by Sy Walker
All of this was just too unreal.
Suddenly, Zander’s heart leapt to his throat. He knew that sound. Drake’s motorcycle. The muffler was unmistakable. He tried not to make a move, but the men across the room seemed to be just as perceptive as Drake was. They could tell what he was feeling without any external clues.
“What is it, boy?” the impatient man asked, getting once again to his feet. The man who was shuffling stopped and sat the cards down, turning glittering, menacing eyes on Zander.
Zander held his tongue, and just a few seconds later, Drake kicked in the door to the bar and roared fiercely at the two men. The men were startled, but within seconds, all three men started to change forms. Zander watched in amazement as Drake’s handsome, masculine body began to morph and contort, sprouting thick black fur over each of his limbs. The other men went through similar transformations, and soon crouched in front of Drake, roaring at him. They were different shades of brown, and Drake towered above them both, furious like nothing Zander had ever seen before.
The lighter brown bear lunged at Drake, and Drake bared his fangs, roaring ferociously. Zander could hardly believe what he was seeing. The smaller bear held Drake’s neck in his mouth briefly but Drake quickly pushed him away. The bear toppled to the ground and cried out in pain. The other bear took its chance to attack and Drake hissed when his arm was dug into by the other’s strong claws.
Drake backed up and his eyes roamed the room. They landed on Zander and a wave of warmth jolted through him. Drake was a bear shifter. He had heard rumors that such things were possible in this part of the country, but he had never seen it happen and always assumed it was a myth. Now, here was proof. And more than that, there was the striking reality that he was going to be a parent with this terrifying creature.
A yelp of pain brought Zander’s attention to the brown bear lying limp on the floor. Drake was standing over him and glaring down the other bear, who was shirking away, out the door. He ran off when Drake lunged at him. Drake kept his eye on the bear as a shadow began to descend toward Drake from the stairs in the back of the bar.
“Look who’s here,” Claw’s deep, menacing voice brought all eyes to him. Drake turned around cautiously, snarling. “What did you do, Drake? Hurt your brothers to save this human? How petty can you be?”
Drake snarled and Claw grinned.
“Don’t!” Zander exclaimed, trying to stand up against his restraints. But it was no use. Claw was already beginning to shapeshift into his bear form. Drake stood up on his back legs and towered to the top of the bar, his ears brushing the ceiling.
Claw’s face turned ferocious, and his body began sprouting thick chestnut brown fur. He towered even taller than Drake and the two stared each other in the eye.
What were they going to do? Zander’s heart raced and he felt a pang of pain in his abdomen. Drake turned to him immediately, his face soft and concerned. How could he be so in tune with what Zander was feeling? It seemed impossible. And yet, it was exactly what Zander had always hoped for with someone he loved.
Loved?
His thoughts were interrupted when Claw took a cheap shot at Drake while the man’s gentle eyes were studying Zander in concern. Drake howled in pain as Claw’s teeth sunk into his back and the two men toppled powerfully to the floor, crushing tables and chairs as they engaged in a terrifying battle that it seemed Drake was destined to lose.
Zander cried out in fear as Claw’s huge body tore into Drake’s flesh and the man he cared most about yelped helplessly in pain. Zander fought against his restraints again. It was futile. Another pang of pain made him double over. He clutched his abdomen. What was going on with him?
Drake perked up again, clearly able to tell that Zander wasn’t well. It seemed to renew his strength, and he came up swinging violently, striking Claw right in the face. He growled in pain and staggered backward and Drake took his opportunity. He sank his teeth into Claw’s neck, until the man stiffened beneath him. Zander was horrified, thinking that the man was going to be killed right before his eyes, but surprisingly, Drake backed off. The two men started shapeshifting back into their human forms. Claw lay on the floor panting, staring with wide eyes at Zander.
“Guess that makes me the alpha now,” Drake said in an even voice.
