by Lisa Lace
He finished with, "Trust me, I'm a doctor."
"Really?"
"No, not really. But trust me anyway."
Mac's grin spread over his face slowly, like the warm, wild honey dripping out of the honeycomb next to him on the counter.
"What are you, then?"
His smile faltered, his eyes cooling as she watched.
"I'm sorry?"
"If you aren't a doctor, what are you? What do you do? Why are you here?"
"Bella! Don't be rude."
"I'm just trying to understand. Keelyn's never returned home with anyone in tow before, let alone four strangers."
She turned back to Mac, finishing with, "How do you know Keelyn, exactly?"
Chapter 4
Mac usually wasn't one to go for a run. A tree climb, maybe. Especially if there was an active bee hive and some honey to be found. He could even get behind the idea of going for a swim. But to run for running's sake, like Bane and his wolf pack liked to do? Nope.
So why am I running now? Maybe hanging out with wolves as much as I do corrupted me somewhat, he thought.
Or maybe, between Bella's questions, Ivy's suspicions, Sandra's labor and his bear's insistence on providing for Bella already, by getting her some peppermint and cooking for her and her family, maybe he just needed to burn off some steam. In bear form. Running through the woods surrounding Bella's family's house. Again.
The first time he'd ducked out for some alone time in bear form was right after Bella had cornered him with questions about who he was and what he did. He'd never been so happy in all his life to hear pained screaming coming from a pregnant woman before.
Sandra's muffled, distant sounds chose that perfect moment to escalate to a pitch almost up into dog and wolf only hearing range, and Mac breathed a sigh of relief when the kitchen cleared out. Ivy and Enid left their coffees on the table as they leaped up to go help Naythan out with Sandra as they all prayed Sandra's mom would arrive in time.
After a hard look in his direction, Bella followed her sister and mother, turning back to grab the peppermint tea he'd prepared for her.
"Thanks. For the tea, I mean. It does seem to be helping."
She seemed to thank him almost against her will. He guessed that manners overpowered distrust inside her, at least for a minute. He had no doubt though that his time in the spotlight of either hers or Ivy's attentions would come back around again soon.
As she walked out of the room, he watched the sway of her hips as she retreated, his bear growling his need for her just under the surface of his control.
His mind flashed back on the way her lips had felt under his fingertip as he slid the peppermint inside her mouth just outside of the bathroom earlier.
Soft, pillowy, warm lips teased his memory. Even the fact that she was having morning sickness couldn't tamp down the shock of electricity he'd felt just by grazing her lip as she stood before him, angry accusations in her eyes as he told her to suck it.
He'd meant the peppermint, obviously. But watching her take it wrong in that first instant led his mind where hers had gone, and it took all he had to turn away from her and walk away.
His bear wasn't happy with that decision, and wanted to go back. To touch her again. To tell her what he knew to be true, that she would be his, that he would protect her and take care of her, and that everything would be ok.
After the women went to Sandra's aid, he tucked the uneaten food into the refrigerator for later, cleaned up the kitchen so the women wouldn't have to after attending Sandra, and he let himself out of the house, intending to just go for a bit of a walk and get some fresh air.
Instead he found himself ducking into the woods, stripping his clothes off, tucking the bundle high up on a tree branch, and shifting into his bear to escape for a while.
The second time he used his bear to get away for a bit was later, after Bane and Keelyn came back with Sandra's mom, who arrived just in time to tell Sandra that there wouldn't be any herbal calming of her pains. Just as everyone thought, Sandra was in full-on labor.
Mac tried to stay out of the way as much as possible, preferring to take care of those taking care of Sandra instead of jumping right into the middle of a human birthing a werewolf cub.
Tensions were high right after the baby was born though, since Enid, Bella and Ivy had no idea Naythan, and therefore Naythan and Sandra's new baby, was anything but human.
According to a whispered conversation Mac had with Bane after his return, Sandra's mom did know her human daughter was mated to a werewolf, but that information had so far been kept from Keelyn's mom and sisters, since they were a well-known were-hunter family by trade.
