Robin shuddered as the bear closed in on him. A series of pleading whines escaped his mouth, stopping the bear’s approach.
The bear’s ears flicked back and forth before he raised himself on his hindquarters, forcing another longing yip from Robin. He stared up at the huge animal, not really understanding the incredible urge to press himself against the bear. Nonetheless, he rose to his feet, though he kept his front lower than his rear. In a crouch he crawled toward the bear at the edge of the stream, whimpering.
When he reached the bear, he darted a glance upward and whined softly. Hey!
The bear, who for all Robin knew was his mate, didn’t respond. Maybe he’d got it wrong. More loudly and clearly, he pronounced, Hey! I guess we somehow belong to each other?
Still no telepathic response. Robin flattened himself wholly onto the ground, the trembling getting worse as the silence grew. Why didn’t his mate talk to him? This was freaky.
The air around Robin almost crackled with tension, causing another distressed whimper to tumble from his lips. Listening to his own high-pitched mewling finally switched something inside Robin. Instead of going on with whining, he abruptly stood up and growled at the bear.
Fine. Maybe I was wrong. I’ll leave you to… whatever it is you’re doing. Don’t your legs get tired from taking all your weight? As far as I know, you’re not supposed to put all your weight on your hind legs. But what do I know, huh?
His rambling didn’t get him a response either. Robin whirled around, intent on walking away, even though everything inside him screamed at him to stay right there.
Robin sensed movement behind him and turned his head to get a better view. The bear peered down at him with a hard-to-interpret look on his face. Of course the look on the bear’s face was hard to interpret! It was a freaking bear! Or a were-bear or….
Robin trailed off. As stupid as it sounded, he liked the word were-bear. His tail swished from side to side, doing so of its own volition. Stopping his tail’s unauthorized movement, Robin pulled himself together and took a couple of steps away from the bear.
His paws sunk into the moist earth next to the creek. There was a hum before the air pressure around him changed. The bear had gone back on all fours, effectively trapping Robin underneath him. Startled, Robin scuttled backward, only to push right into the bear’s abdomen. Even more startled, he whirled around with his ears flattened to his head and his fangs showing.
The bear was everywhere—literally. He surrounded Robin and didn’t allow him to run. Panic rose up inside Robin, and his breath hitched. He tried squeezing out from under the bear at his left side, but the bear thwarted each and every attempt.
Oh shit! Oh shit! Come on, let me go! I’m sorry if I upset you earlier, but it’s pretty clear we’re not meant for each other, what with you not talking to me!
The bear lifted one forepaw and laid it on Robin’s head. He yipped uncertainly, and if he was honest with himself, he also yipped because he was afraid and aroused. It was the weirdest combination of feelings ever, one he hadn’t experienced before.
The bear increased the pressure on his head until Robin lowered it to the ground. He darted a worried glance at the huge creature towering above him, yowling softly. The bear hummed again, a low rumbling sound, the vibrations palpable to Robin and sending waves of desire through him.
Slowly, Robin turned half on his side, half on his back. Pulling up his forepaws, he exposed his belly to this huge creature. The bear nuzzled his face against Robin’s, and Robin reacted with a pleased bark. He gave in to his earlier desire and licked the bear’s snout. A warm tingling sensation rushed through his body as soon as the tip of his tongue touched the bear’s muzzle. This felt right, more than right, as if he’d waited all his life for this to happen.
His mate allowed Robin to lick for a while before he withdrew his head and pushed his nose into the white fur of Robin’s chest. The bear let out puffs of air, tickling Robin until he writhed on his back. He pushed his paws against the bear’s underside, his eyes growing wide when they sank into the thick and surprisingly soft dark fur.
The bear crouched lower, rubbing his big head against Robin’s belly, getting closer and closer to Robin’s cock, which had swelled while they had nosed at each other. Robin howled, eager to draw the bear’s attention to his erection. Why didn’t his mate talk to him? Robin still wanted him, all weirdness be damned!
