Hearten (Bayou Bear Chronicles) Page 13

  “If I haven’t told you, Martha, I think you’re the most gorgeous female alive.”

  She popped fist onto her hip. “So there’s a pretty dead chick somewhere you had your eye on?”

  “Can you be serious for one second? I’m trying to tell you that I think the Creator did His best work when he made you. That I think there’s no female in the world more beautiful and all you can do is joke?”

  She pressed her flattened hand to her chest. “I’m sorry. I can’t get used to it.”

  “You write about it. Your men tell their women things like that on almost every page.”

  “But that’s them. I never thought it would happen to me.”

  “And I never thought I’d find my mate. It seems the best things are worth waiting for.”

  Cupping my hands around her sweet face, I took her in. I stared at the long lashes that pulled me in. Those chocolate brown, almond-shaped eyes that broke my will with every glance, the ones that looked at me from across the room and told me that she was mine. Her long black hair that marked her as the fierce, female black bear that she was. The widow’s peak at the top of her forehead, and finally her chin that she used so powerfully to sway me. It was all part of the beauty that would be my mate for the rest of my existence.

  “I’d wait a lifetime if it meant finally having you as my mate. Sometimes, I thought maybe I’d missed you. That maybe I’d passed you or made a decision that caused our paths never to cross, but then, that day when the Alpha called to me. I saw you up in that window, and I knew. I knew that all my waiting hadn’t been in vain. I knew right then and there that I belonged to you.”

  The chin that quivered, this time, did so with true emotion. I could feel her love and trust thrust itself through her veins. She knew what I’d said had been honest and true.

  If nothing else, I was truthful.

  “Rev, I couldn’t have asked for a better male—ever. I love you more than I ever thought possible.”

  We spent a long time like that, drowning in each other’s stare and taking our time exploring one another’s mouths. Finally, I got dressed while she waited outside the bathroom—in the stupid green boxers.

  They weren’t so stupid if she bought them for me.

  “Come eat with me—you’re really tired, and I’ve kept you from working again.”

  She giggled and rubbed her hand against my back. “I have a feeling there will be a lot of lost working days in the near future.”

  In response, I pulled her under my arm and led us downstairs where we partook in what I hoped was a tradition of eating at strange hours and wearing colorful things and enjoying every bit of it.

  Martha

  He awoke before me later on that day. We’d gone to bed after breakfast, Rev making good on the promise to throw me over his shoulder—he’d carried me up the stairs and threw me onto the bed.

  It was a while before we went to sleep.

  I’d ignored my email all week, so when Rev went out, I checked it. After skimming through, I saw an email from my agent. It was just dated the day before. Usually, if I didn’t answer the email within a week, she would call.

  The e-mail reminded me of a book signing that was to take place in Houston in two days. It would be a quick one—fly in on Saturday morning, make the signing and fly out on Sunday morning.

  I realized that Rev and I hadn’t talked about all this. I bet he wouldn’t understand how much travelling was expected of me.

  I quickly replied that I would be there. I would have to tell Rev soon enough, so I went ahead and packed up my book supplies to make the trip. Good thing I’d already had my books shipped directly to the hotel where the signing would be held.

  The only other email I checked was my receipt for the mating gift I’d ordered for Rev. It was paid for, but only the making of it. The rest was all me.

  While zipping up my carry-on suitcase, I glanced out the window and saw brown moving through the trees. I ducked quickly and crab-crawled to my phone on the desk.

  “Rev?”

  “Hey, what’s wrong?”

  He felt my fear.

  “There’s a Grizzly right in the woods, right by the house. I can see it in the trees from my office window. Where is the security detail?”

  Rev scoffed, “I am on perimeter on the other side of the lands. River is supposed to be over there.”

  “I didn’t see River. I’m going to tell Hawke.”

  I could hear him arguing with me as I hung up the phone, but I feared for Echo’s safety. My house was only three houses down from hers so if that bear was in my backyard, he was in hers too.

