Beck (Winter - Shifter Seasons Book 2)

by Harmony Raines

  The bear looked up at her, his eyes unblinking as he tried to read her mind. He took a risk and stepped forward, closing the distance between them. She didn’t run. Beck wasn’t sure if Kassia was frozen to the spot in awe, or whether she was okay about the whole thing.

  “This is your other side?” She pointed at the massive bear. Who could not answer.

  At least, not with words.

  The bear lifted his head and sniffed the air, inhaling her scent before he leaned forward and breathed his hot breath into her hand. Kassia watched the bear with fascination. She was okay. She wasn’t going to run.

  “You are pretty awesome.” She nodded before she dropped to her knees on the hard-frozen snow and reached out her hand to tentatively caress the bear’s head. “Very awesome.”

  Beck’s bear rubbed his head along her shoulder and snuffled in her ear.

  Kassia giggled and rubbed her ear on her shoulder. “That tickles.” She stroked his big head and then ran her hand down under his ear and tickled him as if he were a dog. “Do you want your ears tickled?”

  The bear shivered in excitement at his mate’s touch and nodded his big head. Kassia cupped his enormous head in her hands and looked into his eyes. “And this is why you won’t ever hurt me?”

  The bear looked back at her and nodded. Then he stepped closer and she wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly. He could smell the salt in her tears as she clung to him. “It’s so good to meet you.”

  His bear stood still, his heart racing as Kassia held him. She needed a moment to let out all her pent-up emotions, a moment that stretched on past her five-minute deadline until at last, she lifted her head and sniffed. “I think I need to talk to Beck now.”

  The bear snuffled in her ear, and she giggled before he took a couple of steps backward. With his eyes locked on his mate, the bear let go of the world and the air shimmered around him. For a fleeting moment, the world was gone for both bear and man and then the shape of human Beck reappeared.

  His relief was intense, it swept over him like a tsunami, washing away his fears, washing away his concerns as Kassia rushed forward and flung her arms around his neck.

  “I had no idea shifters were real.” She kissed his cheek. “It’s the most incredible thing I’ve ever seen.”

  “Thanks. Although to me, it’s nothing special,” Beck admitted.

  “I’m glad you’re not a vampire,” Kassia admitted. “Although the thought of a human being able to turn into another animal is just as strange.”

  “Are you okay with it?” Beck asked.

  “Yeah,” Kassia’s forehead creased. “I think I am.”

  “I wanted to explain to you, to convince you I was being truthful,” Beck began as he took a couple of steps forward. “A shifter knows who their mate is. When they meet the person they are supposed to spend the rest of their lives with, they just know.”

  “That is what your sixth sense is?” Kassia asked, her eyes wide as she looked at him as the moon rose in the sky and bathed the mountain in an ethereal light that was reflected off the snow.

  “Part of it.” Beck nodded. “I have a heightened sense of smell and hearing.”

  “You really do have superpowers?” Kassia asked.

  “Kind of. I’m stronger than most other men and faster. But it’s my normal senses that are stronger, too.” Beck smiled apologetically. “I wish there was some other way of explaining it than bringing you out here in the freezing cold and showing you.”

  “It’s an effective way of getting the message across. I don’t think I’d ever have believed you if you’d just told me,” Kassia admitted. “As you could probably tell I was on the verge of making a run for it.”

  “What stopped you?” Beck asked.

  “I was afraid I might get lost on the way down or fall off a cliff and leave Betsy alone, maybe never knowing what happened to me.” Kassia’s face crumpled and he rushed forward and wrapped his arms around her.

  “Hey, it’s okay. I’m here and I’m never going to leave.” He dropped a kiss on the top of her head, willing her to believe him. Willing her to commit to their relationship in the same way he had.

  “I think I believe you.” She sniffed and righted herself. “But right now, I want to go home.”

  “Of course.” His happy expression faded.

  “I need to check on Betsy and process all of this.” Kassia slipped her hand into his. “A man turning into a bear. That is not something you see every day.”

  “It’s something you can see every day if you want,” Beck told her.

