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Each man held his human skin as the ones coming toward them didn’t shift. The stink of shifters came at them, but they weren’t all wolves. After seeing what NeNe had become, Coti figured there had to be bears and wolves mixed into the group. He’d never come across a mixed pack, yet his musings had to be put on hold. The crazy bastard, that was Creed, was making good on his promise of gutting men left and right, making several turn around and run back the way they’d come. Coti narrowed his eyes, searching for the supposed alpha of the pack, Mac. His enhanced sense of smell was filled with too many other scents. Although he’d catalogued Mac’s unique blood trail in his brain, the open field was filling with death and blood, too many others to get a bead on the one he wanted.

He dodged a meaty fist, hitting one of the brawlers he’d seen fighting the night before in the throat, crushing his windpipe in one blow. Before, he’d always pulled his punches to keep from damaging his opponents to where they wouldn’t heal properly. The ones coming at him and his friends were given a chance to turn back or fight. They chose wrong.

He took a hit from the side, grunting at the small injury. The shifter who hit him with the tire iron smirked, showing pointy canines. “Is that all you got?” Coti asked.

His swords would end the fight before it had a chance to begin, but Coti allowed the man to swing his weapon again, jumping backward before it could connect with his head. He felt another shifter sneaking up behind him, along with one on his right. The man in front was the distraction while his friends were the ambush. Poor bastards, they thought they could get the drop on him. Coti pretended to not notice the others coming at him, allowed the man in front to think he was engaged in a fight for his life. At the last minute, he pulled both katanas out of their scabbard, spinning in a smooth half circle and swung right and left, neatly removing the approaching men’s heads. When he spun to face the first man again, he’d blanched, dropped his weapon and shifted, his clothing ripping, hindering his shift.

“Well shit, boy, don’t go losing your balls now,” Coti growled. He contemplated shifting, changing his mind when he saw most of the others hadn’t. He wasn’t sure what his shift would look like and didn’t want to find out in front of Kellen his friends.

The big wolf snarled, bits of torn fabric clung to him, making Coti laugh. “Dude, you look like a fool. Didn’t you learn to take your clothes off before shifting?”

His snarl warned Coti he was going to attack seconds before he launched forward, his hind legs lending him strength. If he’d been of the mind, he could’ve played with the wolf, but he wasn’t. Instead, he ended the shifter’s life in midflight, his yelp of pain cut off. Coti didn’t watch him fall to the ground, knowing the Goddess would take those who were worthy home with her, the others would fall into Creed’s father’s realm. A roar shook the ground, making him flinch. Kellen tossed a man away from him, into Creed while two more jumped onto his alpha’s back. His roar wasn’t one of pain, but frustration. Coti saw one of the men had tried to jam a knife into Kellen’s back, a sure-fire way to get dead.

Two more men, much larger than any of the others he’d faced broke from the fighting. Bears. He scented them, their smells reminding him of Mac and NeNe. He sheathed his katanas, wanting to rip these men apart with his bare hands. “What up, boys? Looks like you two went to the same store to buy your clothes. Was it lumberjacks are us, or what?” He sneered, eyeing their ripped flannel shirts that had seen much better days. Not that Coti didn’t like flannel, hell his closet was filled with them. However, when your shirts had more holes than a barrel on a shooting course, you should get rid of it.

“You think you’re funny? You won’t be laughing when we make your bitch ours.”

Coti looked at the man who spoke, his words ran around his skull on replay, making everything appear black and white. He didn’t see anyone else on the field, couldn’t hear anything but a ringing in his ears. His skin split, claws ripping out from beneath the tips of his fingers. “You will never touch what is mine,” he promised, his words came out deeper, almost incoherent.

He took a step toward the men. The ground shook, the earth sinking in with each step he took. How he was still on two legs, instead of all four, he wasn’t sure, he’d never done a partial shift like Kellen, but he couldn’t stop his beasts from their mission. Kill. Their fear fueled him, making him hunger for more. In several strides, he had the man, who’d dared to speak, in one hand. “Where’s your alpha?”

