by Lacey Thorn
“Well, that clears it up,” Laramie replied, barely refraining from rolling his eyes.
“Exactly,” Jensen agreed. “Which is why I need her blood. I don’t know if she’ll give it to me. So I thought maybe I could get the stuff to you so you could get it for me.”
“And how do you propose I do that?” Laramie asked.
“Figure it out,” Jensen snapped. “Despite what everyone thinks, I can’t do everything. Just get me that sample.”
“What do you think you’ve found?”
“Your testosterone levels have increased dramatically. More so than even Koby’s or Declan’s when they mated,” Jensen informed him.
“I’m the only Kodiak,” Laramie offered. “Maybe, that has something to do with it.”
“Maybe, but I feel like there’s something more involved here. I really want that blood sample, Laramie. Something tells me to look there.”
Laramie nodded. “You can ask. If she says no—”
“When,” Jensen interjected.
“I’ll talk to her,” Laramie agreed.
“I’m worried about you,” Jensen admitted.
“There’s nothing to worry about, Jensen.”
“I want another sample from you later this morning. I want to keep an eye on the testosterone levels for now. And semen.”
“What the fuck do you need with that?” Laramie demanded, and his brother flushed.
“I took a sample from the cloth you gave me with her blood on it, and other fluids from both of you. There was no way I wasn’t getting a sample of your semen.”
“And?” Laramie was almost afraid to ask.
“Your sperm count is off the charts.” Jensen paused and cleared his throat, suddenly appearing uncomfortable. “How many times did the two of you have sex last night?”
Laramie shrugged. “Maybe seven, eight times.”
“Jesus,” Jensen muttered.
“She’s my mate,” Laramie stated again, the words ringing with a truth that resonated inside him every time he spoke them.
“Maybe,” Jensen replied grudgingly. “Biologically speaking, I’d say your bear is trying to prove that by marking Emersyn in the most primal way, with scent and seed.”
“Okay.” Laramie shrugged. He was on board with marking her as his.
Jensen shook his head. “If you mated a female bear, your scent would change, merge with hers, until the two of you created a unique scent all your own, with underlying layers of your family scents. Mating a human, she would take on your scent, marking her so all other bears would know.”
“I know how it works, Jensen,” Laramie muttered.
“I added in the fact Ruby has marked Emersyn with her scent, the one from her father, Malachi.”
“And? Get to the point,” Laramie ordered.
“The minute amount of blood I salvaged shows Emersyn as human,” Jensen admitted.
“No surprise there. She’s never professed to being anything else.”
Jensen’s gaze locked onto him. “Then why is your scent changing?”
“What do you mean?” Laramie turned his head, lifting his shoulder and inhaling, but he didn’t smell anything different.
“Your scent is changing. It’s still subtle. Some might not even pick up on it. I can.”
“Are you telling me I’m starting to smell like Malachi, too? Because that will seriously piss me off.”
Jensen snorted out a laugh even as he shook his head. “No, your scent and Emersyn’s are merging.”
“You just said that’s a normal thing to do with a mate,” Laramie reminded him.
“A bear mate. Hell, any shifter mate at all. Not with a human.”
“Stop playing word games and just tell me what they hell you’re saying,” Laramie demanded.
“I’m saying there’s more to Emersyn than we know. Be careful. Stop and ask some fucking questions before you let things go any further between you two.”
Laramie nodded, but in his mind, he already knew it was too late.
Chapter Ten
Emersyn woke up to a set of small fingers tickling her side. She peeked through her lashes and saw blonde curls and big, green eyes inches from her face.
“Mama Em.” Ruby still hadn’t learned the art of whispering.
“Mmm,” Em murmured, and Ruby pounced.
“I is up!” she exclaimed. “I was yooking for you, but you was gone. Now, you’s here.”
“I am, baby bear.” Emersyn snuggled Ruby close, smoothing her hair back from her face. “Didn’t you like the slumber party with your aunts?”
Ruby shook her head, a scowl forming on her face. “I don’t yike them. They say they gonna take me and keeps me safe.”
