“But I couldn’t stop you from leaving.”
“I don’t know if you could have. I never gave you the chance to stop me.”
She was right, but that didn’t make this any easier. I rubbed my hand along her cheek, brushing the hair out of her face. She leaned into my touch, a small sound rumbling in her chest. Her sound of happiness. “I need to know why, Emma. I need a reason.”
She swallowed and looked up at the sky. “I felt…uneasy. My bear felt…threatened almost.” Shaking her head, she tried to explain better. “There was this urge to run inside of me. Nothing happened that triggered it really, it just continued growing until I finally listened.”
“Why didn’t you tell me. It was my job to protect you.”
“I don’t know.”
“Emma,” I said in warning. “I need you to be honest. I deserve your honestly.”
“You’re right, you do.” She turned on her other side and pressed her back against my stomach. “The human side of me was tired of the politics. We were to be married, have cubs, lead the clan when your father stepped down. It was all too much. My whole life revolved around what the clan had planned for me. I never had a choice.”
“You didn’t want to marry me?”
She turned her head slightly so that she could look up at me. “We were already mated. Marriage was just a piece of paper for the human world.”
“So then I don’t understand.”
“I was uneasy. I know that’s not a great explanation but it’s the only way I can think to describe it. My bear didn’t feel safe.”
Hating her words, I tried to be understanding. But it was hard and my anger stirred just below the surface. “And what about now. How does she feel now?”
“Happy,” she whispered. “She’s very happy to be with her mate again. And so am I.”
I knew I should still be upset with Emma for leaving me at all. But dammit if I didn’t love her now more than ever. Our bears were one once more, and after tonight I would never let her feel unsafe again.
“Do you think we should go back?” she asked after several minutes of silence.
“Probably.”
“Do you want to go back?”
“No.”
She giggled against me. “Then how about we head down to the waterfall. I’m thirsty.”
I jumped to my feet and then lifted her off the ground. In one quick move, I cradled her in my arms and bounded down to the water’s edge. She laughed the whole way, just like she used to. I’d missed that laugh and her smell and her skin against mine. Nothing had felt right this past year without her here. Nothing. Not even my bear acted normal, a weakness I had no doubt would come up when I was fighting for alpha. In fact, I had mentioned to a few clam members that I didn’t want to be alpha without my mate. While my dad had done that most of his life, I couldn’t function completely without Emma by my side.
So now, as I watched her dip her hands into the water and smile up at me, all of the possibilities of my future felt like they were within grasp again.
We were almost back to the house when I sensed something off. Emma’s hand tensed under my grip and she lowered the hood of her sweatshirt to smell the air.
“What is that?” she whispered.
My bear scented the odor again, wishing that it had been wrong. “Blood.”
“But whose?”
“I don’t know.” It was a partial lie. I thought I knew but I didn’t want to accept it.
Emma dropped her hand and jogged ahead of me, making me want to jump in front of her and protect her. She reached the bottom steps leading up to the front deck and slid to a stop. “Oh no,” she cried out.
I saw the body a second later. Skinned, bloodied, and head removed. Only this time, the carcass was the human form. The human form of Dixon Donegal.
“What the fuck!” Bo jumped down from the second floor deck and landing in a crouch next to us. Wearing nothing but sweatpants, he looked ready to shift. “Where are they?” He snapped his head in several directions trying to find those responsible.
“How’d they get in and out so quickly,” Derrick asked, appearing by our sides. “We were here the whole time.”
“Maybe during the moksha?” Emma suggested.
I shook my head. “Dixon was there. At least until we left.”
Brennan joined us and gave me a look that suggested I didn’t know everything that happened tonight. “He came back early. After he fed he told me he needed to be alone. I figured it was his way to grieve.”
“Hey, there’s a note,” Emma pointed to a piece of paper resting under the head.
I didn’t want to reach down and grab it, but I was the leader right now. “It’s just a paw print.” I rotated it in the light. “A wolf print, I think.”
