Kane’s arms came around him, and Bennett drifted into oblivion.
* * * * *
“What the hell happened, Kane? Why are you carrying a naked, half-dead shifter?” The guard opened the gate he guarded so Kane could pass. Bennett hung over his shoulder, his bare lower half exposed for anyone to see. And darkness didn’t matter because a shifter’s keen sight could penetrate it.
Kane bit off a warning growl as the guard’s gaze lit on Bennett’s ass. It was too thin but still chiseled, proclaiming him a battle-trained warrior.
The man shoved the iron gate wider. “That’s a hell of a way to recruit newcomers.”
Kane grunted his irritation and passed by him, ignoring the man.
The Sanctuary was one main building, built from the dark gray stone native to the area. Smaller buildings roosted around it, mostly gardeners’ cottages and storage sheds, and even a smokehouse. Bear shifters lived mainly on greens and fish, though they liked a variety of meats.
When Kane reached the guards at the front entrance, they hurried to open the door for him. “Call Dirk,” Kane ordered, moving into the cool interior. The spacious hall was empty at this time of day.
“Right away, Kane.” The guard followed him inside and disappeared down a side corridor, presumably in search of Dirk.
Kane’s instinct was to hide Bennett out of sight—behind closed doors. In his room. Instead, he started up the staircase. On the second floor, several rooms were open for guests. They weren’t permanent rooms, but hopefully this shifter wouldn’t be here very long. He could heal and go on his way to live a fulfilling life without his mate.
The mere thought made his stomach ache.
He shifted Bennett’s weight and opened a door with his free hand. He kicked it open with the toe of his boot and hurried to the bed. There he let Bennett slip to the mattress.
Standing back, he assessed the shifter. His color didn’t look good. Quickly, he grabbed a blanket from the nearby wardrobe. He shook the blanket and unfurled it over his half-nude form just as several people crowded into the room.
He stood back, fists clenched. God, he missed the weight in his arms already.
Dirk opened the door and Kane’s gaze jerked to his. They stared at each other.
In a heartbeat, it was clear the doctor understood more was going on in this room than a sick, injured shifter in the throes of withdrawal.
“Kane.” Dirk approached the bed. Ryan was on his heels, and the doctor stepped in front of his mate, guarding him from the shifter who had attacked him once before.
“He’s unconscious, man. Ryan has nothing to worry about.” Kane drifted to the head of the bed, watching Bennett’s face for signs of alertness. Underneath the sickly pallor, wild hair and starved appearance, he possessed a rugged handsomeness that called to Kane. Magazine ad beauty.
He was exactly Kane’s type.
He didn’t even know he had a type.
His chest heaved.
Dirk placed a hand on Bennett’s wrist and felt his pulse. After a minute, he began firing orders at the two nurses in the room. They bustled in and out, bringing medical supplies and heated blankets. Kane stood back and watched, his mind working over the store of herbs and roots that might help Bennett.
Ryan clapped him on the shoulder, breaking his concentration. “Did you have to knock him out to bring him in?”
“No, he passed out.” All at once the adrenaline that had dumped into his system the moment he spotted the naked, ill shifter, dried up. He wanted to sink to the mattress with Bennett but instead drew up a visitor’s chair.
Maureen held out a stainless steel tray for Dirk. He selected two items, then began to chant as he lit a twist of grasses with a lighter. Sweet smoke filled the room.
Kane listened to the words he’d heard too many times in the past few months.
He had to walk away.
Moving to the window, he looked out, seeing nothing. The chanting went on and he knew without turning that the doctor was waving smoke over Bennett, trying to awaken deeper spiritual parts of him that were not bound to his mate.
He fisted his hand and brought it to his lips. What the hell was going on between mates? The world had gone mad.
Slowly, he turned. If he was to let Bennett walk away when the time came, then he must face his emotions and banish them. Somehow, he must look upon the man as a patient, nothing more.