The biggest source of tension surrounding the babe's birth was the question of how soon the baby would shift into wolf form. Were-cubs were born human, but the ability to shift was different with each and every child. Sandra's baby could be human forever, since Sandra was human, or, since Naythan was a werewolf, the baby could also possess the ability to shift. The problem was that the cub could stay human until puberty hit, shift minutes or hours after birth, or anytime in between.
Mac kept an eye on everyone, throwing food their direction, or tea and coffee, when they would wander, exhausted, into the kitchen he'd practically taken over.
Mrs. Mitchell, Sandra's mom, put Keelyn to work as a sort of midwife's helper, which Keelyn really seemed to enjoy.
Good, Mac thought happily. Maybe she will leave her days of hunting and killing were-kind behind her, now that she has Bane and his pack.
Mac watched Bane watch Keelyn, smiling to himself as he decided that Bane and Keelyn really would be fine. They'd work out their issues and settle into being mates, Mac was sure of it. Naythan and Sandra were as close as ever, in the middle of ushering their first cub into the world. Mac was very happy for his friends and their mates. He found himself wondering if he'd ever be so lucky himself.
Yes, he'd found his mate in Bella. His bear was quite insistent on that fact. But the path from scenting her to claiming her as his looked like it was going to be a rocky one.
He'd decided he couldn't care less if she carried another man's cub, since it wasn't her choice. It's not like she loved another or anything. His bear had no issues taking care of her, or her growing child. Animals in the wild had been known to adopt and take care of babies who sometimes weren't even of their own kind.
His bear just saw Bella's growing baby as a part of Bella, and since Bella was to be his mate, then that meant that Bella's baby was to be Mac's baby too, end of story.
If only it would be that easy to convince Bella, he thought.
Mac watched as Bane tore by him, through the kitchen and outside, his mind obviously in turmoil. It wasn't very long before Keelyn followed in Bane's footsteps, a determined look on her face.
Yes, go to him, Mac thought in Keelyn's direction, sending her support in thought if not in words. You two are destined, mated. If a werewolf and a were-hunter can make it work, maybe there really is hope for a bear shifter and a pregnant, angry, were-hunter's sister, as well.
* * *
A few hours later, Bane and Keelyn still missing in action, Naythan and Sandra spending time together with their brand new son, and Enid, Bella and Ivy all resting, Mac took advantage of not being needed. He wandered out into the woods again, finding the tree he'd been using to store his clothes in and tucking them there again. He shifted into his bear form and headed off at a lumbering run toward a stream he'd discovered nearby. He figured some stream fishing and some yummy salmon would do him good, and help him relax.
On his way back, sated with fish and cooled off from his swim, he spotted a taller than normal Keelyn moving through the trees. He sped up and headed to cross her path, noting as he got closer why she was suddenly so tall.
She was riding Bane in his wolf form, straddling the wolf's back as they seemed to be heading back toward Keelyn's.
When the pair saw Mac loping toward them, they stopped and waited for hi
m to catch up.
Mac shifted mid stride, taking the last few feet in his human form, as Keelyn climbed down from Bane, allowing him to shift human as well.
"This should really be way weirder than it is. I think you two have corrupted me," Keelyn spoke with a grin, her eyes flashing back and forth between Mac and Bane.
"How so?" Mac asked her.
"I'm the only one dressed. The three of us are standing in the woods, about to converse I'm sure, and you two are both buck ass naked. And it's just normal now."
Bane grinned at her and turned to Mac, saying, "We have an announcement to make."
"You're with cub? Congratulations!"
"No."
"Oh, sorry. What announcement?"
"We're engaged!"
"Why?"
Keelyn's fist landed on Mac's bicep in a halfhearted punch.
Mac laughed as he realized what his reaction probably sounded like to the human.
"I just meant since you are already mated and all. Sorry, Kee."
