Wilde Bear (BBW Paranormal Shapeshifter Romance) (Blue Bear Rescue)

by Terra Wolf

  Gerald took a deep breath. “Report said it was poachers. This party was a group of four. Someone heard shots fired. What the hell happened?”

  Laurel’s stomach tightened for the hundredth time at the mere mention of gunshots, but she nodded and kept her game face on. If Gerald only knew she was more worried about the Search and Rescue crew, specifically their alpha, than about the poachers who’d put in the emergency call.

  “The details are still unclear,” she said.

  “Well, let’s make them clear,” he grumbled. She ignored it, knowing he was upset at the situation, not her.

  “Gerald, you’re supposed to be on vacation. I told Scott not to worry you. You should get some rest. Enjoy your last night off the clock.”

  Gerald pinned her with a look and unease skittered along the back of Laurel’s neck.

  “Look, there’s something you should know, Laurel,” Gerald began. He took her elbow and led her toward his truck, away from the crowd. He lowered his voice and Laurel’s nerves came rushing back with full force.

  “What is it?” she asked.

  “We’ve been getting complaints about the Blue Bear Search and Rescue here,” he said in a low voice. “Claims that these guys are cutting corners, making unsafe rescues, and putting people in more harm’s way with their tactics.”

  “What?” She shoved her animal aside as it rose up, temper flaring at Gerald’s words. “That’s ludicrous. These accusations have no basis in reality. I’ve seen the crew at work, and I’ve spent time with them. They care deeply about the rescues they make.”

  “I know, Laurel.” Gerald’s understanding tone helped soothe Laurel’s animal, and she managed to get herself under control. She hoped her eyes had returned to normal when she faced Gerald again. “Xavier Wilde’s a friend of mine. I knew his dad before him, and I have a lot of respect for both men. But these accusations are being filed through formal channels. I can’t ignore them. It’s why I’ve waited so long to delegate this on-site responsibility to you. It’s also why I showed up tonight. To see for myself so there can be no question this was being handled properly. As soon as they radio in the details of their proposed extraction, I have to log it.”

  Laurel bit her lip, staring off into the trees where the crew had gone. When they’d arrived earlier and found out about the poaching and the reported gunshots, she’d made them all promise not to shift until they’d assessed things. Illegal hunters on the mountain meant they’d paint a target on their back by showing up as bears. But they’d been gone so long, and all she could think about was Xavier. Her animal was literally hurting at having to stay behind and let him go out there alone.

  He had his crew, she reminded herself. Hopefully, that was enough.

  She turned back to Gerald. “These complaints, are they because the crew is made up of shifters?” she asked him.

  Gerald didn’t meet her eyes for a long time. When he did, regret was etched in the lines that had deepened around his mouth and eyes. “Yes,” he said finally. “Whoever this is, they aren’t happy to have shifters in positions of authority in this town.”

  “You don’t know who made the complaints?” she asked.

  Gerald shook his head. “They’re all anonymous. It’s one of the reasons I’m being so diligent. Could be anyone, including someone in our department. Hell, for all I know, it’s Kemp.” Gerald grunted, and Laurel felt his temperature rise.

  “Alan Kemp?” she asked. “Doesn’t he run the public transportation system?”

  “Yep. Asshole wants my job and hasn’t made it a secret for a while now. If he can prove the Blue Bear Search and Rescue are unsafe, he’ll have my title pulled along with theirs. I’m the one who approved them, after all.”

  The radio at Laurel’s hip squawked, cutting off the rest of her questions. A crackly voice came through.

  “Patrol one to base, copy?” Laurel’s limbs almost became liquid as Xavier made contact.

  “Base, go ahead,” she said.

  “Two of the four hunters located and in custody,” Xavier said. “I’ve got Lucas with me to help bring them in. One has a gunshot wound, upper right thigh. Nash and Jake split up to track the other two. They’ll radio in when they’ve got something.”

  “Alerting medics now,” Laurel responded, unable to hide her relief at the sound of him in one piece. She felt Gerald’s gaze on her and gave him a nervous smile.

  “You and Xavier, eh?” Gerald’s brow quirked.

