Desired by Alpha Bear

by Sarah J. Stone

  He remarked offhandedly, “I was going to slit your throat, but your life tree was in so much pain that I did not have a choice but to let you live.”

  He studied her for a few moments. “Did you know that the last life tree that grew in the fairy kingdom was over ten-thousand years ago? That witch came to my kingdom when she was on her last breath, and she lay at the base of her tree and they both withered away peacefully. When this wisteria grew overnight, I was quite taken aback.”

  Although, Kalen looked harmless, Nina knew that there had not been a new fairy king for the past fifty-thousand years. That meant that this tiny body hosted a terrible power within it. She could sense it, and like a prey in front of a much larger and dangerous predator, she sat stock-still. “Why is that?”

  Kalen bared his teeth at her. “I do wonder what it is about you that your tree was born here.” He dove into the air and then floated above her in a circle. “What is it about you that makes you so special, Nina Raven?”

  Nina looked at him and chose honesty. She had been looking for the fairy king when she had set out. She knew she would find him near her life tree. In her dreams, she had seen an immense power standing alongside a tree. And now, as she watched Kalen sit in one of the branches of the wisteria, she realized that it was him she had foreseen. He would be the one to guide her to the Council.

  “I am looking for the Council.”

  Kalen’s smile did not change in the slightest, but his wings fluttered for a few seconds, or maybe it was just her imagination. “Now, what kind of business could a young witch like you have with the Council?”

  Nina watched him as he lowered himself to her level and smiled. This time, she could see how dangerous that smile was. She swallowed. “There is a war coming. And I want to prevent it.”

  He scoffed, his green eyes lit with amusement. “A war? The Council doesn’t involve itself with a simple–”

  “Species will be eradicated. Fairies, shifters, vampires, and every supernatural being there is out there will all be subjugated under the witches.” Nina’s voice was quiet. “I saw their downfall. I saw the leader of the fairies bow his head to the clan.”

  She cried out in pain when Kalen simply looked at her and made a sweeping motion with his hand.

  Bending over in pain, she gasped and forced the words out of her throat. “The Master of Vampires, the Council, they were all subdued. I saw it! I have the gift of prophecy!” Her words became garbled as Kalen twisted his hand and Nina nearly screamed in agony. “Rip my mind open and see for yourself! I do not lie!”

  “Master!”

  Totter’s voice shouted in her head, and she saw through her dim vision as he attacked Kalen, only to be suspended in midair, helpless.

  “Stay still, Totters! He needs to see!”

  Nina had not anticipated how painful it was for someone to rip past her defenses and look into her mind. The sheer pain of it had her eyes rolling into the back of her head, and she collapsed, her body convulsing. The images she had seen in her dreams rolled into one another, and she could feel Kalen’s presence in her mind as he sifted through the visions. The intensity of the trauma was such that Nina passed out.

  When she came to, Kalen sat next to her, looking vaguely annoyed. “Your familiar feels that I should apologize for harming you.”

  Totters sat near her head, eyeing the fairy king warily. Nina could feel the anger coursing through her familiar, and she lifted a hand to run over his feathered head, her voice a croak. “Calm down, Totters.” She lifted herself up with some effort. “He did what he had to do. Do you believe me now?” She looked at Kalen wearily.

  Kalen glanced at her. “Your mind is a very intriguing place. You have a complex layer of inbuilt shields – a very thick barrier to cross, and they are impregnable. Your shields were protected by another being’s shields, like a black fortress. At first, I thought it was your familiar’s work, but it is someone else. Whom have you given access to your mind?”

  The fairy king seemed genuinely curious, and a trickle of alarm flowed through Nina. “Nobody has ever entered my head. Mother – that is, the High Priestess – attempted it once, but she failed as well. I thought…” Her voice was hesitant. “I thought it was something I was born with.”

  “No.” Kalen shook his head. “There was another presence within your mind – a dormant mind. If I were to guess…no.” He shook his head, talking to himself. “It’s not possible.”

