by Cecilia Lane
“You’re forbidden from being here,” he hissed. His eyes glowed a sandy gold and his teeth sharpened to points. Golden fur sprouted along his arms.
Fear sank into her bones and she backed away from the bar. Terror she hadn’t felt when Callum changed into his bear in front of her kicked her instincts into high gear. She was being hunted, and she wanted to run.
The man launched himself across the bar, but a strong arm around his throat kept him from doing more than slamming his chest into the wood. Callum hauled him away and locked him tightly against his chest. His lips pulled back with a snarl.
Gideon whistled sharply and the bar fell quiet. “Someone needs to escort Trent and kindly toss him on his ass outside.”
Immediately, the rest of the firefighters were there. Scowls ruined their pleasant faces and more than one set of eyes flashed with an unnatural glow. Hands reached past Callum to help secure the struggling Trent and haul him backward.
“Watch your back, human,” Trent spat thickly before stumbling through the door with the others.
Gideon nodded to her as soon as the door swung shut on the group. “Need a moment?”
She pressed her hands to the counter to stop them shaking. “Not the first time I’ve had someone come over the bar at me.”
Gideon snorted. “Bet it’s the first time they’ve had claws and fangs, though. Get back on the horse, then. We got paying customers wanting to drink.”
Leah tumbled into autopilot. She smiled and forced the right words from her mouth. She pulled drafts and popped bottle caps. She kept shoving drinks across the bar and sending dirty glasses to the back for cleaning.
Under it all, she was shaken up. Jamin’s words swirled in her head. The people of Bearden wouldn’t let her go. Callum said they’d watch her to make sure she couldn’t leave.
Leaving or staying brought risks of death. Some in the town welcomed her, others didn’t trust her, and at least one wanted to kill her for being human.
Bearden would never be her home, that much was clear. She would never fit in. Everyone would always look at her askance and wonder when she would betray them. Outsiders were forbidden, or outsiders would leave. It would only be a matter of time before she disappointed Callum and the rest of them.
She needed a way out at once. She couldn’t wait to find her opening. Anyone lurking nearby might just be the one to rip her open with sharp claws.
Her mouth tasted like ashes. She needed Jamin’s help.
Gideon slipped into the back to pull another keg. She turned to cash out a customer and picked up the phone next to the till. Her hands shook as she punched in the number she knew by heart.
“Yes?” Jamin answered on the second ring.
“You wanted something that shouldn’t exist? Check under town hall,” she spat between clenched teeth and settled the phone back in the cradle.
Chapter 10
Leah picked at the chocolate glazed pastry in front of her. She smiled at everyone that passed her. Could they tell? Did they know she’d betrayed them? She didn’t need to watch for guns or knives being pulled when their hands and mouths were deadly weapons.
Guilt lanced through her. Each awkward twist of her body still hurt, so she made sure to hit those angles. She left her painkillers at Muriel’s that morning. The sting of protesting muscles was penance for what she’d done in a moment of fear.
Two days and Jamin hadn’t contacted her. She wanted to believe it was all a dream that she made up. Jamin wouldn’t be able to find Bearden and he wouldn’t pull off whatever he planned.
He also wouldn’t extract her from the territory.
Another couple passed with their hands clasped together. Were they whispering about their plans later that night, or were they pointing out the human that needed to be killed?
Leah pulled another piece off her pastry and stuck it in her mouth. She didn’t taste it.
She tried to think through the problem of what exactly she provided Jamin. The Broken below town hall kept Bearden safe from intruders without supernatural blood in their veins. Jamin had a map of several locations of enclaves, as Callum called them. But for whatever reason, he needed her to do his dirty work and dig for information.
That was the part that lost her. Why he needed her when he presumably knew where the enclaves were located puzzled her. It stood to reason that he couldn’t find his way inside.
She tried to find a shred of calm in that premise. It didn’t matter what information she gave him if he couldn’t find his way into the town.
But then she circled back to Callum’s warning. Making babies with humans yielded diluted blood, and those on the outside of the enclave might be able to see inside. Was Jamin one of those with mixed heritage or did he have a lead on someone who could pull him through the barrier surrounding Bearden?
Leah rubbed her temples. It hurt to think about and she was no closer to any solution. Jamin kept silent, and she kept watching for possible threats to her life. But those stayed as concealed as her ex.
The town went on like normal. Oh, she’d been in for a surprise when two of the firefighters burst half-naked onto the street and then changed into brawling bears. The real shock came from everyone sidestepping the battle like it was no big deal. She’d laughed about it with Becca after the fight ended and they changed back. From brawling to slapping each other on the back, Becca explained it was just a way for them to relieve some tension.
She was growing to like the town and some of the people. Becca and Faith, especially, made her feel welcome with treats and talks.
It made her moment of weakness in contacting Jamin that much shittier. She’d be hurting if she stayed and she’d be hurting if she left. She’d painted herself into a corner, just like she always did. Just another day with another round of terrible life choices.
A shadow crossed over her and she looked up, startled. She frowned when Callum took a seat next to her. He wore a tight black shirt befitting a relaxing fireman, not the acting mayor.
