by Gale Stanley
Ally stepped aside, her eyes wide. Her partner scowled and turned to Luke. “Who the hell are you?”
Ally answered before Luke could open his mouth. “This jerk is my ex-boyfriend, Luke. Emphasis on the jerk.”
Jerk? Why the fuck did I get involved? But it was too late now, and Luke didn’t appreciate being made a fool of.
The stranger chuckled. “Okay, I get it. We’re just having a good time, Luke.” He held out a hand. “I’m Sam Harper, by the way.”
Sam-fucking-Harper had a big shit-eating grin on his face that made Luke see red. He ignored the hand and gave Sam a pointed stare. “Keep your hands to yourself.”
Sam dropped his hand and stopped smiling. “Grow up, buddy. Jealousy is a sign of insecurity.”
The cocky asshole went too far. Luke shoved Ally out of the way and landed a right hook on Sam’s chin. The big guy took the punch like he had a steel jaw. “Is that the best you got? Humans have given me harder love taps.”
A haze of anger settled over Luke. He felt as if his heart was going to beat out of his chest. He’d started this, and he couldn’t back off now. Growling, he rushed the other shifter and slammed him to the floor. Before Sam could react, Luke straddled him and unloaded a flurry of punches to his face. He heard Ally screaming, but he was beyond listening to reason.
At first, Sam blocked his blows, but then he countered with an attack of his own. Luke tried, but he couldn’t get control back. Sam threw three hard punches that made Luke’s head snap back. Dazed, Luke didn’t respond as Sam rolled him over and then sprang to his feet. Fire flashed in his eyes as he looked down at Luke.
Luke sat up and rubbed his jaw. Someone grabbed him under the arms and heaved him to his feet. “You okay?” Quinn asked, from behind him.
Sam was facing Luke. He stood there, hands on hips, looking at Luke curiously.
Luke averted his eyes. “Yeah.”
“Sam’s here at my invitation. I told him this is where we let loose and have a good time.”
“Sorry, Quinn. I thought he was a stranger.”
“I think you owe Sam the apology, not me.”
Luke hesitated and then reluctantly stuck his hand out. “Sorry.”
Sam shook Luke’s hand. “No hard feelings. Not on my side, anyway.”
Sam’s firm grip sent goose bumps rising along Luke’s arm. The air buzzed between them. Luke pulled back quickly. “It’s all good.”
Quinn smiled and clapped them both on the back. “It’s getting late.” Quinn addressed the room in a loud voice. “And Sam is bunking here, so why don’t we call it a night and get out of his bedroom?”
Luke looked at Quinn through two swelling eyes. “Seriously, Quinn? He’s sleeping here?”
Quinn shrugged. “I offered to put Sam up at our house.”
“I’m used to being on my own,” Sam said. “There’s a cot in the back and the bathroom works. That’s good enough for me.”
“If you change your mind, you know where I live,” Quinn said. “Night, people.”
The crowd that had circled during the fight dispersed, and people started leaving. Ally glared at Luke, fire in her eyes, but she said nothing. She gave Sam a chaste peck on the cheek. “I’ll see you tomorrow?”
“Looking forward to it.” Sam winked at her.
Disgusted, Luke started walking toward the door. Ash caught up with him. “You look like you walked into a tree.”
“You should see the other guy.”
“I did, and he doesn’t look nearly as bad as you.”
“Whose side are you on?”
“Yours, Luke, but don’t you think you overreacted tonight?”
“Are you kidding? That horny stranger had his paws all over Ally.”
“And she loved it. Encouraged it. Ally’s a strong girl. If she felt threatened, she would have crushed his nuts.”
“She was drunk. I was just looking out for her.”
Ash gave him a strange look. “Bears can be promiscuous, male and female. And things being what they are, a good-looking man is gonna get snapped right up. Some females are even talking about taking more than one mating partner.”
“That hasn’t happened yet.”
“Are you jealous?”
“Of course not. It’s over between me and Ally.”
“Then try to remember that her sex life is none of your business.” He slapped Luke on the back. “Don’t go human on me.”
