by Celia Kyle
At least it wasn’t tinged by impending violence. Grayslake had quite a few dominant and massive bears, but for the most part, they were nice and welcoming. And if they weren’t, she had to tell Mia. Apparently, the woman was a disorganized unpacker and kind of a Big Deal in the tiny town.
She wished for once, she could make a good impression. The man she now dubbed “Mr. Unnamed” sounded so damned sexy. Just a big bowl of cookie dough and sin. But she’d already annoyed him. Her only option now was a not-so-graceful retreat.
“Look, Kira, it was wonderful—”
“What’s your name?” She wasn’t sure why she blurted out the question. It wasn’t like she’d see him again. Well, she still hadn’t seen him, but… whatever.
Another sigh. She wondered if he had a breathing problem. “Isaac Abrams.”
“Oh.” Oh. He was a bear. A big deal kind of bear, hence the scents of nature clinging to him. She should have guessed since she was now living in a bear town, but he’d seemed… different.
Her animal hadn’t been afraid of him even a tiny bit. It was the reason she’d tromped up his front porch steps and wiggled her way into the house. The little beastie wanted to meet the man behind the scent and Kira went along with the critter.
It wasn’t good to deny her animal side.
“So, you’re related to the Itan then?” Of course her dog pissed on one of the Itan’s relatives. Of course.
Maybe her best friend was right. Maybe she should have just stayed in her old home, managing to avoid her family and the rest of the pack. Avoidance meant a lot less pain.
Maybe she shouldn’t have…
“Yes, he’s my brother.”
“Oh… that’s… that’s nice.” Her little beastie whimpered and curled into a tiny ball inside her. Great. “So that makes you the clan’s…”
Please don’t say Enforcer. Please don’t say Enforcer.
She’d heard bears could be big—duh—and mean and that Enforcers were the worst. Everyone in town was welcoming-ish so far, but destroying the Enforcer’s property was never a good thing.
“Healer.” He snapped off the word, and she sensed a big old ball of persnickety rolling in.
She released a relieved sigh. “Oh, that really is nice.”
He moved, easing his weight from foot to foot and his shoulders shifted as the rustle of cloth reached her sensitive ears. She imagined him crossing his arms, and she knew without touching his face that he had a frown in place.
Which meant it was time for her to skedaddle.
“So, uh, I guess I should go. Since you’re not gonna let me count your house or anything and I bet Ebenezer needs to tinkle and—”
“He already ‘tinkled.’”
“Oh. Well, I bet he’s hungry, so—”
“He’s currently eating a cardboard box. I doubt he’s hungry.”
She was gonna die. Or rather, wanted to die. Right then. After peeing on the man’s boxes, Ebenezer was now eating one. The most delicious man she’d ever met, and she’d all around ruined everything. She didn’t expect him to worship at her hooha altar, but she wouldn’t mind spending more time with him. She could have invited him to dinner, or cooked for him, or made up any excuse she could to be in his presence a little longer, but no, Ebie had to ruin it.
“Right. So, I’ll take him and go home and feed him real food and…” She let the words trail off, not really sure what she was saying. Zoey often told her she thought Kira talked to talk and didn’t really have anything to say.
She wasn’t sure Zoey was wrong.
“Ebie.” She clapped her hands, and the munching ceased. “C’mere, boy.”
Kira gazed around the room, hunting the shadows for her wayward dog. The sun waned while she’d spoken with Isaac and now most of the room was dark shadows. Shadows which made it difficult to see her dog. Great.
“Ebenezer Bafflepuffle, I mean it.” She snapped her fingers again. Not that it’d do anything. Other than the confrontation with the mover, the pup had been enjoying Kira’s new carefree attitude. Out from under the oppressive weight of the pack, she was now able to let her true personality free.
Ebenezer was letting something free.
She sought out the darkest corner, sure that she saw it move, and glared at the spot. “Get. Over. Here.”
“Kira?” It almost sounded as if he were choking back laughter, the chuckles muffled, but still present.