  Nina wanted to pursue this topic. What did he mean that there was someone shielding her? However, there were more pressing matters at hand. “The Council. Can you get me in touch with them?”

  When Kalen glanced at her, those green eyes held an age-old wisdom, and were touched with power. “Ah, child. I am one of the Council. But there are seven of us. And one of us was Morrigan, your High Priestess.”

  Nina paled. “How is that possible? I mean, you saw–”

  “What I saw was seven powers combining their strength.” He let his wings lift him in the air to settle into one of the gnarled branches of the wisteria tree. “I granted access to a female bear shifter a year ago. Her role was that of a catalyst. Of what, I do not know. Find her, and you might find what you are looking for.”

  Nina looked down at her wound, put a hand over it, and chanted the healing spell. However, nothing happened.

  “It won’t work.” Kalen commented lazily from his spot on the branch. “This is dark magic. Your life tree helped in getting rid of it, but your wound will have to heal at its own pace.”

  Nina stared at the fresh blood on her hand, and then she looked up at him, frustrated. “You saw everything! Why are you not willing to help me? Are you willing to submit to–”

  The fairy king was in her face in a heartbeat, and the power that radiated from him had her struggling to breathe, its pressure unbearable.

  “I am Oberon! I have seen kingdoms rise and fall! I have seen your kind lust for power and then fail! I do not bow down to anyone.”

  Nina bit her tongue and waited for him to leave her.

  Kalen flew into the sky, parting the curtain of flowers. The sunlight, which had been playing hide and seek disappeared, and a cold wind began to blow, followed by thunder. Nina dragged herself to her life tree and settled into one of the crevices there with Totters on her shoulder. Her tree thrummed with power and recognition, and if Nina had a choice, she would have stayed there. In the sunlight, the shade had been purple, the sun reflecting off the flowers. Now was no time for her to be admiring her life tree.

  She watched Kalen unleash his anger on the skies. The earth trembled with his rage, and the wind lashed out.

  “He certainly has a nasty temper, doesn’t he?”

  Nina could not help but agree with her familiar. She let him huddle into her as they waited for the rain to subside. The one benefit that she got was that being this close to her wisteria let her heal faster and as the hours passed, the young witch slipped into a deep, healing sleep.

  ***

  “Kevin.”

  Kevin turned his head slightly to glance at Samuel. “This is some storm, huh?”

  Samuel wore a strange expression on his face. “It sure is. Though it makes me wonder.”

  The lieutenant wondered if he should ask what was wrong when he saw Abigail enter the stronghold that Luke had built quite a while back. It was hidden in the foliage, invisible to the naked eye. Having wanted to be alone with his thoughts, Kevin had made his way here when the storm had struck. And what a vicious one it was.

  Abigail looked troubled, and she leaned against the wooden wall and stared out into the rain. “It sure is coming down hard.” There was an undertone to her voice, and Samuel glanced at her. They communicated something with their eyes, and Kevin scowled, “I wish you guys would stop being so secretive. I get you have your Council secrets, but it gets really annoying when you won’t tell the rest of us what’s going on.”

  Samuel pursed his lips and said. “There are some things you children
are better off not knowing.”

  Kevin sighed, sticking one hand in his pocket, rubbing his neck with the other hand. “So, did you want something from me? You just called my name.”

  Samuel coughed delicately. “Luke tells me you are not feeling like yourself. You collapsed today from what I hear.”

  For a moment, Kevin wondered if he should tell the old archives’ keeper about the dreams he was having. He usually never dreamed, but lately, he was seeing a woman in his dreams – a slender woman with sharp, blue eyes and short, black hair. She seemed so desperate, and the dream felt so fast paced, as if he was rushing against time.

  However, he decided against it. “It’s nothing. Just a little overworked, I guess. Oh, the rain’s letting up.” He gave an optimistic sigh. “I’m going to grab something to eat and then go out for a patrol.”

  He left the older couple standing in the open as he rushed toward the den.

  Abigail watched Samuel. “Kalen does not seem to be in a good mood today.”