  “Um, sort of,” Laurel admitted. “It’s very recent.”

  “Huh. Well, good for you.” Gerald grinned and gave her shoulder a pat. Laurel’s eyes bulged.

  “You’re not upset that we work together?” she asked. “Or that he’s a shifter?”

  “What you do on your time is your business, Laurel. Besides, he’s not DOT or anything, so it’s not an issue in my book. As for being a shifter,” Gerald took her hand in his, a gesture so familiar it felt like he’d done it many times before, “Laurel, I can’t imagine you being happy any other way. You need to spend time with your own kind.”

  Laurel almost fell over. “What?” she squeaked.

  “I know what you are,” Gerald said, “And as long as you want it kept a secret, it’s safe with me. But I don’t hold it against you. And coming out with it won’t affect your position at DOT if that’s what you’re worried about.”

  She couldn’t believe it. She’d been so sure Scott would out her, and she’d be canned for hanging out with the Wilde crew. Maybe if Gerald had been anyone else in town, she would have been. Her heart warmed at the way he’d so easily accepted her—all of her. He reminded her of a father. Or what her father should have been.

  “Thanks, Gerald. I appreciate it very much.” She was about three seconds away from blubbering when a cheer rose up from the crowd behind her.

  She whipped her head around in time to see four figures emerging from the trees. “Xavier,” she said.

  She forgot Gerald. She forgot everything else and took off for the trailhead where they descended. People parted for her with surprised murmurs, but no one stopped her. When she neared, she spotted Xavier and Lucas each leading a handcuffed man in front of them.

  She darted around the one Xavier was shoving along just as the medics came forward and took him away. Xavier spread his arms wide, and she launched herself into them. He caught her, and she held on tight, tears stinging her eyes at the sweet relief of having him back safe and sound.

  “If this is what I’m coming home to, hopefully, I get calls like these every night,” Xavier said on a laugh.

  “Uh, no. You’re definitely not doing another poacher rescue for a while,” she said. “My nerves can’t handle it.”

  “God, I love it when you get all bossy on me.”

  “Mrs. Alpha!”

  Laurel focused on a figure rounding the bend over Xaiver’s shoulder. She couldn’t make out the face, but she knew Jake from the sound of his voice—and his nickname for her.

  “Hey, Jake,” she called, her arms still around Xavier. She grinned and leaned in, trailing kisses over Xavier’s cheek, headed for his mouth.

  Another figure appeared several yards behind Jake, and Laurel pulled away, ready to yell out a greeting to someone she assumed must be Nash. But the figure broke into a run and cut across the trail, sprinting away toward the trees at an angle. He sidestepped Jake, who didn’t notice until the figure had blown past him, headed straight for Xavier.

  “Stop!” Jake shouted.

  Xavier pulled away, turning to identify the intruder.

  “It’s the last poacher,” Harley called, appearing from around the bend in the trail. He pursued the man at a run, but Laurel knew he was way too far behind to catch up now.

  She watched as the hunter neared her and Xavier. She figured he’d cut left and sprint for the forest again, but he was headed straight for them. Straight for Xavier, she realized, and he was close enough now that she could see the hateful determination blazing in his expression as
he barreled closer.

  “Fucking bear shifters,” the man yelled. “I came here to take you down, and I’m not leaving without you!”

  Laurel’s throat constricted as the man raised a pistol in his hand and aimed it at Xavier’s chest. Everything slowed. The moment lengthened, and she could see it all spinning out of control. She didn’t waste any more time.

  Shoving away from Xavier, she took off for the man at a run.

  “Laurel!” Xavier called behind her.

  She growled in frustration, a quick noise that rose in the back of her throat, bringing her fox to the surface. She gave in, and it exploded out of her. She leaped just as her two legs became four paws, and soared through the air straight for the attacker.

  She landed with her paw—claws first—in his eye and felt the satisfaction of his flinch as she pressed into the soft place between his eyelids. He screamed and fell to the ground, sending Laurel tumbling with him.

