Fae-ted to the Bear: A Wishing Moon Bay Shifter Romance (The Bond of Brothers Book 4)

by Harmony Raines

  “I do belong by his side,” she agreed. “And finding Caleb has complicated my plans.”

  “I can only imagine,” Ivan looked toward her. “Are you telling me you are quitting anyway?”

  “Oh, no.” She waved her hands at him, as if trying to push that thought away. “I am totally committed to my career. Well, not totally. I am going to work hard to prove myself to you and learn everything you have to teach me. But I also want to balance it with my life with Caleb. I guess my priorities have shifted a little.”

  “Listen, Elise.” Ivan glanced toward the restaurant. She was wasting his time when he was so busy, but he was patient with her, and she warmed to the dragon shifter. “You’re my brother’s mate. And that means I am willing to give you some leeway here that I wouldn’t give anyone else.”

  “I understand. And I promise not to take advantage of that.”

  Ivan chuckled. “I thought you would object.”

  “I’d be stupid to object. I know how Caleb feels about his family. And the way he speaks about you all makes me believe that you all feel the same way about each other. So, since you want each other to be happy, it’s easy to see that you’ll be more...accommodating to me because I am your brother’s mate.”

  Ivan pointed at her. “It’s a good thing you have his back.”

  “Just like he has mine.” She stepped forward and kissed Ivan on the cheek before backing out of the kitchen. “Thanks, Ivan. I won’t forget this.”

  “Just remember you still owe me a dish of wonderful food,” he called after her as she left the kitchen.

  “I won’t.” She entered the reception area and looked around, Caleb and Aiden were gone.

  “Through there and down the corridor.” Jeremy looked up from the reception desk and aimed her in the right direction.

  “Thanks.” She hurried down the corridor, suddenly aware that she smelled of woodsmoke and her hair was a mess. When they left the forest, she’d planned on going straight home and showering. Elise sniffed her clothes. She’d definitely have to go change before they left.

  When she reached the door leading to Valerie’s apartment, she raised her hand, ready to knock.

  “Elise.” Flora opened the door. “Are you coming, too?”

  “Yes, I just had to go tell Ivan. I was worried I might lose my job here but he’s okay with it.” She pressed her lips together as she looked over Flora’s shoulder. “Is there any more information? Aiden just said that their sister thinks she’s being followed.”

  “There’s not a lot else. Just a few details. She was driving home last night, and she sensed someone.” Flora ran her hand over the back of her neck. “You know, with her shifter senses.”

  “But she couldn’t tell who it was?” Elise followed Flora into the apartment, but they stopped just inside the doorway rather than joining the others.

  “No, she said whoever it was, they were too far away. Like outside the range of her senses.” Flora fluttered her fingers around her head. “I don’t quite get the whole shifter senses thing. It seems some shifters can sense things farther away than others.”

  “Does she know if it was a shifter watching her? And how does she know it wasn’t just some random person?” Elise was certain Zara wouldn’t have troubled her brothers if she thought it was nothing. However, Elise grasped at the idea that their sister was an attention seeker.

  They’d only just met and maybe the thought of having two big bear shifters to watch over her had made her dream up this story.

  “There was also an incident at her house. She’s certain someone had been in there when she got home a couple of nights ago. She’d been to her aunt and uncle’s house for dinner and when she got back, one of the windows was open. She was sure it had been shut when she went out.”

  “A burglar?” Elise asked.

  “That’s just it, nothing was taken, but a photograph of Aiden and Caleb had been moved. Or just not put back in the exact same place.”

  “What is she, OCD? Things get moved.”

  “Zara is doing work on the house. There was a thin layer of dust and the picture frame definitely wasn’t in the right place.” Flora rested her hand on Elise’s arm. “She’s a smart woman, Elise. She isn’t making this up, even if we hope she is.”

  Elise brushed her hand through her hair and ducked her head, her cheeks flaming pink with guilt. “I was just hoping...you know?”

  Flora slid her arm around Elise’s shoulder. “I know exactly what you mean, we don’t want our mates to get in danger or get hurt. It’s natural to try and explain this away.”

