She made an odd sound, but before I could ask another question, the door opened again. Atlas entered with a man behind him.The man’s copper eyes remained locked on Amy, but not in the romantic sense. More out of curiosity assuming Atlas told him she was a unicorn.She smirked at him. “I’m not looking for a new home, big guy.”“You can’t fault me for being intrigued,” he said, then he quickly glanced at me but seemed to be talking to Atlas. “This is her?”“Yep.”“I see.” His fingers rubbed lightly over the smattering of dark facial hair around his cheeks and chin.My back went ramrod straight while I shoved all thoughts of self-pity back into their corner. “You see what?”I was allowed to talk shit about myself, but fuck anyone else thinking they could.The two brooding men shared a look before Clayson gave me his attention again. “I see that you’re not what anyone else thought. But you’ll be safe here to do whatever it is that you need. The rooms aren’t complete, as you may have seen
The green flames that were already present turned to a dark emerald, and my wolf’s body grew from four feet in height to six feet. Without needing to see them for myself, I knew his eyes would be ebony and the previously silver fur would be like burnt charcoal.I focused on our surroundings, stretching my energy as a way to expunge more of it. My Bear wasn’t the only one who needed to be let out on occasion. If I didn’t use my demon side, then there were often repercussions like murderous rages and I avoided those at all costs. So far, I’d been successful.I wouldn’t be my father. I could control the bleaker side of myself. I was stronger than the demon blood flowing through me.My darker powers locked on to Elena’s sleeping form, even from miles away. They could taste her innocence and the connection we shared. The temptations we both seemed to be feeling and the need to claim her as mine all grew by the second.I pictured her crimson lips, sun-kissed skin, wide eyes…and those tits t
When my fist had torn through his chest, nothing had ever felt more satisfying.That changed when I’d gotten home.After I returned, my mother had taken her own life. She’d left a note saying she was at peace with this life now that the demons were dead, but she couldn’t survive any longer. That she needed to be with her baby girl.I’d been so fucking angry with her for that choice after all we’d been through, but I’d channeled my aggressions into something I could live with. Like killing bastards who fucked with the wrong people.“Do you think this Jacob knows your weakness when it comes to kids?” D asked, shaking me out of the past I tried not to revisit often.“It shouldn’t be possible, but if they have a Seer at their disposal, they might. Or maybe I left one alive without realizing it. Hell, there are too many possibilities, no matter how careful I thought I was.”Magic had its advantages, but there were just as many hindrances, too.“Well, you can’t change the choices you’ve alr
“Do you know anyone who can get us an in?” I asked, hating that this would be the second favor I’d owe him if he did.Thankfully or maybe not so much he shook his head. “Anyone trustworthy there is fighting their own battles. They don’t have time for anything else. Or they’re in hiding, doing their best to keep their families safe.” He paused and looked me square in the eyes. “You’re going to be on your own.”Why was I not surprised to hear that?“I need to get back to the apartment,” I said. “I’m not sure if I’ll see you before we leave. I don’t want to stay long enough for anyone who doesn’t need to know to find out where we are and bring trouble to your front door.”Clayson reached a hand toward me. “Appreciated. Let me know how things work out.”“Will do.” I accepted the shake, then he went walking back toward his men.I’d been gone for a couple of hours. Hopefully, that was enough time for Elena to sleep, because it was time for us to find her wolf.ELENAWhen I woke up from my m
I peeked around his arm and sure enough, the guy was gone, but the bags were just inside the doorway. “Was that necessary?” I droned, moving around him to find my clothes.“Do you have no modesty?” he snapped back.I laughed. “How was I supposed to know someone would be inside the apartment? Or that you’d storm in the bathroom as if you didn’t know I was in there already?”He clenched his hands into fists and stomped past me, but I grabbed his wrist. “Where’s Amy?”“Communing with nature,” he spat, then he jerked out of my hold and went to the other bedroom, slamming the door closed behind him.Wasn’t he such a peach?I kept the towel wrapped around me and grabbed both of the bags with one hand before heading back to the room I’d been sleeping in. I caught the time on the microwave. It blinked 11:24pm. Great, I’d only gotten two hours of sleep. I was going to need Amy to give me another boost.When I entered back into the bedroom and closed the door behind me, I didn’t bother to lock
He kissed my mouth, searing his lips to mine.I could hardly breathe from just his touch. I needed to know what more would feel like. More in any capacity.I just needed him to release the pent-up energy that was warring inside me.Shamelessly, I rubbed against him, hoping he’d get the point without me having to feel like I was begging, but I wasn’t opposed to that if it was the only way to get what I needed.He was frozen for a few seconds after I’d answered his questions, but then he came at me with a ferocity that hadn’t been there before.The grip around my neck got tighter, the pressure of his hard lips on mine increased, and I swore my back was going to leave an indent in the drywall if we stayed where we were.I reached my hands between us, trying to get at the button on his pants, but he moved us so quickly that I had to suck in a breath from the swift movements.Before I knew it, we were on the mattress with a sheet and a thin blanket underneath my back. He boxed me in just l
