The BEARly Controlled Grizzly: Bear Clan, 1

by Snow, Jenika

  “No wine, thanks,” I said gruffly and smiled, and although I wasn’t a grinning man, not for pleasantries at least, it probably came out more as a snarl. “Give us a minute.” I knew Bethany was about to give me an earful with my being brisk right then.

  The waiter nodded once before turning and leaving. I turned my attention back to Bethany and saw she looked annoyed. She lifted an eyebrow, and I couldn’t help but chuckle at the fire inside of my mate. God, I loved her.

  “What was that about?”

  I took her hand and brought it to my lips, kissing her knuckles as I stared into her eyes. “I love you,” I said against her flesh and she rolled her eyes. But through her annoyance with me, I saw a slight smirk on her lips.

  “I love you too.” A moment of silence passed and then she leaned back in the chair and looked annoyed. “You know already, don’t you?”

  I didn’t hide my ear-to-ear smile.

  “Dammit, I wanted to surprise you.”

  “Baby, I’m a shifter. There’s no surprising one of us.”

  She rolled her eyes.

  “You doing okay with it, though?”

  She sobered and looked down at her napkin. “Honestly?”

  “Of course.”

  She glanced up at me. “I was scared as hell at first. I mean, it’s not like we have known each other—”

  “I’ve known you’ve been out there my whole life.” Her cheeks turned pink and I knew my words had embarrassed her. They were the truth, but she was still getting used to this mating. I got that, and I was patient.

  “I thought you’d be upset. I thought I should be more upset. Hell, I thought my dad would freak out but apparently he’s ready to be a grandpa.”

  That made me happy. Although I had yet to meet her father, I’d spoken to him on the phone and explained how everything had happened, and how I wasn’t giving her up. She was my mate for life.

  He was a down-to-earth man, and I liked that. I liked him and was glad he’d given me his blessing to be with his daughter … even if I would have been with my mate regardless. There was no way me or my bear could or would have walked away from her.

  “This is what I’ve always wanted. This is what I’ve waited for.” I had her hand in mine still and moved my thumb along her pulse point. “I waited for you, saved myself for you. Even though I didn’t know what you looked like, who you were, I knew you were out there. And I never gave up hope, never stopped searching.” I brought her hand up to my nose and inhaled deeply. “Your scent is ingrained in my body, in my very cells. You’re a part of me now, forever.” Her breath hitched slightly.

  “I just thought you’d be upset because it was so sudden,” she whispered.

  I was shaking my head before she even finished speaking. “This is my dream come true. You’re my fantasy come to life. All I’ve ever wanted was you, babies, and the love of my mate.” I pulled her hand so she knew to stand. When she was right in front of me I pulled her down onto my lap. She made a slight sound of protest as she looked around, a little embarrassed that I was doing the whole PDA thing.

  “Zakari,” she said, her cheeks pink once more.

  “Look at me, baby.” She did so instantly. “You are the only thing I’ll ever want. You are the only person who makes me whole, happy, and without you there is no future. This baby is a piece of both of us, and you bet your gorgeous fucking ass I’m over the moon about it.” My bear flashed forward and I heard her intake of breath. She saw him, the possessive fucker who’d kill for her. I also smelled the blooming, sweet aroma of her arousal. The grizzly also brought that out in her.

  I grinned and leaned in to nip at her mouth.

  “A baby,” she whispered, and I pulled her impossibly closer. It would never be close enough, but it would have to do. “You sure you’re ready for all of this?”

  “I’ve been ready for all of this my entire life, mate,” I whispered against her ear. “If you thought I was possessive before you carried my child, you haven’t seen anything yet.” I kissed the shell of her ear and felt her shiver. Placing a hand on her belly, I imagined her getting big and round. God, that would look so beautiful on her.

  As if my life couldn’t get any more complete, my mate was carrying my young. Everything had come full circle, and fuck, it was perfection.

  * * *

  Maddix

  I shoved a few water bottles in my backpack, some trail mix, and a few pieces of fruit. I did this hike every week, something that got me away from everyone and everything, had me in the heart of the mountains, where my bear felt the freest.

  It was the only thing—at this point—that gave me a moment where I wasn’t losing my fucking mind.

  I headed out of my cabin, stepped off the porch, and made my way toward the back property. I’d made this path over the years, the ground worn from my footsteps, from my journey. There was a cave about two hours from the cabin, one that held a small waterfall.

  Sitting in front of that waterfall had me connecting with the earth, with myself. It allowed my bear to come forth and just … breathe.

  Because at this stage in my life it was all I had.

  I had family, my brothers. I had the cabin I’d built with my bare hands, the property that gave me privacy. But it wasn’t enough.

  I used this time to really find out who I was. And so, I did this not just for myself, but to help clear my head, to tell myself that one day I would find my mate, that she was out there. But it was hard being optimistic, feeling like life would finally be complete, that the puzzle pieces would all fall in place.

