Bear Cuffs: Bear Shifter Romance (Broken Hill Bears Book 3)

by Hawkes,Ariana

  Out of the corner of her eye she saw Xander elbow Rocco, who cleared his throat.

  “I’d like to thank you, Tarkus and Amelia, for allowing your daughter to become my mate,” he said. “And, most of all, I’d like to thank you, Harper, for accepting my offer. I intend to do everything in my power to provide a safe, comfortable and happy life for you.” While Tarkus and her mom made sounds of approval, Harper gulped hard, forcing down a wave of nausea. She couldn’t stand to hear these words. She’d agreed to be his mate – fine. But why did they have to keep up this whole charade as well? And right now, it was all she could do not to take a swipe at him and knock that good-guy grin from his face.

  The next couple of hours passed in polite conversation – enquiries about each other’s clan, the internal structures, the closest allies, the sources of threats. The mating ceremony was set for a week’s time in Broken Hill, and it was quickly decided that Harper would go and live there afterwards. She didn’t protest; she’d expected it to be the case. But as the reality sunk in, her stomach turned over. Giving up a comfortable, happy existence in Pine Bluff for a life with the guy she couldn’t stand the sight of didn’t appeal one bit. But she tried to focus on the happiness in Tarkus and Amelia’s faces and remind herself that she was doing a good thing. Rocco described his cabin in some detail, along with the open-air swimming pool and the hot tub and steam room, and she pretended to be impressed, while thinking that there had been a time when she would’ve happily lived in a shed with him, but all the comforts in the world couldn’t make her happy now.

  All night she tried to avoid being alone with Rocco, but as the evening was drawing to a close, it inevitably happened. Tarkus was pointing out something to Xander at the end of the garden and Amelia had excused herself to the bathroom, and suddenly, there she was, somehow wedged into a corner of the veranda, Rocco’s massive bulk planted right in front of her. There was a flicker of uncertainty in his smile, and his pupils were dilated again as he seemed to be drinking in the sight of her. She felt a flicker of irritation. He always used to say that she was the most beautiful woman on earth. Who cared if he liked the look of her? He’d still hurt her in the worst way possible, and she’d never forgive him for that.

  “It’s good to see you, Harper,” he said, his voice low and rumbling, and he looked like he wanted to say far more. She pressed her lips together, knowing she couldn’t afford to express the full extent of her feelings; at least, not while they were in public like this.

  “I wish I could say the same, Rocco,” she said instead. “And I want you to know that I’ll pretend to be your mate in the public eye and in all public duties, out of respect to my father’s wish and the needs of our clan. I’ll live with you in your cabin too. But in private, I don’t want anything to do with you. I want my own room, and my own living space, and I want us to live separate lives.” His jaw tensed.

  “But, Harper –” he began.

  “That’s the deal. Take it or leave it,” she snapped, quelling the pain that threatened to overwhelm her. It was like a sick joke. Once, many years ago, she’d longed for nothing more than to live with Rocco as his mate. But now their life together was going to be a parody of her desires. His lips twisted and she saw his nostrils flare as he inhaled deeply.

  “Harper, I wish you could forgive me. It was such a long time ago, and we’ve got to live together amicably, or things are going to be harder than they need to be.” For a second he looked vulnerable, like during those moments when they used to share their deepest, darkest secrets with one another. But no, she wasn’t going to fall for that. She’d done that once before, and it had only caused her pain.

  “Things won’t have to be hard. You’ll have your space; I’ll have mine. And the rest of the time we’ll just be – acting. Like when we were in the high school play together.” Her words had the desired effect; he looked wounded. The play had been Romeo and Juliet, and everyone had said that they had amazing chemistry on stage. He dropped his gaze.

  “I’m sorry you feel this way, I really am. Maybe things will be easier once we get to know each other again,” he said.

  “I sincerely doubt that, Rocco,” she said curtly, before turning her head at the sound of Xander’s approaching footsteps.

  At last, it was time for the brothers to leave. The Broken Hill Bears and Pine Bluff Bears said good night to each other, resolving to meet for the ceremony in a week’s time. Harper headed to bed the moment they were gone, unable to keep up the pretense in front of her parents any longer, and eager for sleep to ease her aching heart.

