IMarriedaBear

by A. T. Mitchell

  My bear shook his head in annoyance. Definitely wasn't in the mood for this shit, especially now that the sun was up.

  “Go home, Hannah. I'm on clan business, and it doesn't concern you.”

  “Doesn't it?” she snarled. “I thought I'd try to reason with you one more time when the cat's not around. My Gods, James. I can smell her on you.”

  She made a face like she'd bitten something sour. Horror shone in her eyes.

  I stepped forward, giving her another warning growl.

  “My private life is none of your damned business. What the hell do you want?”

  “I heard what Spark said. She's corrupted your brain, Alpha. Thinking you'd want to be with her, and that the heavens approved! It's not too late to turn back, James, before she does something really horrible to our clan.” Hannah stepped up to me, reaching for my face.

  If she wasn't a female, I would've knocked her on the ground. Instead, I jerked away, putting distance between us and bowing up.

  “Are you gonna get on the trail and head back to Denali, or will I have to make you? You don't know a thing about Laura, and nothing about what I'm doing either. I'm out here protecting the clan, doing my job. You can stop fucking pretending, Hannah. Listen to me for once and stop sticking your snout where it doesn't belong.”

  Anger flashed in her eyes. “Oh, now you're finally going all Alpha? Where was that when you ran down the tigers yesterday evening?”

  My face went slack. Fuck. She'd seen that too.

  I'd been too distracted by the guys trying to steal Laura away from me to think about Hannah trailing us and snooping around.

  “Woman, if you've got any brains, you won't breathe a word about that to the clan. What you saw is the reason I'm heading to Tiger Bay – to stop a war. Alpha's keep the peace, and only fight when it's absolutely fucking necessary. Keeping things from blowing up has got nothing to do with me, Laura, or your petty jealousy.”

  She moved back, growling at me in a shrill, nasty way.

  “You're the one who's clueless – corrupted! – James.” Hot tears flowed down her cheeks. “Me? I tried. I tried to help you. Now I'll have to take it to someone who can.”

  “Hannah!” I crashed into the trees after her.

  She took off, tearing the hem of her cloak on a tangled branch.

  I slapped my fists on my sides and cursed. The choice was clear: I could go after her and lose precious time, or I could deal with her shit when I returned from Tiger Bay.

  Hannah was a clumsy and annoying pest. She didn't have an army and schemes behind her like Shane.

  I plowed forward the way I'd been heading, straight to Tiger Bay.

  V: Stranger in a Bear's Den (Laura)

  I woke up the next day to his scent. James' big, warm body wasn't wrapped around mine anymore, a sad reminder that he'd really gone to face my father.

  I barely rolled out of bed when I heard someone pounding at the door.

  Grabbing my robe, I wandered downstairs cautiously. In all this time, I hadn't had much contact with other bears.

  Worst case scenarios surfaced in my brain. What if someone's decided to get rid of me while he's gone? Maybe that jealous Hannah chick?

  The banging paused, and resumed about thirty seconds later when I didn't answer. I tip-toed into the kitchen and grabbed a big knife. Its blade just barely fit my robe's pocket.

  If I was going to face an unknown grizzly outside, then I wasn't going to be defenseless.

  Looking through the narrow window next to the door, I saw a lone silhouette. Just one.

  That made me feel a little better. At least it wasn't a mob. One bear, I could handle, and my tiger growled her agreement.

  The knocking picked up, more insistent.

  “Coming!” I shouted, ripping the door open with my free hand clutching the knife.

  A toned man stood outside with a dusting of stubble on his face. He was handsome enough for a bear, I guess, but nothing like the pure muscular power James packed on his bones.

  “Can I help you?” I said cautiously, opening the door.

  “I'm here at the Alpha's order, ma'am. Can I come inside?”

  Order? What order?

  The look he gave me said I didn't have much choice. I gripped the blade's handle tighter as I stepped aside and waved him in. The screen door groaned on its hinges as he entered.

  “My name's Jacob. I'm the Alpha's second, chief of security when he isn't around.” He smiled, warm and friendly enough, but I wasn't letting my guard down.

