by A. B Lee
“I wouldn’t blame her if she didn’t.” Shane scowled. “Do me a favour, Marcus.” Marcus knew what was coming. He didn’t want to hear it, and yet Shane deserved that curtesy as his brother. “Look after Lucy for me. Just… watch out for her.”
“If it comes to it, you know I will.” Marcus nodded.
“Thanks, Brother.” Shane stalked away. Not far. He couldn’t stand the thought of not being near Lucy if she needed him, but far enough to end the awkwardness of the conversation with Marcus.
Marcus took off in the other direction. His heart ached and his mind hurt. He had one thing in mind, and that was finding out what the human bear was going to do.
He slipped around the back of the cabin and pulled the temporary boarding from the back door. His large frame barely squeezed through the size of the opening, and yet, he made it work. He would have pulled his damn arm off to get through if he had too.
“What the hell…?” Lucy growled at the sight of him. She hadn’t expected to find some big old shifter climbing through the broken window, and the man was scowling like he wanted to kill something. She felt her bear rally within her… Then he grinned; a big old grin that lit his eyes and made him less threatening.
“Howdy, neighbour. I live next door…”
“So go back there.” Lucy offered and Marcus grinned harder.
“A smartass. I like that. You’re gonna fit in with this clan just fine.” Marcus informed her as he motioned for her to take a seat on Shane’s shitty old couch. She eyed it for a moment and then folded her arms across her chest. Marcus sighed inwardly.
“What makes you think I’m staying?” Lucy growled.
“You got a better offer, shifter girl?” Marcus subtle reminder hit home. He was right, of course, she couldn’t really go- anywhere. Not that she had a home or anything, but being a shifter meant she needed to live with other shifters- maybe.
“What do you want?” Lucy demanded as she shifted her weight on her feet and eyed him.
“I wanna know if I’m gonna have to kill Shane. No biggie, take your time.” Marcus dropped his large frame down into the sofa, and into was right; he sank into the soft cushions and kept going. He didn’t know what getting out again would look like, but he wasn’t about to attempt it just yet.
When he turned his eyes back up to Lucy he could see the way that she was tossing his words over in her mind. She looked confused; as if someone had stolen her bike and given her a teddy bear instead.
“It’s not my decision to make…” She finally strung a sentence together, but it wasn’t the one that he wanted to hear. He reached out one large hand and patted the seat beside him.
“Let me tell you a story…”
“That sounds like a line a pervert would use.” She shot back and Marcus chuckled. It was deep and as smooth as velvet. Like James Earl Jones on steroids. It felt- homely.
“Well, I’m a bear, so…” He shrugged his broad shoulders. “We do get up to some weird shit, but only ever with the permission of our ladies, of course.” His grin got wider. She kind of liked this guy- even if his size was enough to scare the crap out of a troop of Marines.
“What do you want, bear?”
“Marcus, let’s keep it friendly, Lucy.” He offered back and she frowned. “Now sit, because I’ve got a story to tell you about this clan, and your mate…” He saw her debate it with herself, and then she dropped her arms to her sides and sighed. Stalking across the room, she spared no effort to be graceful as she tossed herself down on the sofa- and sank in.
“Fine. As you said; it’s not like I’m going anywhere.”
“That’s my girl.”
“Don’t patronise me.” Lucy scowled at him.
“Wouldn’t dream of it, especially as it’s you who holds all the cards here.”
~^~
Lucy had been standing at the window watching Shane pacing backwards and forwards until she felt the need within her to do the very same thing. Her bear demanded it, and yet she fought that urge to let her feet do the walking and her bear do the talking. His eyes constantly flicked in her direction and yet he made no move for his feet to do the same.
Strange. She yearned for him to turn towards her and stalk up to the cabin on those big old feet- Maybe it was because she wanted the satisfaction of telling him to get lost- again. Maybe it was because she had a yearning for him to wrap her in those big, strong, muscled arms and whisper in that sexy deep voice against her ear that everything would be alright.
Jackson almost scared her half to death when his big frame suddenly appeared in front of her and she had to snap her head back on her neck just to see who it was. Her bear had rallied; sensing her sudden fear, but at the sight of the alpha it relaxed. He motioned to the cabin’s door before he headed in that direction.
She took one last look at Shane and had to drag her eyes away to the sight of the alpha coming through the doorway- hell, he made a great replacement for the damn door. Her bear got skittish inside of her and that made her wary.
“We need to talk.” Jackson’s eyes held hers for a long moment until she felt the need to pull her gaze away. She looked anywhere but directly at him.
“Fine. Talk.” Lucy tossed up a hand but still didn’t meet his eyes. He tossed the door closed behind him and walked further into the room, taking the space, taking the air…
“Shane broke the law when he bit you…” Jackson offered but from the look of her someone had already spelled that out.
“Yep.”
“Under our laws…”
“The bear in question must be killed by the clan.” She wrapped her arms around herself for comfort. She didn’t want to hear those words again. Her heart ached at the sound of it, yet she still hated him for it.
“I need to ask you if you intend to speak up for Shane.” Jackson felt every second that ticked by like a knife in his gut.