Amy narrowed bright eyes at me. “Clearly. So she can kick your ass.”Elena smirked. “I already did that once, but I wouldn’t mind doing it again with claws.”I was tempted to dispute that statement, considering I’d ended up kidnapping her, but Elena could have this win.“Right,” I said. “Let’s go, then.”My eyes were forced forward so as not to stare too closely at Elena’s still-flushed cheeks and chest. I made it out the door without making eye contact and headed toward the forest, giving the carnival area a wide berth to avoid the people milling about.I saw Elena point at some of the rides and signs, but we weren’t here to have fun. We were here to see if she was going to have a problem shifting, and then it was time for us to move on. That was it.When all three of us made it into the small forest, I led the way to a spot past some of the denser trees that would allow us some privacy but still would offer plenty of moonlight.We didn’t need the moon to shift into our Bear forms, b
When her bear appeared, she was around four-and-a-half feet tall larger than most females and a dark charcoal color.The faint white I’d seen before seemed to flicker around her, but then it fizzled out. I didn’t know what that meant, but the fact that she could shift on her first try was what I focused on.Until I had the sudden desire to bow before her.What the fuck?I thought.I kept her Bear’s gaze and stepped forward with my hand out.She eyed me suspiciously, not nearly as submissive as her human half. A low growl rumbled from her chest, and I paused my movements.“Elena,” I warned.If she couldn’t keep control of her wolf, we were going to have an even bigger problem on our hands. I hadn’t considered the ramifications of forcing her first shift when she didn’t have an alpha, but as the minutes ticked by, the beast settled.Do you want to run?” I asked, making sure to remain bigger and more in control than the she-Bear, even though a part of me still wanted to avert my eyes when
But the pain was magnified by the look Marigold had given her as Elena washed and dressed her for the last time.It was a look of pure, unadulterated trust.That baby loved you. And you just left her.She still had her keys to her mother’s house, and when Elena walked in, the house was silent and dark.It seemed her mother wasn’t home. She was probably out shopping or with one of her friends.Great, your mother’s got a better social life than you do. Now get it together.Her thoughts had changed.Instead of feeling sorry for herself, she would be strong. She would put herself back together and be happy doing it.Back in her room, Elena unpacked her duffel bag and pulled out her laptop.Then she headed to the kitchen and put on a pot of coffee while she updated her resumé.Elena also considered starting a writing blog where she could post fictional stories about men that turned into bears and wolves. But then she remembered the man who had followed her in Costco.She understood what At
Could this man have been one of the council’s goons? Atlas couldn’t picture any shifter he had ever met from Elena’s descriptions.But then, there were bear shifters all over the United States. Who knew what kind of trash Elias or Callum had called in to take care of Atlas?“I don’t want you going out on your own again,” Atlas found himself saying. His voice was harsher, hotter than he had intended.Elena turned from where she stood at the stove and looked at him with raised brows.Her bright eyes were almost cold. He shuddered. Lyra had never looked at him with anything other than warmth in her eyes.“Excuse me?”Her voice was a whisper.Just then, Marigold started fussing, and Lyra came from the kitchen to pick up Atlas’s daughter.“It isn’t safe for you to go out on your own. We don’t know if that guy who followed you was just a creep or if he was connected to something … else.”Atlas ensured that his voice was gentler, but Lyra still looked incredibly angry.“I’m not someone who l
Elena spent about two hours trying to fit Mari’s car seat into the backseat of the truck.Then she went back into the cabin to wash and dress Marigold, who she put in a fluffy, yellow onesie.She put a white cap on Mari’s head and matching white woolen booties on the infant’s tiny feet.Not that Marigold was that tiny any longer. The baby was growing faster and faster every day … faster than most babies.Elena had a feeling it had something to do with her bear-shifter genes.Marigold was even outgrowing the clothes that Elena had purchased two weeks earlier.“I’ll stop by the baby care store in town,” Elena whispered to Marigold. She stroked the baby’s cheek once and then lifted her into her arms. “And we’ll get you some new threads.”Elena grabbed her bag on the way out, as well as the Maya wrap Atlas had purchased.She settled Marigold safely into the car seat, strapping her in tightly. Then Elena got into the driver’s seat and turned on the beast of a truck.The engine roared to li
