by Anderson, JJ
Ronan tugged Ruari along, pumping his legs as fast as he could, trying to make it to the trees before they got shot. Another blast sounded close by, and for a second, he worried one of them had been hit. They hadn’t.
Once in the trees, he paused to let Ruari catch his breath. His brother looked weak, maybe dehydrated too. A noise sounded behind him, and he looked up. A huge guy stood there with a gun.
“Shit,” Ronan yelled and pulled Ruari with him, escaping deeper into the forest, stepping over twisted roots, and mangled branches that had fallen in the path. The forest was quiet like the animals knew to hide.
He didn’t stop moving until Ruari tripped and almost fell.
“We need to stop for a while,” Ruari panted. “I need water.”
Fear made him want to keep moving, but his brother wasn’t well. He found a log where Ruari could sit and rest.
“Let me go look and see if I can find a stream.”
“Wait,” Ruari called out.
Ronan paused then moved to sit next to his brother, worry cascading over him like water from a waterfall. He’d put them at risk. He could have taken more beatings, but he couldn’t take his brother dying.
“I’m afraid,” Ruari whispered.
“I am too. But we have to keep moving. Dad will kill us both.”
“Oh God, Ronan,” Ruari wailed. “What can we do?”
“I don’t know.” The one man he should be able to trust had betrayed him. “We need to keep moving. I know you need to rest, but only for a moment. We have to move on. We can’t stay here for long. They’ll find us, and when they do, we’ll both be dead.”
Or worse. He didn’t say the last bit out loud. Ruari knew about the beatings he’d suffered, and now Ruari had the broken arm and bruises to show he’d experienced it first-hand. Ruari knew it could be so much worse.
Chapter Twelve
David watched as Ruari and Ronan escaped to safety. God, he hated lying to Ronan, but his reaction had to be believable. It had distracted his father long enough for the two of them to escape.
The men David had begged to come help hadn’t disappointed him. They were FBI, and he was only an old ex Canadian cop, but his proof and pleading had been enough to gain their attention.
He wanted to go after Ronan, but he had to stay and clean up this mess. He’d track his beautiful scent later, once Richard Marks was in jail.
It took them three hours to sort out the mess at the station. Ronan’s dad was powerful, and David feared he would be out way too soon. David hated leaving Ronan in the wind for hours, but shortcuts would only cause problems. The sun was starting to set by the time he headed out. He parked close to where Ronan had taken off and partially shifted, just enough to get a good scent on Ronan.
The trail was thick for the first few miles, then Ronan found a stream and used the water to his advantage. David was forced to shift. Luckily, he’d grabbed his backpack before taking off. It looked ridiculous for a bear to be carrying a pack, but he didn’t want to have this conversation with Ronan while naked. If he happened to get a little excited at the sight of his beautiful omega, he might end up offending Ronan, which was the last thing he wanted.
After midnight, the scent of Ronan grew thick again. His nose twitched with the promise of Ronan being in his arms. It would take a lot to convince Ronan he wasn’t a total bastard.
The scent of the campfire hit first, then a waft of Ronan’s scent was right there, overpowering David’s senses. David sighed as happiness filled him. He’d found Ronan, now it was time to talk fast.
David circled around and shifted into his human form. The cold wind bit at his skin as he tugged his clothes out from the pack. It took him a minute to dress, probably enough time for Ronan to scent him out. David wasn’t trying to be quiet. There wasn’t anywhere for the pair to run, not with him so close.
He stepped into the clearing and found Ronan standing up, his teeth bared, ready for a fight. David lifted his hands and held them palm out so Ronan could see he meant no harm.
“Can we talk?” David asked.
“You tricked me. You handed me over to my father.”
David lifted his eyebrows. “You’re free, aren’t you.”
“Only because we got free,” Ronan yelled.
He took a step closer. A feral growl rumbled to his left. Ruari was there, waiting to attack in his human form. David glanced over, taking stock of the small shifter. Ruari’s teeth flashed as the light from the campfire bounced around them.