  5

  “That went well,” Xander said during the drive back. Rocco was now happy to leave the driving to him, and he rolled down the window and leaned his head out, hoping the breeze would loosen up his mood. That went terribly, he thought, recalling how cold and reserved Harper had been, so changed from the girl he once knew. On the other hand, time had made her even more beautiful. She’d always been the prettiest girl of all the clans, but those mischievous green eyes had become stunningly sexy, the line of her lips had become more full and curving, and the teenage roundness of her face had given way to high cheekbones and dimples. Her body had also filled out into full, ripe curves that had set his bear purring the moment he’d laid eyes on her. She’d been keeping her bear tightly restrained, as if she didn’t dare to allow it to react to him, but he sensed that her body was responding to him. Her pupils had dilated as he took her hand in his, and he picked up a hint of that smell of hers that used to drive him wild. Whatever. He shook his head, dismissing the thought. She wasn’t the kind of girl to let her desires rule her when her conscience was so strongly opposed to something.

  “Yeah,” he replied non-commitally, after a significant pause.

  “They seem like a great family. I think our two clans will have a lot in common. And, as for Harper, I can’t imagine a better mate for you. She’s a charming, intelligent woman. And a very beautiful one too.” Rocco grunted. He was desperate to be alone to process things, and not to be a captive audience to this conversation. Xander slid a glance at him.

  “What’s wrong? You didn’t think so?”

  “No, she’s great. You Alphas chose well,” he muttered.

  “Look, Rocco, I want you to make a genuine effort in this mating; to try to be happy with Harper and become true mates in all senses of the word. But if things don’t work out and you’re truly not suited to being together, then I’ll speak to her father and ask that the mating is annulled.”

  “Like that’s going to go down well,” Rocco said, putting his feet up on the dash. Xander made a clicking sound with his tongue.

  “Just try, Rocco, please.” He was silent for a moment, waiting for Rocco to say something, but he just stared glumly ahead at the dark road. “Okay, I’ll make a deal with you. Try your best with Harper for three months. And at the end of that time, if either of you aren’t happy, you can dissolve the mating. How about that?” Rocco’s ears immediately pricked up.

  “Are you serious?”

  “Rocco, if I didn’t think this could work, I wouldn’t have suggested it. But I want you to be happy. You deserve it. Just tell me you’ve both given it your best shot, and that will be enough.”

  “Okay,” Rocco said slowly. This he could do. At the worst, he’d have to endure three months of Harper hating his guts. He gazed into the darkness, wishing so badly that he could tell Harper his reasons for doing what he did all those years ago. Then she’d understand. But he couldn’t, ever. And that meant that she’d never forgive him and get over her hurt.

  All the following week, Harper existed on autopilot. She went to work and hung out with her friends, trying not to think that she was doing all of these things for the last time. She’d been happy living in Pine Bluff for the past two years, and leaving it was a real wrench. On her last day at the kindergarten, she hugged each of the kids and all the other teachers goodbye, and then she cried all the way home. The kids had given her sweet gifts, and she p
romised to write them, but it was heartbreaking to know she’d never be their teacher again.

  Next morning, she packed her car and her parents’ truck with all of her belongings, then she put on the simple white dress that all shifter brides wore to their ceremony. It was long and flowing, barely skimming her breasts and ample hips, and she cinched it at the waist with a woven belt.

  “You look beautiful, my darling,” Tarkus said, coming into her room with an armful of freshly picked flowers, and he kissed her on top of her head.

  “Thanks, dad,” she said and closed her eyes tight, trying to force some happiness into her mind. It’s all for him and the clan, she reminded herself over and over.

  While the sun was still low in the sky, they set off on their journey. Harper drove her own car, and her mom drove the truck, while Tarkus sat in the back, weaving the flowers into bouquets and headdresses. Harper loved him for that – the fact that such a big, masculine Alpha had a soft side as well, which delighted in the beauty of flowers.

