by Kelex
“I don’t need a babysitter,” Turi spat. He wasn’t sure why he felt anger at some of his appointments, or why he directed it at the doc. Banyon was only trying to help him.
But Turi was beyond help.
“Fine. You don’t need a babysitter. But where will you go this week, Turi?”
“I don’t know that I want to go anywhere.”
“You’re part animal. Nature is a part of you. The outdoors isn’t calling you? You’ve had that denied you for far too long.”
“And what if I let the animals run free and I lose me?” Turi asked. As soon as the words were out of his mouth, he realized he’d said too much.
The doctor eyed him a moment. “Is that why you’re afraid?
Turi turned away again, looking down at the street. He was ready to go—to get the hell out of there.
“The serum is working,” the doctor said. “You’ve been on it for three months now… you’ve seen and heard the others who are moving into a new life here in Bear Mountain, still controlling the beasts within. Give it a chance. Can you do that?”
Turi shrugged. “I don’t know. Maybe. “
“So what’s your plan?”
Turi hated feeling forced into anything. He spouted an answer, doubting he’d actually do it. “That hike up the mountain maybe.” It sounded like the lesser of all the evils. “But I don’t know if I’m going to shift.”
“You don’t have to shift until you’re ready. Just being outdoors is a great first step.” Doc smiled. “Fresh air. Sunshine. Some exercise. It might be exactly what you need right now. I’ll just ask one favor.”
“What’s that?”
“Stop in at the old inn and let someone know you’re up on the trails before your hike and then check in when you leave. Just in case.”
Turi frowned. “Just in case of what?”
Doc Banyon shrugged, an odd look on his face. “If you’re alone—you never know what might happen. You don’t know the trails. Some are a little dangerous, especially on the south face of the mountain. Checking in would just be a safety measure.”
You don’t want me flinging myself off the mountaintop. “Fine.”
It hit him in that moment that the thought of flinging himself off the mountaintop didn’t seem so enticing anymore. The idea of offing himself had slithered into his mind a time or two as he gazed out his hotel room window and saw the great heights beyond. To just let go of all the pain… the torment… to be truly free.
Now, it didn’t beckon as it once did.
Two faces came to mind, and he realized the instinct to survive had kicked in.
The instinct to hand himself over.
Two bears?
He shook his head. One mate was hard enough, but two?
Just like…
Turi caught himself before he let the memories slide into his mind.
Doc glanced at his watch. “Before I forget to tell you, I’ve had to adjust my schedule at the hospital temporarily… I’ll need to make your appointment for later in the day for the next few weeks. Will three be okay for your next visit?”
“Yeah,” Turi muttered. He could sleep in a little more before the next few sessions. As if I need more sleep.
“We’ve got a couple more minutes. Anything else you want to talk about before we wrap up?”
“Nope,” Turi murmured. He was more than ready to go dive back into bed and binge watch something else before he nodded off.
Doc rose and moved toward the door. “It’s a great day for that hike. You’ve got plenty of day left.”
“Maybe tomorrow.” Maybe never.
“Tomorrow then. I’ll see you next week, and you can tell me all about it.” Doc opened the door to his inner office, showing another monster in the waiting room.
“Later, Doc.” Turi waved as he left the outer office door and headed for the elevator. Once he’d made his way down and outside the building, he stood on the sidewalk, scouting the street around him. A few shifters walked this way and that… but he realized he was searching for particular faces.
Faces he didn’t see.
He had no names. No idea who they were.
Or if he’d even ever see them again.
Maybe I should go looking around for them.
That thought made him pause. The safety and security of his hotel room beckoned, but for once, something else had him willing to forego a few minutes of quality alone time with his bed and TV.
After another scan of the street and the unfamiliar faces, he took a left instead of a right and took the long way back to his hotel.
Chapter Seven
Lane opened the big, carved oak door on their family’s cabin. “Knock, knock.”
No one answered. He shuffled in, pulling his suitcase behind him and glanced around. Not much had changed in his childhood home, but it still felt different.
Perhaps because it wasn’t his home anymore.
“Hello?” he called out again.
“Lane?” came a voice from deep within the house.
Lane heard footsteps before his father came from the kitchen.
His arms opened wide as he walked, a smile on his exhausted looking face. “I didn’t know you were coming!”
He stood his suitcase on one end before Lane grabbed his father in a massive hug, already feeling better. “I spoke to Dad a couple of days ago. He insisted we come home.”
“Insisted?” his father stiffened. “He told you.”
It wasn’t a question but a statement.
“He did. You both should have long before now.”
His father shook his head. “It was your papa. He demanded we wait. I think he thought he was stronger than the disease… and you’d never have to see him the way he is now.”
Lane frowned. Just how bad is it? “Is dad here?”
Father stepped back and frowned some. “We’ve been ships in the night as of late. He works days, and I’ve been putting in late nights. But you’d think he would’ve told me you’d finally managed to drag yourself away from that brother bear of yours.”
Just then, Kai came walking in, pulling one suitcase and carrying another.