Focusing, he pushed himself into the role of healer. In his head, he recited Dirk’s healing chant. Soon he’d be qualified to perform this ritual too. Another few months of apprenticeship and he’d be ready.
“Come closer,” Dirk said to him.
Drawing away from the window, he came to stand by the bed. Dirk handed Kane the smoking grass bundle and put his hands on Bennett’s thigh.
Kane clenched his jaw. Too well he remembered the way those thighs felt against him as he carried him back to the Sanctuary.
A snarl curled his lip, and he forced it away. His logical mind told him Dirk was only infusing his power into Bennett to revive him, but another part of his mind spoke up.
Loud and clear.
He didn’t like Dirk touching Bennett—period.
Without faltering in his chant, Dirk nodded toward the burning grasses Kane held. Kane waved them in a counterclockwise fashion, creating a wreath of smoke right over Bennett’s chest where his spirit lived.
As he swirled the grasses, he fixed his gaze on Bennett’s face. His right eyelid twitched.
Maureen reached under the blanket and wrapped a monitoring device around Bennett’s big toe. She held up a tablet computer. “His temperature’s coming back up.”
It was common for a bear shifter to go into a sort of hibernation mode—lower body temps and long sleep patterns. If his temperature was rising, it was a good sign.
Bennett came awake with all the violence of a hunted bear. He reared up, fur sprouting, fangs lengthened as he burst into a half shift.
“Get back!” Dirk ordered. He shoved Ryan back and the nurses crowded against the wall, but Kane did the exact opposite. He threw himself over Bennett, pinning the flailing shifter with his weight.
Bennett’s breath was hot in his ear, and his chest rumbled with a growl. Kane had dropped the smoking grasses and the scent of singed cotton filled his head as the blanket caught fire.
“Hell,” Dirk ground out and dumped a pitcher of water over the blanket. Water splashed on Bennett’s bare torso, and Bennett hissed as the cool liquid obviously permeated the blanket.
When Kane raised himself a fraction off the shifter, he found Bennett’s fur had receded. He met his gaze and found the ill bear’s eyes totally lucid.
“Get the hell off me,” he growled.
Kane glanced at Dirk, who nodded. Reluctantly he eased back to a standing position.
“We’re here to help you. What’s his name?” Dirk asked Kane.
“Bennett. He’s Niedz.”
“I see that. Welcome to the Sanctuary, Bennett. I’m Dr. Dirk Dreyer.”
“You might remember me,” Ryan said, coming forward, and Dirk threw out an arm to shield him.
“I think you’ve met my mate Ryan.”
Bennett’s gaze fell on Ryan, and his features twisted. He shut his eyes and turned his face away.
“Leave him alone. Give us a minute.” Kane’s voice sounded sharp to his own ears.
Dirk straightened, eyeing Kane. “You know what you’re doing?”
“I can handle it.” The last thing he needed was a pissed off and protective mate making matters worse for Bennett. He was sick, in need of mental and physical care.
Dirk nodded. “Maureen, give our patient fluids and sleeping herbs. Kane…” They looked at each other for a long minute. Dirk’s mouth softened. Was he seeing something on Kane’s face that caused it? “Call if you need me.”
Kane gave a short nod.
When everyone exited the room, Kane turned his attention to the shifter he’d finally gotten into a Sanctuary b
ed. “Relax. Sleep if you need. When you wake up it will be soon enough for more care.”
Bennett threw the blanket off, reminding Kane it was wet. He removed it from the bed completely and found another in the wardrobe. Forcing himself to look away from his nude lower half, he covered Bennett again. He was breathing shallowly, and his eyes began to droop shut.
Kane placed a hand on his chest. “Sleep.”
Bennett’s eyes slipped closed and he drew five deep breaths. When Kane removed his hand, Bennett’s eyes flew open. “You’ll stay?”
Shock slammed through him. A lump formed in his throat. He cleared it twice before speaking. “I’m here.”
Without another word Bennett drifted off with Kane watching over him.