"You're forgiven. It's for mom, mainly. And my sisters. Humans don't recognize bite marks as rings, or sex as a marriage contract."
"So you guys worked it out? I was hoping you would. So now what? What's the plan?"
"We're headed home," Keelyn spoke. "To tell everyone that we are getting married. Mom will want a few months to a year to plan a wedding, but we want it done faster. Way faster. Since we are already one in the eyes of Bane's pack, this is just a formality for my family."
"Sandra's mom read us the riot act when we went to get her and bring her here to help with the birth," Bane clarified, filling in some missing pieces for Mac.
"Yeah. I think her exact words were 'Give your mamma a proper wedding. That woman has been through enough.'"
Mac grinned, nodding.
"So, does this engagement announcement also include a 'surprise, he's a shifter!' announcement as well?"
By the panicked look that shot onto Keelyn's face, and the negative shake to Bane's head, Mac guessed not.
"Ah, one life changing announcement at a time, I see."
"Yeah, I'd like for the lot of us to survive a few more days at least. Until Sandra can run again," Keelyn said the words with a teasing grin.
Mac nodded.
"I guess that makes sense. Do you really think it would come to that, Keelyn? Does your family hate our kind that much?"
"I see my amazing personality has been enough to make you forget how we all met, Mac. Was my walking through town with a werewolf's hide on my shoulders all that forgettable?"
"Bane's reaction is etched into my mind forever, Kee. As is the image of the furrier you were headed to sell that hide to. Seeing him hanging there from his own doorway, with two of your arrows pinning his outstretched hands to the frame, with his pants down around his ankles? Those two things, my dear, are things I will never forget, as long as I live."
He watched as Keelyn's face reddened in embarrassment at the memories Mac mentioned.
She'd gone into the furrier's shop to sell the hide around her neck, passing Bane and his pack in the street just out front. The furrier was a known asshole, who propositioned her quite rudely while she was inside. When she left him she had her cash, she still had the furr to sell elsewhere, and the furrier was quite embarrassed, and pissed, at literally being caught with his pants down, and bested by a woman, to boot.
Bane had scented Keelyn as his mate, but was pissed when he realized his mate was a were-hunter, so he followed Keelyn, to prove his wolf wrong. The rest, as they say, is history.
The story, although funny now, in hind sight, brought up questions in Mac's mind that he felt needed to be addressed before any announcements were made down at the house.
"So, Keelyn, if you two are to be married in the human fashion, and you've accepted Bane's claiming bite..."
"I have hung up my bow, Mac. I knew even before Bane and I worked things out that I could never go back to were-hunting. Not after meeting all of you. Bane's wolf pack, and you as well, Mac, are family to me now. Of course, once I do tell my mom and sisters about what you all really are, you may very well be my only family," she said with a wry, sad laugh. "But still. Mac, I deeply regret all the years I..."
He watched as her eyes filled with tears at the memories only she could see.
"I didn't mean to upset you."
"I know. You've always been very kind. I just..."
She wiped at a tear that escaped, running down her cheek before she continued.
"If only things had been different, Mac."
"Then you wouldn't be here. You wouldn't have found Bane, I wouldn't have scented Bella. Things have a way of working out for the best."
"Speaking of Bella," Keelyn said, seemingly glad to change the topic, even if toward an equally sticky subject. "How has that been going? Make any progress while we were gone getting Mrs. Mitchell for Sandra?"
"That depends on what you'd consider progress, I guess. Bella thanked me for getting her some peppermints. They help with the morning sickness."
"Nice! What else?"
"Yeah, that's about it."
Bane and Keelyn laughed at the sad tone in Mac's voice.
"Ah, so it's not going well? Sounds like stubborn resistance to our charms runs deep in this family, Mac. At least Bella hasn't shot you yet."
"That's not fair!" Keelyn's protest was loud and offended. "I only shot you because...Oh, forget it! You two are hopeless!"
