Bearing It All (Grizzly Affairs Book 1)

by Magenta Phoenix

  Tossing the news paper down on her lap she glared at him with frustration. “Will you stop? You know what the doctor said. You are too weak for anything other than light exercise.”

  “What do you think I'm trying to do?” He grinned. Bending towards her, he unfolded her crossed legs and began tugging her toward his side of the couch with devilish intent.

  “I said light exercise not sex-ercise.”

  “But both are good for your health or so I'm told.”

  Raising an eyebrow at him, she wasn't surprised to find herself now sprawled across his lab with his shielded erection causing havoc on her good intentions. Resting her hands on his t- shirt covered chest, she shook her head at the addictive and gratifying fire that flashed in his eyes. More than anything she wanted to stroke that fire and watch it consume them both.

  No. she scolded her inner thoughts.

  Doctor’s orders...no sex...doctor's orders....

  The words repeated in her mind over and over again until she felt Doyle's head dip down to lick a path over her mating mark. Her life was so unfair. The selfish and hornier side of her wanted to screw what the doctor's orders said and have her mate. However the more rational side of her still fought against the raging hormones rushing through her sex starved body.

  “Doyle...” She whispered as his lips trailed up to her ear before his teeth nipped at the skin under her ear lobe. “I think we—” His lips move to engulf her ear lobe and drew it into the hot cavern of his mouth to nip and suck on the tempting piece of flesh. Aria groaned as her womb clenched with need. “—we...need to stop.”

  Releasing her lobe with a scowl, his hands speared through her willful golden tresses jerking her closer to his waiting lips. “Hell with that.”

  “You're still weak and recovering.”

  Jerking her hip higher along his body, Doyle pressed his straining length against the soft cloth of her sweats. He grinned down at her as her lips parted in a muted gasp. “Does it feel like I haven't recovered?” Not uttering a word, Aria shook her head as she fought off her body's response to the brush of his.

  “I am better and I can prove it to you in just a moment when I have you screaming my name. Hell; I may even get you to finally admit that you love me.”

  Shaking her head with a teasing smile she replied, “Not a chance. I wouldn’t give you the satisfaction. You’re too smug anyway.”

  His eyes narrowed at her words. A challenge then was it? “I’ll take that bet.”

  His lips skimmed along her jaw with a soft, fervent caress. Sinking her teeth down into the soft flesh of her bottom lip, Aria struggled to hold onto her resolve. “The doctor said—”

  “That stupid doctor is a turtle and thinks everyone moves as slow as he does. I am fully healed.”

  Sliding her arms up around his neck, she slid her covered channel against his ridged length. Her lips curved as his eyes slid closed in response. “A turtle? Really?” Just when she thought she'd figured everything out about these shifters they surprised her.

  Lowering her head, her lips brushed over his parted ones with a feather-like touch. “I should drug you like you did to me. I still haven't gotten my revenge for that yet.” She warned. Her plump lips melted into a smile that promised paradise and possible destruction—which one it was, he didn't know.

  “I am willing to allow you to drug me so that you may have your wicked way with me for revenge if you'd like.” He murmured, raising a tantalizing eyebrow.

  “Tempting.” leaning away from him, Aria sighed with contentment as his strong arms came around her. Heat from his skin seeped into her very bones and filled her with a sense of belonging.

  Her thoughts turned to the events of last night and her night of transformation--supposedly. Was he disappointed? She could remember the whole night with perfect clarity. Doyle and Aria had been snuggled up against each other on the couch with the glow of the fireplace spread all around them. Then without warning the newly repaired front door burst open. Stepping through the door, Colin cast a stony expression over the both of them. Doyle's family really had no concept of knocking.

  Without much explaining, Colin demanded that they get warm clothes on and come with him. She hadn't seen Colin since the night of Doyle's rescue and she could tell he still hadn't forgiven her for running off on her own. Colin had come to get them just as the night fell and the full moon rose above the trees.

