Bearing the Frostbite (Ice Bear Shifters Book 6) by Sloane Meyers

smiled at him. “Good man. It was very nice to meet you, James. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’d like a moment alone with my granddaughter.”
    James stood and gave Grams a gentle pat on the shoulder, and then left the room.
    Alexis’ grandmother patted the bed next to her and motioned to Alexis. “Come here, dear,” she said. Alexis scooted from the foot of the bed and sat next to her grandmother, snuggling up against the older woman’s warm body. Alexis breathed in her scent, and was immediately transformed back to the many times she had sat on the bed just like this as a little girl. Her grandmother used to read her stories every night, and they had traveled to so many far away fantasy worlds together from the comfort of a cozy bed.
    Alexis wanted to say something to defend James to her grandmother. She wanted to explain that he was a good man, and that love could transcend the boundaries between the natural and the supernatural. But Alexis forced herself to remain quiet. It wasn’t her place to speak. She had to respect the older woman and let her be the first to comment on the situation.
    After what felt like an eternity, her grandmother finally spoke.
    “I like him,” she said simply.
    Alexis sat up in surprise. “Really? Even though he’s a shifter?”
    There was another long pause as her grandmother seemed to consider her words carefully.
    “I know I’ve spent a lot of time in my life talking about how a human in a relationship with a shifter is a bad idea. But old age has a way of mellowing you and changing your views on things. I’ve realized that the most important thing in this life is love. Love can overcome any challenge, even the one of combining the life of a human with the life of a shifter. When I see the way you and James look at each other, I see the look of love. Who am I to stop love, whatever form it might come in? Enjoy him, Alexis. Take care of him, and let him take care of you.”
    Alexis felt a flood of tears threatening the back of her eyelids as a feeling of overwhelming joy rushed over her. “Really, Grams? You’re not mad at me? And you think it’s okay if I stay with him?”
    Grams looked kindly down at Alexis. “I’m not mad, sweetheart. Quite the opposite, in fact. I’m happy to see that you found someone who loves you before I’m gone. It gives me a lot of peace to know you’ll be taken care of. He’s the right one for you, Alexis. I can feel it in my bones. I’m sorry for making you feel like you had to hide him from me. All I want is your happiness.”
    Alexis leaned her head against Gram’s chest. “Thank you so much, Grams. I love you.”
    “I love you, too, darling,” Grams said.
    Those were the last words she ever spoke. After several minutes of silence, Grams breathing began to grow shallower and shallower, until eventually Alexis could hardly detect a trace of movement in her grandmother’s chest.
    “Grams?” Alexis asked cautiously as she sat up. There was no answer, and she gave her grandmother a little shrug. “Grams?” she asked, with more urgency this time. Again, no answer. Alexis put her finger under her grandmother’s nose, but there was no flow of air going in or out. With tears starting to spill down her cheeks, Alexis put her hands on her grandmother’s wrist, desperate to find a pulse. There was nothing. The old woman was gone.
    “Grams, no! Don’t leave me!” Alexis cried out, and flung herself at her grandmother’s lifeless form, wrapping her in a giant embrace. Despite the fact that Alexis had known this moment was coming, the pain still hit her with an unexpected force. Grams had been the last family she had left. She was all alone in the world now. Long, grief-stricken sobs escaped from Alexis’ throat as the tears came faster. She wasn’t sure how long she had been sobbing when she suddenly felt a strong pair of arms pulling her up off of the bed. James lifted her into his embrace and carried her like a baby out to the couch,