by Kelex
Chapter Five
Back in Bear Mountain…
Declan looked up at the brass statue, an ache coming to his chest. The artist—a fox shifter who’d moved to Bear Mountain during the fight with Zed—had done an incredible job. The likeness was amazing. Gregor stared down at him, looking almost as if he could walk off the pedestal any second.
“Uncanny, isn’t it?” Royce said at his side.
His brother’s deep baritone echoed some in the vast emptiness surrounding them. It sounded so much like Gregor’s but missed some of the rough growl their father had. He turned and smiled at Royce.
“It does really look like him. Damon did a great job.”
For now, the statue was housed in the public works warehouse, waiting for the day it would be installed. The works crew would be installing it the following day—covered with a tarp, of course—until the official unveiling.
They stood shoulder to shoulder, he and his brother, looking at their father’s image. Both silent. Declan could feel all the old angers and joys fighting within him.
He’d loved his father. Always would. But he’d learned so much about his father he wished he hadn’t over the years.
“This ceremony is going to be difficult,” Royce murmured. “I’m still not sure it’s the right move to make.”
“I don’t think it is, either, but it’s not as if I had another choice.”
“You always have another choice, Declan.”
He eyed his brother. How they’d gone from such polar opposites to being on the same side—for the most part—he still wasn’t quite sure. A decade working side by side had brought them infinitely closer. His brother was just that, a true brother. A man he could count on in every way. “You know the alternative could create another rift. This town has had enough chaos over the years. I’m just trying to keep the peace at this point.”
“This statue isn’t going to bring us peace. I think it might be just the opposite.”
Declan sensed his brother was right, but he was tired of fighting. Some still looked up to Gregor. They didn’t know about all the things he and Royce had learned about their father once Declan took over as alpha. Nor would they. Declan had done his damnedest to make things right and move forward. There was no point in pointing fingers and creating deeper wounds.
Royce turned to Declan. “What’s Gage saying about this behind closed doors?”
Declan’s omega wasn’t happy about the situation. “He’s not thrilled. But he also understands my position and the rock and the hard place to each side.”
Royce cocked a brow. “And it doesn’t hurt that it might tempt our baby brothers home, either.”
“They haven’t called me back yet, so that remains to be seen.” Declan had been sure the ceremony might get LJ and Kai home. It had been way too long. “The fact it took me so long to call them and tell them to come home…” Declan paused a moment, realizing he’d made a terrible mistake in how he’d handled family matters. “Apparently it was just too damned long.”
“It’s not as if we didn’t have our hands full these last years. Our own civil war, the werewolves… Project Zed… They were safer where they were.”
Declan nodded slightly. “They were. But I doubt they see it from our perspective. And why would they? I’m sure they feel rejected. It’s time we did something about it.”
“Someone needs to go to Chicago and drag their asses home.” Royce turned to face Declan. “And I think it should be you. Our alpha.”
Declan considered that idea. There were still a few more days before the ceremony. As long as Royce could oversee things during that time, he could fly out and see his brothers… and maybe convince them to come for that long overdue visit. “Maybe you’re right.” Declan sighed. “I should’ve gone before now. I just always assumed they’d eventually come home.”
“So did I. It was too easy to focus on the here and now. We’re both to blame for not being better big brothers,” Royce said.
“I’ll go,” Declan said. “Can you keep tabs on everything while I’m gone?” He eyed the statue one last time. “And make sure you oversee the installation. I don’t want anything to go wrong.”
“Of course, my alpha,” Royce murmured.
Declan eyed his brother before bowing slightly. “Thank you, Mr. Mayor.”
Royce’s lips hitched up on one side, trying to hide his smile.
Declan grabbed his cell from his pocket and brought up a call. Hanson, his new assistant, picked up the phone. “I need travel arrangements made to Chicago. Flying out ASAP.”
Hanson was quiet on the other end of the line, but Declan sensed the bear was jotting down his instructions.
“Are you there?” Declan asked. He wasn’t used to getting silence back.
“Yes, yes.”
Declan heard the rustling of papers and the quickening of Hanson’s breath.
“Relax. If you can’t find it in his notes, put in a call to Tyler if you have any questions. He’ll know what to do.” Declan had recently promoted Tyler. Tyler’s knowledge of bear law had made him incredibly valuable over the years. Declan had great plans for the bear shifter.
Still, he missed having someone like Tyler to make things run smoothly in his office.
“Yes, my alpha,” Hanson murmured. “Will do. You can count on me.”
Declan shook his head. Hanson had large shoes to fill. It was going to take a while before his new assistant grew competent in the role.
“I’m going home to pack. I expect a call within the hour with the details.”
“An hour?” Hanson’s breath caught. “Yes, yes, I’ll make it happen, sir.”
Declan hung up the phone, hoping he made it to Chicago in one piece.
“Good luck,” Royce said with a wide grin before he turned and walked away.
Declan gave Gregor one last look before he followed suit.