Claw nodded but didn’t speak. His eyes followed as Drake walked toward Zander, his body as nude as the day he was born. Zander couldn’t keep his eyes off the man. He looked like a vision.
“All this stress isn’t good for the cub,” Drake said, loosening Zander’s restraints and helping him to his feet. Zander fell against him and they held each other for a moment. Claw perked up and stood, slipping on a pair of jeans from behind the bar.
“You two really care about each other,” Claw said, his deep voice awed. “I had no idea. Do you trust him?”
Drake turned to Claw, his arm draped over Zander’s shoulders.
“I do. You’re not going to tattle on me, are you boy?” he asked, looking over his shoulder at Zander.
Zander laughed. “No, I wouldn’t tell anyone. They wouldn’t believe me anyway.”
“Well, somebody would, and that’s what’s so disturbing about it. We want to make sure that our kind are free to continue existing into the future. But there are hateful people, some in our very own government, who don’t want that to happen. They worry we pose a threat.”
Claw sighed and turned to Zander.
“If you and Drake are serious about each other, and you promise not to return to your kind, unless it’s an emergency, I think we can all agree to accept you as one of our kind. You’re bearing the child of our alpha now. That changes things.”
Drake grinned over at Claw and slapped his shoulder.
“That’s right, it does, doesn’t it?” he said with a smile.
“You could have been alpha long ago,” Claw said.
“Never wanted the responsibility. But I’m going to be a father now. Might as well get used to it.”
Drake’s heavy, warm hand was suddenly on the swollen spot on Zander’s abdomen and the two smiled at each other. This was what Zander wanted, crazy bear shifters or not. He finally felt like he was part of a family.
Epilogue
“Good morning,” Drake said, his voice soft and deep in Zander’s ear.
“Good morning,” Zander said, smiling up at Drake.
It had been three months since their cub was born, and he could hear her sleeping contentedly in the next room. The day she was born was the proudest day of his life, and Drake had taken Zander as his partner for life in an official ceremony that same night.
They held each other close in the bed. “I was thinking,” Drake said, nuzzling his bearded mouth against Zander’s neck. It sent a shiver of pleasure through his body and he smiled.
“About what?”
“I think I’m ready for another baby,” he said. “I want more children.”
“Really?” Zander asked, sitting up. The sheet fell away from his bare torso. His body had gone quickly back to normal once the baby had been born, but it had been an intense experience. He wasn’t sure if he was ready to go through it again.
“Give it some thought,” Drake said, flipping Zander to his stomach. Zander groaned in pleasure as Drake’s shaft pressed against his bare ass. The heat of his body brought Zander tremendous pleasure, and soon Drake’s palm was wrapping around Zander’s cock and squeezing gently. He knew he would be conquered by his powerful lover. He always was. If Drake wanted another baby, his body would be happy to incubate one.
They both moaned in pleasure as Drake began to push himself inside of Zander. Drake had been eager to have his way with Zander ever since he had woken up, Zander was sure of it. It seemed like he was always waking up with a massive erection, and as soon as Zander opened his eyes, Drake was ready to pleasure him and gratify himself. It was an intense relationship that left both of them hungering for more of each other. Zander had never felt so satisfied.
He grun
ted in pleasure as he felt himself being pried open by Drake’s powerful body. Wave after wave of pleasure overpowered Zander as Drake worked his shaft and thrust his own inside of Zander. Soon, they were both groaning in the steady rhythm of Drake’s thrusting. Zander closed his eyes and felt himself being lifted higher and higher, ascending closer to the peak of his pleasure. Drake always seemed to know exactly when he couldn’t handle anymore and suddenly, the thrusting stopped.
“Hey,” Zander protested, twisting around and pouting back at Drake. Drake’s amber eyes glowed at him and Zander’s heart pounded hard in his chest.
“You being impatient with me, boy?” Drake asked.