  “Wow, that’s true.” She cracked a smile, although she looked tired and worn out. “I like that idea. I like it a lot.”

  Beck only hoped she would see a way to like him a lot, too.

  Love us a lot, his bear corrected him.

  But that might take more than one night.

  Chapter Ten – Kassia

  Beck, the man who had sworn his undying love to her, was a shifter. A man who could change into a bear. And back again.

  How was that even possible?

  “Are you all right?” Betsy asked as Kassia set her breakfast tray down on the bed the next morning.

  “Yes, why?” Kassia looked at her aunt in question.

  “You are wearing mismatched socks.” Betsy pointed down at Kassia’s feet. “And a very odd expression.”

  Betsy studied Kassia closely before she turned her attention to the breakfast tray. “This all looks nice.”

  “I hope it tastes nice.” Kassia helped Betsy get settled, ignoring her aunt’s previous question as to whether she was all right. Mainly, because Kassia didn’t really know if she was all right or not.

  Beck was a shifter.

  No matter how many times she told herself this fact. No matter how many times she relived the moment where he vanished right before her eyes before returning as a bear, she still couldn’t believe it was true.

  “Mmm, the eggs are just right.” Luckily Betsy was more interested in her breakfast than her niece and dug into her eggs and toast like a woman starved.

  “I thought I’d go to the grocery store and buy something nice for lunch,” Kassia said absently as she walked around the bed and opened the curtains to let in the watery winter sun.

  “I wish I could come with you.” Betsy looked longingly at the mountains.

  “When Dr. Bradford comes to visit later, I’ll ask him about the wheelchair,” Kassia promised.

  “Did you ask Beck if he could carry me up and down the stairs?” Betsy asked.

  “No, I completely forgot,” Kassia replied. I was too busy watching him turn into a bear. She smiled to herself as she turned around to watch her aunt eat. “Take it slow.”

  “I know how to eat breakfast.” Betsy waved her fork at Kassia. “Which reminds me, if you are going out, could you pop into the diner and check if everything is okay? I know, Carol said she could manage but I’m not sure she would tell me if she couldn’t.”

  “I’ll go and spy on her for you and see if there is any gossip you might be missing out on.” Kassia laughed at her aunt’s expression. “I thought you would appreciate being kept up to date with anything that might be going on in town.”

  “Go ahead and laugh at me,” Betsy said. “But I know I play an important role in the community.”

  “I was joking. I know how highly people in town think of you. When I took the brownies to Sheriff Brad yesterday, everyone asked how you are.” Kassia hesitated, she wanted to know if Betsy had any idea about shifters. Beck was certain she didn’t, but after her aunt’s comments about people in Bear Creek staying together forever, Kassia wasn’t so sure.

  But how exactly did you ask the question?

  “Is there something on your mind?” Betsy pointed to her foot. “I might have sprained my ankle, but the rest of me is working just fine, even my head.” She tapped her temple. “Despite the bump, I can still think straight, and you look as if you have something you want to say. Or somet
hing you want to ask.”

  “It’s something Beck said to me last night. It mirrored what you said about people in town staying together forever. You know, low divorce rate, no one seems to cheat on their partner…” Kassia paused. “I wondered if you had any idea why.”

  Betsy placed her fork down on her plate and looked at Kassia thoughtfully. “I don’t know. It’s as if they have this connection. As if they trust each other implicitly and wouldn’t ever hurt each other.”

  “And there’s no particular reason you think that is?” Kassia asked. She was fishing for information, trying to find out how much her aunt actually knew about shifters.

  “If you’re asking if there is something in the water, I’d have to say I don’t know. But I do wonder if it’s to do with the beautiful place we live in. The mountain air, the views, who knows. Perhaps people are just happier here.” Betsy picked up her fork and went back to eating her breakfast, leaving Kassia almost certain Betsy had no idea that some people in town could shift into an animal. “If ever you do find out, let me know. I’d love to bottle it and sell it at the diner to tourists. Goodness knows some of them could do with some love sprinkled on their lives.”

