by Celia Kyle
The cub pounced on her, heavy body landing on her chest, and licking her with that slobbery pink tongue.
It started with her face. Maybe it could crush her skull and then eat the rest of her. Yes, that’d work.
“Parker, no TV for a week, young man.” The woman was close now. No, not close, she stood right next to them. She was short, shorter than Lauren anticipated considering her yelled threats. Her small hands reached for the cub, sinking into his fur, and then the weight was gone. “I told you, we don’t jump on strangers. How many times do we have to have this conversation?” The bear whimpered and whined and Mia released the cub. Thankfully, it remained in place and didn’t make an attempt to come at Lauren again. “And don’t think we aren’t talking to your pop about this.”
The lady had the audacity to wag her finger at the cub as if it understood her. Then again, considering the animal whimpered and dropped its eyes, she figured it did. Like a child, he ran one of his front paws through the grass and digging his toes into the soft surface while whining a little more.
“Back to the house. Now.” The woman pointed up the hill and it slunk toward the corner of the house. “And Gigi better not tell me you asked for cookies, young man!” A low whine, but the woman snapped her fingers and the bear trotted out of view.
Ballsy bitch.
The woman brushed her hands together and then wiped them on her jeans before turning back toward Lauren. “Sorry about that. Parker gets excited when he meets new people.” She moved closer, extending a hand. “I’m Mia, you must be Van’s Lauren.”
She wasn’t Van’s anything. Unfortunately-ish. She still wasn’t sure if she should jump his bones or run away.
“Uh… Yes?” She reached up and shook Mia’s hand, allowing the other woman to help her stand. She pushed to her feet, ignoring the twinges of pain that came with the new injuries. She hadn’t even healed from Bryson’s tender care and now she added more.
“How are you finding our little tucked away place?”
Okay then, no explanation as to why she had a pet bear. Then again, Lauren was just a visitor.
Lauren looked toward the lake, to the area that’d drawn her from Van’s home in the first place. “It’s gorgeous.”
Mia followed her line of sight and a blush stole over her cheeks. “Yes,” she shook her head. “We have a lot of beautiful spots here. When all of this mess is over, you should have Van take you to the lake.”
“Uh…” A sting finally made itself known and she looked down at her hands, noting the scraped knuckles and blood welling. “Shit.”
“Language. Shoot and you’re bleeding. Van is gonna kick my fanny.” Mia grabbed her wrist and tugged her toward the stairs. “Let’s get this bandaged up and then we can sit and chat a little.”
“It’s fine, really.”
Mia waved her free hand. “We’re family.” She grabbed the door handle and tugged it open. “And I’ll make sure Parker comes by to apologize later.”
“Apologize?” Lauren shook her head. “How’s a bear going to apologize? And why are you keeping a bear as a pet?” Screw it, she’d approach the furry elephant in the room.
“Well… you see…”
Lauren’s attention was snared by movement near the tree line. “And wolves, too? Are you guys running a freakin’ zoo?”
* * *
Van’s bear paced inside him, snarling as it stomped from one side of his mind to the other. His animal had been on edge since he’d discovered the stained rocks. There’d been no hint of the perpetrator’s scent, but it wasn’t a stretch to believe the mayor had decided Lauren didn’t need to be alive any longer.
Asshole.
He couldn’t sit still. Like his animal, he paced the waiting area at the mayor’s office. The woman behind the massive desk at one end of the room paid them no attention as she worked at her computer and answered calls. After they gave their names, they’d ceased to exist for her.
Damn it, he was antsy, anxious to confront Davies and then send the dick to hell. Fast or slow, he didn’t care. The man had threatened his—friend, woman, mate?—and he’d pay. Actually, slow seemed the best way. He’d tie the mayor down and run his claws along the male’s skin. He’d be dead by the time Van was done, so exposing his inner-bear should be fine.
Yes, he’d cut and scrape and…
“Van,” his brother murmured.
He ceased pacing and turned to Ty. “What?”
He nearly snarled the word, but kept his beast in check. Barely.