“Um…”
Drake didn’t wait for a response. Soon, he was thrusting into Zander with all of his power. He cried out in surprise and tried to bite back his screams of ecstasy. He didn’t want to scare the baby, but he couldn’t help express the height of his ecstasy. Drake didn’t hold back. He never did. That’s what made him such a great lover.
Soon, Zander was shuddering beneath him, his cock throbbing in Drake’s hands. Drake began massaging him roughly as he thrust his hips harder and harder. Zander’s eyes watered from pleasure as Drake’s voice came out in a low rumble. He could feel the muscles inside of himself clinging to Drake’s manhood as it trembled inside of him, and soon an explosion of pleasure seemed to surge right from Drake and into Zander. They came simultaneously, Drake’s volcanic eruption of bliss spilling deep inside of Zander as his palms grew soaked in Zander’s cum. Drake gave a few final thrusts before they both collapsed onto the bed.
Drake turned Zander over and pulled him into his arms. Zander closed his eyes in bliss as Drake let his heavy hands roam over his body.
“Ah,” Drake said pleasantly, stopping on his abdomen.
“What?” Zander asked.
“I think it worked.”
“What worked?” Zander asked.
“Look down and tell me what you think,” Drake said with a smile.
“Oh!” Zander sat up and held his stomach. “Another baby.”
“That’s right,” Drake grinned. “So our little one won’t grow up lonely.”
Zander hadn’t been sure he was ready for another pregnancy, and was shocked to find that he was ecstatic. Happy tears welled in his eyes and he embraced Drake, feeling the familiar comfort of his aged body holding him close.
“I love our family more than you’ll ever know,” Drake said. Zander felt his heart surge with warmth. Although Drake was the alpha, and could probably tear him apart with two hands, he knew that he would never even consider it. They meant the world to each other, and Zander felt honored and blessed to be by his side.
“Come on, let’s go check on the baby and tell her the good news.”
“Okay,” Zander said, beaming.
They got out of bed and dressed, holding hands as they made their way to the nursery.
THE END
Bonus Stories
M/F: Tiger Tail
Chapter One
“I’ve got good news for you, Tabitha,” her boss said as he stepped into her office.
“I doubt it,” she said dryly.
“Now, now, put a smile on that pretty face of yours. This is just what you need. A little out of town assignment to take your mind off things,” he said.
“Out of town where?”
“India.”
“You’re kidding me.”
“Nope, not at all.”
“What am I supposed to be covering down there?”
“Tiger conservation and poaching issues.”
“You’re sending me to some wacked out wilderness to cover a story on tigers?”
“Precisely. You’re a journalist, aren’t you? This is what you do.”
“What do I know about wandering around looking for tiger poachers?”
“Nothing. That’s why I am sending you. I want a fresh perspective instead of the same drivel I’ve been getting on these stories from Timmons lately. I need a better journalist on this and you need a break from this city. Are you my girl or not?”
She sighed. “I’m your girl. I’ll get it done. When do I leave?”
“Tomorrow. Get yourself a flight booked into Dhaka as early as possible. I’ve already got a guide lined up for you. His name is Matt Helford and he’ll make sure you are well taken care of and safe on your journey. He’s worked with the BBC journalists in the past, so he knows the ropes.”
“Matt Helford? Doesn’t sound very Indian.”
“That’s because he isn’t. He’s former British military. You’ll be in excellent hands.”
“I hope so. I don’t relish being eaten by tigers or picked off by poachers.”
“You’ve got this. I’ve every confidence that you will do a fantastic job.”
“Thanks for the vote of confidence. Now, do you mind if I take the rest of the day off. I need to figure out what to pack to go roam through the wilds of India. I’m pretty sure I may have to do some shopping. I trust I can charge that off to the magazine?”
“Opportunist! Of course you can.” He pointed his finger at her. “Just don’t get too out of hand.”
“Me? Of course not.”
“I trust you. Now go get me a great story.”
“I will.”