She drew in a bit of air around her, scenting his emotions. He was laughing at her. Wonderful. Her embarrassment was complete. Tears pricked her eyes and she fought back the urge to let them fall. It was as if she were living at home again, listening to her pack snicker and giggle when they weren’t trying to kill her. She always imagined them pointing and laughing as well, but at least she’d been too blind to see them.
Kira shoved her humiliation back and drew herself to her full height. It wasn’t much, but she refused to let this bear belittle her or make her feel bad. She may not be the best shifter and she may be half-blind, but she was her deceased mother’s weremole daughter and the youngest of Alpha Clarke’s two children. Okay, she was his bastard daughter brought to the pack after his true mate died, and the Alpha part didn’t matter since she hadn’t inherited his strength. She’d endured a lifetime as prey in the middle of a wolf pack.
She would be damned if she cried in front of this big, dumb bear.
Kira pulled on every ounce of the haughty bitch demeanor she’d learned at Alpha Clarke’s knee and blasted it at Isaac. “Obviously, Ebenezer is not nearby and while I’m sure you find my near blindness amusing, I would appreciate it if you could refrain from laughing until I’ve left. Can you please point me in the direction of my dog? I’d like to depart.”
Silence greeted her statement, her words slamming to the ground between them like a leaden ball.
“Kira,” remorse filled the word, but she didn’t give a damn—even more, her give a damn was buried six feet under and she’d stomped on the ground to flatten the mound of dirt. She refused to dig it back up.
Ignoring his tone, she tugged on her purse and slid her hand into the well-organized bag. It took no time to find the specially printed business card she sought. While the pieces of cardstock weren’t marked with braille, they were printed in a way that allowed her to easily discern what she touched. Tugging the card free, she held it in his general direction.
“Forward a bill for your broken belongings to my accountant. He will ensure you’re paid for the damage Ebenezer and I caused.” She kept that arrogant tone, speaking to him as if he were less than the dirt she enjoyed. She fought to keep up appearances, to not let him catch any hint of the tears lurking near her eyes. She hated the need to wear the dark glasses, but loved them at that moment.
“Kira—”
The rhythmic click clack of Ebie’s claws on the wood reached her. She splayed her fingers and waited for the dog to near. The animal didn’t behave half the time, but he always managed to sense her moods. When Kira needed him, Ebie was there and ready to work.
She glanced at the blob beside her, noting the animal’s position and she knew he stared at her, waiting for direction. “Home, Ebenezer. Take us home.”
The dog went to work, rising to all four feet and leading her forward. She knew Isaac stood to her left, his massive body easing aside as she approached, and she paused beside him, still holding the small piece of cardstock.
“We apologize for the intrusion and damage our presence caused. I will inform my accountant to expect your bill.” Shaky words pushed past her lips, and she refocused on getting the hell out of Isaac Abrams’s home and away from the too-tempting man.
Ebenezer eased her around the boxes she’d destroyed as well as the one that smelled of urine. As they passed a larger pile, she placed her card on the top. He hadn’t taken it, but she was sure as hell gonna give it to him.
Instead of roughly bounding forward and dragging her along, the animal was gentle and slow. Ebie cared for her—
it was obvious in his interactions with her—but he was also a puppy at heart. She was glad that he’d settled into work.
“Kira…” Isaac kept repeating her name, remorse filling the syllables as if it’d make a difference. “Wait.”
She was an adult. She wasn’t held captive by her father’s decrees and sure as hell wasn’t living on his land any longer. The bounds of the law aside, she didn’t have to do a damned thing anyone demanded.
His heavy tread followed her and Ebenezer increased their pace, carefully leading her down the porch steps and along the walkway. They turned left when they reached the sidewalk, Isaac on their heels.
