"I'm sorry, but I thought you knew. He got called away on business. He's supposed to call in the morning and let me know for sure how long he will be away. I can certainly have him give you guys a call," she offered, feeling a little guilty that she couldn’t do any more for them.
"Oh, alright. I didn’t realize. He's often a little scatter-brained when it comes to remembering to tell people what he is doing. I'm sure you've begun to notice that. Just tell him that we miss him and that we hope to come and visit the both of you soon. Stay safe and warm, dear," the older woman said in her sugary voice. It always made Adrian feel calm.
"I will thank you, Mom." Adrian hung up with a smile on her face before beginning to feel a cold chill. There needed to be a fire in the fireplace and soon, but she knew that there wasn’t enough firewood left. She would have to go out and get some.
The bear encounter from her first week living with Brady came back to her, and she panicked for a moment before remembering what Brady had said. He had left a noise maker that would scare most anything away from her while she was out there, and there were often an ample amount of sticks only a few yards from the house. She could get them and be back in no time, hopefully unscathed.
Adrian went to the hall closet and pulled out one of the coats in there. They were all large and belonging to Brady, but she didn’t mind. They were warm and had his musky scent all over them. As she slipped one over her arms and pulled her hair out of it, it almost felt like she wasn't alone.
She continued to bundle herself up, knowing that the bitter cold would get to her quickly if she didn’t. By the time she made her way to the door she felt like she was trying to walk through sludge because she had so many layers on. It was rather comical, and she was a little glad that Brady wasn't there to see her like that.
The wind hit her cheeks first, biting them with the freezing cold. It was snowing lightly making the whole scene look like something from a greeting card. Maybe it was time to get into photography and share some of the incredible shots she could get from such a vantage point.
Adrian hummed to herself as she walked away from the house, keeping her eyes peeled for anything out of place. She was so not in the mood to run into another bear that decide to go against the norms of society and not hibernate.
She reached her hands down into the snow, pulling out some sticks and larger pieces of wood that were beginning to be buried in the fresh white powder that was still falling before her eyes. Once she had an armful and nothing bad had happened she traveled with them back to the porch and set them down before going for another batch. Since she wasn't sure how long Brady would be gone, she figured she should be efficient and get as much as possible in one shot.
As she wondered just a little bit farther out, the trees were denser, and she could hear some soft noises that didn't sound like they were natural to the woods. Adrian perked up her ears and looked around her surroundings to see what was making the noise. She could see movement in the distance; a shadowy figure. It didn’t look big enough to be a bear. In fact, it looked more like a human.
Adrian dared to walk a little closer, and she gasped, clasping her hand over her mouth to silence it. The very man that she was falling in love with who was supposed to be away on business was standing in the middle of the woods a few yards from where they lived. Brady was completely unclothed in the cold snow and kneeled down. He was facing away from her and didn’t seem to notice her presence.
She could hear wolves howling from a long way away as he lifted his head and looked at him like he was checking to see if anyone was around. What was going on? Why would he lie, and why was the cold not affecting him?
Then, the most insane thing she had ever witnessed happened; he stretched his back out in the air so that his spine was visible, and then he was no longer himself. In his place was a creature with dark fur, roaring loudly. Animals scattered at the sound of the threatening new animal in the forest. Brady, or whoever it was, stood up at his full new height, and Adrian instantly recognized him. It was the same bear she had seen when she had first moved there. The concept was mind-boggling and impossible, but she had seen it with her own two eyes. The bear was Brady, and Brady was the bear.
Adrian was no longer afraid but was upset, feeling the loss of a man she was sure she had known so well. Perhaps he had been too perfect, though. "How could this be?" she cried out at the creature, not sure if he could understand in his bear form. "You've been lying to me!" she screamed before turning around and running. She dropped all the firewood on the way and tripped over it, face planting into the snow just in front of the cabin. She didn’t have the will to go any further even as she felt the bear approaching her. Did all men have something to hide?
A hand landed on her back, and she knew from the feel of it that he had somehow morphed back into a human in the short period of time. The cold of the snow felt beautiful against her cheeks, making her want to close her eyes and sleep. Maybe then she would wake up from the strange nightmare she was having.
"I can explain everything," Brady’s soft voice offered, sounding just as hurt as she was. "Just come inside, alright?"
Adrian made herself move and prepared herself for probably the strangest conversation she'd ever had and ever would have again.
The two of them spent hours arguing it out from sullen tears to screaming with confusion, every emotion possible passed straight through Adrian. He explained to her that he was a were-bear and that was why he had always been so secluded. He’d been bitten when he was eight on a hunting trip with his father and some friends, and he had been learning to control his changes ever since then.
The scariest part, though, was when he told her about the wolves that were always vying for his territory. They were shapeshifters as well, and he was always fighting to keep them at bay. That’s what he was really doing when he left was trying to take care of them. “The last thing you need is another reason to be afraid besides that monster that almost killed you,” Brady said.