He wanted to growl, his bear trying to break out, but he held his anger down and frowned at them. "I have a human nanny. Elena is my daughter's nanny."They didn't seem to believe him, and he sighed, waving a hand."Serenity died if you have forgotten, and I have a newborn baby that needs attention. Much more attention than I can give her, mind you. So, I hired a nanny.""You're saying that this nanny that is living in your house hasn't joined you in bed? That's what you're saying? You haven't slept with her?" Devlen asked, narrowing his eyes. He wanted him to admit that he'd mated with Elena, but he wasn't going to."No," he lied, shaking his head. "She is just my nanny. She's what Marigold needs right now. I need an extra set of hands around the house."Devlen scoffed and shook his head. He placed his hand on the table, his words coming out harshly. "I don't believe you. You're lying. She isn't just your nanny, and we are all watching. I'd be careful, Atlas, because all eyes are on
Atlas reached for her hand, shaking his head. “I don’t want to talk about that.”He pulled her toward him, sealing their lips together. A spark ran down her body. She leaned into it.His hands skated over her back and down, cupping her ass. He pulled her onto his lap, and she wrapped her arms around his neck. The kiss deepened, and she moaned softly against him.He broke the kiss, inhaling against her neck. “You smell so good,” he muttered into her ear.She smiled, feeling his hands sliding up her back. He reached for her bra straps.She leaned back, looking into his eyes. “Are you sure you don’t want to talk?” she asked, seeing frustration in his eyes.He shook his head. “Maybe later. Right now, I just want you.”She felt the love so deep in his words. She kissed him, allowing him to pull her shirt open and undo her bra.The air bit at her bare skin, but he pulled them onto the bed and under the covers. She pressed into the sheets as his fingers scraped at her pants.His lips kissed
Her heart dropped into her stomach, and her breathing, she realized, was shallow, unsteady.Atlasr’s eyes darkened then, and his jaw tightened as he clenched his teeth.“We need to be very careful, Elena.” The warning in his voice was clear. “We need to continue pretending that you’re my nanny and not my mate.”“You really cannot expect me to do that.” The distress in Elena’s voice surprised her. But a dent had been put in her pride.“Yes, you have to,” Atlas said, his voice more serious than Atlas had ever heard it before. “You cannot tell anyone about us. Not even your mother. And I’m not doing this because I want to keep you a secret … far from it. I’m doing this because I want to protect you.”“Maybe we should move?” The idea flashed across Atlas’s mind so suddenly that she hurried to grasp it before it vanished. “Move to another state where we can live freely. Like Alaska.”Atlas shook his head as Marigold started crying.Elena took the baby automatically, cradling the little gir
Devlen, Case, Elias, and Jameson represented the bears of Montana.“Atlas,” Devlen spoke in his growling voice.Atlas inclined his head in a small bow to each of them.The four shifters all wore bear skins.“Thank you for seeing me,” he said. “I am here to plead before the council. I would like to find a human mate. Clearly, Serenity and I were not a match, and this resulted in her death.”“I believe, Atlas, that you’ve mated with a human before coming here to get our approval.”Fear raced through Atlas, crashing into him in great waves and almost knocking him over.But he remained steady, his face impassive.“Not at all, sir,” he said as respectfully as he could. Anger had blended with his fear. “I simply want us to change the old ways of living to save the bear shifters of Hendrick Klaus.”“The reason we do not mate with humans, Atlas,” Elias spoke in a gentler voice, though his face was stern, “is because we are keeping our species pure. Mating and procreating with humans only weak
Atlas took a hesitant step toward her.Outside, the wind had picked up. Leaves and thick, rich patches of soil blew around in gusts and spurts.The air had smelled wet and ripe, as though it was about to rain.“I want you. Only you,” Atlas said. His eyes were sincere … sincere enough that Atlas believed him. “More than anything. But I have to ensure that the council approves of our relationship first.”“Why?”Elena settled into the rocking chair next to the baby’s bed.Marigold was still awake but allowed Elena to cradle her. It was as if the baby knew Elena needed to hold her.“Because,” Atlas leaned against the changing table, “the council rarely approves of bears and humans mixing. Socially and … romantically.”“Is it really that big of a deal?” Elena found the strength to ask Timber, who crossed his arms over his chest.“It isn’t to me. But the bear council wants us to keep our bloodlines pure. They believe that mating with humans is physically impossible, and even if it were poss
She gripped her hands into tight fists. Her lips pulled into a straight line, and she inhaled sharply.“If you're not going to be honest with me, then I'm not staying. I told you I wasn't going to watch after your kid day in and day out. I'm the nanny, not the mother."She turned on her heel and marched toward the door. He quickly pulled himself out of bed and reached for her hand, stopping her."Stop!" Elena yelled, but he didn't."Just give me a second to explain," he whispered, making her pause.He knew she wouldn't believe him unless she saw with her own eyes, so he turned them toward the door and walked her out to the backyard.The grass was wet, and it smelled like it had recently rained. He turned toward her on the deck and took a few steps back."Now, you can't say I didn't warn you," he said, watching her look at him confused.He relaxed his muscles and allowed himself to shift into his bear form. His bones moved, and his muscles contracted. And then she screamed.Elena's eye