* * * *
A day later…
Kai felt a sucking pull when they drove their SUV across the bottom ridge entering the valley. His breath burned in his chest—and he hit the brakes—but as the vehicle came to a stop, it was outside whatever they’d just driven through.
He paused a moment, drawing in a few deep breaths. “I suppose that was the invisible wall they’ve got protecting the valley?”
“The one you didn’t believe in?” Lane asked.
“Well… I mean, come on,” Kai said. “The bear gods drop down to earth and make some dome over Bear Mountain? Sounds like some weird Stephen King novel. Or didn’t they have a show a few years back?”
“Yeah, but I don’t think those guys could get in or out, so…”
Kai glanced over his shoulder a second, seeing nothing. And then suddenly, there was a shimmer to the air and he thought he saw a bit of electricity sparking. My gods, it is there. Dumbfounded, he hit the gas and pushed the SUV up the incline. Shifting into a lower gear, they continued the climb, rising up the mountain pass. As they came to the crest and saw the valley below, Kai gasped.
He’d forgotten just how gorgeous the valley was. Nothing but trees spread out around the small village square, their verdant colors changed to golds, reds, and orange. Fall was in its full glory and the perfect time for a return home.
Home. It looks just as it did when we left.
Kai drove down the winding road once they’d started the downward path into the valley. They passed the old inn and restaurant his grandfather had built nestled near the base and on the way into town.
He drove through slowly, seeing nothing much had changed.
But then it had.
The clinic had expanded. There were some new businesses in the place others had been.
And the people. They were shifters, of course, but he saw faces he’d never seen before.
A lot of new faces.
Kai flicked on his blinker light and started to make a right turn toward Lane’s parents’ house, but slammed on the brakes when he saw the road was closed. There was a huge open-ai
r farmer’s market as far as the eye could see. Booths lined both sides, filled with fall flowers, fresh food, and the gods knew what else.
“Shit. I guess we go the long way,” Kai murmured.
Lane sighed. “Suppose so.”
Kai continued on ahead, mentally calculating the new trip and the best way there. He stared at all the unfamiliar faces as he drove out of the town center, feeling oddly out of place. Home… yet not home.
They drove toward the eastern road that skirted the base of the mountains. As they made their way closer, Kai saw something new—a tunnel built through the slate and rock. Once through it, a whole new Bear Mountain came into view. A glistening city blossomed where once was fields and forest. Sparkling skyscrapers rose toward the clouds, reflecting mountains and autumn leaves. Of course, they were nothing like streets of Chicago, but he could see a good dozen or so taller buildings with some smaller ones fit amongst them.
The valley was circled on all sides by a range of mountains, which kept their bear world well hidden. Since they’d been gone, bear shifter territory had supposedly picked up new lands just outside the mountains. A new city built outside the safety of those mountains didn’t seem like the wisest idea to him.
They have a dome to protect them now. Remember?
Kai drove in through the center of the city, craning to get a good look at everything. Finally, he stopped the car in front of one of the taller buildings—a hotel—and got out to look around. He moved to the sidewalk and took a few steps down so he could see better. There was a new city hall across a large open green space. A museum. A hospital. Restaurants. A movie theater. A scattering of new shops.
A whole new world.
And then it hit him.
It was laid out very much like the old village square—just on a grander scale.
Lane exited the SUV and walked his way. “I know Father said they’d built a lot. Still, it’s a lot more than I anticipated.”
“Doesn’t quite look like home anymore,” Kai said, his voice low.
Lane turned to look at him. “Things change. You know that.” He cast another look around the new city center. “We can come back and look around some more later,” Lane said. “I really want to see my papa.”
“Of course,” Kai said, shaking his head. “Sorry. I was just so shocked. I didn’t want to run into something.”
Shocked was an understatement.
Kai followed Lane back to the SUV. Just as they approached, a door to the hotel opened and an unkempt man came barreling out and ran smack into Lane, nearly knocking them both over.
Reaching out, Kai grabbed Lane’s arm.
Only he missed and grabbed the man’s.
Heat washed through his body, and a moan nearly bubbled from his lips. A scent filled his lungs and made his bear roar in his ears.
Mine!
Kai’s eyes widened at the word whispered through his mind.
He tugged on that arm, forcing the man to spin. Kai took a good look at him.
A shifter…
Kai’s stare searched over the overgrown beard and long hair, trying to get some idea what the man looked like underneath it all. When he landed on two bright, shining blue eyes peeking out amid the light brown hair with golden highlights, he saw the guy looked as if he felt as stunned as Kai did. Drawing in a scent, he wasn’t quite sure what kind of shifter he was looking at. There was lion… or was it bear? Or was it wolf?
Omega.
“Sorry,” the man said, backing away and looking scared. “I… I gotta go…”
“Wait,” Lane said, taking a step forward.
The man ignored them and raced away, but his scent remained. It washed over Kai again as the breeze sent more of it to his nose, mixed with the scent of autumn leaves.
Bear doesn’t lie with bear… bear lies with human.
Of course, he wasn’t sure if the man was bear or not. His scent had been so confusing, but bear… shifter. It was all interchangeable. There had been reasons why humans were needed into the mix. Shifter blood was too volatile.
