Wolves, Witches and Bears...Oh My!

by Nicky Charles

  “Oh.” There was something about her voice, a certain nuance, that had him frowning.

  “Are you happy? How’s your new life?”

  “The new life is fine.”

  He noticed she didn’t say she was happy, but she spoke again before he could pursue the point.

  “What about you?”

  “I’m good.” At that moment, Grace decided to stand up, pulling herself up his leg as she babbled his name.

  “Ryne, is that a baby I hear?”

  “Yeah, my little girl, Gracie.” He smiled as he looked down at her.

  “Ryne Taylor’s a daddy. Imagine that!” The delight in her voice was obvious. “Who’s her mama?”

  “Melody. Melody Green.”

  “You got back together? I’m so glad. How’s Ruth? And what about Ar…” She stopped and then cleared her throat. “Never mind. I should let you go. Your daughter needs you.”

  He lifted Grace with his free arm, cuddling her wet body to his. “Do you want me to come to Chicago and check things out? Help you get your ID replaced and—”

  “No. You have a family that needs you.”

  “Have you contacted the police about the mugging?”

  “I didn’t dare. What if they try to check into my background and find out?”

  “They won’t. Your new identity is rock solid. Even the FBI wouldn’t realize it was fake. But…” He hesitated. Lycan Link had decades of practice fabricating identities, but those were for Lycans who had been trained since birth on how to handle awkward questions. She was a human. What if she slipped up? And what if the mugger really had come by her apartment? The bastard had her ID, knew everything about her...

  “I’ll send someone then. I know a few people in the area.”

  “Ryne, I’ll be fine. I was just having an attack of the worries.”

  He heard a sound like a door opening.

  “There, I’m out of my bedroom. See? No more hiding. It was a panic attack, that’s all. I get them sometimes. This one was just worse than most.”

  He pressed his lips together, considering his options. “Listen, I’ll take care of your ID from this end. New documents should arrive in a few days. You only have to cancel any credit cards or bank cards you had.”

  “Really? Thanks, Ryne. I’m so sorry I bothered you.”

  “You’re not a bother. You know if you ever need something, you can call me, right?”

  “Yes, but you’ve already done so much. Getting me a new life, lending me money and fixing things so no one asked questions.”

  “Everyone accepted the story. We buried your casket. They even ran a front-page article on you in the newspaper.”

  “Oh, that was sweet of them.” She sighed softly. “Well, thanks again. I promise the next time I get mugged, I won’t fall apart all over you.”

  “The next time?” He felt his eye-brows shoot upward. “What kind of a hellhole neighbourhood are you living in?”

  “I was joking, Ryne.”

  “Well it’s not funny. You call me if you have a problem. Understand?”

  “Sure, Ryne. Thanks again.”

  “I mean it. Call me anytime you want, Lucy.”

  He talked nonsense to Grace while he wrapped her in her towel and then carried her inside.

  Lucy’s call had left him feeling uneasy. Not only because it raised bad memories but because he was wondering why she was targeted. Was it really a random mugging or had she been chosen for a reason? Or maybe he’d been watching too many conspiracy theory movies; that genre could really mess with your head if you weren’t careful.

  No. It had to have been a random attack. The real question was whether Lucy was all right. What if that mugger started to stalk her? Maybe he should send someone to check regardless of her insistence it wasn’t necessary.

  And what should he tell Melody? She’d know something was up. He’d never told his mate Lucy was still alive. When she found out he’d kept the news from her all this time, the shit would hit the fan.

  Would she understand his reasoning?

  In the week they’d stayed in Chicago after the incident, he’d visited the hospital several times. His main purpose had been to try to gain access to Aldrich and finish the man off; however, he’d also taken time to check on Lucy, to see if there was anything he could do for her. Those first few days she’d barely clung to life. Bruised and bandaged, connected to tubes and monitors, he’d done the only thing he could think of; he’d snuck into her room at night and given her some of his blood. Whether it would help or not, he wasn’t sure, a vague memory of something he’d once read spurring him to try it anyways. She wouldn’t turn into a shifter as she lacked the correct genes, but he’d hoped it would give her immune system the boost it needed to pull her through.

  Not wanting to raise Melody’s hopes, he hadn’t mentioned what he’d done. After all, Melody had been pretty shaky herself at that point, her latent Lycan half having emerged seemingly out of nowhere. And so he’d kept silent.

  To his relief, Lucy had rallied, regaining consciousness—much to the surprise of the medical team—and declaring she wasn’t returning home. He’d tried to assure her the scar on her face would fade but she’d insisted it was a sign. She’d been planning on making a new start sometime anyway. Her tears had finally convinced him—he’d always been a sucker that way—and he’d sworn silence on the matter before making the needed arrangements. After all she’d done for him, it was the least he could do.

  Now he wondered if his prolonged silence had really been in her best interest. Only one other person—or at least that person’s inner animal—might suspect her secret.

  He put Grace in a dry diaper and then laid her down in her bed. She promptly got back up.

  “It’s time for you to go to bed.” He gave her a serious look. “And you’re going to sleep through the whole night, right? Mommy and I need time to rest or…do other things.”

