Damon moved in closer to Nala, and with a wink, he said, “So have you never rutted with another shifter, possibly a werebear?”
The color took over Nala’s face. “Of course not. It’s forbidden.”
“Perhaps, but forbidden fruit always tastes the sweetest.”
Nala moved away from Damon, wincing when Adara said, “Who would want her? She can’t even carry pups. If she wasn’t the protector of the pups, she’d have been banished long ago.”
Nala whirled with fangs bared. “That’s not true! How dare you speak to me this way when the alpha is away? One day Liam will see you for the shrew you really are.”
“I’m as good as his mate already, and when he makes me his official mate, I’ll be the alpha female of this pack. And you’ll be the first to go!”
Nala didn’t back down a bit, but was soon in Adara’s face. “You might talk big, but who is Liam with now? Certainly not you.”
“I have nothing to fear from that werebear. She’s nothing next to me.”
“Obviously you’re blind, then. I saw the way he looked at Elaina. He’s smitten with her.”
“It’s forbidden for the alpha to bring another shifter to his bed as it is for all of us to bed down with anyone not a werewolf.” She tossed her hair over her shoulder and continued. “Liam would especially not do it with a werebear, our sworn enemy.”
“Ignore her,” Damon said. “I have seen how Elaina acted when she spoke Liam’s name. There’s something more there than friendship. Only time will tell if they are to be true mates and not anything you say will change that, Adara.”
Adara strode away with her head held high. “We’ll see about that.”
Once Adara was out of sight, Nala choked out, “She’s such an evil she-bitch. I swear I’ll leave this pack if she ever becomes Liam’s mate.”
Damon patted the boulder next to him. “Calm down. Take a seat and tell me where the men of the pack are. I can’t imagine leaving females to defend themselves would be a good idea.”
“Oh, Jessup is somewhere, but most of the others are on the hunt. I’m worried that if they find you, things won’t go so well.”
Cullen’s lips turned down. “Jessup. That’s a name I’m familiar with.” He actually wished he would run into this Jessup. He was the werewolf that abused Klesa before she was found by Cullen wandering in the forest.
“Really? How so?”
“I’m not sure, actually, but all I know is that I hope I don’t run into him while I’m here. I should press on soon anyway. Where did you say Elaina and Liam went?”
“Searching for her protector, Samson. I’m sure the Bear Claw Pub is the first stop since that’s where Elaina first escaped Samson.”
“What do you know about Samson?”
“I don’t really know much, but I’ve heard his name before. He left the pack many, many years ago and raised Elaina, but that’s all I know. It’s important for Elaina to find him, I think. He might just be able to clear up her past, or so she thinks. I just hope you don’t plan to interfere with their quest.”
Damon shook his head. “And what makes you think I plan to do that?”
“Well, you did come all the way here for one.”
“Yes.”
“And, I’m more observant than most. I’ve also noticed how your face softens when you speak Elaina’s name. A shifter doesn’t fervently enter enemy camps unless he’s lost someone very special to him.”
Damon sighed. “Yes, you are observant, but I also know that Elaina’s destiny does not coincide with mine.”
“How can you be sure, though? Surely you have mated with her.”
Damon felt uncomfortable discussing Elaina with the one woman who might be his true mate. “I’d rather keep what happened back in our village there. The main reason I search for Elaina is that my brother Cullen did not treat her kindly, and I wish to both make sure that she’s okay, and that she is well on her pathway to learn the truth of her true identity.”
Nala stood, stretching her arms to the ceiling of the cave. “I’m no fool. I know you and your brother shared Elaina. Is that typical of werebears?”
“It is in our village. We’re trying to produce enough offspring to assure that our family line doesn’t die off.” Damon left out the part of him being of royal bloodlines. Some things were better left unsaid.
“Oh, and how many sons and daughters do you and Cullen have?”
“I’d rather not say. I’m sorry, but you already seem to know far too much about me already.”
“Only what I have said. I know how the mating fever can be. I suffer as most women do. I’m sure that werebears can’t control themselves once they get the scent into their nostrils.”