Luke forced a laugh. “You’re right. Guess I just had too much to drink. I’ll sleep it off.”
Easier said than done.
When Luke finally crawled into bed, his mind wouldn’t stop replaying the events of the night. Everything he’d said or done demanded analysis. The minutes ticked away, and sleep wouldn’t come. Luke tried counting sheep, but just when he was close to drifting off, his anxiety woke him again.
If only he could bring back his recurring dream. It would help him sleep. Luke thought about his favorite place, the forest. He imagined the wind whistling through the trees, squirrels chattering, birds singing, insects humming. He could almost smell the pine, the wildflowers, and the rotting wood. And in the distance, the familiar figure of his mystery lover, the man’s face hidden in the shadows.
The sight of that tall, strong body made Luke’s cock swell and rise. Excited, he took himself in hand and circled the head with his thumb. Then he gripped, squeezed, and pumped. It excited him to know that his lover was watching. But soon his surroundings blurred as he worked his hand up and down the length of his prick. With his other hand, he tugged on his balls. His breathing became fast and furious. His thighs trembled. There was no holding back.
“Fuck, fuck, fuck.”
He turned his head into the pillow to stifle his sounds as streams of white cum splattered his chest. His body still shuddering, he felt blackness come over him like a blanket.
Chapter Three
When Luke’s alarm went off, he bolted up. For a minute, he questioned his reality. His dream had been so vivid. But the only reality was the sticky cum on his chest and the wet spot on the bed. Too bad, because only in his dream world could Luke exert control over the story of his life.
After a quick shower, Luke left the house. He didn’t feel like facing an inquisition at breakfast. Choosing a solitary location, he threw himself into work. But he still had to face the inevitable teasing at lunchtime.
Ash came over and gave Luke a giant hug that just about squeezed the life out of him.
“Get off.”
“Can’t help it, panda boy. You’re so darn cute and fluffy. And those black eyes are to die for.”
Luke growled out a warning. Ash laughed and ran off. “See ya at quitting time.”
At the end of the day, Luke tried to avoid Ash, but he wasn’t fast enough.
“Hey, panda eyes. Wait up.”
Luke slowed down so Ash could catch up. “Cool it with the names, okay? It’s getting old.”
Ash punched his arm. “Suck it up, bro. As quick as we heal, you won’t be hearing it much longer.”
It was true. Bear shifters, for whatever reason, tended to heal quickly and were rarely sick. Perhaps the combination of human and animal DNA gave them greater immunity. Already Luke’s black eyes were fading.
“Here’s your house, raccoon eyes. See ya later.”
Luke went inside. Thankful that no one heard him, he snuck upstairs for a shower. But he couldn’t avoid his family forever. When he walked into the dining room, no one said anything. Luke knew what they were waiting for, and he gave it to them.
“I’m sorry about last night. I drank too much.”
“I appreciate the apology,” Luke’s father said. “We know you’ve been upset about Ally, but that’s no excuse for drinking too much and getting into fights. A word of warning, watch your step at the meeting tonight.”
“There won’t be any repeats,” Luke promised. “I’m not going to the meeting.”
“You have to go, son. This is important business.
Sam Harper is here to share ideas about security. Maybe they’re doing something in Idaho that we can use here.”
Luke would rather face a hunting party than sit through tonight’s meeting, but he didn’t have the energy to protest. “Yes, Dad.”
Besides, his father was right. There were important issues to be discussed. Tonight’s meeting was all about staying safe and preserving their lives in Sanctuary.
Luke and Becca cleaned up after dinner, then they all walked to the schoolhouse for the meeting. The six-classroom building had been one of the first to be reconstructed. The cubs needed a decent place to be educated.
Luke took a deep breath and opened the door. Already, they could hear loud voices coming from the lunchroom. Quinn was standing at the front of the crowded room fielding questions. Everyone got quiet and looked up when the Reeds walked in. Feeling self-conscious, Luke kept his head down.
Lucas Sr. and Lily stood in the back with a few of their friends. Becca pulled Luke toward two empty seats at a table behind Sam and Ally. Great! Luke glared at the back of Sam’s head, but said nothing.
