by Alanea Alder
"Aleks."
"Yeah, baby," he replied.
"I'd like to report a hit and run," a soft feminine voice said. Aleks's eyes flew open and there, standing before him, her head tilted to one side, was his mate. She looked down at his crotch, her eyes widened, and a red blush worked its way up her neck to her cheeks finally tinting the tips of her ears.
He scooted so that his legs were under his desk obscuring his lower half. Her words sunk in, he stood up and flew around the desk. He lifted her up placing her down in his chair.
"God! Are you okay? Where were you hit? Why aren't you at the clinic? You need to go to the clinic!" He stood unsure whether he should pick her up. What if she had a neck injury? Why in the hell was she up and walking around?
"Yes, you see, last night I was minding my business at the diner, trying to eat dinner. When this man came in, kissed me until I was unconscious, then left. That has to be at least a felony, right?" she asked, her eyes blinking up at him innocently.
Aleks felt relief pour through him at her words. She was okay. She hadn't been hit by a car. He sat down in the chair across from her and leaned forward his elbows on his knees and his eyes on the floor.
"I'm extremely sorry about that. It wasn't like me at all. I was hoping we could forget about it," he said.
"Did you mistake me for someone else?" she asked, frowning.
"Uh... no," he answered, looking down at his hands.
"It was an amazing kiss. It seems a shame to forget it. No. I don't think I will. In fact, I think I want another one," she said shyly.
His head snapped up and she was standing in front of him. Even with him seated in the chair and her standing he was almost taller than she was. She stepped between his knees, leaned down, and pressed her lips to his.
Her scent filled his nostrils, and his hands automatically came up as if with a mind of their own to cup her firm ass. She moaned and leaned into him. He stood pulling her up into his arms before wrapping her legs around his waist. He could smell her arousal and knew if he dipped his hands into her jeans that her panties would be soaked through. He needed her. He needed her more than he needed his next breath.
Holding her up with one hand, he wiped his desk clear with the other then laid her down on the dark walnut desktop. Without taking his lips from hers, he cupped her mound through her jeans. She moaned loudly and ground her hips against him, needing more friction. He made quick work of her jean buttons and pulled the denim past her rounded hips and down her thighs where they pooled at her knees. He ran his fingers through her folds to find them dripping wet. He pulled back from their kiss and sucked his fingers into his mouth.
"You taste like the sweetest honey. I can't wait to have more," he said, smiling.
She groaned and tried to open her legs wider for him but was trapped by her jeans. He smiled wickedly.
He pulled her sweater and tee shirt up, exposing a simple white lace bra. He smiled and lowered his lips to the hint of pink he saw flashing at him through the lace. When his mouth found his prize, she screamed out and bucked against his hand. He ran his fingers over her clit before plunging one finger into her silken channel. She cried out as her body began to shake. He continued to pull on her breast and grind his hand between her legs until her hips stopped moving against him and her breathing slowed. He felt his bear calm down as he breathed in her scent. Unable to control it, their souls came closer together.
"Wow," she said simply, smiling up at him drowsily.
"Ohhh Aleks! I come with coffee and pastries to help your hangover." A voice called from the door. Connor appeared in the doorway. "Shit! Sorry! I didn't see anything!" He dropped the bag of pastries on the floor and took off at a run.
Despite the awkward position she found herself in, Rebecca started to giggle. Aleks looked down at her dancing eyes and he smiled. He helped her sit up and right her clothes.
"What about you? Your, um, you know?" she said, pointing at his crotch. His cock felt like it was about to rip through his pants.
"Honey, if my pants come off, you'll find yourself in a more compromising position than the one my brother found you in." He smiled at her.
Her eyes widened and her mouth formed a small 'O'. Then, in a flash, the look of innocence turned to one of pure mischievousness.
"Really?" she asked.
Aleks just shook his head. Maybe he wouldn't hurt her, because she was well on her way to killing him.
