Page 57 of His to Defend

A promise Nina was more than happy to keep. Not only was she dying to tell her best friend all about the last few weeks, she was looking forward to returning to the ridge, too. It had only been a short time, but she’d fallen for the place almost as hard as she’d fallen for Ryker.

Almost.

Their trip had been amazing, not only for the breathtaking scenery and the chance to write uninterrupted while Ryker was out on the peaks capturing the photos that she was sure was going to catapult his career, but mostly because of the time the two of them were able to spend together.

They fit as a couple so seamlessly that sometimes Nina had to be reminded that they’d only been together a short time. Not that time mattered for anything.

He was her mate. Her soul mate and as far as Nina was concerned, nothing was going to change that.

“I’m glad you’re back.” Harper wrapped her arm around her and squeezed. “I missed you. And I think we have a lot to talk about.”

“We do. And I missed you too.”

“Tell me everything.”

Nina laughed. “Switzerland was—”

“Not Switzerland, silly.” Harper lightly smacked Nina’s arm. “The good stuff. You and Ryker. What on earth happened out there that night?”

Nina smiled and let her mind float back in memory. “I was upset at first,” she said honestly. “But then I just felt okay, like I knew that we’d be good. I guess I just trusted in what we had and then, there he was.”

“He was there?”

She nodded, remembering.

“And then we—”

“I don’t need those details.”

Nina laughed again. “We mated again,” she told her best friend. “Properly.”

Harper lifted her eyebrows and pulled her into a tight hug. “I’m so happy for you,” she said, her voice thick with emotion. “I never in a million years thought you would find your bear, too. But I’m so glad you did. It’s just…well, it’s different, isn’t it?”

It was. Nina nodded. “I’ve never been loved this way before,” she admitted. “It’s just so…complete.”

Harper’s smile was wide as she listened.

“And,” Nina added. “We’re going to get married. Just like you and Axel.”

“No way!”

“What’s a no way?” Chloe, Ella, and Kira joined them in the corner of the room.

“Nina and Ryker are going to get married.”

“No way!” Chloe pressed her hand to her chest.

“Ryker? I thought he—”

“He doesn’t,” Nina finished for Ella. “Or at least, he didn’t believe in marriage. Things change.”

“They certainly do.” Chloe pulled her into a hug. “I’m so happy for you. Wait until we tell Bree. She’s really getting into planning these shifter weddings.”

Nina shook her head. “Is Bree a…”

“No,” Kira answered. “But she’s lived her whole life here and just kind of knows about us. She’s good with it.”

“Wow.” There was still so much she needed to learn about Grizzly Ridge and everyone there. But she was looking forward to it.