“I’m sure the same could be said for werewolves.”
“Big difference. When werewolves take a mate, they are true to her forever.”
“So I take it you have no mate, then?”
Nala went for the corridor of the den. “I’ll show you where you can sleep.”
Damon followed her. “If you must, but sleep is not what I have in mind.”
“Well, it’s all you’re going to get here, unless you prefer shrews. In that case, I’m sure Adara might let you rut with her.”
Damon was hypnotized as he watched the sway of the Nala’s slim hips. When she entered a smaller room, Damon patted the pelt-covered bed. “Come lay with me for a while. I promise I won’t bite.”
“You’ll have to contain your libido until you journey to the Bear Claw Pub. I’ve heard Marla doesn’t discriminate on who she takes to her bed.”
Damon took his shirt off and next his pants slid to the floor in a heap, his manhood thickening by the minute.
“I want no part of you, Damon. I’d like to call Elaina a friend, and I’d hate for her to find out I rutted with a man that might just mean something to her.”
As Nala strode away, Damon crawled into bed solo. He really couldn’t stop himself from thinking about making this werewolf his. For the first time in his life, he thought about what it would be like to have a mate, one he wouldn’t share with his brother or anyone else.
He rolled over in bed and tried to ignore his engorged member. He’d find no satisfaction by pleasuring himself tonight. It’s not like he didn’t enjoy doing it. It’s just that with Nala now imprinted on his mind, he could think of nothing but her.
Damon closed his eyes and it wasn’t much longer before someone crawled into bed with him. As the female rubbed her breasts against his back, he froze even before she touched him. Werebears’ sense of smell was quite sharp, and his nose told him this was not Nala, but Adara.
He gently but firmly pushed her out of bed, and she landed with a thump on the floor.
“What did you do that for?” Adara wailed.
“Isn’t bedding down with me against your rules?”
“I won’t tell anyone if you don’t. I’ve always been curious what it would be like to be with a werebear.”
I have no plans to rut with you is why. I much prefer a woman that isn’t so willing. One who denies me at every turn, like Nala.”
Adara squeezed into her frock. “Huh. What’s wrong with being willing?”
Damon leaned on his elbow. “Nothing, but I rarely bed a female unless I like them, at least, and you hardly fit the mold.”
“She’s barren, and as such, isn’t worth the trouble.”
“Where I come from, even the barren shifters have merit and I have never turned one from my bed before. We might have strange views at my village, but we do have values.”
Adara stomped from the room and it was all Damon could do not to laugh. He’d met some strange females before, but this one he really didn’t care for. He wasn’t positive if Liam had bedded her, but she certainly wouldn’t be a worthy mate. She’d make Nala’s life a living hell on earth, of that he was certain.
* * *
Early the next morning, Damon awoke to a tin can being knocked on a nearby table by Nala. “Rise a
nd shine. It might be best if you head out for the Bear Claw Pub early before the men return. Werewolves don’t react so well to werebears in their den.”
Damon’s brow shot up. “No? When was the last time a werebear was here?”
“Elaina, but even with her, she was only allowed to stay a short time. That was when our old alpha still walked the forest of the living.”
“When did Damien die?”
“You know Damien?”
“I’ve seen him at the Bear Claw Pub on occasion. He was a strong but wise werewolf. Any werewolf that managed to make a pact with the clan is cunning, indeed.”
“He was a kind man, too. One who will be sadly missed.”
When Nala stared at the floor, Damon lifted her chin. “How well did you know him?”
“He never bedded me, if that’s what you mean. He used to tell me that my destiny wouldn’t be realized until I met an outsider.”
“Perhaps I’m your destiny.”
Nala batted Damon’s hand away. “Oh, really? Well, I guess I’ll have to wait to see if you come back someday. We live in very uncertain times. I can’t help but think that if Elaina doesn’t find out the truth of her past—and soon—that the clan might just enact their revenge on us all. Elaina truly believed that they were searching for her.”