The bear shook his head, making Coti roar. He kept his eyes on the shifter, taking in each motion down to the way his hair blew back from his face. Coti knew there was something majorly wrong with him, but his own beasts were in control, only he too was on board with them. Kill. Yes, they were going to kill each and every shifter around them. The sound of bones snapping while the stupid shifter tried to take on his bear form made Coti laugh. “Don’t you think it’s a little late for that?” He dropped the fool, looking around for his partner. The other man was backing away, trying to escape. Coti pointed his finger, his claw longer than ever. “Shift,” he ordered. As if his word was law, the man bent, groaning in pain while his bear was forced out of him.

“Holy fucking shit, Coti, what the hell you doing man?”

Coti turned, pinning Turo with a stare. “Stay out of this.”

Turo raised both hands. “I’m on your side, brother.”

He nodded, turned back to the bears and waited. He’d not felt blood on his claws for what they’d done to his mate. Taking a look around the field, he saw the others had eliminated the threat. In his head, he counted how many he’d taken out, but none of them were the one he wanted. These two, the bears in front of him, were part of Mac. His beasts wanted their blood.

In a forward lunge, he picked up one, tossing him several feet away. A sickening crunch echoed around them.

“Yo, maybe we should ask them some questions before we off them?” Xan spoke up.

Coti turned, pointing at Xan, then at the bear who reared back, roaring. “He’s pack to the one who turned my NeNe. They all need to die.”

Creed moved between him and his kill. “I get that, really I do. I’d want them all dead, and I’d even delight in their deaths. However, do you know where this Mac is? You might want to slow your roll on the crazy beast mode a bit and see if we can’t get some info out of him. Afterwards, you can totally rip his head off and play pickleball with it if you want.”

“This one’s dead,” Bodhi yelled.

Kellen sighed. “Thanks for the update.”

“I could’ve told you that before he went all the way over there,” Xan said, nodding toward Bodhi who was jogging back to them.

“Who’s gonna clean this mess up, is what I want to know?” Slater asked, his hands on his hips, a look of disgust on his face. “Seriously, I’m all for a good rumble, but I’m not about to dispose of bodies.”

Damien and Lucas both sighed. Their loud gusts of air made everyone turn toward them. “First of all, he can do it if he knew what the hell he was,” Lucas said pointing at Coti. “Since it looks like he’s as clueless as the rest of you, we’ll get it taken care of. You, cousin from way down the line, need to get right in the head. That’s not right.” He waved his hand up and down Coti.

Coti growled, his fangs snapping together. “Why don’t you come over here and say that?”

Damien laughed. “Because, we both happen to like being in our Hearts Love’s good graces. If we hurt one of hers, even if you are on both sides of the fence, she’d be angry. I’m not sure how, or who can even you out, but right now, you’re all kinds of fucked up. For real, I think even Lula would freak.”

Xan opened his mouth, but Kellen slapping him on the back of the head silenced him. Coti took a deep breath, then another. He searched for a calmness inside himself where he’d only been feeling rage. Slowly, color appeared around him, the grass became green again. His body cracked, the joints popping while everything became larger, back to normal. Bending at the waist, he took in a gulp of air, followed by another and another, resting his hands on his knees for support. “Fuck, what the hell happened?”

“Well, I’d say you went Beastly on us. Kinda like Hellboy, only way uglier.” Turo squeezed his shoulder.

“Yo, why you gotta have my name in your mouth like that?”

Coti stood, looking up at Creed. “Did I at least have pants on?”

Creed tossed his hands in the air, walking away mumbling.

NeNe eyed the pink dragon, her body too heavy for her to make stand. God, what had she taken that was making her hallucinate? Memory came rushing back to her, swift and brutal. She’d done what all stupid women did in horror movies. “I’m so stupid. Mark my name next to the ones that are too stupid to live and put a check mark next to my name,” she groaned.

“Oh, but you’re so pretty and soft. I don’t want you to die. Me thinks you should just get your furry butt up and learn to accept your new self. Come on, up you go. You can do it. It’s like riding a bike. Can you ride a bike? I can’t but that’s because I don’t have one. If I did, I’m sure I’d be able to. Nevertheless, the sentiment is the same. So, you getting up, or do I need to rig a harness?”

