by A. B Lee
Rebecca’s heart was in her mouth as she ran at them, pitchfork in hand, she looked both fit to kill and relieved.
“Whoa now…” Chance reached up and grabbed Darby.
If the woman was going to attack he didn’t want the child getting hurt in the process. The child squealed and kicked out with delighted excitement as he brought her over his head and put her on her feet in front of him. Chance reached out and tapped Darby’s head. “Go on now.”
“I’m not a baby.” Darby shot him a look back over her shoulder, half grin- half scowl.
“Got it.” Chance backed away from the mother as she practically flew across the yard. She tossed away the pitchfork and dropped to her knees, wrapping her arms around her daughter and hugging her close.
Chance felt like an intruder, and yet he couldn’t pull his damn eyes away from the sight. The woman looked so damn happy, relieved, and pissed off all in one mixture that he couldn’t really get a reading on her.
He turned on his heels and made to get away before he had to interact with them anymore.
“Wait!” Rebecca called. Chance kept walking.
“You might wanna keep her on a leash from now on.” He shot back over his shoulder as he stalked away.
“Excuse me?” Her tone was incredulous.
“You’re welcome.” Chance growled as he got to the tree line, and before she could say another word. He was gone.
“Where have you been?” Rebecca demanded as she tightened her hold around Darby.
“In the woods…” Darby tried to squirm out of her mother’s tight grip. Now that she was back, she didn’t feel like a cuddle so much anymore.
“I guessed… who was…?” Rebecca scowled at the last place that she’d seen the grumpy guy.
“That- was- Chance.” Darby pushed back and got herself some space, a little breathing room. “He’s cool. And b-i-g.”
Rebecca knew what Chance was. She flinched at the thought of her daughter alone with one of those shifters.
The townsfolk said that they were different, on the whole they kept themselves to themselves, but she didn’t like being that close to their den’s or whatever it was that they called them.
She hadn’t opposed the plans for their community when they had come up at the local council meeting, but it didn’t mean that she liked the thought of them being on the other side of the woods.
“Did he…?” Rebecca frowned. She didn’t know how to ask her daughter if the shifter had hurt her, taken her away…
“He found me in the woods. I wasn’t scared or anything…” Darby tipped her chin up. “I was kind of lost, a little. He found you…”
Rebecca let out the breath that she was holding. She hated to think of anyone in those terms, but this was her daughter and if anything happened to her… She’d kill every last one of them and their damn bears.
“You know what he is, right?” Rebecca asked and Darby’s eyes lit up with the smile on her lips.
“He’s one of the bears, isn’t he?” Darby asked as she leaned in and whispered to her mother like it was a secret. Rebecca nodded. “That’s so cooool!” Darby chuckled. “I rode on a bears shoulders!” She chuckled harder.
“But, you didn’t see his bear…?” Rebecca hated the thought of a beast being that close to her daughter.
“No. But, do you think when you take a pie over to thank him that we could see his bear?” Darby asked and her mother frowned.
“A pie?” Rebecca screwed up her face.
“Well, when I fell out of the tree and Peter next door drove us to the doctor’s- he got a casserole. When I fell over that idiot, Justin Gardener’s big feet at school and hit my head, and the teacher took me to the hospital, she got chocolates and flowers.” Darby stretched her head up on her neck and gave her mother a poignant look. Rebecca hated to know what was coming, her daughter was way too savvy for her age.
“So, I figured that getting lost, but not hurt, and being brought home by Chance at least deserves a pie, maybe apple, maybe cherry… what do bears eat?”
“I guess apples and berries, but…” Rebecca went to wave that idea right away.
“Do we have apples and berries?” Darby asked and Rebecca nodded. “Good, then we can make Chance a pie and take it to him.” Darby announced and Rebecca groaned inwardly.
“You’re grounded.” Rebecca raised her eyebrows high on her forehead and gave her daughter a victory smile.
“But taking the pie to Chance doesn’t count, because it’s not fun, its good manners.” Darby informed her mother before she turned on her heels and started towards the farmhouse.
“Oh, someone shoot me now.” Rebecca muttered as she pushed up to her feet and shook her head.
~^~
Chance had taken the whole thing in from the cover of the woods. With his body pressed up against the trunk of one big old tree, he’d spied on the mother and daughter moment, unable to tear himself away.
Now he wished he hadn’t. The excitement not only flowed through him, but through his bear at the prospect of seeing mother and daughter again, and that wasn’t a good thing.
“I have to leave…” He told himself as he watched the woman strolling back towards the house.
When she bent over to pick up the pitchfork, his cock hardened to the point where he wanted to groan. Her scent had been potent enough, but the sight of backside in those tight jeans that hugged her curves was enough to make him want to head-butt the damn tree for relief…
His beast roared inside of him. The animal already knew. He knew- hell, the only one who didn’t have a clue was his mate…
Chance didn’t even know her name. He should have asked. He should have spoken up and not run away the moment that he caught her damn scent on the breeze.
