Roaring Up the Wrong Tree

by Celia Kyle

He reveled in the embrace, knowing it probably wouldn’t last long once she realized a bear held her close. His animal enjoyed it as well, begging him to breathe deep so they could memorize her sweet scent. Honeysuckle and sunshine. Sweetness paired with happiness. She could be his happiness if he could just convince her to put away her prickly, defensive exterior for a while.

  It lasted exactly two seconds. She went from dazed and panicking to furious and fighting in two seconds. She shoved and pushed at his hands and he allowed her to pull away.

  She scrambled backwards, finally colliding with the wall. “I’m—”

  The click of the bedroom doorknob being turned cut her off and a jiggle of the metal immediately followed. Then there was a heaving crash of wood and plaster as the panel was crushed beneath the weight of his eldest brother. “What the hell?”

  Keen pushed to his feet, his animal rushing forward for the second time in less than five minutes. What should have tired him, exhilarated him. The partial transformation sent a rush of energy through his body as the bear took over. He snarled at Ty, baring his teeth and allowing the animal to increase his size.

  His clothing stretched taut over his muscles, straining the fabric, but he didn’t care. Ty had invaded Trista’s space while she was a trembling, crying wreck and he’d be damned if someone else frightened her.

  Keen’s inner-bear gave him a mental high-five followed by a roar he interpreted as “fuck, yeah.”

  Ty froze in the doorway, the frustration and anger in his brother’s expression quickly transforming to trepidation. “Keen?”

  He growled in response. Ty was still in the room, still standing within Trista’s space, and he nearly lost his shit when she whimpered. “Get out.”

  The bear didn’t want him here, didn’t want anyone near her. Especially not a male who looked down on her for being part hyena. His animal didn’t care about her heritage, about the animal that lurked beneath her skin. It wanted her. Period. Full stop.

  “Keen?” Ty’s eyebrows rose, eyes wide.

  “Get. The fuck. Out.”

  “Ty? Keen?” It was a voice he recognized, one soft and sweet. His Itana. She could come in. Maybe she could calm Trista. That would, in turn, allow his bear to quiet so he could reassure the woman behind him.

  “Mia…” Ty’s voice held a warning tone, but that didn’t stop Mia from pushing past her mate.

  The woman seemed to take in the scene in a single glance. “Well, then.” She propped her hands on her hips. “First things first.” Mia turned on her mate and shoved at his chest. “Out you go. I can’t believe you broke down a door in your own house. Why would you do something like that?”

  Ty frowned. “I heard a scream.”

  Keen didn’t see Mia roll her eyes, but her exasperated sigh told him enough. “And you think big, bad Keen can’t handle one little woman?”

  Keen wanted to correct his Itana. Trista wasn’t “one little woman.” She was lush and curved and his. The thought, combined with Mia’s presence and corralling of Ty, soothed his bear. Mia poked and prodded Ty, pushing and nudging him from the room until his eldest brother was no longer visible. His scent still lurked, but he was at least out of sight.

  The moment Ty disappeared, Mia turned on him. “And you,” she pointed at Keen. “What’s with the fur? And the cursing! I’d yell at you for your language, but Ty’s the same way when I get all teary.” She propped one hand on her rounded hip while the other went to her protruding belly. “Now, is everything okay here? Keen? You’re still rather furry.” Mia peeked around him, her gaze dropping. “Trista?”

  Trista coughed and cleared her throat, but her voice still warbled when she spoke. “I’m…” She swallowed, the sound audible in the quiet room. “I’m fine.”

  “Do you need me to—” Mia stepped forward and froze when he growled. That earned him a dark glare. “Really?”

  Keen closed his eyes and swallowed the sound while mentally whacking his bear on the nose. “Sorry. Just… sorry.”

  Trista was his, his, and his again. He didn’t want anyone near her.

  “I had a nightmare. I’m fine. I’m sorry I woke up the house.” Trista’s voice shook and the rustle of cloth followed her words.