  Not even bothering with knocking, I ran through the front door of Hawke’s house. He and Tarrow were on the couch with some maps in front of them, presumably going over security measures.

  “Grizzly.” I said, winded. “Behind the house. Can’t see River. I’ve got her.”

  Both males jumped to their feet and raced to the back door. I found Echo in the kitchen and as calmly as I could, raced us both into her bedroom. The Alpha’s bedroom, after the last episode with the Grizzlies, had been reinforced with steel doors and bullet-proof windows.

  Bullet-proof, not necessarily bear proof.

  “What is it?” Echo asked.

  “Grizzly behind my house.”

  “Where’s River?”

  “I didn’t see him.”

  If River was not on duty, something was wrong. River had been one of Hawke’s original Betas and though he was young, he was strong and loyal. Either he’d been taken—or worse.

  “Maybe you saw something else. Tarrow has been blabbing about seeing a cinnamon bear. If it was, she’s one of ours. She would smell like a black bear. She’s just in transition.”

  “On my way here, I could smell him on the wind, Echo. This is no cinnamon bear.”

  She began to get worried, wringing her hands in the comforter next to her. “I’ve brought this on the clan.” She intended to continue, but I refused to let her talk about herself like that.

  “Don’t even start, Echo. You are the best thing that ever happened to this clan and you’re my best friend. All this worry can’t be good for your cub. He needs healing thoughts and comfort from his mama. Breathe, my friend. I will be here and anyone will have to get through me to get to you.”

  “You’re the best, Martha.” She grabbed my hand and we sat there, keeping each other calm while we waited for the Creator knew what.

  Hours later, Echo lay down, her earlier upset clearly taking its toll on her body. My phone hadn’t rung once and neither had hers. I didn’t know whether to take that as a good sign or not.

  It had to be good.

  I refused to believe anything else.

  With only my own thoughts to keep me company, I reached down and placed my hand over my chest. My heart was racing in the same way it raced when I ran as a bear. That was my tether to my mate. He was running. My mate was fine.

  I was sure that Echo could deduce the same thing from her heartbeat, but with a cub in her belly, everything was jumbled.

  Pacing the room, I pulled a blanket, the rabbit fur blanket Echo had made as her mating gift, over her form. She was shaking in her sleep and I didn’t want it said that I didn’t take care of the Coeur, or my friend.

  They were equal in my eyes. Neither title made her more or less precious to me.

  As night took over day, a bang at the door made Echo bolt from the bed and I corralled her into the farthest corner, shielding her from whatever was on the other side.

  The knob turned and something clicked inside it. My mind registered that if they had a key, it was most likely Hawke.

  But my bear was having none of my assumptions. She was raring and ready to go, growling at the intruder through my throat.

  Hawke burst into the room and the fast motion made my defenses grow even higher.

  “Martha, it’s me. Stand down.”

  My body heeded his command, but it wasn’t until I saw him go to his ma
te and coddle her that my bear surrendered. Next into the room was Rev. I jumped into his arms and held onto his neck as if it were the last buoy in the water.

  “I’m not happy with you. But I’m so proud of you.”

  Hawke chimed in. “I feel sorry for the bear that has to come against Martha.”

  “Right? Did you see her? She was ready to maul anything that was after our Coeur.”

  They were all talking about me like I wasn’t in the room.

  “I’m right here.” I claimed as forcefully as I could with my face buried in my mate’s neck.

  “You were damned fierce. I wish you could’ve seen your face. Hawke nearly lost his nuts.”

  Of course, Tarrow, came in with something inappropriate—yet very true.

  “Okay. Everyone out.” Hawke’s voice waivered. “We need to find River and my mate had a big scare today. She needs to rest. Security has been tripled.”

  We all began to file out when Hawke added on to his previous commands.