“Of course, they want to keep you safe, baby. We all do.”
“They gonna takes me way from you. I don wanna go.” Ruby cried as she clung tightly to Emersyn.
“Hey, there. No one’s taking you from me.”
She cradled Ruby in her arms, trying her best to quiet the little girl’s sobs. Fury burned in her gut. What was Ruby talking about? Had Malachi’s sisters really thought they could plot to take Ruby from her? Over Emersyn’s dead body. She’d tried to be nice, accepting, and even forgiving because they were Malachi’s sisters. But this? Plotting to separate her from Ruby? There were other places they could go. She’d speak to Malachi and put another plan in motion.
Finally, Ruby’s tears dried, her sobs turning to hiccups. “Let’s go take a shower, then we’ll get some food. Are you hungry, little bear?”
Ruby shook her head even as her tummy rumbled. Emersyn lifted a brow and poked softly at the little girl’s tummy. “Something in there’s hungry. Maybe, it’s your bear. Is that it?” Emersyn ran her fingers over Ruby’s belly and sides until she was a squirming mass of giggles. The joyous sounds soothed nerves left raw by the crying jag, but Emersyn’s temper remained, burning steadily inside her.
She chased Ruby into the bathroom, but the quick shower Emersyn had planned turned into thirty minutes. It took another thirty to get them both dressed. She braided Ruby’s hair back then scraped hers into a ponytail. She took a few more minutes to tidy the room, putting their things back into the cases Laramie had brought in. Then she doublechecked Ruby’s backpack.
“Why don’t you grab your bag for me, while I get these.” Emersyn grabbed a handle in each hand and pulled them behind her as she left Laramie’s room.
“Awe we yeaving?” Ruby asked, sounding very happy at the prospect. “Go fine Daddy.”
“Not yet, baby. But I thought you might want to check out one of the cabins with me. I bet we could find one perfect for the two of us.”
Ruby nodded. “I yike owny us. An Yawamie. I yike my Yawamie.”
“I know you do,” Emersyn agreed as they made their way upstairs. The corridor was clear so she set the bags by the door but kept Ruby’s backpack with them as they headed to the kitchen. Matheus was the only one in there.
“Good morning.” He turned toward them as soon as they entered. “How’d you sleep? Did you enjoy the slumber party with your aunts?”
Ruby growled and shook her head, which Emersyn preferred to the tears from earlier. Emersyn picked her up and sat her in the booster seat she’d used the morning before.
“How about cereal this morning?” Matheus asking, bringing two boxes over to set in front of Ruby. She clapped her hands and pointed at the one Emersyn was sure had the highest sugar count. “Great choice, kid,” Matheus agreed with a wink then poured a bowl for Ruby and himself.
Emersyn grabbed the milk and handed it to him before locating spoons for them.
“You want a bowl?” Matheus asked.
“I’ll pass,” she murmured. Anger still boiled inside her, and she was loathe to add any food to the mix. Instead, she reached for the coffeepot and poured a cup, sipping it while she watched Matheus with Ruby. “Where is everyone?”
He shrugged at the qu
estion. “I slept in this morning, but I’m sure they’re all around here somewhere. Laramie’s probably in his office.”
Emersyn sipped her coffee while keeping an eye trained on Ruby. “I think we’ll track him down when Ruby’s finished.”
“You can go now if you’d like,” Matheus offered. “I’m happy to keep an eye on Ruby.”
Emersyn saw Ruby’s spoon pause as Ruby glanced up at her. “Thank you, but no. Ruby’s spending the day with me. In fact, we’d like to find a cabin we can use for the remainder of our time here.”
“Nonsense,” Matheus said with a wave of his hand. “You’re family. You should stay here at the main house with us.”
“We prefer our privacy,” Emersyn said with a smile she was sure didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Finish your cereal, Ruby.”
The little girl began eating again while Matheus glanced back and forth between them.
“Is something wrong?” he asked, pushing away his bowl. “Did someone upset you?” He sighed. “Was it Jemma?”
