Bear Naked

by Dana Marie Bell

  Yum.

  The bell over the door jangled, catching Glory’s attention.

  A white-blond, blue-eyed man walked in and took a quick look around. She gasped, the stranger all too familiar to her.

  He took a look around, his gaze glancing off both Cyn and Glory before whipping back to Glory. “Glory? Is that you?”

  Glory collapsed into one of the turquoise chairs, her hands clenching on the arms. It couldn’t be, but it was. “Temp?”

  The man’s smile was huge, his blue eyes, so much like Glory’s, sparkling with happiness and tears. “Damn, girl. You look good.”

  Glory covered her mouth, her own blue eyes huge. “Oh. My. God.”

  The bell jangled again, and another pale blonde walked in. This one was tiny and feminine, a younger, slightly taller version of Glory. “You found her, Temp?”

  “Faith?” Glory was shaking, her voice weak with shock. She stood and took a step closer to her baby sister, a sister she’d never thought to see again.

  “Glory!” Faith rocketed forward, throwing herself into Glory’s arms. “It’s really you.”

  “Oh my God.” Glory began to breathe erratically as Faith sobbed in her arms. “How?”

  Temp watched the two women hugging, silent tears streaking down his cheeks. “It’s so good to see you again.” He moved forward far more cautiously than his sister had, watching Glory as if she might collapse at any moment.

  Ryan crossed the room to her side, putting his hand on her shoulder. “Easy, sweetheart.”

  Her breathing evened out as Ryan’s power poured into her, soothing her. “Rye? This is my family.”

  “I know, sweetheart.”

  For some strange reason, Ryan saying that made everything real. Glory began to cry, finally embracing her siblings. Ryan watched over them all, making sure she remained calm. The three of them murmured to each other, soothing words of how they’d missed one another and loved each other.

  Faith stroked Glory’s hair. “I like the blue.”

  Glory’s laugh was watery. “I was thinking of going back to lavender.”

  Ryan growled. “I like the blue too.”

  Temp pulled way from the girls, shooting Ryan a distrustful look. “Who are you?”

  “I’m Glory’s fiancé.” Ryan took hold of one of Glory’s hands, reminding her that he was right there, that it was all right to lean on him. “Name’s Ryan Williams.” He held out his free hand.

  “Temperance Walsh. Nice to meet you.” Temp relaxed, shaking Ryan’s hand. “I was hoping Glory would find someone.”

  “She found us.” Cyn, ever protective of her friends, also put herself between Temp and Glory, much to Julian’s obvious dismay. The man made an abortive gesture toward Cyn, but they both knew if it came to a fight between Temp and Cyn, the Kodiak would whoop the human’s ass with ease. “Why are you here?”

  Temp looked taken aback. “Faith turned eighteen last month. We’ve been traveling back toward Halle ever since we escaped my dad.”

  Cyn didn’t look convinced, but Glory stood and took a step toward her brother, clinging to Ryan’s hand. She might not want to admit it, but she needed his strength right now. Faith still had her arm around Glory’s waist, clinging to her older sister as if she never wanted to let go. Glory let her, but kept her gaze on Temp. He was the strongest of them, had always been so. “Where is Dad?”

  Temp shrugged. “Last we saw he was in some little town in Washington, preaching fire and brimstone as always. He’s been traveling a lot, doing tent revivals, keeping us under observation. It…wasn’t easy getting away.”

  “We’re sorry to barge in on you like this, but we just found out where you were.” Faith was hugging Glory tightly again. She couldn’t seem to take her hands off her. “Some nice ladies over at Wallflowers told us to come here when we started asking around.”

  “Hell, we were just happy you were still in town.” Temp ran his fingers through his hair, something he did often if the ragged mess was anything to go by. “But we didn’t know where else to start, so we came back here, hoping you’d have told Cyn where you were going.”

  Cyn visibly relaxed at the mention of Wallflowers. Neither Emma Cannon nor Becky Holt, the Curana and Beta mate of the Puma Pride, would send someone to Glory they thought was a threat to the Cynful girls. “You met Emma?”

  Temp grinned. “She’s small, but she’s mighty.”

