by Holley Trent
He undressed and crouched low, ready to let his inner bear work his way to the surface.
Shifting outside of the full moon was always a slow, painful venture, but Bryan had taught him to make the searing aches a kind of fuel—to use the discomfort as impetus to hit harder and win the fight so it was all worth it.
So as he gritted through the feeling of his body twisting and turning as if it were being pulled inside out and then incinerated, his thoughts were of victory. He’d be cruel if he had to be. He had far fewer hang-ups in his bear form than he did when he was on two legs.
He stalked into the woods, scanning the shadows and patches of lights, and let his nose guide him. His ears, too.
The other bear’s rattling growl was a warning, but it couldn’t keep Eric away. Eric was dominant. He didn’t have to see that other bear to know that. That other beast smelled of pheromones and too much adrenaline. The mating season was taking its toll, muddling his hormone cocktail.
While Eric might have been somewhat affected by the season himself, he still had his wits about him. He wasn’t going to do anything rash, and especially not with Maria so close.
The other bear stalked forward, teeth bared and a foreboding rumble coming from his chest.
Eric moved forward, too, silently approaching and silently warning him away. I’m dominant. Get back.
That bear didn’t want a fight. He was a little smaller than Eric, and his fur already a bit mangled as if he’d been on the wrong side of battles too many times already. A long, vicious scar on the bear’s snout and the others along the side of his face were familiar to Eric. The pattern looked like the one on his back from where he’d been mauled by one of Gene’s bears.
They’d gotten the guy right across the face.
The bear’s low growl changed a bit, became a bit more broken, shuddering.
His shoulders shook and he sung out a long, sorrowful note before collapsing onto his belly and putting down his head.
What the fuck?
Hoping he didn’t regret it later, Eric took a few steps back and shifted into his man’s shape as quickly as he could. Bryan had always said, “Trust the bear’s instincts. He’s right even when it doesn’t feel good for him to be.” Eric would have to believe that.
He’d only have a few minutes. His body would demand that he rest, and if he didn’t, he’d fall wherever he was until he’d recovered. He was hoping he wasn’t making a mistake.
As he shifted, so did the other bear.
Naked and sobbing, the stranger knelt there on the forest floor. Eric dragged him up to his feet and moved him toward the motel, calling out, “Maria!”
He’d barely gotten the two of them to the door she opened before he collapsed, and the broken man along with him.
The last thing he heard was Nina shouting, “Marty!”
Of course. Marty.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
The last shifter Maria had seen sob so much was the teen Were-bear Chauncey, and given his rough childhood in Gene’s company, he certainly had good enough reasons to be a little unhinged. Marty, though, took the cake. Between his thick accent and all the sniffling, she couldn’t make out half of what he was saying.
Lacing her fingers together, she canted her head and just stared at him while he rambled, occasionally cutting her gaze to Eric who lounged on one of the questionably clean beds pinching the bridge of his nose and obviously trying to stave off sleep. It had taken him an hour to wake up from his forced shift back to his man’s shape, and Marty three hours, but both really needed to rest. They couldn’t, though, until they got to the bottom of some things.
Maria snatched up her phone when it rang and put it to her ear. “Dana?”
“Yep. I’ve got Bryan. Want to do video so Marty can see him?”
“Sure.” Maria tapped the necessary parts of the screen and turned her phone so Marty could see the folks back in Asheville and they could see him.
Nina sidled over to Maria and crouched so her face was level with the screen. “Hi, Bryan.”
“Hey, midget. You okay?”
“Yeah.”
“Good. I’ll talk to you in a little while.”
“When will I get to see Mommy?”
“Soon, I hope. We’ve just got to make sure no one’s following you except Marty, okay?”
“Okay.” Nina rejoined Gabe on the bed and clutched her new pillow to her chest.
Marty dragged his shirtsleeve across his runny nose.
“You know I’m gonna kick your ass, right?” Bryan asked him.
