by Celia Kyle
Sunday Bear-becue
A Grayslake Bite of Life Short Story
Celia Kyle
Contents
Blurb
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
About the Author
Blurb
Mia’s looking forward to a lazy Sunday afternoon with friends, family, furballs, and veggie dogs. (For her daughter Sophia, don’t ask.) But what begins with laughs soon ends with tears… of grief? Or joy?
This short story is set in the GRAYSLAKE: MORE THAN MATED world and does not stand alone. It should be read after HOWL MY NAME and is a little bit of family life for those who fell in love with the Grayslake gang and aren’t ready to let them go.
If you enjoy the Grayslake world, make sure you check out the Grayslake: More Than Mated Kindle World. Your favorite authors writing about Grayslake, Georgia.
1
If you enjoy the Grayslake world, make sure you check out the Grayslake: More Than Mated Kindle World. Your favorite authors writing about Grayslake, Georgia.
Six years into Mia’s mating with Ty and she’d gone from a cub in her pantry to a bun in her oven. Well, a second bun. Her first biological bun was—at that moment—attempting to talk her adopted son into making a break for freedom.
They didn’t want to stick around and listen to adults talk at some stinking barbecue. Not even promises of all the pork and green beans they could eat ended the whining. (Pork for Parker and green beans for her still-vegetarian daughter Sophia.) Don’t even get Mia started about that. A vegetarian werebear? Even the Southeast Itan—the territory’s regional werebear leader—had never heard of such a thing.
A familiar scent teased her nose, one she knew better than any others, and she mentally groaned.
“You gonna tell him anytime soon?” The deep, rumbly voice held a teasing note and then she groaned aloud.
“Dad.” She even whined… and not just a little. “I haven’t even taken a test.”
Though, really, she didn’t need to. Mia knew her own body, and well… yeah.
Her father chuckled and laid his massive arm across her shoulders, the weight both welcome and comforting. She leaned her head onto his shoulder and breathed deep, taking in the scents of home. He wasn’t her biological father, but Thomas Baker was even better—he was the father of her heart.
“Little cub, the day I don’t recognize a change in my own daughter’s scent is the day they put me in the ground.”
She elbowed him. “No talking about being put in the ground.”
After the troubles of the last few years, Mia didn’t want to think about death and her loved ones ever again. Ever. And yes, she repeated herself, but she wanted to be sure the powers that be heard her.
Her father grunted and then laughed again, giving her shoulder a squeeze. “I’m not looking to go anywhere anytime soon. I want another few grandcubs outta you two.”
Mia’s gut clenched and chest tightened, suspicions and worries colliding inside her. Her inner bear chuffed and grumbled, not happy about thinking of past pregnancies and sorrows. “Daddy…”
He sighed and pulled away, forcing her to turn toward him until they faced each other fully. “Little cub, you’re still blaming yourself, aren’t you?”
Tears stung her eyes and she squeezed them shut, fighting to keep them at bay. “I just… This is the fourth, and the others…”
The fourth time she’d been pregnant since giving birth to Sophia. Her little five-year-old was the light—and love—of her life, but she’d always wanted Sophia to have a sister or brother. She’d—they’d—never meant for Sophia to be an only child. Nature apparently had disagreed.
Until now.
He shook his head. “It wasn’t time. For whatever reason, it wasn’t time.”
“But—“
“It is too, vege-tamerian stupid-head!”
Mia sighed, recognizing that high-pitched, thoroughly annoyed voice coming from above.
Her daughter was obviously on the second floor balcony—directly above her—and there was only one person she argued with so strongly.
Mia’s father released her and she stepped away, tilting her head back as she yelled. “Sophia Cate Abrams! What did I say?”
Pure. Silence. Sophia didn’t even take a step on the wooden floor, and Mia imagined her frozen in place as if she’d scented a predator and didn’t want to be seen. Well, mothers were predators of a sort.
“Hi Mommy!”
