Trees snapped and pieces of wood shot out like stakes. Too bad ice bears couldn’t be killed like pale furry vampires with weird ass eyes running from the sun. This close she took sight down the barrel again, her finger stroking the smooth metal of the trigger.
“I haven’t tasted a human in a while. Could be fun.” Her stomach churned as he licked his lips, each word dropped one by one as if savoring their flavor and what he imagined her flesh would feel like on his tongue. The bigger he grinned the slimier she felt, the meaning of his words as clear as the hatred in his eyes.
She’d rather empty the chambers of her gun and hope for the best. He saw nothing more than a weak human when he looked at her. His mistake. The ice shifters might have grown up in the backwoods of Alaska, but she had street smarts and every lesson she earned came with a high cost.
She cocked the hammer back as his foot shifted forward.
“Whoa there. I’ll be gentle. Like a virgin ready to pop a cherry.”
“You think you’re funny. Ha ha.” Behind them, like ghosts weaving through the trees, shadows darted this way and that before they morphed back into bear. The fight was getting closer. Still, she was on her own.
The distraction cost her. In a white blur he was on her, a vise grip around her throat. He had her flipped and her back pressed to his front.
He pressed his cheek against hers. “But you’re no virgin, are you. I can smell their sperm on you. Grizzly trash. Just like my boy.”
“Let her go or die.” Rough and bitter, the words lashed out from Kohl as he and Lorne threatened the ice bear Elder.
Claw-like fingers dug into her throat and she dropped the gun to dig her nails into his skin. “There you are. I wondered how long I’d have to wait for a taste of this pretty morsel.”
Lorne and Kohl stepped from the smoke, their eyes lit with the adrenaline of the fight, their expressions suffused with murder.
She caught the glint of blood on their bare skin as their chests heaved from the exertion of the fight. Butterflies battled for space in her stomach. Her eyes went wide when a man appeared behind them with pale eyes and came to a stop beside Lorne. What the fuck? Reaper? She looked to Lorne and Kohl but their gazes never left her captor.
Had to be, she reasoned. Rone joined them while others joined the Elder.
Twelve hours ago she’d never pictured herself in the middle of an epic face-off.
“Told you we wanted what is ours. You and that traitor of a son,” the Elder sneered close to her ear. She flinched, which resulted in him clamping down harder. Blood rushed to her face and she was afraid any tighter and she might pass out.
“Stay still, bitch, or I might be tempted to kill you right here. Can’t rape a corpse so don’t move again.”
One second all four men including Reaper stood, anger like lethal daggers coming out of their eyes and in the next, three grizzlies stood shoulder to shoulder with an ice bear in the mix.
“You don’t scare me.” But she heard the quiver in the Elder’s voice. “Not when I have your pretty little mate’s neck in my hands. Just like the mother of that piece of shit bastard son of mine. Snapped her neck too the second she tried to dump her trash on me. Got what was coming to him, I suppose.”
How could someone talk about their flesh and blood that way? Especially after he was just killed trying to give him what he wanted? Brax only asked for acceptance in return.
Her heart ached for that lost man. As much as she hated to admit it, she understood where Brax’s self-loathing came from now.
Reaper bounded forward and she used the surprise to bury her elbow into the Elder’s gut. She pivoted and struck out, aiming for the throat. Reaper followed up with a massive swipe of his paw and caught the Elder in the chest, pushing him to his knees. Blood oozed from the wound to drip into the dirt.
Reaper shifted and Lorne and Kohl joined him to stand over him, heaving and gasping for air.
“You’re done for, old man. Our brother’s death is on your hands as is your own den’s. Look at them.” Lorne clutched the man’s jaw and buried his hands in the matted hair and jerked his head around. “Look at them. Is this what you wanted? Death and bloodshed.”
He offered a bloody smile as his answer. “Better dead than your bitches.”
Reaper pulled back and caught the old man across the jaw. “Your reign of terror is through. It’s time I restore peace among our den and burn the trash killing our young.” Reaper knelt beside him and leveled his pale gaze on his father’s. “On your death go to your grave knowing your hatred did nothing but tear this land apart and force those who loved you once upon a time to killing you.”