  With Zakari now mated and happy, his other soul, the other piece of his life found, I wanted to be happy for my brother. I wanted to help him celebrate and be joyous that he’d finally found his female. But a part of me, one that was selfish, a bastard, was jealous. And I hated myself for that.

  I hated the fact that I couldn’t be one hundred percent happy for a member of my family. We all had waited so long, were still waiting, and so another part of me took this hike every week to help realize that it was okay for me to be a little upset and withdrawn.

  It was okay for me to be envious of my brother and what he had, what I might never have.

  Although my mate was out there, it wasn’t a guarantee that I’d find her. Some shifters never found their other halves, and fucking hell did that suck. To go through life wanting one essential thing and never having it. But I’d search for her, go to the ends of the earth, keep looking, hoping that I’d find her.

  And that’s all I could do. Hope.

  But I would fucking find her. I would.

  And when I did find her, there was no going back, no stopping me. I’d claim her and I’d do it hard, fast, so she knew that there was no escaping. I wouldn’t let her go. I wouldn’t be easy and gentle. She’d see the full force of what it meant to be mated to a bear shifter, one who’d waited his whole damn life.

  My bear stirred, rose up as if an angry wave crashed to the surface. He was ready. He’d been ready.

  I felt all that need, all that possession slam into me.

  A virgin grizzly shifter, saving himself for his mate, not even able to get hard for another fucking female. And that’s exactly how I wanted it to be. I only wanted her … whoever she was, wherever she was.

  And I hoped she was ready for me, for everything I had for her. Because a lifetime of pent-up arousal was one wild fucking thing.

  Epilogue

  Zakari

  Seven years later

  I was busy working under the hood of my truck when I heard the children’s laughter. Bracing my hands on the edge, I lifted my head and looked out into the clearing where I saw the triplets, Brody, Willa, and Trevor, all playing.

  My children. Two boys and a girl.

  The lights of my life, the reason I worked so damn hard, to provide for them.

  They were rolling around in the grass, Brody and Trevor so like me and their uncles in their recklessness. And Little Willa, playing in the sandbo
x I’d made her, was the spitting image of Bethany. I had to smile at that, so glad that our little girl looked just like her beautiful mother.

  I’d built that play yard as soon as they’d been born, even though they hadn’t been able to use it for years, I’d wanted to have something prepared and ready for when they could run around. And when they got older, they’d used it every day.

  I looked over to the side where Bethany was crouched low, picking peas from the garden. She’d built that little patch herself, cleared it out, tilled it, and planted all the vegetables that currently grew in abundance. I was so proud of her, loved her more every day, and I knew my life wouldn’t be complete without her and our children in it. Willa ran toward the swing, laughing at her brothers as they wrestled.

  I heard Willa start to cry and snapped my head in her direction. My bear rose up protectively. I saw her on the ground cradling her knee, and I knew she’d fallen off of the swing. I was by her side a second later, scooping her tiny body into my arms and walking over to the picnic table just a few feet away.

  Sitting down with her in my lap, I gently pushed her hand away to see her knee, a red and angry scrape covering her peach-colored skin. I kissed the top of her head and whispered that everything would be okay, that Mama would be here soon to help clean her scrape and put a princess bandage on it.

  And sure enough, Bethany was by us only moments later, a small first aid kit in her hand as she crouched in front of our daughter. She cleaned up Willa’s knee and had her favorite princess bandage on it only a moment later. And just like that our baby girl was all smiles. She hopped off my lap and ran back to her sandbox.

  Bethany stood, but before she could get away I reached out and curled my hand around her hip, pulling her in close so she was now sitting on my lap. I took the first aid kit from her and set it behind me on the table. I cupped her cheek and turned her head, so she was looking right at me.

  I leaned in close to kiss her deeply. My heart was full and my life was complete. The sound of our children growling had me chuckling and pulling away. We both looked over at the triplets and saw the boys had already turned into their bears. They were cute little brown grizzly cubs, more like fur balls if I were being honest.

  But they were our little fur balls.

  I grinned and shook my head, their clothing tattered remains around them as they wrestled and rolled on the ground. They were still learning, not fully having control over when they shifted, but growing bolder the older they got.

  As I held my wife and the mother of my children, stared out at the beautiful babies we’d created, I knew that life couldn’t get any better than this.

  But then, as the faint scent of something powerful, something intimate, filled my head, I knew life could get even better. I looked over at Bethany, my bear growling in approval. I hadn’t noticed it at first because I’d been occupied with Willa, and also because Bethany was only a few weeks along. Hell, she probably didn’t even realize it.

  I placed a hand on her belly and grinned as I watched her eyes widen. She glanced down at where my hand was.

  “What?” she said softly.

  I nodded my answer. “Another little grizzly shifter.” I grinned. Fuck, I was happy. I would be content to have this woman barefoot and pregnant, having a whole little clan of cubs running around.