  Elise hugged her friend. “We’ll have their backs.”

  “Oh, you bet we will.” Flora sniffed Elise’s shoulder. “So, you spent a night in the wildwood.”

  “We did.” She stepped back. “I was supposed to be going home to cook a recipe for Ivan to prove I’m worthy of my job, but all that’s on hold now.”

  “We’ll figure it all out and then you can come back and cook. Ivan and the restaurant aren’t going anywhere.”

  “But Caleb is.” She gave a short laugh. “I’ve dreamed of working in a restaurant with a great chef for so long. But I was willing to throw it all away today for a man I’ve just met.”

  “Being the mate of a shifter is a totally new experience, isn’t it?” Flora took Elise’s hand. “Come and have some coffee. Then we’ll figure out a plan and leave.”

  “Elise, there you are.” Valerie handed her a cup of coffee. “There’s food, too. Help yourself.”

  “Thanks.” She thumbed toward the door. “Maybe I should head home, though, and get changed and shower. I don’t want to hold you up.”

  “We need to go to the cabin and grab some stuff, too,” Aiden said. “I also want to call Oscar Renshaw.” Aiden glanced at Valerie and then looked away.

  “Why Oscar?” Elise had heard of the detective, but the man was now retired. However, she was certain she was missing something when the other people in the room exchanged glances.

  “Oscar gave me a file on our case,” Aiden explained. “I want to ask him if he can dig deeper on the man who we believe is responsible for killing our parents.”

  Elise inhaled sharply. “You think this is connected.” That explained their concern for their sister.

  If it was, they’d need their mates to be strong for them. She clenched her fists. Emotionally and physically.

  Elise took Flora’s hand and faced the others. “I told Caleb I was here to protect him as much as he is here to protect me. I’m not afraid. We’ll do what we need to do.”

  Flora nodded. Their mates would never have to stand alone.

  Chapter Twenty – Caleb

  “Now Karros wants to come, too?” Caleb crossed his arms across his chest. “This isn’t some vacation to the world beyond. This is serious.”

  “And I’m serious.” Karros came out of the house with a pack slung over his shoulder. “You have no idea what you might be facing. If the person who killed your father is stalking your sister, then you might need all the help you can get.”

  “Caleb. We should all go.” She placed her hand on her heart as she stared into his eyes. Leaning forward, she said, “It feels right. I can’t explain it.”

  Caleb held his mate’s gaze. Her eyes shone, reminding him of the stars above their heads last night. “If you feel it’s right then okay.” He wasn’t especially pleased with Karros coming along. But he was a man who trusted and relied on his instincts. If Elise had a feeling that Karros should come, then he wasn’t going to argue.

  “We’ll need to take Aiden’s truck since it has six seats. It’s going to be a squeeze if we have to bring Zara back with us, but we’ll manage.”

  “Thank you.” She kissed his cheek and swung around to face Karros. “Are you ready to go?”

  “All packed.” Karros held up his pack.

  “I just need to get all the food we foraged into the fridge.” She sighed as she headed into the house. “I don’t know how long we’
re going to be so it might all be spoiled by the time we get back.”

  “Then we’ll have to go back.” Caleb followed behind her and wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her back toward him. “It was the best night of my life.”

  Elise ducked her head and blushed. “I bet you say that to all the women in your life.”

  “I don’t recall any other women,” he growled and sent shivers down her spine. “For me, there is only you. There will only ever be you.”

  “I thought we were in a hurry.” Karros came into the kitchen and Caleb let Elise go, wishing he’d denied her request for Karros to come.

  He’s right, Caleb’s bear said. We are in a hurry. Everything else can wait.

  Caleb passed the food to Elise who packed it into containers before storing it in the fridge. As they worked, Karros grabbed some snacks from the cupboard which he put in a separate pack.

  The guy is thinking of his stomach, his bear said. Perhaps we have more in common than we thought.

  That depends on whether he intends to share, Caleb answered.