“You need to remain calm. I allowed you to come along but,” Ty approached and flicked Van’s hand. Van’s furry, claw-tipped hand. “But you have to chill the hell out.”
He took a deep breath and asked his beast to retreat. They both wanted to gut Davies, but they couldn’t expose weres to everyone in the process. Slowly the fur receded and black nails lightened to their human hue.
“Sorry.”
“Uh-huh.” Ty folded his arms across his chest. “What’s really going on?”
“Nothing.” Nothing but the fact that he kept replaying Lauren’s death in his mind.
She would have pulled out of the driveway and noticed the brakes were a little soft, but would have brushed it aside. The truck was old as hell and she’d get the mechanic to look at it later.
It wouldn’t be until she drove over the top of the next steep hill that trouble would invade. Because when she rolled to the bottom and slowed to go around the curve, the brakes would fail. Her two ton truck would crumble the metal barrier easily and then it’d tumble to the valley below. The damned thing was old, so that meant aged seatbelts and no airbags.
By the time she got to the bottom, she’d be dead and Davies would be one happy asshole. At least until Van gutted him.
Yes, his bear was on board with that plan to gut the mayor even though Lauren was safe and sound in his home on Ty’s lands. A satisfied purr came from the bear. His den. That’s exactly where the animal wanted her. Forever.
Van’s human mind still kept trying to wrap around the idea. A human woman, in his home and by his side, forever. It had trouble reconciling his disgust and general hatred of humans with his desire for Lauren.
The phone on the secretary’s desk buzzed, drawing their attention, and she spoke into the receiver briefly before replacing it on the cradle. “Through that door.” She gestured to the opposite side of the room. “Mayor Davies will see you now.”
A growl built in Van’s chest and then a sharp thump to the middle of his forehead cut it off.
“Keep it under wraps or go back to the station,” Ty hissed at him.
Van glared at his older brother and rubbed the spot. “Damn it, Ty.”
He pushed past Ty, but he halted Van’s progress with a rough yank on his arm. His brother leaned in close. “You will keep your shit together, Enforcer.”
Van’s heart stopped for a second and then picked up double-time. He swallowed hard, demanding the bear listen. “Yes, Itan.” He held his breath as the beast inside him grumbled and finally settled. “I’ll stay calm.”
“Good.” Ty released him and moved to the door, opening it and leaving it wide so Van could follow in his wake.
Until Ty asserted his dominance over Van, he hadn’t realized how close he lingered to the edge of losing control.
He followed his Itan, because Ty truly acted as the Itan now, regardless of the circumstances.
Davies sat behind his desk, the scent of smug satisfaction filled the space. That flavor was tempered with the lingering rage permeating every surface. It wasn’t a new aroma, it wasn’t what he projected right that second, but it was recent.
It was probably from when he realized his attempt on Lauren’s life failed.
“To what do I owe the pleasure, Sheriff?” Davies rose from his chair and extended his hand toward Ty.
The Itan had no way to deny the gesture, but Van did. When Bryson reached for him, he remained motionless. The uncomfortable situation spread longer and
longer until the mayor finally gave up and shot him a glare before retaking his seat.
“Have a seat,” Bryson gestured to the two chairs before his desk.
Have a seat? How about I feed you the fucking seat, asshole?
Well, that’s what Van wanted to say. Instead, he followed his Itan’s lead and settled into one of the leather chairs.
“Did my assistant offer you any beverages? Water, coffee? I have—”
Okay, his beast was obviously not one to stand for chit-chat when its mate was threatened. “Why don’t we start with why you tried to kill Lauren Evans and move on from there?”
It was as if the whole room held its breath. Silence reigned and no one moved. He sensed his Itan’s rage and Van knew he’d be in for a big ass-kicking, but he wanted answers. He also wanted the mayor to know he knew.
Davies’s scent changed, the anger rekindling while a sliver of fear joined the aroma. Oh yes, he was very pissed he’d failed and now he wondered how they’d discovered the truth. Well, that was what the mayor’s scents told him. On the outside, the man’s smile held firm with no hint of guilt. In actuality, he feigned surprise rather well.