  “Yeah? Well, everything's safe and secure here.” My tiger sniffed at the man, nervous and unsure about how to read a bear who wasn't my mate.

  “And I'm here to keep it that way. He stopped by this morning and told me to make sure you're safe from any intrusions while he's away.”

  I raised an eyebrow. “You mean, intrusions like yours?”

  Jacob laughed. “Have it your way. Look, you're free to go about your business just as long as you stay indoors. Oh, and you might want to take that pointy thing out of your pocket if you plan to run around. I'm security, not a doctor. Can't do much if you accidentally stab yourself.”

  Crap!

  I drew the knife out of my pocket with a sigh. Jacob nodded and gave me a wink.

  “What are you planning to do?” I asked.

  “I'm gonna sit down in the kitchen and wait there. My orders are to make sure no one comes in or out of this house who isn't my Alpha until further notice.”

  My tiger didn't like being trapped. She paced the narrow walls in the mental space where I kept her, begging for a chance to defy my mysterious new bodyguard.

  No, I told her. We don't need any more trouble. I need to hang out in my room, read a book, and wait until this is all over.

  James will be back in no time.

  I turned to go, but one more question nagged at me as Jacob pulled a chair out and sat down, unrolling a newspaper he had in his backpack.

  “What if James doesn't come home for days?”

  Jacob shrugged, looking up with a blank stare. “You got food here, right?”

  Sleep came more easily than I thought. I didn't realize how starved for sleep I really was until I woke up to a dark room.

  The disappearing sun told me the whole day was about shot. A thick book lay next to me, its musty ancient scent feeding into the room.

  It was a volume of old bear poetry. Pretty words, mostly odes to winter, the mountains, and the Gods who'd created everything. Also so hard to read it put me to sleep after a couple pages.

  I showered, dressed in a cloak – every skinwalker's preferred outfit because it was easy to lose if you needed to shift – and shuffled into the kitchen.

  Jacob was still there, staring at his paper, the same place he'd been twelve hours ago. He gave me a quick glance as I moved to the counter, preparing tea for the two of us. The pot was just beginning to steam when it was interrupted by a loud knock from downstairs.

  My ears pricked up. I turned toward the sound, and so did he.

  “Now, who could that be?” Jacob whispered, getting up from his chair, just as annoyed and curious as me.

  I kept my distance on the second level and watched him go down the steps to answer the new visitor.

  As soon as he opened it, several men pushed their way inside, flinging the screen door wide on its hinges. The entryway echoed with Jacob's surprised growl.

  “Cuddy? Greg?” he said sharply. “What the hell do you think you boys are doing? You don't just barge into an Alpha's house without his invitation.”

  “We do when we find tiger blood in the woods, Jacob. Hannah told the Elders all about it this morning. There was a skirmish. People got hurt.” The man paused. “Real shame James isn't around to tell us something about that. Then maybe we wouldn't have to take his pretty pet tiger away like this.”

  Jacob pushed at the men with a growl. My tiger sprang up, snarling and ready to fight.

  Take me? Just try!

  The
second man looked up and saw me hovering at the top of the stairs. “There she is. Let's make this snappy.”

  “Damn you! Stop!” Jacob hit both men square in the chest, rocking them backward toward the door.

  “Without an official order from the Alpha, you're gonna have to lay me out to get to her. I don't give a fuck what you think's going to happen here.”

  The man called Greg rolled his eyes. “Yeah, yeah. Good old Jacob, always looking to do things by the book.”

  I watched anxiously as he fished around in his pocket. A second later, he held up a worn piece of paper with ink and a red stamp on its front. A bear's face was in the middle of the big red blob. Looked like a certificate.

  “Alpha's orders don't matter when we've got a collection order from the council,” Greg said. “Now, are you going to stand down and let us through, or will we have to waste time spilling bear blood instead of saving it for the tigers invading Denali?”

  Both men looked up at me harshly. Gods, now I realized just how safe Jacob made me feel. These men gave me the kind of suspicious, hateful glares I expected from bears, the kind that said, you're not welcome here, and you never will be.

