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RESPECT
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THE SECRET BEAR DADDY WARNING
Marigold told her story of losing her parents in a plane crash where all aboard had died. Parts were hard for her to want to talk about, but she did, nonetheless.It never ceased to surprise Elena that the bravery of children was so much greater than they were given credit for.Still, MariGold got through it and talked about her being left unable to walk while she still recovered and what she had done so far. Her now-guardian chimed in occasionally to provide more details when necessary.It was obvious to Elena that not only had Marigold sustained physical trauma but emotional as well, which she had already suspected.But the more she watched Mr. Atlas ebb in here and there, the more she noticed he had emotional baggage tied into this as well.She turned her attention to him after a moment. “Mr. Atlas…”“Please, call me Atlas.”She nodded, taking it as a good thing that he was moving to be more casual.“What made you decide to take in Marigold?”He cleared his throat, pushing back any
THE SECRET BEAR DADDY MOTHER'S RECIPE
He ran a hand over his face, realizing he needed to do better. He needed to work harder, too, so she had someone she could lean on. Her parents were gone, so he was responsible for making her feel safe."Hudson," Hannah called out to him, giving him a big smile. "Did you see that? I moved my foot. I moved it!"Hannah giggled, looking back at her feet. "I moved it."Tears burned in the back of his eyes. Just a couple of months ago, she was as normal and happy as could be, and now she was so giddy that she could wiggle her toes.Nora looked at him, giving him a gentle smile. She walked over to him, patting him on the shoulder. "She's doing good. This is progress. This is all going in the right direction."Marigold looked back up at him. "What's wrong? Why do you look sad?"He quickly hardened his face and gave her a nod. He didn't need her feeling the emotions he was feeling. She was happy, and he wanted her to stay that way. "Nothing. This is good, Marigold."The PT nurse nodded. "I ag
THE SECRET BEAR DADDY EMOTIONLESSLY
Marigold needed him to keep his head on straight. His clan needed him to focus. He couldn't let a human with a fine figure pull his attention away from important things.Another problem was that Elena didn't know about his shifter abilities, and he wasn't sure how she'd react. He couldn't allow her closer because then he'd have to tell her. He couldn't risk losing the help, so he'd just keep doing what he was doing.He pinched at his eyes, shaking his head. He wished it was that easy, but it wasn't. It was going to be a lot harder than that.Atlas wasn’t sure how this was happening or why. He was feeding her when she was hungry and burping her properly afterward. How could she be pooping this much even after everything he was doing?He cleaned her again and grabbed the diaper, unfolding it as quickly as he could. “Maybe I shouldn’t have put the princess dress on you before I did this?” he asked Marigold miserably.His daughter looked up at him with her large gray eyes before she inexp
THE SECRET BEAR DADDY SOMETHING
Elena was it. He would have hired her without the interview, just from seeing how quickly she had moved to save him from being blasted with more baby poop.But Atlas was also nervous.ELENAShe was a little shocked when he offered her the job. Of course, she could tell he had been desperate. Any man would be if he was knee-deep in shit and couldn't get out.But she also had nothing better to do besides accept his offer. Maybe it had been a bit of a joke, but she felt she should be there. It was clear that Atlas needed help."Will you accept the offer?" Atlas asked once more, rocking Marigold himself now. She was half asleep in his arms, her little fingers wrapped around the fabric of his shirt.She couldn't help but smile at them. The man needed help, and she needed the money. The answer was clear, but she wanted to set down some rules."Yes, I accept the job, but I do have some requirements. And if those needs aren't met, I will not accept the job." She was sure it sounded like she w
THE SECRET BEAR DADDY BORED
He looked at Marigold, and she watched as his expression changed. His eyes dropped, and his face seemed to pale slightly."I'm scared I'm going to screw up. Or that I'll drop her, and she's gonna end up hurt. I haven't slept because I don't know if she's still breathing at night. They certainly didn't state how your entire world flips upside down when you become a parent."A warm smile grew on her face. He felt how every other parent in the world felt. And she knew that he would make an amazing dad in the end.Once he figured out how to do everything.ATLASAtlas felt blessed to have Marigold. He was ready to be the father and role model she needed. He wanted to do everything right since she wouldn't have a mother in her life. He watched as she cooed in her sleep. He ached to hold her, feeling like he was being a bad father for putting her down.He looked at Elena, needing to focus his attention on something else. He studied her golden blond hair and light brown eyes. She had a calmin
THE SECRET BEAR DADDY ACTUAL FACTS
Quite the contrary. Marigold was a sweet, energetic youngster who kept Elena on her toes. But then there was Atlas, who was there all day while she cared for his kin, stuffing himself inside his office where he kept the door shut like a hibernating grizzly.He would then emerge during meal hours, scarfing down lazy meals until Elena insisted they have dinner together. It was vital for Marigold to know her father rather than just some woman who took over the spot of both parents.His sense of humor made her heart leap. Elena was certainly quick to giggle, but Atlas had such a way with his expressions and delivery that tickled her funny bone. He spoke so dryly, his face deadpan as if he had been practicing comedy for years.During an evening when the air was crisp, they all sat at the dinner table talking about Elena’s time at college and, inevitably, about the strange position Alas had at this supposed Hendrick. She thought it was some kind of gentlemen’s club that he was pulling her l