-Chapter Five-
Kane silently pulled the door closed on his sleeping charge. He’d been out for four hours already with no sign of waking. After sitting there cramped for hours, he needed some air.
Mostly air that wasn’t scented with the heady pheromones of the shifter he was far too interested in—for both their sakes.
At this time of day, the Sanctuary was quieter. The doctor would be in his quarters doing some testing, and that was exactly where Kane needed to be as well. While staring at Bennett, he’d formed some theories he wished to run by Dirk.
Feeling worn down and grubby, he headed back to his own room. A shower and clean clothes would revive him enough to pursue his idea starting today. There was no time to waste. He had to assist in finding the reason shifters were turning on their mates. For Bennett. For so many others.
When he stepped into his room, he looked around at his few belongings. He’d come here with so little and yet would eventually leave with so much more. Knowledge was all he needed to make his way in this world, and his training here would provide him that.
He was far from ready, but he had enough learning to assist him in performing the tests he was going to speak with Dirk about.
He shed his clothes and kicked them toward a basket. Later he’d take them to the washing facilities, but he usually waited till he was on his last set of clothes before bothering with menial tasks like that.
Walking nude into the bathroom, he faced his reflection and stopped.
Dropping his gaze, he noted how his aroused cock stood straight up, bobbing on his abs.
Thick, uncut, quivering with the need to release. Bennett’s scent had done this. But would finding release with the shifter in his mind hurt him even more? He couldn’t risk it.
Yet he felt his fingers curl around his shaft. Applying more pressure until a groan left his lips.
He watched his hand on his cock in the mirror and stroked it down to the base. A growl escaped. Then he fucked his fist back to the tip, drawing back the foreskin as he did.
Fuck, he wasn’t going to be able to keep Bennett out of his mind while he found physical satisfaction. Wasn’t going to be able to…
He rocked his hips, driving his cock through his clenched fist. Again and again, his mind focused on the bare torso of the bear who was tormenting the hell out of him.
This was so wrong.
So why did it feel so right?
He pumped faster, his fingers flying over his length, riding the swollen ridge of the underside where he was most sensitive. The head projected from the skin now, purple and mushroomed, beaded with precum.
He thought of rubbing the tip over Bennett’s lips, seeing his eyes hood as he enveloped him in his hot mouth—
He came with an explosive shout. Spurts shot over the sink and floor for what felt like minutes. When he collapsed forward, cock still in hand, he closed his eyes. Breathing hard, he tried to find some sense in this world—make some sense of it.
But the release had awakened his bear and he needed no recovery time.
Stepping into the spray of the shower, he soaped his body and grabbed his steely cock with both hands, fisting it again.
Then again.
If he didn’t distance himself from the shifter, he’d never be able to keep from acting on these instincts to claim him. And that was exactly what was happening here. Dirk had known it after a single look into his eyes.
As his third shuddering release took control of his body, he braced his palm on the shower wall and bowed his head, panting as more cum jetted from him.
He released his cock. But Bennett burned in his mind’s eye and he found his fingers closing around his length once again, the need to rut insatiable.
What he wouldn’t give to run his tongue over Bennett’s body and taste every inch. Then follow it with his cock, slipping into that tight pucker.
He dropped his forehead to the wall. The hot water had run out and cold streamed over his back, but it did nothing to cut the urge inside him.
He had to stop or he’d stand here for who knew how long, letting his needs run away with him.
He turned off the water and got out. Five minutes later he was dressed and his wet hair finger-combed as he headed out of his room. He couldn’t risk staying there thinking of sinking into Bennett’s tight body all day.
When he rapped on Dirk’s office door, there was a quiet beat and then the doctor called out for him to enter.
Looking at the doctor hunched over his desk and the surface littered with maps, it was no wonder he hadn’t answered the knock right away.
Dirk glanced up and then did a double take.
He sat back, focusing solely on Kane.
“Do I look as bad as I feel?” he grated out.