“I had to trick him so both you and Ruari would be free.” He wanted Ronan to understand, but he feared he had a long way to go.
“He’s lying.” A deep voice interrupted them.
David turned, shock filling him. Ronan’s dad stood in the clearing, gun drawn.
“You were in jail,” David growled as his muscles tightened. This complicated everything.
“Were is the keyword. Having friends in low and high places is key to running a successful operation. Now, it’s time to clean up this mess.”
“You were working with him the whole time,” Ronan cried out.
“No. I’d never work with a scumbag like him.” Panic filled David. This was going to go south fast. Someone had let David’s dad go and it pissed him off. How had this happened?
“How did you find us?” Ronan asked as he moved closer to Ruari.
“I knew you two dogs would try something like this again, so I chipped Ruari while you were gone.”
Ruari reached up and grabbed his neck. “That bug bite? That was you. You chipped me?”
Richard Marks chuckled. “Of course, you’re no better than a mutt. Since you ran, I’ve decided you aren’t worth the aggravation.”
He had to act. He couldn’t allow Marks to kill his children.
David lunged for Richard and his gun. Horror washed over him as Ronan’s dad turned and fired. The flash of the gun made him flinch. The scent of powder was too close. The slice of pain to bright. Agony seared him, taking his breath. He rolled with the pain, falling to darkness as his head slammed against the dirt.
Waves of nausea hit first, then a voice cut through the fog. It was Ronan. They weren’t lost to him, yet.
David opened his eyes. Ruari was on all fours, his eyes closed, his face a mask of pain. His breathing labored.
“No, don’t kill him,” Ronan yelled.
The voice seemed far away, or maybe it was the pain still circling his head that made everything far off. David tried to move, but his body wasn’t obeying. He needed help, but Ronan’s dad wouldn’t allow him any. The man probably believed him dead.
David looked up and met Ruari’s gaze. A spark of fear shown first, then David mouthed one word, “Please.”
It took Ruari a few seconds to give a light nod. Maybe Ronan didn’t believe him. It didn’t really matter. All David wanted was to save the pair of brothers. If he couldn’t have Ronan as a lover, at least he’d know the sweet omega was safe.
David lifted three fingers and made sure Ruari acknowledged them before he lowered his hand. Then he lifted one finger as he prepared to shift. The bullet would slow him down. He raised a second finger, noticing the sluggishness in his shifting energy. He wasn’t entirely out of the running, but if he’d stayed unconscious any longer, he’d never shift.
When he lifted his third finger, he pushed up and saw Ruari lunging low for his father, distracting him.
David hit Richard high with a broad swipe, his bear nails still growing as he swung. The cry from Ronan’s father sent shivers down his spine. Blood ran from the wound, coating the man’s hand and shirt.
Ronan rushed over, his eyes wide. He knelt next to his brother, his hand on Ruari’s back.
“Help me,” Richard begged.
Ronan jumped up, and David feared what he would do. Then Ronan bent and retrieved the handgun Richard had held.
“You don’t deserve our help. You don’t deserve anyone’s help ever again. You killed Mom, didn’t you.”
Ruari sat up and reached for his brother, grabbing his free hand.
“I didn’t kill her. She committed suicide.” Richard held up his hands and clasped them in front of his chest, begging Ronan for mercy though he’d obviously showed none to his son.
“No, you’re lying,” Ronan yelled.
Ruari moved closer to Ronan and placed his hand on his brother’s shoulder, and his voice was low enough a mere human couldn’t hear, but David’s bear ears picked up the words. “It doesn’t matter, Ronan.”
“It does. He killed our mother,” Ronan yelled. “And now I’m going to kill him.”
David lunged, his paw aimed for Richard Marks’ neck. He dug his nails in, ripping flesh. The deed was done. Richard was gone. Ronan didn’t move for a second then he screamed with rage.
