Red's Bear (Erotic Shifter Fairy Tales)

by Hines, Yvette

  “How? Did you bite her one of those summers she was coming up here?”

  He wished. Then maybe things would be a little easier. “No. I kissed her once then. Hell, that may have been the catalyst that made her mother keep her way. Who knows.”

  Theo dunked the other half of his biscotti. “That’s doubtful. You couldn’t have been but maybe sixteen at the time. You would have posed no threat.”

  Staring down into the remainder of his coffee, Cord considered whether or not to go into details with Theo about the full incident.

  His silence must have been telling, because Theo said, “What is it?”

  Raising his gaze, Cord confessed, “My first golden haze happened.”

  “No shit?”

  “No shit. It did it again today when I kissed her,” he explained.

  “Well, I’ll be damned.” Theo chuckled. “Do you plan to claim her before or during the Bear Run?”

  Shoving his lose hair back from his face in frustration, Cord exhaled hard. “It’s complicated.”

  Theo rose and walked to the counter and poured himself another cup of coffee. “Because she’s Genma’s granddaughter?”

  Cord rose as well, but instead of going for a refill he placed his mug in the sink. “No, because something is off with Rena.”

  “I’m not following.”

  Leaning back against the sink, Cord said, “I can’t explain it. It’s like she doesn’t know she’s Were.”

  “How’s that possible? She’s Genma’s kin and she’d spent vacations in Den. Granted she was young, but how can she not know?”

  “I don’t know. I’ve been racking my brain all day trying to figure it out. When my eyes turned this morning she didn’t know why it happened.”

  “She didn’t recognize that it was brought on by your desire for her?” Still holding his mug high, Theo folded his arms across his chest.

  “Exactly.” Shaking his head, Cord pushed away from the sink. “Look, you have a mate awaiting you. I’m going to head home.”

  Theo patted him on the shoulder. “Trust me. One way or another it will work itself out.”

  Cord headed to the door. “I hope so.” Opening the side door, he exited the house and shut the door behind him. At the bottom of the stairs he started to unfasten the jeans Theo had loaned him, when he heard his name.

  Turning, Cord faced Theo who was standing on the top step.

  “Let me guess, you need pointers on what to do with that pretty life mate of yours in bed.”

  “Not from your cocky ass I don’t. Hell, compared to me, you are well out of practice.”

  “If that ain’t the fucking truth.” Cord agreed. “What’s up?”

  Moving one step down, Theo said, “I’m not sure if this means anything, but if I’m not mistaken when Lillian left Den when she was younger, I recall there were whispers about her marrying a human, non-shifter.”

  “So did you.” Cord wasn’t understanding where his friend was going with this information.

  “Yes, but Riley became a Were. I don’t think Lillian’s husband was ever changed. At least he’s never come to Den to prove the rumors wrong.”

  “Thanks, Theo. I think you may have hit on something.”

  “I hope it helps.” Theo told him.

  Stripping out of the jeans, Cord tossed them at Theo then said, “So do I.” In a flash, Cord shifted and his bear was off.

  “Ass.” Theo called out to him, his voice filled with gaiety.

  Cord was glad he had done the final check at Theo’s place even though his friend had told him he’d be back by Monday. It had given Cord the opportunity to get some of his worries off his mind. Even though being around Theo had stirred up more questions, Cord at least felt like he was moving toward a path that would lead to a future with his life mate.

  Now how he was going to get Rena to drop her guard and let her bear out, he didn’t know.

  ~YH~

  Hearing the knock at the door, Rena tossed out a quick prayer that it wasn’t Cord. All day long she had been on pins and needles, knowing he was once again outside the cabin working in the yard. She had kept herself away from the windows, refusing to let him catch her staring at him again. As if it wasn’t bad enough that this man had haunted her dreams, this morning she had awakened with her thighs coated with her own cream. Ever since that kiss yesterday she’d been in a state of need.