Mia imagined the dimpled smile that would accompany that cheery greeting. Yeah, she wasn’t falling for it. Five years of being with that adorable hellion had taught her many, many things.
“Uh-huh. What. Did I. Say?”
A low huff from Sophia was followed by a boyish snicker from her daughter’s ever-present partner-in-crime. Though, really, Mia was pretty sure Parker encouraged Sophia into half of the escapades. She just couldn’t prove it. Yet.
“Mommy, listen. Listen, listen. I went on weeky… weeky…”
“Wikipedia,” Parker whispered. As if Mia’s shifter enhanced hearing couldn’t pick up the sound. God save her from ten-year-olds.
“Weeky-peed-ee-ah and it said stupid-head isn’t a curse word.”
“And Google,” Parker whispered again.
“And Googles!” Her daughter sounded so proud. Mia could imagine Sophia standing tall in the middle of the balcony, balled hands on her narrow hips and spine straight—just like her daddy when he thought he was right.
Oh, how wrong they both were. Often.
“Wikipedia and Google don’t put a roof over your head, young lady.”
“Mommy, listen. Listen, listen. I’m outside. There is no roof.”
Parker snickered. Even her father chuckled but managed to turn it into a cough when Mia glared at him. And Sophia… sounded so sure and proud of herself that Mia wanted to give her kid a high-five. She was smart. Annoying at the moment, but smart. Even Mia’s bear was proud of the girl, the emotion rolling through her with the animal’s encouraging snuffle.
“Sophia,” she said, adopting that mom tone. The one she’d learned over the years that would stop kids in their tracks. Not because she was the Itana—female half of the couple that ruled the Grayslake clan—but because she was a mom.
A beleaguered sigh reached her—Sophia’s admission of defeat without her actually admitting anything. Something else she got from her daddy. But it told Mia she’d won. Which was good, considering Mia was pretty sure she was about to lose her lunch in the bushes. Actually, it’d be yesterday’s lunch, since she hadn’t eaten since then.
Ah, the joys of pregnancy.
She rubbed her stomach, silently begging it to calm so she didn’t embarrass herself in front of everyone. And she meant everyone.
The rumble of the party-goers grew with each passing moment, her little gathering increasing with each new car that pulled down the clan den’s driveway. Families, couples, and singles slowly trickled around the corner, filling the den’s backyard. Werewolves and werebears, along with the occasional werehyena, occupied the grass-covered lawn, the different types of shifters mingling and… getting along.
So far.
Reid still hadn’t shown up with his mate Evie and the few bears from his clan that decided to drive down. Mia hadn’t met many of the Brooksville bears, but if they tolerated having a werewolf as their Itan—leader—then they had to be decent enough. She’d call them good people, but…
Sure, they
let a wolf lead them. That was fine. But they let Reid—homicidal, sometimes evil, and with his therapist on speed-dial—Bennett.
She wasn’t sure if they were understanding or suicidal. And his mate? Evie was a better bear than Mia.
The wind shifted, bringing over another wave of scents—seared meat and smoking pig—and she swallowed past the bloom of nausea. It was only going to get worse as soon as Ty’s brother Van arrived. He’d been tasked with bringing extra charcoal and lighter fluid. Reid was hauling “the best grills known to wolves” down with him from Brooksville while Keen was ready to prove propane charred a burger better than charcoal any day.
She’d tell them all to whip out their dicks and measure, but she wasn’t sure her mate would be okay with that. Actually, she was sure he wouldn’t.
“How much do I gottsa put in?” Sophia grumbled, but Mia’s bear allowed her to easily hear the five-going-on-thirty-year-old.
“A dollar in the swear jar, young lady.”
“Mommy,” Sophia gasped.
“Wanna make it two?” Mia arched a brow even though her daughter couldn’t see her.
And her father? Oh, he was red-faced and struggling not to laugh. She stared at the man, eyes narrowed. “Stop it,” she mouthed, not wanting the kids to hear her.