“I didn’t know how to bring it up with you. We were so close to having something real here,” Brady explained, sounding distressed. “I just wanted you to love me first…” He trailed off and out his head in his hands. He was still bare other than a pair of shorts, and Adrian ran her hand up his sizzling hot back. Apparently changing made his body heat rise by a lot. He was like her personal heater sitting next to her on the couch. She felt all the ripples in his muscles and dimples in his skin. He sighed and closed his eyes in response to her touch.
“I do love you,” she told him, softly, deciding that there was no better moment to let him know. It was crazy to think about the grand scheme after talking with him; that things like where bears and werewolves existed, but she had seen it before her own eyes. She didn’t need to dwell on proof. She couldn’t imagine having a secret like that and having to tell someone you cared for about it.
“You do?” he asked, lifting his head up to reveal a fresh trail of tears from his left eye. He was really affected by the whole incident. Adrian knew at that moment that his feelings were on par with hers if not even stronger. He had loved her from afar for so many years without her knowledge.
She sliced her nails up and down his side, wanting to show rather than tell. He succumbed to her love, sliding down onto the floor and pulling her on top of him. The rug slid up and down as they writhed over one another. His skin was so warm it was making her sweat and glisten in the barely lit living room. Their skin clung together as sultry kisses traced down her chest and breasts all the way to her groin and back up. She was sure it would leave a tattoo permanently etched into her skin. The idea seemed so sensual; him marking her forever with his passion.
Adrian rocked her hips against his pelvis, moaning at the sensation that rocked through her body even though there was still cloth separating the two of them. “I love you so much,” Brady whispered in between sloppy kisses around her nipples. “I can’t believe I have you.”
“Well start believing it,” sh
e told him, staring down at him with her sharp eyes and sly half smile. Then, she stood up right over him sliding her panties off so he had a prime view. Her center was hanging just over his body, sweet and wet perfuming the air around them. She lowered herself on top of him and let him slice through her flesh with his hot, swollen shaft. She was on cloud nine as she felt him reach deep inside her to hit every sensitive nerve until she reached her climax. Being with Brady was going to wear her out in an incredible way.
Chapter 7
Adrian was sure that nothing could ruin what she felt at that moment as she laid there curled up in her lover's bed. They had moved into the bedroom where they could warm each other through the night even though he would leave again in the morning. He still hadn’t eliminated the wolves he said were after him and the territory. But for one frozen moment in time all those troubles didn’t matter. That was until, through the howling if the wind outside their log cabin, she could hear a low growl followed by several more. Could it be?
Adrian sat straight up in bed and shook Brady awake. He didn’t miss a beat, going on high alert. His instant stance was of protection, kneeling on all fours at the foot of the bed as he listened and sniffed to see what he could glean. From the look on his face when he turned to her, Adrian knew that her suspicions and fears were correct. The wolves had found him, and she couldn’t help but think it was all her fault for pulling Brady away from the hunt in the first place.
Brady put a finger over his mouth to shush her and motioned for her to slow her breathing. She was sure he was trying to make it so that she went undetected, but with as fast as her heart was beating, she was sure the wolves would smell fresh meat before she could even try to calm herself.
Paralyzed with fear, she watched as he padded through the house on the tips of his toes like he was ready to sneak out into battle. Bear or no bear, Adrian didn’t have much confidence in him protecting the both of them against as many growls as she could pinpoint just a few yards outside the windows.
The growls got louder as she heard him approaching the back gate, opening it as slowly as possible. She didn’t know if she could just sit there in bed while he was possibly fighting for his life, but she also knew her presence could complicate things. All she could do was hope, pray and wait for his return.
Snarls rang out in the night along with barks of battle. It sounded like they were all ready to rip Brady apart. But then she heard a familiar roar; one that could put those dogs to shame any day. She felt a swelling of her heart at the idea. It was now so easy to think of him as a bear now that she knew. It was like the most natural thing, and it made her proud and even more attracted to him. She smiled at her luck through all those dark, cloudy days she endured with Wolf.
Adrian heard a strange sound; a tapping against the window in the bedroom down the hall. It was her bedroom. As she listened intently, she realized it sounded like the scratching of nails or possibly claws. One of the wolves was trying to get inside the house. They knew she was there. There was no more hiding. Her best chance was to be where Brady was and could protect her.
She darted out of bed and slipped a long coat over her body before heading out into the night. She stayed just inside the gate, watching from afar. As far as she could tell, none of the others had caught her scent or knew where to look for her, and hopefully once the lone hunter got inside, he would be occupied for a little bit searching for her.
She watched as they assaulted him one-by-one. It appeared to her much like a dance or something similar to one of those kung fu films. There was a method to their madness as they tried to take down the mighty bear that towered over them. She could see now why Brady had been so worried about them. Their tactical skills could very easily bring Brady down if he wasn't on full alert.
They shared strikes, and it felt like Adrian was watching a movie instead of her own life playing out before her. But it all became real when she heard a familiar growl from not that far behind her. In fact, it was close enough to touch her.