  She’d thought about going into town, just to get away from the house and the man, but she didn’t want to risk going outside and running into him. Especially with the memory of the powerful kiss they had shared plaguing her.

  That low voice in her gut seemed to be pushing her toward going out and taking matters into her own hands, kissing Cord. Claiming Cord had been the exact words. However, she’d held herself back. It had been a draining feat but one she’d managed to prevail in so far.

  By the second knock, Rena finally decided to answer the door. She wasn’t a chicken, she had turned down plenty of men in clubs and at her old job, one wilderness male she could handle. Maybe.

  Opening the door, she was relieved to see a statuesque black woman, around her age, on the porch.

  “Rena, right?” the woman asked, a wide smile on her mouth.

  “Yes. And you are?”

  Sticking her hand out, the woman said, “I’m Greta. My parents and I live next door.”

  “It’s nice to meet you, Greta.” Rena shook the hand offered. “Please come in.”

  Greta crossed the threshold. “Genma asked me to pick up some muffins she’d set aside for the festival.”

  “I’ll get them. I believe my grandmother said they were supposed to go to a woman named Lola Shardik.” Rena walked toward the kitchen.

  “Correct. I’m headed to town now.” Greta called after her.

  In the pantry, Rena told herself not to even look at the honey. Just grab the muffins and go. Picking up the large container marked Festival, her eyes caught the sight of a smaller container beside it with CORD written on it. Rena closed her eyes and inhaled. Holding a breath, she tried to keep herself calm. The right thing for her to do was to take the package to Cord, her grandmother had evidently meant for him to have it.

  Ignoring it for now, she turned to leave the small room. She stared at the words labeling the batch for sale and refused to allow her gaze to stray.

  “Here they are.” Rena sighed with relief as she moved back into the living room where Greta was still standing.

  “Thanks.” Greta took the container. “I can’t wait to purchase some of these.”

  “They are delicious.” Rena pulled the front door open, smiling at the thought of how many of her own muffins she had consumed in the last two days. If she kept it up, she would have to start walking laps around the house to keep her weight down. Thank goodness she had plenty of room to spare with all of the pounds she had lost over the year while she’d been ill.

  Greta walked past her. “It is the honey. It makes everything better.”

  “What did you say?” Rena didn’t believe she’d heard the other woman correctly.

  Turning on the porch, Greta faced her. “It’s the honey-glaze that makes the muffins delicious. Everything delicious.”

  Rena frowned. “That can’t be right. I’m allergic. My grandmother knows that.”

  A similar frown came on Greta’s features, brow tight. “What’s your allergy to?”

  “Honey.” Rena said plainly.

  Tilting her head, Greta stared at her as if Rena had just popped out a third eye on her nose. “I’ve never heard of that before. Especially not in Den.”

  “Well, I’m not from Den. So, evidently my grandmother must have made my batch with agave nectar.”

  “Do you happen to have any of your batch left?”

  Laughing, Rena said, “Barely. I’ve been consuming them almost on the hour.” Turning she went into the kitchen and located her tin. Opening it, she took out one of the three muffins remaining then got a butter knife to cut it in h
alf. Once that was done she went back to the door and handed it to the other woman.

  Greta didn’t waste any time before sinking her teeth into the treat. Chewing slowly, she moaned. “Oh, goodness, they are so good,” she mumbled around the mouthful.

  “Agave, right?”

  “Absolutely not, pure raw honey.” Greta popped the other half into her mouth and smiled around it, her dark eyes shining bright with joy.

  Rena was floored. All her life, her mother and physicians had said she had a honey allergy. Her mother had cautioned her with a horrible story about when Rena had eaten honey when she was too young to remember, saying she’d almost died. Broken out in hives and fever. Now to find out, that not only did she not have an allergy to the sappy sweetness, but she craved it. Did my mother lie to me? For what purpose would she have told such a tale?

  “Maybe you grew out of it.” Greta declared, now having completely consumed the muffin.

  “You’re probably right.” Absently, Rena nodded, still trying to make heads or tails of it all.