“I don’t want him to die. I… I don’t think he’ll bite anyone else, it’s not like he has a taste for it now. Look at him…” She tossed an absent hand towards the window and her mate outside.
“Why do I want to kill him and fuck his brains out with the same breath?” She demanded and then bit down on her words as she turned away from Jackson. Overshare. She’d seen the smile on his lips and the amusement within his eyes before she’d turned away.
“That’s because he’s your mate.” Jackson offered and she groaned at the thought, the confusion inside of her.
“My bear wants to shag his damn brains out and I want to rip his head off. That can’t be healthy.”
“So, it’s your bear that’s protective of him?” Jackson frowned. That wasn’t a good sign. It was the human part of her that needed to make the decision.
“Yes!” She bit out. “No!” She added on a growl.
“What do you want, Lucy? Not there bear within. You.”
“I want to kick his tight ass all the way to town and back, and then I want to jump his bloody bones and shag him until the sun comes up.” She shrugged. “I hate that I love him.”
“Do you hate him enough to sentence him to death?” Jackson demanded and she turned on the balls of her feet- and this time she did look him in the eye. He could see her inner turmoil. Then she finally shook her head.
“He’s my mate. He’s my bear’s mate. I- I don’t want him to die for biting me…” She shrugged her shoulders again and dropped her eyes for one brief moment. Then she raised them back to Jackson and they glared with fire. “But I do want to sink my damn fangs into his shoulder again and see how he bloody well likes it.” She growled back.
Jackson tossed his head back on his neck and roared with laughter. It felt like a pressure valve had been released. A second later and the front door was tossed back on its hinges and Shane stood there taking it all in…
“What…?” He demanded, but Lucy raised her hand and pointed at him.
“I hate you.” She growled out and Shane’s head dropped down.
“I know.” He looked morose.
&
nbsp; “I hate that you bit me.” She growled again and he nodded.
“I know. I’m sorry…”
“I hate that I love you…” Lucy growled even harder. His head snapped up and his eyes fired with hope. He took a step, just one, and her hand came up to ward him off.
“Don’t you dare fucking come any further.” She growled out.
CHAPTER TWELVE
“I… I won’t.” Shane shook his head. “I’m sorry that…”
“Don’t sorry me, Shane. This is way beyond sorry, you idiot.” She growled and hissed at the same time.
“Yeah, it is. But I am sorry…”
“Go tell it to someone who gives a shit.” She turned away from him and his head went down again. “And you’re sleeping outside tonight.” She stalked towards the bedroom and slammed the door behind her.
“That’s…” Marcus appeared at the doorway behind Shane and slapped him hard on the back. Shane growled in annoyance. “Promising.” Marcus grinned at Jackson and the alpha nodded back.
“I have a pregnant mate to get back too.” Jackson announced and both men’s heads snapped towards him.
“A cub?” Marcus looked stunned.
“So it’s a good thing that I didn’t have to kill you, Shane. It would have put a downer on the next few day’s celebrations.” Jackson stalked towards the door and shooed them out of the way, and they fell over themselves to let him pass.
“And it saved me getting the damn shovel- again.” Marcus chuckled.
~^~
“It’s the age old question of does a bear shit in the woods?” Suzanna offered with a flick of her shoulder and a pointed look towards Lucy. The woman raised her eyebrows and a grin.
“Do I ever! It’s so fecking liberating…” Lucy chuckled.
“I’ll have to try it sometime.” Alex sniggered.
“When pupa bear will let you out of his sight again.” Suzanna teased and Alex sighed.
“Tell me about it. If you thought your mates were possessively protective before- wait until you’re pregnant.” She rolled her eyes and groaned.
“Shane would have get near me first…” Lucy growled in his direction and saw him scowl back at her.
“You two haven’t shagged like… bears, yet?” Suzanna was going to say rabbits, but that felt off considering what they did to those poor rabbits.
“Nope. He’s still in the penalty box.”
“And when is his time up?” Alex asked as she saw Shane flip the meat over the fire. They were back to cookout again, and all the gang was present. Just how she liked it.
“I’d say never, but I’m itching and scratching…”
“Vibrator.” Suzanna shrugged.
“No thanks. I think it’s more toss him down onto his back and ride him like the frecking wind- kind of thing… you know?” Lucy whispered, but every male around the fire turned to look at her. Marcus even stopped chewing his food and swallowed it down with a gulp.
“Did you not notice just how good your hearing has become?” Alex teased her and she felt the heat in her cheeks.
“Yep. Forgot.” She looked anywhere but at them as sniggers and chuckles filled her ears. Shane sidestepped the fire pit and started towards her. “Not another step.” She growled at him.
Shane hesitated, but then he kept on coming. Her heart choked and spluttered inside of her at the sight of him. Her bear reared its head and paid attention, and she felt the jolt of excitement deep within her womb.
“Don’t you dare…” She pushed up to her feet. A heartbeat later and Alex felt Jackson’s arm come about her as he lifted her out of the way and turned her behind his back.
“Hey!” Alex bent at the waist and looked around him.
