Roaring Up the Wrong Tree

by Celia Kyle

  They were vulnerable now, easily killed. It’d take one swipe to gut them all. One swipe and—

  Trembling fingers dug into his fur, fisting his skin as her weight pressed against him. No, his first thoughts needed to be for Trista. Vengeance, more bloodshed, could come later. Right now both halves of his mind were in agreement. They needed to protect her. He couldn’t care for her as a bear and even his animal accepted that fact.

  With her touch, a peaceful calm overtook him, sliding through his veins and caressing him with a gentle touch. It soothed him now just as it’d calmed him when he’d held her last night. It started with a touch of fingers and he’d ended up with an armful of Trista. At least, until this morning when he woke alone. Alone and easily enraged.

  His beast’s power slithered to the back of his mind while nudging his human consciousness forward. In a breath, his transformation blew through him like a soft breeze. One moment he was a bloodied and battered bear and the next he was a stained and panting human.

  Trista’s hands hadn’t left him, her touch remaining through his change as if she were afraid he’d disappear on her. He wouldn’t. Not now, not ever. He’d made a commitment in his mind last night and it became a truth by standing against his brothers to ensure her safety. In that one instant, in that moment when he faced Ty and didn’t relent, he’d set himself on a new path.

  One that included her and not them.

  His bear was not upset by that fact. It accepted that the walls standing between him and his brothers remained steadfast and now higher than before.

  Reaching behind himself, he grasped one of Trista’s shaking hands and gave it a gentle squeeze, doing his best to reassure her without words. When the shakes lessened, he assumed she’d gotten the point.

  “Someone”—his voice was hoarse from his vibrating roars—“is going to explain why the Itan’s guest, my guest, was assaulted in my home.”

  He didn’t leave room for an argument and he sure as hell wasn’t going to take blustering bullshit from any of the men before him.

  “You’re defending one of them.” Van spat the word. “Do you know what her family did?”

  At least he knew who’d started the fight.

  “Did you try and stop it, Ty? Or were you both fighting to see who’d kill her first?” The answer would determine who he’d battle first. Now that he was faced with Van’s words and not just his brother’s actions, the bear’s desire for blood returned.

  “Of course I tried to stop him,” Ty snapped.

  “Uh-huh.” Keen concentrated on the third male in the room. Not just a wolf, but the Redby Alpha. From all accounts, he was a crazed son of a bitch who sliced and diced and didn’t bother asking questions later. He’d done that to the Boyne Falls Alpha as well as his own Beta. “Reid?”

  The male shrugged. “I scented her before I even entered the house and I’m not opposed to finishing off my enemies.” The wolf leaned to look past him. “We’ve been doing this dance for years now.” He grinned, the evil smile lined with blood. Reid licked his lips. “His little sister—half-sister—has been escaping me for months, but don’t you think it’s time to end it?”

  The body at his back stilled, frozen in place, and her hands no longer trembled.

  “That’s what the scent is.” Ty’s eyes darkened to midnight and fur sprouted along his arms. “I told you she smelled familiar. She’s that bastard’s sister. You brought the sister of the hyena’s pack Alpha into my home.”

  Keen’s bear reacted in kind, his own brown fur coating his arms and chest while his nails tingled in anticipation of his shift.

  “She could be the devil herself, but she is here under the articles of visitation, under my protection”—he ignored Trista’s surprised gasp—“which means she comes to no harm.” He kept his voice firm, allowing them to hang over the room, and there was not a hint of recognition in Ty and Van’s eyes. Reid, however, glared at him.

  “What are—?”

  Keen spoke over Van and rattled off the location of the law without hesitation. “Volume Three, Section Two, Paragraph Four, Sub-section Three, Paragraph Seven.” Not waiting for any of the males to question him further, he reached back and grasped Trista’s hand. “And now, we’re leaving.” He stepped forward, heading toward the doorway, and Van moved to intercept him. Keeping his gaze settled on his brother, Keen spoke once again. “I forgave one attempt on her life due to your ignorance, but I won’t tolerate another, Van.”

