by Daphne Snow
She didn't feel like she was dying so she decided to trust her. Even Fey after a while stopped glowering at the woman. She still didn't accept her or like her. The deep-rooted jealousy and hurt that consumed her bit by bit just would not allow it.
Fran consistently thought that when Alexander never visited her, he was busy hooking up with the hot doctor. The two of them were probably laughing at her torn apart state. They could have each other for all she cared. She would be on her way when she felt better.
You do care. You know he does not think of us that way. He loves us. We stay here. Fey whispered, yawning awake. The stupid bear had made it perfectly clear she wouldn't let Frannie take off again. When she had the urge to flee, Fey took over and Frannie didn't have the strength to fend her off.
There was some truth to her words though. Every day she hoped she would see a small glimpse of him. His slick black hair or his muscled arms as the doctor opened the door. Or maybe he would come in when Zelik was around to keep an eye on things. She'd be able to stare into those beautiful green eyes, but nothing. He steered clear away from her. His scent had always been faint, only small drifts of it noticeable. She knew he never went far though. The ache from when she had first left him never returned since she'd been back.
Dawn hadn't broken yet so Frannie reached out to grab her phone, which had been dutifully brought by Zelik along with her other belongings. It was just shy of six in the morning. The pain had been so great on most days she slept until noon.
Now that she was feeling better she was starting to get up earlier. Frannie sat up thumbing through a few screens on the phone. He is here. Fran scrunched her nose at the comment, yet looked around hopeful and in fact, he was here.
He was sitting in a chair on the other side of the bed her back normally faced. The steady rise and fall of his chest told her he was sleeping. She took time to study his features, filing them away for when he inevitably woke up and left her again. It had felt like years since she had seen him.
His handsome aristocratic face seemed dampened somehow. As if he was not nearly as proud as he once been. Heavy dark circles sat under his eyes. His hair had grown and was shaggy instead of well kept. He had stubble which he normally would have shaved by now. He wore loose joggers and a flannel that hung on him. He seemed smaller not in height no but as if he'd lost some weight. He snored ever so lightly and it reminded her of their first night together.
Along with those thoughts though always came the ever familiar heat that rode low in her belly. The nightmares and dreams she had melded together often. One minute she would be in his arms surrounded by his warmth and the next Threx was there, his bulbous finger touching her and Kaiser taking that branding iron to Mina's thigh. She didn't think she could ever forget that image.
The sound of a choked-back sob roused him. He blinked sleepily for a moment before his eyes widened and he realized she was awake, and staring at him her eyes filled to the brim with tears.
He stood quickly and moved to the door. She watched him but she couldn't contain her need for him to stay. Frannie was desperate for him even if just for a few seconds longer.
"Stop!" She cried on a sob that escaped and as if he was a soldier he froze. His head was hung as he stood there. A minute passed then two before he turned his head to glance at her, the sleep deprivation evident in his eyes. Trying to clutch onto anything to make him stay she spoke.
"You know if my dad saw me like this he'd kill you." She attempted a chuckle but the tears wouldn't stop. They never did these days. He turned his body then and a glimmer of hope sprang forth within her. "After he kicked your ass he probably would have shook your hand. He could never stay mad for long." She continued as she watched him slowly, cautiously take steps back to the bed.
"I wished I would've gotten to meet him." His voice was hoarse but a delight to her ears. She appreciated he didn't assume she was talking about Ray. That man was the furthest thing from a father figure to her. As if he couldn't stay away from her any longer he came and sat by her feet, the end of the bed dipping in his favor.
This might be her only chance to anchor him to her. She never liked the fact that she had resigned herself to letting him go but the moment he appeared, she couldn't help but hold onto him. She crawled over the blankets slowly, making sure not to move too many times so as not to harm her back, and curled up on his lap.
The scent of a deep, dark forest filling her nose, she sighed into it. He didn't return her affection not at first. She stayed there though even if this was all he would give her she would take it. Dawn began to color the sky with blues, dark purples, and oranges when he wrapped his arms around her. The gesture she'd been hoping for making a fresh wave of tears trickle down her cheeks in relief. His arms were soft around her back so gentle as he tried not to touch her wounds.
They sat there like that for a bit both feeling much more content than they had in weeks. He didn't push her to keep talking but she wanted to.
Normally talking about her deceased father would bring heartache. But right now in this moment, she felt it'd be the only time she'd have the courage.
"I was fourteen." She started her voice shaky. "Baby you don't have to." She placed a flat palm on his chest. Yeah, he'd lost weight. "I want to." Without another protest from him, she continued.
"It was winter just like now. It was freezing no matter how high we turned up the heat. My dad had tried coaxing Fey all night to keep me warm but she didn't budge." She did chuckle then a real one remembering her handsome father trying to reason with a surly baby black bear.
"So they bundled me up in every blanket in the house. I looked like a pile of laundry on my bed." Another shuddering breath escaped her before she went on. He gingerly rubbed her shoulders in a show of support. His warmth was addicting.