The bear’s tongue slipped out and he licked Robin’s lower abdomen in long, gentle strokes, eventually swiping it around Robin’s genitals. Robin’s breathing accelerated further, and his paws twitched in anticipation. He closed his eyes, yipping encouragingly. Or at least he hoped he sounded encouraging.
Please! Robin begged, even though he wasn’t sure whether his mate could hear him at all.
The bear flicked his tongue against the head of Robin’s cock, drawing a long howl from Robin. He was arching his back and trying to get more contact when someone called his name.
Robin! Don’t move!
Robin opened his eyes, trying to get his bearings. Tim and Jay, in their shifted forms, sprinted toward him and his mate.
They bared their teeth. Before Robin had a chance to say anything, Jay pushed himself off the ground and sailed through the air, ready to attack Robin’s mate.
Four
JAY JUMPED on the bear’s back, immediately digging his teeth into the bear’s neck. The big animal growled, his eyes tightening to slits before he shook himself vigorously, sending Jay flying through the air.
Jay’s body hit the ground with a loud thunk. Robin gasped and scrambled to his feet, grateful for the bear not attacking Jay further.
Tim dashed toward Jay, emitting a series of frightened whimpers. Dazed, Robin looked at Tim and Jay—how Tim carefully nudged Jay’s face, waiting for a response.
Jay didn’t react. Robin’s heart clenched, the sharp pain causing him to wheeze. Robin chanted to himself. Oh please, no. Please, no.
He started when the bear’s nose nudged his behind. Robin spun around, unsure what to do. Should he attack? Would the bear, his mate, attack him too? What about Jay? Was he dead?
The bear lowered his head, hummed, and pushed him toward Jay’s unconscious form. Robin swallowed and slowly picked his way to Tim and Jay. His paws made barely a sound on the leaf-covered ground, or maybe he couldn’t hear it over the blood pounding in his ears, drowning out every other noise.
Tim.
When Tim showed no reaction, Robin carefully approached him and repeated. Tim.
Tim’s eyes were wide, panic and helplessness visible in his gaze. There was also something else, something feral, deadly dangerous, something Robin had never seen before in Tim’s eyes. Taken aback, he stopped in his approach. This wasn’t just his brother standing opposite of him, this was a wolf on the edge of his sanity.
Is he….
Tim panted harshly, the murderous glimmer in his eyes intensifying by the second. Robin couldn’t help but whimper at the icy-cold stare. With great effort, he stood his ground and asked again, this time completing his question rather than trailing off, Is he alive?
Tim stared for a long moment, then eventually said, I don’t know.
Shouldn’t you feel whether he’s alive or not? He’s your mate.
I can’t feel anything right now.
Shock—that had to be it. May I come closer?
Tim nodded and carefully, Robin stepped closer to Jay, sweeping his gaze over the prone body. He sighed in relief when Jay’s chest heaved up and down—way too fast, but at least he was breathing. Softly, Robin told Tim, He’s alive. I’m coming closer to check for injuries, all right?
Robin trembled at Tim’s answering snarl. He was afraid, genuinely afraid of his favorite brother, his big, idolized brother.
Swallowing down the lump in his throat, Robin bridged the distance between himself and Jay while also keeping a wary eye on his brother. Tim’s growl became louder, more acute, more threatening, almost convincing Robin t
o run as fast as he could. On instinct, he cowered down and advanced in a submissive crouch, whining low in his throat to appease Tim.
Tim, I have to shift to see what’s wrong with Jay. I’m not… not like him. I can’t heal someone when I’m a wolf, so don’t freak out now, okay?
Not waiting for Tim’s answer, Robin shifted. Goose bumps rose on his skin as he shivered in the night’s cold air. Through chattering teeth he said, “I have to touch him now.”
Tim bared his teeth and hunkered down, ready to attack. Tears prickled Robin’s eyes at Tim’s obvious display of rage.
“Tim,” he whispered. “I’ll help. I swear I’ll do anything in my power to help Jay. Just… just don’t threaten me. You’re scaring me.”
Tim’s tense posture didn’t change, but he stopped growling and baring his teeth. Not for the first time, Robin noticed how big Tim was in his wolf form, something he usually didn’t mind, but right then it didn’t help to calm his nerves. At least he was quiet now.