“I can’t,” he did the same back. “She’s just like you.”
Mia sniffed. She’d never been an argumentative, cursing kid. Her Daddy woulda tanned her rear end. And she darned sure better say rear end or she’d be the one putting money in the strategically positioned swear jars.
By the time her little barbecue was over, she’d probably have enough to cover Sophia’s college. Especially if Reid got near his half-sister’s mate, Bates. Those two…
She made a mental note to “encourage” Evie and Reid’s half-sister to chat.
“No, Mommy,” Sophia sniffled, and she could practically see that lower lip tremble. “I don’t wanna.”
Which was good because her churning stomach took a sharp right before flowing into a deep dive, and she swayed on her feet. She reached out and grasped the railing, fingers digging into the wood while she tried to keep herself from puking all over the porch. Vomit was not a good accompaniment to burgers.
Her father gave her a speculative, narrow-eyed stare and she dropped her gaze. The man had a way of looking at her and just knowing…
“Sophia? Parker? Run along now.” He didn’t raise his voice, his tone telling them it wasn’t a request, but an order. “I think I hear Uncle Reid’s truck coming down the driveway.”
“Yay!” Both shouted at the same time, the heavy thud of their pounding steps immediately following their yells.
Mia wasn’t sure if sending her kids to play with the homicidal werewolf was any better than puking up yesterday’s lunch in front of them.
Okay, she wasn’t being entirely fair. Reid had stopped smoking and drinking coffee courtesy of orders from his therapist Clary. Apparently the woman had tried to take away sex at some point during treatment but had rescinded the order out of pure self-preservation.
Her father stepped close, arm going around her waist and steadying her when she swayed. “Noise or scents getting to you?”
“Both?” She laughed weakly. Yeah, both were bothering her. A lot.
“Then let’s get you away from it all, hmmm?”
“But the barbecue…” She’d wheedled and whined her way into putting the barbecue together. Wolves, bears, and a handful of hyenas were all getting together to mingle and have a little fun.
With approximately twenty-five swear jars peppered around the backyard. She wasn’t about to have f-bombs littering her yard.
“We’re shifters, little cub. Give ‘em meat and drinks and they’re good to go.” He encouraged her to turn and shuffle toward the backdoor. “Which means I’m going to take you inside and out a side door so you can get away unnoticed.”
“Get away?” She crossed over the threshold, the sweet scents of the clan den surrounding her. The aromas of home and food prepared by the den house cook—Gigi—wrapped around her.
“Yup.” Her father led her down the hallway and her stomach calmed with each step farther away from the party. “Then I’m going to send Ty after you.”
“But…” She found herself standing in front of one of the side doors, her attention bouncing between the wood panel and her father. “He’s the Itan…”
“Who needs to be with his pregnant mate.” Her dad’s expression told her there was gonna be no arguing that one. “Meat and drinks. I think that between me, Ty’s parents, and his three brothers, we can keep the crowd under control.”
Yes, they probably could. Ty’s parents were the previous Itan and Itana, while his three brothers were the clans’ enforcer, healer, and keeper. They were also massive, strong bears in their own right.
“And Reid…” She raised her eyebrows, waiting for his reaction to his inclusion. Reid was family, of a sort, after all.
Her father grunted and agreed with her. “And Reid.”
She gave him a half smile and pushed to her tip-toes, giving him a kiss on the cheek. “Thank you, Daddy. Don’t let anyone get out of putting money in the swear jar.”
He chuckled and shook his head. “I’ll keep an eye on ‘em. You just get going. Ty will catch up to you by the time you hit the tree line.”
2
Ty leaned against a tree at the edge of the yard, his position giving him a clear view of his domain. His bear bristled at all the others that’d entered their territory, but he pushed the animal back. Mia—their mate—wanted the party, so she’d have the party and that was it. His human mind and bear’s instincts could get over any and all objections.