“We were told that they were. If I can, I’ll make sure that you and the den remain safe. Instead of hunting down Elaina, perhaps I should stay here to help defend the den. I’d hate for the clan to take you unawares while Liam is away.”
“We can handle our own protection,” a loud male voice said from the doorway.
“Jessup,” Nala greeted him. “The werebear was just leaving.”
“Why is he here at all? You know the rules of the den,” he hissed. When Jessup raised a hand to strike Nala, Damon shifted in the blink of an eye, and pinned the frightened werewolf beneath him.
Nala bit a fist. “Please stop!”
“Shift ... attack, you stupid bitch!” Jessup bellowed.
Nala’s eyes narrowed and she shifted and flung her body into Damon just enough so that Jessup was free. Jessup shifted, and as he leapt toward Damon’s bear form, Nala bit him deep in the neck, tossing him aside. Jessup was cornered as Nala went for his throat, but he skidded away just before she was able to sink her fangs into him.
Jessup raced up the corridor of the den and into the room with the pups, taking one in his jaws as a threat. Nala stood there with all fours planted firmly on the ground, growling and snapping her jaws. Before she was able to do much more, another pup bit Jessup’s tail and held on for dear life as the pup was swung in the air. As he slipped, Damon caught him mid-air. His mighty bear mouth setting the pup down and out of harm’s way.
Damon didn’t back down; he advanced and kept doing it until the pup was released.
Adara raced into the room and screamed, “Stop, all of you. There’re more werebears outside, four of them.”
Damon wanted to rip Jessup into shreds but was forced to leave. He had no idea why the other werebears were here, but Damon strongly suspected it had to do with Elaina. They must have tracked her all the way here. He shifted and went back to his room and retrieved his clothing, and after donning it, he was led outside by Nala and Adara.
“Stay inside the den no matter what, you hear? You got it?” Damon said to the two females.
Nala clung to Damon’s arm, and said, “But what if they kill you?”
“They won’t kill me, I assure you. I might be able to reason with them since Elaina isn’t here. I’m sure that’s why they’re here.”
Damon didn’t waste any time and left the safety of the den, approaching the bears. They circled him, but Damon felt relieved, recognizing his brother amongst them. Cullen shifted to human form and the brothers rounded one another.
“Why are you here?” Damon asked, his facial features tight, eyes flashing.
“Why did you run off like that?”
“I didn’t. I just had to look for Elaina. She might have run into trouble after the way you treated her,” Damon said.
“Oh, come now. You know I’m not ready to call any female my mate, even a comely one at that.”
Cullen winked at his brother and the gesture was lost on the other werebears. “Still, I can’t believe you treated her that way. I’ve enjoyed her as you have, but we should have left her at the human village where she would be safe now.” He went on and informed Damon who Atar was.
Gerirr and Hectar shifted to human form and Atar choked out, “And you think I’d not search a human lodge for the female we seek. She’s more important than you know. Once her true identity is revealed, you’ll see that it makes sense that we find her, and soon.”
“Why? Why do you search for her?” Damon asked.
“It’s not the time. Is Elaina here?” Atar asked.
“No. She’s left with the alpha to parts unknown.”
“Why do I have the feeling that you’re trying to protect her? You can’t convince me that you have no idea where she is right now.”
“How could I? I trailed her the same as you have and she’s not here. We’re not sure for certain what direction they even might have gone.”
Gerirr and Hectar sniffed the air. “She’s gone west. Perhaps they have stopped at the Bear Claw Pub since that’s also west of here. She can’t have gotten far.”
Damon remained stoic. “Why would she go to the one place that you’d look first?”
“Why would I even think that’s where she’d go at all?” Hectar asked. “I wouldn’t be surprised if she searches for her once-protector, Samson.”
“She’d never go anywhere near him,” Cullen said. “He locked her up. She’s told me many times that she’d never go back there. They must have gone somewhere else.”
