Alpha Bears And Brides (Red Lodge Bears) The Complete Collection

by Vivian Wood

  At last Luke shifted underneath her, and Aubrey knew she had to move so that he could breathe. She had to be crushing him, no matter how big he might be. When she started to pull away, Luke grabbed her neck again, a possessive gesture that made her stomach flip flop.

  “Where are you going?” he asked, his other hand cupping her ass before slipping up to rub lazy circles on her back.

  “I was just—”

  “Don’t move on my account. I’d keep you right here forever if I could,” Luke sighed, nuzzling her ear and kissing her neck until she giggled.

  “I’m just… you know, getting comfortable,” Aubrey said, rolling over to lay beside him. “You’re about a thousand degrees, you know.”

  “And whose fault is that?” Luke teased, kissing her. “You got me all riled up. God, my bear is even more in love with you than I am.”

  Aubrey froze. Could he possibly mean that?

  “Hey,” Luke said, tilting her chin up so that he could see her face.

  “Yeah,” Aubrey said, giving him a halfhearted smile.

  “Seriously. You have to know that I love you, right?”

  “Luke, you don’t have to—”

  “Hold that thought. Don’t move,” he told her. He sat up and looked around, grabbing his clothes and rifling through his pants pockets.

  Aubrey frowned at him, already missing the body heat she’d so recently mocked. When he laid back down, facing her, she felt content again. She smiled up at him, ready to snuggle closer and drift off to sleep.

  “Wait, wait. I know I wore you out, but give me a second here,” Luke said. He took her hand and opened it, pressing a small object into her palm. Aubrey held it up in front of her face, blinking.

  “A ring box,” she said aloud, feeling dumb.

  “Uh, yeah.” Luke gave her a look, reaching over and opening the box. Inside lay a dazzling diamond and sapphire ring, more bling than Aubrey had ever held in her hand.

  “Luke!” she cried. She smacked his chest with her free hand, confused. “What the hell?”

  “Look. You don’t have to wear it. Maybe you think it’s ugly,” he started.

  “No! No. It’s beyond beautiful,” Aubrey said, tears welling in her eyes.

  “I just… You know, I want you to be my mate, and I want you to wear my ring. Am I fucking this up?” he asked, noticing the tears that started to roll down Aubrey’s cheeks.

  “No,” she said, her voice going hoarse.

  “Aubrey Rose Umbridge, you… you’re it for me,” Luke said. “Will you please wear my beyond beautiful ring?”

  “Y-yes?” Aubrey said, stunned.

  Luke looked at her for a long moment and then grinned.

  “I’ll take what I can get,” he joked. He took the ring box and pulled the ring free. When he slipped it onto her finger, Aubrey couldn’t hold back a sob. “Seriously though, please tell me these are happy tears. Please.”

  “I love you, too,” Aubrey blurted out, throwing her arms around Luke. He laughed, giving her a squeeze.

  “Thank fucking god,” he said, pulling back to give her a kiss. “Now that was worth delaying your bedtime, I hope?”

  Aubrey smacked his chest again, then held out her hand to admire the ring.

  “Mates,” she said aloud.

  “Mates,” Luke echoed, taking her hand and pulling her close.

  Though it was the last thing in the world Aubrey had expected out of her day.. hell, her whole life to date, she couldn’t remember a moment she’d been happier. Not even back in San Diego, where it all begun.

  Noah’s Revelation Cover

  31

  One

  “Well, what do you think?” Aubrey asked. She paused on the steps leading down into the living room from the kitchen, an expectant expression on her face. From his spot on the couch, the bright kitchen light showcased Aubrey’s hourglass silhouette to perfection.

  “About you?” Luke asked, letting his gaze travel over her from head to foot. Long, dark red locks flowed down her back and shoulders, forming thick waves that ended at her waist. She wore a form-fitting black work dress with a thin patent-leather belt adorning her waist. Coupled with her signature cherry-red stiletto heels, the ensemble made the most of every delicious inch of her curvy frame.

  Luke gave her a slow, wicked smile, and Aubrey gave a huff of pretend exasperation.

