I pulled the daggers out of their sheaths and squeezed the hilts until blue flames covered the blades.“Whoa,” Sammy whispered.“Watch our backs,” I reminded him, and then I began to sprint in the direction of the bunker.ELENAIt wasn’t long before we caught the attention of the red-eyed bear, as well as Atlas. He let out a menacing howl that made me think he wanted me to stop, but I couldn’t. I had to get Sammy to safety. If anything happened to him…I couldn’t even finish the thought. This kid was going to be okay. Just like I’d promised.“Left,” Sammy shouted, and I swung my hand in that direction.The dagger still flaming in my hand slid cleanly through the silver wolf with crimson eyes, taking his head right off.“Hell yeah!” Sammy said.I chuckled but still reprimanded him. “Language, bud.”The other Bear slowed in their attacks once they’d seen what I’d done to the first, but that didn’t mean we were going to be left alone.I assumed I was the specific target that they’d been
Jacob glowered. “Apparently, the coven didn’t teach you any manners.”“I only reserve those for people who deserve them.” I took another step to the right and a quick glance at the boulder. My eyes briefly caught movement that I hoped would be someone who could take Sammy from me.My Bear was dying to escape and rip these fuckers to shreds, but I couldn’t until I no longer had the boy to protect.“So, what do you want from me?” I asked again, hoping to buy myself some time. Plus, it would be nice to know why this fucker framed me for murder.His chin lifted slightly. “You were supposed to be mine.”My stomach churned, taking his words one way, but Jacob continued before I could verbally react.“Your mother was my fated mate,” he said hauntingly. “She was my life, and when she’d told me she was pregnant, I was the happiest man in the world.”Except I wasn’t his. I was Mathis’s child.“But my Rosy wasn’t far enough along for me to be the father.” His eyes darkened as he stared at me wit
Tiny flickers of dark magic landed on my arms and chest, but thankfully, my legs were covered by the teeth and apparently magic resistant pants.Fuck this. I was never going to get close enough to Hazel on two feet to use the daggers. It was time to show them what a true Bears was capable of.The weapons went back to their sheaths, and I could hear several sets of feet running away from us. Ones that I hoped were currently rushing Sammy to safety.My shift came fast and painlessly, then my bear roared with ferocity as we landed on four flickering paws.Based on the widening eyes of Johnathon, he either hadn’t heard about my magical wolf or he had assumed the details to be exaggerated.“Kill her,” he spat, shoving Hazel forward.I still wasn’t sure what the entirety of Johnathon’s endgame was, but if he sought to be Alpha Supreme and wasn’t willing to fight me himself, he’d already failed.This House would chew him up and spit him back out. Again.Stupid fucker for thinking otherwise.
All four feet of mine pushed off the ground, and I leapt as far right as I could. My teeth clamped down on Jacob’s furry tail, knowing full well that this wasn’t going to hurt him, but I needed him distracted.Sure enough, he whipped around too quickly for his size and got his own feet tangled.The mess he’d made of himself gave me the opening I’d been looking for, and I went for his eyes.My Bear jumped onto his back, then clawed her way to the top of his head. Her sharp nails raked across one eye with precision. Though, before we could take out the other, Jacob had recovered and sat as if he was going to itch his head with his back foot, but instead, the asshole launched us into the air.His front paw then swatted at my Bear with claws extended while we were still in the air. Thankfully, his aim was off, so we didn’t get skewered, but we were still slammed much harder into the ground than I’d been prepared for.The impact was so severe that the earth around us cracked, and there was
Without wasting any more time, I shifted back to my human form and pulled the sword out from the sheath on my back.The blade was magically enhanced like Elena’s daggers, but not with flames. No, this weapon had tendrils of electric power that moved along the steel surface while I held the hilt with two hands.Noiselessly, I crept through the trees and approached Hazel. She didn’t even flinch when I was right behind her. Though, her vulnerability didn’t deter me from what I needed to do.Two-handed, I lifted the sword up and then quickly brought it down, the blade slicing through Hazel’s neck with ease.Her eyes widened from the impact, but no sound came from her open lips.Wisps of magic rose from her body and then headed straight for my sword that eagerly soaked up the energy while her head tilted and rolled to the ground.Blood pooled around her neck and shoulders, but I didn’t look long enough to be elated by the death.Instead, my stare moved to my mate and the fucker who was try
I couldn’t lose her.“What the hell happened here?” Jack asked, but nobody answered him.My focus was on my mate, and that was where it would stay until she opened her eyes for me.I wrapped my fingers around her limp paw while I watched Amy press her palms over the wolf’s chest.“Don’t you fucking die,” Mark whispered in Amy’s ear when her faint magic began to cover my mate.Amy didn’t respond to him. Instead, she closed her eyes and slumped forward so limply that Mark needed to hold her up while she worked on Elena.I watched with strangled breath, helpless to do anything other than sit there and hope my reason for living didn’t stop breathing when I’d only just found her.Amy groaned, and Mark tried to pull her back, but she at least had the strength to keep her hands pressed over Elena. “I need to save her. It’s why I’m here.”I was certain Mark disagreed with that, but this time, he kept quiet. Just like I selfishly was.I hadn’t noticed him leave, but Jack’s Bear came running ba
Right. That made more sense.“Your mother came to us, offering her life in exchange for your protection,” the Maiden said, her voice almost ethereal and garnering my full attention. She wore a white linen dress that probably meant to highlight some sort of innocence. Her long, dark brown hair stood out in contrast over the linen material and her chestnut eyes blinked expectantly at me.My heart instantly dropped into my stomach, and tears burned at the back of my eyes for a woman I’d never known but had always longed for.“She’s…” I couldn’t even say the words.The Crone sighed. “Your mother lives. At least, last we heard. We did not take her first offering of her life. Instead, we concealed your true form and her mate bond with Jacob.”I glanced at Atlas again, hope blossoming in me for the briefest of seconds until a realization hit me. If she were still alive, why hadn’t she come for me? After nearly three decades, why hadn’t my mother wanted me? Had Mathis and Jacob terrified her
It hadn’t gone unnoticed that he didn’t answer my question about how he was doing, but I didn’t need his words to know.I could imagine the torment I’d have felt if it were him in this bed instead of me. Then, I’d multiply that rage by a hundred to get to Atlas’s level.He at least seemed okay physically, and that was enough. For now.“How is everyone else?” I asked, knowing there would have been casualties but hoping not many.Atlas stared ahead at the wall, and I instantly knew something worse had happened.“Is jack…?” I let my voice trail off.“He’s fine,” Atlas answered. “It was Tuck, along with more than a dozen others we didn’t really get to know.”Damn it. I’d hardly known Tuck, but he’d helped us and he’d been a close friend of Jack’s, along with being Sammy’s “Uncle Tuck.” My heart ached for their losses and for the grief felt by the rest of the families.I started to pull Jack’s arms away from me so I could get out of bed, but his hold tightened. “What do you think you’re do
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