Brennan ripped the paper from my hands and sniffed it. “Definitely wolf.”
“Jesus Christ,” Bo muttered. “Are they the ones killing our people?”
“The Tik’a pack would never harm us,” I argued. “We’ve worked together for centuries.” Our relationship with the local wolves extended far beyond just territorial agreements. In fact, I’d read some of that in the paperwork my dad left behind.
“They would if they wanted something,” Derrick added.
“And they’ve been fighting for voting rights for the last several years,” Bo said.
I shook my head. “No, I don’t believe it.” Staring at Dixon’s mutilated body, my stomach churned in disgust. “Disputed voting rights doesn’t lead to the murder of our clan’s alpha and second.”
“Brandt,” Emma rested her hand on my shoulder.
“No, it doesn’t add up.”
“We need to elect an alpha. Tonight.” Brennan’s usually mellow voice shook with anger.
“I can put out the call. Most of them should still be nearby,” Derrick offered.
“Okay,” I said reluctantly. I didn’t want to go through that process tonight. Filled with highs and lows today, I didn’t know how much more of this I could handle right now.
Derrick jogged back to the house, phone already glued to his ear. “Can you take care of this?” I asked Bo and Brennan, looking at Dixon. They nodded and I took back the paper. “Thank you.”
“I’ll make everyone some coffee,” Emma said, tears in her eyes once again tonight. “Come on, Brandt, you’re going to have to be ready for this.”
I let her drag me away, trusting that my brothers would handle the body properly. We would have to come up with yet another story for the human world as to why we’d lost a second clan member in a week.
“You know, he was the one who found me,” Emma said as we entered the house.
“What?”
“Dixon. He found me in Colorado and told me about your dad.”
I froze, not sure how I felt about that. “But I told him to stop looking.”
Emma smiled up at me. “When did Dixon ever listen to anyone but your dad. Besides, I’m glad he disobeyed you.”
My chest relaxed a little bit recognizing that Emma was here to stay. She might not have said it, but I could tell. I knew her well enough.
Within thirty minutes, our house was full of bear shifters. As was customary, everyone came, including the cubs. We gathered around the food table still sitting there after the wake. Emma set up the coffee with the help of Elizabeth and Tammy, the only two unmated females left in our clan. That would be another task of the alpha…making sure they were mated sooner rather than later.
I sighed for the thousandth time today, parts of me wishing I could run away like Emma had. Maybe the two of us could go together. I would refuse the alpha position, leave Alaska, and make a home for both of us. That dream kept my spirit up while I watched the room divided itself into two sides.
Derrick walked up behind me chewing on an apple. “This isn’t going to be as straight forward as I’d hoped.”
“What do you mean?”
“You can see the division. They’re going to challenge you. I almo
st guarantee it.”
He chomped away as I surveyed our clan. I’d suspected as much but hoped for a better outcome. Especially after the events of today. “Then let them challenge,” I said softly. “It’s why we select the way we do.”
One of our dominant males, Zane, caught my attention and yelled out in front of everyone, “Where’s Dixon?”
Everyone stopped talking and all eyes focused on me and Derrick. I had no doubt they could sense my sadness and anger just by the way some of them reacted before I even spoke a word. “He’s dead.”
“I thought I smelled blood.”
“Oh my god.”
“Why aren’t we safe anymore?”
That last comment was from Joshua, the “leader” of a group of bears I was sure planned on challenging me. “I’ll tell you why,” he continued, stepping forward in the middle of the room and demanding attention. “Because it’s time for the Callaghan’s to step aside and allow a more competent family to lead you all.”
“Your family?” someone else asked sarcastically.
Joshua growled and tossed a glare at him. “Perhaps, yes.”
“What happened to Dixon?” Zane asked, ignoring Joshua’s attempt to stir up the crowd.
I stepped down into the living room. Derrick followed and Bo and Brennan closed in my flank. “He was murdered. Left outside this house skinned and beheaded.”