Wait, she heard the other woman, but the dragon didn’t open its mouth. Now that she had a moment to orient herself, she realized she’d not been speaking either. “Are you in my head? Am I dead, and you’re like, God?”

Laughter filled her, then the dragon moved closer, nuzzling over her. “You are most certainly not dead, and while I like to pretend I’m a higher power, I’m assured daily, I am not. And, since you sort of asked, I will answer. We’re speaking telepathically. I believe that is the human term for this way of communicating. Although, you’re not technically completely human any longer. My name is Lula, by the way.”

NeNe looked down at what she rested on, seeing huge brown furry arms. She gasped, jerking backward. Her arms flailed, only they were the furry ones. She stopped moving. Her breath froze in her throat as she raised and lowered first one arm, then the other. “What am I?”

“You’re a magnificent bear shifter. I believe grizzly is the species. Yes, that is correct, grizzly. I just double checked, and since you’re not black you are a grizzly. Do you know anything about bears?” Lula sat next to her, picking up her paw, examining the long black claws.

She shook her head. “I...no, I only know they’re big and to be avoided if encountered in the wild.”

Lula released her paw, then nodded. “Well, you are a predator, so that is a good rule for most to follow. There is much for you to know about your new existence, and a short time to learn it. Are you ready, Danielson?”

NeNe looked over to see a petite pink-haired girl sitting where the dragon had been. “I was slipped some sort of hallucinogen, wasn’t I?”

“One would think that, yes, but I fear that isn’t the case. This is your new normal. Welcome to Fey, sweet NeNe. Here, you’ll learn how to be the grizzly female you are now and merge her with the human you. Right now, your mind is fractured. I had to put the bear to sleep. Your bear’s a fighter. Do you think you can handle all of that?”

NeNe glanced down at the body that wasn’t hers, wondering what Coti would think of her if he saw her. A sob welled up. “What do you mean, put the bear to sleep? I’m still a bear. I can’t. I don’t want this. Can’t you take it out of me?”

Sadness crossed the other woman’s face. “I couldn’t reach you, the human so I made the other sleep. You’ve been given a great gift by the Goddess, NeNe. To turn it away would be a great disservice. Besides, there is no take backs on this matter. You either merge with the bear, or the bear takes over.”

“That’s not fair. I didn’t ask for this.”

“Life isn’t always fair, young one. So, what’s it to be?” Lula asked, standing and holding out her hand.

What was she to do, place a paw in her hand or her head? She’d never navigated a world with such uncertainty, not even when she’d lived with her dad and brother knowing their drunken tirades could lead to violence. She imagined what a bear did to stand, feeling all four limbs like they were her own, which she guessed they were, and stood on them. Her entire body shook like a newborn colt who’d just been born. “Dear lord, what am I supposed to do now?”

Lula’s hand rested on her head. “Now, you let me teach you.”

NeNe shifted again, her body flowing from bear to human with ease. She wasn’t sure how long she’d been with Lula. Days, weeks, heck for all she knew, years had passed. Her heart ached for Coti and what could’ve been, should’ve been. Yet she knew there was no way she could go back to him as a bear. She wasn’t even sure she was ready to go back to Earth, not knowing there were shifters like her. An image of Mac appeared in her mind, her bear rumbled beneath the skin, itching to seek the man out and make him pay.

“Hi, Miss. NeNe. Whatcha doing out here?”

NeNe smiled at the young girl named Asia. “I’m just enjoying the afternoon. How are you doing? Did you get your schoolwork done?” It still amazed her to find the women from Earth inhabiting the home. Once she’d shifted and shown Lula she was safe, she’d been brought to the castle-like home, shocked to find the mother and daughter duo living happily amongst the Fey.

Asia grinned. “Of course I did, silly. You think my mama would’ve let me out if I hadn’t. I’m so happy here,” she whispered.

“It’s beautiful,” NeNe agreed. She knew a little of the girl’s and her mother’s pasts and understood why they preferred to stay in Fey, but for NeNe, each day made her miss home. More specifically a tattooed bad boy.

“You know when Laikyn and the others were here, we had a party to celebrate Team Styles. That was before she had all them babies. Maybe they’ll come up to visit while you’re here. Do you know them?” Asia asked.