One more problem...
“Where did you disappear to the other night?” She’d seen him around town, but he hadn’t approached her since he and his firefighter friends dragged Trent from The Roost. She’d felt his eyes on her more than once and expected him to cross the street to talk to her. Instead, he avoided her.
She hated that she felt irritated by that. They were simply fellow townspeople. She didn’t know the neighbors in nearly every apartment she rented; she shouldn’t be bothered by being relegated to an acquaintance.
And she shouldn’t be so damned thrilled to have him acknowledging her again. Her heart had other ideas, though. All the dark thoughts of Jamin poofed into nothing. Even the air felt clearer around Callum.
She was turning into an infatuated schoolgirl and it only bothered her a tiny bit.
Callum rubbed a hand through his hair. “Had to make sure Trent didn’t threaten you again.”
She stared at him for a long moment. “Do...do I want to know what that means? Because I’ve seen enough movies to know that could be anything from roughing him up to making him sleep with the fishes.”
A ghost of a smile crossed his face. “Listen, we heal differently than you. Those bruises that you’re still favoring? Gone within minutes. Breaks are healed entirely in just a few hours, which means they need to be set properly almost immediately or broken all over again. So don’t worry about Trent. He’s healthy and he won’t be bothering you again.”
The macho type never impressed her much, but it looked good on Callum. The man had some strange, lust-filled power over her. Everything he did made her want to pant. “Well, thanks. I appreciate it.”
“Coming from the human who has to take care of herself, I’ll take that as a compliment.”
“Well, I’ve recently been clued in to that fact that when claws start to fly, some of us need to get out of the way.”
He passed a hand through his hair again and it gave his hair a just-out-of-bed look. “I want to ask you
something.”
“Shoot.”
“You want to get dinner with me tonight?” He drummed his fingers against the table. On anyone else, she’d say it was a nervous gesture. “Just friends, of course. Should help put down any other one else with ideas like Trent if you have the acting mayor’s approval.”
She frowned. That upfront rejection hurt. “Sure,” she said stiffly. “Gideon doesn’t have me working tonight, so I’m free whenever you think we’ll be most visible.”
“Good. Great,” he repeated and stood. “I’ll drop by Muriel’s around eight, then.” He lingered just a little longer, obviously waiting for something from her.
She wouldn’t meet his eyes. She couldn’t. He’d see the hurt on her face.
Damn him for making her care so much. About him, about the town, and about how she fit with both.
She was leaving. She couldn’t stay. She would cause many more arguments that would need him to handle her problems and she wasn’t the sort to let anyone be her crutch.
Only, with Callum, she found it hard not to lean on him. He pulled her from her wreck. He got her set up in Bearden. He defended her against anyone who said ‘boo.’ He was the type her mother always wanted her to bring home.
But he wasn’t looking to take her home. He was only looking to help her status in town. At least she didn’t need to question his motives when he laid his cards on the table. She was spared first date jitters with his honesty.
Damn him, damn him, damn him. She shouldn’t care so much. He would be nothing but a distant memory soon enough. Clearly, he had human mommy abandonment issues, and she’d had enough of men who couldn’t process their emotional scars. She’d be better off in the long run if she didn’t even imagine exploring all Callum had to offer.
But no matter how she tried to work herself into anger, pain sat heavily in her stomach.
She’d never find a place to call home. She’d never find safety and loyalty. Especially not when she couldn’t offer either to someone else. Same mistakes, different day.
The ground rumbled underfoot and rattled the tables and chairs outside the coffee shop. She only had a single moment for confusion before the side of town hall blew apart with a giant fireball.
Her mouth worked, and she stared hard at the building. Fire licked around the ruined edges and smoke billowed into the clear blue sky. Paper and other debris floated down to the ground below.
Then the screaming started.
Her ears rang. Heat blasted the air. Everyone from nearby buildings ran out to find the source of the commotion. Fingers pointed and hands hovered over mouths and hearts with shock registering everywhere she looked.
Cold replaced the heat of the explosion. Jamin wanted information on the town. She told him to look under town hall. It burned because of her.
Vaguely, she heard Mug Shot’s bell ring as everyone inside rushed onto the sidewalk with her.
“What happened? Did you see?” Becca twisted her hands and bounced on her toes, trying to see over everyone who stepped in front of them.
“It just exploded,” Leah muttered, unable to tear her eyes away. A few figures stumbled out of the wreckage. Blood and dust covered them head to toe.
How many people were inside, she wondered. How many had she killed?
Her entire body trembled, and she desperately tried to cling to the newest bit of information Callum gave her. Shifters healed faster than humans. They might just survive.
If they weren’t torn to pieces in the blast.
The crew of firefighters rushed around the engine that’d been pulled out for their ritual cleaning. There was no hesitation from them. They worked to throw themselves into their gear and get up the street.
She recognized Cole coming to a stop in front of the engine. He took one look at the burning building, then turned to his men. He shouted an order and the buzzing activity came to a standstill. At another yell, the firefighters dashed to their places in the fire engine for the short trek up the street.
