Bears of Burden Complete Series Box Set

by Candace Ayers

I frowned. “Those weren’t my exact words, Georgia.”

  “Same difference. He’s your mate. He’s supposed to be perfect for you. You’ve got to let go of all the religious mumbo jumbo that’s been pounded into your head and give in to the mate bonding process. And I think that facing your dad will help you move on.”

  Allie shook her head. “Maybe this isn’t the best idea. If she’s not ready, she’s not ready. There’s nothing good that can come from pushing her too far too fast, Georgia.”

  Ophelia shrugged. “On the other hand, even a good guy can only be patient for so long. I nearly pushed Sterling away.”

  “It hasn’t been that long!” I slumped in my chair and then sat back up when Veronica nodded to my chest that was precariously close to tumbling from its low-cut confinement. “This is too much. I just want to talk about something else for a while.”

  They accepted my avoidance immediately and started talking about a new family they’d seen in town. Veronica thought the wife was a prime candidate for her erotic book club. She thought I was, too, but I was having enough eroticism without a book or a club.

  I couldn’t help thinking about Sam and the way I’d been acting with him. He had me. I was lost to the man, but I had been waiting for something bad to happen. I couldn’t help it. I still didn’t trust him, even though he’d done nothing to deserve my mistrust. I was taking out my issues on him and it scared me to think of him getting tired of it and moving on.

  I’d heard him whispering to me when he thought I was sleeping. He made promises that sent my heart racing. Promises about staying with me forever, loving me forever. I wanted to believe that he wouldn’t ever break those promises, but what if there was a limit to what he was willing to take from me?

  I knew that if things went sour with him, I’d be ruined. None of the things I’d learned about living independently would save me from the devastation that losing him would cause. Matt wouldn’t be able to help, the women around me wouldn’t be able to help.

  Facing Dad to save what I had with Sam was worth it. I stood up suddenly and nodded to myself. “I’m going to do it. I’m going to Macon’s Edge.”

  They cheered for me and stood up, too.

  I raised an eyebrow. “You’re all going to come along?”

  Allie laughed. “All for one and one for all. Just consider us your backup musketeers.”

  Ophelia nodded. “And we can swing by Kyle’s, too, if you need to yell at him.”

  I thought about it. “It may not be a horrible idea.”

  Veronica clapped her hands. “And Mr. McRainy hasn’t returned the book he borrowed two months ago. If you need someone else to yell at, I mean.”

  I shrugged. “Why not?”

  Georgia wiggled around in her spot. “And Wyatt’s been leaving the toilet seat up, even though I keep telling him that it’s dangerous to my wellbeing. I fell into the bowl last week. The dumb bear just laughed.”

  Allie grinned. “Thorn always puts the toilet seat down for me.”

  “I’m pretty sure Hutch pees outside. Isn’t that weird? There’s a toilet ten feet away, but he’ll walk outside. I’m dating a dog.”

  “Sterling had a collection of panties. He said he’d forgotten about them in the back of his closet and that’s why he hadn’t gotten rid of them.” Ophelia quickly jerked her head around to me. “Not yours. They were from when he was younger.”

  My face burned and I cleared my throat. “Maybe we should just go?”

  It was quiet for a second and then we all laughed together. We were crazy, but sane enough to realize just how crazy.

  “So?” I looked to each of them. “We’re going?”

  They each smiled and me and nodded. Georgia stepped forward and put her hand on my shoulder. “We’ve got your back. We’ll even carry you home later, after we come back here and get hammered.”

  It sounded good to me.

  21

  Sam

  “You’re sure this is what you want to do?”

  I shot Hutch a dirty look. “Mate? What don’t you get?”

  He laughed and hit me in the arm. “I mean the land, dumbass. I know Presley’s your mate. It is slightly worrying that that’s where your mind went when we’ve been talking about you buying this property. What’s going on?”

  I looked around at the large clearing and at the forest surrounding it. It’d be perfect for our home. It was only a few minutes outside of town, but it’d be private enough for all the things I had in mind for Presley. “Shit. I don’t know.”