"A man or people, we never found out who snuck into the house through the backdoor. My dad heard him, I could hear him going downstairs at first." Frannie scrunched her brow remembering so vividly the fear she felt when she heard the two men fighting, claws ripping at skin and shouting.
"They fought for what felt like forever. I think at one point my mom screamed. I thought they'd come into my room. Fey was trying to change form and I was so scared. I didn't know how to handle her." He held her tighter as her voice trembled.
"All of a sudden I had leaped from the covers and attacked. My arms were both bears and my jaw was half-formed. I kept hitting and hitting over and over again. My mom's scream was what made me stop. When I looked down it was my dad." Alexander stilled and she looked up into his eyes. His jaw was set and his mouth a thin line as he regarded her.
"You killed your father?" He questioned, obvious surprise on his face. She sniffled, shaking her head.
"I thought I did, for a long time actually. But he had been stabbed fatally. The damage I inflicted was just scratches on his face but I wacked him hard enough he passed out. Apparently he used the last of his strength to make sure I was okay." Alex seemed to breathe a sigh of relief at that.
"After that nothing was the same." For the next hour, she told him how Ray had come to be in her life. Her long-standing friendship with Mina. How she had been sending money and taking care of her parents since she had moved and even before then.
He sat there quietly taking in every word not once interrupting her. He would rub her scalp or her shoulders when she had gotten particularly emotional. But otherwise remained still. She had held in so much for so long it felt like a weight lifting off her shoulders as she shared her pain. When had she felt this comfortable being open with him? Or for that matter with anyone?
When she was done he simply lifted her in his arms as if she weighed nothing. She snuggled into his chest clinging to his flannel, fear rising that he'd place her back onto the bed and leave.
Instead, he walked towards the door. It slid open after a moment and the difference in the air hit her. Frannie had been stuck in that room for weeks. This would be the first time she had left.
T
he rest of the house didn't smell of potent medical balms and salves. It smelled of the plants he kept on the first floor and lingering scents of the others. Overall it wasn’t a cloying scent. It was nice and normal.
"Where are we going?" She asked after he descended the stairs with her still wrapped up in his heat.
"Outside. I think it's time you meet Axl." He said strained, she truly looked into his eyes seeing them flickering from chilled green to emeralds. She nodded absently, her mind swimming.
"Are you angry?"
"No baby. I just need to let off some steam. I can't say I'm particularly happy with how your family has treated you."
"It's fine." She said a downturned glance at the floor as he walked through the house to the back door. Alex placed her gingerly on her feet by the door and then tilted her chin to look up at him. Even the smallest contact making her shiver in the process.
"It is not fine. I will never let anyone treat you like that again." His words were determined and even though she wanted to brush it off she just couldn't. As she gazed into his eyes she knew he was telling the truth. She nodded afraid she'd start crying if she spoke. He smiled then, a soft searing smile straight to her heart.
Alex grabbed an oversized jacket from a hook nearby and helped her stiff arms through the armholes. Though her back was feeling better it was still uncomfortable to stretch out her shoulders too far. It was warm but not nearly as warm as her mate's skin. He then removed the loafers he wore and let her step into them. Seemingly satisfied with her bundled appearance he opened the back door to a snowy yard. Fey didn't even complain as the cold air surrounded them.
She'd never actually gotten the chance to come back here yet. Having avoided the inevitable meeting of his bear and simply too in her own mind to think about it. She wished she would have given it a second thought now.
It was beautiful. Now barren trees lined the property's back yard. Some of them though were evergreens hiding the stares from potential nosy neighbors. It had small hills here and there to help climb onto trees and from what she could see through empty branches was a frozen over small pond or pool in the back. In the spring it probably looked a million times prettier. But even now it had a homey woodsy feel she loved.
"It's beautiful." She turned to look at Alexander who had a hand at the small of her back and he was grinning down at her clearly happy with her appreciation. She could see herself smiling and laughing with him here in his home in his yard. That scared Frannie to no end.
Alexander would never truly and only be hers. Not with Sonya still in his life, she'd be sharing her mate with another. The internal growl of possessiveness that resoundingly defined her was startling. But it was honest. She hated the idea of sharing. And though she'd done a hell of a good job pushing him away, she longed to hear he loved her, that he only wanted to be with her.
Sure he wanted her, craved her even but did he love her? Then again when had she given him a reason to? When she told him to mind his own business? When she told him that giving herself to him had been a mistake? Frannie's head ached with the weight of it all.
He walked out into the snow, the crunch of it nostalgic to her ears. Alex started to undress, his flannel and then his pants.
He stood before her stark naked and she couldn't look away. He was gorgeous. All rippling bulk and toned legs. His cock which had been a feature in every dream portion she had over the last few weeks stood proud but he paid it no mind. A smile of her own flashed for a moment along with a blush as she continued to ogle him. Alex cocked an eyebrow her way playfully. It all seemed so normal, so right.