  “If you see a Grizzly, do not hesitate. Kill him on the spot. I’ve had just about enough of this bullshit. I won’t let them hurt our clan anymore.”

  Everyone, including Echo, nodded at his words.

  He was right. Enough was enough.

  When we got home, Rev and I grabbed something to eat and then sat on the couch. He excused himself to take another shower and came back in wearing his new navy pajama pants with a sliver of maroon coming out of the top. Noticing my stare, he laughed. “Shut up. I kind of like them now.”

  “I see that.”

  “So,” he sat down beside me and dragged me over to his lap. “What has you so nervous?”

  I looked him in the eyes and then shifted so that I could face him.

  “I have to go to Houston on Saturday. For my books. It was planned before this. I can’t get out of it.”

  “Houston? In two days?”

  “Yes. It’s a book signing that I’ve committed to. But I have an idea. I’ve been thinking about it a lot.”

  He didn’t look impressed.

  This was the part of the deal that I’d purposefully hidden from him. I couldn’t justify why I had, but for a man who rarely left our lands, being mated to someone who travels probably felt off.

  “Oh, you have an idea? I have one too. But please, go ahead with yours.”

  I moved forward a little, hoping my feminine wiles would persuade him. “If I dressed like Echo and had Hawke drop me off at the airport, maybe they would think it was Echo, and it would throw them off. We could put the word out with the black bears of Texas. They could intercept them.”

  I ignored the part where he had an idea. I had a feeling it would be to chain me up and let me miss the signing.

  “You have to go to this thing? You can’t skip it? We need you here. I need you here. We’re about to be mated.”

  “I know, but Hawke said that I could be the Beta Female around my job, and this is my job. This way I’m doing both jobs. I’ll be gone less than twenty four hours. I’ll be back in plenty of time for our mating ceremony.”

  He dragged his fingers through his hair, pulling a little too forcefully on the roots. The caramel-cream tone of his skin reddened at the base of his neck.

  “And what part do I play in this? I just sit here and pretend to be fine with you putting your life on the line and gallivanting off to sign books? Exactly how did this play out in that head of yours?”

  Yep, pissed.

  “No, I thought it would give you time to finish whatever needs to be done for the ceremony and help get rid of the Grizzlies.”

  He hefted out a sigh that made me rise and fall with the weight of it.

  “How often do you do this?”

  I smiled and put my hands on his chest. “Sit on your lap and charm the hell out of you? I’d hope to do it pretty often in the future.”

  He squinted at me. His hands, once on my waist, now gripped my hips and pulsed, pushing me to cut the crap and move on with the truth.

  “I used to travel frequently. I guess I will have to cut down on it now.”

  I couldn’t help the disappointment in my voice. I loved going to signings and book conventions.

  “For me? You’re having to make consolations on who you are for me? It’s fine. Don’t change anything for me.” My mate’s hands gently removed me from his lap and he got up to go outside. I could see him pacing on the porch, kicking at my rocking chair with his arms folded.

  Sometimes my mate was an ass.

  My selfishness was cruel.

  I cleaned up the kitchen as quickly as I could and then secluded myself in my office, shutting the door and sticking my ear buds in with the music cranked up as high as I could stand it.

  Later on, having grown tired of my music, which mostly revolved around people falling in love or being in love, I shut down my computer. After I left the office, I could see Rev from the top of the stairs, sitting on the couch, writing in a huge leather-bound journal.

  I sat next to him, but received no reaction to my presence.

  It stung.

  “What are you writing?”

  “I needed to update us as the latest mating, and I’d forgotten to add Flint’s twins. Plus, the recent events need to be recorded.”

  I bumped his shoulder with mine. “You’re a writer too, like me. You just write non-fiction.”

  He shrugged and continued not to look at me. Finally, after a few minutes, the writing stopped and the book was shut.

  “When do you leave?”

  “Saturday morning.”

  “And you don’t want me with you.”

  It wasn’t a question.