  Wyatt walked up and lifted an eyebrow at me. “What don’t you know?”

  “Presley is holding back. I think she’s scared. I’m not sure she’ll appreciate such a huge gesture so soon.”

  Hutch nodded and kicked at the grass beneath our feet. “The shit I’ve heard about Macon’s Edge, can you blame her? And the shit with Kyle. She’s got reason to be fearful.”

  “But I’m her mate.”

  “And she’s human. She doesn’t get it yet, brother. She’ll get there.” Sterling pulled his hat off and spun it around on his hand. “I’m sure she’s just a little shell-shocked. It doesn’t mean anything, though. I’ve seen the way she looks at you. She’s in love with you, man.”

  I growled in instinct and then cut myself short. “Sorry.”

  He grinned at me and shrugged. “I get it. I think you’re worrying for nothing. Just keep showing her that you’re the real deal. It’s just been a couple of weeks.”

  A couple of amazing weeks. I had to get her comfortable with me because my bear was restless about the way she looked at us every so often. He wanted her, all of her. I did, too. I’d just have to work harder to show her that I was completely all-in for her.

  The land could do that. Our land. I was going to put her name on it when I closed the deal and then I’d let her sit down with the planners and pick out whatever kind of house she wanted. I had a nest egg that I’d been saving for a house and I was more than willing to blow through it and more to show her how long forever meant to me.

  “Enough of this shit. Let’s get back to the bar and celebrate the land with a couple of bottles of whiskey. The woman should be there. If we’re lucky, they’ll dance on the tables tonight.” Thorn grinned and rubbed his hands together. “Allie on a table in a skirt. Jesus, how did we get so lucky?”

  I thought of seeing the still mostly shy Presley at The Cave, dancing on a table, and had to adjust my pants. She’d loosened up a lot and I was excited to see her come out of her shell even more. She was a beautiful thing when she let go. Or when she didn’t. Either way, she took my breath away.

  We piled into my truck and headed back to the bar. I was anxious to see Presley. There was a nagging feeling at the back of my mind that something wasn’t quite right, and I wanted to put my fears to rest. I knew seeing her would make it disappear, so I sped the whole way back.

  “Someone’s excited about the idea of seeing his woman dancing on on tabletops.”

  I scowled at Wyatt and parked. “I haven’t forgotten that I owe you an ass whooping. You and your band of merry wilderness freaks nearly burned the entire mountain down.”

  He scowled back at me. “Don’t remind me. Seriously, don’t. That was the worst week of my life.”

  “Dramatic, much?” Sterling grunted when Wyatt elbowed him in the stomach. “Not cool.”

  I hurried inside the bar and looked around. There was no sign of our mates. That anxious niggling grew, but the rest of the guys seemed fine.

  Thorn grunted. “I guess they went on their own adventure. Allie never tells me where they’re going. They’ll be back here, though.”

  I’d told Presley earlier that I had to run into work for a couple of hours and we’d agreed to meet at the bar that night, so I knew she’d be back there. I didn’t like lying to her, but it was a set-up for my surprise. The land was perfect and hopefully it wouldn’t take long to get it purchased and a house started on it. I was impatient. I wanted to wake up every mo
rning with my woman by my side, knowing that that’s where she was going to be for the rest of my life.

  I sat at my normal table with the guys and thanked a waitress after she dropped off a bottle of whiskey and shot glasses for us. Throwing a shot back, I whistled. She’d brought over the good whiskey.

  “What’s the special occasion, Thorn?”

  He grinned. “Call me sentimental, but all five of us are now mated. We finally grew up.”

  Wyatt snorted. “I’d hardly say any of us grew up.”

  Sterling scoffed. “I grew up. Just so we’re clear. I grew up.”

  “You grew up about as much as a spoiled toddler.” Hutch shook his head and laughed. “If anyone grew up, it was me.”

  I raised my eyebrows. “None of you grew up. Listen to you, arguing like a bunch of old ladies.”

  Sterling rolled his eyes. “How can we be old ladies if we didn’t grow up? You made my point. Thank you. I grew up.”