  “Okay, I think that’s everything.” Elise sniffed the mushrooms before she put them in a container. “These shouldn’t ferment too much more if I put them in the fridge, but if your bear does eat them, we should proceed with caution.”

  “You’re going to feed the fermented mushrooms to a bear?” Karros asked in shock.

  “Not just any bear.” Elise placed her hand on Caleb’s shoulder and the familiar jolt of recognition course through him. “Caleb and his bear share a special connection. He’s quite house-trained.”

  House-trained, his bear grumbled, and Caleb laughed.

  She doesn’t mean it as an insult, she is just trying to explain to her brother that we are not going to rip anyone’s head off if we eat a few too many mushrooms, Caleb explained.

  “I’ll take your word for it,” Karros replied. “But a drunk bear just sounds dangerous.”

  “There’s nothing dangerous about Caleb’s bear as long as you are on the right side of him,” Elise replied. “And you will stay on the right side of him, won’t you?”

  It was more of a warning than a question and Karros bowed his head. “I am not stupid enough to provoke any bear, whether it’s a shifter or not. I like my life and want to keep it.”

  She went to him and patted his cheek. “You also like your face. And want to keep it.”

  “Come on,” Karros chuckled. “Let’s get going. Your sister needs us.”

  Ah, so that’s why he insisted he came, Caleb’s bear said. He cares for his sister and knows how much you care for Zara. He is being protective of our sister because he can empathize with us.

  And there was I thinking he was coming along because he doesn’t think we are strong enough to keep Elise safe. Or because he thought it would give him a chance to prove to Flora she’d chosen the wrong man. As if he thinks we might need his help. Caleb studied Karros for a moment. His bear might be right. Karros was more compassionate than they’d given him credit for.

  Ten minutes later, they were driving to the hotel, where they had arranged to meet up with Aiden and Flora. Caleb had decided not to tell his brother that Karros was coming along, too.

  “When was the last time you visited the world beyond?” Caleb asked.

  “Some time ago. A couple of years, maybe more. I went to a food festival. There were all different flavors of food from around the world. I found it stimulating.” Elise inhaled deeply. “I can still taste some of them and the smell...”

  “You and food,” Karros replied.

  “I’ve never known you to complain about eating the food I’ve prepared,” Elise countered.

  “I’m always happy to support you in your career.” Karros glanced at Caleb. “You find it funny?”

  Caleb’s laughter bubbled up inside him, despite the seriousness of the situation. “I can hear my brothers and me in you two. The way you bicker. You don’t mean to hurt each other, you just like to have these small disagreements.”

  “It’s part of being siblings,” Elise acknowledged. “At least we have plenty of experience when it comes to our own children.”

  “Ah, so this means you are having children.” Karros nodded with approval.

  “It does.” Elise tucked her arm through her brother’s. “We’re going to need lots of babysitting help. I want to continue with my career.”

  He placed his hand on top of hers. “You know I’m there for you no matter what. Whatever you need, I’ll do what I can.”

  “You’re a good brother.” Caleb stared straight ahead, they were nearly back at the hotel.

  “Thanks. It means a lot.” Karros paused. “And you’re a good mate for my sister. I know how much her career means to her.”

  “I am here,” Elise squeezed his hand. “You’re talking as if I am invisible.”

  “You could never be invisible,” Karros told her. “Not when you make so much noise.”

  “I don’t make a lot of noise.” She shuffled in her seat and sat up straighter. “What noise do I make?”

  Caleb chuckled and then Karros started laughing as Elise poked him in the ribs. “Ouch.”

  “Don’t be so mean.” She hugged him as Caleb drove into the parking lot of the hotel and stopped the engine.

  “I’m going to tell Aiden that you’re coming.” He leaned forward and looked at Karros. “If he really hates the idea...”

  “I won’t come,” Karros replied. “If he really hates the idea, I’ll wait for you here. As long as you promise to keep in contact with me. And if you need me, I’ll come find you.”

  “Thanks.” Caleb bowed his head at Karros and got out of the truck.