  He glanced over his shoulder and found that she’d stood. The moon shined its pale light on her, highlighting her rumpled clothes and messy hair. Her tear tracks were easy to see, as were the scrapes and bruises she’d caused herself.

  “Keen?” After reaffirming Trista was okay, he turned his gaze back to Mia. “Are you okay?”

  He cracked his neck and urged the bear back, begging it to retreat so everyone would just get the fuck out already. He wouldn’t truly be calm until he had Trista alone and safe. His inner-beast saw reason and slowly retreated. Fur receded while his face and body returned to its normal, human shape.

  “I’m good.” He shrugged. “Just got surprised.”

  And enraged, but he didn’t have to reveal that to Mia. She’d seen the evidence for herself.

  “Okay, then. I’ll leave you two for tonight.” Mia nodded at him and then looked at Trista once again. “You remember what I said?”

  Keen glanced at Trista, caught her nod, and he wondered what the women had talked about during the short time they’d been left alone.

  “So, no more cursing and maybe it’s best if you two bedded down in your room, Keen. I’m sure it’d make Trista feel safer since someone,” Mia glared at Ty, “busted down her door.”

  He wanted that more than anything in the world. He’d love to have her close even if it meant he slept in a chair while she took the bed. The bear wanted her safe and nothing would calm him more than having her in his den.

  Den. He’d have to think about moving. He couldn’t have Trista in the clan den. They needed a place of their own.

  A new scent drifted to him from the woman at his back. Worry tinged with a flare of interest. He wouldn’t call it arousal, the aroma wasn’t even close, but at least she wasn’t indifferent. Plus, it was true worry and trepidation, not fear.

  When she stepped forward and leaned close, gently brushing him, his bear calmed with a soft rumble of pleasure.

  Yes, they definitely needed a place of their own.

  But first, he needed to convince her that she didn’t want to be anywhere but at his side.

  Staring down at her, at the vulnerability in her gaze, he didn’t think it’d be too difficult.

  *

  Trista could do this. It wouldn’t be difficult. The animalistic part of her urged her to take his comfort and she didn’t have the strength to deny its wants. She could lean on him for a little while. Just one night and then she could go back to being alone. Depending on someone only led to heartache and pain. So she’d take what she could, tuck away the memories, and move on.

  The past still attacked her even though she’d snapped awake. While she stared at him and listened to Mia, it continued playing through her mind. She still saw Heath’s arm burst through the glass, the feel of his claw-tipped fingers wrapped around her throat and squeezing tight.

  The blood… the poison… the scars…

  “Trista?” Keen’s tone no longer held the angry rumble of his bear and she noticed fur no longer coated his skin. The animal had retreated.

  She’d been startled when he finally freed her from her blankets. First by his presence and then by the lightning-fast partial shift as he squared off against his brother.

  Over her.

  No one had ever defended her before. Well, her mother always stood against her father and other hyenas, but a male had never put her first. He’d put himself between her and the Itan.

  And he hadn’t backed down.

  That sent a wave of awe through her. She’d never heard of a male able to stand strong when faced with their leader’s displeasure unless the challenger was sure he’d win. And Keen stood tall and unshakable, immovable.

  The level of power frightened and intrigued her in equal measure and she fought to ban
ish the fascination. He was a level of protection, security, for a night and then tomorrow would begin her struggles again.

  But one night of safety was a fierce draw.

  “Trista? Do you want to sleep in my room? You can have the bed. I’ll sleep in a chair.” His voice flowed over her like a comforting river and she fought to calm her thundering heart.

  She knew what she wanted, knew what her half-beast craved, and pushed the words that lurked in her heart past her lips. “You can sleep in the bed with me. I don’t want… You can’t…” She shook her head, unable to finish her sentence.

  “Sleep, Trista.” He slowly eased his hand into hers and gave her a gentle squeeze. “You need your rest and I’ll be there in case you have another nightmare.”

  Right. Nightmare. If only…

  When she hesitated, he spoke again. “You can trust me. Like I said, you have no reason to, but you can.”