  “Do you know—?”

  “I know you’re breaking the law, that not two minutes ago you were ready to break the law!” His voice echoed off the walls and silence followed in its wake. “We’re leaving.” He looked to Ty. “I’ll send someone to pack my things.”

  “Keen, be reasonable. There are plenty of women in the clan, you don’t need to—”

  “I would advise you to shut your mouth, Ty.” His bear pushed against his flesh, stretching it until he felt as if he’d split wide if he didn’t release the animal. “It’s taking everything in me not to kill you three. And you know I can.” Van snorted in disbelief, but Ty’s eyes widened and it seemed reality finally dawned on his eldest brother. Adrenaline wasn’t the only thing that’d fueled his stand against Ty. No, pure ability and dominance filled Keen from head to toe. “We’re leaving.”

  Keen turned his back on the males and nudged Trista into action, pushing her from the room.

  “Keen,” she whispered and he shook his head, silencing her.

  The next feminine voice he heard belonged to Mia and he turned his attention to the Itana. She stood framed in the kitchen entry, her hand lying protectively on her belly as she blocked their path. “Keen, it doesn’t have to be this way.”

  He gave her a rueful smile and shrugged. “It was going to happen someday. You and I talked about that. It just happened sooner rather than later.”

  “But…”

  Keen shook his head. “It doesn’t matter now.”

  “But…”

  “Isn’t up for discussion. I’ll call you later and we can talk more then. For now…” He checked his watch and noted the time. Trista’s mention of the laws of visitation slammed into him and he realized they needed to get a move on if he wanted to keep her from ending up in trouble once again. He spoke to Trista. “Let’s grab your things and I’ll pack a bag. We need to get going.”

  Trista’s twelve hours were almost up.

  *

  She…

  And then they…

  And he just…

  Trista allowed Keen to push her farther down the hallway. Her shoe caught on the carpet, sending her stumbling forward, but his warm hands grasped her forearms and kept her upright.

  “Easy.” Keen’s warm breath fanned her ear while his words reminded her once again of the pain her presence caused.

  She jerked from her arms and forced herself to remain standing on her own. She didn’t need him, she didn’t need anyone. She was fine. Fine.

  “I’m not going to fall apart.” She forced herself to put one foot in front of the other, to feign a confidence she didn’t feel. She was not going to rely on Keen Abrams. Last night had been an anomaly brought on by exhaustion and clouded by layers of muscles. “You think that’s not the first time?” She glanced over her shoulder. “You think one of your bears or a wolf, or even a hyena, hasn’t ever done that before?”

  Trista ignored the warning growl from Keen, the audible hint that violence was on the horizon.

  Instead of violence, he crowded her, herded her until he was aligned with her back while her front was plastered against the wall. It was a position of dominance, leaving her to accept whatever he desired, and yet she wasn’t afraid of him.

  “Never again.” The words were barely audible, but she understood him. “No one will ever threaten you again.”

  Fur, not hair, tickled her exposed skin, teasing her and telling her exactly how close to the edge he currently lingered. He surrounded her, enveloped her in his strength, an
d she reveled in it just as she cursed her own weakness. She couldn’t take comfort in anyone, in a man. It never turned out well and disappointment, even death, lurked on the horizon when a person lived with hope.

  “Keen—”

  A rolling growl vibrated through her, plucking her nerves and trembling through her blood. “Never.”

  Trista swallowed past the growing lump in her throat. She wanted to believe him so very, very much. And yet she couldn’t allow herself that luxury. Deciding to avoid the topic, she focused on something else. Mainly, getting the hell out of Grayslake before it was too late, but not too early.

  “Keen, I have to get out of here. Soon.”

  He breathed deep and released the air on a long sigh. His scent surrounded her, comforted her even when she knew taking that reassurance was a very bad idea. “You’re right. We need to get moving. C’mon.”

  He stepped back, giving her space, and she nearly whined aloud at the loss of his touch. She wanted him close, wanted to rub all over her skin. She just didn’t want to want him.