Without daring to turn around, Adrian came bursting through the gate and landed in the snow next to Brady in his bear form. A sound like clapping was coming from behind her, and the wolves in front of her began to shake and turn back into their human form. Brady wasn't buying into it, though, and stood there in his majestic bear form, bringing her into him.
"What an excellent job, honey," a voice came out, sweet as molasses. It made her whole body go rigid before she forced it to look at the man who had yet again found her.
Like the rest of the wolves, the man that called himself Wolf was standing before her smug and buck naked, bringing back uncomfortable memories. "What are you, and how did you find me?" Adrian asked through gritted teeth. That was the moment Brady chose to change, looking between the two of them in confusion.
"I think it's pretty obvious what I am, hon. And as far as how I found you, it was a happy coincidence. I had no idea you were here until I smelled you on him." Wolf spat the last words out in complete wrath. “So, you left me and everything I could give you for this guy? Look at where you are.” He pointed around with a cocky laugh. How she had ever thought, she loved such a man she didn’t immediately understand. And she was utterly confused about his status as a werewolf.
“Wait, this is the one that put you in the hospital; he’s why you’re here?” Brady asked, incredulously. “He’s their leader, Adrian,” he said somberly as if he was apologizing instead of Wolf. “All this does is give me more pleasure in ripping you off of this planet,” Brady announced loud enough for all to hear. He was flashing a sneer right at Wolf, and Adrian found it easy to admit herself that she was rooting for Wolf to be torn to shreds, but she wasn’t sure what the costs would be.
It became apparent, however, as Wolf made a swift move, revealing the fact that everything he had done was smoke and mirrors. Behind his ankles, buried in the snow was the gun that had been in the cabin since she moved in. He pointed it right at Brady's heart, and time froze as Adrian had to make a decision. It was funny to think back to the way she felt just a few weeks ago. She never would have contemplated getting in harm’s way to save her lousy stepbrother. But now the one she hated had become her whole world, and she would collapse and die without him there to breathe her to life every night.
Adrian placed herself right in the path of the bullet, feeling the sting as it dug its way into the skin of her chest. It was much on par with a terrible muscle ache or the worst heartburn she’d ever had. But her body wasn't going to take her any further, and she collapsed into the snow, spilling blood out to her left side. She tried to look into the face of who she was certain was her murderer, but the look of horror on his face was too confusing. Just as the world began to go black, she saw a wolf flying over her body with a guttural growl, and a new battle begun.
**********
"It looks like you're going to be just fine. If you want, I'll send for all the paperwork now to release you to your home with this fine gentleman here," the doctor winked with a big smile. "You'll probably still have soreness and stiffness for a while, and definitely keep it clean to avoid infection. And in case I don’t see you again, I want to apologize once more for Wolf's behavior. Had I been made aware of his rough dealings with women before, I would have taken over the pack much sooner?" The man they now knew to be Oliver bowed to them and walked away, leaving the memory of that night hanging in between Adrian and Brady.
What had happened after she'd blacked out from the pain of the womb and blood loss had been relayed to her by Adrian who was already looking like new after his fight with the wolves? Oliver, the second-in-command, and an excellent physician had decided he had enough of his leader's games. He had challenged the alpha and won. Wolf was dead, and Oliver had been able to patch up her wound and get her to the hospital on time. They were eternally grateful to him for his change of heart.
"I can't believe I get to go home," Adrian said excitedly, lighting up from the inside out. The hospital bed was so uncomfortable, and she
couldn’t share a bed with Brady. She was tired by being woken up by nurses every hour on the hour.
"Well, you are. That is if you still want to call it your home too." Brady's eyes showed a real question. They were full of pain and guilt even though she continued to tell him it hadn’t been his fault.
"Of course, it’s my home. You're there," she said cheesily with a smile for punctuation. Brady leaned down and gave her a sweet peck on the cheek.
"You know we're going to have to tell Mom and Dad at some point, right?" he offered, looking at her sideways for a reaction. He was right, but she didn’t know if it was the right time, especially when there was a bullet hole in her chest.
"Let's wait for this wound to heal before one of them shoots us and causes another," she responded, and they both laughed, feeling carefree again if only for a moment. Adrian was certain of one thing; there was little out there that could scare her anymore, and she had finally found a good man.
THE END
About the Author
Madelin Brook was born in Orlando, Florida and is the oldest of six children. She always loved to write, and she previously worked for several different magazine editors in New York City. However, Madelin became sick of working for someone else and left corporate America to pursue her own career as a fiction writer.
She has a passion for writing romance books, especially those that will take readers to their deepest fantasies. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling, shopping and spending time with loved ones. Two years ago, Madelin moved back to her hometown of Orlando, where she currently resides with her husband and one cat.
She loves to hear from her readers! Please feel free to sign up for her weekly email list and follow her on Facebook and Amazon, where she will update you on her latest books.
ROMANCE: Mated to the Bear (Stepbrother Paranormal Shifter) (Threesome Taboo Romance) Page 3