  “Are you happy?” I asked, wanting to hear her say it, my bear needing it as much as my human side did.

  She turned in my arms so she could see me fully, cupped the side of my face, and leaned in close. “More than you’ll ever know,” she whispered against my lips.

  The children started making disgusted sounds, as if seeing their parents show affection was just too much of a bother.

  I grinned like a fool.

  One day they’d find their mates and know exactly what it was like to be complete. Until then I’d protect and care for all four of them, my children and my mate … my whole fucking world.

  Because without them there was no forever.

  The End

  SAY YOU WANT IT

  By Jenika Snow

  www.JenikaSnow.com

  Jenika_Snow@Yahoo.com

  Copyright © October 2018 by Jenika Snow

  First E-book Publication: October 2018

  Cover photo provided by: Adobe Stock

  Editor: Kasi Alexander

  Proofreader: Liz Murach

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: The unauthorized reproduction, transmission, or distribution of any part of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to five years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000.

  This literary work is fiction. Any name, places, characters and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or establishments is solely coincidental.

  Please respect the author and do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials that would violate the author’s rights.

  Piper

  It was supposed to be a summer job, something to help me transition from graduating high school to starting college. But to me, this wasn’t just some office cleaning position.

  I’d be working for Zane, the one man I’d loved for longer than I even wanted to admit.

  The one person who could make me weak in the knees with just a glance.

  My father’s friend who was far too old for me, but sexier than sin.

  Zane

  I hired Piper to keep her close, to help appease my need for her. But I played it off like I was helping her earn some money before starting college.

  I was too old for her.

  She was too innocent for me.

  She was my friend’s daughter.

  Off limits.

  But I’d wanted her since she turned legal last summer. I saw the way she watched me, the way she bit her lip, the fact that her pulse jumped at the base of her throat when I was near. Did she know how obsessed I was with her, how I’d go to any means to keep other men away from her?

  I could see how much she wanted me and that was dangerous.

  Because her need for me made me territorial, desperate.

  Everything I was, everything I had, belonged to Piper.

  All she had to do was ask and it was hers.

  Warning: If you like possessive, territorial, and obsessed men in your stories, this insta-love one is just for you. With an older celibate hero, an innocent virgin heroine, and all the gooey juiciness you love in romance, make sure you have something cold to drink as you read this one.

  Chapter 1

  Piper

  “You nervous?”

  I looked up at my father, who sat across from me at the table, his chipped and old “World’s Best Dad” mug in his hand. I’d given him that mug when I was six years old, and it was still his favorite and going strong.

  The handle had been glued on a few too many times, the print on the side was faded to hell, but still he refused to get rid of it.

  “What’s there to be nervous about?” Of course, I was lying. I was nervous as hell. But it wasn’t because this was my first full-time, summer job. Although I was almost nineteen, my father had refused to let me get a job while in high school because he wanted me to focus on my studies.

  But a part of me thought that he just wanted me home more. After my mother had left us high and dry when I was twelve years old, I saw a change in my father. It wasn’t a bad change, per se, but he kept me close, maybe worried that I would leave him as well.

  And I supposed I was, in a sense. This was the last summer I would be here before I started college. Although the university was only an hour away, I would be living in a dorm and might not even be able to come home every weekend, much to my father’s dismay.

  “Well, you’re working a full day and you’ve never actually done that before. Not to mention, you’re working for Zane.”

  At the mention of my father’s childhood friend, my heart sped up. But I s
tayed calm, collected. I didn’t want my father to see that the very mention of Zane had every part of my body coming alive.

  Zane Alfonso.

  Rich.

  Sexy.

  Powerful.

  He was the opposite of my father in many ways. Whereas my dad worked at a construction yard, got dirty, and sweated all day as he did manual labor, Zane wore a suit and had business meetings.

  Where my father had to work overtime to make ends meet, and didn’t have a fancy degree under his belt, Zane had a multimillion dollar architecture company, was rolling in money, and could retire now if he wanted to.

  But before he’d found success, he and my father had gone to school together, grew up in the same shitty neighborhood, dealt with the same kind of drunken and abusive fathers. And even now, despite being on opposite ends of the financial spectrum, they were still closer than ever.

  And that’s how I got this job. Although it was just a cleaning position in his office, there was no interview, no background check. He’d hired me on the spot last weekend when my father mentioned how I wanted to work before going to college, save up and get some experience under my belt.

  But God, it would be hard as hell being around him and trying to hide how I felt.

  The receptionist stood, her body perfectly toned … of course. The tight pencil skirt she wore showed off how long her legs were, and her white blouse amplified her massive breasts.

  In other words, she was everything I wasn’t.

  I felt pretty inadequate standing next to her in a pair of jeans and a T-shirt, my outfit far from luxurious in this architecture firm.

  I probably looked like a bum compared to her. She eyed me up and down, and I could see the disinterest on her face.