THE SECRET BEAR DADDY BAND AID
Elena leaned forward on the table, her breasts sitting on it like it was the perfect shelf. He thought he could see a flicker of the shade of the bra she was wearing in his peripheral vision. It was rude to stare, even if a woman was being so indirectly direct with her advances. But it was a lot like trying not to look directly into the striking spill of the luminous moon.Coral. Her bra was coral.“Yes,” she murmured.Her bulbous flesh bobbed up and down, just begging for his baseball mitt size paw to wrap around and massage them.“Why would I have a secretary?” he said, cocking a gentle eyebrow.She shrugged, then slowly rose from the table. She lingered as she bent forward, those glowing orbs looking like their own flavorful meal.Atlas had to clear his throat to stifle a grunt.“Oh, just something silly my mother said. She said not to get attached to the kid because then you might fall in love with your secretary and run off with her.”Marigold was beginning to doze off, so Elena
THE SECRET BEAR DADDY DOUBT SITUATIONS
Finally, after hours of attempts at comfort, little Marigold dozed off in her arms. The adrenaline scorching through Elena’s body had evaporated, leaving her taut and spent. She carefully laid the child in her crib with extra effort to be stealthy.It was only when she snuck out of the bedroom, leaving the door slightly ajar, that she remembered the carnal embrace they’d had in the kitchen.The house was dead quiet. Elena lifted her hand to her lips, running two fingers over their plumpness, trying to summon the memory of his taste. It felt so recent, yet, so long ago. Her entire attention had been on a disturbed Marigold, and then, standing there in the darkness, she remembered how badly she had wanted him.She hadn’t wanted anyone like that in a long time.She sauntered down the hall and stopped at his door. She bit her lip, imagining him in bed, pleasing himself just to keep the naughty thoughts at bay. She wanted to be the thing that pleased him, that felt him tense and release de
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THE SECRET BEAR DADDY CREATING FAMILY
But the pain was magnified by the look Marigold had given her as Elena washed and dressed her for the last time.It was a look of pure, unadulterated trust.That baby loved you. And you just left her.She still had her keys to her mother’s house, and when Elena walked in, the house was silent and dark.It seemed her mother wasn’t home. She was probably out shopping or with one of her friends.Great, your mother’s got a better social life than you do. Now get it together.Her thoughts had changed.Instead of feeling sorry for herself, she would be strong. She would put herself back together and be happy doing it.Back in her room, Elena unpacked her duffel bag and pulled out her laptop.Then she headed to the kitchen and put on a pot of coffee while she updated her resumé.Elena also considered starting a writing blog where she could post fictional stories about men that turned into bears and wolves. But then she remembered the man who had followed her in Costco.She understood what At
THE SECRET BEAR DADDY HURT
Could this man have been one of the council’s goons? Atlas couldn’t picture any shifter he had ever met from Elena’s descriptions.But then, there were bear shifters all over the United States. Who knew what kind of trash Elias or Callum had called in to take care of Atlas?“I don’t want you going out on your own again,” Atlas found himself saying. His voice was harsher, hotter than he had intended.Elena turned from where she stood at the stove and looked at him with raised brows.Her bright eyes were almost cold. He shuddered. Lyra had never looked at him with anything other than warmth in her eyes.“Excuse me?”Her voice was a whisper.Just then, Marigold started fussing, and Lyra came from the kitchen to pick up Atlas’s daughter.“It isn’t safe for you to go out on your own. We don’t know if that guy who followed you was just a creep or if he was connected to something … else.”Atlas ensured that his voice was gentler, but Lyra still looked incredibly angry.“I’m not someone who l
THE SECRET BEAR DADDY THREATS
Elena spent about two hours trying to fit Mari’s car seat into the backseat of the truck.Then she went back into the cabin to wash and dress Marigold, who she put in a fluffy, yellow onesie.She put a white cap on Mari’s head and matching white woolen booties on the infant’s tiny feet.Not that Marigold was that tiny any longer. The baby was growing faster and faster every day … faster than most babies.Elena had a feeling it had something to do with her bear-shifter genes.Marigold was even outgrowing the clothes that Elena had purchased two weeks earlier.“I’ll stop by the baby care store in town,” Elena whispered to Marigold. She stroked the baby’s cheek once and then lifted her into her arms. “And we’ll get you some new threads.”Elena grabbed her bag on the way out, as well as the Maya wrap Atlas had purchased.She settled Marigold safely into the car seat, strapping her in tightly. Then Elena got into the driver’s seat and turned on the beast of a truck.The engine roared to li
THE SECRET BEAR DADDY DELIVERIES