Emersyn laughed. “No. Honestly, I haven’t seen her yet today.”
He rubbed the back of his neck. “She can be a bit much to take at times.”
“A bit,” Emersyn agreed.
“I can tell you’re upset about something,” Matheus told her. “I’m glad it’s not Jemma. She’s in enough trouble most of the time, but we all try to be forgiving of her actions because of what she’s been through. Still, she doesn’t make it easy.”
“What has she been through?” Emersyn asked, unsure if Matheus would answer or not.
“After the attacks, our elders hid the women who survived. Xandra had it the roughest, but Jemma wasn’t much better. She was only thirteen at the time. After losing her family, she was taken and hidden in an underground den for five years.”
“They’re staying on the floor below the one your family is on?” Emersyn asked, and Matheus nodded. “I’m sure that doesn’t help.”
“Agreed. She’s not in love with Laramie,” Matheus offered. “In case you were wondering.”
She shook her head, but Matheus kept talking.
“She sees him as a way out, a safety net to keep her from being locked away again. Someday, she’ll realize that, but for all she tries to convince everyone she’s a woman now that she’s eighteen, there’s still a frightened little girl inside.”
Emersyn realized Matheus cared about the other woman. Not romantically. He looked at Jemma and saw below the surface to the scared woman behind the façade. Emersyn really liked this youngest Holloway.
“You’re a good person, Matheus.”
He shrugged off her compliment. “We’re all good and bad, depending on the circumstances and who’s passing judgement. Whatever it is that’s upset you, if there’s anything I can do to help, please let me know.”
“I appreciate that. Maybe, you can give me an idea of a cabin that would accommodate Ruby and I?”
He stared at her for a long moment before replying. “Most of the cabins are two bedrooms if you go to the left. Singles are to the right. If you cut through the woods in back, there are a few we like to think of as honeymoon cabins.”
She did her best to fight the heat that threatened to creep up her skin to her face. Honeymoon cabins? Why had Laramie taken her to one of them? She pushed those thoughts aside. It didn’t matter. She couldn’t let it matter.
“Why don’t I show you toward Laramie’s office, then I’ll head out and make sure the sheets are fresh in one of the doubles and check that everything you might need is stocked.”
“Thank you, Matheus.”
“I like you, Emersyn. And I like Ruby. I hope the two of you stay.”
She smiled but didn’t reply. Part of her wanted to stay, too. But another part knew she needed to leave. And soon. She swore she felt a shift inside her, as if her bear were no longer content to stay hidden. She’d noticed a subtle change in her scent she hoped the others would write off as her being with Laramie. If they even noticed it. Her skin also felt sensitive to the touch. She figured that could have something to do with a change in soap, climate, or even the detergent used on the sheets. That made as much sense as anything else.
“All done, baby bear?” Matheus asked Ruby, dragging Emersyn out of her thoughts in time to catch Ruby’s nod.
While Matheus cleared the table, she helped Ruby down before picking up the backpack and turning toward the door.
“Lead the way,” she said, though she was sure she could find her way back to the office just fine. She stopped Matheus before they got too far. “I left our bags by the front door. Would you take them with you?”
He nodded though he didn’t look happy about it.
“Laramie won’t change my mind, Matheus. We go to the cabin, or we go.”
Matheus nodded again, opened his mouth, then shut it with a shake of his head. “I’ll make sure it’s ready for you. I can move your vehicle in front so you’re sure exactly which cabin I’m speaking of.”
“Thank you. The keys are still in the SUV,” she told him before turning and heading toward Laramie’s office. She wasn’t surprised to see all three of Malachi’s sisters there, along with Koby, Declan, Jensen, and Holt. Conversation immediately ceased as she and Ruby entered. Laramie’s face with flushed with anger, his gaze snapping fire. Somehow, that only heated hers more.
“We want to speak with you,” Xandra snapped.
“And we will as soon as I get baby bear settled,” Emersyn responded, keeping her voice soft and smooth.