No wonder his bear was called by the child- she was her mother’s daughter, his mate’s kin…
This was so damn bad that he didn’t know what to do next…
Chance watched her enter the house and close the front door behind her, grateful that she had shut herself away from him. Now maybe he could make his feet move…
He felt the rush of need within him. He felt his body ache for what he had denied it for so long. Now that he’d found his mate it would only get worse…
Lust, desire, need, it all swirled up inside of him. His cock twitched and protested its confinement. He needed relief…
Not here. Jerking off in the damn woods had become a pastime for him, but with Darby close… He growled and pushed away from the tree trunk. He needed space, he needed privacy…
He needed to bury his cock inside of his mate and take her over and over until they both had their fill.
He turned and ran. One damn foot in front of the other, blindly, but as fast as hell.
CHAPTER THREE
Alex was waddling. How she hated to waddle. One foot in front of the other to get from A to B, how hard could it be? Too bloody hard when you had a giant bowling ball inside of you, apparently.
There were many reasons why she couldn’t wait for this pregnancy to be done. Obviously, she wanted to see the little person that had been baking in her oven for the last eight months. But she wanted her body back… the time for sharing was over now and she wanted to be able to bend at the damn waist, to see her feet, and to sit without dropping backwards onto the damn sofa…
Jackson of course was loving it- all those extra curves for him to ogle and growl about… but she wanted Jackson back too. The Man that would lose control and toss her down on the bed, or throw her over the kitchen counter and take her like a Wildman…
God, she missed wild and freaky sex…
The bowling ball kicked her bladder and she was wrong footed, Marcus, of course was by her side in an instant to correct her balance.
“Look at you, little momma bear…” he chuckled and she wanted to swing for him. This was getting ridiculous…
“I got it.” She practically growled back up at him. Marcus raised just one eyebrow.
�
�No, you don’t.”
“Yes, I do.” Alex snapped back.
“Alex, it doesn’t make you weak or less to accept help.” Marcus informed her with that deep tone that today was getting on her nerves.
“Oh really, Marcus. And when was the last time you accepted anyone’s help?” she turned towards him and put her hands on her hips. Even that didn’t feel right as they were so much further away from her body than they used to be…
“I… well, I’m male.” Marcus started on a frown that said he was thinking fast, or trying too. “And you know us men…”
“Boy, do I.”
“But women are so much…”
“Smarter.” She said. He huffed- then that eyebrow shot up again.
“It takes a village, Alex.” He announced as if someone had whispered it into his ear. He even looked proud of himself for coming up with that one.
“Fine. How about you carry the cub around for the next month?”
“I wish I could…”
“Maybe give birth…”
“Now that, not so much.” Marcus shook his head on a scowl.
“But it takes a village, Marcus.” Alex beamed him a grin and the man took that as his cue to beam one back.
As always, the sun came out when Marcus smiled. Alex sighed.
“Hey, babysitting so you and Jackson can have some alone time…” Marcus grinned and Alex sighed, she wished, she couldn’t wait. “I’m your man, but until that little bundle of joy is out of you, Alex… we’re all gonna be momma bears where you’re concerned.”
“Don’t I know it.” Alex huffed again.
Her eyes caught the movement off to the left and she noted Marcus tracked it too. Chance was running at full pelt in his human form back towards his cabin.
“What’s that all about?” Alex mused.
“Not a clue. Chance has been… off a little lately. More than usual.” Marcus said what they all knew. The man was becoming more reclusive towards the clan. He’d even missed meals around the fire pit, and that wasn’t good.
“I’ll go see…” Alex started to move off, groaning inwardly at how slowly she had to do it.
“We’ll go see…” Marcus matched her step for step and offered her his arm. “Go ahead, you know it makes life easier…” Marcus berated and teased her when she snorted at the human walking stick.
“I hate you.” She mumbled as she took what he offered her.
“I hate you too, little momma bear.” He sniggered.
~^~
Chance knew he was in trouble. He had two choices. Stick around and kill his mate, and maybe even Darby, or shift into his bear for good and let the clan take care of what came next.
It was a shitty thing to do to the others, but they would come to see that it was the only way. He had the overriding need to protect that woman, his mate, and he didn’t even know her damn name.
The thumping on the door told him that Alex was outside. He knew the sound of her fist against the hard wood well, she’d used it enough.
“Not now, Alex.” Chance growled like he meant it, but then he always meant it, and it had never stopped her before.
“Chance, open the damn door or Marcus is going to kick it down.” Alex turned amused eyes up to the big shifter and he grinned back.
“See, asking for help is a good thing.” Marcus’s deep chuckle wrapped around her like a warm blanket. “Now just say the word and it’s done.”
“Kick it the hell in, I won’t be needing it.” Chance growled back.
Alex shrugged her shoulders and turned her eyes up to Marcus.
“Pretty please, could you make a me sized hole?” Alex grinned.
Marcus’s hands came down on her hips and he gently lifted her in the air and turned her away from the door to the side of the cabin. Then he lifted his boot and made good on his word. The sound of splintering wood filled Alex’s ears, and Junior kicked her a good one again.
“You said kick it in…” Marcus shrugged those huge shoulders and grinned like a man possessed at Chance when the man turned on a hearty growl, his fists at his sides, and his chin down as he glared at Marcus from under his eyebrows.