“You won’t do anything to me.”
The Elder was in obvious denial. Cherry read Reaper’s intent clear as the blood staining his face.
From the deep shadows of the trees she only caught the white of fur before all hell broke loose. She swallowed hard and tried to duck but a massive paw caught her across the shoulder and sent her flying. Claws slashed the air but only grazed the skin. A low branch rushed forward as the inevitable became a reality.
Another bear, hidden in the wings?
Warm arms caught her around the middle and pulled her close. The smell of pine mixed with blood surrounded her. Kohl’s scent filled her nostrils as she dragged in air rapidly. He had her wrapped in his arms and his heart raced beneath her palms. “You really know how to keep the excitement going, little girl. I’ve got you. It’s okay.” The fear of one hundred lifetimes flashed across his face.
Her eyelids slipped closed, but she jerked them wide again when he shook her. “You hit your head pretty bad. Stay awake.”
Three tons of bears rolled their way, a mass of brown and white fur. Lorne had his mouth around the throat of one and with a snap, snuffed out the threat before coming to their sides. Breathing heavy, he shifted with a kick of energy and leaned over them. He palmed her face and ran his hands over her body as he asked, “Is she good? Are you okay?”
“Just got the wind knocked out of me.”
“Yield,” Reaper roared as Rone hung off to the side with his fists clenched at his sides. All eyes drew to Reaper from the center of the semicircle they formed. Lorne scanning the area for any more loose cannons waiting to blast them with surprise attacks.
Braced on the ground with his knuckles dug into the dirt, the old man’s arms shook but the look in his eye was twisted with the ugly claws of death and vengeance that charred his soul black. “Never!” Spittle clung from his lips as if he’d gone rabid. Maybe he had.
“Then you leave me no choice.”
“No,” she screamed but it did no good as Reaper wrapped his hands around the aged bear’s throat. The crack of bone would haunt her forever.
“Let this land be rid of a plague that marred both our lives. Our dens and families.”
She watched as the dead weight fell to the ground with a thud behind him, Lorne standing over her protectively with a hand braced on her shoulder. “It’s something that had to be done, baby girl,” he soothed in a whisper as Kohl tightened his hold around her.
She nodded numbly. What else could she do?
Reaper stepped over the discarded body. Flashes of her mother with the same morbid look as death claimed her soul rammed into her thoughts.
“Human.” Low and void of emotion the ice bear’s even tone pulled her gaze from the past to land on his.
“I am sorry for your pain.”
She pushed out of Kohl’s arms and stood then regretted it immediately as she fell forward. He moved to steady her, but she slapped Reaper’s hands away and held her ground as she balanced on one leg. “Are you?” She widened her arms to encompass the death that stained the dirt around them. “What makes you think you aren’t just like him?”
He looked pointedly at her leg and to her head where blood trickled down from her temple. “I only worry about your safety.”
“That’s not for you to worry about.”
“As you wish, hum
an.”
Water welled behind her lashes as she counted the bloodied bodies.
“If you stay in our world you’ll realize your human laws have no place with us. Don’t shed any tears for them. They do not deserve your sympathy.”
“And you?”
“Not for me to decide.” He tossed her words back at her.
“How can you say you care when you can’t bring yourself to say my name, ice bear.” She rolled out the term like an insult aimed to strike the senses.
“Give me time. Please. Cherry.”
The fire of anger that ate at her ebbed as his softly spoken plea, and she backed off when she saw the level of pain shining back through his eyes at her. Kohl and Lorne stood to either side, their bodies rigid and ready to defend her. The last thing she wanted was any more death on her hands. Hopefully, this land had absorbed the last drop of blood it would ever consume.
She wobbled forward as her men supported her on either side. She reached for Reaper’s hand, holding his gaze. “Thank you for coming to help.” Truth be told, she had to admit one thing. He didn’t have to be here in the fray and fighting on Wylde land. She turned to look at Lorne and Kohl. “I think I can speak for all of us when I say we are in your debt and you are welcomed here anytime, Reaper.”