“Lauren? Kill her?” Bryson’s eyes were opened wide. “Murder is still illegal, Officer. Besides, I’d never think of harming anyone.”
“Not even your wife, mayor?” Ty cut in before Van could release a ball of curse-filled threats.
The mayor’s expression remained innocent. “Sheriff, you know my wife is rather clumsy.” He opened a desk drawer and withdrew a familiar sheet of paper. “As it says in this affidavit, Anna had quite a few spills this last year.” He placed it on the clean desktop and slid it toward Ty. “Here’s a copy for yourself.” Smug satisfaction filled the air.
Fucking asshole needed to die for what he did to Anna. The bear inside him snarled, agreeing with the idea. Again they wanted to go to bat for a human.
“You’re right, Mayor. I’d forgotten about that agreement.” Ty left the page on the desk.
Van nearly snorted. Forget something signed and filed so recently? Not likely.
“Good, good.” The mayor leaned back in his chair. “Now, why don’t you explain why you’re here and flinging wild accusations? I’m a public official. I take disparaging remarks against my character seriously.”
Did he take a claw to the belly seriously? That’s what Van wanted to know. He wondered how loud and hard he could make Davies cry.
“Miss Evans’s truck had its brake lines severed. Had she driven the vehicle, she more than likely would have perished in an accident.” Ty’s voice was all business.
Perished. Nice way to say murdered. Van’s skin prickled, a hint of his bear pushing past his mental barriers.
“Well, that’s horrible. What makes you think I was involved? I have to admit, as an upstanding pillar of this community, I don’t understand how suspicion could have been cast upon me.”
Because you’re an abusive asshole?
Van leaned forward in his seat. “Lauren intervened in the middle of Anna’s most recent ‘accident’ at your home.” He made air quotes with his fingers when he said accident. “You then accosted her on the street. At this time, you’re the only suspect.”
“I object to your implication.” The mayor pushed to his feet and Van did the same. His beast rode him hard, pushing and shoving, demanding they put the evil man down. That was how shifters were treated. Evil and insane? Then you’re gone. Forever.
“I object to you—”
“Object all you want. It doesn’t change the facts.” Van’s phone vibrated in his pocket, buzzing against his keys, but he ignored it. It took everything in him to not rip out the man’s throat. He’d never been this violent before, but it was Lauren…
“I—” the mayor tried again.
“Enough!” Ty cut through them and silence reigned. Well, except for the ringing of his phone once again. Ty pointed at him. “Silence.” Van seethed, but bit his tongue. He was letting his emotions, his need for Lauren’s safety, cloud his judgment. “Mister Mayor—”
Van’s phone buzzed again, earning a glare from Ty.
“Mister Mayor, there are certain facts associated with the events of the last forty-eight hours, which cast… suspicions… in your direction.” Davies opened his mouth to respond, but Ty held up a hand, forestalling his response. “It would be helpful if you could provide an accounting of your whereabouts last—”
This time, Ty’s phone rang, the jingle slicing through his speech. His brother breathed deep, his chest widening the tiniest bit as his biceps thickened. At least Van wasn’t the only one annoyed with Davies and cell phones.
“Where were you last night, Mayor?” Ty cut through the nicey-nice bullshit.
“I don’t have to account for my whereabouts to you over someone like Lauren Evans,” the man blustered.
Ty pushed to his feet and placed his fists on the desktop. “Yes, you do.”
“I’m the mayor—”
Van’s cell phone made itself known again while Ty’s phone rang for the second time. Shit. Someone wanted them.
Ignoring the stare-off in front of him, he dug into his pocket and yanked his phone free. Crap, it was his own house. He pressed the button to answer the call. “This is Van.”
“Oh, thank god.” Mia’s relief was evident in her tone. “You need to come home.” A crash sounded, something glass shattering. “Right now. Now would be really good.”
This time it was a yell, loud and long and filled with fear, and… Lauren’s.