  “Well, I’m off to town.” Headed to the steps, Greta stopped and faced her again. “You want to come. Get out the house?”

  “Um. I was considering it, but I don’t kno—”

  “Hey, Greta!”

  Just the sound of the deep masculine voice and its husky rumble caused heat to spread out from her core into the rest of her body. How could someone’s voice make me feel so needy?

  Turning to the side, Greta’s ready smile appeared on her face, almost too wide for Rena.

  “Hello to you, Cord. I see you’re working hard over here. You’re going to miss the festival events if you keep this up.”

  “I’ll catch some things sooner or later.” He responded.

  Rena leaned against the doorjamb and kept her gaze fixed toward the trees in front of her grandmother’s house, denying herself a glance at Cord. He was already haunting her mind when she was asleep and awake. She was too afraid what would come next if she gave herself leave.

  “Well, there’s going to be a dance tomorrow night, this year. You’ll get a chance to show all the females in town your moves.” Greta called out laughing.

  A sound filled the air, like an animal’s growl.

  Greta looked at her and laughed. “Down girl, Cord and I are only friends. If you want to claim him, you’ll get no blocking from me.”

  Shocked, Rena slapped her palm over her mouth. She couldn’t believe that sound had come from her lips. She didn’t know what had come over her. Lowering her hand, she said, “Oh, goodness… what? No, it’s nothing like that for him. I mean me… us.”

  “Which ever. You want to come with me?”

  Rena looked at the sexy, beast of a man leaning on his hoe casually. However, the intense look he was giving her was anything but casual.

  Mine.

  Blocking out the “Sybil-ish” voice inside her, Rena quickly agreed. “I’m going with you. One second.”

  “I’ll be in my truck.” Greta moved down the steps.

  Rena rushed back into the house and went to her room to get a light jacket. Then went to the kitchen and in there she entered the panty and grabbed the container marked for Cord. Going out of the house, she headed to the silver truck parked behind Cord’s black one.

  Passing his truck, Rena set the muffins on the hood of it then continued past to the passenger side door of Greta’s truck.

  She was grateful that Greta did not ask about the tin now resting on Cord’s vehicle. When Greta backed out, Rena allowed herself a quick glance at Cord. Her breath became seized in her chest when she saw that he had not moved, but he was staring pointedly at her. Lifting his hand, he gave her a knowing wave. She looked down at her hands, but didn’t mistake the lowed rumble of the male laughter.

  That man is going to stop laughing at me.

  ~YH~

  “This is amazing. Everything looks like so much fun. It’s like a county fair.” Rena walked beside Greta to the festival ground area. It was a large clearing with a playground and park at one end, the other was set up with tents, booths, field games and so much more: food, crafts and a small stage where there was a kids’ talent show happening. After stopping by Gobi’s Diner, where she started off eating a large garden salad, Rena ended with three homemade rolls dripping with honey and most of Greta’s creamy smoked salmon pasta in her stomach. She was stuffed.

  Still shocked that she could have honey, Rena waited for some kind of reaction, but none came—just a craving for more. That same hunger had led her to try a taste of Greta’s fish. When nothing happened but a warm glow in a belly and a sense of euphoria, Rena had taken another forkful, then another. She would have been embarrassed by her poor manners if Greta hadn’t laughed and ordered them another plate and a bowl of Gobi’s hearty salmon and vegetable chowder. Which Rena recognized as tasting a lot like her grandmother’s soup without the chunks of fish floating in it.

  It didn’t take much effort for her to deduce that if her grandmother was feeding her honey on the sly that more than likely Genma had been doing the same with the seafood. But why? That simple question was plaguing Rena.

  “Well, this is Den County.” Greta teased as she weaved them through all the activity to a booth with SHARDIK FARMS HONEYCOMBS painted across the top.

  “Hi, Lola.” Greta greeted the older woman inside the booth.