His father cast a look in Kai’s direction, and the air cooled a good ten degrees. “Kai.”
“Terrance,” Kai murmured, offering a nod.
Lane sighed inwardly. He didn’t know what his father had against his brother bear. But he wasn’t in the mood to figure it out then and there. “Where’s Papa?”
“He’s resting in the sunroom after a late breakfast. Go see him. It’ll do him well.”
Lane took a deep breath before heading through the kitchen and on into the sunroom at the back of the cabin. Once he reached the entrance, he saw his papa all wrapped up in blankets, staring out over the valley.
The man looked pale.
And weak.
Lane felt tears stinging the backs of his eyes. He took a moment to fight the emotion, willing himself to be strong before he woke the man. Finally, once he got control, he spoke.
“Papa?”
His papa’s head slowly turned, and bright brown eyes flecked in gold met his. Eyes just like his own. A soft smile graced his papa’s once handsome face. Now there were sharp lines and gauntness Lane had never seen before.
His papa looked skeletal.
“Lane?” He moved to stand, but Lane moved closer to prevent it. Papa’s arms went up, demanding a hug.
No demand was necessary. Lane clutched his papa gently, afraid of hurting him. He shut his eyes, and drew in the man’s scent—the same musky deodorant and aftershave he’d always worn.
“What are you doing here?”
Lane sat down on the ottoman his papa’s feet rested on. Knees on elbows, he gave a smile. “Dad called. Said I needed to come home.”
“I told Ivan not to tell you and get you all worked up,” Papa said. “Not yet. The battle’s just begun.”
“Oh?”
Papa nodded. “The doctors at the clinic have started me on a
new drug therapy just a couple of days ago. And to be honest, I think I feel a little stronger. I have high hopes.”
Lane stared at how emaciated his papa looked. He wasn’t convinced things were good.
“Honestly, he has perked up a little since I called you,” his father said from the doorway.
“What’s this therapy?” Lane asked.
“Apparently, the human soldiers in Zed were using a drug they’d made to give them strength and slow aging. They think it could slow the progress of his cancer and give them more time to battle it,” Father answered.
“An untested drug therapy?” Lane asked, an eyebrow rising.
“The alternative wasn’t something I was willing to face,” his papa said. “It’s going to give me the chance I need. I have a whole lot more living I want to do.”
“They said that there were several humans on this drug for decades… and there were no ill side effects they could gauge from testing. All of the men using it looked years younger and had above average human strength. If anything good can come of that vile program…” His father shook his head. “I don’t even want to imagine what those shifters endured. What little I’ve heard, it was horrific.”
Lane took his papa’s hand. “If you’re confident and it’s giving you strength, I hope it works for you.”
Father spoke up. “It’s nearly his nap time.”
“They’re treating me like I’m made of glass,” Papa said. “I’m not.”
“We just want to make sure you rest enough,” Father said. “You need all the strength you can get to let this miracle drug do its thing.”
“My son just came home. You can give me a few more minutes,” Papa demanded.
“Fine. A few more minutes.” His father moved away from the doorframe and went back to the kitchen. Through the opening, Lane could see his father talking with Kai at the old, battered island.
Lane turned back to his papa and took the man’s hand. He stared down at it, smaller than his own now. He’d grown a good four inches since he’d left Bear Mountain at seventeen.
“I’m glad you’re home,” Papa murmured with a smile.
Lane smiled back. “Me, too. It’s been too long.”
“How are you and Kai doing?”
“As good as can be expected.” Lane sat up a little. “I’d much rather talk about this fight you’ve got on your hands.”
His papa shook his head. “No. I don’t want to think about it today. If I hear the word cancer one more time I might scream. Take my mind off of it.” Papa smiled. “What’s new in your world?”
Lane grinned, knowing there was one thing that would absolutely take his papa’s mind off cancer. But he wasn’t even quite sure himself what had happened.
“Something’s making you smile,” Papa said. “Tell me.”
Lane met his papa’s stare. “Well… we met a man.”
His papa’s smile grew. “Oh really?”
“I think he might… possibly… be our mate.”
Papa sat up straighter. “Your mate?”
“Shhhh,” Lane whispered, glancing over his shoulder a moment. He was glad to see neither his father nor Kai heard anything.
“Who is he?” Papa whispered back.
“It was a split-second meeting. I don’t have a name, nothing. We’ll need to find him… so we can figure out who he is and if he’s truly our anything.”
Papa’s face fell a little. “In Chicago?”
“Actually no. Here in Bear Mountain.”
Papa’s smile returned, even brighter than before. “Hallelujah.”
* * * *
Kai took a drink from the mug of coffee Terrance had set before him. The man was being quiet. Too quiet. Kai sensed there was something on the man’s mind. “I’m sure you’re glad to have Lane home for a visit.”
Terrance eyed him. “One that should’ve come a long, long time ago had you let him.”
Kai frowned. “If he wanted to come home, he could have.”
“He loves you. And doesn’t like leaving your side,” Terrance said. “How could you not see that?”
He loves you. Brother bears weren’t supposed to be lovers… what did Terrance know?