Didn’t mean his fingers and gums hurt any less, though. His nails darkened and eased toward black more and more with each passing second. The bear shoved at his control, furious about having so many males—mated and unmated—near Mia. She was his. All of her was his. And to have all these other bears, wolves, and hyenas nearby…
His gums throbbed, fangs attempting to push past the tender flesh of his gums. The beast wanted him to flash his elongated canines at the next person who even glanced at Mia.
Mia… His cock twitched when he simply thought of her name. His palms tingled, memories of the feel of her smooth skin teasing him. He touched—caressed—her every chance he got. Unfortunately, he hadn’t had a chance that day. Not when she was out of bed and off like a shot to work on preparations before he even opened one eye.
She was running herself ragged with this mess and he had half a mind to send them all back home.
But she wanted it, so…
Ty sighed and crossed his arms over his chest, settling into his position beneath the shade of the tree. Nothing to be done now. Nothing but to wait until everyone arrived, ate, and then left again. Hopefully with little bloodshed, but lots of cursing.
Because, damn his woman was hot when she was all annoyed and frustrated. He loved nothing more than stripping her down and loving the mad right out of her.
Which he couldn’t do with a yard full of people.
At least he had his family nearby. His parents flew in from Florida a few days ago and his brothers were always hanging around the den. Then there was Mia’s father… Ty turned his attention to where he’d last seen the older man. The half-bear had been standing with Mia beneath the porch overhang.
Only now both of ‘em were gone. Ty frowned and turned his gaze to the growing crowd, searching for his mate. She’d said she’d stay around the house and not dive into the middle of the temperamental crowd. They may have all come to the Grayslake den for some fun, but… shifters were shifters.
He stared out at the milling groups, small circles peppered throughout the green space while kids darted around talking adults. He spotted more than one cub who’d shifted while still dressed and was now wrapped up in their human clothes.
Man, he remembered doing that. Getting all excited and playing with his friends.
Hands one second and then boom, paws.
One particular little cub—pup?—raced past, blue eyes wide and smile even wider, with pale blonde curls flowing behind her. Racing until a dog barked and the toddler froze in place.
“Uh oh.” Little bow-shaped lips trembled and her shoulders slumped with her sigh. The dog circled her, chuffing and grumbling, until the girl reached out and patted him roughly on the snout. “Hewo Ebie Wiffa-waffee.”
Ebie. Also known as Ebenezer something or other—Kira Kolanowski-Abrams’ seeing eye dog. Unofficial, of course. Half the time the damned—darned—mutt walked Kira into obstacles, not away from them.
It seemed the dog was taking Kira and Isaac’s little girl under his paw, too.
The wind changed and the little girl tilted her head to the side, little chest expanding as she breathed deep. Then those glacier blue eyes were on him, her smile just as wide as before. “Unca Ty!”
The toddler bolted toward him, tiny legs pumping while she ran in his direction and… tripped over a tree root. He bent and scooped her up, propping her diaper-clad bottom on his forearm.
“Hey, Zee-Zee, whatcha’ doing?”
She shrugged, her grin deepening until her dimples appeared. “Dunno.”
“Uh-huh.”
“Isobel Zoey Abrams!” His brother Isaac’s voice rose above the crowd, only to be followed by Ebie barking and then… “Dammit Ebenezer, I will gut your ass—“
“Daddy! ‘angage! Swear R!”
Language. Ty grinned at Izzy—Isobel when she was in trouble and Zee-Zee when she had to introduce herself to others. He figured by the time the barbecue was over, Mia’s swear jars would be pretty full.
“Jar, Zee-Zee. Jar.”
“R.” She nodded hard. “What I said.”
Isaac finally pushed through the crowd, Ebie on his heels and trotting after him with his tongue lolling out. The scar that bisected his brother’s face—a wound earned when he’d fought to save Mia—was no longer a harsh line that marred his features. It’d softened—he’d softened—ever since he’d found Kira. Even more so when Isobel was born.