  “All right,” Jacob hissed. “But I'm going with you wherever you're taking her. The Alpha's orders stand. No harm will come to this girl.”

  The three marched upstairs to meet me. I eyed Jacob sadly, wishing he'd put up more of a fight. Of course, I understood why he didn't.

  Just now, I didn't have a choice. If I wanted to survive, without worsening all this, I had to keep my tiger at bay and do exactly what they said.

  “Hands off!” I growled when the men reached for me. “I'll come. Where are you taking me?”

  “Town hall, just across the village. The Elders want to have a chat to see what you know about tigers coming into our territory,” the man said coldly.

  Jacob shot them both a warning glare. I stayed close to him as we followed the two stern faced bastards out into the night.

  The wide wooden doors opened on an empty chamber. Well, mostly empty.

  Only the front rows had people sitting in them. And just a little ways beyond these seats, there were three decrepit, gray haired bears who looked way too frail and senile to be making any decisions sitting on the bench. Two males, and one female.

  I'd read about the way bear clans were run long before my marriage.

  Most groups had an Alpha to do the real work and a seniority based Elder council. Supposedly, the oldest and wisest who'd earned their way to the top took these leadership positions. Though really, the wisdom faded quickly after they took power, giving way to corruption and nepotism instead.

  “Bring her forward!” the old man in the center bellowed.

  Greg and Cuddy nudged us forward. Jacob stood at my side the whole time, taking his place before the trio. Having him on the floor to share my grim situation, without any hesitation, restored a little of the respect I'd lost when he surrendered us to their fancy piece of paper.

  “Miss Hisch, I'm Councilman Baron. I won't beat around the bush–“

  “It's Missus Roark,” I said pointedly, brushing off the shock and sourness showing on their faces.

  “You've been brought here today because you're the only tiger in our midst.” Baron turned his head and looked at Hannah, who I realized was sitting right behind me. “The lady here reported tiger blood and signs of a scuffle in the forest this morning, and the council has confirmed it.”

  The female Elder at his side clasped her hands and leaned forward. “We want to know why. Tigers haven't come onto our land unannounced for years before your marriage. I don't believe in

  coincidences. Your kin are showing up because you're here.”

  All eyes in the room turned toward me. I swallowed, collecting my words, simultaneously trying to keep my tiger from bursting to the surface.

  She wanted nothing more than to break out and run away from this room full of menacing bears.

  Make that her and I both.

  “You want the truth? I'll give it to you: James and I went to see your Shaman the other day. The men ambushed us on the way back. They tried to take me away from Denali. Obviously, I didn't go willingly.”

  “Our Alpha was in the fight? And he never reported it?” the old man at the other end of the table growled.

  “He's trying to save your asses right now!” I said. “James and I resisted the men who came to take me away and ruin the treaty together. Why are we the only tiger and bear in the world who can get along?”

  “She's lying.” This voice spoke behind me.

  The small audience gasped, and I spun around to see Hannah standing in the front row, fixing her eyes on me with a nasty smile.

  “I saw her myself,” the bitch continued. “Seemed like something fishy, so I followed them to the Shaman's place. On the way back, they were ambushed. This cat was never in any real danger. The men didn't lay a single claw on her, but they did hit James in the head over and over with a rifle.”

  One of the Elders coughed loudly, breaking the pause. Hannah sniffled and ran a hand over her face, a sorrow so exaggerated my eyes nearly popped out of my head.

  “I tried to warn him. He wouldn't listen. I saw her giving the tigers gestures, signaling them the minute they came out of the shadows.” Hannah paused uncomfortably again. “I know, it's sick and wrong, but the girl has our Alpha all wrapped up in her stripes. She led him into the fight. I'm not sure why she spared him and called off the ambush...but what the hell do I know about tigers?”

  “It's not true! The only one here lying is this jealous bear who won't leave my husband alone.” I faced the Elders again, fuming like mad.

  My tiger's fury prickled at my skin, sharpness brimming on my teeth. One more push and I wouldn't be able to stop myself from shifting.