“I didn’t know what else to do.”
“You could have come to me before this shit happened.”
“I was being watched.”
“Why?”
“’Cause Gene didn’t think my allegiances were clear. How could they be? I’m married to your cousin.”
“So, what, he forced you to snatch the kids and go to prove whose side you were on?”
“No, he didn’t want proof of that. It was more like do it or die.”
Nina started wailing behind Maria.
Gabe sighed.
Maria turned around to see Gabe pulling Nina by the hand into the adjoining room, mumbling assurances that everything was okay.
Damn.
She wanted to go to them, but she couldn’t be everywhere at once. She needed to be in on that call. After all, that was part of her job.
She looked back at Eric who was straightening up and rubbing his eyes. Hopefully they’d be able to get out of there in time for the kids and their mother to catch their flight.
“You couldn’t have called?” Bryan asked Marty.
“How could I? All my calls get logged. I wanted to get one of those no-contract phones so I could get in touch from work when I’m there alone, but I can’t go anywhere with anything but a wallet lately. I get patted down every time they see me.” He sniffled. “It’s not just me. Folks are too scared to say anything. It’s like Gene has eyes everywhere and you can’t get away with anything.”
“He doesn’t have eyes everywhere,” Maria said. “He’s just playing you and making you fear each other.”
Bryan grunted. “That’s the way it’s been since Gene took over. He’s always had a tight inner circle and then everyone else was kept in line by fear. He’s not doing things for everyone equally, so there has to be a large percentage of people who aren’t so invested in keeping him in the alpha role.”
“If people would just stop complying, his life would be a lot more difficult,” Maria said.
“That’s the rub,” Bryan said. “You gotta get to folks and tell them that, and that instead of snitching on each other and backstabbing, that they should turn a blind eye to some things or to just not act.”
“Don’t even know where everyone is at this point,” Marty said. “Used to be we were more or less isolated around Asheville, but then Gene started joining up with his contacts in Jersey and he’s moving pawns around so much. It’d be hard to get word to everyone.”
Eric let out a ragged breath.
The bed creaked and Maria looked back to see him getting to his feet. Shirtless and with his pants only halfway zipped, he lumbered around to the phone and crouched to be in view of Bryan. “Maybe we can make a message go viral the old-fashioned way.”
“I’m listening,” Bryan said.
“I’m talkin’ real low-key. No phones. No Internet. Not even word of mouth.”
“Are you talking about passing notes like we did in fifth grade?”
“Yep. Kind of like Marty did, but less specific. You encounter a Bear in public that you know, what’s the first thing you’re gonna do?”
“If you like them,” Marty said, “you’re going to go over to them and shake their hand or give them a high-five.”
“Right. And it’s easy to avoid suspicion when you’re slapping something small and discreet into someone else’s hand. We could probably write something concise that’s still really impactful. Something that tells
folks what to do or stop doing and why they should do it. They can pass it along to the next person and write it out for more people.”
“But what if you slap that paper into the hand of someone who’s not as sympathetic as you hoped?” Maria asked.
Eric shrugged. “People are going to have to use their best judgment and not tip anyone off who they know is going to run right to Gene.”
“And there’s no reason you can’t personalize them a little, you know?” Marty said. “If you see a Bear’s car on the other side of the parking lot and he’s left his window open, you can toss a note in and tell him imagine if it were his kids or his sister. Tell him that it doesn’t hurt him to not give chase. To not tell. Gene won’t know who to blame for one Bear’s trouble if no other Bear steps up to give him information.”
“Your coordinates were helpful, Marty,” Bryan said. “How were you able to get that information, though?”
Marty let out a shuddering breath. “I was”—he cringed—“am on the inside because Gene’s been lusting after my sister for three years. He’s wanted her for one of his unhappy whores. Fortunately, she got deported last week. Gene can’t make threats against her to keep me in line anymore. He doesn’t know she’s gone yet.”