  Three hours later, they were approaching Broken Hill territory, and the jagged mountaintop swung into view. “Home sweet home,” she murmured to herself, and gave an involuntary shudder. She’d never seen the territory before, and from a distance it looked almost sinister. The road wound on and on, steadily narrowing, until she came to a crack between two giant rocks that had looked impassible from a distance. Up close, there was barely enough space to squeeze through at a crawl. But on the other side, a surprise greeted her, as a green valley opened out, dazzling with a lush array of trees and plants. And as she drove into the village, she stared at all the cabins in amazement. There seemed to be every possible type of house design, from Victorian, to Tudor, to Disneyland fairytale. One looked exactly like a mediaeval castle, another was like a Spanish ranch house. They were all so different, yet there was a charm about them, and she guessed that each was the work of its owner’s imagination. She followed the directions to Rocco’s place, and pulled up in front of a building that looked like a log cabin, but built on a grander scale. And this is my new home, she thought. And then she flinched as a recollection hit her: she and Rocco, sitting up high in a hay barn in her mom’s old house, chewing on a straw each, swinging their legs over the edge of the loft and talking about the house they were going to live in when they were older. Rocco always said he wanted to live in a log cabin, and she’d laughed at him, saying if he could have any house in the world, why wouldn’t he choose something fancier. But now she could see his point. It was a beautiful cabin – spacious yet cozy and homely looking. There were flower boxes at every window, and a lot of light inside the house. Out front was a large, pretty garden, full of shrubs and flowerbeds.

  And then Rocco came out of the carved wooden front door. As she met his gaze, myriad emotions chased across his features. This is hard for him too, she realized. But then she dismissed the thought. He was wearing the traditional ceremonial garment – a long white tanktop and white pants. It suited him, the tanktop displaying the huge, bunched muscles of his biceps and forearms, and contrasting with his deeply tanned skin. She stepped out of the car, and the forced smile that he’d plastered across his face dropped, leaving his mouth hanging slightly open.

  “Harper – you look stunning,” he said, striding over to her and kissing her on both cheeks. Her face heated and her breath hitched in her throat.

  “You don’t look too bad yourself, Rocco,” she replied, her dry tone belying the fact that her head was spinning and she seemed to have an electric charge running through her veins. They stared at each other wordlessly, Harper feeling like there was everything and nothing to say. I’m about to be mated to my worst enemy, she told herself. What can I say about that? The situation felt unreal, and she was suddenly overwhelmed. She took a step back and stumbled. Rocco immediately reached out a steadying arm.

  “Harper, are you okay?” he said. Before she had time to think, she shook it off.

  “I’m fine,” she said, straightening her hair, and flashed him a thin smile.

  Tarkus and her mom pulled up, and a moment later Xander and his mate and an older lady who was evidently their mom arrived too. Tarkus passed the bouquets and headdresses around, and everyone decorated their clothes, in high spirits and talking excitedly. She pulled herself together, forcing a smile back onto her face. It’s just a ceremony, she told herself. I just have to get through it, and then the clan will have what they need. And then I can go to pieces.

  “There’s a clearing, deep in the forest, where all the mating ceremonies take place,” Rocco explained, holding out his arm to her. She took it unwillingly, and the small party followed a narrow, overgrown trail into the woods.

  After maybe twenty minutes, they arrived at the clearing, a priest in ceremonial robes waiting for them. The journey had been long. Rocco was trying to make small talk, and she’d never heard him so nervous before. She’d always loved the way that he was so relaxed. No matter what had happened when they were in high school, he’d greet it with that lazy grin, which convinced her that it couldn’t be all that bad. That side of him had even shaped her own personality, helped turn her into the measured person she was. But now she felt that his body was rigid with tension. And she sensed his bear, hunched up, ready to run. Her own bear wanted him, of course. It was lively, scrabbling inside her, eager for the mating to be made official, and she squirmed at its disloyalty. She couldn’t really blame it though. No-one was as handsome, as sexy as Rocco. Every time those blue-green eyes locked onto hers, she wobbled, and there was a half-second delay before she remembered that she hated him, and all the sexiness in the world wouldn’t make up for what he’d done.

  As the ceremony began, she felt like she was in a dream. Or a nightmare. Ever since she was a little girl, she’d dreamed about her mating ceremony, like most shifters did, and this was all so wrong. The priest spoke, then Rocco spoke, and then there was a long silence. Tarkus gently elbowed her. She jumped and looked up, realizing at the same time that a single tear was running down her cheek. She wiped it away guiltily, and chanted the necessary words. As the priest pronounced them mates, she forced herself to look into Rocco’s eyes. His irises had turned stormy blue, and she frowned, thinking she saw an apology in them.