The guys were laughing at her, teasing her, and Mac was glad she was still around to tease, and had accepted his best friend as her mate. Now if only he could work the same magic on her sister.
"So, shall we head down and see how this engagement announcement plays out?" Mac asked the pair, preparing to shift back into his bear form and aim for the tree his clothes were hidden in near the house.
"Yeah, about that. Hey Mac, think you could slip inside the house and get me some clothes? I kind of lost mine in the shift when Keelyn and I were..."
"Stop! Stop talking right there! I don't need to hear anymore. Yes, I'll bring you out some clothes, just stop talking."
Chapter 5
"Peppermint, huh?" Ivy asked Bella as the pair stood alone in the kitchen.
"What about it?"
"Jeeze, Bella. Testy much?"
"What are you talking about?"
"I was asking, or trying to, before you bit my head off, if the peppermint Mac brought you was working."
"It seems to be."
"Did you thank him for getting it for you? Or Sandra, for telling him about it? Or did you snap at them, too?"
"I thanked him. I'm not a total ass."
"Could have fooled me."
"Ivy, what the hell is your problem?"
"You are, if you want to know the truth. Look, I get it, OK? You were raped. It was horrible. I'm not making light or being sarcastic, honest. I can't even imagine what you went through. But you're taking it out on the wrong person."
"Oh, who should I be taking it out on?"
"If life was fair? Sammy. He did this," she said, with a wave at Bella's midsection. "But you can't take it out on him, cause he's dead. You're scared. You're traumatized. You're angry. As you should be. But I didn't do it. Keelyn didn't do it. Mac didn't do it."
"What are you trying to say?"
"We want to help you, Bella. We want to be there for you. If you would maybe talk about it some? To someone? It might help."
"Talking won't change anything."
"It won't change what happened, no. But it might change how you feel about it. If you keep it inside, if you let it lock you up and change you, then Sammy wins, don't you see? If you let it destroy you, it will. It has the power to change you. To make you angry and hateful. To make you doubt every man you ever meet, for the actions of one asshole. Most men aren't monsters, Bella. You know this. Deep down, you know this. But the mind is an amazing thing. You can let it use you, turn you into a victim from here on out, defined by a thing someone evil did
to you, or you can fight it. You can let us help you fight it. It can be a thing that happened to you, instead of the thing that defines you from here on out. Have you thought about what you're going to do with the baby?"
"No."
"It's half you, Bella. If you decide to keep it, it will be loved, despite its father. If seeing it, raising it, will hurt you, there are many couples who..."
"I know. I don't want to talk about this anymore."
The door leading outside opened, startling them and making them jump.
Mac stepped inside, sliding to a stop before them.
"Sorry ladies, I didn't mean to scare you. I've just got to grab something. Be right back."
As he wormed his way past, he laid a hand on the small of Bella's back so he could slide by, saying, "Excuse me, Bell."
He kept going, oblivious to the reactions he left behind him.
Bella just nodded, stepping aside for him. She kept her face as blank as she could, not wanting to let him see the reaction his simple touch evoked.
She hugged her arms around her middle, rubbing and soothing the goose-bumps that rose with the touch of his hand. For a minute her mind flashed back to the bathroom, his finger against her lips, sliding a mint into her mouth.
She wondered what his lips would feel like against hers. Would he be rough, like Sammy had been, or...
"Bella!"
"What?" She turned back to Ivy again, still as testy toward her sister as she was at the beginning of this painful conversation.
"He touched you!"
"Yeah, I know. I was there."
"No, Bella. I mean... you let him."
It took her a second to register what Ivy meant.
"You didn't grab the nearest object and aim it at his head," Ivy said with a grin.
"I didn't, did I? I didn't even tell him to back off, or to get his damn hands..."
"...off you before you scream," Ivy finished for her, with her grin turning into a joyous giggle.
"I'm never going to live that one down, am I?"
"I doubt it. Was that the first time Mac has touched you?"
Bella shook her head no, and told Ivy about the peppermint.