  “You’re trusting Karros to drive your truck back to his house?” Aiden had his head under the hood of his truck as he checked the water and oil.

  “No, he’s coming with us.”

  Aiden nearly thumped his head on the raised hood as he jerked his chin up. “What?”

  “Karros wants to come, and Elise has a feeling it’s a good idea,” Caleb explained, even though it sounded lame.

  “Seriously? You know that he was engaged to Flora until a couple of days ago. I know it’s hard to say no to your mate, but I think it’s a terrible idea.” He closed the hood and wiped his hand on a rag.

  “Is it?” Caleb asked.

  “Yes.” Aiden stared at his brother as he wiped his hands clean. With a sigh, he shook his head. “But you’ve obviously thought it through and think it’s a good idea.”

  “Elise reminded me that we have no idea what we’re walking into. We have no idea what kind of threat is out there waiting for us. What kind of threat is stalking our sister. What kind of danger we’re walking into with our mates.”

  Aiden glanced over his brother’s shoulders, his eyes fixed on Karros who was still seated inside the truck.

  He’s smart, Caleb’s bear said. If he’d gotten out as if this was a done deal no matter what Aiden said, it might have caused problems. Aiden might have felt pressured, but this way our brother gets to make a decision.

  Of course he’s smart, Caleb joked. He’s Elise’s brother and he knew to let Flora go when she found her mate. He could have clung on, but he didn’t.

  So we like him now? His bear chuckled.

  We do. And we have to since he is Elise’s brother and very important to her. She trusts him so we must trust him, too.

  With our lives? Caleb asked.

  Yes. With our lives. But let’s hope it never comes to that. His bear lowered his head and paced back and forth, the thought of anyone threatening them or their loved ones was almost too much. He wanted to tear into whoever was threatening Zara.

  “Elise is right. Ivan offered to come but there’s no way he can leave the hotel restaurant. Logan and Dario are busy with the store and with Penny and Helena pregnant, I don’t want them to take unnecessary risks.”

  “And Rift?” Caleb asked. Not that there was room for anyone else in the truck. But if there wa
s an issue with Karros accompanying them then maybe their snow leopard brother could come with them instead.

  “Rift is going to finish the job on the roof.” Aiden shrugged. “We were supposed to finish it today. We can’t leave it for too long, there’s rain forecast tomorrow, and we have no idea when we’re going to be back.”

  “Okay, Karros it is.” Caleb nodded.

  “Karros it is what?” Flora came out of the hotel carrying a pack and linked arms with Aiden. “What are you two planning? I thought we were focused on going to check up on Zara.”

  “We are and Karros has offered to come, too.” Aiden faced his mate. “Are you okay with that?”

  “Am I okay with that?” She leveled her gaze at Aiden. “Shouldn’t you be the one answering that question?”

  “I already have. I told Caleb I’m okay with it because we might need backup.” Aiden’s jaw tensed as Flora’s eyes narrowed. “So, you’re okay with it but not happy about it.”

  “That just about sums it up.” Aiden nodded toward the truck. “All I want to do is protect my family and if Karros can help with that then I appreciate it.”

  “He’ll have your back,” Flora told her mate. “No matter what he feels about our relationship, if he says he’s there for you then he’ll be there for you. He won’t go behind your back and he knows for sure that my relationship and our arranged marriage are dead.”

  “As long as he’s not coming along to make sure that I end up dead,” Aiden said lightly but his expression was set firm.

  “He’s not that kind of man. I promise you.” She kissed Aiden’s cheek. “And you have no reason to be insecure, you know I am yours. If anything happened to you, I would never take another man to my bed nor will I ever wear another man’s ring.”

  “Okay.” Caleb put up his hand. “That is far too much information.” He chuckled as he walked away, heading back to his truck to tell Karros his offer to accompany them had been accepted.

  “So, we’re all going.” Elise and Karros got out of the truck as he approached.

  “Yes, if you’re sure that’s what you want to do.” He lowered his head and looked Karros in the eyes. “This is going to be hard for you.”