by Anya Nowlan
Julian brushed the thought aside. He was an Alpha as well and the pain of his kin bit him as painfully as it did Jackson. He’d tried to ignore the call to come back home for a few weeks until it had gnawed on him during every waking moment. It became impossible to work, and he kept finding himself staring out of his New York corner office, thinking about what could be happening to his clan while he sat in plush luxury, out of harm’s way. He wasn’t sure what exactly he could do to help, but he wouldn’t have been able to live with himself if he hadn’t come.
“So, what do you want me to do? Or, to be more precise, what do you need from me so we could wrap this up quick?” he asked. Julian didn’t pay any heed to the slight twitch that he saw in Jackson’s jaw. His older brother was disappointed in him and he had had to live with that knowledge since one fateful day fifteen years ago. But, he’d done enough dwelling on that, and he didn’t have time for it now. Julian was a man with more things to do than time on his hands and if things didn’t move along at his desired pace, well, he’d just have to make them move faster.
“Honestly, the only thing you can do is be here. A lot of the clan have come back – let them know you’re back as well. I know they’ll be happy to see you. Ryder’s out for blood and everything we own, though I don’t know why yet. Something’s changed in him. Something’s got a lot darker. We need to get our numbers up before we can try and settle this, peacefully or not.”
The small murmur that came from Tess made Julian glance at her, smirking at her sweet face as it crinkled in a frown. The redhead was just the right kind of woman for a werebear – there was plenty to enjoy and grab hold of, and he could sense her spirit from a mile away. She was not someone that could be easily hassled, and Julian liked that. Hell, all grizzlies did – nothing better than a strong-willed woman to keep a bear in check. Looking at her almost made him sad that he didn’t have someone to share his life with. Almost. At the end of the day, his heart had been given away a long time ago and she had yet to give it back. His stomach dropped at the thought.
What if Susie is still in town? That’ll be awkward… he thought, brushing away the bear that wanted to rise in him at the thought of her plush red lips and her flowing blonde hair. He hadn’t seen her in over ten years and yet, the mere thought of her still sparked something wild and barely manageable in him. Which, of course, had been the reason why things hadn’t worked out in the first place.
“You don’t agree, Tess?” Julian asked, trying desperately to get his mind off of the blonde.
“I just don’t want to see you hurt. Either of you,” she said, sighing softly.
“That’s a fair point. But don’t worry, Tess, Captain Sour and I have it all under control. We will lie in wait until Ryder shows up and quash him with our superior might and good looks. And Alpha blood and big jaws and all that,” he said, waving his hand dismissively. Jackson didn’t look entirely convinced, but at least Tess kept giving him good vibes. Reading people was something that came naturally to him and he wasn’t sure whether it was because of his dormant bear or if he just had an exceptionally sharp eye for human emotions. “But I get what you mean, Jackson. Sit around and look menacing. Alright, and how long do you think this will take?”
Jackson shrugged, making Julian tense up a bit. The oldest Arder always knew exactly what to do. But, having said that, he had known Ryder when they were both young, and he knew full well that Ryder Hunt was not the kind of man to wait around if he wanted something.
I wonder if they’re reluctant to go at each other because of our past… I bet if Jackie knew, she would blow a gasket at all of this. The thought, though reasonable, unsettled him. Jackson and Ryder had been best friends as kids and if things were going to go sour between them, then it could only end up in a spectacularly painful mess. He’d just have to try and fix it before things got that far. It didn’t help that Ryder was tied to the family in more ways than one – through the only woman in the Arder household.
Julian stirred his coffee and took a small sip, making a face as it went down his throat.
“Still into drinking tar I see, Jackson.”