He wanted to growl, his bear trying to break out, but he held his anger down and frowned at them. "I have a human nanny. Elena is my daughter's nanny."They didn't seem to believe him, and he sighed, waving a hand."Serenity died if you have forgotten, and I have a newborn baby that needs attention. Much more attention than I can give her, mind you. So, I hired a nanny.""You're saying that this nanny that is living in your house hasn't joined you in bed? That's what you're saying? You haven't slept with her?" Devlen asked, narrowing his eyes. He wanted him to admit that he'd mated with Elena, but he wasn't going to."No," he lied, shaking his head. "She is just my nanny. She's what Marigold needs right now. I need an extra set of hands around the house."Devlen scoffed and shook his head. He placed his hand on the table, his words coming out harshly. "I don't believe you. You're lying. She isn't just your nanny, and we are all watching. I'd be careful, Atlas, because all eyes are on
THE SECRET BEAR DADDY CROSS ROADS
Atlas reached for her hand, shaking his head. “I don’t want to talk about that.”He pulled her toward him, sealing their lips together. A spark ran down her body. She leaned into it.His hands skated over her back and down, cupping her ass. He pulled her onto his lap, and she wrapped her arms around his neck. The kiss deepened, and she moaned softly against him.He broke the kiss, inhaling against her neck. “You smell so good,” he muttered into her ear.She smiled, feeling his hands sliding up her back. He reached for her bra straps.She leaned back, looking into his eyes. “Are you sure you don’t want to talk?” she asked, seeing frustration in his eyes.He shook his head. “Maybe later. Right now, I just want you.”She felt the love so deep in his words. She kissed him, allowing him to pull her shirt open and undo her bra.The air bit at her bare skin, but he pulled them onto the bed and under the covers. She pressed into the sheets as his fingers scraped at her pants.His lips kissed
THE SECRET BEAR DADDY SURPRISED
Her heart dropped into her stomach, and her breathing, she realized, was shallow, unsteady.Atlasr’s eyes darkened then, and his jaw tightened as he clenched his teeth.“We need to be very careful, Elena.” The warning in his voice was clear. “We need to continue pretending that you’re my nanny and not my mate.”“You really cannot expect me to do that.” The distress in Elena’s voice surprised her. But a dent had been put in her pride.“Yes, you have to,” Atlas said, his voice more serious than Atlas had ever heard it before. “You cannot tell anyone about us. Not even your mother. And I’m not doing this because I want to keep you a secret … far from it. I’m doing this because I want to protect you.”“Maybe we should move?” The idea flashed across Atlas’s mind so suddenly that she hurried to grasp it before it vanished. “Move to another state where we can live freely. Like Alaska.”Atlas shook his head as Marigold started crying.Elena took the baby automatically, cradling the little gir
THE SECRET BEAR DADDY REJECTED BY THE COUNCIL
Devlen, Case, Elias, and Jameson represented the bears of Montana.“Atlas,” Devlen spoke in his growling voice.Atlas inclined his head in a small bow to each of them.The four shifters all wore bear skins.“Thank you for seeing me,” he said. “I am here to plead before the council. I would like to find a human mate. Clearly, Serenity and I were not a match, and this resulted in her death.”“I believe, Atlas, that you’ve mated with a human before coming here to get our approval.”Fear raced through Atlas, crashing into him in great waves and almost knocking him over.But he remained steady, his face impassive.“Not at all, sir,” he said as respectfully as he could. Anger had blended with his fear. “I simply want us to change the old ways of living to save the bear shifters of Hendrick Klaus.”“The reason we do not mate with humans, Atlas,” Elias spoke in a gentler voice, though his face was stern, “is because we are keeping our species pure. Mating and procreating with humans only weak
THE SECRET BEAR DADDY SETTLED
Atlas took a hesitant step toward her.Outside, the wind had picked up. Leaves and thick, rich patches of soil blew around in gusts and spurts.The air had smelled wet and ripe, as though it was about to rain.“I want you. Only you,” Atlas said. His eyes were sincere … sincere enough that Atlas believed him. “More than anything. But I have to ensure that the council approves of our relationship first.”“Why?”Elena settled into the rocking chair next to the baby’s bed.Marigold was still awake but allowed Elena to cradle her. It was as if the baby knew Elena needed to hold her.“Because,” Atlas leaned against the changing table, “the council rarely approves of bears and humans mixing. Socially and … romantically.”“Is it really that big of a deal?” Elena found the strength to ask Timber, who crossed his arms over his chest.“It isn’t to me. But the bear council wants us to keep our bloodlines pure. They believe that mating with humans is physically impossible, and even if it were poss
THE SECRET BEAR DADDY CONVERSATIONS
She gripped her hands into tight fists. Her lips pulled into a straight line, and she inhaled sharply.“If you're not going to be honest with me, then I'm not staying. I told you I wasn't going to watch after your kid day in and day out. I'm the nanny, not the mother."She turned on her heel and marched toward the door. He quickly pulled himself out of bed and reached for her hand, stopping her."Stop!" Elena yelled, but he didn't."Just give me a second to explain," he whispered, making her pause.He knew she wouldn't believe him unless she saw with her own eyes, so he turned them toward the door and walked her out to the backyard.The grass was wet, and it smelled like it had recently rained. He turned toward her on the deck and took a few steps back."Now, you can't say I didn't warn you," he said, watching her look at him confused.He relaxed his muscles and allowed himself to shift into his bear form. His bones moved, and his muscles contracted. And then she screamed.Elena's eye