  “I want you with me, Rev. I do. But you have too many responsibilities here…with all this Grizzly business. Besides, it won’t really be believable for Echo to be running off with a Beta.”

  He groaned and made no effort to hide his frustration with the whole situation.

  “Fine.”

  Rolling my eyes, I popped him on the butt. “Don’t start with that fine crap. I’ll be gone less than twenty-four hours, and the Grizzlies will be gone. Even Hawke said it was a good idea.”

  “He said it was a good theory.”

  “It will work and then I will come home, everything will be peaceful and we will be mated.”

  “Are you sure about that?”

  Stepping back, his tone shocked me. “Sure about what? Us mating?”

  “Yes.”

  “Of course I am.”

  “Let’s go to bed before I say something I may regret. Or are you staying up to write?”

  Refusing to answer, I took his hand and led him to our bedroom. We lay there for a long time, neither of us speaking but neither of us sleeping.

  I’d never felt so alone in all my life.

  I’d thought I could balance it—the career and my clan. Maybe I couldn’t.

  Maybe I was just a shit mate and should stop trying.

  “Stop it.” Strong arms grabbed me around my waist and pulled me into the space beside Rev. He motioned for me to face him and it wasn’t until I had that I realized I was crying. “Whatever you’re thinking, you have to stop it. It feels like you’re ripping yourself up from the inside out.”

  “I should’ve told you. You asked about those coffee cups on my wall in my office. That’s all the places I’ve traveled. But I knew how you hardly ever leave the lands and how committed you are to the Alpha. It seemed like another thing for you to have to put up with. And let’s face it, I’m a pill all on my own.”

  His lips were against my hair. “You are a pill.”

  “You’re supposed to say I’m not a pill.”

  “Truth, love. Always the truth.”

  Wiggling closer, I felt better just touching him, despite the dispute still at hand. “You can come with me,” I offered.

  “I can?”

  “Yes, of course. What are you thinking?”

  He worked his jaw back and forth. The motion could be felt on the top o
f my head.

  “You’ve still got me on the outside.”

  I scoffed at that notion. He was in my bed for the love of Pete. My teeth marks could be seen on his arm.

  “How?”

  “Where are my clothes?”

  They were still downstairs, on the chair where I’d folded them.

  “Downstairs. Shit.”

  “It’s okay. One day you’ll let me in and you won’t ever let me go. I’m looking forward to that happening. Little by little, I’ll get you.”

  No retort was made. No quirky, smartass comments presented themselves. It was the little things in life that could make you or break you, I realized—to Rev. For me, it was the opposite. It was the way he put up with my shit that made me love him—the way he knew when to stop putting up with my shit and call me on the carpet.

  I was confused.

  It didn’t really matter—big or little.

  I was failing on the little things that made Rev happy. He needed to feel at home,

  Home.

  It struck me all at once.

  My mate hadn’t ever belonged anywhere.

  Not even in his own home.

  He was just stuck there without a mother or a biological father.

  I would make it a home that was his as much as it was mine.

  And then he snored in my ear.

  ~~

  Sitting in the Alpha’s office the next morning, the air carried a somber tone. During the perimeter runs after the spotting of the Grizzly, River’s body had been found in a savage, shallow grave near the Alpha’s cabin—in his bear form.

  I had tried desperately not to listen to the detailed report Salem, a guard from the former LaFourche Clan, had given to the Alpha.

  The details were commanded of the Alpha. He forced Salem to give every specific he could.

  River had been so dear to him.

  “Alpha, there is more.” Tarrow had been the one to deliver the next news that would chill our blood and leave us speechless. “A note was attached to—River—it said ‘Echo is next.’

  The atmosphere changed in the room. I’d heard things about the Alpha’s power—that he was able to exert it at will. Though we were shifters, it was the only thing we truly considered supernatural.

  An air of dominance flooded my senses, causing us all to bare our necks—not out of want or respect—but because we couldn’t not show submission.