the house to cuddle her new granddaughter was nothing like she remembered. The woman must have taken a thousand photos of the poor little thing.

Cash made sure to bring her back and forth between their house and the Rochons. He even made it to work a few times, leaving her to hang out with Effie and the baby. Although he did call almost every hour to check in on her.

Aside from the constant lovemaking, Cassie had been working hard on her PT with Cash. She was feeling stronger, and her pain was minimal now. She almost felt back to normal.

It was around lunch time almost seven days after Trixie was born. It was her one week birthday. Cassie was holding her on the couch running a finger over her tiny pert nose when the baby started to shimmer.

Sparkling glitter rolled over her tiny body, and Cassie was holding a small cougar kitten wrapped in a blanket.

“Damn, I will never get used to that,” Cassie said, her eyes huge as she stared up at Effie and Dax in the kitchen.

Dax let out a laugh, “Oh yes you will when it’s your own little bear cub.”

Shit, Cassie had been ignoring that possibility. It was so weird that she knew she was going to just have to take it as it came and not put too much forethought into it.

Cassie was still stroking the tiny nose when the kitten opened its mouth and clamped down on her finger.

“Ouch! Vicious little monster. She bit me!” Cassie cried out, not really hurt, but feeling like poking her friend’s motherly instincts.

“Stop calling her a little monster, and she won’t have a reason to bite you,” Effie sniffed. “Besides, she’s clearly incredibly intelligent, probably smarter than you.”

“Well, that’s an easy call,” Cassie scoffed. Looking down at the tiny creature, there was so much knowledge in those little eyes it kinda freaked her out. This cougar knew what the hell was going on even if the human baby didn’t.

There was a knock at the door, and the gathered group looked. Everyone that wasn’t there wouldn’t knock.

Dax went to answer the door and came back with a huge cardboard box.

“Ohh, it came!” Cassie called out. She handed the hissing kitten who was mad at being jostled over to Effie.

“What the hell did you order?” Effie asked, shushing her daughter who had shifted back to human and was trying hard to cry.

“Something for my goddaughter. Every little girl needs one,” she declared.

Dax ripped open the box and peered inside. He started laughing. He looked up at Cassie shaking his head. No anger, just humor in his eyes.

“Well, what did she order?” Effie asked, her voice wary.

Dax leaned over the huge box and pulled out a beige cat tree, complete with scratching posts, jumping platforms and hammock swing and a den box.

“Oh for fuck’s sake,” Effie moaned. “That is messed up,” she said glaring at Cassie.

“Is not! Cougar Trixie needs active playtime in the house. You’ll thank me when she doesn’t tear the shit out of your designer furniture,” Cassie said knowingly.

“Babe, she’s got a point,” Dax said with a cough.

“Don’t you dare take her side. Seriously, a cat tree?” Effie went over to take a look at the offensive item.

“Think about it, sharp claws, your ten thousand dollar couch…” Cassie reminded her.

“Shit, I like that couch. Trixie don’t you dare scratch my couch,” Effie ordered the tiny baby. Trixie looked up at her with blurry baby eyes.

“Argh!” Effie moaned.

The door opened, and Cash strode in. He took in the scene and pressed his lips together, trying not to laugh.

Holding his hands up in the air, he declared, “I told her it was a bad idea.”

“Oh sure, cower behind the tiny troublemaker,” Effie sniped.

“I’m the one that talked her out of ordering the ton of kitty litter. She said it would save you on diapers,” Cash said with a wicked grin.

“You bitch!” Effie screeched at her friend.

Cassie let out a laugh. “Stop swearing in front of my niece, Christ. You are teaching her bad habits already.”

“Don’t you dare order kitty litter. I swear I will send you fifty-five gallon drums of honey when you get pregnant,” Effie warned.

“Go ahead, Cash, and I can think of some kinky shit to do with it,” Cassie said giving her a wink.

“I can’t win!” Effie said, turning to her mate. Dax wrapped her and his daughter in his arms.

“Babe, stop trying,” he said with a laugh.

Effie saw that she was never going to one up Cassie, so she enjoyed the joke. The cat tree really was a practical gift.

Cash strode over to Cassie and planted a claiming kiss on her mouth. “So what do you plan on doing with all that honey?”

“Well, let’s see, first you gotta knock me up,” Cassie teased.

“Sprite, I’m workin’ on it, believe me,” Cash declared.

“Don’t I know it,” Cassie grinned. Her days were numbered in the honey-less department.

S
itting in the courtroom
, Cassie pulled at the tight neck of the blouse that Effie had forced her to wear. Not a week after little Trixie was born, Cash let her in on the goings on back in Eastern Washington. She was pissed at the news that Jesse was trying to throw her under the bus. After she’d already been thrown under the car so to speak.

Less than a month later, the District Attorney said they were filing accessory charges, and Cash had jumped into action. He was on the phone, and before Cassie knew it, they were on a chartered plane back to the vineyard.

They were met at the courthouse to do her deposition by no less than three very smartly dressed attorneys from the law offices of Becker, Hughes, and Sheffield. Cash had said they were on retainer for the family. Apparently they were more than happy to fly in and show the local DA that Cassie was not some scapegoat for the accident.

Cassie couldn’t even really give them much of a history since it was all either a blur or lost from her head injury.