  It wasn’t a matter of belief, but of desire. She didn’t want to put her faith in him.

  Swallowing the words, she simply nodded and allowed him to draw her toward the bathroom, through the small space and then further to the massive king-sized bed. His blankets and sheets were a tangled pile on the floor and he shot her a rueful smile.

  “I was in a hurry to get to you.” He reached down and snagged the ball, tugging and yanking until he had them fairly straight. When he leaned over the bed and began remaking it, she forced herself not to stare at his body.

  His body. She finally realized what had her so intrigued. Keen was shirtless, baggy shorts barely clinging to his hips as he moved around the furniture. His muscles flexed and stretched with each movement, outlining the dips and grooves of his body. Most shifters were fit, strengthened and body honed due to their inner-animal. But Keen seemed like he had so much more. More strength, more power, just… more.

  When he next tugged on the sheet and released a low groan, she went into action. She’d been standing there like an idiot and ogling the man when she could have been helping. Snaring one corner, she pulled it into place and then moved to the other corner as he did the same. In seconds they had the bed remade and they stood on opposite sides of the mattress.

  Unease that matched her own filled him and she realized that he was merely reacting to her emotions. She needed to get herself under control. She didn’t want this, and yet she did, and that indecision was tearing her in two.

  Taking a deep breath, she crawled onto the mattress and pulled the sheet atop her.

  Seeming to take her movement as silent permission, Keen did the same, resting on his side beside her. His gaze remained intent on her and instead of making her feel awkward, it gave her a sense of peace. He worried about her as if he cared, truly cared, about her.

  Without saying a word or uttering a sound, she slowly slid her hand toward him, fingers seeking out his skin. Just as gently, Keen did the same until their fingers met and twined beneath the sheet. They didn’t say a word and she was thankful for that.

  “Thank you,” she whispered, unwilling to break the soothing quiet.

  “For what?” He spoke just as low.

  For standing up for me. For protecting me. For letting me lean on you.

  Instead, she simplified her feelings. “For being you.”

  Pleasure flared in his eyes, his bear peeking out from behind his brown irises and darkening them to black. She didn’t want to see that, didn’t want to see her hope and attraction reflected back to her. Because then she’d come to depend on him, would allow herself to lean on him until she couldn’t live without him.

  And then he’d leave or disappear or die and then she’d be flat on her face and alone in the world. Again.

  So she closed her eyes, closed them and pretended to sleep, pretended not to feel his lips as they brushed her temple or the heat from his body as he eased closer.

  Most of all, she pretended not to like it.

  “Goodnight,” he murmured.

  Goodbye.

  Chapter Seven

  Yelling woke him, a shout quickly followed by a bellowing roar. The sound had Keen rolling from the bed and landing in a low crouch as he sought out danger. Just like last night when he’d heard Trista’s scream, his bear stretched his skin, pulling and pushing at his flesh in an effort to break free. He’d been calm, content even, since being close to Trista and he’d nearly forgotten what it was like to fight his unstable beast. Facing off against his brother had been a controlled rage as he’d defended her, but this was wild and violent.

  Then a new sound, one that chilled him to his core, battled against those that’d woken him.

  Almost… a laugh. Only it wasn’t a child’s giggle or Mia’s tinkling joy. No, he’d heard it before—as he’d fought to protect the clan den from attack—and he knew there was only one source. Something, someone, had come upon Trista and her inner-beast was responding in kind.

  Another growl, another bestial chuckle that signified her unease and fear.

  The sound caused Keen to rush into action. His bear thundered, releasing a noise that he’d never heard before, and shredded his tenuous control. The transformation came upon him, tearing at his skin, turning him inside out with the shift from human to animal. His bones snapped and cracked, severing for a split second before reforming to his beast’s shape.

  He pulled and fought the bear, reminding it they couldn’t finish the change before entering the hallway. Otherwise they’d be battling the doorway which would slow their progress.

  The bear faltered in its fight, giving him the chance to rush through his bedroom door. He was anxious to get to Trista, to calm and soothe her as well as maim whoever had caused her distress.