Chapter Nine
“Wolves?” Mia seemed surprised by the question, but Lauren sensed the lie lingering beneath the surface. “What wolves?”
She gestured toward the tree line. “Over there. Gray. Big as hell.”
“Language. Heck.” Mia corrected her. “And no, no wolves or bears or hyenas… nothing.” Mia tugged her into the house. “No animals here.”
“Except your bear.” She stated the obvious while also fishing for a little more of that story.
“Huh? My bear?” She smiled. “Oh, you mean Parker. Well,” she nibbled her lower lip. “He’s special.” Mia licked her lips, a nervous tension overcoming her. “We do have a few special animals here and there.” She waved her hands. “Anyway, we were going to get you patched up. Yes.” She jerked her head in a sharp nod. “Yes, we were.”
Lauren allowed herself to be dragged into the house and toward the bedrooms. They passed the one given to Anna and then the one assigned to her. They kept going until they came to the room at the end. Mia marched in as if she owned the place. Or, as if she was a frequent visitor. Something inside Lauren twisted at the idea that Mia came and went through Van’s room.
“And here we are.” Mia tugged her into the master bathroom and then released her.
Lauren stopped and gasped. Holy cow, the room was gorgeous. The shower was large with glass walls and more showerheads than she could ever count. A massive Jacuzzi tub occupied the space beneath a huge window that looked over the open area behind the house. At this angle even more of the lake was visible, its soothing waters calling to her.
“Isn’t that gorgeous?” Mia’s question interrupted her thoughts and then the woman was beside her, the two of them staring out the window. “It’s actually got a film on it that gives a mirror-like finish to people outside while it’s only a hint of tint in here. That way you can use the tub without flashing your rear end all over the place.” She bumped Lauren’s shoulder. “A good thing with all the men around here. One of the guards got a glimpse of me and Ty went all bear fur and—” Mia coughed. “Anyway, let’s get you patched up.”
She allowed herself to be led to the counter, a long, granite slab with modern sinks and beautiful knobs. All of it, from the tile on the floor to the toilet to the sinks… it was her dream bathroom come to life.
Lauren studied the room, spying the pattern built into the shower wall, while Mia prodded and cleaned her wound. The first few brushes to remove the dirt w
eren’t so bad, but then she busted out the alcohol.
“Holy shit!” Lauren gritted her teeth, trying to bear the pain from the scrapes.
“Language.” Mia bent over her hand and she spared a glance. “Almost there.”
Hell no she wasn’t “almost there.”
“What the fuck?” She couldn’t hold the curse back. Not when the woman practically dumped the alcohol on her hand. Okay, really, it was just a soaked cotton ball, but damn.
“Freck or frog leg. We try to keep the cursing down around Parker.”
“Parker?” Another dab. “He’s a frog leg bear. What the— Woman! Get your frecking hands—”
Lauren didn’t do well with pain.
“Don’t yell at my mim!” A young boy’s voice cut into Lauren’s tirade and she just got going, too.
“No yelling, Parker.”
Parker? The woman had a kid and a bear with the same name? Where the hell did Van leave her?
“What the—” This time it was like she dug her nails into the scrape and she glared at Mia. “Ow! Quit that.”
A low growl bounced off the walls and she turned toward the source of the sound. A small, wide-eyed and definitely angry child stood in the room’s doorway.
“Parker.” Mia placed the red-hued cotton ball on the counter. “No.” The growl didn’t stop. “Parker, no!”
Lauren watched, horrified, as the next events unfolded. Sure, there was a mad little kid and then there was… She didn’t have words to describe it. He was a boy and then he had fur and dark black eyes and fingers that were paws and clothes were tearing and then…
“Oh, fuck. Oh shit, oh fuck, oh shit, oh fuck.”
The boy-bear growled, baring his small, sharp as hell teeth at her. Panic assaulted her, sending her heart racing, slamming against her ribcage, and fighting to burst through her chest. It wanted to run and hide and… holy fuck the kid turned into a bear. She couldn’t wrap her head around that fact. One second—kid. Next second—furry thing with sharp ass teeth.