  “Not of me, of the house!” she said, rolling her eyes. She stepped down, her heels clicking neatly on the floor, the swish of her hips distracting him… again.

  Settling herself on the couch next to Luke, Aubrey picked up the laptop that he’d discarded on the coffee table. She worked for a moment, brow furrowing, until she turned the laptop back to him.

  “This is the one I like the most, I think,” Aubrey said. “The house is bigger than what I had planned to get just for myself, but there’s a nice yard. And… it’s near a lot of good schools.”

  “Schools, huh?” Luke asked, arching a dark brow. “Didn’t know we were worried about that just yet.”

  Aubrey flushed to the fiery roots of her hair, lifting a shoulder in a casual shrug.

  “Just looking out for our interests, that’s all,” she said.

  Luke leaned over and dropped a kiss on her bare shoulder before turning his attention back to the laptop. His fingers flicked over the track pad as he perused the photos Aubrey had presented, pursing his lips thoughtfully. It really was a beautiful house, big and bright and airy.

  He closed the laptop with a snap, giving Aubrey a long look.

  “Here’s the thing about houses—” he started, but his mate cut him off.

  “Is it too much? It’s too big, isn’t it? Do you think we’re rushing things, getting a house when we haven’t even had the wedding yet?” Aubrey gushed, twining her fingers in her lap.

  “Aub,” Luke sighed.

  “It’s okay, we can just wait,” Aubrey said.

  The way her shoulders sagged at the thought nearly made him chuckle. When his mate felt something, she felt it with her whole heart, invested her all her considerable force into it. Luke reached out and clasped her hand, running his thumb over the glittering diamond and sapphire ring adorning her left hand. The ring he’d put on her finger when he’d asked her to be his mate, just after promising that he’d give her the entire world.

  He’d meant every word, and nothing would diminish his commitment to Aubrey Rose Umbridge. If anything, his obsession with her, with seeing her happy and sated, grew with each passing day they spent together.

  “Aubrey,” Luke said, cutting her off before she could continue her diatribe. “The thing about houses is that it is completely up to you. San Francisco is your city, you know it best. And I don’t care how many bedrooms there are, or what the yard looks like, or whether we have walk-in closets. That’s all just icing on the cake, honey.”

  Aubrey’s instant and obvious relief made him chuckle.

  “Are you sure, Luke?” she asked, turning her hand to lace her fingers with his.

  “I’m very sure. You like the house, let’s get the house and fill it with all our furniture and clothes… and maybe some kids for those great schools, huh?”

  Aubrey blushed again, but her lips twitched into a soft smile.

  “I like the sound of that,” she whispered, cupping his jaw and brushing her lips against his.

  Luke’s phone vibrated, making them both jump. He sighed when he saw the text from his brother Gavin.

  Finn and Noah still haven’t hashed it out. Can’t even get them into a room together, read the text. Another buzz, another text. This one read: Could really use the oldest brother’s help here…

  Luke looked up at Aubrey, an odd smile lifting the corners of his lips.

  “How do you feel about a quick trip to Montana?” he asked.

  32

  Two

  Luke stood on the Lodge’s wraparound porch, staring out into the darkness. It felt so strange, being back here. So quiet and peaceful. His mate’s l
aughter drifted out from the living room, where Luke’s mother was no doubt entertaining Aubrey with a deluge of embarrassing childhood photos of Luke and his brothers. Though he’d never doubted Aubrey’s worth, the fact that she and his mother had taken to each other immediately had eased something deep inside Luke’s consciousness.

  For all his mate’s generosity and strength and beauty, she could be harsh at times. Not, Luke reflected, entirely unlike Genny Beran herself. Wisdom said that men married their mothers, after all. When he’d watched Aubrey and his mother together, he could understand that sentiment. They were both opinionated but supportive, sweet but fierce, giving and demanding.

  Luke tensed at the sound of bare feet behind him. He forced himself to stay still, reminding himself that this place was safe. In another moment, he turned to find Noah just behind him.

  “Run?” Luke asked his brother.