She sat down and watched him pick up his desk items, putting them back in certain positions on his desk. "Now what?" she asked. " I don't really go around having orgasms on men's desks."
He growled low and swung around. "No man gets to do that but me," he growled out.
Her eyes met his squarely. "So we're dating?" she asked.
"No," he said shortly. He ran a hand through his hair. His best intentions were shot to hell. He immediately felt guilty for what just happened.
"So we're not dating?" she asked hesitantly.
"No," he said again. He may have slipped up, but he needed to keep the bigger picture in mind. He needed to keep her safe even if it was from himself.
She wrapped her arms around her body. He hated to see what was clearly a defensive position.
He took a deep breath and concentrated on what as important, keeping his tiny mate safe and in one piece. He turned his back to her so she wouldn't see him waver.
"Okay then, um, goodbye I guess." She stood and walked out the door.
He'd live a lifetime of hell to keep her alive.
*****
This had not turned out the way she imagined. She thought as her mate, he would realize how much they belonged together and he would get down on his knees and pledge his love. She shook her head. Okay, maybe not that, but she thought they would at least get together. She hadn't expected his out-and-out rejection.
When she turned back, he still stood beside his desk, not moving, his back to her. She walked out of the building and was wiping at her eyes when she ran into Connor, who was waiting outside the front door. His eyes were kind, and she knew he heard what Aleks said.
He nodded and went into the station. She followed silently, knowing it was wrong to eavesdrop, but wanting to hear what Aleks would say.
"Dude, what the fuck?" she heard Connor demand, only slightly muffled by the cracked door.
"I don't need her. I need a shifter female who can give me cubs. I can't be mated to a human," Aleks said harshly.
"If you don't grab her, someone else will, someone like Liam, who can appreciate a good-looking, sweet, and adorable woman like Rebecca!" Connor yelled.
She covered her mouth with her hand and ran back to Leona's. Being alone was a thousand times better than meeting your soul mate and having him rip your heart out.
She kept her head down as she made her way back to the familiar bed and breakfast. She hurried up the wooden steps of the porch and rushed inside accidentally slamming the door into the wall in her hurry to get inside.
"What in the world?" Leona asked, walking into the foyer from the front room. She took one look at her and shook her head. "Come here baby girl." Rebecca flew into her open arms. "He hates me!" she wailed as Leona steered her to the comfortable den. Only after she was settled into the sofa with a hot cup of tea did Rebecca tell the understanding older shifter what happened.
Leona ran her hand over Rebecca's hair.
"Give him time, baby girl. He didn't mean that he didn't want you. He always thought that his mate would be a shifter," Leona explained softly.
"What about me? I had to adapt to knowing shifters existed and then finding out I was mated to one. I think I'm doing really well." She sniffled into her sleeve.
Leona reached over to the side table, grabbed a tissue and handed it to her.
"I think there is more to his story than any of us knows. But I have a feeling that before all is said and done, you will know why. Now, instead of moping around here, why don't you head to the diner? Everyone will still be there
for their breakfast, their second breakfast, or early lunch. You can meet some more of the townspeople." She patted Rebecca's shoulder.
"Okay, though I don't feel like being social," she said, sitting up.
"Go have fun, baby girl. Remember you aren't mated yet, and there are some fine-looking men in this town. There is nothing wrong with looking and flirting. Ask me how I know," Leona said with a wink.
Rebecca smiled slowly.
"You're right. Be back later." She got up, headed toward the door before turning back to give Leona a hug.
"Thanks," she said simply.
"Anytime, baby girl. Now go have fun."
CHAPTER THREE
Aleks paced back and forth in his office. How did she know that flea-bitten no-good alley cat? She had only been in town overnight. Liam wouldn't say no to his sweet Rebecca. That man couldn't keep his dick in his pants. Rebecca wouldn't know what he was like. He growled and paced some more.
