Bear Naked

by Dana Marie Bell

  “Like you finally belong.” Gabe placed his hand on Hope’s head and ruffled her hair, ignoring the way she tried to get out from under his touch. “You’re definitely ours now. I can feel you.”

  “And if things go well with Rick and Belle, you’ll have dual status, becoming a member of both Pride and Pack.” Emma grinned. “We’ll share you like we do Tabby Garwood.”

  “It will mean you’ll have a choice of living here, or in the Poconos with the Pack, and have the freedom to move between both.” Max’s smile was gentler than his mate’s, but no less sincere. “Glory is already a part of the Pride, along with Tabby, Alex, Cyn and Julian.”

  Glory shivered as the Alpha reaffirmed her place in the Pride. The sensation of belonging somewhere, of being accepted flaws and all, filled her.

  She had family again, family that accepted her just because she was Glory Walsh, not because she was Ryan’s mate. And the feeling was heady.

  “Oh.” Hope relaxed, giving them a genuine smile for the first time since they’d found her. “I can feel that.”

  “I can feel you now, and…” Gabe stuttered to a halt. “What is that?”

  “I don’t know.” Max stood, rubbing his chin as he stared down at Hope. “I’ve never felt anything quite like it before.”

  “It’s like…sunshine?” Gabe shook his head. “We need Rick and Belle on this.”

  Emma appeared intrigued. “You think Hope is an Omega?” Emma looked intrigued.

  “I don’t think so. An Omega’s powers only come into play when they meet their Alpha, and Max already has one.” Gabe grimaced. “Maybe Adrian or Sarah can shed some light on this. There could be something I’m missing here.”

  “God, I hope so. This is confusing the hell out of me.” Max plopped down into the overstuffed chair that had his scent all over it. She could tell it was his favorite. “When did Rick say he could come?”

  “Belle is having some issues with her hip, and without Jamie…” Emma shrugged. “She’s looking for another shifter doctor, so it could be a few days.”

  “What about that kid we sent up there, the one who loved coming into the shop?” Tim had seen Cyn partially change when Glory was shot, and had quickly figured out what was going on. To protect themselves and Tim, they’d given him the option of becoming a Bear, a Puma or a Wolf, depending on who he wanted biting him. Tim had chosen to go to the Wolves, and had left Halle about a month ago. The fact that he was pre-med had delighted the Wolves, who had to travel either to New York or Halle to see a doctor. They’d all agreed to allow Tim to continue attending college in Halle once his Wolf emerged, and he’d agreed to work at the Red Wolf Lodge once he earned his doctorate.

  The last time she’d seen him he’d been happy as a pig in mud, and had hugged Tabby and called her “sister”. Tabby had been thrilled to have a Pack member so close. As much as she loved the Pumas, having Pack in Halle made her feel even safer and settled in the town. Sometimes Glory felt it was one of the reasons Max and Emma had agreed so readily to having Tim stay in town.

  “He’s not a doctor yet, so Rick isn’t allowing him to do much.” Max smiled as Emma joined him on the overstuffed chair, settling on his lap like it was something they did every day. “They’re talking to the Coyotes, making sure that traveling in and out of their territory for the next ten years until Tim graduates is all right with them.”

  “The pass-through treaty allows it, but they’ve only recently become friends with the Coyote Alpha, Nathan Consiglione. They don’t want to stress that too far or too soon.” Gabe took Emma’s spot on the sofa with a weary sigh. “Sarah should be here shortly.”

  Hope stood up and walked toward the windows, staring out into the darkness with her arms wrapped around her stomach. Glory kept an eye on her, barely paying any attention to what the others were saying.

  “Someone is out there.” Barney, who’d barely spoken since they arrived, startled her.

  Ryan’s head swiveled toward the window. Toward Hope. “What do you mean?

  Barney shrugged. “I mean, someone is out there. Watching us.”

  “Jamie?” Gabe stood, placing himself behind Hope.

  Hope reached out and touched the glass. “Who is that?”

  Glory tried to join her sister at the window, but found herself held back by Ryan. The man’s eyes were speckled with brown. “Rye. I don’t think he’ll hurt me.”

  “I don’t want to take that chance.”