  “She grilled us for an hour before she’d tell us where to find you.” Faith’s hopeful gaze hadn’t once left her sister. “How have you been?”

  “I’ve…been.” Glory took another step toward Temp. “Cyn’s family took me in.”

  Temp grimaced. “I wish I’d been able to stop him from throwing you out, but the way he beat you, I thought…” Temp sighed, touching Glory’s cheek. “I don’t know what I thought. I’m so sorry, kiddo. I wish I could have stayed with you, kept you safe.”

  “I know.” Temp had done everything in his power to protect her, but their father was big and mean, and Temp had his own share of scars to deal with.

  “You thought she’d be better off without us.” Faith put her hand on her brother’s arm. “You couldn’t protect her anymore, and you told me you thought Dad was going to kill her.”

  Temp shrugged uncomfortably. “I didn’t manage to protect any of you as well as I would have liked.”

  Glory winced. “He went after Faith?”

  Temp grimaced. “Not as badly as he went after you, but yes.”

  This time it was Faith who looked uncomfortable. “I don’t think I have nearly as many scars as you do.”

  “Scars? You have scars?” Ryan put his arm around his mate, tucking her close to him and dislodging Faith.

  “All of us do, Rye.” Glory shrugged. “Some of us just have deeper ones.”

  Temp winced, his shoulders moving uncomfortably. “I stopped as much of it as I could, but it was never enough. I was never enough.”

  “You did what you could, Temp.” Glory smiled at her brother. “Don’t ever think I wasn’t grateful, because I was.”

  “Yeah. I knew why you left with Dad, Temp. I always knew.” Glory stepped forward, away from Ryan, and allowed her siblings to embrace her again. “I really missed you guys.” Damn it. She hated crying. She always wound up looking like she’d spent a week in Margaritaville.

  “We missed you too, squirt.” Temp held her tightly, only letting go when Glory pushed. Faith took his place, her embrace lasting longer than her brother’s.

  Glory took a step back, and Ryan pulled her close again. “Will Dad come after you?”

  “He might.” Faith visibly shivered.

  Temp grinned savagely. “But if he does, he’ll have to deal with all of us now.”

  Faith grimaced. “All except Hope.”

  Glory leaned into Ryan’s embrace. “About Hope. We’ve decided to search for her.”

  “Really?” Temp grinned again, looking relieved. “Thank you, God. We were hoping you’d want to.”

  “Alive or dead, we want her home.” Faith smiled sweetly.

  Glory returned her sister’s smile. Faith was gentle, sweet and far from capable of defending herself. She’d have to make sure the clan knew to keep an eye on her baby sister. Maybe she’d introduce her to Heather. She had the feeling the two girls would find they had a lot in common. The way Heather was coming out of her shell, perhaps she could help Faith. And with Barney watching over Heather, it would be an added layer of defense for her.

  “Good. We’ve got the sheriff, Gabe Anderson, on our side.” Glory pulled away from Ryan again and led her siblings to the little seating area, settling down once more in her favorite chair. “I don’t suppose you know anything that could help us find her?”

  “Well…” Faith shot a glance at her brother, who nodded. “There was this strange man who was following Hope.”

  Glory frowned. “Hope never mentioned anything about a stranger to me.” But Hope had become strangely quiet during those las
t couple of months. Had she been hiding something from Glory?

  Temp nodded. “She didn’t want to tell anyone about it. She thought it was just a guy who came and went to the library the same way we all did.”

  “But Hope said she got creepy feelings off him, so she told Dad about it. Temp overheard it, but I didn’t find out about it until recently.”

  “Dad told her there was nothing to worry about, that it was probably her imagination, so she let it go. You remember how he indulged her. She probably trusted his word that everything would be all right.” Temp growled. “The way he would look at her… Sometimes I wonder, but I like to think my father wasn’t a fucking pedophile.”

  Faith put her hand on his leg. “Dad never touched me in…that way.”

  Glory sighed. “Or me.”

  “Good.” Ryan settled on the arm of her chair, his hand on her shoulder once more. “If your father had touched you I’d be forced to hunt him down and rip off his arms.”