NeNe felt the world stop at Asia’s words. Why would her old friends have come to Fey? Her mind spun with reasons. She got up off the swing, backing away. “I...are you sure they were here and not on Earth when you met them, Asia?”

The little girl stopped swinging, her eyes widening. “Absolutely. Jenna’s the Queen, and she’s besties with Kellen. Although, I don’t think he likes it when she calls him wolfie, but maybe he does.” She lifted one shoulder.

Her eyes narrowed. If Laikyn and Kellen had been here, then they could very well be part of the group who’d hurt her. A growl rumbled out of her, her fingers clacked together, making her aware her bear was pressing forward. “Asia, go inside and lock the door.” She hadn’t lost control of the beast in forever, yet the betrayal from her friends made her want to rip anything and everything to shreds. In between one breath and the next, she shifted, letting out a roar. Pain, betrayal, anguish mixed inside her.

Little Asia made it inside the house, the lock clicking into place before NeNe fell onto all fours. She swiveled her head toward the huge castle like home but didn’t want to rampage there. No, she wanted to go to Earth, wanted answers from the people who’d lied to her.

“NeNe, stop it, right this instant,” Lula roared.

NeNe skidded to a stop, looking up the rise to see the pink dragon standing next to an even larger dragon. Belle, Lula’s mother flexed her wings but didn’t say a word.

“Why didn’t you tell me my so-called friends were like me? Did they have a part in making me like this?” Her words were a growled accusation.

“You say ‘like this’ as if it were an abomination. Being a shifter is a gift many would do anything to be. Many have done much to attain such a gift, child. Why are you so angry?” Belle asked.

“Because the man I love, have loved forever, will never want me now.” She sobbed, a little piece of her dying at the thought of Coti’s disgust when he saw her.

Belle looked at Lula, then they both laughed, making NeNe want to tear their wings off. Of course, they were both three times her size, so she controlled the urge. “You two are not helping.”

NeNe shifted, hating the talking in her head. She understood it was natural for Lula and Belle, but to her it was intrusive. She put up a wall like Lula had taught her. “I just want things to go back to the way they were.” NeNe rubbed her brow.

A burst of sunlight made her wince, and then a heavily pregnant woman was there. Her curly blonde hair was pulled back in a haphazard pony tail. She looked tired, but NeNe thought she’d never seen a woman more radiant. Words failed her as the woman waddled toward her.

“It’s not nice to refer to my gait as a waddle, NeNe, dear.” She placed a hand on top her rounded stomach. “You in there, stop it this instant, I have things to do before you make your grand entrance.”

NeNe held her hand out when she thought the petite blonde was going to fall over. “Are you alright? Do you need to sit down?” She looked over toward the hill, searching for the dragons.

“I sent them away so I could have a little chit chat with you. Let’s sit, shall we? I’m Jenna by the way, nice to meet you.” She waved her hand, making chairs appear.

At the comfortable looking furniture, NeNe wasn’t sure whether she should be awed, freaked, or go with the flow. Her choice was made when Jenna pointed and uttered the word sit in an authoritative voice. Hell, if the other woman would’ve told her to hop on one foot, NeNe had the distinct impression she’d have done that without question as well. “NeNe,” she replied taking a seat.

Jenna nodded. “Yes, I know. Ah, that feels lovely.” She put her feet up on a stool, leaning back and closing her eyes. “Now, you want to undo the shifter in you, yes?”

To hear it said in such plain speaking, NeNe felt a sliver of unease. No, she hadn’t wanted her bear. Now, the being inside her felt like she was...her. Although NeNe didn’t always feel in complete control when she was in her shifted form, the grizzly wasn’t some evil entity trying to take over, just the opposite. She’d learned a lot when she’d shifted, allowing the animal part of her to show her what she missed when she was human. “Yes, no, I don’t know. Why did this happen to me?” If Mac hadn’t attacked her, she’d not be faced with these problems. It all came back to that bastard, the one she wanted to wrap her paws around and rip into two. Something a human couldn’t do.