  Another shout, another scraping cackle, and he burst into the hall in a flurry of shredded cloth and reshaping limbs. By the time he’d taken two steps from his room, he’d acquired his bear’s form. With rapid, lumbering thumps of his massive feet on plush carpet, he ran toward Trista, using her voice as his guide.

  Another roar and this time, he answered it with one of his own. No one would touch her. No one. He’d made the decision last night. No matter what it took, no matter how long he had to fight through her protective layers, he’d have Trista.

  New sounds joined in the cacophony of the attacking bear and the nervous hyena creating a jangled, macabre symphony that echoed through the house. The coppery tang of blood hit his nose, filling his lungs with each inhale, and it made him run that much faster. It wasn’t Trista’s, not yet, but he didn’t want to see how long it’d take for hers to join the party.

  He bolted down one hallway and then another before racing through the kitchen and on into the main areas of the house. As the roars and rumbles gained in volume, he realized his mistake in bringing her here.

  Ty hadn’t been happy, but had grudgingly accepted her presence based on Keen’s word that she wouldn’t do anything but sleep and then go. He’d vouched for her and back up his actions with the law. He’d assured Ty that she’d behave, and to her that she’d be safe.

  He wasn’t sure who he’d betrayed. No, he did. He knew Trista hadn’t done anything to provoke this violence. She wanted to live by the law and remain under the radar. Which meant he’d be going after Ty or one of the other bears in the clan.

  Keen’s inner-beast didn’t give a damn who he’d have to tear apart. He just wanted her safe.

  He slid around the last corner just as a wolf’s howl joined the fray and then… The term “seeing red” had always seemed so unlikely, an exaggeration used in fiction, and yet it was a very real thing. The desire to see blood flow like a river overwhelmed him, destroyed any semblance of control he gripped, and his bear’s instincts grasped power over his body.

  Trista held a solid iron poker in her hands, wielding it like a bat before her, as she fought off two bears—Ty and Van—while a wolf seemed to be waiting in the wings. All the while her animal’s sounds flew from her throat, battling her tormentors.

  He recognized the bears, knew the wolf,
and the only thing saving any of them was the fact she wasn’t bleeding. Though it looked as if it was only a matter of time if the wolf had his way.

  When it jumped at her, baring his teeth and snapping his jaws, Keen attacked.

  He tore into the room, slicing and swiping at the males crowding the space, some strikes connecting while others did not. He distantly recognized the stinging pain of his own wounds, but they didn’t matter. They were immaterial when compared to Trista’s safety.

  A large claw dug into his flesh and he turned his head, snapping at the leg of his assailant and sinking his teeth deep until he struck bone. That had the male backing off, but it left the way open for the wolf and Keen was quick to bat him aside. One wolf against a bear didn’t have a chance. But against her, against a half-hyena, there was no contest. The wolf would tear her to shreds.

  That’s not fucking happening.

  He glanced at Trista, noting her wide eyes and the stench of fear that flowed from her. Her attention flicked from him to just over his shoulder, cluing him in to another’s approach. He swung his head around while pushing to his back legs, preparing to defend against attack. This bear was the bigger of the two, a hint larger than Keen, but not quite as strong.

  Ty. His brother. His Itan.

  He should concede to him, acquiesce to his dominance. Except another nervous, bestial chuckle came from Trista and it enraged his bear anew.

  Without hesitation, he roared his displeasure and moved before her, blocking her from the other males completely. They would have to go through him to get near her and that would never, ever happen.

  The smaller of the two bears curled his lips, baring his fangs, and took a step forward only to be shoved back by Ty. At least one of his brothers was smart. Even the wolf hung back, his hungry gaze pinging between them all.

  Ty focused on him, black eyes meeting his own, and he refused to back down. Nothing—no one—would hurt her.

  Finally, his eldest brother tore his gaze from Keen’s and stared at Van for a moment before zeroing in on the wolf. A single growl from Ty preceded the males shifting, transforming in rapid cracks and snaps until three bloodied men stood before him.