  Turning toward him she squeaked and slapped a hand over her eyes. “You’re naked.”

  Instead of immediately answering, he twined his fingers with hers and tugged her into motion. “It’s kinda hard to become a half-ton bear and keep your clothes intact. I don’t know why you’re surprised. I’m sure you’ve had the same trouble in the past.”

  Trista kept her eyes covered, allowing him to lead her, and shook her head. “No. I can’t shift.”

  He must have stopped because suddenly she was plastered to his front. “You can’t shift?”

  Disbelief filled his tone and she risked moving her hand so she could stare at him. “No. Half-hyena, remember? Don’t you think I would have shifted and run if I could have? It wouldn’t have been difficult to escape the bears. I don’t have Reid’s fighting knowledge, but a hyena,” she shook her head. “It fears nothing. It’ll fight everything. The animal is just flat out crazy. There’s no real conscience. ”

  “Yeah,” he murmured.

  She sensed a sadness wrap around him like a cloak and squeezed her eyes shut. “But you know this already. I’m sorry.”

  He knew because her half-brother showed him the truth about her kind. She didn’t know details. The fact that her brother’s life touched theirs was enough.

  “I guess I just thought… I’ve heard of half-shifter children shifting before. I forgot that it’s not always the case.” Keen cupped her cheeks and she reopened her eyes to stare at him. “It’s fine. We’re good and you being Heath Scott’s half-sister doesn’t matter. Go gather your things and I’ll get dressed.”

  It didn’t matter to him, but it sure as hell mattered to Keen’s brothers and the Redby Alpha. It mattered a lot.

  For now, she’d take him at his word and do as he desired. She needed to get gone and he wanted to help her with that. Win-win. When he turned right, she went left and dashed into the guestroom, gingerly stepping over the remnants of the broken door. It took seconds to slide the strap of her purse over her head to wear across her body. Holding the last of her cash, it was too important to risk losing. She was glad they’d been too exhausted to haul her measly bag of clothing into the house.

  The moment she was ready, she retraced her steps and wasn’t surprised to have Keen waiting for her, duffel in hand.

  It hit her then. He was walking away from his family—his home—for her. “Keen, you should…” She shook her head, gaze intent on the bag dangling from his fingers. “You should stay.”

  It was his turn to shake his head. “No, I shouldn’t.” The distance between them disappeared as he crowded her, stepping close until their chests brushed. “This isn’t just about you, it’s about them. Like I told Mia, this was going to happen eventually. Your presence moved things along.”

  “Okay, but you don’t have to rush off with me. I mean, thanks for not letting me get killed, but…” I don’t want to be why you’re leaving. I don’t want to be the reason you don’t have a family.

  “Trista.” He took a deep breath and released it slowly. “There’s something between you and me. I don’t know what it is, but it’s there, and my bear is determined to keep you close. You felt it last night, didn’t you?” She didn’t want to answer that question and he didn’t seem to be looking for a reply. “No matter what you say, no matter what anyone does, you’re mine.”

  That sounded way too close to a declaration of claiming for her comfort. “You can’t just say things like that.”

  “You know just as much as I do about the law. Do you need the formal words?”

  “You can’t just…” She shook her head, refusing to even let herself think about what he meant. Thinking about it could kindle hope and she had no room in her life for wishes and dreams.

  “Amazingly enough, I can.” He stepped away. “Now, c’mon. We have things to do today.”

  Yeah. They did. Without saying a word, she followed in his wake, down the hallway and through the kitchen. She turned her attention from the living room as they passed, forcing herself to breathe through her mouth so she wouldn’t scent the blood that soaked the floor.

  Before long, they stepped onto the front porch, the day’s sun nearly blinding her with its brightness. She managed to thump down one step and then two before a familiar sound chilled her blood and froze her heart.

  Beep-beep. Beep-beep.

  The alarm on her watch repeated over and over again, reminding her that her time was up.

  She was officially violating the laws of visitation.

  She was officially free game to any shifter leader.