Robin reached out for Jay and cautiously stroked with both hands from the wolf-fox’s head to his tail. He closed his eyes and repeated this movement until he was sure he had found all injuries. Jay was bleeding internally; two ribs were broken as well as his left forepaw, and one of the ribs had pierced Jay’s right lung.
Robin’s hands shook. Would he be able to heal all of Jay’s injuries? He doubted it. He concentrated on the worst injuries, which meant healing the lung and stopping the bleeding. The broken bones should heal on their own accord. Jay was partly werewolf, after all.
Laying his hands on Jay’s chest, Robin focused on closing the hole in Jay’s lung. Warmth rushed from his head, along his shoulders, and to his hands, where it emerged in the form of an orange light glowing in the night. Jay twitched underneath his hands, whimpering in pain when the hole closed.
Tim growled again, then got up and circled them. The growl never stopped, only changed in volume from time to time, and it was all Robin could do to keep his focus on healing Jay. Sweat formed on his naked neck and back, and he squirmed. His testicles drew up into his body, hiding there, and for a brief moment, Robin wished he could hide somewhere completely.
This wasn’t the brother he loved. This was a predator, one that wouldn’t blink an eye before hurting Robin if anything went wrong with Jay.
Robin swallowed down another lump in his throat as well as an oncoming wave of tears that blurred his vision. He wasn’t going to cry, absolutely not. Tim was terrified and had reason to be out of his mind. Once Jay was okay, Robin would get his brother back.
That belief gave him new strength, and he channeled it into more healing. He pieced the broken ribs together, eliciting a series of pained cries from Jay. Tim sidled up behind him, his exhales fluttering over Robin’s exposed neck.
“Tim, please go away. You’re scaring me, and if I can’t concentrate, I might make a mistake. Jay is doing well. He’s strong. His own healing powers are coming on now. He’s already repairing the damage at his spleen.” Robin’s voice wavered.
Tim stayed where he was, huffing into Robin’s neck. Robin bit down hard on his lower lip to stop himself from begging. His trembling increased when Tim’s hot, panting breaths came closer to the most vulnerable part of his neck.
The huffs vanished, and Robin cast a glance over his shoulder. The bear, his mate, had approached them while he was busy with Jay, and now Tim threatened him, hackles raised and ready to jump him. Robin didn’t know who he was more concerned about. Of course the bear was stronger and could kill Tim with one swipe of his paw, but Tim was beyond reason. He could very well manage to kill or at least injure the bear severely if he ignored his human nature.
“Tim. Don’t! Please.”
Tim kept up his threatening posture, but didn’t attack the bear. Robin quickly pulled his attention back to the task at hand. When he glanced at Jay’s face, Jay had opened his eyes. He also breathed much more evenly.
Robin forced a smile on his face. “Hey, you gave us a helluva scare.”
Jay blinked at him. Not for the first time, Robin disliked that he couldn’t talk to Jay telepathically. Maybe it was a hybrid thing? Or a mate thing? Because only Tim was able to talk telepathically to Jay.
Jay mewled and tried to move. A moment later Tim appeared next to him, his tail swishing excitedly. He lay down next to Jay and nuzzled his face.
Gone was the ferociousness in Tim’s eyes, for which Robin was more grateful than he would ever be able to express. Jay rubbed their noses together before Tim went still. Robin stared at his brother and Jay, the bigger, dark-furred head resting closely to the red-furred one.
Are you done? Tim asked, drawing Robin out of his reverie.
“No, but I will be soon. He shouldn’t move for a couple of hours, though, to regain his strength.”
Great. Walter will skin me.
Robin snickered, the relief of having his brother back making him giddy. He moved his hands so they were placed right above the ruptured flesh and veins and concentrated on his healing. Jay whimpered from time to time, but Robin’s healing powers merged with Jay’s own, quickening the process.
When he was done, he asked, “Think you can heal your forepaw on your own? Because I’d rather not spend any more healing power right now. I feel a bit on the faint side.”