“Yes. Damn, I’d wondered but now I know for sure. Sit and let me make you some tea.”
He knew Dirk’s beverage wouldn’t only be tea leaves. It would contain some herbs to calm the fever within him. Something he welcomed right now.
“Thank you.” He sank into the chair across from the desk and rubbed at his forehead, which was beginning to ache.
Dirk quietly clinked around as he made tea and brought a steaming cup to Kane. He accepted it with both hands that tremored slightly.
Dirk gave him a sympathetic look. “Been there, done that, my friend. It’s a long road and one that might not turn out as well for you as it has for me.”
“Thanks for preparing me.”
Chuckling at Kane’s muttered words, Dirk resumed his seat behind his desk, ignoring the maps for the time being. As he sipped his tea, the doctor contemplated him.
“It’s a curious phenomenon, is it not?” Dirk asked.
“What do you mean?” The tea had some bitter notes he didn’t recognize and would have to ask about later. But the effects took hold immediately, and his hands stopped shaking. Of course, he wouldn’t be surprised if Dirk hadn’t infused it with magic as well.
The doctor rocked slightly in his chair. “Well, bears don’t find mated shifters attractive. We pass by them without thought. And technically…”
“These bears are still mated in some ways,” Kane finished for him.
Dirk nodded. “If their tie was completely severed, they wouldn’t feel any withdrawals at all. But the separation is still causing an uproar in their systems. And yet, we want them.”
His words caused a flood of desire inside Kane. He heard it like a roar in his ears. He nodded, unable to reply around the gut-wrenching stirring of need.
Dirk went on, “So their connection is just broken enough to allow us to recognize their availability.”
“I smell it.” Kane’s words came out as a growl.
Dirk sent him a long look. “I know. Drink the tea.”
He drew the cup back to his lips and sipped more. By the time he drank the last drop, he felt more even, able to function and think about something besides claiming Bennett and fucking him all night and then a week straight after that.
Setting the cup on the desk, he looked up at the doctor. “Thank you.”
“Better?”
“Yes. For the time being.”
“I’ll give you more tea if it gets that bad again.”
“And tell me what’s
in it too. Please. So I can learn.”
“Wouldn’t dream of keeping it from you. Now.” He drew attention to the papers scattered over his desk.
Kane centered on the maps once more. “The Medve.” The wilderness maps stretched from edge to edge, showing every river, creek, mountain and valley. In one corner, the black block of land that was the Sanctuary stretched up to the wood’s edge. Farther along, Kane picked out the cave where Bennett had been hiding.
He swallowed hard.
“You’re looking for places to start searching.” It wasn’t a question.
Dirk nodded. “I’ve traveled, have been traveling, as you know. Ryan and I will go again this week and do more testing on the waters. While I’ve only found trace levels in certain locations, the effects are just as pronounced as what I’ve found in areas with high concentrations of toxins.”
“I’d like to do some testing as well.”
Dirk arched a brow. His professional curiosity came forth in the bright interest in his eyes.
Kane rested his hands on the desk top, his fingers near the place where the Niedtz clan lived. Where Bennett had lived.
“I was thinking about the shifters’ situations. What you’ve found can’t be unremarkable—there’s some connection.”
Dirk nodded.
“And there is a shifter right here with new blood to test.”
He nodded again.
“I have an idea for more than basic blood work, though.”
Templing his fingers, Dirk sat back to listen as Kane laid out his plans to separate the blood using a certain process and trying to pinpoint how the toxin might affect the shifters. That had a wild look in Dirk’s eye, and he got up to pace, his usual habit when working out a problem.
“You focus on the blood testing while I’m away, and I’ll bring back more blood samples as well as water and anything else I can carry with me. When I return, we’ll sit down and analyze all of it.”
Kane stood too. “Your excitement’s infectious and I want to start now, if that’s all right.”
Trusting the Bear Shifter: A MM Shifter Bonding Alpha Mates Romance (Primal Roar Series Book 2) Page 4