Diesel (BBW Paranormal Shapeshifter Romance) (The Grizzly Brothers Book 1) by Terra Wolf

leave.”
    Diesel’s head came up, his eyes taking in the face that mirrored his own.
    “Never put your hands on her again.”
    “I won’t, bro, promise,” Blaze said, raising his hands up to cement his words.
    “Is she okay?” Reagan asked from behind Hunter.
    Diesel wasn’t sure if his brother was shielding her from him, or trying to block out his nakedness, but he couldn’t care. All he cared about was getting his mate inside and making sure she was comfortable and safe.
    Much like the day they’d met, Diesel lifted her lax body into his arms and carried her into his cabin. Once she was back in his bed, he turned to put some pants on, then went out to confront their siblings.
    “What are you all doing here?” he asked the trio who were waiting in his living room.
    “We’ve been stopping in every day to see if you’d come back,” Hunter explained. “We were worried when we came by the other day and found your keys in your truck.”
    “Sadie and I had come by to see if you were back because she wanted to talk to you,” Reagan put in, then asked, “Is she still out?”
    Diesel nodded, then said, “I appreciate you all being worried about me, but Sadie and I need to be alone to talk. So… leave.”
    Hunter and Blaze grinned at each other, then started for the door, while Reagan complained, “ But …”
    “Reagan,” Diesel began, trying his best to keep calm. “I know she’s your sister and you’re just looking out for her. But she’s my mate, and we need to get things settled. I promise, if she wants to leave, I’ll bring her back to you.”
    Reagan nodded slowly, gave one last look toward the room he’d left Sadie in, then followed his brothers out the door.
    Diesel checked on Sadie, then went to his kitchen to make coffee and prepare some food. He remembered that last time she’d slept for a while, she’d woken up hungry, and since he’d been gone for so long and stayed in his bear form for days, he was ravenous himself.
    He’d just put the finishing touches on the fresh fish his brothers had left in his refrigerator, and a berry spinach salad, when he heard a sound coming from the doorway.
    Diesel turned his head to see Sadie standing there, watching him, her eyes wide.
    “Hey,” she said softly, as she tucked a piece of hair behind her ear.
    “Hi,” he replied, wanting to go to her, but not sure if he should. “You hungry?”
    Sadie nodded and padded into the room.
    Diesel gestured for her to sit, then filled two plates and took them to the table.
    They sat in silence while they ate. Diesel tried to think of the best thing to say, the best way to start their conversation back up, but after Sadie’s reaction the last few times they’d been together, he was worried about getting it wrong again.
    “Are you, uh, okay?” Sadie asked, breaking the silence first.
    “Sure, why wouldn’t I be?” Diesel asked, confused.
    “Well, I know you took off after the last time we talked, and I know you were upset.” Sadie brought her big blue eyes up to look at his face and said, “I guess you’ve been telling the truth this whole time. I’m sorry I didn’t believe you.”
    “It’s a lot to take on faith,” Diesel assured her. “I’ve been around enough humans to know that most of you have been shielded from our part in this world. I don’t blame you for being skeptical, but I do wish you’d given me the opportunity to show you that I was telling the truth.”
    Sadie dipped her head sadly and repeated, “I’m sorry.”
    “That’s okay, you’re here now,” he said with a grin.
    “Can you tell me all of it?” she asked. “What you’re hoping for, what you expect from me, what I should expect from you?”
    Diesel put down his fork and clasped his hands on the table.
    “Our parents were both bear shifters, and although they mated, were never actual mates. My father never claimed my mother. In fact, he left shortly after he impregnated her, and was never heard from again.