  At first she had no idea what was going on. A few moments later, Doyle had explained that once a mate receives a mating bite they changed within the next full moon, as it was with all shifters. After the first change the moon no longer held sway over the ability to call upon their animal forms. Doyle hadn't told Aria beforehand because he feared she would have run out of fear. Deep down she didn't know what she would have done. She had no warning, no way to prepare for what was going to happen. Her heart felt like it would beat out of her chest with fear.

  Seconds after arriving at the compound, Aria found herself escorted to the center of a large circle being formed by every pack member under Doyle's charge. Colin and Doyle had stood off to the side as everyone else seemed to be waiting for something.

  As the moon cleared through the dark clouds overhead, Aria glanced up as the silvery moonlight cast over her face. Her golden hair shone brightly with the light of the full moon above. Seconds turned to minutes. As nothing happened, Aria found herself feeling uncomfortable as eyes locked on her clouded with confusion.

  Awkward...

  As the pack members began murmuring amongst themselves a group of five older men pushed through the circle and advanced on her. Glancing at Doyle with confusion, she saw Doyle's eyes narrow in confusion as well. Colin held Doyle back when he started toward her. Had she done something wrong? What the hell was going on?

  She flinched back as a tall man in his prime invaded her personal space. He had a plumb round face with a salt and pepper goatee. His short, dark hair had streaks of silver at the temples and near his ears. Leaning close to her he sniffed her like a dog inspecting a morsel of food. With a look of confusion he jerked back only to be replaced by another man. This one was taller and bolder. The second one had the gall to grip her by her upper arms and hoist her up off the ground to sniff at her face.

  It was then that Aria snapped. She had been indulgent up to this point with their strange rituals but enough was enough. Drawing her head back, Aria slammed her head into the nose of the man that thought it was alright to touch her. Instantly he dropped her like a hot potato as he cried out in pain, his hand cupped his bloodied nose with look of astonishment. The remaining men were smart enough to remain a safe distance away from her.

  “What the hell is your problem?” She hissed at the man still cupping his abused nose. A shocked silence spread through the watching crowd with her words.

  “You dare to talk to me like that!” He accused, pointing a blood smeared finger in her direction. “I am an elder! You have no right to speak or strike at me!”

  Aria could only shake her head. What was wrong with these people? “No right?” She asked with a raised brow. “Touch me again and I'll give you your last rites!” turning in a circle until she spotted Doyle she swung her arms wide in question. “What the hell is going on?”

  “She's defective!” the first elder exclaimed, pointing accusingly at her.

  With a snarl of fury, Doyle shoved past his father while fixing a deadly look on the elder that had spoken. “Speak of her like that again and you will be hanging over my fireplace, wolf”

  “Why doesn't she change?” The second elder asked with accusation.

  “Why doesn't she smell like a human?” One of the other elders asked bewildered.

  Needless to say, Aria didn't know whether to feel disappointed or relieved at the time when no change happened. The whole pack was confused that she was the first human to not transform after being claimed. Could it be because of what Malca had done to her?

  Not bothering to explain, Doyle proceeded to intr
oduce her to the pack as his mate and as the Alpha female. A party was held later that evening with mounds of food, spirits and dancing in celebration of her introduction into the pack. The elders still remained miffed that she hadn't become a shifter like one of them and had avoided any contact with her for the rest of the night.

  “Aria?” the sound of Doyle's voice pulled her from her thoughts as her eyes lifted to focus on his concerned expression. “What's wrong?”

  “I was remembering last night.”

  Nodding, Doyle pulled her closer until her body was pressed against his with no space separating them. “I am sorry that I didn't tell you about that beforehand.”

  “Are you disappointed that I didn't transform?”

  Yes. His bear pouted. Not that Aria could hear him.

  “I could never be disappointed in who and what you are. I was hoping to chase your sexy, bear butt around the woods. But I guess I will just have to settle with chasing the only one you have.” His hands reached down to cup her firm buttocks in example.