  She landed hard on her shoulder and rolled with the shuddering pain of her bone hitting the ground at an awkward angle. The air was knocked out of her, and she rose on her front paws, scanning for the man. Her stomach retracted painfully until suddenly air whooshed back into her lungs. Pain radiated sharply along her shoulder, and even with deep gulps of air to fuel her, she fell back again, unable to carry the weight of her right side.

  A few yards to her left, the man, writhed on the ground as he moaned and held his eye. A giant white polar bear stood over him, jaw open and ready to take a chunk out of the man’s neck. Another polar bear, this one slightly darker, and a brown grizzly hovered nearby, all of them watching intently as Xavier poked the man with a massive paw.

  Laurel wanted to go to him, but her shoulder was killing her. Xavier let out a deafening roar, his sharp teeth almost grazing the man’s nose, before he backed away and rushed at Laurel. Her fox stared but unlike before, she didn’t flinch at being charged by a larger animal. When Xavier reached her, he licked her face, his tongue almost the size of her whole cheek.

  Big alpha polar bear, comforting his mate.

  She nuzzled against him until the pain dialed back and eventually disappeared. When she could stand, she nudged at him to give her some space, and he backed up, still hovering as he watched her closely.

  Now that the pain was gone, Laurel’s nerves returned full throttle. She cast a furtive glance over Xavier’s shoulder. He was massive enough that he shielded her almost completely from view, but when she craned her neck, she could see the crowd watching the entire drama with rounded eyes and quiet murmurs.

  They’d seen her shift. Crap, there’d be no going back now. She was outed, and she’d never again be able to hide her animal from the people in this town. Maybe Gerald didn’t care, but she’d also be outed to people like Scott or worse, whoever was making these anonymous complaints about shifters. Would she be targeted now too?

  She looked up and found Xavier watching her. His polar bear had wrinkled brows as he worried over her. She went to him, nuzzling her nose over his soft coat. She felt him vibrate with a growling sigh, and she leaned into him. She’d never touched another shifter before, much less a polar bear in animal form. It felt amazing, the power that rolled off him. And the security he offered with his massive frame bearing down on her. No more fear. Here was comfort and promises to protect. And Laurel realized it was the exact thing she’d been looking for. The only thing worth coming out of hiding to find.

  She stood up straighter and faced the crowd, a proud red fox. She would live as a shifter out in the open, and for the first time in her life, that thought didn’t send her running. No more hiding. No more pretending. Xavier Wilde was worth it.

  Chapter 12

  Xavier stroked the last signature with a whoosh and then let the pen fall with a clatter against his desk. He leaned back in his chair and rubbed at his eyes, gritty from a sleepless night. Damn, he hadn’t pulled an all-nighter since last ski season. He was rusty.

  Last night had been harder than any other rescue. Not just because he’d had to yank four poachers off the mountain, all armed and looking for a polar bear head to take home for their walls, but because it wasn’t just him anymore. Or him and his guys. He was now protecting a mate. Yeah, he’d finally come around to the truth when his animal had almost lost it to realize the paperwork couldn’t wait.

  Gerald had been nice enough when he’d told Xavier and the guys about the formal complaints, but it didn’t change the cold truth. Someone was after the Blue Bear Search and Rescue. Someone wanted him gone from this job. Maybe from town or even life, who even fucking knew right now. Gerald had his suspicions, but Xavier was at a loss. He’d kept his head down all these years, too scared of a repeat performance after losing his dad to do anything wild or crazy. And now here was some asshole trying to rip away everything he’d worked for.

  It wasn’t fucking happening.

  So he’d kissed Laurel goodbye and put her in the truck with Jake and sent her home. All he wanted was to go home and crawl into bed next to her. Make up for all the dumbass comments he’d made trying to push her away, because he knew what he wanted now, and after tonight, he wasn’t going to run from it anymore.

  But he wasn’t done yet. There was one more item left to do before he could call it a night.

  He stood up, making his way into the kitchen and pouring the last dregs of the coffee he’d made earlier. Then he dialed Jake.

  “Boss,” Jake said sleepily on the fourth ring.

  “Crew meeting in an hour,” Xavier said.

  “Boss—” Jake protested. Xavier knew they were all exhausted. So was he, dammit. But he couldn’t wait any longer for this. They’d waited long enough.