Quinn cleared his throat and asked for everyone’s attention. “Most of you know why we’re here. We have a visitor from Idaho. Sam Harper made his home in the settlement we left six years ago. Stand up, Sam.”
Sam stood to a round of welcoming applause. When he sat, Quinn continued talking. “I took it on myself to contact those we left behind. I thought it was important to warn them about the predators tracking us. We all agree it’s time to beef up security, and they sent Sam here to exchange ideas with us.”
Luke heard grumbling around him. Some of the older bears blamed Quinn and Noah for the current situation.
“Calm down, everyone.” Quinn put his hands up. “This is nothing new. There’s always been an illegal network for smuggling bear bile and body parts. They’re used in Asian medicine and food. Suddenly the trafficking is in the limelight because dealers are petitioning the government to make harvesting bear parts legal. That doesn’t bode well for us. We’ll be prime targets.” Quinn paused to look down at Noah, who was sitting by his side. “In fact, one of our own was recently captured. We were able to rescue Noah, but the hunters know where we are, and they’ll be back. We’re all at risk.”
A gray-haired bear shifter stood. “I was against sending Noah to college right from the get-go. If he’d stayed here with his own kind, he wouldn’t have turned into a he-she. And he wouldn’t have been captured. He exposed us and put us in danger. We need to segregate and procreate, not integrate.”
A chorus of yeas and damn rights drowned out the rest of his words.
Noah, sitting next to Quinn, turned beet red. Quinn let out a roar that quieted the room. “I know you’re upset, so I’m going to let those remarks pass. I won’t be so forgiving next time.” Quinn paused just long enough to make his point. “We’re entitled to further our education as much as the humans. Maybe more. Being exposed to the outside world will help us embrace our differences. Thanks to Noah, I learned to accept myself. We don’t choose our sexual orientation. It’s who we are. Noah and I are partners now, in every way.”
An undertone of grumbling echoed in the room. It quieted when Becca stood. “I’m ashamed that we even have to discuss this. I’ve been Noah’s friend forever, and he’s the same good person he’s always been. Nothing that happened was his fault. His college roommate betrayed him. End of story. If you want to pick on someone who’s different, look in the mirror. Everyone in this room is different from the majority. We all know what it’s like to hide in plain sight and try to blend in. So let’s try to stick together and support each other.”
There was loud applause as Becca took her seat.
“Well said.” Quinn continued, “Our problem has nothing to do with sexual preference, and everything to do with being bear shifters. These trappers knew we existed and would have found us eventually.”
Sam stood. “We have our own problems with plain old garden variety hunters in Idaho. I think that’s why you folks moved on, but if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that there are hunters everywhere. You can’t be too careful, no matter where you live. We’ve put a lot of safety measures in place, and I’d be glad to share them. Maybe we should start by forming a security committee.”
“Good idea,” Quinn said. “Noah and I know quite a bit about these trappers, so we’d like to be on that committee. Are there any other volunteers?”
Becca grabbed Luke’s arm and raised it, along with her own. Luke turned and glared at her.
Quinn spotted them and grinned. “Luke and Becca, glad to have you both. Anyone else?” He scanned the room. “Ash. You make six. I think that’s a good start. Let’s meet next door in the classroom. The rest of you folks can sample the goodies in the kitchen.”
* * * *
Ally linked arms with Sam and led him out of the lunchroom. He smiled at her, but inside he felt uneasy. Last night he’d enjoyed the drinking, dancing, and flirting, especially the drinking, but he wasn’t in love, and he certainly didn’t want to lead Ally on.
Even a few beers were enough to make him act stupid, but he drank because alcohol helped him conquer his anxiety. Walking into an unfamiliar social setting intimidated him. Some bears liked being part of a group, but Sam preferred being on his own. He enjoyed a good time, but then he wanted to crawl back into his man cave and hibernate. Maybe he wasn’t the best choice to come here. He’d argued against it, but others back home disagreed. That’s what I get for always being a bear on security.
At the door to the classroom, Ally gave Sam a little squeeze. “See you later?”
Sam nodded noncommittedly. “I don’t know how long the meeting will last.”