  “I can deal with that.” She nodded with a grin. “I may even be up for you, me, and a bit of honey.” Aria struggled not to laugh at how Doyle's eyes brightened up at the thought of her and honey. Her honey addicted bear was too easy.

  “You’re on.” his chest rumbled with excitement, only to be dashed with a pounding knock echoed off the door. Tossing his head back, Doyle groaned in despair. Slowly the front door opened with Robert and Raoul slowly entering the house. The corners of Robert's eyes drew together with amusement.

  “Bad time?” He inquired motioning at their position with a conniving smirk.

  “Get. Out. Now!” Doyle bit out as Aria moved off his lap to stand beside the couch.

  “Look, we're not here to purposely interrupt your fun time.” Raoul stated, holding his hands up to stall any forthcoming violence.

  “Why are you here?” Aria asked, crossing her arms over her chest. Her eyes glanced over Raoul's chest. From what Robert had told her at the compound last night, the pack's healer was able to safely remove Raoul's tracking device from his chest and Raoul was suppose to be on the mend.

  “I think I may have found the lab that you escaped from.”

  Aria felt her breath catch in her chest. They'd been searching for a clue or even a whisper of where Malca had fled to, but since the rescue mission they'd found nothing. Finding the lab that Aria escaped from could point them in the direction of Malca's home base and the heart of her operation.

  “Where?”

  * ~ * ~ *

  Sunlight blinded her as she moved across the glittering snow. Her breath came out in puffs as she neared the door. From the outside it looked like a simple one level home with white paint and black shutters beside the windows. Three aged concrete steps led up to the simple door in front of her. At her back she felt Doyle, Robert, and Raoul following her. She felt a wave of security with her small handgun resting against her back.

  Moving up the steps she reached for the door knob. The door fell open before her hand could touch it. Instantly her hand drew her gun and aimed at the open space before her. Nothing but empty air greeted her.

  “Let me go first.” Raoul urged as he pushed toward the door with a gun in his hand as well.

  Nodding in agreement, Aria stepped aside as Raoul cautiously stepped through the doorway with his gun held high. Robert entered next as Doyle pressed a comforting hand against the middle of her back. Glancing up at him she smiled at his silent support. Escaping this place had led her into his arms. It only made sense that he should be with her when she returned.

  Moving past the T.V. and couch, she moved through the kitchen as they made their way to the door leading down to the lower level. Many of the stairs were missing in huge gaps. The once polished white walls were charcoal and covered in smears of ash. When they finally made their way to the bottom of the steps they moved with fluid silence.

  “Look out!” Raoul warned at the last moment as he and Robert hit the floor as a sparking cable swung from the mutilated ceiling above them. Doyle shoved Aria against the side wall and placed his body in front of her just a second before the sparking cable past over their previous position.

  Breathing heavily, Aria glanced up at Doyle with wide eyes. “Thanks.”

  Nodding, Doyle edged them around the still crackling and dancing cable until they were out of danger. “What happened here?” He asked as he took in the sight that lay along the hall before them. Bodies of test subjects and soldiers were scattered along the floor. Blood splattered across the walls and floor blended with the dark stains of ash around them.

  “Malca must have decided to erase all evidence of this facility.” Raoul commented. “She probably had her goons set a fire with the ones that she had no further use for inside while others that fought back were shot.”

  Coming to the branching of the hallway, they stopped. She knew that straight ahead led to the containment cells and possibly more evidence of Malca's senseless massacre. To the right another hallway branched off, leading to other examination rooms, and Malca's personal office. Pointing down the right hall, Raoul turned to meet Aria's gaze.

  “Robert and I will go this way. Malca won't still be here, but if her computer was left behind or if any files survived I'll find them.”

  Aria nodded with a hard expression. “Doyle and I will go this way and see what we can find.” She replied, pointing down the hall ahead of them. Quietly moving, the four of them separated down each route. Edging around the bodies of more fallen soldiers and scientists, Aria felt Doyle move beside her. His horrified gaze taking in the carnage around them and was unable to find a reason behind this.