He smiled in answer, “It’s I in your debt. But thank you.” And then said nothing more. He didn’t have to. He’d witnessed death on the same level she had and that didn’t need any explanation, just friendship, and understanding. That she could give.
“From all of us,” added Lorne clasping Reaper’s full arm followed by each of the brothers. We won’t forget what you did for Everett and Pepper yesterday. “As Cherry said, we are in your debt.”
“If you need us for anything all you have to do is ask,” Rone added before releasing Reaper.
He said nothing in return but nodded his appreciation. “I see the fire has died thanks to your brothers. I’ll have men here in one week’s time to help rebuild.”
“That oughtta be interesting—grizzlies and ice bears working together,” Kohl said as he wrapped an arm around her shoulders. Looking down into her eyes, he gave a nod as if reassuring himself all was well and she truly lived and breathed beside him.
They turned to go as Lorne called over his shoulder, “Is your name really Reaper? You don’t have some second job that involves a scythe, do you?”
“Bram Savage.” He offered a positively evil grin.
No kidding.
Her mouth tipped up in a half smile. “You know that’s not any better, right?”
His smile grew and the mirth played over his expression. It was spooky with how white his eyes were in the shadows of the trees, but magickal all at once. “Yeah.” He turned, collected his father’s body and melted into the fog like a mythical creature returning to his kingdom.
“That dude is seriously creepy.” Her knees gave, and Kohl swung her into his arms. “Guys, I don’t feel so good.”
CHAPTER NINE
Loren and Kohl flanked her on either side of the hospital bed, hulking over her like two Neanderthals. From beneath hooded eyes, she watched her men. Smoke still clung to their clothes and bits and pieces of ash were still in their hair. Black soot streaked across their cheeks from their failed attempt to wash it off.
The ER doctors had been wonderful to her, but she didn’t understand why they wanted to keep her overnight for a few scratches on her leg and a bump on the head when she felt fine, just exhausted by the crazy shit she’d just gone through. What normal person wouldn’t be? Shifter or human.
“Did they give any indication of why she needs to stay?” Lorne asked Kohl, who answered with a shrug. “Not a clue.”
“While you guys were out, the nurse said the doctor would be in shortly to talk to me.” Cherry pushed up on the bed and cringed from the bruises and aches in her muscles. Oh yeah, come morning those puppies would be black and blue and she wouldn’t be surprised if her legs refused to move.
“Hey, baby. Are you okay?” The right side of her bed dipped as Kohl eased down. “Do you want us to bring your computer? How about your phone? Or you could just use the hospital phone.”
She must have looked confused because Kohl pointed at the phone and added, “Your sister. She’ll want to know you are all right.”
Right. She smiled to comfort him and ease the tension from his face. She knew he and Lorne only worried about her. “Kohl, I’m fine. My phone would be nice, though. Thank you. Sabine is probably worried sick and wondering why I didn’t make my flight.”
“You didn’t call her and tell her?”
“I was slung over someone’s shoulder and didn’t get the chance. Remember.” She arched a brow at Lorne, who sheepishly gave a half tilt to his lips. “Yeah. Gotcha.”
“You sure you’re okay? Does anything hurt or feel wrong?” Kohl ran his hands up and down her arms before he moved to her midsection and then her legs, inspecting every inch of her for his own satisfaction, she mused.
“Yeah, just a little tired after all the fuss and the adrenaline crash gave a slight headache. But you guys,” she trailed a hand up their arms, “I saw the blood. I know I hit my head, but there was so much of it.”
“We heal fast, something all shifters do,” Lorne reassured her.
She shot up. “Rone, the others? Are they okay?” It all came crashing back. So much death. She swiped at the dampness on her lashes. “They were only following their leader.” She looked between them.