“Oh, is the coffee not to your liking, mister billionaire?” Jackson asked in a mocking tone. Julian smiled sheepishly. The helicopter hadn’t been exactly the most low-key way of arriving on the scene, but it certainly was the fastest, and hell, Julian liked travelling in style. His shiny gunmetal suit and sapphire tie made him look more like a playboy out of someone’s wet dream and not at all the ruthless business shark (or bear, rather) that he was. Julian smirked as he caught Tess glancing between him and Jackson, looking visibly perplexed.
“We don’t look much alike, huh?” he asked, quirking a brow and taking another careful sip of his tarlike coffee. Tess nodded with a grin, letting out an infectious giggle. She seemed perfectly nice and Julian had to give his brother a mental high-five for finding someone who brought all that he lacked to the equation – lightheartedness and openness. He liked her already.
“No, you don’t. Well, you’re obviously brothers, but… um… Well. Not exactly cut from the same tree, if you know what I mean.”
Jackson snorted at that, leaning back in the chair with a good-natured smile.
“Me and Jonah look more like our dad. And Julian here took after mom. And Jackie, our little sister, well, she’s just gorgeous. Best of both worlds.” Julian tossed his head and batted his brilliant blue eyes at Tess with obvious over-exaggeration. He drew another giggle from her and was pretty sure that he was going to have an easier time getting along with Tess than he did with Jackson. At least he didn’t have any unfinished business with her.
“Yup, I got all the handsome genes in the family,” Julian said mockingly, straightening his perfectly fitting jacket. The upside of being filthy rich was that he never had to wear anything that didn’t make him look like he’d just freshly stepped out of the tailor’s. And the downside… there really wasn’t much of a downside, save for the crippling loneliness that he had got excellent at ignoring. In general, focusing on what he wanted and not paying heed to what annoyed, frustrated or saddened him was something that he couldn’t have succeeded without. Which brought him back to Susie.
“Tess, I think I need some cream to make this go down. Would you happen to have any?” he asked.
“Sure. Just a moment.” Tess bounced up and headed towards the kitchen. Julian had to work hard at not stealing another glance at her shapely ass. He looked at Jackson, a certain solemnness falling over him. It always happened when he had to discuss Susie. The woman had a wicked hold on him, even if he tried to deny it.
“Jackson. I need to ask. Is Susannah still in Bear’s Grove?” Jackson gave him a long look, his brown eyes peering deep into him – Julian wasn’t the only one that was good at reading people.
“Yes. She’s still there. She owns the truck stop now and has started a trucking company from there as well. Most of the logging hauls go through her now.” Julian didn’t even notice that his breath caught in his chest in anticipation of Jackson’s reply, and now he could breathe again.
“Is she…” he trailed off, unsure of what he wanted to know. Well? Happy? Married? Missing him? Jackson seemed to catch his uncertainty and he nodded, glancing towards the kitchen. They had lowered their voices, and Tess was due back any moment. Julian had to admit that there was some irony to him treating the topic of a former fling with more seriousness than the possible bloody demise of his clan.
“She’s not married. I don’t know much more. Tess sometimes hangs out with her – they’ve become fast friends. But I think she’s seeing someone.”
“Oh.” Julian felt his stomach drop, and he slouched against the backrest of the couch as Tess returned. He poured some cream into his coffee and stirred it, his mood chopped down a fair bit.
What did you expect? That she’d be waiting for you? You didn’t exactly end it on good terms…
Despite his rational self telling him that everything was as it was supposed t
o be, he still felt a sharp stab straight at his heart. One of the many reasons he hated being home was that everything became so raw and he could be turned from a successful software magnate into the confused and angst-ridden teenager he had been when he left the Cabinet Mountains all those years ago. Julian shook his head, trying to clear the cobwebs from his brain – there would be plenty of time to sulk. In a place with no cell reception and where the height of fun was seeing a moose cross the road, there was nothing but time to think.
“Okay. Anyway. I need a place to stay. I assume you haven’t demolished my cabin yet?” he asked, flashing a brilliant grin at Jackson, who only groaned a little – nothing like a younger brother to bring frustration to the surface. Julian had to thank his lucky stars that their father had insisted on building lodges across all of Cabinet so all of them would have a place to live when they grew up. At least he wouldn’t have to get in the way of the happy couple.