Kira ignored him. She’d ignored every other idiot who laughed at her expense, she could ignore this one. To think, she’d been thrilled to meet her bear neighbors. At least the couple to her left was nice and their little cub was adorable. Then there was Mia. She’d helped Kira unpack her kitchen and dig in her newly tilled garden. Heck, even the woman’s little cub Parker enjoyed time digging in the dirt. Her young daughter liked eating the dirt, but Kira did as well when she was mole-shaped and didn’t see anything wrong with that. It’d only been a few days, but she already felt a kinship with the female half-werebear and her small family.
Ebie paused, and she reached out, fingers colliding with the wooden gate. She stroked the wood and one nudge caused the attached bell to jiggle, telling her they’d arrived at the right house. She pushed the panel so it swung wide to grant them entrance. When it didn’t immediately slam shut, she knew Isaac still followed.
She climbed the stairs with her dog’s help. She’d counted out her steps in her new place, making sure she could navigate her property with ease. She was simply too upset to bother at the moment.
Digging out her keys as they neared the door, she ignored Isaac’s heavy tread on the wood porch and the heat of his nearness. She ignored the way his scent called to her animal. She definitely ignored the way a sense of safety settled on her shoulders with him close by.
Kira easily unlocked her home, and nudged the door open, releasing Ebenezer as she did. The dog, normally thrilled at being released, remained nearby. He whined and danced on his paws, obviously uneasy, and she didn’t have it in her to soothe the animal. Not when she was still dealing with Isaac.
“I appreciate your escort, Mr. Abrams.” She kept her tone cool.
“I wasn’t—” The words were a growl.
“Again, I apologize for my behavior and while I violated the boundaries of your home without permission, I do request that you respect my wishes.” She kept the words smooth. “At this juncture, you are trespassing.”
“I’m,” he breathed deeply and held the air a moment before releasing it.
More of his scent slid over her skin, and Kira’s inner mole both whined and growled at the man. The beast wanted and hated Isaac in equal measure.
“I’m sorry for laughing, Kira. You’re just so cute and you don’t seem to care that I have these—”
Cute. Right.
She shook her head. “Thank you for the apology. Please leave.”
Before she broke down and cried like a baby.
“All right. I’ll leave you alone. Maybe I can—”
“Good night, Mr. Abrams.” Not sure she could utter another word without sobbing, she stepped back and pushed her front door closed.
Kira locked herself in her new sanctuary, away from the laughter that lurked on the other side.
Away from the pain.
Away from it all.
Maybe Grayslake wasn’t so different after all. Then again, no one had tried to kill her. At least, not yet.
Chapter Three
Isaac sipped his coffee, the blueberry flavored bitter brew sweetened with a hint of sugar and cream. It calmed his bear’s immediate desire for breakfast, which meant he could take some time to enjoy the sunrise. Shades of pink, blue, and orange colored the sky, painting the air in a glorious riot of hues.
The backyard was his small sanctuary away from it all.
A soft breeze blew across the yard, ruffling his hair and stroking his skin.
Quiet mornings like this he missed most. The neighborhood was always slow to wake on the weekends which meant he got a couple of early hours of quiet before everyone bustled on with their day.
He took advantage of this time as often as he could. Even more now that his impending move neared.
Five more weeks and then he’d be on the road. He hadn’t spread the news of his destination to his family—mainly because they’d never asked—but he’d train with the Southeast Healer. He’d live in Terrence Jensen’s compound while he learned all he could. From there, he’d become a sort of traveling Healer, going wherever he was needed at the drop of a hat. The Southeast Healer was getting up there in years and couldn’t always handle some of the emergency cases or visit various clans in the territory.
That would be Isaac’s job once he was deemed fit by the Southeast Healer.
He hated that he’d be gone, but traveling from place to place would enable him to meet hundreds—thousands—of other bears, other women. A desperate man had to find a mate somewhere.
A sharp bark was followed by a tinkling laugh and the slam of a door, breaking into Isaac’s solitude. Another growl split the air, which was followed by a giggle. A giggle that had his bear pushing to its feet and lumbering closer with a deep snuffle. A wet, cold nose pressed against his mind, the animal nosing him and encouraging him to go toward the happy sounds.