“Shhh… take it easy. You took a nasty fall and a bump like that to your head… you’ll be seeing stars for hours if you move too fast.” Lorne pressed a hand on her shoulder, adding in a quieter voice, “He was mad, Cherry. Reaper’s father was driven by false pride, rage and jealousy, and any number of other things really. But there’s nothing we can do about it now anyway. And you have to realize it was either them or us.”
She guessed change, good or bad, was inevitable no matter what world you lived in.
“Or you. We don’t care about us. It was all about you.” Kohl reached for a bottle of water and held it to her lips. “From the first moment you walked into Rone’s bar with your cute smile and teacher’s air of innocence, it’s always been about you.”
Nice try. She stiffened and searched his eyes for any indication of what he meant, because it sounded like he wanted to lay this at her feet. She would accept some things, but this? “Me? You’re saying their blood is on my hands?” Anger simmered low in her gut. Those ice bears were crazy the second they touched Wylde land. She sure the hell didn’t tell them to provoke the Wylde Elder and his sons.
“No,” Kohl corrected, slashing a hand through the air. “Not because of you in that sense.”
“What he’s trying to say and floundering like a fish out of water over is that we all fought to protect you. Without the strength of our bond, a single swipe of a claw or a touch of the death fire on you and we would have lost the most precious thing in our lives. We’re lucky the one that slipped through didn’t do worse.” He touched the bandages on her leg and head.
“Again. All about you, Cherry. We lose you and fuck everyone else. I don’t give a shit about anyone or the territory. Something happens to you and they can all go to hell.”
“Kohl, that’s not like you,” she offered with a half trembling smile, her anger all but gone now. Replaced with even more love for the werebear with a heart of gold. “You can’t love me so much that you forsake your people. Yourself. I won’t accept that. Too many people depend on you.”
She watched as Kohl stalked over to the window on the far side of the room and leaned against the frame. Late afternoon sunlight spilled through the slatted curtains to cast a broken shadow over the man obviously tormented by his fears. Fear the ass-hat father of his bore into him. Helpless from her hospital bed, she gazed out the window and accepted the small gift of sunlight. She would never take the small things in life for granted after today.
“We’ll talk more about th
is when we get home.” Lorne soothed her with a hand over hers.
“Home.” Another gift.
“That’s going to be interesting,” Lorne added, scraping his hands through his hair.
Kohl turned from the window. “This would have never happened had we marked her, man. Claimed her and given her our healing power.”
Lorne looked down at her. “He’s right. I’m sorry, baby girl.” He grabbed the chair to the side of the bed and fell into it, holding her hand against his lips. “We should have claimed you back at the lake. We should have and you wouldn’t be here, hurt now if we had.”
“Mr. Wylde. Mr. Blackthorne. Be glad you didn’t.” They all turned to the door and the newcomer to the room. “For the time being, anyway. If you don’t mind, can I have a moment to talk with Ms. Kennedy?”
Both growled low in their throat and the doctor stiffened, but Cherry didn’t think it was out of fear. “If you think you can intimidate me you have another thing coming. You werebears and shifters are all the same. Broody beasts on the inside and big teddy bears on the outside the second you fall in love.”
Cherry hid a smile. The local doctor strolled through the door, a clipboard in one hand and a permanent smug grin on her face that she wielded against Cherry’s guys like a weapon. Dr. Rachel was a regular at Wylde Fire. Their favorite topic was the doctor’s over-energetic son and Cherry’s favorite student.
Every Rachel she’d ever met had steel balls and an attitude to go with it. She knew her friend not to be any different with her cocked hip and unwavering stare.
“Cherry,” she said with a frown, “believe me, this is something you and I should discuss first.”
“It’s okay, Doc.” She didn’t want to go from hospital bed to jailhouse to bail them out and that was exactly where this was headed if the subject was pushed. If she had to wonder if they loved her, the answer stood in front of her as clear as the white walls and beeping heart monitor. “Really. It’s okay. What you have to say you can say in front of them.”
“Sorry, if you are unmarried and unrelated it's hospital policy to have the room cleared.”
Bear Their Secret: Wylde Den Three (Alaskan Den Men Book 12) Page 9