“What the fuck,” Zane growled.
“Who did it?”
“We don’t know for sure—”
“There was a note with a single wolf print on it,” Brennan cut in. I glared at him but he ignored me. “We’re already investigating.”
“Do you really think the Tik’a pack did this?” Elizabeth spoke up, showing me that she had a lot of potential as a strong mate.
“No,” I said.
“Bull shit,” Joshua shouted over top of me. “They kill two of us in a week and leave a fucking note and you don’t think it’s them?” He turned back to the rest of the clan. “We need to end this. Now!”
Many members, more than I would have liked, started to cheer. Emma walked over to my side and rested her hand on my back. It was the encouragement I needed to stay strong and focused. “Now is not the time to start a war in our backyard,” I said.
“War is already here,” Joshua yelled. “First your father and now Dixon. Who’s next?” Again he faced his supporters. “We need an alpha who will protect us at all costs. Not try to negotiate with murderers.”
Bo sauntered over and stood right in front of Joshua. The tall man looked down at him in surprise but didn’t move. “I nominate Brandt Callaghan to the position of alpha.”
“I second,” someone said.
“And I nominate Joshua Housten to the position of alpha.” Zane spoke with confidence but his eyes held fear when he met my gaze.
“I second.” Joshua’s mate, Eliza, said.
I ground my jaw together but tried not to react. “Any other nominations?” I asked.
People looked around the room, waiting for someone else to step forward. But it was obvious relatively quickly that no one dared enter this contest.
Brennan cleared his throat. “As per tradition, a nominee must have ample support to participate in this challenge. Please choose.”
I moved to one side of the room and Joshua to the other. One by one, each bear stepped in the middle and then took their place by our sides. The division was about what I had expected. My father had made some of our members angry with his restrictions and rules and those bears decided it was time for a new face of leadership. But one bear surprised us all. Julia, Joshua’s daughter, was one of the last to go. She had spent a lot of time with me and Emma over her teenage years. And as she wavered from side to side on her feet, struggling with her decision, I felt as proud of her as a father would. She was coming into her own and she wanted to make her own decision. The fear was written all over her face, but then she straightened her shoulders and joined my side of the room.
Some couldn’t hide their gasps and Joshua didn’t even try to hide his growl. “Get over here,” he commanded.
“No,” Julia said with a shaky voice. “I choose Brandt for alpha.”
“Get. Over. Here.” Joshua’s skin rippled with his grizzly.
“I won’t,” Julia whispered.
“She’s allowed to choose on her own,” I said. “Every single one of us has that right.”
Again, Joshua growled, a feral sound coming from his human mouth. But he didn’t argue. If he was going to be alpha, he needed to show that he would uphold our traditions.
Three more bears chose and then Emma stepped forward. “No way!” Joshua objected. “She is not a part of this clan anymore!”
Emma visibly cringed and my bear jumped into my throat. “She is my mate.”
“She left you.”
I stepped forward, only seeing red, but Bo and Brennan each grabbed one of my arms to stop me from tearing into Joshua right now. “She is my mate.”
“It’s okay, Brandt.” Emma held out her hand. “You know where I stand.”
“No!” I shouted. “You are a part of this clan and you will be allowed to choose.”
“If she chooses, I will fight you right now,” Joshua challenged. He bared is teeth, showing me how serious he was.
“Sounds good to me,” I growled. The bones in my arms started to twitch, readying themselves for a change. This was not the way a challenge was supposed to happen but I didn’t care. I wanted to kill Joshua for his attack on Emma.
“Brandt, no!” Emma stayed in the middle of the room but only faced me. “This is not the way to do this.” Then she turned to Joshua. “I support Brandt.” With that, she walked away and disappeared into the hallway that led to the bedrooms.
Joshua had the nerve to laugh and I almost lost it again. But Bo held me tight and when Brennan left my side, Derrick took his place as my restrainer.