  Noah arched a brow, probably surprised because Luke usually preferred solitude in all things. Noah shrugged and nodded, and they both stepped down from the porch. The familiar snaps and rends and creaks sounded softly in the night as they both shifted, leaving two massive Grizzlies standing side by side.

  Luke took off at a lope, heading for a favorite spot less than a mile away. Noah ambled along at his side; even in their bear forms, Luke could tell that something was bothering him. The tension with Finn seemed to be wearing him down.

  Luke took the long way, circling around to a stone outcropping that the Beran boys had favored as children. Just below was a small pond, a place that they visited often in the summer months. Now, though, Luke intended to talk to Noah, try to fix things between him and Finn. Knowing the twins for every moment of their lives, Luke had no question of whether Noah was somehow the cause of the fight. It simply wasn’t in Finn to instigate trouble with his brother.

  Luke shifted and stretched, shaking off the after-effects of the change. He sprawled out on one side of of broad, flat rock, lying on his back and staring up at the stars. Noah found a spot several feet away, lying back and tucking his hands behind his head as he watched the star-laden skies.

  For a long time, neither of them spoke. Luke was content to watch and listen, soaking in all the natural beauty that he missed so desperately every time he stepped foot in the city, any city. He sensed Noah’s breathing evening out, and knew he had to speak up if he was going to talk to his brother before Noah drifted off.

  “Did you know Pa has a twin brother?” Luke asked. He didn’t look over at Noah, but he could tell that his brother was no longer drowsing.

  “No,” Noah said after a long moment of silence, his voice tense. Somehow he could tell what Luke wanted to talk about, and he was already being bullheaded about it.

  “Hear me out. I don’t ask you a lot of favors,” Luke insisted. When Noah remained still and quiet, he continued. “Pa had a twin, a few minutes older than him. Jericho.”

  Several long beats passed.

  “Had?” Noah asked, his curiosity getting the better of him.

  “Had. I only know bits and pieces of the story, but Aunt Lindsay said they had some blow-out fight over a girl. Pa and Jericho were both so hardheaded, Aunt Lindsay said, it was just the last straw. Jericho took off, took the girl with him, and never came back. Grandma Anne used to get a post card from Jericho once a year on Christmas, and that was it.”

  Noah seemed to consider Luke’s words for a minute.

  “That’s a sad story,” Noah concluded.

  Luke sat up, pinning Noah with a hard glare.

  “I am trying to draw a parallel here, Noah. Pa was the dominant twin, just like you are. I imagine he was as much of a pain in the ass as you, too.”

  “And this is your business because…?” Noah snapped.

  “It’s my business if you drive off a member of this family. I don’t know what you did to make Finn so mad, but you’d better undo it, pronto,” Luke told him.

  “I can’t undo what I don’t understand,” Noah said, rising to his feet. Luke stood, shaking his head.

  “He’s not just going to wait around forever, looking at you like you’re the only star in the sky. You have to talk to him, figure out what’s going on. I want this settled before you all head to St. Louis.”

  Noah grunted and turned, shifting with a smooth leap and landing in his bear form. Luke winced, knowing that such a showy shift was very painful. Noah strode off without pause, though there was a limp in his step. Luke just scoffed, thinking that the moment summed up Noah Beran just perfectly.

  33

  Three

  Noah Beran shifted in the cramped airplane seat, trying to concentrate on the open laptop screen before him. The voices of his parents and brothers rose and ebbed all around him, soaking into his consciousness despite the fact that he had headphones in, music playing softly.

  He lifted the arm rest between himself and the empty seat next to him, glad at least that his parents had bought out the first class section of the flight from Billings to St. Louis. It was a paltry gesture, considering the outlandish demands that his father had recently been making. At least he could spread out a little during the flight, get some work done. It also gave Noah the ability to continue putting off a long-overdue conversation with his twin brother Finn.

  That conversation would happen, there was no avoiding it forever. But in aftermath of the Alphas’ Council decree that all eligible Berserker bears would be taking mates, it was easy for Noah to slip away, seeking solitude. The first big social event to encourage mating, a huge barn dance hosted at his parents’ Red Lodge home, had taken the heat off Noah for a solid week.