David shifted, the energy needed to change back to his human form sapping him. Ronan was there, his gaze narrowed as he stared at him. Confusion darkened his gaze. David felt the fear and anger combining inside Ronan. Ruari stood next to Ronan, his gaze on his brother.
The air in David’s lungs burned, but shifting had dislodged the bullet, letting it drop to the forest floor. He was hurting and bleeding, but the wound wasn’t life-threatening any longer
“You should have let me kill him,” Ronan said.
David sat up, his head swimming from the effort of shifting after being shot. “I didn’t want you to have a murder conviction.”
Ronan blew out a breath. His eyes were cold, his lips set in a straight line. Then Ruari pulled Ronan into a hug, and Ronan’s expression changed. They were a beautiful pair. Maybe they could find happiness with their father gone. David feared he wouldn’t be a part of that happiness for Ronan.
“Ronan,” David met his gaze again. “He’s dead.”
Ronan glanced at his father, his lips curling up with anger. “He is. The bastard is finally gone.”
“Are we safe?” Ruari’s question hung in the stillness.
They were safe for the next twenty minutes, maybe more. They might be safe, or they could be killed walking out of here.
David grabbed his torn clothes, trying to assemble something he could wear. “Let’s head back to the station.”
“Your clothes.” Ronan glanced up, his gaze meeting David’s. A visible shiver skated through him.
“I have a change in the car.”
“Isn’t that convenient,” Ronan sneered.
“I swear, I’m not working with him.”
“You handed me over to him.”
“I drew him out and made him think I handed you over. I didn’t really, and you were set free.”
Ronan’s shoulders stayed stiff as they gathered everything except their father and made their way back to the path that would lead to his truck. Someone would find their father, or they wouldn’t. Maybe he’d tell the FBI where the man was located. He had a vague idea where they were, and the vultures would lead cops to him.
For now, he only needed to worry about Ronan and his brother. There was a small spark of hope Ronan wouldn’t toss him out, and he held onto it, not letting it go as they headed back to the city.
They arrived in town close to sunup. The weather had stayed cool, and a thin fog had begun to settle over the trees. Ronan hadn’t said more than a few words to him. This would be tough.
On the long hike back to his car, he’d washed away Richard Marks’ blood before he changed clothes. Now, he looked almost normal. If the cops checked him out too carefully, they might find the bullet wound, but he wasn’t going to allow anyone to get that close.
They were given food and coffee at the station, but still, all three of them fell asleep waiting to be interviewed. Most of the day was taken with interviews. They’d agreed to not go into detail. Their story was they’d run away from Richard, and they weren’t sure where he was. They’d thought an animal might have attacked based on the screams, but they were trying to get back to the truck and safety. They feared being shot with Richard’s gun which David had placed next to Richard’s hand before they left the clearing. He’d also picked up the slug that had fallen from his body as he’d shifted, leaving no evidence behind.
David thanked his lucky stars the FBI was still around. If they’d taken off, the local cops might have railroaded them into jail for suspicion of murder. Marks really did own the police in this town.
Ronan and Ruari were taken into protective custody by the Feds. The local police wanted to have control over Ruari and Ronan, but David had begged his FBI contact to be the ones in charge.
Once they were safe, David headed home. He wanted to talk to Ronan again, but the FBI wouldn’t allow him close. He waited for any news, but nothing came. One week passed, then another. He tried reaching out to Ronan, but there was no reply.
Almost two months had come and gone with no word from Ronan. Sadness clung to him, but at least Ronan was safe from his father. Maybe he was happily living his life in another town with his brother. He had to hold on to something good or he’d lose it.
David headed out to hunt, going much farther than he had in the last few weeks. His body had healed well with only a small mark showing where he’d been shot, but his heart would never recover. Ronan had become a part of him in the little time they’d spent together.
He sat next to the bank of a creek and watched the sunrise. It was a beautiful day. Possibly cold if he were in his human form, but as a bear, this was perfect.
The snap of a stick cracking caught his attention. He started a long sniff but almost choked on the scent. Happiness filled him, and he turned, looking for Ronan.