  She grinned and patted his face. “Da-da-da-da.”

  He sighed. What was it about the women in his life that they could all wrap him around their little fingers?

  Chapter 3

  The moonlight filtered through the leaves, creating irregular bright patches on the otherwise dark forest floor. For a human, it would have been difficult to manoeuvre over the rocks and logs that lay scattered on the ground. To the bear making its way along the narrow path, the amount of light was of little importance. It knew the land well and had traversed the miles of wilderness for years.

  As it lumbered along, it sniffed the sultry air, searching for the scent of another of its kind but there was none like it in the territory. At one time, the beast would have rejoiced in the fact, rising up to its fullest height and marking the trees with its claws. The scarred bark would warn others of its size and strength, making them think twice about intruding.

  But now the animal did no such thing. It had been alone for years and the time had long since passed for it to find a mate. The problem was, the one it had wanted was no longer here.

  The bear shook its head, then looked around peering into the shadows, hoping against hope the one it desired would miraculously appear. Its human half had spent long hours explaining their love was gone, that it was time to move on.

  Was it? Perhaps.

  With a heavy sigh, the bear turned and began to make its way back towards town. It would have been content to spend the night in the relative coolness of the forest, however the man said they were needed, that it wasn’t fair to leave their duties to others.

  This much was true.

  Bears had a great sense of responsibility to go along with their patience and careful planning. Unlike the wolves in the area, the bear thought through each action, considering the consequences, weighing the pros and cons. Sometimes too much.

  That was what had happened last time.

  And it is why we are now alone. It grumbled in discontent and sent accusing looks at the man.

  The town came into view and the bear stopped
near a large pine. They’d been gone a week this time, too long and yet not long enough to ease the restlessness that plagued them. The bear gave one last glance around and then relinquished control. With a shake of its fur, the air shimmered and the bear faded away leaving a dishevelled man in its place.

  Armand blinked and stretched then ran his hands through his long unruly hair, pushing it from his eyes before heading towards the back door of his bar, the Broken Antler.

  He’d felt the need to get away, or more to the fact, his inner animal had. It was restless, wanting a mate when there was none to be had. No female bear shifters had crossed their path in years despite the fact they had widened their search, leaving the territory for longer and longer excursions. Yet seven days away had changed nothing. They were still unmated.

  Frowning, he considered the fact it might be time to move on or at least start placing discreet inquiries with his relatives. The idea didn’t sit well. He could only imagine the ribbing he’d get, yet what other choice did he have?

  His train of thought was interrupted by raucous laughter as a group of customers staggered across the parking lot. He veered to intercept them before they reached their vehicle.

  “Is one of you a designated driver?” He planted himself in front of them, arms crossed over his expansive chest creating a solid wall between the men and their destination. As the owner of the bar, there were certain activities he turned a blind eye to, however drunk driving wasn’t one of them.

  “Me.” One of the men piped up, pushing his way to the front of the group.

  Armand gave him a quick survey, noting the clarity of his speech and eyes, the way he stood without weaving about like his friends. The man passed inspection so he stepped aside. “Drive safely.”

  He watched as they got in a car, the DD climbing behind the wheel and bossing the others around until they put on their seatbelts. Good. Being buckled in could make the difference between life and death in a collision.

  He resumed his path towards the back door, the sound of music and conversation spilling out to meet him along with the usual smell of alcohol, food and humanity. It filled his nostrils, not entirely pleasant but familiar and oddly comforting. This was home and had been for more than a decade. Over that time, he’d slowly rebuilt the business, from the rundown hovel it had been, adding more modern features like big screen TVs and even a band. It wasn’t a fancy place but then again, neither was Stump River. Change happened slowly here and that suited him.

  Pausing in the doorway, he considered his course of action. To the left was the kitchen where he could get something to eat. Or he could duck up the stairs on the right and head to his room for a shower and change of clothes. Both options were appealing… Instead, he moved forward into the main part of the bar.

  “Hey Armand! You’re back.”

  “We missed you, buddy.”

  Locals greeted him as they noticed his presence. If they wondered at his increasingly long vacations, they didn’t ask. The fact that he towered over them and had an imposing stare might have been a factor or maybe it was the knife strapped to his waist. Or perhaps they just accepted his odd behaviour. As long as the bar was open, and the beer was flowing, they were happy.

  Over the heads of the throng, he made eye contact with the man working behind the bar. Bryan Cooper gave him a salute acknowledging his return. It was fortunate to have friends who were willing and able to take over when he needed to get away. Bryan was a member of the local Lycan pack and more than capable of handling things even if an argument were to break out. As Beta, he was not only a skilled bodyguard but was also good at defusing situations that could turn dangerous.

  Armand wove his way through the crowd and when he reached the bar, Bryan handed him a drink.

  “Welcome home.”

  “Merci.” He took a swig and wiped his mouth. “Did anything exciting happen while I was gone?”

  “Just the usual. Your timing is perfect, though. Ryne called looking for you.”

  He arched a brow. “Did he say why?”