  And now they were in the air, traveling to a second huge mixer, another set of Alpha families, more eligible women, and, if the universe was merciful, another open bar where Noah could forget the whole ridiculous scenario.

  Noah looked around the cabin at his family: his mother and father seated at the back, having what appeared to be a heated discussion. No doubt Genny Beran was trying to talk her mate into something more moderate and reasonable, whatever the topic might be, and Josiah was resisting will all his willpower.

  Gavin and Finn were half-standing in their respective rows across the aisle from Noah, chatting amiably over the seats. As the two brothers who lived closest to home, they saw each other much more often than any of the rest of the Beran men.

  Cameron’s big feet stuck out a couple of rows ahead of Noah. He was lying down, no doubt dealing with extreme nausea. Cam had been airsick, seasick, and carsick since birth, something Noah found funnier and funnier as Cameron grew bigger and more dominant with each passing year. A big, brawny bear shifter looking green around the gills was funny as hell, especially to his equally big, brawny Berserker brothers.

  Noah blinked, his gaze returning to his laptop screen. He scrolled through a dozen more photos of his last assignment, a lengthy stay in Libya with the goal of capturing what his editor jokingly called ‘truly heart-wrenching moments on film’. Noah had worked for the Tribune for nearly a decade now, starting at the very bottom shooting B-reel on fluff pieces, stories about firefighters saving cats and ladies who did extreme couponing. Now the Tribune just assigned him a location in the world and sent him off, knowing that he would return with the goods. A long, touching story about poverty and absolution, vivid color photographs of sacred cultural events. Noah knew what the editors loved; he had several boxes of journalism trophies sitting in the living room of his near-empty LA apartment, proving his capability and value.

  Noah closed his eyes and leaned his head back, holding in an angry sigh. He let the music in his headphones wash over him, the sounds of his favorite Arcade Fire album lulling him. He hadn’t been sleeping well recently. No, scratch that. He hadn’t been sleeping well for the last year or so, since his Laos assignment took a really bad turn.

  Pushing away the dark thoughts that threatened to rise, Noah frowned when he felt the seat next to him depress. He opened his eyes, already knowing what he would see: himself, reflected
exactly. Who needed a mirror when you had an identical twin around?

  “Finn,” Noah said, keeping his voice measured. He pulled out his ear buds, reaching out to close his laptop.

  “Big brother,” Finn intoned with a smirk.

  “Only by seven minutes,” Noah said, relaxing as he slipped into the cadence of brotherhood he’d known since birth. Noah looked Finn over, noting that his brother had trimmed his dark hair close to the scalp. Noah preferred to keep his very short on the sides but longer on the top, letting the sun-streaked chestnut locks grow into a stylish, tousled look that women seemed to like.

  They had the same broad, dark brows, the same finely chiseled nose and firm jaw. They both had broad, flashing smiles that ladies loved, especially when Noah and Finn were sitting side by side. Though Noah had spent countless hours under the intense equatorial sun, he and Finn shared the same deeply tan skin. They were tall and muscular, less broad than their brawny brothers, their arms and legs and hands more elegantly wrought than Luke or Gavin or Wyatt. On smaller men, they might seem wiry, but Noah and Finn were simply lean.

  And then there was Noah’s best feature, and therefore Finn’s too: the vivid blue-green eyes, just the color of the ocean before a storm, pupils rimmed in a hint of canary yellow. When Noah was happy, his eyes drew people in flocks. In anger, they drove away the same, flashing with fury. In matters of expression and of the heart, for the men in the Beran family, it was all in the eyes.

  Noah closed his eyes briefly, wondering at the genetic anomaly that was not just his twin brother, but his whole family.

  “You look wiped out. Surely not a result of flying, since you’re the world traveler of the family,” Finn said, cocking his head. Noah opened his eyes and felt his own head cant to the side, mirroring his brother’s movements. Another annoying twin trait that neither of them seemed able to shake, no matter how far apart they might be in distance.