  “Greta, are those Genma’s muffins?” Lola’s face was lit with a smile as she rubbed her hands together.

  Rena couldn’t believe that this woman sold so many honeycomb treats, but was still excited to get her grandmother’s muffins.

  “They sure are.” Greta passed the container to Lola over the side of the stand.

  “Perfect, I have a nice dish and place for them.” Lola carried the muffins to the large table where a man was working and set it down.

  “Have you had a chance to meet, Rena, Genma’s granddaughter?”

  “Oh, my goodness. You don’t say.” Lola turned her million-watt grin on Rena. “I haven’t seen you since you were a baby. How’s your mother?”

  At the mention of her mother, Rena forced a smile on her mouth and hoped Lola and Greta didn’t pick up on it and think it reflected on her meeting the woman. “She’s fine. Living in Massachusetts.”

  Lola stared off in the distance for a second as she said, “Gracious, your mother and I went to school together. We used to run around this town trying to get all the handsome males to sniff after us.” She laughed.

  The thought of sitting down with Lola and tapping her brain about her mother’s childhood was tempting to Rena. Her mother was never forthcoming about anything to do with growing up in Den County. It was as if Lillian wanted to pretend that her hometown didn’t exist in her mind. Rena thought it was a shame. Evidently her mother had friends and people in the area who thought fondly of her, even if Lillian didn’t feel the same about them.

  “You caught me that way.” A burly man in the back cutting large blocks of honeycomb into smaller pieces called out.

  “Yes I did.” Lola looked back over her shoulder and gave the man a wink. “Don’t mind him. That big, bear of a male is my Ben.”

  Rena waved at the man.

  “You all headed over to Fur Field to the softball game?” Lola leaned out of her booth window. “That’s where Gordon and Shayna are.”

  “I heard about that. I’m planning to head over and see if they have any spots left,” Greta replied. “You okay with that, Rena?”

  “Sure. I haven’t seen a good game in a while.” Not to mention if she said no, Greta may take her back home and that would set Rena the one place she was trying to avoid, around Cord.

  “Let’s go then. Okay, Lola, Ben, we will see you two later.” Greta began to move away.

  “Nice meeting you, Lola…again.” Rena said as she followed Greta toward the far end of the park area.

  “Don’t be a stranger!” Lola called out to her.

  Smiling back at the former friend of her mothe
r’s, Rena didn’t respond. She didn’t want to make any promises to the woman.

  As she and Greta headed to the field, her grandmother’s neighbor pointed out different people and families they passed. Explaining to Rena what business they ran or how many offspring they had. Kids were running everywhere through the fairgrounds. No one appeared concerned and it seemed to her that they all pitched in to keep an eye on the children and elderly. Rena liked this county, with its friendliness and fairs. There seemed to be more camaraderie and support in this town then she’d seen in any city she’d ever lived in.

  “There’s the field.” Greta pointed to the large field coming into view with groups of people gathered around.

  “Is it over?” Rena lifted her hand over her eyes, shielding them as she started off in the distance about a hundred yards away.

  “I hope not.” Greta picked up her pace.

  “Greta, perfect. We need another player.” A tall man with dark brown hair waved them over.

  Greta turned her fast walk into a jog.

  Rena followed suit. She’d never considered how much energy she would expend when she decided to come out to the festival. This was the most exercise she had gotten in a very long time. She was happy that she didn’t feel weak or exhausted yet.

  “Great, Tim. I was hoping to join in.” Greta explained to the brown haired man.

  One of the things Rena had come to realize was that every man in Den County over the age of twenty was both extremely tall and just as bulky as Cord. She wondered what was in the water of the town to grow their men so big. She would like to bottle it and take it back to North Carolina with her.

  Rena didn’t miss all the men checking her out and the women eyeing her, not negatively but more out of curiosity.

  “We need someone else because Shayna is breeding again so she can’t play.” A man standing beside the one Greta had called Tim nodded his head toward a set of bleachers where people sat watching the picking of teams happen.