  “That's it!” Elder Baron slammed his gavel. “Lady Gray and Mister Meade, have you heard enough of this shill's testimony?”

  I growled as the two Elders looked at their leader and nodded.

  “Congratulations, young tigress,” he turned back to me. “You've just landed yourself in the middle of a war between Denali and Tiger Bay. Consider yourself a prisoner.”

  “Gods! I told you the truth! Why aren't you like him? Why are you so dense?”

  My angry words wouldn't help my cause, but I didn't care. Greg and Cuddy came up behind me, a physical intimidation. Behind me, Hannah laughed.

  My tiger wanted blood. Hers, specifically, a thirst much greater than any I'd ever known.

  “Enough!” Baron roared, his eyes darkening with a bear's rage.

  “You may have gotten through James' defenses and warped his brain, but I can assure you we're not so simple minded.” He cleared his throat, and then spoke more loudly. “The council must take emergency action to deal with vipers in our den. All in favor of dragging this treacherous cat to a holding sell until we decide what to do with her, raise one hand and say 'aye!'”

  Their old hands went up simultaneously, and the chamber echoed with their gleeful affirmations.

  The gavel slammed. “Second order of business. With this tiger a prisoner of war, she can't be wed to any bear. All in favor of annulling the marriage between James Roark and Laura Hisch?”

  “Aye!”

  “You can't do this!” I sputtered. “You can't...”

  I collapsed to my knees, too devastated to fight back, even as the two men grabbed me. Jacob looked at me with panicked eyes and turned to the council.

  “Elders, please, can't we wait until our Alpha returns? I'm sure there's a way to explain all this.”

  “We've waited long enough,” Baron snapped. “When James Roark lumbers back here, we'll also have to decide if we still have an Alpha at all. He's gone behind our humps and withheld vital security information. You, Jacob Browner, will report to us now. Not him. National security, you understand.”

  I shouldn't have looked up. Jacob's sad, apologetic eyes followed me all the way out the door as the men drag
ged me into the darkness outside.

  They told me I had nothing left to lose. I shifted, snarling and clawing at the brutes holding onto my limbs.

  “Tranquilizer! Get this beast into holding, now!” Baron shouted.

  My sharp teeth nearly got a hold on Greg's neck when I felt something sharp digging in near my left hind leg.

  My tiger gave me the strength to roar as I went down onto the ground. Pure venom pumped through my brain, and the whole world turned into a numb, dreamless blur.

  “Is she good for this? The drug won't mess with her blood?”

  I winced. My head felt light as a feather, thoughts jagged and slow. I tried to sit up, but the slightest tilt of my head instantly sent me crashing back to the ground.

  “No, Hannah, it won't matter at all with the way you want it refined.”

  “Purrr-fect,” she growled, noticing I was awake. “Oh, you're awake, sleepy cat. Had to call in a lot of favors to get here so soon.”

  I forced my eyes open. She stood over me, and a man's hands were on my shoulders. They felt smaller and weaker than the men who'd dragged me to this dank room. It looked like an abandoned cabin, the walls worn gray with age and neglect.

  “Huh? What the hell is this?” I groaned. Just speaking those few words made my head throb.

  “Hold still,” the man whispered. “If you cooperate with us, it'll all be over soon.”

  I sensed him pulling my arm out, and then a sting at pit of my elbow. My head moved quick to see what was happening.

  It was a large needle attached to a tube in my flesh, its plastic running into his black bag. The man wore thin spectacles and a sad, reluctant expression clouded his face. Almost like he didn't want to be doing this.

  Blood began draining from my body, swirling through the plastic length. I groaned, already too weakened by the tranquilizer to try to pull the needle out.

  “Hurry it up,” Hannah hissed. “The guys are changing shifts in ten or twenty minutes. I've only paid off Greg and Cuddy...the others could land us in front of the Elders, doctor.”

  “I'm going just as fast as I can. Listen, if I take any more from her any faster, she's gonna have a real problem. I'm not okay with that. I didn't agree to recklessness.”