“Then he told me to come to Fate Mountain to steal the jewels. Enrolling in the institute and studying woodworking were all my ideas. He stopped giving me money so I needed a way to pay my way while I studied for the heist. Caitlin didn’t even store her jewels at her Oregon estate until a week ago when I was finally able to break in.”
“So this was all just preparation for a heist?” he asked.
“Yes. It was.”
“I should have known.”
“But since I’ve been here, I’ve realized there’s been a huge hole in my heart. I finally see what I’ve been missing all along. Now that I have Rollo in my life, everything makes sense.”
“What about your apprenticeship with Angus?” Corey asked. “Was that just part of the heist too? Because Angus thinks you are really talented.”
“Angus is the best. And I’m going back to work at the woodshop tomorrow. I never would have imagined myself as a woodworker, but I love it. I can’t wait to learn everything Angus can teach me.”
“I’m glad, Zoe. I’ve worried about you for a long time, but it seems like you’re finally finding your way after all.”
“I am Corey. I really am.”
“I’m glad we had this talk,” Corey said.
Zoe stood up from her chair and threw her arms around her brother, giving him a tight squeeze. He returned the hug, and patted her back like she was making him uncomfortable.
“Me too,” she said, letting him go. “Come downstairs. Willow is making us turkey sandwiches.”
“I love her sandwiches,” Corey said with a gleam in his eyes.
They walked downstairs together and found Willow finishing up lunch in the kitchen.
“How do you find time to take care of this guy and write all those books, Willow?” Zoe asked.
“By making time for two of my favorite shifters,” Willow said, smiling at the Bright siblings.
They all took their lunch out onto the deck and ate in the fresh air at a dining area on the massive porch. As the cool breeze blew up from the lake and swept through Zoe’s hair, she finally felt like she was part of a family again.
18
Rollo and Zoe pulled up in front of the Fate Mountain Lodge in his SUV. In the months since the helicopter explosion, Zoe had moved in with Rollo and they had moved on with their happy little life together. Things had been going so well and so smoothly for them that it was hard to believe that things had started out so dramatically.
They hopped out of the car and made their way around the side of the lodge toward the big backyard and patios that faced the lake. There was already a big crowd of people, enjoying the summer celebration. Rollo held Zoe’s hand, feeling the warm glow of community rise in his chest. He could tell that Zoe felt it too as she squeezed his hand and they walked into the party.
Rollo saw Shane Keenan making hamburgers at the huge grill on the patio. Levi, the owner of the lodge, and his mate Juliet were sitting at a picnic table drinking margaritas while their daughter Sunshine ran around with a gaggle of other shifter children. It did his heart good to see the shifters on Fate Mountain doing so well and celebrating with their families.
It was everything that he wanted to facilitate as chief of police. Now that he had Zoe, he could create his own family. Angus Grant and his wife Poppy waved them over to the picnic table where they were sitting on the lawn under a big maple tree that cast a wide swath of shade over the green grass. Rollo and Zoe walked over to Angus and Poppy to join them at the table.
“Are the burgers ready yet?” Rollo asked with a grin.
“You can go ask Shane, but I would stay out of his way while he’s cooking,” Angus said.
Everyone laughed. Shane was known for his wild side. Rollo glanced over and saw Shane flipping the patties onto a tray for the waiting guests.
“I’ll go get us some food,” he told Zoe.
He rose from the table and Zoe smiled up at him and thanked him. He walked over to the end of the table that was full of picnic food and dished up two plates for him and Zoe. When he got to the end of the line, he greeted Shane and thanked him for the delicious burgers.
“Not a problem, Commander Morris,” Shane said. “All of the Rescue Bears are happy that the alpha of the Bear Patrol has found his mate.”
“That means a lot to me, Shane,” Rollo said, giving the tattooed chef a pat on the back. “The life we build here on Fate Mountain is a legacy for our children.”
“Ain’t that the truth,” Shane said, glancing over at his beautiful blonde wife Lily and their eight-year-old son Theo.
Theo Keenan was a rambunctious little bear shifter who was walking on his hands and showing off for all of the other children. His mom called out to him from her picnic table, “Now do the backflip, sweetie!”