Page 5 of His Determined Bear

I didn’t bother pointing out to her that if I went around telling people my mother’s fiance could change into an animal, I would most likely end up committed. Yeah, no, it definitely would not end well for me.

“Ok, but can you at least promise you won’t do anything rash? Like can we talk more about this?”I pleaded with her.

“We can talk, son, but it won’t change my mind. Aaron and I love each other, and we’re getting married. I want you there. I want you to meet him, but baby boy, I don’t need your permission on how I choose to live my life.”

With that, she turned to leave, then stopped again. Fuck was there another bombshell to be dropped on me? Was I about to have a half-sibling that would be half cougar? My brain couldn’t even process that.

“Clean all this up and let yourself out,” she said before leaving me in the kitchen alone, wondering if I would have to have my mom evaluated to make sure this wasn’t some form of early dementia.

I sighed and rubbed my brow. Fuck I needed to figure out how to snap her out of this madness. My stomach churned, and it wasn’t because we’d barely eaten. I knew my mom almost as well as I knew myself, and once she made a decision, come hell or high water, no one or nothing could change her mind.

Fuck on a biscuit! I would have to keep a close eye on her the next few weeks and stick to her like glue.

Chapter 2

Graham

I checked the clock one more time to ensure I was on time. There wasn’t any specific time I had to arrive, but I’d been coming weekly to visit since…well, for a while now. I pulled up in front of the cabin built from a combination of stone and reclaimed hand-hewn timbers. Before I even got out of the car, the door opened, and Mr. Lyons, Aaron, was smiling at me from the veranda.

I picked up the pink bakery box of brownies from the front seat that I’d baked for him. This week I’d created a combination of traditional brownies, combined with a blondie and a new salted caramel I was working on. I always appreciate his feedback.

When I stepped out of the car, I smiled at him, “Mr. Lyons,” I said.

Aaron snorted, “Graham, it’s been quite some time since you were in my Home Economics class. How many times do I have to tell you to call me Aaron?”

I chuckled because this conversation was something that occurred quite often. Aaron pulled me in for a hug when I met him on the veranda, then leaned back to appraise me.

“You look like you should be getting more sleep. You know I wouldn’t mind if you missed coming by to see me one of these weeks.”

I shrugged and lifted the box. “I have a new recipe for you to try. Besides the last time we spoke, you said you had some news….”

Aaron shook his head, “So like a Hallbjorn, never sharing their problems with anyone but so quick to try and fix everyone else’s.”

That wasn’t true. I wasn’t really like any of my brothers. They all did important things in the family. Gabe and Rhys were responsible for running the company and the den. Austin was the Mayor of our town, while Hunter protected everyone as the Sherriff. Rhys covered for me a lot when it came to the business side of things that weren’t really my strong suit. I just baked. I wouldn’t even have had the courage to do that if it weren’t for Aaron. He knew it was what I really wanted to do with my life. Without his encouragement, I probably wouldn’t have even considered it, especially with all the other responsibilities I would have to take on.

I would forever be grateful to Aaron for pushing me to go to pastry school. He’d even spoken to my parents about it when I didn’t have the words to tell them that I didn’t want the family business, that I wanted to do something else. Looking back, I knew it was crazy because my parents hadn’t even blinked, and they’d supported my choice all the way.

“I don’t know about all that,” I said, “but I think I finally figured out my salted caramel brownie.”

“And so modest,” he shook his head. “Come on, let’s see what you have in there. I should probably stop the sweets, you know, watch my weight and all.” His voice was teasing. And he snorted at his own joke.

I rolled my eyes and followed him into the house that had become quite familiar to me. “Oh please, old man,” I teased, “If I hadn’t baked your birthday cake, I wouldn’t think you were even fifty, not to mention fifty-four.” Aaron definitely did not need to worry about watching anything. He looked great. Sure his dark hair was mostly salt and pepper now, but it actually looked good on him.

We walked into the kitchen, and Aaron grabbed a small plate from the cupboard before opening the box. For some reason, every time I brought him new pastries to try that I’d perfected, I felt like I was back in the classroom with my tray just out of the oven, waiting for him to come over and assess my creation.

To distract me while waiting for feedback, I asked, “So what was it you wanted to talk to me about?”

Aaron glanced up at me, wearing a wide grin. He put the brownie down and gave me his full attention. “Well, if it’s not too much trouble, I have a small favor to ask.”

“Anything for you, old man. You already know that,” I said simply. And it was the truth. If it wasn’t for Aaron, I wouldn’t have opened the cafe or started our Crazy Bear Pastry line that was now distributed nationwide. I would have simply gone and worked in the factory's offices as was expected. Although looking back, I’m not sure who expected it. My parents would have supported whatever choice I made. I guess Mr. Lyons was brave for me when I couldn’t be.

“You’re a good man Graham Hallbjorn,” he said. And I actually felt my cheeks heat and ducked my head.

Aaron laughed, “Okay. Okay. I get it. Stop embarrassing you.” He chuckled again before finally speaking, “I’ve been seeing someone.” His voice was gruff, and I looked up at his face. How had I missed the lightness? His eyes positively shone, and I hadn’t seen that in a long time. Not since well before he’d buried his wife four years ago after losing her to a long battle with cancer. Shifters were immune to a lot of things but not everything.

“I’m so happy for you, Aaron,” I said with all sincerity. He deserved to be happy again. I’d watched him take care of Katherine, his wife, and mate of twenty-four years, as she’d battle the horrible disease. And for a while, after she’d died, I’d been terrified we would lose him. Not all shifters survived losing their mate. It took incredible strength sometimes to find the will to go on. Once that bond was broken… I shook my head, trying not to think about how close we’d come to losing Aaron. “I really am.”

The smile he wore was blinding, and it made him look younger. “Thank you. But that’s not all.”