  Samuel rubbed his chin. “There’s a warning laced in the storm. He is trying to tell us something. We should raise the defenses here. Something is definitely coming.”

  Abigail looked grim.

  Chapter 3

  As the rain eased after a few hours, Nina saw a couple of tiny fairies, barely the size of her hand, bringing over a huge leaf laden with fruit. They struggled with their task, and when they finally reached her, they lost their grip on the leaf and the fruit fell to the ground, scattering everywhere.

  Totters flew over and gripped one of the plums in his claws then dropped it into Nina’s hands, who bit into the sweet fruit hungrily. As she ate and drank the food and water that Kalen had sent her, she managed to replenish some of her energy. Finally full, she grabbed the tree trunk for support and stood up. She looked over the distance and flinched. She took a step forward and realized that she was never going to be able to make it to the area that Kalen had pointed out. She needed to find the shifter that had managed to enter fairy grounds.

  “You look terrible.”

  Kalen’s voice did not startle her, and she glanced up to see his lounging form. “Are you still angry?”

  “No, but I cannot help you, either. This is your journey. I will join you when the time is right.”

  A wooden staff fell at Nina’s feet. “For you.” With that, he flew in a random direction until he was but a tiny speck in the air.

  “Gee, thanks,” Nina muttered to no one in particular.

  The staff came in handy, but although the wound seemed to have clotted, the blood loss had been tremendous, and Nina lost a little color in her face with every step. Her breaths were sharper and shorter. Her legs trembled with the effort to hold her body weight. The staff was useful and she had a feeling it was infused with Kalen’s power. But she still rested against a few trees here and there to catch her breath.

  Finally, when she entered a clearing, she sank onto the ground. “Totters.”

  Her familiar settled on her knee and rubbed himself against her, letting his worry and concern come through.

  Nina panted and waited for her heartbeat to slow down.

  “I need some herbs,” she told him. “If my magic won’t work, then I need to use an herbal remedy.” It was getting harder to talk. “Do you remember the ingredients for the Leigheas remedy? You brought the–”

  “I’ll find them.”

  Totters took flight and watched his master close her eyes, her face lined with pain. His grey and black feathers helped him camouflage his appearance when needed, but, right now, he was racing against himself, not bothering to conceal his presence. Nina was the only constant in his life. When she had summoned a familiar, he had been a dying hatchling, thrown out of his nest by his siblings. Struggling to survive, he had heard the call of another being whose soul was just as lonely as his was.

  Nina had loved him, cared for him, and nourished him, feeding him her own power to give him strength. The very thought of her leaving him made him fearful. He knew that his life span was attached to hers, but right now the sight of his broken master was the only thing that concerned him. He was not used to seeing her like this, so lifeless – so weak.

  A loving warmth filled his mind.

  “I will be fine, Totters.”

  A single tear slipped from the falcon’s eye and transformed into a pearl as it fell onto the ground.

  ***

  On the ground below, Kevin sniffed around and rubbed his back against a tree. Hearing a growl, the bear turned around and saw a wolf run toward him. Its silver fur and blue eyes, which would have stunned him a year ago, now made the human, inside him, roll his eyes. He moved quickly to avoid the playful attack and watched the wolf alpha land on his feet.

  Fergus shook his fur and then stretched casually. Kevin watched his movements, knowing he was up to something.

  Cassie was as fond of Fergus as the wolf was of her. Although Luke snarled and swiped at him, Kevin knew that their alpha trusted the wolf shifter. Their bond was a strange one, but it had developed into a friendship over time. Fergus spent most of his time trying his utmost to drive Luke up the wall. All he had to do was flirt with the bear alpha’s very pregnant mate.

  A yip and squeaky growl had Kevin looking at the bushes from where Fergus had emerged. They rustled, and he heard another yip. A small wolf pup tumbled out of the bushes and rolled over to land at his feet. Those amber eyes stared up at the massive brown bear. Then, it got up and growled as it turned its back to Kevin, although it sounded more like a squeak.