Too much of it and their kind went feral.
Looks like he might already be a bit feral.
Of course, the old law had been changed, but it was still hardwired into who he was. This wasn’t the kind of mate he’d anticipated—some bedraggled guy who looked homeless.
Was he?
Was this man living off the streets of Bear Mountain, needing help?
His bear roared even louder, demanding he do something.
“We should go after him,” Lane murmured, looking off-balance.
“Your papa,” Kai spat, against his bear’s wishes. The need to follow the man clawed at his gut. But he fought it, forcing himself to hold back. “You wanted to see your papa. We should go.”
Lane frowned, the desire to see his papa at war with the innate animal craving coursing through both their veins.
Kai had always heard the need was strong, but there was no way he could’ve understood that strength. Not until now.
His bear wreaked havoc within his body and mind.
“Yeah. Papa,” Lane whispered before walking to the SUV’s passenger door.
Kai watched as Lane slid in. Before he went to the driver’s side, he caught a glimpse of the man in the distance, walking down the sidewalk. He took a left and disappeared—which only made his bear roar within.
Not a shifter. Anything but a shifter.
He was about to head toward the SUV when he heard his name called. Spinning, he saw Royce jogging his way. Kai was in no condition to see his brother, not without some sleep, some food, and a little time to chew on this new wrinkle.
“You came?” Royce said, a wide smile on his lips. “About damned time.”
Royce grabbed him for a bear hug… and Kai stiffened. Moments later, Royce gave him an odd look as he backed away.
“Are LJ and Chase here, too?”
“I called them on the way here,” Kai said. “They’re going to get a flight in on Thursday night. Should be here Friday morning.”
Royce smiled. “I’m real glad you’re here.” He looked up at the tall buildings surrounding them. “Things have changed a lot since you’ve been gone.”
“They sure have,” Kai murmured.
“Why don’t you let me show you around?” Royce said.
Kai saw Lane’s tense face behind the glass. “Rain check. We need to go see Lane’s family first thing.”
Royce frowned and turned toward Lane. “You haven’t been there yet?”
“No,” Kai answered. “His father called and told him to get home. And fast.” He glanced around, still searching for a sight of the shifter he knew he’d likely not find. “But I was so shocked by what I was seeing here, I couldn’t resist a quick stop to take it in the view for a moment.”
“The offer still stands later. I’d love to show you around.” Royce nodded. “Give Lane’s family my best. Please.”
“Will do,” Kai said.
Lane waved at Royce as Kai rounded the SUV.
“Maybe we can do dinner tonight?” Royce called out before he got in.
“Yeah, maybe. We should know more once we get to Lane’s parents. I’ll call you.”
Royce nodded, and Kai got into the vehicle and started the engine. Soon, they were back on the road. Silence filled the car.
Neither of them spoke about the shifter they’d just bumped into.
Or the fact their lives had just spun completely out of control.
* * * *
Just outside Chicago…
Declan pulled the tiny rented car up to the security gate at Benny’s address. He checked the paper with the address against what he’d put into his phone’s GPS and frowned. Apparently, Benny had done very well for himself. He pressed the keypad and watched seconds later as a security camera turned to face him.
“Can I help you?”
“I’m here to see my Uncle Benecio. Name’s Declan.”
“Hold.”
Decla
n tapped his fingers on the steering wheel as he waited for some kind of answer and to be let inside. He glanced through the bars of the gate and in the distance, he saw a huge house with marble columns nestled up on a slight hill.
“You’re good,” the voice said on the other end of the box and the gates began to open.
Once they were wide enough, he led the small car up the tree-lined paved drive. Before he could get out of the car, he saw his uncle standing at the top of the stairs, a smile beaming on his face.
How he knew it was his uncle was easy. The man looked like a slightly smaller version of Gregor.
Declan unfolded himself out of the too-small car, feeling stupid. His new assistant would get an earful when he got home. As he crested the stairs, his uncle gave him the once over.
“Declan,” he said, breathless.
“Hi there, Uncle Benecio.”
“Benny. Uncle Benny, if you want.” Benny’s lips spread wider. “My gods, you look like Gregor.”
Declan winced. He didn’t think he looked a thing like his father. He only saw his papa when he looked in the mirror. “Nah, that’s Royce. He looks just like Father.”
Benny shook his head. “No… no, you’re the splitting image. And now the alpha, too. You’re continuing the family legacy, young man.”
Declan didn’t know how comfortable he was with the comparison. He loved his father, but after being disappointed time and again with the things his father had let slide… he wanted to distance himself as much as possible from his father’s legacy. He was building his own.
“I’m being rude,” Benny said, backing away slightly and turning toward the house. “Come in. Come in.”
Declan followed Benny a few more steps and into a stately entryway, with its marble floors, curving staircase, and glistening chandelier. The house smelled of flowers and musk, and the house definitely had a woman’s touch everywhere he peeked.
“I think the last time I saw you, you might’ve been about four,” Benny said. “It’s been way too long, nephew.”