Mated to the Wilde Bear

Xavier stroked the last signature with a whoosh and then let the pen fall with a clatter against his desk. He leaned back in his chair and rubbed at his eyes, gritty from a sleepless night. Damn, he hadn’t pulled an all-nighter since last ski season. He was rusty.

Last night had been harder than any other rescue. Not just because he’d had to yank four poachers off the mountain, all armed and looking for a polar bear head to take home for their walls, but because it wasn’t just him anymore. Or him and his guys. He was now protecting a mate. Yeah, he’d finally come around to the truth when his animal had almost lost it to realize the paperwork couldn’t wait.

Gerald had been nice enough when he’d told Xavier and the guys about the formal complaints, but it didn’t change the cold truth. Someone was after the Blue Bear Search and Rescue. Someone wanted him gone from this job. Maybe from town or even life, who even fucking knew right now. Gerald had his suspicions, but Xavier was at a loss. He’d kept his head down all these years, too scared of a repeat performance after losing his dad to do anything wild or crazy. And now here was some asshole trying to rip away everything he’d worked for.

It wasn’t fucking happening.

truck with Jake and sent her home. All he wanted was to go home and crawl into bed next to her. Make up for all the dumbass comments he’d made trying to push her away, because he knew what

done yet. There was one more item left to do before he could call it

the last dregs of the coffee he’d made earlier. Then he

sleepily on

an hour,” Xavier

were all exhausted. So was he, dammit. But he

so Jake knew he meant business. “Get them here, Jake.