“I’m happy to take her out to play,” Jaeda offered, rising from where she’d been sitting with her mate.
Ruby whimpered and clung to Emersyn. She scooped up her little girl and cuddled her close for a moment as she tried to find calm or inner peace or some shit that would keep her from going full beast and killing her best friend’s surviving family members.
Laramie crossed to them as if pulled by some invisible cord that stretched between them. He ran one hand down Emersyn’s side and pressed her against him, while he smoothed the other along Ruby’s braid.
“Hey there, baby bear,” he crooned, but when he leaned in, his lips skimmed Emersyn’s throat, though he might have touched the top of Ruby’s head on the way. Hell, the sound of that croon sent chills along her skin. The way he said baby as if it were her he spoke to… It made her wet with need, something she couldn’t hide from the shifters in the room. She did her best to ignore him as she answered Jaeda.
“No, thank you. I think the three of you have done enough.”
Laramie tensed beside her, and she had to force herself to step away.
“Excuse me!” Sidia was the one who spoke this time, and when Emersyn glanced their way, she saw the hurt in Jaeda’s eyes and noted the way the other woman stepped into her human mate.
“We’ll speak in a moment,” Emersyn snapped, losing her firm grip on her temper. Her emotions were all over the place this morning. For the first time since she’d been a teenager, she was fighting to keep a tight rein on her bear. She needed to leave. Malachi would understand. Laramie…would fight her. She had no doubt about that.
She carried Ruby to the back of the room and sat her in a chair facing the window before opening the backpack and pulling out the iPad and headphones inside. Ruby clapped her hands excitedly at the sight of the coveted device.
“I want pwincess!” she yelled excitedly.
Emersyn felt everyone’s gazes on them but refused to hurry. She took her time setting up the movie for Ruby then got the headphones settled on Ruby’s ears. The movie should prove the perfect distraction to keep Ruby’s focus away from the adult discussion. She didn’t want her little girl any more upset than she already was. Only when she was satisfied Ruby’s attention was fully occupied did she turn back to the room.
“If you think—” Xandra began again, but Emersyn cut her off immediately. Enough was enough.
“I think we need to get some th
ings straight,” Emersyn stated, anger making her voice hard. “My mistake was in believing any of you were like your brother. Thankfully, I’m a quick learner.”
“Excuse me,” Sidia fired off again.
“You keep saying that, but there’s no excuse for your behavior. Any of you. Malachi would be ashamed.”
Gasps of outrage filled the room, but Emersyn paid them no mind as she paced, battling between rage and calm.
“I was too trusting,” she whispered. “Malachi sent us here, so I assumed I could trust all of you. Knowing his sisters were alive…” She paused, shaking her head.
“Em.” Laramie reached for her, but she moved out of reach.
“No. I’ll say my piece, then Ruby and I will go,” she stated.
Laramie tensed up. She felt it from across the room “You’re not going anywhere.”
“Ruby and I are going to one of the cabins for now. Don’t push me,” she warned when his face darkened with anger. “This is the compromise I’m willing to make right now.” She turned to face Malachi’s sisters. “One thing you should know about Ruby is she has big ears. So, when her new aunts plotted to take her away from me, she got scared.”
“You said something to Ruby?” Laramie thundered, and Emersyn knew that must have been the discussion she and Ruby had interrupted when they’d walked in.
“Of course not,” Sidia argued.
“You spoke in front of her, which is why she snuck out looking for me.”
“And where were you?” Xandra asked. “When Ruby needed you, you were off fucking around—”
Laramie’s growl silenced his sister-in-law, who flushed, snapping her lips closed, but the anger in her eyes never diminished.
“My fault for trusting she’d be safe with you,” Emersyn admitted. She refused to speak about her and Laramie. Not when it couldn’t be anything more than a fling. Plus, she didn’t owe them any explanations. “You made her cry.” She quickly snapped her eyes closed and took a deep breath as she fought her bear, fought for calm. Only when she felt more in control did she open her eyes again. “You terrified her, and I won’t have that.”