Ally feigned a pout and walked off. Quinn arrived and slapped Sam on the back. “Looks like you found yourself a girlfriend, here. Hope you’re not going to steal her away from us.”
Sam forced a nervous laugh. “It’s not my intention.”
“Well, there’s room for you here. We can always use a good man.”
Thankfully, Sam didn’t have to answer. The others arrived and swept him into the classroom. Already, he couldn’t wait to go home.
Sam planted himself in a seat. When he looked up, he saw his nemesis sitting next to him. Luke nodded. Sam did the same. He had a grudging respect for the guy. Anybody who stuck up for his ex the way Luke did deserved it. It wouldn’t surprise Sam if Luke still held a torch for Ally. After all, female shifters were in short supply, and it must have looked like Sam wanted to snatch her up for himself. He’d behave better in the future.
Quinn sat on the teacher’s desk so he could face the other five. “We have a visitor, so let’s introduce ourselves.”
Noah spoke up first. “I’m Noah. I think you all heard enough about me tonight.”
After a few chuckles, Becca spoke up. “I’m Becca. Welcome to Sanctuary, Sam.”
“Ditto. Except my name is Ash.”
Sam looked from Ash to Becca to Luke. Blond bears were a rarity in their world. “Any relation?”
“Pure coincidence. We’re just friends,” Luke volunteered. “Guess you already know my name.”
Sam tried for a fresh start. “Haven’t had the pleasure. I’m Sam. Glad to meet you.” He held out his hand.
Luke looked confused, then he got it. He gripped Sam’s hand in a firm shake. “Howdy, stranger. I’m Luke.”
For a few seconds, Sam got lost in Luke’s eyes. They were icy blue, like the color of an Alaskan glacier, but they radiated heat. Frozen in place, Sam was captivated. The rest of Luke’s face was just as intriguing. Traces of the bruises Sam had inflicted still remained, but they didn’t hide Luke’s beauty. He had long lashes, high cheekbones, and perfect lips, topped off with light blond hair. Luke was perfect, all male but with a trace of femininity. Sam considered himself bisexual, and Luke was just his type. He pictured dozens of dirty things he could do to Luke. A surge of lust made Sam’s cock swell, and he let his eyes linge
r for longer than necessary.
Luke’s cheeks flushed, and he pulled his hand away.
Sam felt embarrassed, too. It had only been a few seconds, but damn, it felt way hotter than anything he’d felt for Ally.
“…so what do you think, Sam?”
Shit. Sam hadn’t heard a word Quinn said. He’d been too busy mooning over Luke like a lovesick cub.
“Yeah, I’d like to know what you’re thinking.” Noah winked at Sam. “What kind of protection do you use?”
Somebody chuckled. Sam’s face burned hot. He blurted out a response. “Foot patrols.”
“Tell us how you do it?”
Sam looked daggers at Noah, who feigned an innocent expression. Thinking quickly, Sam spoke with a forced calm. “Our settlement is now walled in, like an old-fashioned fort. There’s always at least two men patrolling the perimeter. Day and night.”
“Do they carry weapons?”
Sam looked at Becca gratefully. “Good question. Yes, they’re armed, and they carry cell phones in case they need backup.”
“I don’t know,” Luke muttered. “There’s no way we can build a wall around Sanctuary.”
They locked eyes again. Good grief. Luke smelled like honey. Sam rolled the taste around in his mouth.
“I, uh…I can see that. Sanctuary covers a much larger area than our settlement in Idaho. You’d probably need men in ATVs driving the perimeter.”
A spirited discussion ensued. Sam kept sneaking looks at Luke. Blond bears were rare, and Sam’s carnal instincts were at an all-time high. He wanted to rip Luke’s clothes off and fuck him right there. Thoughts like that were bound to get him in trouble. He’d already made an ass of himself last night, and now he wanted to do it again. He had no business sniffing around some strange bear who liked pussy. But no one, female or male, had ever excited Sam’s bear so intensely. Sam tried to tamp down his arousal. Finally, his bear calmed down, but it still remained a frustrated presence inside him.