Hank walked into Forrest’s office and sat down in one of the chairs. “So when will your little renovation project be finished?”

“Skylar Anderson said it should be done by Thursday…Friday at the latest.” He looked up from the computer. “Why?” Something had been off with his brother for several months and since the day Audrey brought them lunch, Hank’s moodiness had become worse. He seemed angry and an odd darkness surrounded him.

“You’re just mated and already she’s demanding changes to your den.” Hank shook his head.

Forrest’s eyes narrowed. “Audrey hasn’t demanded anything. She hasn’t even been to my house yet. And she has no clue about the renovation I’m having done. It’s a gift for her.”

“She hasn’t.” Hank looked genuinely surprised.

“No, she hasn’t. Audrey works from home, so I’m having my office remodeled for her. French doors. Some built-in shelves. I was going to buy a new desk, but I decided Audrey needed to pick it out so she gets the desk she wants,” explained Forrest. “I don’t want to buy something she will hate or isn’t functional for her.”

“The extension to the deck and screened in back porch are a nice touch.” Hank’s tone changed a little bit, making him sound a little more like his usual self.

“The back porch at Audrey’s house is screened in and she uses it a lot. So I thought that would be another nice surprise for her. Plus, a larger deck means more room for cookouts and family gatherings.”

Hank grunted.

Forrest stared at his older brother. Over the years Hank had done everything possible to make them feel safe, especially after their parents and extended families were killed by the hunters. Forrest also knew Hank carried some demons with him that he kept tucked away. “You’ve been moodier ever since I announced I had found my mate. What’s going on?”

“I’m happy for you. It’s a huge step forward. It’s just that…” He shook his head and started to get up.

“Hank, sit down. Something’s going on with you.”

Hank lowered his huge body back into the chair, and stared at his baby brother.

Forrest closed the door then sat on the corner of his desk. “Talk.”

Hank sighed. “I’m really happy for you and Audrey, but at the same time my bear and I are extremely jealous. I want my mate, but I’m afraid when I find her she will see the demons buried inside me and run away from me as fast as she can.” Hank leaned back. “I’m constantly worried the hunters will find us and …” He ran his hand through his short hair.

“You’re not the only one with issues. We all have them. I had quit dating because none of the women interested me or my bear. Being around Ivy and Ben was driving us crazy with the need and desire for our mate. I was beginning to believe I didn’t have a mate and then when I was least expecting it, fate put her in front of me.” Forrest thought about Audrey and how much he had grown to love her in such a short time.

“Are you worried about her safety?” asked Hank.

“Constantly. And it’s not just hers but Seth’s too. The sooner I can get them in my den the better my bear and I will feel. That’s why I’m paying Skylar extra to get the renovations done faster.”

“I didn’t mean to be so harsh earlier. Some days are just harder to deal with than others.”

Forrest grinned at his brother. “I know you didn’t mean it. Your mate is out there and you will find her.”

Hank stood and hugged his brother. “I’m glad you found your mate and that you finally have the family you’ve longed for. If you ever need help protecting Audrey or Seth, I will be there.”

“Hank, you and Wes are still my family. The family has just grown a little bigger.”

Hank nodded. “When you look at it that way, it’s a really good thing.” A brief smile flashed across his lips but was gone as quick as it had appeared.

Forrest watched his brother leave.

He sighed.

He hoped Hank and Wes found their mate soon. He knew they were having an even harder time than he had before he found Audrey.  A smile flickered over his lips. Friday, Audrey and Seth would finally be in his home…in his den.

 

*****

 

In the early morning hours, Forrest rolled over to his side and then a few minutes later, he rolled to his other side. Emotions flickered across his face as the nightmare resurfaced.

“Mom? Dad?” Forrest stared at the smoldering remains of their home. He shook as his bear roared with grief. They were all dead. Why would anyone want his family dead? The wind shifted and the scent of charred flesh overwhelmed him. He dropped to his knees and threw up the contents of his stomach.

“We have to go. We can’t stay here.”

A hand touched his shoulder.