Though she wasn’t going to say it, she was terrified of the assignment. She had traveled all over the world covering various stories, but always in cities and towns. The most remote locations she had ever visited were state parks and river festivals. It was hardly the same as trekking through some exotic wilderness with tigers and other lethal animals. Of course, she also had to factor in that she wasn’t exactly an athlete. Though far from being what some would consider fat, she was a bit thicker than most girls and not in prime shape for a safari.
A few hours later, she stood in a local outdoors shop trying on all-weather clothing for her trip. She opted for lightweight but waterproof materials after doing a bit of study on conditions in the area. It would be hot but potentially very wet at times. Smiling into the mirror, she thought she looked pretty good in the khaki colored jacket and pants she was trying on. It was a good color against her olive skin and dark hair, bringing out the deep brown of her eyes. At least she would look the part, she thought.
Making her way back across town, she started to feel excited about the trip. It would do her some good to get out of her own head and focus on her work. Where better to do that than an exotic location she had never been to? Though she knew the subject of poaching could be dangerous, Sam had said he’d lined up a guide. Someone familiar with the area should be able to give her all the information she needed without her having to risk anything to gain it on her own.
“Oh shit,” she said as she stepped into her apartment with the bags containing clothes, boots and other amenities the sales person had recommended when she had told him where she was going.
Bending down, she picked up the large Russian Blue curling itself back and forth through her legs. Who was she going to get to babysit her cat? Usually, her fiancé took care of her while she was away. The thought of him interrupted the temporary peace she had found in considering her trip to India. She had spent the past week trying to think of anyone but him and it was impossible. Everywhere she turned there were signs of him.
She was absorbed again in thoughts of how things had fallen apart so suddenly. Nothing had warned her that something was wrong. How could she have been so blind to it? She was jarred back into reality by the sound of the doorbell.
She opened the door to find an older couple and a teenage girl standing there to look at her. “Yes?”
“Hi. We’re Hannah and Saul Miller. This is our daughter, Janet. We just moved into the apartment next door and wanted to introduce ourselves.”
For a moment, Tabitha looked at them blankly. Who in New York City bothered to introduce themselves to a neighbor? Then the accent sank in. They were from the south and she supposed that was something they were used to do
ing. She smiled at them and invited them in for a moment.
“Oh, no. We didn’t want to intrude. We just thought it might be nice to know a few of the people around us. I just accepted a position as a science teacher at Xavier. My wife will be teaching there, as well, and Janet will be a freshman there.”
“Well, it’s very nice to meet you,” she replied.
“You have a cat!” Janet squealed, suddenly leaning down to pet Siniy.
“You like cats, I take it?” Tabitha said.
“I love them. We can’t have one because Mom is allergic. No pets at all. It sucks.”
“That is unfortunate, but I’m sure your mother’s health is more important,” Tabitha replied.
“Yeah,” Janet replied glumly as Siniy decided she was sleepy and wandered away from the girl to go lie in the window sill, stretching out in the sunlight.
“We’ll let you get back to what you were doing. I hope we will see each other again soon,” Hannah told her, nudging the other two back toward their apartment.
“Sure. Nice to meet you,” Janet said as she closed the door and began unpacking the items from her bags so she could wash them before packing them up. The last thing she needed was some sort of odd chemical rash from wearing them straight off the hangers.
“Okay, let’s find someone to take care of you,” she told Siniy as she scanned her speed dial. She tried Carla first, since she had been slated to take care of Siniy during the honeymoon that Tabitha should have been on until today. Unfortunately, Carla’s mother had fallen ill and she’d gone to stay with her for a while, so no luck there. A dozen calls later, she still couldn’t find anyone that could take her on such short notice. She scanned the internet for kennels, but wasn’t really thrilled with that idea. Finally, she went to some of the pet sitter sites but no one was available so quickly.
Then Janet’s face came to mind; how happy she had looked to be around her. She wasn’t thrilled with leaving her in the hands of someone she didn’t know, but she was desperate. Walking out of her apartment, she knocked on her neighbor’s door, looking a little embarrassed.