Maria put her head back, closed her eyes, and tried to push down the rage.
Disgusting pig. Perverted narcissist.
He needed killing, and Maria wasn’t going to feel any guilt if she were the one who got to do the job.
She started at the press of a calloused hand to her throat, and settled immediately when her nose registered the familiar earthy scent as Eric’s.
He rubbed up her neck to her chin and tipped it back down, refocusing her, or at least trying to.
“Where is my wife?” Marty sniffled again. “I need my wife.”
Bryan furrowed his brow and leaned his chin atop his balled fists.
“Please, don’t keep me from her.”
“You’re the one who left her,” Bryan said. “I know you’re in a tough place right now, but it’s hard for me to be particularly chatty about where she might happen to be when you snatched her kids from her and tried to hide outside of their home territory. Those kids are born-Bears. They’re not Gene’s. They’re my clan. My responsibility.”
“I love her.”
Bryan shrugged. “Hey. I believe you do. She’s probably the only woman you’ve ever been with, and I’m sure she’s imprinted heavily onto you. I’ve just got to be careful, because this isn’t just about Keely, but also Gabe and Nina.”
“You’re going to take them away from me.”
“Marty, you took them away. You want them back, you’re gonna have to earn them. And how the hell did you find them, anyway?”
“Followed as long as I could as bear. Couldn’t keep up, but there’s not much out here. I figured if they were going to stop, there were only a few places that were likely.”
Eric groaned. “If he found us like that, then it’s likely others can, too.”
Bryan grunted. “Especially since he’s probably dragged his scent all over that corner of the state. It’ll disperse, eventually, and no one will pick up the trail, but you need to get the hell out of there and break up your trail.”
“How?” Eric asked.
Bryan put up his hands. “If you’re in a vehicle, you’re not going to leave much behind. So, look. Do me a favor. Get out of there, go anywhere else, and don’t get out of the RV unless you have my permission. If you need to get anything, send Maria out for it.”
“What are we going to do with Marty?” Maria asked.
At the sound of creaking wood, she turned to see the Gabe leaning against the doorframe and watching them expectantly.
“Take Marty with you. Just don’t rendezvous yet. I’ll let Keely know what’s happening and let her make the decision as to whether or not he can come to her.”
“When will you let me know?” Marty asked. “I want my mate.”
“Yeah, bud, I’m sure you do. Feeling is probably mutual for her, so you’ll have to excuse me if I ask to tap the brakes on this thing and ensure she’s making decisions from the right place.”
“Okay,” Marty said. “Thank you.”
Maria turned the phone around and Tamara leaned into the view of Bryan’s camera. “Can Eric drive?”
Eric scoffed.
“I take that to mean no.”
“I just shifted back three hours ago, Tamara.”
“Should have taken you longer to recover.”
“I’m not recovered.”
“You got up. Close enough.”
“I’m not sure I understand the suspicion in your tone.”
Tamara shrugged and backed away from the camera. “Just trying to make sense of you. Doc’s probably going to want to have a look when you get back.”
Maria could barely control her laugh. The situation wasn’t funny at all, but it was true that if the Shrews’ shared doctor thought Eric was weird for a made-Bear, she was going to want to study him. She was kind and gentle about it, but dogged in her pursuit of answers. The Shrews had a habit of ignoring her calls. Doc always caught up to them and made them submit.
Bryan looked off-screen, ostensibly at Tamara. “You think it could be because of affiliation?”
“Why the hell would I know that, baby? I know fuck-all about shifting. Ask my father. He’s the encyclopedia of shapeshifter information.”
“Call him for me?”
“Okay.”
Bryan locked his gaze on his phone screen again. “Tam’s gonna send you a route to somewhere based on your current location. To you, Maria, I guess, since you’re the only one who’s reliable to drive right now. Eric, get some sleep if you can—at least two or three good hours. Hopefully, by the time you get to where we’re sending you, we’ll have a more concrete plan.” Bryan stabbed his finger toward the camera. “Do not shift again unless you’re under duress. Either of you.”