  “Why would Malca do this? Wouldn't these people be of some use to her?” He asked.

  “I don’t think that Malca is the only player in this game, Doyle. Malca is funded by government officials. They could have come to inspect their product and weren't satisfied. Malca was working on something else before I lost my memory and was imprisoned. It was bigger than all of this. Something that she needed me for.” she whispered with a look of confusion. Not all her memories had returned. Deep down she knew there was something she was missing.

  “What was it?”

  “I can't remember.”

  “I thought your memory returned.”

  Nodding she glanced away from him as they began to pass the glass cell doors of the prisoners— or what remained of them. “It did. But I can't remember what Malca's end game was. It's like knowing you know someone when you see them again after a length of time, but you can't remember their name. Maybe Raoul will find something to help us out.”

  Walking a few feet ahead of her, Doyle came to an abrupt halt outside another cell. His brows furrowed in confusion before turning toward Aria. "You may want to look at this."

  Tightening her grip around her gun, she moved to stand beside her mate. Her eyes widened at the site before her. In front of them was the one cell that the raging flames had left untouched. Someone had made certain that this cell was left untouched but why?

  “Guess the fire didn’t reach this one.” Doyle mumbled absently. “Wonder why?”

  Following the direction of his eyes, her breath caught in her throat as she recognized the cell he stood in front of. “This was mine.” Feeling Doyle’s eyes fall over her but choosing to ignore it she stepped through the open door of her old prison.

  Why would Malca leave her cell untouched? Was it meant to be a silent jibe? A message to her that Malca knew she’d be here and discover the evidence of death around them. Pressing her lips into a firm line, Aria struggled to smother her anger. Turning to exit the small cell a flash of color caught her attention out of the corner of her eye. Slowly spinning back around, her eyes fell on a red envelope on top of her old cot. Picking it up, she read the small typed words on the front, “Watch me”. Was it from Malca? Not taking time to think about it she quickly slid the envelope into her pocket as she stepped back out into the hallway.

&nb
sp; “It's about time you showed up.” A soft voice echoed through the cells.

  Jerking in surprise at the voice, Aria moved with her gun still aimed looking through each of the glass plated doors. Was there a survivor? Moving down the rows of cells she searched furiously for the owner of the songbird like voice. Doyle walked beside her inhaling scents all around them for a hint of the survivor’s whereabouts. Moving to the end of the cells, they came to what use to be the security room. Thousand of monitors were mounted on the wall and now were riddled with shattered screens. One long white desk took up the side of the room beneath the viewing screens. Stepping into the room, Aria's mouth dropped open at the sight before her. Two soldiers lay dead in the floor by the desk. One was missing a hat while the other was missing both his boots.

  Sitting at the viewing desk in a wheeled computer chair was a small thin girl, no older than eighteen. On her head was a dark green camouflage hat, tilted to the side of her head. Long red hair fell past her shoulders and down her back. She was dressed in a white and blue hospital gown that Malca dressed all her test subjects in. On her feet were big black combat boots. A white lab coat was worn over her hospital gown unbuttoned. Sitting with her feet prop up on the desk, the girl turned to grin at Doyle and Aria as she took a bite of a slice of pizza that dangled from her petite fingers.

  “Thank God you're here!” She gushed as she dropped her feet to the floor. “I was almost out of pizza.”

  “Who are you?” Doyle asked

  “I'm Athena.” She stated with annoyance. As if he should have known that. “How are things going with you two?” Cupping a hand against the side of her lips she looked at Doyle and whispered secretively. “Has she forgiven you yet about drugging her, Doyle? If not you may want to hide your honey stash.”

  Turning to look at Aria that pointed a gun at her, Athena's face fell for a second before she quickly smiled again. “Hey Arianna, I knew you'd come back for me. By the way; don't worry too much about not becoming a shifter—something more awesome will happen instead.”