Cole didn’t join them. Instead, he waved down everyone at their end of the street. “All of you, out of the way. Paramedics are coming through and I want everyone out of the street and at the other end of the square. Now!”
The fire engine screeched to a stop and someone else started yelling and waving at the crowd collected there. A steady stream of onlookers trudged toward the town square.
Snatches of conversation reached Leah’s ears. Faith and Tommy huddled together before Tommy dashed off toward his diner. “Becca, Leah. Help me carry water to the square,” Faith ordered. “Tommy will get us tables to hold everything. Those men will need drinks once they get everything under control and it’ll keep everyone else corralled.”
Leah was grateful for Faith ordering them into activity. She and Becca weren’t the only ones directing worried glances toward the burning building. Guilt settled over her like the blood and sweat of everyone injured. Their cuts and breaks were because of her. She needed to help just to take the tiniest fraction of responsibility. It wasn’t enough—it’d never be enough—but it was a small start.
“I saw Nolan running the hose.” Leah reached forward and squeezed Becca’s arm during a small lull. None of the firefighters or paramedics had stopped working, but a steady stream of those with minor injuries were making their way past the tables Faith and Tommy quickly organized.
There was still enough blood and slow steps to make her want to vomit. And, more worryingly, she didn’t see Callum among them.
A tiny, relieved smile flickered on Becca’s face before she turned serious once more. “Cole will be inside, then. Callum was probably inside. Maybe their dad, too. Ephraim just can’t stand not being in charge anymore.”
It confirmed what Leah didn’t want to consider. She hoped Callum had made a side trip anywhere else before getting to work. She’d kept her worry to a muted buzz in the back of her head, but Becca’s words turned it up to full volume.
If he died, he was another death on her hands. If he was injured, she was the one who caused him harm. If he survived, she still shouldered the blame.
She told Jamin to look under that building and he’d done so with fire and pain.
Chapter 11
“...and the Conri pack wants to send a group here shortly.”
Callum rubbed at his temples and tried to focus on the words in front of him. Allison rambled on as she went through the day’s schedule with him. Meeting after meeting waited for him, then a brief lunch where he could look over more notes and requisitions, then more meetings with more people looking to have their hands held through their decisions.
Fuck ‘em all. He’d said something wrong to Leah. He could still smell her hurt and disappointment.
He knew where he messed up. He just didn’t think she would be so concerned. It was a surprise to see her take his words as a rejection. They butt heads nearly every time he got near her. He didn’t imagine their date later would be any different, especially after he made it clear they were just going out for her.
He couldn’t think of it as anything else, though. She wasn’t a potential date. She wasn’t a potential anything for him. She was human, and he was simply helping her find her place in town.
Only, when Cole mentioned the idea of keeping her visible and showing the Strathorns accepted her, he hadn’t been able to consider allowing anyone else to take Leah out on the town. Bruce would jump at the chance, and he was sure others wouldn’t have any issue escorting her around, but his bear scratched at his insides. He had to be the one. He had to show her off. He had to stay near her.
“I’m also due for a five thousand percent raise, retroactively applied to the last year of my employment,” Allison said as blandly as anything else she’d stated that morning.
Callum jerked to attention and narrowed his eyes at the woman. “Nice try.”
“It worked on Mr. Strathorn twice. Once, I even got him to sign the paperwork.” She shrugged and smiled shyly at the paperwork in her lap.
Another ruffle of pages from a different folder, and she handed him a stack, all trace of her smile gone. “Here are the official complaints against our human guest.”
He reluctantly took the papers from her. Names he hadn’t expected jumped out at him. A few ranchers she hadn’t even come into contact with. The Old Maids, notorious town gossips and known to stir up trouble. Hell, even the doctor that treated Leah after the wreck. “They are all against her being here?”
Allison nodded. “Well, yes. The ones without opposition aren’t going to speak up for her. Not yet. They won’t raise a fuss until it benefits them and won’t ruin their position in town.”
Humans were forbidden from entering the enclave. That’d been the hard and fast rule for years. The only reason his mother had been allowed inside was because she already carried a shifter child—him. That bending of the rule hadn’t ended well. There was no reason to think Leah would do any better.
He could only imagine the stack of complaints growing larger after he took the forbidden human out to dinner. How many would call for his head, too?
It would be worth it if he could get her to smile at him. And if enough people complained, maybe he wouldn’t need to serve as interim mayor for much longer.
Allison clicked her pen and made a note on her schedule. “I’ll put the Conri visit off for now, at least until our human guest has settled and some of the more… vocal residents have calmed down. But the meeting with the ranchers and farmers cannot be put off any longer. They’re ready to draw blood over this latest land dispute.”
“Thank you, Allison,” Callum said, dismissing her. He turned a sharp eye to the bottom desk drawer. How had his father not been drunk all day, every day? He wanted to down the entire bottle hidden away.
The walls shook and groaned around him, followed by a loud crack through the air. Allison tumbled into the doorframe and turned, eyes wide with fright. “What was that?”