"If the growling is because of me, I'm sorry for bursting in on you earlier, but in my defense the door was unlocked," Connor said from the doorway.
"How does Rebecca know Liam?" Aleks asked.
Connor frowned. "They met last night at the diner. He said something about putting a bell around her neck like a kitten."
He saw Connor jump as he released rage filled roar. He felt his canines drop and hands extend into claws as his brother's face noticeably whitened. When Aleks moved toward the door, Connor intercepted him, wrapping his arms around his brother's waist. "Aleks, control yourself! You're losing your shit here. If Ma sees you walking around town like this, she'll skin you alive." Connor was hanging on, and even at his height and weight Aleks dragged him toward the door in the effort to get his hands on Liam.
"She's mine! Mine!" Aleks growled.
"I thought you decided to let her go," Connor reminded him, still holding on.
"I did!" Aleks said, his breathing slowing down. Connor waited until his claws had retracted before letting him go.
"Then what's the problem?" Connor asked as they both sat down.
"My bear wants her bad. I can feel him clawing at me to go to her, to put my mark on her and claim her," Aleks said, balling his hands into fists.
"Then I ask again, what's the problem?"
"The fucking problem is I have seen firsthand what one of our kind can do to a human. Derek and I..." He swallowed hard.
"Your partner from when you were living in Raleigh?" Connor asked.
Aleks nodded. "He and I were called in for a reported domestic violence call. It was routed to us since the residence belonged to a wolf-shifter and we worked in the shifter-only unit. When we got there the male opened the door and just walked us to the back room. She... she..." Aleks ran his hands over his face. "She was broken. Her right arm had been dislocated and nearly torn from the socket. Her pelvis had been crushed, and she had obviously torn during sex. Her legs were a bloody mess. He just stood there so completely out of it. My partner cuffed him and got him in the car. I waited for forensics then we left. He's in jail, but she's dead. I can't get her out of my mind. She was bigger and taller than Rebecca. If that could happen to her with a wolf, what damage could I do to tiny Rebecca as a bear?" Aleks stared down at his desk.
"Did you tell Ma or Pa about this?" Connor asked.
"No, I couldn't think about it anymore," Aleks said.
"That's why you left Raleigh and came home, isn't it?" Connor asked.
Aleks nodded. "I figured there were no humans here to get hurt like that," Aleks said.
"I only have one question. Were they mates?" Connor asked.
"What the hell difference does that make?" Aleks demanded. "She didn't deserve to die that way, whether they were mates or not," he said.
"Were they mates?" Connor repeated.
"I don't think so," Aleks said.
"I can tell you that they weren't based on what you said. What male looks down at his mate and sees that kind of damage and has the cognitive ability to call the cops? If they had been mates you would have been called in due to the sound of gunshots fired, from him blowing his head off. No male could live with the knowledge that he brutalized his female and killed her. He would be chasing her soul into the hereafter begging for forgiveness," Connor said heatedly.
"What's your point?" Aleks asked.
"My point is this. Picture Rebecca. She's smiling at you, right. She grabs your arm to pull you along then she trips and you reach out to right her." Connor paused. Aleks nodded.
"Now picture her arm bruised at your hand." Connor said this flatly. Aleks's head snapped up.
"How do you feel?" Connor asked.
"Like someone has kicked me in the balls, like I'm going to be sick, and I want to cry like a baby," Aleks told his brother, knowing he would never admit this to anyone outside his family.
"Aleks, don't you see? That's from thinking of a bruise. You are her mate. You were designed and born to love and care for this one female. It's in you, right down to your DNA to keep her safe. Do you really think that Fate would put you with a female whose presence caused you both pain?" Connor asked softly.
"You really don't think I'll hurt her," Aleks said.
"No" Connor said.
Aleks started to smile. "I can claim her," he announced.
Connor nodded.
"I can claim her," he repeated excitedly.
Connor laughed "Yes sir, you can."
Aleks stood. "I'm going to claim her. Where is she?"