  “I will.” Kassia sat down in the chair in the corner of the room while Betsy finished eating. Then she carried some clean clothes to the bathroom as her aunt followed slowly, holding onto the wall.

  “Thanks. I think it feels a little better today.” Betsy sat down on the wicker chair in the bathroom and pushed the bandage down over her ankle, revealing a mass of swelling and bruising. “It does not look better, though.”

  “It will soon enough,” Kassia promised. “I’ll go downstairs and get an ice pack for you.”

  Kassia fetched the ice pack and came back upstairs. After helping Betsy back to her room and getting her comfortable in bed, she quickly got ready to go out to the grocery store.

  Maybe Beck was in town. As she reached the front door, she pulled her phone from her pocket but resisted the temptation to text him. Beck was working all day today and she didn’t want to disturb him.

  Although, she really did want to see him. He’d filled her dreams last night and this morning thoughts of him lingered. He truly was the real deal. After Travis, Beck was exactly what she was searching for and more.

  All those dreams she’d said goodbye to were back within her reach. Marriage and children. Both were a high priority for bear shifters which was a good thing since Kassia’s biological clock was ticking down to zero.

  Taking care as she walked along the sidewalk toward town, she tore her mind away from thoughts of Beck and focused on the world around her. Bear Creek was going to be her new home and she wanted to get to know the town and the people in it.

  Not that Beck or Aunt Betsy knew of her decision to move to Bear Creek but after her evening with Beck last night, it seemed as if fate truly did have a hand in her meeting her mate.

  She shivered in excitement as she savored that word.

  She was Beck’s mate. That’s what shifters called the person they were meant to be with.

  As she walked to the grocery store, she imagined making the same journey with a couple of children holding each of her hands. Or pushing a stroller with the summer sun on her face.

  “Kassia!” Avery called to her across the street. She was pushing Dahlia in a stroller. The little girl was seated securely while kicking her legs in excitement.

  “Avery.” Kassia waved as Avery crossed the quiet street to join her. “How is Dahlia this morning?” Dahlia squealed in delight as she spotted Kassia.

  “She did fine. I think she remembers you brought brownies to the sheriff’s office.” Avery leaned down and stroked her daughter’s cheek. “Luckily, no work for us this morning so we’re out getting some fresh air.”

  “I’m walking to the diner and then the grocery store if you are going that way.” Kassia waved at Dahlia. “Maybe we could have coffee?”

  “Sure, that would be great. It’s too icy to go to the park so we’re kind of looking for something to do.” Avery looked down at her daughter and lowered her voice. “She’s not really old enough to go out playing with her siblings who have gone sledding with their dad.”

  “Sled!” Dahlia shouted in excitement.

  “Her dad said he’d take her out around when they get back,” Avery explained as they set off toward the diner. “Daddy’s going to take you out along the back streets where it’s still snowy and icy.”

  “That sounds like fun,” Kassia said to Dahlia. “You look warm and toasty in your hat and gloves.”

  Dahlia clapped her hands together in excitement. “Gloves!”

  “So, how are things?” Avery asked quickly, her eyebrow arched as she looked at Kassia expectantly.

  “With Betsy?” Kassia asked.

  “Well, I was thinking of with Beck, but I’d love to know how Betsy is doing, too,” Avery giggled. “Priorities.”

  “You know about Beck?” Kassia shouldn’t be surprised. News traveled fast in a small town. But she hadn’t expected a new relationship between two people to be newsworthy.

  “Yes, we’re all so happy for him.” Avery shot Kassia a sidelong glance. “I should have said we are happy for you both.”

  “It’s fine, Beck is a member of the community and I’m just here visiting a relative.” Kassia kept her eyes focused on the slippery sidewalk.

  “You are part of the community now.” Avery looked at Kassia sharply. “You are staying, aren’t you? I know Beck went away for a while, but I think we all knew he’d return.” She winced. “Sorry, none of my business.”