Eric rolled his eyes, and Marty cringed.
“I wish I couldn’t shift at all,” Marty said. “I wish I could have this taken away. I don’t want it. I never wanted it.”
“Unfortunately, you’re stuck with it,” Bryan said softly. “Maybe it’s not the life you wanted, but try to find some good in it.”
“My wife and those kids are the only good things in it. I don’t have anything else left. Gene took it all.”
Damn.
If that wasn’t a cry out for running away and starting fresh somewhere no one would follow, Maria didn’t know what was.
He needed to be with his wife, and the little family could all set out for Alaska for new, Gene-free adventures. They had to be sure they could trust him first, though, and that he didn’t have any tricks up his sleeves or a trap set for them.
Maria didn’t think he did, though. Now that he was a bit calmer, she could read his emotional state, and it was clear and unconfused.
He was genuinely frightened, and not because of Maria and Eric, but because of the uncertainty. Something he wanted so badly was being kept from him, and part of that was his own fault. The rest was out of his hands, and he didn’t like feeling so helpless—like he had no say in what would come of his life.
“You just keep your nose clean, Marty, and we’ll make sure nothing else happens to you. You help us, we’ll help you.”
His eyes flashed wide and he drew in a breath before settling down into the chair. “The rumors of you Shrews say you’re all a little weird.”
“The rumors lied. We’re more than a little weird. Come on.” She gestured the kids into the room. “Everyone up and dressed. You heard ’em. We need to get out of here.”
And thank God. This place is gross.
Marty got the kids outside, murmuring encouraging words to them, as Eric sleepily checked under the dusty bed skirts for any left behind objects.
When he stood, she blocked his egress.
Hands on hips, she stared up at him, grinding her teeth.
“Wh
at, Shrew?”
“We need to talk about earlier.”
“Oh, you want to talk now. Funny how my tongue loosens yours.”
“Shut up. That didn’t mean anything, and that’s what I wanted you to know.”
He rolled his eyes yet again, sidled around her, and grabbed the room keys from the dresser edge. “Whatever, Maria. I’ll meet you at the RV. I’m going to go check out and tell the owner thanks but no thanks.”
“No, not whatever, I mean it. I—”
Didn’t matter. He walked away, and shouting after him was only going to cause her embarrassment with Marty and the kids being right outside the door.
Marty really seemed to like the kids. Once their initial skepticism had passed, they’d seemed very comfortable around him. Why that stunned Maria so much, she could only attribute to far too many things in far too many cases she’d worked being fucked up. She hardly recognized normalcy when she saw it anymore, and that was sad.
Her phone buzzed somewhere in the deep, dark depths of her purse as they crossed the dirt lot.
She rooted it out right after the fourth ring as Marty and the kids climbed into the RV. “Shit. Dana? You there?”
“There you are. Hey. Got some numbers for you.”
“For who?”
“Your family in Jamaica.”
“Really? Already?” Maria closed the door, leaving it cracked, and stared at the motel office door for signs of Eric.
None yet.
“Well, I had a little downtime after my appointment with Doc, and it wasn’t that hard. They’re not exactly hiding. Your grandmother is alive and is a very popular lunch vendor. She shows up in news articles from time to time.”
Maria snapped her fingers. “Yes, I remember her doing that. She used to have a cart one of my uncles would push around for her, and she sold beef patties to the tourists.”
“I think she has a slightly more permanent structure now, or at least a stall. Do you want me to text you the numbers or send them to you in an email?”
If Dana texted them, Maria would be tempted to call right out, and she had to admit she wasn’t ready for that. She needed to get her head in the right space and know what words she’d say. She’d be less likely to be rash and impulsive if the numbers were tucked away into an email.