  Two more pups ran out and rammed into the lieutenant.

  Kevin could feel Fergus’ eyes on him, waiting for his reaction. Building trust was one thing, but for the wolf alpha to allow access to his pack’s most defenseless members was a very big move.

  One of the pups tried to clamber onto Kevin’s back, and he shook him off. Picking the pup up by the back of his neck, he carried him over to Fergus and deposited him on the ground.

  A screech above his head made Kevin look up.

  A falcon dove from the air and latched onto one of the plants that was growing at the base of the tree by which he stood. There was blood on the falcon’s left wing, and it carried a strange scent, which made Kevin want to sniff at it. It was a sweet smell with a hint of spice, which made his mouth water. Not with hunger but with a strange desire. When one of the pups tried to jump on him, he sounded a warning growl, which had the pup freezing.

  The falcon eyed him warily.

  Letting out a little huff, Kevin approached it, barely missing those razor-sharp claws. However, the scent was too distracting to worry about self-preservation. After a few more swipes, Totters realized that the bear was not interested in making a meal out of him. It was just curious.

  He turned his focus back to the plant and tried to tug it out, but it was too deeply rooted within the earth. A few hefty pulls had the falcon falling against the tree. His left wing had not healed enough, and now he could feel the pain coursing through his small body. His wing was completely broken.

  Kevin watched as the falcon folded his shattered wing against his body and pecked at the plant it was determined to get. There was a certain desperation emanating from the bird, so Kevin gently nudged it aside, ignoring its surprised squawk.

  Using his claws, he dug out the plant, picked it up in his mouth, and looked at the bird. It must have realized his intentions, because it started walking awkwardly on the ground in a random direction.

  Kevin paid no heed to Fergus’ questioning growl and simply followed. That scent on the falcon was deeply embedded in its feathers, which meant that the owner of this bird was whom he was going to meet.

  They did not have to walk long until Kevin stopped and his nose twitched. The person who carried that particular scent was nearby, but there was blood and pain entwined in it. As a shifter, his senses were heightened, and he followed his nose. The falcon was finding it hard to walk, and Kevin lowered his head, urging it to climb on
to his back, which it did quite gratefully.

  The scent of blood grew stronger until Kevin entered a clearing.

  A young woman leaned against a tree, her eyes closed. It was not her pale color that forced Kevin to still, but the large blotch of blood on her stomach. She was barely holding on. Kevin approached her and sniffed at her. When those eyelids lifted to reveal crystal blue eyes laced with pain, Kevin was shocked. How was she still conscious? The wound on her stomach was akin to a gaping hole.

  The woman looked past him, and the falcon approached her. Kevin watched as he added the plant that Kevin had dropped on the ground to a pile of herbs. The woman tried to move her hand, but she had no energy. The bird pushed the plants toward her, but a tear trailed down the woman’s cheek. Obviously, she meant to do something with the herbs, something to do with the injury she had.

  Although the smell of blood was strong, the woman’s scent was divine, and Kevin buried his nose in her neck and whined. She was too far gone to protest.

  Taking a step back, Kevin shifted in a shimmer of light.

  Kneeling by her side, he said roughly, “Tell me what to do.”

  Her lips moved, and Kevin turned his head to hear her properly.

  “C-Crush them. Water.”

  Hoping he had heard correctly, he took the plants and crushed them on the ground. For something so small, it was very hard to make into a pulp. Using rain water which had gathered in a small puddle, he made a bulky paste.

  He lifted his head. “Now what?”

  She had passed out.

  Kevin lifted her torn shirt and winced when he saw the raw wound. It had healed around the edges, but it was dangerously exposed to all sorts of infections. Rubbing the paste gently over the damage, he gently leaned her unconscious form onto himself. Just as he’d suspected, the injury extended to her back. The bear shifter applied some of the paste there as well and then lay down on the ground.

  Her features were beautiful for a human. Rough, black hair showed that it had recently been cut by someone – probably herself. Her skin was cold to the touch, and Kevin knew she needed more than just this paste if she was to live.