  He was being unreasonable, but the slight tremble in his arms forced her to forgive him. He was still dealing with the scare of her kidnapping, just as she was. “It’s okay, Ryan.” She leaned against him, needing his nearness, his strength, just as badly as he seemed to need to give it to her. “Besides, if he was going to hurt me he would have done it after he killed Salazar.”

  “Why would Jamie be outside?” Max stood, headed toward the front door.

  “I think he’s Hope’s mate.” Glory kept her voice down, but Hope’s indrawn breath indicated her sister heard her anyway. Damn it. She hadn’t wanted to scare her sister, but the way Hope trembled in front of the window left her in no doubt her sister was terrified.

  Max froze. “That’s not possible.”

  “I think it is.” Barney was also staring out the window, but his expression was bemused rather than concerned. “Wolves sometimes have more than one mate.”

  “Oh, shit.” Emma paled. “You mean, Hope, Jamie and Marie would have been mates together?”

  Barney nodded. “Odds are good, yeah.”

  Max closed his eyes and cursed viciously. “Does he know?”

  “I think so. It makes sense. It could be why he’s been sneaking away from his parents’ house. He sensed Hope, her pain and her fear, and his Puma forced him to go to her.”

  “And it’s doing the same thing now.” Barney edged closer to Hope, keeping his motions slow, unthreatening. “He lost his first mate. His Puma won’t allow him to lose his second.”

  Hope stroked the glass, her brow furrowed. “So he’s hurting.”

  “Yes.”

  She nodded and took a step back, her expression tormented. “So am I. I don’t think I’m ready for a mate.” She sounded terrified, but Glory remembered her soft tone when she’d spoken to Jamie. The need was there, but both Jamie and Hope had some healing to do before they’d be able to act on their instincts.

  “We’ll figure this out, Hope.” Glory ached for her twin, for everything she’d been through.

  Hope wrapped her arms around her waist protectively, her gaze drawn once more to the window, and the shadows beyond. “I sure as hell hope so, because he’s hurting even more than I am.”

  “You can feel him?” Glory exchanged a look with Ryan.

  Hope nodded. “Sarah’s right. He’s lost in his pain.” She smiled wearily. “Just like me.”

  Epilogue

  He hadn’t been expecting a confrontation so soon, but there he was, waiting for Ryan and Glory on Ryan’s front step.

  “Want me to talk to him?” Glory was yawning, her body worn out from the kidnapping, the healing and Hope’s revelations. The last thing she needed was to deal with her brother.

  “No. I’ll talk to him.”

  “Ryan. He’s a good man.”

  He’d be the judge of that. “Go on up, sweetheart. Get some rest.” He wouldn’t take the man into his apartment until he was certain he was no threat to Glory.

  They’d agreed, after much arguing, that Glory would officially move in with him. Hope would take Glory’s old apartment, and each of the male members of his family had agreed to keep an eye on her while she healed. Hope had agreed to multiple sessions with both Sarah Anderson and Adrian Giordano, the Pride’s Marshal. The Poconos Pack Omega and Marshal, Chela Mendoza and Ben Malone, had also agreed to counsel her. Hope would need all that help if she ever hoped to live a normal life again. Ryan was glad, both for her sake and Glory’s, that she’d agreed to the counseling.

  Glory’s twin had a shit-ton
of healing to do, and he wasn’t certain how long it would take before she could get over the constant fear she lived in. She’d been scarred, inside and out, in ways that would take years to overcome if she even could. He hoped if she really was Jamie Howard’s mate that the man had some patience left, because he doubted she’d be ready to mate any time soon.

  “You sure? I can talk to him.” Glory was eyeing both her brother and Ryan with some misgiving.

  “I swear, unless he threatens you, I won’t eat him.”

  She wrinkled her nose. “I don’t think either of you swing that way.”

  He stopped dead, staring at her. She’d borrowed some of Emma’s clothes so that she wouldn’t be wandering around drenched in her own blood. He was grateful to the Curana for that. It helped keep his Bear calm, taking away the scent of his mate’s pain. “SG?”

  “Hmm?” She swayed on her feet, blinking huge blue eyes up at him. She was so tired it wasn’t even funny. She did not need to be dealing with her brother right now.