  She was officially two steps from dead if the bears had any choice in the matter.

  Instant awareness struck her, her senses kicking into overdrive as she evaluated her surroundings. Stupid, stupid, stupid. The fight fucked with her head and now she was in the middle of a hostile area. She prayed the Abrams brothers would abide by Keen’s wishes but this morning proved that Van’s hatred was fierce.

  Trista froze on the stairs, attention flitting across the open driveway. She tilted her head back, nostrils flaring as she brought the area’s scents into her lungs. She couldn’t shift, but she still had many of the animal’s abilities. Bears—lots of them—but what did she expect in Grayslake. She identified Keen’s and discarded it. Then there was Ty and Van’s followed by Mia’s. She didn’t think they’d try anything, not with the stress between the brothers.

  Then there was… Reid.

  “Trista?” Keen stood below her, his brow furrowed and head tilted in question.

  “We have to—”

  “Stay exactly where you are.” Reid’s gravelly voice rolled over her, his words followed by the heavy thump of his booted feet on the aged wood porch.

  The threat wouldn’t come from the bears, then. It was the wolf she had to worry about.

  Slowly, he came into view and she found him wearing his usual uniform of sorts. Black leather boots, dark jeans, black shirt, leather jacket. On the average male, people would assume he was trying too hard to appear menacing. Reid would scare the hell out of people even if he was nude. Clothes didn’t do a damn thing but hide the ugly inside him.

  A vibrating growl split the air between her and Reid and it got her into motion, had her stumbling down the remaining steps. She fell into Keen’s arms and he immediately shoved her behind his back, hiding her from the Alpha’s view.

  It wouldn’t do anything. It sure as hell wasn’t going to save her from what was to come. He’d be violating the laws he held so dear if he kept her from Reid.

  Still, the wolf approached, his steps measured and slow. She counted them as he tromped down the porch stairs, booted feet traveling over the gravel driveway until he stopped before Keen.

  “Back off, wolf.” Fur once again coated Keen’s arms.

  Staring at his back, she cursed herself for being a coward, for depending on the male before her to protect her from her own stupidity. She should have fought ha
rder to be left alone, should have demanded he drop her at the hotel last night. Instead, she allowed him to drag her to the clan den. To her death if Reid had his way.

  “Gladly, bear. Just as soon as you hand over Ms. Scott.”

  “She’s not going anywhere with you.” Keen’s growls intensified.

  “Hmm…” The sound was smug and condescending. “That’s fine.” Reid shrugged. “I brought her opponent with me anyway. Come along, Ms. Scott. I’ve finally caught you violating the law which means—as the Alpha of a pack—I can demand justice for the infraction. We can finish this. Let’s go on the grass so we don’t stain the Itan’s white gravel while you die.”

  Trista didn’t have to look toward the side yard to know what she’d find, that he had wolves lurking in wait.

  The purge that made hyenas the bears’ enemies may have only happened seven months ago but the hatred that lingered between Reid and her family had been going on for years. The wolf was constantly searching for a way to end her and now he had his opportunity.

  Her mother’s voice drifted across Trista’s mind, the explanation so simple even a child could understand the words. When she was five, she had understood the law. Unfortunately, one look at Keen Abrams destroyed her good sense and any ability to think.

  A leader can deny the right of visitation, but you don’t need permission from anyone if you’re not staying longer than twelve hours. So the trick, Trista-girl, is never being in one place for too long.

  Staring at Keen’s back as more and more dark brown fur covered his skin, she realized she was about to lose the best thing that had never happened to her.

  All because she’d been in one place too long.

  *

  … stain the Itan’s white gravel while you die.

  Keen’s skin went taut, muscles tight and bunching in preparation of his attack on Reid. The words, the inherent threat, enraged his beast.

  “Never.” He shoved the words past his gritted teeth. “You’ll never touch her.”

  Reid, fucking wolf bastard, smirked and Keen’s fingers itched with the need to rip that expression from his face. “No, my new Beta, Adrienne, will.”