He sat back on the stool contemplating what Terrance had just said. Had he really prevented Lane from coming home? “He never asked to go alone.”
But then I never suggested it, either.
Kai turned to look through the entrance to the sunroom and saw Lane and his papa hand in hand. The bittersweet smile on Lane’s face nearly took his breath away.
“I know full well he suggested trips home. He’s told me so.”
“He did, but I said I didn’t want to go. I never said he couldn’t.” Kai put his cup down. “Maybe I should’ve suggested he did.” He looked out at his brother bear again. “But he’s man enough to stand up to me any other time. Had he wanted to come home, he would have.”
“When I think of all you’ve kept from him over the last ten years, it kills me.”
Lane turned and met his stare. A frown came over his brother bear’s face. After rising, Lane came into the kitchen. “All well in here?”
“Perfectly fine,” Terrance muttered before heading into the sunroom with a cup of tea for Marshall.
Once they were somewhat alone, Lane moved closer. “Something wrong?”
“Why didn’t you ever come home without me?”
Lane’s frown grew deeper. “I don’t know… it just didn’t feel right to come without you.”
“You could’ve, you know? I wouldn’t have stopped you.”
“I know that,” Lane answered. “Why the questions?”
“I kept you from seeing your family.”
Lane chuckled. “No, you didn’t.”
Shame suddenly ate at Kai, but he said nothing.
Lane glanced into the sunroom a moment before turning back. “You sound like my father. Did he throw that guilt trip on you?”
Kai didn’t say a word. He didn’t want to get Terrance into trouble. “No.”
“He did.”
Lane turned as Terrance came back into the kitchen. “I could’ve come back anytime I wanted. Life got in the way. We had classes… then it was work… Benny kept us busy.”
Terrance glared at Kai before turning to Lane. “And had he said yes on occasion, you would’ve had more time with your papa.”
“We’re here now. And Papa’s going to fight this… and win.”
Terrance forced a smile. “Yes. He is. Because he has me and your dad on his side.”
Kai saw a look of sorrow cross Lane’s face, and he hated Terrance for putting it there.
Lane was silent a few moments as Terrance moved about the kitchen. Kai wasn’t looking forward to being stuck amid their little tug-of-war while they visited. It was like they were teenagers all over again.
“Are you really sure this drug he’s on is safe?” Lane asked.
“Your papa was dying,” Terrance said. “Before our very eyes. It was either the experimental drug or losing him. He decided to fight with whatever he had available—and we will support him, whatever his choices.”
Lane nodded. “I just wish you’d told me sooner.”
“It was your papa’s call.”
“I think this is one time you could’ve crossed the line. He needs me right now.”
“He needed you while you were in Chicago, but you weren’t here, were you?” Terrance blasted. His stare swung to Kai’s. “Because of him.”
“You want to put the blame on my shoulders, go for it,” Kai said. “But you leave Lane out of it.”
“He could’ve come home,” Terrance spat.
“Stop!” Lane cried. “We don’t need this stress in the house right now.”
Kai turned to see Lane’s papa was thankfully still asleep. When he turned back, he saw a shine to Terrance’s eyes.
“I’m sorry. I just don’t want to lose him. I can’t.”
Lane touched his father’s arm. “He’s going to ge
t better.”
Terrance smiled wryly before sitting on one of the stools. “I wasn’t lying. He really does seem to have a little more steam. One treatment so far. Just one, and it’s made a world of change.”
“It was that bad?” Lane asked.
“It just hit so fast.” Terrance wiped at his eye and smiled, this one looking a little more genuine. “He goes back Monday for the second treatment. We’re hoping he’ll improve even more. For the first time in weeks, we have some hope again.”
“Good,” Lane said before turning to look at his papa again. “We hold on to that.”
Terrance sighed. “I saw your bags… and I know you assume you’ll stay here, but I have to ask a favor.”
“What?” Lane asked.
Terrance eyed Kai a moment before turning to Lane. “I don’t want any stress on your papa. He needs to stick to his routine and needs as much rest as possible.”
“You don’t want us to stay here?” Lane asked. “In my own home.”
“This hasn’t been your home in some time,” Terrance said and Kai wanted to punch the bastard. “You chose your home a long time ago, and it wasn’t here.”
All the color drained from Lane’s face—and if it wasn’t for the sleeping human in the next room, Kai would’ve made good on that punch.
Terrance shook his head. “I’m sorry. I just want to focus on his health, not entertaining guests. I’ll pay for the hotel room myself.”
“Don’t bother,” Kai said before he rose. “We’ll be just fine.”
Lane was silent, staring at his father a moment before he spoke. “I know you’re angry I wasn’t here, but remember you were also the ones who thought sending me away was a good idea.”
“Not for forever,” Terrance said, before pointing at Kai. “That was his choice.”
“And mine,” Lane said. “We didn’t get the all clear to come home for years. Years. In that time, we built a new life for ourselves, one we weren’t ready to turn our backs on. Sure, maybe we should’ve come home to visit more often, but enough with the guilt trips.”