  Ryan caressed her cheek, practically purring like a Puma when she leaned into his touch. “Go to bed.”

  She yawned so wide he thought her lips would split. “M’kay.”

  Ryan escorted her up the steps, holding up a finger when it looked like Temp would follow them in. “Wait here, Temp. I want to get your sister settled first.”

  Temp nodded, reluctance in every line of his body. The man shoved his hands in his pockets, staring at Glory with a wistful expression. “Yeah. Okay.”

  It didn’t take long for Ryan to get Glory settled. She was asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow, her clothing barely off her body. He left her under the covers with a soft kiss.

  Now, to deal with her brother.

  Ryan made his way out the front door, snagging two beers on the way. If Glory was right, and her brother was no threat, then Ryan hoped to make this a peaceful little chat.

  If Temp was a threat…

  Well. Glory had lived this long without her brother, hadn’t she?

  “I know what I saw.” Temp stared up at him, his expression defiant and fearful at the same time. “I’m not crazy.”

  Ryan blinked. He hadn’t expected the man to go immediately on the attack. “What did you see?” He held out the beer can and waited.

  Temp scowled, but took the offered drink. “My sister became…something else.”

  “She became a Grizzly Bear, yeah.”

  Temp popped the top and took a long swig.

  “Tell me you’re not driving.” Fuck, if he had to he’d put the guy up on his couch. That would please his mate.

  “I’m not driving.” Temp sighed and settled on the step below Ryan. “What the hell is going on? Is that really my sister? Is this something that could hurt her?”

  “Glory is a shifter now, and yes, it’s really her. No, it won’t hurt her. Nothing will ever hurt her again, not if I can help it.” Ryan settled on the step above Temp and took his own sip of beer. “Glory is my mate.”

  Temp blinked. “Okay. Back up and start from the beginning. You’re like, what, a werewolf?” Temp sounded calm, but his hand was shaking.

  “No. I’m an accountant.” When Temp blinked at him, confused, Ryan laughed. “I’m also a Bear. A Grizzly, in fact.”

  Temp’s hand froze on the way to his mouth. “Aren’t they the most aggressive species of bear?”

  Ryan shrugged. “Kodiaks are worse.”

  Temp swigged more beer. “There are Kodiaks?”

  It was almost cute, the way the man’s voice squeaked. “Yup.”

  “Shit.” Temp slumped, his hands between his knees, the almost empty can held loosely. “Are you sure this isn’t going to hurt her?”

  “It’s not going to hurt her.” Ryan smiled as Temp relaxed, at least marginally. The man really had been worried about his sister. “You’re taking this pretty well.”

  Temp snorted. “I’m holding on for her sake. I’ll freak out in private, where she can’t see it.”

  “Good. She’s been through enough.”

  Temp finished his beer and crumpled the can. “Tell me about bears, Ryan. I want to know what my sister is going to have to deal with.”

  Ryan nodded. “Bear, like all the other animal spirits, chose his people and offered them a gift.”

  “Wait. You mean there really are werewolves out there?”

  “Yeah.” This was the part Ryan dreaded. “Look, man. It turns out Hope was held by one.”

  “Was? You found her?” Temp’s expression was so relieved Ryan began to believe Glory might be right about him. “How is she? Is she safe? Where is she?”

  Ryan held up his hands. “The Wolf who took her is dead, she’s alive, but she’s…traumatized, deeply.” Ryan grimaced. “He…did things to her. Turned her into one of us against her will. Temp, she’s broken.”

  Temp sat, stunned for a moment before he closed his eyes with a pained expression. When he opened them, Ryan caught sight of tears. “Fuck.”

  “Yeah.” Ryan ran his fingers through his hair.

  “She’s a Grizzly too?” Temp shuddered.

  “No. She’s a Wolf, like her captor was.”

  “Was?”

  Temp had picked up on that quickly. “He managed to get his hands on both Glory and Hope. One of the Pumas chased them down and killed him before he could get too far with them.”

  “Good.” Temp sounded fierce, as fierce as Ryan ever had. “I hope the fucker burns in Hell.” Temp sighed and lifted his head. “She’s going to need us to get through this.”

  “She is, yeah.”

  “So I’m really not crazy.”