  Xavier used his alpha voice, so Jake knew he meant business. “Get them here, Jake. We need to talk.”

  Xavier hung up and went back to his office to drink the worst cup of coffee ever. An hour later, on the dot, the crew stumbled in. Jake’s hair was rumpled and his shirt untucked. Behind him, the men’s boots all clunked against the hard floor, and Xavier shook his head at what sounded like a stampede. One by one, they filed into the lounge where a sagging couch lined one wall. A couple of recycled chairs completed the set-up. Not fancy, but big enough for all of them to discuss.

  Harley was the last one in and Xavier nodded at him to shut the door, but then another figure darted inside, smiling at him.

  “Laurel,” Xavier said, surprised. He shot a glance at Jake, who shrugged.

  “She’s Mrs. Alpha. What did you expect?” Jake asked.

  He looked from face to face, but none of his crew argued. Not even Harley.

  Laurel hugged him and nuzzled her cheek against his. “I can wait outside if you need,” she said.

  “No.” He shook his head and laced his fingers through hers. “Stay. You’re one of us now.” He kissed her full on the mouth, just in case there was any doubt among them. When he pulled back, Laurel beamed up at him, and the rest of the crew whistled and cheered.

  “Can we just get on with this?” Harley grumbled.

  “Yeah, Harley needs his beauty sleep,” Jake said.

  Nash snickered.

  Lucas leaned his back on the couch and closed his eyes, but Xavier knew he heard every word.

  “Here’s the deal. We’ve talked about it for a while now, and everyone’s made their opinions clear,” Xavier began. “But the fact of the matter is that we need to hire a sixth. And we need to do it before the season opens, so we have time to train properly.”

  “We don’t disagree, boss,” Jake said, and Xavier shot him a glare.

  “I’ve looked over the applicants and fact is, no one’s more qualified than this Kyra. I want to bring her in, and before I do, I need to hear from all of you that you’ll bite your tongue against any… opinions you might have about her joining us.”

  Harley shoved off the wall, arms crossed, glaring. “So we don’t get to say what we think? I thought this was a democracy.”

  Nash sat up straighter in the cha
ir by the window. “I can agree to that,” he said.

  Jake nodded. “Me too, boss.”

  Lucas slowly opened his eyes, also nodding. “I think we need to meet her.”

  Xavier was stunned. Laurel squeezed his hand, spurring him to search for words. “I thought all of you were determined to keep a woman out of the crew.”

  One by one, they all shifted their gaze to Laurel. “We had a chat about that on the way home from the call earlier,” Jake said. “Laurel shifting to protect you showed us we were being idiots.”

  Harley muttered something, but Nash cut him off. “Laurel’s as strong and fierce as any one of us. If this Kyra’s anything like Laurel, we’d be lucky to have her.”

  Jake murmured an agreement.

  “Lucas?”

  “I agree with Nash,” Lucas said. “Woman or not, Laurel just proved how much stronger we are with six.”

  “Come to think of it, boss, why can’t Laurel be our sixth?” Jake asked. His eyes lit up, but Laurel shook her head, answering for herself.

  “I’ve already told Gerald I want to keep my position at DOT,” she said. “I think I can be of more help there with everything going on.”

  “The complaints,” Harley said, his eyes narrowing.

  Laurel nodded. “I’m going to try and find out who it is. And make sure they don’t get any farther with the filings.”

  Harley lifted his chin, the closest to a nod Xavier had ever seen. “Damn right,” Harley said—the equivalent of his blessing. Xavier smirked.

  “All right, it’s settled then,” Xavier said. “I’ll call her in for an interview later this week.”

  “Now can we go sleep?” Harley asked.

  Xavier squeezed Laurel’s hand. “Now, we can go sleep,” Xavier said.

  Everyone filed back out and headed for the truck. Laurel waited with Xavier while he locked up. Just before they reached the truck, she tugged him back, winding her arms around his neck.

  She reached on her tip toes, straining to be tall enough to hold on. He smiled and bent at the knees, so they were eye to eye. “Yes, Mrs. Alpha?” he asked.