“Asshole.” Chance growled.
His bear was eager for the shift. Chance was eager for the fight, and yet one look at Alex as she came to stand in the doorway in front of Marcus made the man and beast back the hell down.
“What’s going on, Chance?” Alex’s tone was more than demanding.
“I found my mate…” Chance didn’t need to sugar coat it. They all knew what that meant.
“Crap.” Marcus growled as he shook his head sorrowfully.
“That’s a good thing.” Alex lied.
“Nice try, Alex.” Chance turned away from her. He’d wanted to see that cub born, not literally, but he’d wanted to see a new life so that he was ok about giving up his.
“Who is she?” Marcus knew that the bear within the man would want to get to his mate; he also knew that the clan needed to protect her from that happening.
Chance’s bear wasn’t controlled enough to handle it. The clan male’s might have teased and berated him for not taking a woman to his bed to sooth his beast, and yet, deep down, they all knew it was the right decision.
“Don’t know her name, but she’s got a farm on the other side of the woods, and a kid…” Chance bit off his words at the thought of Darby…
“Kid…” Marcus growled long and hard.
“Damn mini human got lost in the woods, led me right back to my damn mate…” Chance mumbled, muttered, and growled each word.
“You hurt the kid?” Marcus tone was accusing and it made Chance snap back around with fire burning in his eyes.
“No!” he growled out.
“That’s a good thing…” Alex put her hand against Marcus’s broad, muscled chest, and he stood down. “What happened?”
“I took it home.” Chance tossed out absently. He lifted his hand and ran it through his hair, frustration was already bubbling within him. His beast was more than edgy.
“It?” Alex’s eyebrows reached for her hairline. Chance gave her a sideways stare.
“Yeah. Put her on my shoulders and…”
“Chance, that’s amazing!” Alex’s excitement caught both men off guard.
“It is?” Marcus looked more than confused.
“He didn’t eat the kid. That’s a win in anyone’s book.” Alex snapped back at the big man. Marcus chuckled.
“Guess so.” Marcus turned his attention back towards Chance, and it looked like it was his turn to look confused.
“I didn’t want to eat her. She was runty.” He growled.
“No, you didn’t want to eat her because she was a child, and your mate’s daughter.” Alex corrected him. “What is it with you men?” she rolled her eyes as junior kicked her once more.
“We’re fucked up bears. When are you going to see that, Alex? You saved the others. I can’t be saved.” Chance turned away again.
“Oh, really?” Alex tossed her hands up onto her expanding hips and tapped her foot against the hardwood flooring in annoyance.
“Tell Jackson we need to do this sooner rather than later.” Chance offered the words to Marcus knowing the man would understand.
“Hell no you don’t!” Alex growled like a she-bear.
“She’s got a kid, Alex. It’s not about the mate, it’s about the kid.” Chance growled over his shoulder.
“I get that, Chance.” Alex stood her ground. “But you’re getting better around females every day…”
“You mean since I nearly killed you?” Chance turned to look at her then. She saw the pain that was etched into his face.
“Yeah…” Alex shrugged. “I’m still here and so are the others…”
“It’s getting harder to control the beast, Alex.” Chance offered her his truth.
“Then fucking learn, Chance.” She growled back. “Man the fuck up. You have a mate and a kid that need you.”
Alex’s
words hit him like a truck coming at high speed. He spun around to glare at her. His beast rallied within him and threatened to burst out, but when his eyes dropped down to Alex’s swollen belly he calmed…
“Get out, Alex.” Chance growled. “You have no idea.” He shook his head and stalked towards the bedroom, kicking the door open and slamming it shut behind him.
CHAPTER FOUR
“Marcus…?” Alex turned towards the big man.
“Let’s let him think on it, Alex.” Marcus wrapped a big arm around her waist and started to lead her outside. “He’s not going anywhere. He wants to die and he needs the clan to do that for him. I’ll keep watch, you go find Jackson.” Marcus whispered against her ear.
~^~
Trepidation filled Rebecca the whole drive there.
She’d made the damn pie with Darby in the hope that her daughter would decide it looked too good to give away. That hadn’t happened.
She’d languished a little over getting ready to leave the farm and travel to the clan land in the hope that Darby’s interest would find an outlet elsewhere. That didn’t work either.
Now she was driving at a sped that was so damn slow that her daughter could have outrun the damn truck; looking for an excuse to turn back, and procrastinating about actually getting there. Darby was a ball of excitement in her car seat in the back, and she hated to disappoint her.
What was the problem? They were shifters- but from what she’d heard they all had mates now, and if they hadn’t eat them then…?
Still, as much as there was this little rush within her to put her foot down and just get this over with- there was also the need to keep her daughter safe, and there was little that she found safe about driving into a damn bear cave.
“Are we there- now?” Darby’s impatience grated on her nerves. She’d been asking that since they’d left the farm. The journey should have taken no time at all, but Rebecca had taken the scenic route.
Rebecca sighed inwardly at the sight of the bear’s lair coming into view. There was one road down into the area and she knew that once she was on it there was no turning back.