That evening, Adam led her out to his truck and held the passenger door for her, and helped her in, just like he did on their first date, which, to this day, she claimed wasn’t a date.
“This seems oddly familiar,” she said as they arrived at the same restaurant as the not-a-date date.
It wasn’t until their food was ordered and the waiter brought out the wine that Adam removed the small box Aurora had given him and approached her chair. Dropping to one knee, he took her left hand in his. His heart felt like it was ready to explode, but it was something he could gladly succumb to if it meant she said yes to him.
* * *
Joy feltlike she was ready to faint when she saw Adam kneel before her with a small black box in his hand. She was barely aware that every eye in the place was staring at them with anticipation.
“Joy, I’ve told you I love you. Now I want to ask you if you will marry me and become my one true mate and wife,” he said, opening the box to show her the stunning antique ring.
“I ... I ... yes! Of course!” She squealed just as he slipped the ring onto her finger.
He stood and embraced her, showering her with a million tiny kisses all over her face and a much longer and hotter one on her lips.
Suddenly, the room erupted with applause. She looked around and saw Vicki, Ted, Pete, and nearly all the rest of the employees of Polar Point Logistics. They were clapping and cheering. A few had even whistled and shouted when he pulled her into his arms again and gave her a kiss that had her wanting to rip both their clothes off right there on the spot.
“Yeah! Sink your fangs into her and make her your mate!” someone shouted.
“Wolves. They are such animals,” Adam whispered.
“And yet, these are your adopted family. I guess that makes you an animal, too,” she said with a smile.
His face was suddenly serious. He had gone from laughing and joking and happier than ever to somber in the blink of an eye. Her heart hammered in her chest, worried that something was seriously wrong.
“What is it?” she whispered.
“There is one more thing that I need to tell you,” he said before pulling a folded sheet of paper from his pocket and handing it to her. “Aurora gave me this ring along with this note. I want you to read it,” he said.
“Okay,” she whispered with a nod before sitting to carefully read the note. Tears ran down her face as she looked at the ring. “Now I know I had two sets of parents who loved me.”
She nearly collapsed when Gerri approached the table. “And now you both have two families who care about you also. North Slope Clan and the Polar Point Pack.”
“Oh, my God! What are you doing here?” She pulled Gerri into a tight hug, unsure that her day could get any better.
“I heard you were finally getting engaged to that hunky polar bear of yours. I couldn’t miss that, could I?” Gerri said with a laugh. “Plus, I heard there were some pretty big changes for you. Now, I know Adam is there for you when it comes to oral support, but I wanted to be here for moral support.”
“Oh, God!” Joy laughed at her friend’s joke.
“Did I hear you say something about oral support?” Adam asked.
“Always, but later.” Joy nipped at his lips. For the first time in her life, she felt like she was exactly where she was supposed to be ... surrounded by her new family and friends. Her heart felt lighter than it ever had.
For the first time in her life, she closed her eyes and silently thanked the fates for all they had done to bring her to her mate.
* * *
Six weeks later.
“I can’t believewe did it!” Joy exclaimed.
“I can’t either, Mrs. Caldwell.” Adam pulled her into his arms. His lips crashed over hers. “There’s just one problem,” he groaned.
“What’s that,” she asked with a breathy moan as he pulled back from the kiss.
“We need to figure out how to get you out of this dress and naked, now! Where do I even start?”
Joy laughed. Their wedding had gone off without a hitch. They were married in Polar Point at the base of the mountain next to the bay. All of their friends and family were present and accounted for, including several of her friends from Florida. Though they had invited them, she was still surprised when she saw Aurora and all of the bears from North Slope in attendance as well.