  Thorn refilled our glasses. “You’re all dumbfucks.”

  “And you’re not?”

  He glared at Wyatt before taking his shot. “You almost burned down an entire mountain.”

  “You’re getting bears drunk on top shelf whiskey. Who’s the real dumbfuck here? We’re not paying for this.” Sterling laughed.

  “I saw you drive into a wall last week because you were watching a butterfly. You caused a thousand dollars worth of damage to the car. Idiot.”

  “I wasn’t watching a butterfly, you asshole. I thought a bee was attacking me.”

  “That’s not what you said. You said there was a butterfly in the car with you.”

  “Hutch, I may be your younger brother, but I can still kick your ass.”

  “I’d like to see you try, butterfly boy.”

  I leaned back in my chair and watched them fight, content to stay out of it for the time being. My bear was distracted, worrying about Presley. She needed a cell phone so I could get in touch with her when she went missing.

  It didn’t make any sense how worried I felt, but something felt off. Annoyed at myself, I threw back shot after shot in an attempt to relax. Presley was gaining her independence from her father and his freaky flock of bible thumpers in Macon’s Edge. She could do whatever she needed and wanted. I just had to deal with it.

  I held that conviction for about half an hour. “Did anyone text their mate to see where they are, goddammit?”

  Thorn laughed at me. “So lovesick. Allie texted me. They’re on their way back. She didn’t say what they were on their way back from, but I get the feeling it didn’t go well.”

  I frowned. “I don’t like hearing that.”

  “Ophelia just texted. Apparently, they went to Macon’s Edge.”

  My bear rose to the surface faster than I could control it. I was sprouting hair before I managed to stop the shift. Standing, I shook my head. “She should’ve taken me. If anyone hurt her, I’ll kill ‘em with my bare hands.”

  Thorn slid the bottle of whisky towards me. “They would’ve called us if anyone was hurt or in trouble.”

  I couldn’t just sit around, waiting. Shaking my head, I strode away from the table. I was going to find my mate. My bear wouldn’t calm until I did.

  22

  Presley

  “As devoted upholder of thy holy writ, Lord, thy judgement sent forth through I, your humble servant on earth, shall be carried out without question. Thy faithful flock shall bear witness that this apostate who stands before us, evil sinner borne from my very own seed has fallen prey to the corruption and idolatry of the outsiders, those with wicked intent, the filthy whores of Satan.” Father stood at the top of the porch stairs, waving his arms, his voice booming and quivering with trumped up emotion as though he were preaching from his pulpit on Sunday morning. This is the way things had gone since we’d arrived in Macon’s Edge, not more than twenty minutes prior.

  I had tried to explain calmly and rationally that I needed to find my own way in the world but, of course, my words fell on deaf ears.

  Father continued his impromptu sermon of insult and degradation until I couldn’t stand it anymore.

  “Stop, please Father, just stop!” I cried out.

  Although I expected him to lash out physically, the strength behind his hand as he struck me made me reel, and I momentarily saw stars. I heard growling behind me. What had I been thinking coming here? There was no use.

  My sisters stood watching on the porch, arms crossed over their chests. I knew what was going through their minds. I was a heathen, an apostate. The one who had turned her back on all that was righteous and pure and embraced the evil darkness. They no longer felt I had any hope of redemption. I couldn’t blame them, I supposed. They’d been programmed the same way I had. Only, for some reason, my programming hadn’t stuck.

  My eyes filled with tears of frustrated humiliation, but before I would let them spill, before I would give any of them any more satisfaction, I turned and fled, stumbling blindly back to Georgia’s car.

  “Okay, so that could’ve gone better.” Georgia finally broke the heavy silence from the driver’s seat. “Much better.”

  I released a bitter laugh. “This was the stupidest idea”

  Allie turned from the front seat and held my hand. “We’re sorry, Presley. We wouldn’t have pushed you into that if we’d known it was gonna be like that.”

  “I should’ve known better. I should’ve stopped it. I’m a fool for thinking that any interaction with that man could end well for me.”