Jenna opened one eye, pinning her with a purple heated look. “You can’t have it both ways, child. If I were to take your bear out of you and send you back none the wiser, would you be happy?”

NeNe wrapped her arms around her stomach. On one hand, she could go back to being just normal NeNe, but on the other, if she did that, she’d not have the ability and knowledge to fight against what happened, if it happened again. Plus, she kinda loved her bear. She allowed her mind to imagine Coti and all his sexy glory to appear in her minds eye. Fuck, the man was too damn handsome for her anyway. At over six feet five, dark hair, green eyes and more tattoos than she could count, he had bad boy on lock. His smile could melt the panties off of any woman from sixteen to sixty, plus his muscles. Damn, his biceps were bigger than her thighs when he flexed. She couldn’t imagine him going to the gym, but he clearly worked out regularly. Their time together hadn’t given her the option to trace his eight pack with her tongue the way she’d fantasized, and if she moved forward, she probably never would. The alternative though, she couldn’t live with. “Damn rock and bear place,” she joked. “To be a bear, or not to be, that is really not fair. Can you magically make Coti okay with it?”

“Of course I could, but he’s already on board with the entire shifter gig,” Jenna announced. “Now that’s all cleared up, I think my nuggets are getting restless. They’re kinda like their fathers, wanting to decide when they arrive and when they don’t. I told them,” she paused, looking down at her stomach, a hand on each side. “You two need to stay in there and cook a little longer.” Jenna sighed, rolling her head back on the seat, meeting NeNe’s stare. “What? Doesn’t every expectant mother tell their young to cook a wee longer?”

“I’m pretty sure babies are the bosses when it comes to delivery.” She stared in awe at Jenna’s belly, amazed to see the rippling that was visible through her shirt. “Holy shit. Does that hurt?”

Before Jenna could answer, there was a slight stir of air, something she’d never have noticed had she been human. Instantly, her bear was rising, bringing her to her feet and next to Jenna. Her claws came out, ready to defend the female.

“At ease, we are here to collect our Hearts Love and young.”

“Do I know you?” One of the men asked.

“Damien, Lucas, this is NeNe. NeNe, these are my mates, fathers to my nuggets.” Jenna’s voice sounded strained.

NeNe shook her head. “I’m not even gonna say what’s on the tip of my tongue. As for knowing me, I’m pretty sure I’d remember if I’d met you.” One didn’t forget meeting gorgeous men, especially twins. Holy crap on a cracker, the two men were almost as good looking as Coti.

Jenna laughed, then groaned. “I’m glad you think my guys are handsome. They can be a handful.”

“How are you in my head? I’ve got a wall up.” She shook her hand trying to get her claws to retract, sighing as they disappeared.

One of the men moved closer while the other circled around, picking up Jenna. NeNe didn’t back away, waiting to see what he was up to. Her bear didn’t rake at her, which was odd.

Once he was within in a foot of her, he snapped his fingers. “Bear, you’re the bear,” he yelled, making Jenna jump.

“Dang it Damien, inside voice. Of course, she’s a bear, did you not see her claws?” Jenna asked.

Damien shook his head. “I was calming our little ones.”

Jenna sighed. “Is that why they’ve stopped trying to rip their way out of me?”

Lucas stood with her in his arms. “Let’s go home. I think they’ve cooked long enough, love. Now it’s time we let nature take its course and allow our wee ones out.”

NeNe stared at the trio, wondering how she was going to get home. While she appreciated Lula and everyone she’d met while she’d been in Fey, she needed to see where her life back home was. If she even had a life still.

Jenna held her hand out. “NeNe, come here.”

Looking at the two dominating men, she eased between them, taking the other woman’s hand. “What is it?”

“There’s many things you’re going to encounter, but one thing you need to remember. Pack is the most important thing in a shifter’s life. Kellen is one of the best alphas, along with Niall the alpha of the Mystic Pack. If you don’t think you want to stick around the Iron Wolves, I can send you to another pack. But this is non-negotiable, you need to be a part of a pack. You’ll be the only bear amongst wolves for now. I see that is all about to change, though.”

She gasped, hearing Jenna’s words. “Are you saying the Iron Wolves MC are made up of actual wolves?”