“There’s nowhere else for her to go. I’m with Hectar. We’ll search at the Bear Paw Pub next,” Gerirr said.
Nala walked forward. “You may rest here, but you cannot go into the den.”
Gerirr and Hectar leered at Nala, ogling her womanly charms, which made Damon want to rip their throats out. “We can go anywhere we choose and you won’t stop us.” With a nod, Gerirr and Hectar led the way into the den. Cullen and Damon lagged behind, but Atar motioned them forward.
They were led into the main room where many of the werewolves mingled and relaxed. Clothing was brought to them as Damon was quite sure it was unsettling for the female werewolves to be amongst naked werebears, especially Nala who didn’t seem to appreciate the attention Gerirr and Hectar were giving her, or so it seemed from the drawn look on her face.
“Woman, get us some beverages,” Gerirr bellowed to Nala.
Nala cowered away. “Right away.” She smiled at Damon before she left and he knew she was up to something, which had him worried for the other werewolves and the pups as they were in such close proximity to where they were most likely hidden.
Ten minutes later, Nala returned with a tray of drinks, handing each one to the werebears. She never even reacted when Gerirr slapped her playfully on her buttocks.
Damon was quite sure she was up to something and he hoped that whatever Nala was up to it would involve impairing the werebears’ ability to think clearly so that they might escape and find Elaina before the clan did.
“What is this?” Atar asked Nala.
“It’s blueberry wine. We make a batch every fall and save it for special guests.” She lifted a glass. “To the clan. May they always stay far to the north and allow us to live in peace.”
“We have for many years,” Gerirr said. “If you were a little more friendly, I’d be happy to share my bed with you.”
Nala pressed a hand against her breast. “Oh, but that is forbidden, don’t you remember? You cannot mate with another type of shifter or a human.”
“I was talking about rutting with you, not keeping you around like I would a mate. Werewolves don’t make good mates.”
“So true, and neither would I consider allowing you
to mount me,” Nala said playfully.
Adara held her glass against her chin. “Yes, that is unless she drinks too much blueberry wine. It brings the beast out in her.”
Gerirr smiled like a cat who’s about ready to get the chance to lick some cream. “I’d like that. I don’t mind a few nips and scratches.”
Atar downed his wine, asking for more. “That’s about enough Gerirr. You’ll uphold the laws of the clan and that also means you’ll live your life to the letter.”
“But you said—”
“I said nothing. Drink!”
Cullen and Damon watched in silence as the clan continued to drink until they slumped to the floor of the cave.
Chapter Eleven
Elaina and Liam awoke as the sun rose, its rays entering the cave where they slept. Elaina rubbed her neck to remove the kinks and dressed with her back turned to Liam. At this point, she didn’t know what to say to him. Would he shun her now? Deny that they had connected on a level only true mates could? Or was it too soon to hope that he felt the same way she had ... that she had never felt more complete in her life. Silence might be better than blurting out how she really felt about Liam. This time it wasn’t about the fever; it went much deeper than that.
When Elaina turned, Liam stared at her for a moment. A smile then appeared, a sweet smile that held more promise than she had hoped for.
“We should probably head out now.”
Elaina sauntered forward. She stopped within breathing distance of Liam. “Yes, we must.”
Liam took ahold of Elaina’s shoulders and she leaned in until her brow was against his lips. He gently kissed her on her forehead and it was all Elaina could do not to wrestle Liam’s clothes off as the raging emotions inside her about took over. She yearned for his touch, his kisses, and his love.
Liam pulled away and they walked side by side out of the cave. It was a bit cool this morning and Elaina shivered. She had to keep her mind focused now. Mist covered the ground, and as they walked, their feet were invisible beneath it.
“Are you nervous?” Liam asked.
“Yes, I really hope that Samson is forthright with me. I can’t help but think that I’ve lived a life full of secrets. I can’t call them lies because I really haven’t ever questioned Samson like I should have. I’ve been having flashbacks, too.”
Betrayed (Werebear Shifter Romance) Book 3 (Clan of the Werebear) Page 5