  Ophelia sat next to me, patting a napkin against my split lip and growled. “You should’ve let me at least maim him. It would have been so satisfying.”

  Bloodthirst had never been a sin I had been tempted by, but tonight, a part of me had almost wanted Ophelia to shift and tear into Father. I bit my lip and gasped as my teeth caught the split on my lower lip.

  “I feel like screaming every curse word I know.” I knew about four or five now.

  Georgia looked at me through the rearview mirror and nodded. “Do it. You’re not stuck at that godawful place anymore. You can swear as loud as you want. The rest of us do it daily and our immortal souls are just fine and dandy. Not that Daddy Dearest would agree.”

  “I can’t.” I rested my head in my hands. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have let any of you experience that. I’m so sorry for what he said about you. It was wrong of me to put you through that.”

  Veronica pulled my hands from my face and ran her fingers through my hair, trying to smooth it down. “Don’t apologize for men, Presley. It isn’t our job to represent the men in our lives. They do as they want, just as we do as we want. Your father being a horrible horse’s patootey isn’t anything you’re responsible for.”

  “I shouldn’t have let any of you come with me. I don’t know what I was thinking. He isn’t a compassionate man. He never will allow me get any kind of closure.”

  Georgia slowed the car and reached back to pat my knee. “There’s a small silver lining. You showed him that you’re fine. He didn’t know what to do with himself when he realized that you weren’t there to come crawling back to the flock. You made him stutter, Presley. You’re proving him wrong. You’re free from him, you’re happy, and he hated it.”

  So much so that he split my lip and probably blacked my eye.

  As if reading my mind, she continued. “Okay, so it could’ve gone differently and it could’ve been better, but he’s going to think about tonight for the rest of his life. He didn’t break you. Did he?”

  My answer was immediate. “No.”

  A loud cheer went up in the car, but it died down quickly. Reality was darker and danker than our coaxed cheeriness in that moment. It weighed heavily on our shoulders and whispered Father’s cruel words into our ears, a constant reminder of the ugliness we’d just witnessed.

  It’d been shocking, even to me. Seeing me in clothes that he didn’t approve of, striding back into his town, not broken and alone as he’d predicted, but with my
head held high and friends behind me, had been like pouring gasoline on a flame. Hearing my raised voice was the last straw and had incited his violence. Knowing my sisters were watching, to “witness” had spurred him to make an example out of all of us.

  The others had been stunned silent, except for me, attempting to intervene on behalf of my friends. I wanted to beg him to stop talking and just listen this time.

  It’d been a suicide mission from the start, I knew now. Thinking I could take on Father, show him that I was doing well, and then stroll out of Macon’s Edge like some sort of caped superhero… It was insanity.

  My own sisters had looked down their noses, judgmentally while I was being protected and backed up by women who’d only recently met me. They owed me no familial loyalty, yet they’d given me backup. Helped me stand up against Father’s venom. Even Ophelia, who had every right to dislike me, was there. I think her wild growling actually frightened Father allowing me to get my wits about me enough to finally throw in the towel and retreat.

  A man like Father would never accept an alternate view from his own narrow-minded doctrine. I’d stopped Ophelia from going after him, not for his sake, but for hers. While I didn’t think that her immortal soul was damned, as Father had put it, I worried that murder might tarnish it a bit.

  “Sam is going to freak out.” Ophelia voiced what I’d been thinking.

  “All of them are going to freak out. I almost wish we could hide it somehow, but thanks to ‘Father Smiting-Hand,’ we’re busted as soon as they see you, Presley. We’re going to have five majorly pissed off bears on our hands. It’s going to be a chore trying to stop them from going back to Macon’s Edge.”

  I sat up suddenly. “We have to! I don’t want any more of my new friends to have to experience that, I can’t stomach knowing that I caused it.”

  “You didn’t cause it, honey.” Allie cupped my cheek in her hand and frowned. “None of this is your fault.”

  It didn’t feel that way, though. I felt miserable. I’d caused them to be in a bad situation and that could cause their mates to be in an even worse situation.