  Glory blinked. “Down, baby bear. Daddy Dearest has a lot to answer for, but not that.”

  “I’m not so sure.” Temp exchanged a glance with Ryan that sent chills down her spine. “The way he acted around Hope? Tell me it never crossed your mind that he finally snapped and did something to her, then killed her to cover it up.”

  “I think…” Glory shook her head. If she was wrong, she was giving her siblings false hope. But, if she was right… “I think Hope is alive. There’s something inside, where we were connected, that tells me she’s still somewhere on this earth. When I tried to tell Dad I could still feel her, he beat me pretty badly.”

  Ryan growled, but coughed it back when Temp and Faith shot him curious glances.

  “Then why didn’t she come home?” Temp leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees and clasping his hands together. “You think she’s being held captive? That maybe Dad didn’t do anything to her?”

  Glory didn’t want to give what they’d learned away. She doubted either of her siblings knew anything about shifters, and for now that’s how it needed to stay. “It’s possible. We won’t know for sure until we find some clues.” She’d have to figure out a way to keep them out of the loop until the rogue Wolf was found and dealt with. She’d talk to Ryan about it later, once Temp and Faith were gone.

  Temp studied them all for a moment, his gaze lingering longest on Ryan. “Whatever you need, sis. Whatever you need, you just ask.”

  “What I need is my sister back, one way or the other. What I’m going to get is a caramel macchiato once I send Ryan to the coffee shop.” Glory grinned up at Ryan, aware it was a pale imitation of her usual expression.

  Ryan sighed. “The things I do for love.”

  She patted his knee. “Extra whip, dear.”

  Ryan laughed, even as her siblings looked utterly confused. “Of course. Would you have anything else?”

  She sighed and kissed his cheek, more grateful to him than he could ever know. “Nope.”

  Chapter Ten

  Ryan hadn’t felt entirely comfortable leaving Glory with Cyn, but one look at the Kodiak and he’d known she’d defend Glory to the death. She couldn’t be in better hands, unless they were his own.

  Still, he found himself hurrying back. It just seemed way too convenient to him, Temp and Faith showing up just as they began searching for Hope. He couldn’t help but wonder how much of their tale was true, and how much made up. He very much doubted that Reverend Walsh had let his last two children go without a fight.

  If their father had sent them, then Ryan wasn’t sure what he’d do. Glory would be crushed to discover her siblings were working against her, but Ryan couldn’t allow even a hint of a threat to his mate. It was bad enough she’d been attacked when he’d been right there with her.

  He’d have to see if the apples were as rotten as the tree they’d fallen from.

  Maybe he could get Gabe to look into their backgrounds, especially Temp. As the oldest, he was the one who had the best chance of getting Faith away from an abusive parent, yet he’d chosen to stay in a toxic environment. Why? Why hadn’t he brought proof to the authorities that Reverend Walsh was an unfit father? As abusive as the good reverend was, Ryan had no doubt he’d abused either Temp or Faith, or both. With two of his daughters and his wife gone, he would have needed a direction for his rage, and Faith was both female and, young as she’d been, highly vulnerable.

  Could Temp have taken part in the abuse?

  Ryan shook his head and ordered the coffees. No. Glory seemed to think Temp had tried to protect them from their father. She truly believed he’d only gone with Reverend Walsh to take care of their youngest sister. She’d had no problem filling Ryan in on the abuse her father had heaped on her. He doubted she would have held back if her brother was the same.

  No, she would have told him. And Temp would have died the moment he stepped foot inside Glory’s shop.

  Ryan paid for the coffees and headed for the door. He was still planning on looking into Temp’s background. It was possible Glory was wrong about her brother, and if so it was Ryan’s duty to discover the truth and keep Glory safe.

  Ryan turned the corner from the coffee shop to Cynful, when something hit him so hard in the back he stumbled and fell to his knees, the crack of metal on flesh shocking in the midst of the small-town shops. It reminded him of the aluminum bats he used to play baseball with when he was a kid.

  Shit. Someone’s trying to kill me. Ryan rolled to the side, trying to get to his feet before the fucker hit him again.