“Get the…” Suzanna was undergoing the same protective treatment on the other side of Lucy.
Shane reached his mate and for a long moment he just stared down into her eyes. She tipped her chin defiantly and growled a long hard warning up at him. Then Shane’s arm shot out and he wrapped it around her waist and yanked her towards him, claiming her lips before she had another chance to speak.
She wanted to punch him right where it hurt. Right where it would do the most damned damage- and yet she felt her body melting against his. Crap! So much for her big mean bear.
His hands slipped downward against her backside and he yanked her up his body as she wrapped her legs around his waist. His lips grew hungrier, too hungry, they fired that need within her for him. It was a need that had made her ache night after night as she heard him pacing outside her window.
“Looks like the drought is over.” Suzanna chuckled.
“Looks like someone’s going to get their happily ever after…” Alex felt Jackson’s arm wrap around her and he brought her forward against his hip.
“Looks like the damn meat is burning…” Marcus growled and Chance hopped to it. He hadn’t eaten yet and he was looking forward to that meat. He wasn’t about to let it burn for a female. Any female.
Shane didn’t give her a chance to say a word. His lips never left hers as he started across the field towards his cabin. He did groan and growl a lot as her sex rubbed against his aching cock.
“Females are only good for one thing…” Chance growled to himself, but everyone turned to look at him anyway.
“Yeah? What would know about it?” Marcus growled.
“Cooking. They’re good for cooking, maybe cleaning…” He kept his eyes off the group. He was starting to feel that itch- that need- to find his own mate. His bear was lonely. But Marcus had been right before- he’d probably go a step further than Shane had and eat her.
“Chance, do you really want me to grab a broom and beat you around the head with it?” Alex demanded. She’d been patient with Chance, but there was a step too far and he was dangerously close to taking it.
“I second that emotion.” Suzanna raised her hand. Chance grumbled and grunted.
“I just don’t see the point of a mate.” He lied.
“That’s because in your relationships, your hand does all the work.” Marcus chuckled.
“We’ve been through this, man whore…” Chance growled out and Marcus chuckled harder.
“Yes, I am, and I’m never going to change…”
“Until you find your mate…” Suzanna offered.
“By then his cock will have been worn out…” Chance growled and Marcus scowled at him.
“Don’t even think about my cock.” Marcus growled long and hard.
“I wasn’t thinking…” Chance started, but Marcus growled again. He lifted a juicy rib bone and pointed it at the man. “Think about your own cock and how it would feel to have a woman or a man bouncing on it. Then we’ll talk.”
Chance growled in annoyance. Snatching up a plate and dumping a pile of meat on top; he stalked back towards his cabin.
“Did you have to tease him like that?” Alex berated the big man.
“Yep. Apart from sex and food, it’s what makes life worth living.” Marcus chuckled.
“For you.” Alex berated him again and Jackson shot her a look. “Ok, so they are top five.” She offered and her mate scowled. “Ok, top three.” She added and he grinned.
“What’s the top spot, Alex?” Jackson asked and her hand went to her stomach.
“Kin.” Alex shrugged and Jackson gave her a drop dead gorgeous smile. “And I’m gonna try that shitting in the woods thing to see if it lives up to its reputation.” She shrugged again as her mate turned her in his arms and kissed her gently.
“You really are one of a kind, honey.” He whispered against her lips.
“And don’t you ever forget it if you want to keep your balls.” Alex whispered back with a sweet smile on her lips.
The End.
Other books you might enjoy in the A B Lee series are:
Kill for his Mate
Close to Rogue
I don’t want to lose you
Betrayed by his Pack
Love me don’t leave me
Finding a home
When Hope Dies
Breathe Again
The powers that be
Saving Me
Deep Within
Bad Wolf; The trouble with sisters
In these Arms
Right beside you
Secrets to Keep
Series include:
Bear Lake Book One
Bear Lake Book Two
His Mate and Her Vampire (Book one)
Grace (Book two)
The Highland Pack series:
Rogue attack (Book one)
Fae Vengeance (Book two)
Too many Vampires (Book three)
BBW Short;
Carlie
Eliza
Jamie
Maggie
Shelly
Ashley
These books are available as a boxset. Look out for the She-wolf Omnibus. BBW shorts.
Series;
Coven- Sanctuary
Coven- Refuge
Coven- Haven
Coven- Safe House
Coven- Retreat
Coven- Return
The Coven is available as a complete series.
Books you might enjoy by ML Briers:
Comedy/ Romance Lycan Novella’s
The Mating Season (Book one)
The Mating Season (Book two was a Christmas Special and was written after Stealing his Mate)
The Lycan, the Witch and the wardrobe
Protecting His Mate
Chasing His Mate
Defending His Mate
Winning His Mate
Finding His Mate
Gathering Their Mates
Denying His Mate
Captivating His Mate
Guarding His Mate
Saving His Mate
Stealing His Mate
Misplacing His Mate
Wooing His Mate
Rejected By His Mate
Betting on His Mate
Not His Mate
Rescuing His Mate
His Mate- Brothers- Cody (Book One)