Free Bear The Fire (Firebear Brides 4) by Anya Nowlan Page B

wife’s going to be pointing at the wedding pictures twenty years from now, bemoaning how you looked like a thug,” Redmond said, stuffing the tie in the pocket of his black dress pants.
    “I am a thug. I don’t think Kali’s going to be surprised by that,” Rhodes huffed back, but they shared a grin with Redmond.
    They were all nervous as hell and it was showing. It was the biggest wedding in Shifter Grove history, and that was saying something, considering the place seemed to be a one stop shop for everything bridal and matrimonial over the last few years. Every few months, someone was getting married and popping out a cub or a pup or a damn litter. Rhodes couldn’t wait to join that particular lineup of Shifter Grove locals.
    “I think it’s time,” Royce said, taking over because, well, someone had to.
    They marched behind him in a line through the long row of seats, every person in Shifter Grove having shown up it seemed. The fires had touched everyone, one way or another. Most of the men had been part of the relief effort and a great many women too. The brides of Shifter Grove being some of the toughest, most driven women Rhodes had ever had the pleasure of meeting. And they were all here to wish the Hamilton clan the best of luck.
    It was late in the summer now and the rains had returned, thank the spirits above. The scorched, dying earth had been revitalized by long rainfalls, bringing everything back to life again. In the meadow on the Hamilton grounds, right where the forest had once been, everything was coming up lush and green.
    Rhodes walked last in line, his head held high. He let his gaze sweep over the guests, smiling and nodding to a few. It felt surreal being there with no intention of packing up his bags in a few months and getting out. He was settling down and it felt so right. A lot of it had to do with Kali, of course, but being back home played a major role as well.
    Because that was what Hamilton House, and Shifter Grove were. Home. Where his forefathers had lived, loved, and died and where the Hamilton clan had risen and fallen and then risen again. It was the only place he could truly be at peace, and he cursed himself for taking so long to see it. But it was the end result that mattered.
    In the very back, he could spy the sunken blue eyes of Sear Hassleback. He stood away from the others, dressed in a neat black suit, his arms folded behind his back. His jaw was set hard and the circles under his eyes told Rhodes that he had not been sleeping much. Rhodes wasn’t surprised. He couldn’t imagine what Sear was going through. Still, the faint nod and the inkling of a smile Sear gave him as Rhodes passed by made him hope that maybe he’d be okay.
    After the fire, it wasn’t hard to trace most of them back to Slade and only Slade. Sear had done everything he could to aid the investigation, though anyone with two eyes could see that it was killing him to admit that his brother had been an arsonist and come very close to murdering people more than once.
    Though Kali had witnessed the whole thing, and Diesel, the town sheriff, was no fool, they hadn’t pressed charges against Sear. He did what had to be done. Not unlike Rhodes had all those years ago.
    The issues with Hamilton House weren’t entirely set in stone yet, but they were well on their way. With Tiana’s pregnancy, already showing as it was, and their nuptials, they would only have one missing piece of the puzzle. Looking at the, ahem, virile bunch of bears carrying the Hamilton name, Rhodes seriously doubted they’d break the two cubs rule. Hamilton House was as good as theirs.
    The troubled thoughts were brushed away easily as the Hamilton brothers took their places and turned their expectant gazes behind them. The music started—Battle having revealed a surprising affinity for the guitar and agreeing to play—and the Hamilton brides came into view.
    Rhodes gasped right along with everyone else. Tiana walked down first, her