  “No, it’s okay.” Kassia stuck out her hand and grabbed hold of a mailbox to stop herself from slipping over. Avery seemed to be having no such trouble. “You’re very sure-footed.”

  Avery looked down at her boot-clad feet. “Practice. If you live through enough winters in Bear Creek, you get used to the snow and ice. Although, this last snowstorm was particularly harsh. But it’s worth it, to live in the shadow of the mountains.”

  “You have no intention of ever leaving Bear Creek either?” Kassia enquired.

  “No, never.” She reached down and touched Dahlia’s head. “I can’t think of a better place to raise my children. Jacob is the best father and he loves to take them into the mountains. They fight over who is going to ride on his back.”

  They were nearing the diner and Kassia desperately wanted to ask the question that was at the front of her mind. “Do you mean on his shoulders?” Kassia took the plunge. “Or on his back?”

  “On his back.” Avery chewed her bottom lip nervously. “Did Beck have that talk with you?”

  Kassia let out a long, slow breath. “Yes!”

  Avery groaned in relief. “I didn’t want to just come out and ask in case you thought I was crazy.”

  “I know!” Kassia grinned widely and then her expression changed to one of curiosity. “Are you a shifter?”

  “No.” Avery shook her head and her hand instantly dropped to caress Dahlia’s head again. “But Jacob, my husband, is and so the children will be. The shifter gene is passed from parent to child.”

  “Oh!” Kassia’s eyes widened. “I hadn’t thought about that. Is Dahlia a shifter now?” she asked in a quiet voice.

  “No, not until puberty. So, I still have a good few years before I’m left behind as the rest of my family takes off across the mountain on four large paws.”

  “Do you think you’ll feel left out?” Kassia asked. “Once they can all shift and you get left behind?”

  “I’ve thought about it. But since there is nothing I can do to change things, I’ve let it go. At least I won’t be the one trying to teach them how to shift. That is Jacob’s job.” Avery glanced down at her little girl. “For now, I’m just happy that we’ve been blessed with wonderful children and to live in such a wonderful place.” Her voice wavered a little before she sniffed loudly. “Let’s go get that coffee.”

  Kassia pushed the door of the diner
open and held it while Avery maneuvered the stroller through the door. They chose a table by the window so they could look out at the mountains and watched the people go by. Although, Kassia carefully avoided sitting at her mom’s favorite table. She wasn’t ready to deal with the feelings it would dredge up. She wasn’t ready to tap into the well of emotion filled with grief and loss.

  “I’ll get the coffee,” Kassia offered. “And what would Dahlia like?”

  “Would you like a milkshake?” Avery asked her daughter, who nodded her head in excitement.

  “A milkshake it is.” Kassia’s eyes narrowed as she looked down at the little girl. “Are you a strawberry or a chocolate kind of a girl? I think strawberry.”

  “Yes,” Dahlia answered in delight. “Stawbear.”

  “All things pink,” Avery rolled her eyes. “I don’t think I ever went through a pink phase.”

  Kassia chuckled as she went to the counter. “Hi there.” The young woman behind the counter looked up and her eyes widened in surprise as she saw who her next customer was. “How is everything going?”

  “Kassia. Everything here is fine. How is Betsy?” Carol leaned forward and studied Kassia. “Has she sent you to check up on me?”

  “Not exactly,” Kassia said conspiratorially. “But Betsy did ask if there’s any gossip she should be made aware of.”

  Carol threw her head back and laughed. “Oh, the only gossip I’ve been hearing is how Betsy’s niece caught the eye of Beck, one of the town’s most handsome confirmed bachelors. That’s two Winter brothers who’ve been ensnared. That only leaves Mac Winter.”

  “I don’t think I ensnared him,” Kassia said defensively.

  “No?” Carol arched an eyebrow. “As I heard it, you felled him just as he fells those trees with his big strong arms.” She sighed theatrically.

  “You’re messing with me!” Kassia put her hands to her cheeks which were flaming red.

  “I am.” Carol giggled. “Congratulations. He’s a good man and I hope this means you’ll come and live here in Bear Creek and keep your aunt out of trouble.”