  “Nope.” Bryan checked the clock on the wall, a novelty item with the numeral five at each point and a sign declaring ‘the bar opens at five’. Of course, the opposite was true at this moment. “Closing time.”

  He grunted in acknowledgement and, raising his fingers to his lips, gave a loud piercing whistle that had everyone pausing and looking his way.

  “We’re closing in fifteen. Drink up and head home.”

  The announcement was met with the usual good-natured grumbles, but everyone complied, the room clearing out until only the staff remained, completing their evening chores.

  Bryan wiped up a water ring then tossed the towel on the top of the bar. “Mind if I head out? Cassie’s waiting for me.”

  “Go. You’ve done enough.”

  “Any time.” With a jaunty wave, Bryan went on his way.

  Armand watched the other man leave and then circled the room, checking no one was passed out in a corner. He banged on the washroom doors ensuring they, too, were vacant before returning to empty the till. It was a routine he had performed for years. By the time he was done, the band would have their instruments put away and the waitresses would have dishes stacked in the kitchen. He’d start the dishwasher and then head to his apartment upstairs. There would be much to do in the morning; going over the books, checking the bar was stocked, going to the cemetery…

  That last point had him pausing.

  Was it hypocritical of him to have gone looking for a mate, only to return and place flowers at the grave of another woman? Lucy was gone. The bouquets of wildflowers were a pointless gesture, yet to end the practice seemed wrong. If he didn’t visit her grave, who would trim the grass and check the headstone was polished? His brow furrowed at the unpalatable image of a neglected plot.

  He looked up as the outer door opened and Ryne Taylor walked in. The man seldom came to the bar this late anymore. It would seem the phone call Bryan had mentioned must have been important. A discontented grumble rose in his chest. He was feeling disinclined to talk. After a week in the woods, it took time to integrate back into society.

  “We’re closed, my friend.” He gave a pointed look at the clock.

  “I know.” As always, Ryne acted as if he owned the place. “I need to talk to you.”

  “We speak often during regular hours.”

  “True but something’s come up. We need to have a conversation in private.”

  That caught his attention.

  He looked around the room. Most of the waitresses were gone, only young Tessa remained. Her brother Marco would be arriving soon to take her home just as he always did. Daniel and his band were conversing quietly beside the stage, their instruments already put away. He shifted his attention back to Ryne who was still looking at him with a steady gaze. It was the look of an Alpha, and would have had most immediately following his commands.

  We are bear. His posturing means nothing to us. His inner animal yawned, not offended by the Lycan but not impressed either. It was tired from their week-long journey and was planning to nap.

  True, he mentally replied to the creature. Our way is not theirs. We will speak with him at a time of our choosing.

  “You’ll have to wait.” He softened his words by taking out a beer and sliding it across the bar before continuing with his usual closing routine.

  Ryne dipped his head, then wandered over to a table to sit. He took a pull on his beer while watching Tessa with narrowed eyes, no doubt wondering, as they all did, what would become of her.

  Across the room, Daniel was watching the girl, too. Unrequited love; how long would it last? Armand shook his head. Based on his own personal experience, it wasn’t easy to move beyond the emotion.

  A wave of humidity wafted across the room as the outer door opened again, this time admitting Marco, one of Ryne’s pack members.

  “Are you ready, Tessa?” Marco called to his sister before walking over to where Ryne sat. “Do you need a ri
de home?”

  “No, I’ll be a while longer.” Ryne didn’t offer any other explanation and Marco didn’t question him. The pack respected their Alpha.

  The brother and sister left and soon Daniel and his band were heading out as well.

  “Welcome back, Armand.” Daniel came over and leaned on the bar.

  “Thanks.”

  “Ryne,” Daniel now grinned at his Alpha. “Are you here for some peace and quiet?”

  “Your house is noisy?” Armand shifted his gaze between the two. Was this a clue as to why Ryne needed to speak with him?

  “Gracie is teething,” Ryne grimaced. “We’re all short on sleep.”

  “Understandable.” He nodded. Ryne’s baby girl was already showing signs of a strong personality.

  With a wave, Daniel left and silence descended on the bar. Armand pushed the cash drawer shut and put the money in the leather pouch he kept for that purpose and then tucked it into his safe. Finished with his job, he poured himself a drink and finally leaned against the bar.

  “What did you need to discuss, my friend?”

  Ryne set his drink down. “You remember Lucy?”

  His bear’s ears twitched at the name and it raised its head.

  As for himself, he waited a beat before speaking, the question unexpected. Hearing her name still caused pain in his heart. When he replied, his voice was steady, unemotional. It wouldn’t do to show his weakness, not even to a good friend. “Of course.”

  “The two of you were close friends; maybe even…more?

  He hesitated and then made an admission. “I’ve always regretted that I waited too long.”

  “Why did you?” Ryne cocked his head.

  “She wasn’t a shifter. We are.” He shrugged. “You know how complicated that can be. I needed a firm commitment before I could tell her our secret and she didn’t seem ready to give one.”

  His bear nodded in agreement, following the conversation closely.

  Ryne took another drink of his beer. “You never let her know you were interested.”

  “I did. Once.” He hunched his shoulders and stared down into his glass.