CHAPTER TWO
Susie scrunched up her nose as she took another sip of her kale smoothie. She’d been trying to be a good girl and get healthier about her diet choices, but cutting out chocolate and creamy lattes was a tall order when you owned the premiere diner in town (or anywhere in the 60 mile radius!). It was hard to swallow the sigh she felt pressing in her chest – almost as hard as swallowing the bitter curdling drink, really. She leant on the counter, bumping up her plump ass a bit as she surveyed her calm business. There were some local loggers who came in every day at the exact same time and a few guys from town who liked shooting the breeze around noon (mostly to avoid having lunch at home with their wives, she figured) – all the usual fare, nothing too exciting. But, of course, excitement was always lurking just around the corner in Montana.
Susie cast a glance out through the wide pane windows, a slow smirk creeping across her lips as she surveyed the two heavy-duty rigs waiting for their drivers.
Not bad for a small town girl, she thought to herself. The trucks had been a recent acquisition but one that she was most proud of. She’d managed to take over the diner/truck stop for a steal a few years back when the former owners decided to retire. Susie had been working there since she was a teenager and the couple trusted her enough to give her their most prized possession, which she was eternally grateful for. There weren’t many ways for a woman to make a decent income in Bear’s Grove, and many ended up leaving for just that reason. Susie couldn’t fathom leaving Montana, though, or the mountains. The air, the people, the nature – they made up a whole that defined her as much as anything she did or said. She wasn’t the kind to rip out her roots and set up anywhere else. Not as long as there was even the slightest option to stay home, at least.
Bear’s Grove was a tiny town tucked away in the heart of the Cabinet Mountains. It was hidden right between two high peaks in a deep valley with the most spectacular cedar trees – the town only stayed afloat because the logging was so good in the region. The loggers had all been working in the area for generations under strictly discussed terms with the Arder clan. They were men that could be trusted, by both the humans and the werebears that inhabited the mountains, and the status quo filled Susie with a sense of security that she couldn’t imagine relinquishing for the hustle and bustle of city life. Of course, things hadn’t been quite as calm lately.
Speak of the devil, Susie thought with an audible sigh, straightening up as she saw a worn red truck pull up in front of the diner. Her green eyes narrowed slightly, tracking the movements of a broad-shouldered dark-haired man who was more than familiar. Her stomach twisted coldly, watching Drake stalk in with his trademark slow walk. He made the hairs on the back of her neck stand up.
I can’t believe I dated this guy. What a prick.
“What do you want, Drake?” Susie asked coldly, squaring her shoulders in an effort to look taller. She wasn’t small for a woman, 5’10’’, and all luscious curves, but she was a midget next to the 6’6’’ werebear.
He stopped in front of the counter and leant on his elbows with a predatory grin dancing on his lips, his brown eyes eating up the sight of her. She could feel his eyes row up her body, leaving a blazing trail. As much as he was a brute and a man with little to no morals, she couldn’t deny that he had made her body light up like a flare. Drake was a far cry from the last man that did that to her, but it was an exhilarating feeling tasting even a little of that werebear magic again. In the long run, great sex just wasn’t worth the constant heartache and, she just couldn’t stay with him in good conscience after the last stunt he had pulled.
“Why, isn’t it obvious, Freckles? I want you,” he said, a sly grin perched on his lips. Susie was both revolted and aroused at the same time, and she hated him for having that effect on her. There were a lot of good men around Bear’s Grove that would have made excellent husbands, and she’d dated a fair few gruff mountain men who had been more than thrilled to keep a hot curvy blonde company. But, it was hard to settle for less after being with a werebear. They just didn’t have the same uber-masculine something about them that made her gravitate towards werebears. Even if none of them could match up to the one that had slipped from her grasp.