Jay rubbed his nose against Tim, obviously telling him something. Tim got up to change positions and curled himself around Jay so no one could walk up to them without Tim noticing, before he answered, He says yes, and thank you.
“Good. Now if you two excuse me, I have a date.”
You have? With who?
Robin pointed at the bear, who sat a few feet away from them, not making any noise at all. “With him.”
Tim got up, a growl rising in his throat. Robin stiffened when the bear emitted a short grumble in response. “Tim, don’t.”
The bear came closer, his small dark eyes gazing intently at the three of them. Robin shivered from the cold, the stress, and the exertion of healing. All he wanted was to dig his fingers deep into the bear’s thick fur and let him do whatever he wanted.
Tim’s growl increased and echoed in Robin’s ears. Robin couldn’t deal with another fight, so he reached out for the bear with trembling hands. He cupped the animal’s broad face in his hands.
Robin! Step away from the beast!
“No.”
Robin. Now!
Shaking his head, Robin replied, “I said no.” Toward the bear he added, “He wants me to step away from you. He’s not always like this, only when he’s in big-brother mode.”
What the hell? Robin! He almost killed Jay!
“Jay attacked him first. I’m sure he didn’t intend to hurt him as badly as he did. He’s just way more powerful than any of us.”
You can’t be serious. We heard you howling and whining! We came to rescue you, and now you’re seriously telling me it was Jay’s fault that this beast almost killed him?
“I don’t need to be rescued, and if he really had wanted to kill either of you, he could have done so. I’m sorry he hurt Jay, I really am, Tim. Please, you have to believe me that I never wanted anyone to be hurt, and I’m also sorry I didn’t come home.” Robin released the bear’s face, turned his back to him, and blurted, “This is my mate.”
Five
ROBIN HELD his breath as he waited for Tim’s reaction. He scooted closer to the bear, and the bear sat down behind him, resting his heavy head on Robin’s left shoulder.
Tim shifted so fast that Robin recoiled. He pressed his bare back against the bear’s massive bulk, savoring the soft touch of fur on his skin. A wave of need rolled through him, rushing from his head to his crotch, pooling there. Robin covered his hardening erection as inconspicuously as possible.
“No,” Tim stated in a low voice. “No, he’s not. He’s a bear.”
Robin kept his eyes averted as he answered, “I think he’s a were-bear.”
Someone giggled, and Robin redirected his gaze tow
ard Jay and Tim. Jay had shifted to his human form and lay on his side, trembling and white-faced. He was also the one emitting the giggling sounds, even though he tried his best to stifle them. Robin’s lips twitched into a smile.
Tim stepped over Jay and knelt next to him. The protective gesture wasn’t lost on Robin.
“Stop giggling. What’s so funny here?” Tim muttered.
“A were-bear. It rhymes.”
Confusion showed on Tim’s face as he said, “Great. So my brother is a poet and an idiot.”
“Hey!” Robin bristled.
The bear moved behind him, sliding even closer. Robin pushed back a little, relieved at feeling his mate’s presence. He still didn’t understand why the bear didn’t talk to him, but the silent support helped, more than it probably should given that he didn’t know anything about his mate, not even his name.
“I don’t believe he’s your mate,” Tim said.
“Why not?”
“He’s a bear.”
“A were-bear,” Jay corrected.
Robin caught Tim throwing an irritated glance at Jay. As quickly as it appeared, the glance disappeared because Jay was trailing his fingertips up and down Tim’s right forearm, calming him.
“He’s not going to mate a bear, nor is he going to mate a were-bear.”
“That’s not your decision to make,” Robin shot back hotly.
“You’re my little brother. Of course I’m making the decision.”
Stunned silence settled around them for a moment. The bear huffed and lifted his head from Robin’s shoulder. Robin immediately grabbed for the bear’s neck to pull him back. Jay coughed harshly, drawing Tim’s attention to him. Behind Tim’s back he gestured toward Robin’s crotch.
Gulping, Robin adjusted his legs so his half-hard cock was hidden from view. He mouthed ‘thank you’ to Jay. The bear sniffed, his head lowering until he came close to Robin’s erection.
Secret Energy (Shifters Book 2) Page 3