“Forrest. Forrest wake up. It’s just a dream.” Audrey gently touched his shoulder. It wasn’t just a dream. She knew that from her own experience. Forrest was caught in a nightmare. The deep growls frightened her because she had no clue who or what he was battling.

Forrest jerked awake and sat up. His bear was close to the surface wanting to rip apart the humans who had murdered his parents and the others.

He took a deep breath to clear his head. The sweet scent of peppermint filled his nose.

Forrest’s eyes widened. “Audrey!”

“I’m right here.” A soft hand slowly touched his arm.

He turned.

Concern and a touch of fear were etched across her face. Slowly Audrey scooted closer to him. “Are you okay?” she asked.

He nodded. “I didn’t hurt you, did I?” The last thing he or his bear wanted to do was hurt their mate. She was the most precious thing in his life.

“You didn’t hurt me.”

Relief rolled over him. He rolled to his side to face her as he lay back down and pulled her tight against him. Her sweet musky female scent mixed with the sweet peppermint and calmed him and his bear.

“Are you okay?” she asked again.

Forrest buried his face in her warm neck. He tightened his hug, pulling her soft body closer to him. “It was my parents. I was…I was dreaming about the day we found their bodies.”

Audrey hugged her mate. She knew his parents were dead, but he hadn’t told her about what had happened to them.

“Several days earlier, Hank had taken me and Wes on a camping trip. We fished, hunted, and prowled the forest in our bear forms. Life was good and simple. Then we had to go back because school would be starting in a week. We were home schooled with our cousins, but mom and Aunt Margo followed the local school calendar.”

“So you were on a boys’ trip to celebrate the end of summer,” said Audrey.

“It was the first time our parents let us go by ourselves. It was cool being away from our parents, even though Hank was technically an adult and he was in charge of Wes and me. It was neat having such a huge adventure.” He grew quiet.

Audrey didn’t say anything. She held her mate close to her and waited for him to continue.

Forrest took a deep breath and continued. “As soon as we turned onto the road leading to our den, we saw the smoke. As we got closer to the houses, the smells hit us…charred wood, burnt flesh, blood and the lingering stench of fear. They were all dead…our parents, aunts, uncles, and cousins.”

Tears rolled down Audrey’s cheeks. She felt Forrest shake in her arms.

“It wasn’t until years later that I found out by accident that Hank had shielded Wes and me from the worse of the horrors. The hunters had tortured and raped three of our older female cousins before they gutted them like animals. Hank is still haunted by what he saw. He used to be more outgoing but everything he saw changed him. Ever so often I get a glimpse of the old Hank, but it never lasts very long.”

Audrey cried for Forrest and his brothers and for their families.

Forrest looked at his beautiful mate. “I will protect you with my dying breath. I will do everything in my power to protect you and Seth.”

Audrey kissed Forrest. “I know you will, just as I will do everything I can to protect you. I love you.”

Forrest was still shaken from the nightmare. Over the years he had been plagued with them but for some reason he couldn’t shake off the bad feeling growing in the pit of his stomach.

“Forrest?”

He looked at Audrey. “I need you in my house...in my den where I can take care of you and protect you.”

“Other than some odds and ends that can wait, my computer is the only thing left to pack.”

“After work, my brothers and I will come with trucks to move everything you want to take. Tonight you’ll be in my bed, not that I don’t like yours. I just need you where I can protect you.” Forrest didn’t give her a chance to say anything. He kissed her as he caressed her curves.

His hand slid down to her mound. His fingers teased and caressed the lips. He growled when Audrey spread her legs in an invitation as old as time. He slipped his fingers into her damp folds causing her to moan with pleasure.

“Please, I need you.”

Forrest didn’t need another invitation. With a quick move, Audrey was underneath him. Knowing she was wet for him, he plunged his cock deep into her warm, wet pussy. With each stroke he drove deeper and harder into her depths.

It didn’t take long before Audrey was moaning his name as her release crashed over her.

Forrest growled with satisfaction at hearing his name on her lips. He continued to drive deep into her until his release washed over him and he marked her as his in the most primitive and intimate way possible. With his arms wrapped tightly around his mate, they fell asleep for a few more hours before Forrest had to get up and go to work.