Not the time to be thinking about him, Susie chided herself. She gave an exasperated sigh and turned her back to him as one of the guys at the counter waved for a refill of his coffee. Susie picked up the pot and filled his mug to the brim, the rich Brazil blend filling her nose and driving away Drake’s mesmerizing scent. Her body definitely craved for more of him, but she had to draw the line somewhere. Giving into a jerk just because she felt a little lonely and horny wasn’t high on her list of things to do.
“Stop calling me that, Drake. And I’m going to tell you what I’ve told you a dozen times before, I’m not interested. Find someone else to pester,” she hissed, surprising herself with the amount of venom she could force into her tone. He just kept staring at her with a look that told her that he was undressing her with his eyes and enjoying every tiny moment of it. It made her want to duck behind the counter just to shake his gaze, but she stood her ground.
“Aww, come on, Freckles. Don’t be such a prude. Don’t you want to be on the winning side for once? The Arder bears are on the way out and I’m with the new game in town. I’d hate to see your business go under just because you couldn’t play nice for a little bit. I know you enjoyed my company. Like that time behind the truck,” he said, making Susie blush a deep red. Her mouth fell a bit open at the memory and his insolence in bringing it up.
One especially heated night, she’d let him talk her into letting him screw her behind one of her trucks parked outside of the diner. Right where anyone driving into the parking lot could see them, wildly fucking against the side of the big timber trailer. It was dirty, nasty and made her wet almost immediately. She was appropriately mortified. Things were not made better by the curious and slightly worried glances Alice kept throwing her from across the diner. The brunette waitress was hunched over a booth and cleaning the tabletop, but she had a clear view of Susie’s abject horror and the impressive form of Drake, who was taking the role of her tormentor for the day.
Finally, Susie shook the shock and took a step closer to Drake. Her lips hovered just inches from his as she leant in, her nose crinkling in the same kind of disgust she had felt when swallowing the awful kale smoothie.
“Listen here, Drake. I’m not interested. I don’t want you anymore. I’m ashamed of myself for ever getting together with you in the first place. What you and Ryder did to Jackson is not okay and I’m glad he kicked your ass. I bet he’ll do it again, and this time you won’t be lucky enough to just leave with scars,” she growled, the man’s joyful smirk disappearing. He instinctively raised his hand to his neck, thumbing the long ragged scar that Jackson’s claws had left when they had gone head to head in Yellowhead. Jackson had tried to keep the story out of the public’s ears, but Keely had spilled the beans over a few shots of tequila one night. It was for the better and told Susie once and for all that Drake was not the kind
of man she wanted to be with. “The Arders aren’t going anywhere. Unlike you and your leader.”
She’d met Ryder a few times when he had come to the diner with his posse, Drake being one of them. Susie remembered him from her youth as the fair-haired boy that Jackson used to run with. Ryder had been close to the Arder family and it came as a shock to most of the town when they found out about their conflict. While the werebears had done their best to hide it from the humans, bits and pieces still leaked through. Susie appreciated that Jackson was keeping his cool about the whole thing as much as he could, though she got the feeling that things were going to get a lot more heated before they settled down. Now, instead of the proud but fun vibe she had got from Ryder during their teens, she only felt anger and bitterness rising from him. He made her uneasy and she hoped that he would soon take his dangerous friends and disappear, leaving the good ones like Alice behind. In any case, she now knew that Drake was not the kind of man she needed in her life. Not by a long shot.
Drake’s eyes narrowed, the man straightening up to his full height. The black leather jacket he was wearing made his shoulder even broader, and if Susie had seen him on the street, she would have given him more than a second glance. But knowing that the beast was so close to the surface with him, made her uneasy even in the safety of a crowded diner. It gave her little comfort knowing that Alice was not far and keeping an eye on things, ready to step in if her clan brother tried to threaten her with more than just his presence.