Then his face darkened considerably. "He's large but he won't hurt you. He cares for you as much as I do." The fear she felt three weeks prior streamed through her but fizzled when she looked into those crystaline green eyes.
Frannie nodded but followed it up with a verbal confirmation which she knew he needed. "I know." She promised on broken chapped lips as she pulled the coat tighter around her.
He looked at her hesitantly before turning around his perfect rear end on display. She felt content in that moment when she expected to feel fear. An overwhelming emotion of pure bliss. The aura she saw of his that swirled blue and red was purple and calm. She wondered what he saw.
Frannie wanted to stop him, to ask but he was already changing form once she got up the courage. His arms were growing fur at a rapid rate and his knees legs started to bend in an unnatural painful way. In a flash, the man whom she had lost her heart to was gone. In his place the largest animal she had ever seen. A massive brown grizzly bear.
She had come across a few during her time at work scouting out the Topanga Canyons and watching for poachers. She thought they were large then, so she thought she had an idea of how big Axl might be.
She underestimated him considerably. He was gigantic. He was at least twice the size of a normal grizzly bear. His paws were the size of small tires and his head would have dwarfed a freezer box. His glittering green eyes bore into her watching every twitch of her nervous hand.
He stalked over her to her carefully talking one hulking step at a time as he approached. His mouth hung loose hot puffs of air leaving him as he breathed. Fey resonated excited positive vibrations throughout Frannie telling her it was truly okay. His beast, as large as he was, would never harm her.
Frannie didn't need to bend as he reached her; she just stayed perfectly still as he brushed up against her leg, his fur prickling through the pajama pants she wore. She reached out a hand slowly to pet at his massive head. Her hand seemed to disappear into his fur as she stroked him. He closed his eyes seeming to enjoy her touch. She couldn't help but smile at that. Here he was the big bad bear who liked to be pet like a puppy. It was sweet actually.
After a few moments of innocent petting, Fey made it clear she wanted out. I need to be with my mate as you have been with yours. It wasn't an unreasonable demand more like a request that she knew she would get. Frannie was still exhausted from her injuries if Fey wanted to she could simply take over. But it'd be more painful that way.
Fran agreed, soon removing her own clothes, her skin covered in goosebumps as she did so. Just as quickly as Alexander had, she changed form, her small black bear looking like a cub next to Axl. The bears back like her own had looked tormented and raw. It hadn't grown back any fur yet either. At the rate her healing was going she wouldn't be good as new for a while. The thought made Frannie a little self-conscious as Axl circled Fey looking her over with piercing eyes.
He nuzzled her side before placing his head over her back and rubbing his chin there gently. He understands. He is angry at the one that hurt us. Fey announced pride in her voice.
Frannie could feel the happiness radiating through her inner beast; it was wonderous to feel so elated and...safe. Since her father had died Frannie had never felt safe. Not until now. Alexander had given her a gift she didn’t even know she needed. He had scared her at times and made her head spin with confusion but not once did she feel like she was in danger. And now as the towering bear could easily hurt her she knew he wouldn’t. The realization made her and Fey shine.
After a quick circling sniff the two were off running and chasing each other. Though it was clear Axl would be able to catch Fey almost instantly in a stride or two he let her have the lead. They were out there for hours understanding and learning each other in a physical capacity they hadn't yet been able to. They held no hesitation with each other, no worrying thoughts even. It made her wonder why it had been so hard for her to accept something these two so readily understood.
Once they were thoroughly exhausted and the sun was high in the sky they rolled onto the fuzzy sides, making small roars at each other playfully.
Thank you. Fey said gratefully once she let Frannie take over. She subsided within her resting from her hours of play with Axl. As she stood swaying slightly at the physical toll of shifting, Alex was there to catch her. His warm naked body cradling hers. He was breathing just as hard as she was, bu
t the look on his face was unmistakable for anything else besides pure happiness.
Chapter 18
She will be a wonderful mate. She is scared though. We must be strong for her. Axl who sounded uncharacteristically calm and sated, pushed through Alexander's own general thoughts. He didn't need his bear to tell him how frightened Frannie was. He had seen the fear in her eyes several times but now she just seemed content at peace with what happened. Not questioning or debating it. He was grateful for that. He truly hadn't known how she would react to Axl.
He could feel her aura which had previously been closed off to him blooming a content and calm white.
It took Alexander a while to catch his breath as he held her in his arms. Her naked body snuggled close to his own as they sat there. The gentle chilled breeze and the birds chirping made it seem all so serene. He wished, not that he was ever one for wishes, but he wished this wasn't what they had to go through to get to this point.
Her shiver made him stand immediately taking her with him. She looked pointedly at his chest, a blush on her cheeks. Where they had sat melted down to the semi-frozen ground. Fey tries, she doesn't understand how to warm her. Again his beast was almost gentle in his words.