Two small wolves glanced out from behind a tree. He chuffed then began his transformation, shifting to human. Ronan and Ruari changed from the little wolves they were into nearly matching humans.
Hope filled him, and he prayed he wasn’t reading too much into them being here. He took a step and paused when Ronan held up his hand.
“We need to talk.” Ronan’s voice was as serious as the look in his eyes.
David understood their relationship had been built on the thin thread of fear and danger mixed in with trust. He’d broken that trust by bringing Ronan more fear and danger, but David knew the bones of what they had were solid.
“Anything you want,” David said.
Ronan stepped closer, and the sun hit Ronan’s body as it rose a little higher. What had once been a totally flat stomach was a bit rounded. Awareness filled David, and he gasped, His gaze shot to Ronan’s face and found the answer to the unasked question.
“Will you be mine forever,” David said. “I swear I’ll always cherish you.”
Ronan chuckled. “Ruari said you say that.”
David closed the distance and put one hand on Ronan’s belly, the other hand was used to cup his cheek.
“I swear by all that I am, I’ll never leave you or hurt you. This won’t be like your father’s house. Our children will be loved.”
Ronan stared up at him, his gaze judging. David didn’t blame him. He’d messed up, but he’d needed to take Richard Marks down, and he didn’t think any other way would work.
“What about Ruari?” Ronan asked.
“He can stay with us if he wants.”
Ruari held up his hand and shook his head. “I want to be an artist. There’s a class I want to take in Arizona.”
David nodded. “We can find a way for it to happen.”
Ruari’s smile stretched wide. “See, I told you he wouldn’t try to force me to stay here.”
David held out his hand to Ronan. “I know you don’t have anything to judge my actions against. I get how you’re afraid of authority because of your dad, but Ronan, I’m not him.”
Ronan lifted his eyes, and the impact of his gaze hit David hard. This young omega wasn’t anyone to be trifled with. He was powerful in his own right. David had little doubt Ronan could raise their pup on his own and would do an excellent job without any help. But David wasn’t going to let him do it alone. He’d at least provide s
upport, and if he was luckier than he deserved, he would have Ronan by his side.
“I’m afraid for our child. You say you’ll be different, but will you really?”
David dropped to his knees as he held Ronan’s hands. “Yes, with everything I am. I’ll not only keep you safe, but I’ll respect your desires. I am your partner to make life better, not your overlord to tell you what to do. We are in this together.”
Ruari moved to stand close to Ronan, still hiding his naked body behind his brothers. “See, I told you he wasn’t a jerk.”
Ronan’s lips twisted up in a smirk. “The doctor said it was two.”
David’s stomach jumped, and tears burned the back of his eyes. “That’s perfect.”
“So you really are ready for this.”
David nodded, happiness filling him. “Yes.”
“I’ll be with you all the time.”
“I’m a bear, not a beast,” David said. “I’ll welcome your company and love having you in my house, in my bed.”
Ronan’s cheeks turned pink, and his eyes dipped as he sucked in a breath. Ruari chuckled beside him.
“How about we head to my place. I have something you can wear. Ruari, we’ll look into those classes for you.”
Ruari beamed. “Thank you.”
Ronan put his hand on David’s shoulder, stopping him from moving. “If at any point you’re not ready for this, for a family, you’ll let me go.”
David brushed his lips over Ronan’s and sighed. “Yes, my love. I’ll never hold you against your will, but I will spend every day making sure you know how much I care for you.”
“I care about you too,” Ronan said.
“I know. I can see it in your eyes.”
He tugged Ronan into his arms and held on tight. This was what he’d longed for. He had a mate who loved him. Their pups would be beautiful. If they were wolves, he would be proud, and if they were bears, he would teach them to hunt like he did. They would be happy together, no question.
Chapter Thirteen
Ronan stepped into David’s house, his eyes taking it all in. He’d escaped his father’s hold and was free. He’d been happy here, even if it had only been a little while. This was his home now.