More yips and chuckles, the thump of someone hopping down the steps reaching him with ease.
Kira. KK to her friends and Colon to the mean ones.
He hadn’t spied her in days and he was embarrassed to admit he’d been looking. He kept his eye out for the bright, curvaceous woman each time he left the house for work and every time the process was reversed when he got home. His bear would allow no less.
For some reason, the animal attached itself to Kira, to her vulnerability and strength. Contradictions surrounded the woman and his inner beast wanted to discover each of her secrets.
He’d already uncovered one source of pain. Found it and stomped it into the ground with his callous amusement.
God, he was an ass. Then again, that wasn’t news to anyone.
Another yipping bark and another full-bellied laugh. It had him half out of his chair before he even realized he’d moved. The bear snared control for a moment, urging him to go to the fence that separated their properties. The tall, wooden barrier crept to six feet high, but he could peek over the edge.
The problem was, he shouldn’t.
He’d apologized for his behavior, yet she hadn’t accepted, had she? Nope. She had remained frigid in her anger as she slammed the door in his face.
Rustling of grass told him she’d made it off the porch and onto the lawn. The rapid patter of Ebenezer returning to her filled him and eased the bear’s tension. He hadn’t even known he’d worried about her until that moment. He didn’t realize his animal cared about her that way.
Fuck. He accepted his attraction to her. Even when she was all wrapped up in her snit, she was gorgeous. Hell, that haughty attitude made her more beautiful. He’d wanted to ruffle her feathers more. Well, after she was done being really mad at him.
After leaving her at the door, his bear tore through him and he’d bolted for clan lands, anxious to release his animal and let it run off some of its anger. Anger that’d been directed at his human half.
A pissed off bear was a dangerous bear.
As soon as it’d regained control of its rage, the damned beast set off to hunt Kira. From there, Isaac wrestled the four-legged asshole back into its mental cage and returned home.
It’d been seven days and now he found himself on edge once again. His skin rippled, the animal stretching against its bindings and hunting for a weakness. It ached to nuzzle and sniff Kira. Was desperate to rub against her until her scent covered him.
Isaac stretched his neck, rolling his h
ead from side to side and fought to release the growing tension. She already hated him, he wasn’t about to vault over her fence and tackle her to the ground just because his bear was a needy whore.
The animal growled at him, the sound echoing in his mind, and it assured him they’d be at her side eventually.
Shaking his head, he appeased the animal by padding toward the fence, his bare feet not making a sound on the soft earth. He sank his toes into the grass and enjoyed the coolness against his soles. Hopefully that bit of cold would calm the bear.
It actually snorted.
More laughs. More barks. Her joy wrapped around him like a light-hearted blanket, banishing some of the heartache he’d carried the last few weeks. Ever since he’d spoken to his family about leaving, he’d been buried beneath a cloud of unease. And now…
The heavy thud of a body colliding with the ground was followed by a low “oomph” from Kira.
Isaac covered the remaining distance in two rapid steps and peered over the fence without a hint of remorse. “Kira?”
She lay sprawled in the middle of her yard, legs and arms thrown wide as Ebenezer slobbered all over her, sending her dark glasses askew. The moment she heard him, she froze, tension filling every inch of her lush body.
Ignoring the wave of anger that overtook her features, he continued speaking. “You okay?”
“I’m fine.” She adopted that haughty tone again. The one that made him think of ruffling her and peeling away every layer of clothing she wore.
“Uh-huh.”
She rolled to her feet, movements graceful as she straightened her glasses and then brushed dirt from her clothing. The shirt she wore was worn thin in several places and torn in others. The shorts that exposed her plump, pale thighs were ragged at the hem. Hell, there were a half-dozen holes in them as well.
Did the woman not own—
The thought came to a halt when Ebenezer bounded toward her, hunk of metal and plastic in his mouth. He nudged Kira’s hand, and she accepted the tool with a smile. She now clutched a small trowel, and then he noticed what she’d done to the backyard.