  He took a step toward her, grasped her waist, and, before she knew what was happening, his mouth was on hers. Those lips that she once knew so well were pressed against her own. Instinctively, and completely against her will, her lips parted a little. And then, to her dismay, her bear let off a little purr. Their families made sounds of approval, and she tore herself away from him, trying not to make it look too obvious. As she stepped back, she didn’t know who was more shocked. But then, that familiar little smile began to crook his lips, and she fought an urge to hit him. That asshole! He thinks I’m falling for him again, she thought, glaring at him.

  “That was lovely,” Tarkus boomed, clapping his huge hands together.

  “Let’s go back and celebrate!” Xander said, looking equally happy.

  There was champagne and a giant barbecue with a hog roast. And, to her horror, what looked to be all of the Broken Hill clan. Of course they’re all here. This is a big deal: the Alpha’s brother has just found his mate. With a supreme effort, she put a smile on her face again, and greeted everyone and accepted their enthusiastic congratulations. They seemed like a nice bunch – friendly and eager to get to know her. Things could be a lot worse, she told herself.

  When night fell, and all the bears were getting happily drunk, she slipped away to a quiet spot to spend some time with her parents, sad that she was leaving their love and care behind, in exchange for a loveless mating.

  “Harper, my dear,” Tarkus said, gathering her into his arms. “I think you’ll be very happy with that young man. He’s obviously crazy about you already.” She stifled a snort, glad that the champagne had blunted her emotions somewhat.

  At last, it was time to go to bed. The clan lined up on either side of the entrance to the cabin and jo
ined hands, forming an arch. As was traditional, she and Rocco held hands and ran through it to cheers and shouts, before disappearing into the cabin.

  Inside, Rocco kept hold of her hands.

  “Thank you for this, for being so sweet to the clan, Harper,” he said, his voice low and a little raspy. Against her will, she inhaled his spicy masculine scent, which filled her with nostalgia.

  “Just doing my duty, Rocco,” she said crisply, pulling her hands away from his. “Can you show me to my room?”

  “Of course,” he said, hurt flashing in his eyes, and led her through the cabin, pointing out the location of the kitchen and bathroom.

  Her room was very nice – minimalist style, with whitewashed walls, exposed beams and stripped floorboards.

  “I remembered what you liked, and I tried to have it decorated like that,” he said.

  “Thank you. I appreciate that.” He lingered at her door, as if he wanted to say more, but she said goodnight and closed it firmly.

  A moment later, she was lying on her bed facedown, her pillow stifling the sound of her crying.

  6

  The morning after the mating ceremony, Rocco awoke sunk in gloom. So this was going to be his life from now on? Sharing his home, his space with Harper. Seeing every day just how much she hated him? It was ironic, he thought, gazing at the empty side of the bed next to him. He’d always been the heartbreaker, the tearaway. And now it had come back to haunt him – being mated to the woman whose heart he’d broken, and bearing the weight of it every single day. He wished so much that things were different, and that he hadn’t had to break her heart. If she knew the truth, she’d understand. But he could never tell her.

  She’d looked so beautiful yesterday. The sight of her had taken his breath away. Her brown hair was so glossy and fragrant, and the simple dress she was wearing had done nothing to conceal her curves. At the thought of that ripe, luscious body, his bear let off a muted roar. As a teen, she’d been lithe and sexy, but now she’d filled out a little, she was off the charts. He could only imagine how that creamy flesh would feel beneath his hands. But her face had been like a sheet of marble – flawless and carefully devoid of expression. Harper was a mistress of self-control. It had always been her way of protecting herself, concealing her vulnerabilities, so you had to be very close to her to know what she was truly feeling. She’s yours. She’s your mate, his bear told him, with its usual lack of appreciation of the finer points of relationships. She’s not mine, and she’ll never forgive me, he retorted. But it didn’t listen, scrabbling inside him, urging him to go and claim her. The pressure inside him was too much. He needed to release his bear and go out for a run; let off some steam.