  “Nope.”

  “Shit balls. You couldn’t lie to me and tell me I’m stuck in some padded room having hallucinations, could you? You just had to tell me the truth.”

  Ryan chuckled. “Sorry, man. You’re not crazy.”

  Temp blew out a breath. “Both my sisters are shifters?”

  “Yup.”

  “And they’re all right?”

  “Glory is, yeah. Hope, not so much, but she will be.”

  Temp fiddled with his can nervously. “Are you going to change me too? Because I’d guess it’s either that, or…” He drew his thumb across his throat.

  Ryan smiled. Temp was turning out to be okay. The man was smart, he’d give him that. “That’s up to you.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “You know about us. Usually, humans who discover what we are do so because they’re mated to one of us. It’s how Glory wound up changing.”

  “And Hope?”

  Ryan snarled. “The son of a bitch changed her against her will. He had some weird delusion that she was his mate, but she wasn’t.”

  “Did he…?” Temp sighed. “I can’t even say it.”

  Ryan patted Temp’s knee. “Yeah, he raped her.”

  “God damn it.” Temp wiped his eyes with the back of his hand, and Ryan pretended not to see the moisture still gathering there.

  “We’re going to do everything we can to make her feel safe and heal her wounds, inside and out. But you’re going to have to help us.”

  “Damn straight I will.” Temp slumped. “So. My choices are…?”

  “Let me or one of my family change you, or choose one of the local species to do it.” There was no way Temp wasn’t going to wind up changed.

  “So I’d be a Bear like you and Glory.”

  “Or a Fox, if one of my cousins changes you, yeah.”

  Temp blinked at that, but didn’t say anything about Foxes and Bears. “You said each spirit gave each species gifts. What are they?”

  “Bears have the ability to heal, but it drains our energy, makes us tired. Foxes can hide their scent, enabling them to hide from other shifters remarkably well, but when they want to be found it can be…difficult.” They’d been lucky that Bunny had stumbled across Heather and her tormentors all those years ago.

  Temp snorted. “Man, I need more beer.”

  “No.”
Temp looked startled at the fierceness of Ryan’s reply. “You want to be sober when you make this decision. Whatever you decide will tie you to the shifter group you choose to belong to. If you pick a Wolf, you will need a Pack. Same if you pick a Puma. Bears and Foxes live in family groups, and because I’m mated to your sister you would belong to mine.” Ryan leaned forward.

  The wistful expression on Temp’s face disappeared almost as quickly as it came. “I can’t leave Faith behind.”

  Ryan had figured as much. “We can change her too, if you like.” Pretty little Faith would make an excellent Fox. The ability to hide in plain sight would soothe her brother’s need to protect her.

  “That’s up to her. I won’t take her choices from her. It’s bad enough Hope didn’t get that choice. I won’t do that to Faith.”

  “It won’t be up to her if we tell her about all of this.” He held up his hands when Temp rounded on him. “For the safety of your sisters, and all of the shifters in this town and beyond, you’ll need to decide if Faith becomes one of us or not.”

  “Shit.” Temp slumped again. “This is…”

  “Crazy?”

  Temp nodded. “This is a lot of information, Ryan.” Temp blew out a breath. He glanced toward Ryan’s apartment, his expression wistful. “Glory really is all right?”

  Ryan nodded. “Exhausted, scared and ready to kill a man who’s already dead, but yeah. She’ll be fine.”

  They sat in silence, listening to the sounds of the night. “Ryan?”

  “Hmm?”

  “I can’t let this happen again.” His expression was tormented. “I failed them both.” His gaze, when he turned it on Ryan, was determined. Ryan knew that look. He’d seen it with Bunny, and in his own mirror. Temp might not have a mate to protect, but his sisters really did mean the world to him. The last of his suspicions about Temperance Walsh fell away. “I need to be able to protect my family.”

  Ryan smiled. He’d thought Temp would pick this option. It seemed Glory’s opinion of her brother was spot-on. “I know how you feel.”

  “Will it hurt?”

  “The changing bite will, since you won’t be getting marked by your mate. A mating bite feels…different.” And that was all he was willing to say to his mate’s big brother. There were just some things a man couldn’t share with his mate’s family.