Connor pulled out his cell phone and his fingers flew as he sent a text. "I'm checking with Benedict, he's helping out at the diner today." A second later he grimaced at the response.
"She's at the diner talking with Liam." Connor quickly moved out of his brother's way.
Aleks rushed out the door. "I'll kill that son of a bitch if he touches her."
* * * *
"Liam! Put me down!" Rebecca giggled as Liam lifted her up his hands under her arms and swung her around over his head.
"I can't help it. You are so small it's like lifting a feather." He wiggled her around.
"You are courting death," Kate said as she started her fourth waffle.
"I'm not afraid of that grouch," Liam said, tossing her up then catching her. She squealed.
"Aleks will maul you like the bear he is, my friend," Bran said, his arm casually draped around Kate's shoulders. Rebecca found out that since neither of them could cook, they were both frequent patrons of the diner. Bran said he had to make sure his mate was well fed.
"Shush!" Kate said, looking at Rebecca. Bran's eyes widened. Rebecca smiled, figuring out why they looked so guilty.
"It's okay, I know you're shifters," Rebecca said as Liam swung her around. He paused.
"You're okay with us being shifters?" Ma asked from behind the counter.
"I kinda thought Leona was a bit crazy when she told me," Rebecca started.
"She is one of a kind." Ma chuckled.
Rebecca smiled and nodded. Liam had settled her on his lap.
"But no, I don't mind. I mean you're not all that different than me." She fought the urge to roll her eyes as nearly every patron hid a smile at her declaration.
"Aleks is lucky to have you," Bran said.
Rebecca looked down at her twisting hands. "He doesn't want me. He said we weren't dating and that he didn't want a human. He wanted a shifter female to give him cubs. So I don't think he has me at all," she whispered softly.
Kate growled in her throat. "Ma, what is that boy's problem?"
Ma shook her head. "He's working through some things. Don't worry, Rebecca darling. He will come around. I didn't raise stupid boys. He'll realize how special you are."
"Y'all are the kindest people I have ever met. I feel real lucky to have come here. Almost like finding lost family," Rebecca said, smiling at Kate.
Kate sniffled. Bran cuddled her close. "I can't help it. She's just so sweet," Kate said.
"She's so sweet I could eat her up," Liam said, nuz
zling her neck, trying to lighten the mood.
A low ominous growl filled the diner. Everyone turned to see an extremely pissed-off bear standing in the doorway.
Rebecca, remembering Aleks's words just that morning, wrapped her arms around Liam's neck. She felt him tense for just a second then he relaxed. She would have to find a way to make this up to him. He was willing to go along with whatever she did and was rapidly becoming best-friend material.
"Get your goddamn hands off my mate!" Aleks roared.
"Aleks, language!" Ma yelled.
Rebecca shook her head. "You don't want me, remember. I'm not good enough for you. You want a shifter for a mate, not a lowly human." Her eyes stung, and she turned her face into Liam's shoulder.
She heard Liam hiss at Aleks over her head.
"Cat, you have five seconds to hand over my mate before I rip you apart," Aleks said, stalking forward. He was brought up short as Rebecca turned and met his eyes. She could practically see his rage drain away when faced with her pain.
She hopped off of Liam's lap and walked over to Aleks. Instinctively Aleks took a step backward.
"No. You. Will. Not!" She repeatedly poked her finger into his abdomen where she could reach him. "You had your chance. I literally gave myself to you on a silver platter, and you threw me away. Go find the shifter wife that you want."
"Baby, please listen. I..." Aleks started.
"No, I won't listen. You were so afraid to hurt me physically you never stopped to think if you were hurting me any other way. You ripped my heart out, Aleks. Maybe it wouldn't hurt so bad if I didn't know we were meant to be together. If you were just a random guy I liked who rejected me I could just walk away, but you're not. You're my soul mate, and you don't want me. How can anyone love me if you don't?" she said, her voice breaking.