  The bat cracked down on his shoulder, numbing his hand. Ryan cried out at the pain, aware something had just broken inside him. His Bear roared in fury, ready to bust out of Ryan’s skin and kill the son of a bitch before he could take Ryan down.

  Snarling, he pushed himself up with his good hand, ready to castrate whoever it was who’d decided to play ball with his head. Ryan got a glimpse of bright blue eyes behind a dark ski mask before the bat swung again, catching him in the cheek. He fell onto his back, dazed, his face hurting almost as much as his shoulder.

  Ryan grinned savagely up at his attacker, allowing his fangs to show. “My turn.”

  Before Ryan could climb to his feet a loud scream sounded. Someone had seen the fight, and Ryan had no doubts the cops were being called. “Fuck.”

  The man took off, knocking people aside in his bid for freedom. But he left an important clue behind, one Ryan would use to catch his ass.

  He smelled faintly of Wolf. The same one who’d bitten his mate.

  Ryan was going to rip the man limb from limb when he caught him.

  Rolling to his side, Ryan barely managed to sit up before a stranger knelt at his side, holding him still. “Are you all right?”

  Ryan nodded, trying not to vomit as the pain bit into him with savage teeth. “Yeah. Asshole got away, though.”

  “I saw. I’m going to call an ambulance.” The stranger, a well-dressed man who looked, and smelled, vaguely familiar, pulled out a cell phone. He was obviously Puma, but Ryan wasn’t sure if he was part of the local Pride or associated with the college. “Stay calm and try not to move.”

  “Good plan.” Because the little bit of movement Ryan had attempted made his vision black out. Ryan tried to focus, to go down the spiral path and heal himself, but the dizzying pain made concentration almost impossible. “I think the shoulder’s broken. Maybe my cheekbone.”

  “Shit.” The man paused before dialing. “I’m going to go out on a limb here and say you’re one of the Bears that moved into town recently.”

  Ryan nodded. “You?”

  “I’m Pride.” He started to hold out his hand and grimaced. “Grayson Howard.”

  “Shit. Jamie’s brother?” He didn’t think the man even lived in Halle. Had he moved here because of the death of his brother’s mate?

  Jamie Howard, once the local doctor and a respected member of the Puma Pride, had become a severely damaged recluse. Grayson had been one of the people to warn them that
they must keep both Julian and Cyn away from Jamie at all times. The doctor blamed both of them for saving his life when his mate died. Now the once happy-go-lucky man was a broken, icy shell who refused even his Alpha’s order to appear before the Pride.

  Ryan had heard that Gabe was keeping an eye on the situation. Ryan wondered if maybe he should do the same too. Gray’s eyes were bloodshot, the skin around them sunken and dark. It was obvious he hadn’t gotten much sleep recently. The urge to check on Jamie Howard, see exactly how far the man had fallen, was riding him despite the pain.

  “Yeah. Small world, huh?” Gray stared at the phone for a moment before closing his eyes. “Want me to call Julian DuCharme, or an ambulance?”

  “Julian. Please.” If Glory found out he’d been attacked, hurt, she’d flip her lid. She might even have another panic attack. He couldn’t risk it. “Please.”

  The sound of sirens interrupted them. “Someone else must have called.” Gray stood, then smiled down at Ryan. “It’s not an ambulance. It’s Sheriff Anderson.”

  Ryan immediately relaxed. Gabe would understand what was going on. He hoped.

  “Dude.”

  Ryan closed his eyes and whined. He recognized that voice.

  “What the hell happened to you?”

  “Hell, Barney. Where the fuck where you five minutes ago?” Ryan glared up at the Hunter.

  Barney held up something wrapped in paper. “Bagel.” He took a bite, crouching down beside Ryan. He tsk’d, touching Ryan’s cheek with a surprisingly gentle touch. “That looks like it hurts.”

  Ryan flipped him off. “The bad guy got away.”

  “I see that.” Barney sniffed deeply. “Got his scent, though.”

  “Goodie for you.” Ryan leaned against the brick wall of the store he’d been attacked in front of and tried to concentrate on not puking.

  “Hang in there. Julian’s on his way.” Grayson nodded. Ryan hadn’t even realized he’d called.