Now it was almost three months later, and she sat in the courtroom wondering if her life would ever be without drama. Even though it was just a preliminary hearing and Cash and his attorneys assured her this was all for show, she was still nervous.

“Baby, the DA is running for office next year. They are just trying to find a case to show off their skills. He’s sadly mistaken in wasting his time. You have nothing to worry about,” Cash whispered to her.

Cassie took in the ridiculous beauty of her mate in a suit. He was fucking fine decked out in a black suit, with a silver shirt and silver tie. It was gorgeous and probably cost a mint since he was so freaking big.

She also knew under the sleeve of that expensive fabric was a tattoo of an old-fashioned key. It was the key to her heart that matched the ink on her chest. He’d gotten it less than a month after they’d bonded. When he shifted now, there was a pattern in the fur on his bear showing where it was on his human body. Cassie fucking loved it.

Effie had put her in a button up shirt and pencil skirt. Even her normally spiky hair was smoothed down. Cassie was usually about letting her freak flag fly, but she didn’t want to come across to a judge or jury like a tattooed little freak either.

But Cassie’s life was so changed over the last half year that she doubted she’d even come across as a freak anymore. Her hair was longer, and she was able to curl it, her now black hair with silver tips looking more stylish than outlandish.

She was also the proud new owner of Rock Doll Tattoo Shop. When she’d spent her first couple of months sitting around the house, her self-imposed solitary had gotten old. She hated school, so she had no desire to go back. She didn’t want to wake up to work in some office every day. So she mentioned to Cash that the only time she felt good was when she was running the tattoo parlor. Cash figured why not open her own?

Cassie had made some contacts over the years and managed to convince some amazing artists to move and join her business venture. She set up shop forty minutes from home in the first town outside the forest. It wasn’t a big town, but lots of bikers loved riding along the 101 during the summer. Why not stop for some ink while they were on a ride?

With a little help from Cash, okay a lot of help, her little business was doing well. She was happy, and Cash was thrilled she was doing so well. With his support, she dove into her therapy and was now walking on her own. She still had a soft knee brace and probably would wear it for a number of years, but she no longer felt like that broken girl. She was strong, she was happy, and she was in love.

Cassie glanced over at one of her attorneys who was talking very quietly with the DA. She looked around and saw that little shit Jesse didn’t even bother to show up. The attorney turned back to their table and had a total shit eating grin on his face. He sat down next to Cassie and patted her arm.

Then the crazy bastard gave her a wink. Wow, that was uncomfortable, she thought.

Glancing around the courtroom, there weren’t many people. Effie and Dax were sitting behind them. Little Trixie was home with Kenzi, who was visiting.

Cassie looked to the door at the back of the room and sucked in a sharp breath when her mother, her aunt and she thought one of her skeezy cousins walked into the courtroom.

Cash felt her tense and saw her eyes pinned to the back. It didn’t take him more than a second to realize her family had decided to brave an appearance to see if they could still horn in on some money. Maybe they’d talked to Jesse and worked a deal with him to sue civilly. Either way, they’d made a mistake coming there.

Cash stood up, stretching to his full height, his gaze furious. He could see out of the corner of his eye Dax standing too. Both men were radiating anger. Cass’s family took one look at the big angry men and tripped over themselves trying to get back out the door.

Giving Dax a chin lift, Cash sat back down, taking his mate’s hand back in his.

“Sorry,” Cassie whispered.

Cash pulled her hand to his lips and placed a kiss over her knuckles. She smiled at him. He had her back, always.

The judge came into the room, and Cash helped her stand. She was just using her cane for the last few weeks, and it was only back up now when her knee got wonky.

The bailiff called out the proceedings, and the judge took a seat. He was quiet for a moment looking over the paperwork in front of him. Finally, he looked up to the DA.

“Mr. Maitlin, you may begin,” he said.

The other attorney cleared his throat and then started. “Your honor, new information has come to light, and my office has decided to drop all charges against Ms. Hackett.”

There was silence in the courtroom as Cassie felt Cash squeeze her hand.

“Easy enough, Ms. Hackett, you are free to go. Have a nice day,” he said, then slammed the gavel down.

Cassie looked to Cash, “That’s it?” No way did she get that lucky.

Cash gave her a hard kiss and then a soft peck on the nose. “Baby, I pay these guys a lot of money, and they are the best. All they had to do was ask around, and there was enough video footage and cell phone images from that party to assure no one would think you forced Jesse to do anything. The DA clearly hadn’t done their homework thinking this was a small town slam dunk. He was messing with the wrong family,” Cash said, his eyes ringing with yellow.

“No, he saw my last name and knew I’d be an easy conviction. They know my family here,” Cassie admitted. Her family were no strangers to the legal system.

“Well then, we just need to change that last name don’t we?” he said, grabbing her chin between his fingers.

“You asking me to marry you, Mr. Rochon?” she teased. Their mating and bonding was so much more than a marriage. But she didn’t mind the idea.

“I’m only asking if you say yes, Sprite,” he returned.

“Fine, if we must. But I’m wearing black, and we are having cheesy poofs at the reception,” she said seriously.

“Anything for you, Cassie. Anything,” Cash said, sealing his vow with a kiss.