“The challenge will occur in two days. The place to be determined by the challenger. Joshua?” Brennan asked.
“The clearing on the west side.”
Brennan nodded. “The challenge for alpha will take place at Rainbow Meadow in two nights. It is only to occur between Brandt and Joshua and will go until someone succumbs or until death.” Brennan shook his head before continuing. “By rules of the clan, no one will interfere without the penalty of abolishment.”
Everyone nodded, fully understanding the importance of this challenge. The clan was evenly divided which didn’t bode well for those left on the losing side in a few days. But that would be yet another task the alpha would have to deal with.
“Dixon’s funeral will be announced as soon as we deal with the sheriff’s office.”
His tone implied that we were all dismissed but no one moved until Joshua finally decided to leave. He brushed past me, nudging my shoulder like a schoolyard bully. I didn’t react even though Bo and Derrick were ready to hold me back again. Joshua was taller than me but I had more muscles. And my bear was bigger.
As everyone finally left, only Julia and my closest friends remained. “Brandt, can I stay here the next two nights?” she asked.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” I said.
“He’s not going to let it slide,” she whispered.
My stomach twisted for her. I had been lucky enough to be raised by a father who disciplined only when necessary. It was rumored that Joshua beat every single one of his children into submission. And I had no doubt that’s how he planned on running our clan.
Tammy stepped up and wrapped her arm over Julia’s shoulder. “You know what? Why don’t you come stay with me? I have a spare bedroom and just got a new comforter set.”
Julia smiled and I thanked Tammy for the save. Of course I wouldn’t mind Julia staying here, but that wasn’t the best idea given the challenge situation. As I watched the two of them leave, a new round of dread tore up my stomach. “This is going to get ugly,” I mumbled to Bo.
“You shouldn’
t worry. He’s a brawler. You’re a smart fighter. It will be over before it even begins.”
I could only wish I had that much confidence right now. “Where’s Emma?”
“She went for a walk,” Derrick said.
I didn’t know how he knew that exactly but the fear that she wouldn’t come back suddenly stabbed at my bear. “I should go find her.”
“No,” Brennan said. “We need to work on finding out who’s killing our people.”
“Well you seem to have an opinion,” I snapped.
“I don’t think it was the Tik’a pack, but I don’t know who else it might be.”
Rubbing my hand through my hair, I shook my head and cracked my neck. “Fine,” I grumbled. I’d work with Brennan now and find Emma in a little bit.
I tossed and turned for hours. Knowing that Brandt was somewhere in this house ate at me like a raging bear. But also knowing that my presence was going to cause him problems had me hiding in my room most of the evening.
Until I couldn’t stand it anymore.
My bear paced inside, agitated for more reasons than I understood. She wanted her mate. Her mate was hurting and that was all that mattered to her. So after debating my next move for twenty minutes, I slipped out of the bedroom and crept up the stairs.
It was almost three in the morning and the main floor of the house was quiet. Too quiet. I made my way into the kitchen and poured a glass of milk. Digging through the pantry, I hit the jackpot when I found some cookies. With the pack in one hand and my milk in the other, I looked out the large windows taking up most of the wall over the kitchen sink. And that’s when I saw it. A light from the floors above me meant someone else was up.
I climbed the stairs slowly, trying not to make too much noise. I didn’t know why, it just felt like the right thing to do. The second floor was quieter than the first, but I heard the rustling of papers coming from Blaze’s office at the very top.
Light crept out from the small crack in the door like a beacon calling to me. Brandt’s scent filled the air and my bear asked me to rush forward. Instead, I slipped down the small hallway and gently pressed open the door.
Brandt sat in the middle of the floor, papers surrounding him. He’d pushed all of the furniture to the side of the room next to the book shelf and had apparently emptied every filing cabinet of its contents. He looked up at me with tired eyes when I stepped inside the room. “Couldn’t sleep?”
Obeying the Bear: BBW Paranormal Shapeshifter Romance (The Callaghan Clan Book 1) Page 5