Jo scrambled out of the car, her chest heaving with fright. The bear still lay on the hood of her car, pinned against the tree. She pushed herself back against a tree as Nick and Tom got to their hind legs in front of her car, obviously protecting her. She was too scared to think straight, her legs shaking like jelly.

When the bears dropped to their four paws, ambling over to her, she scrabbled back against the trunk. They were terrifying in the moonlight, their silver eyes watching her. Bowing their heads, they shrank back into their human skin, grunting in pain.

“Jo?” Nick asked, breathing heavily as he finished changing. “Are you okay?”

She swallowed, wanting to run into his arms. “I’m fine.”

He slowly came closer, trying not to spook her. “I don’t know whether to yell at you or kiss you,” he mumbled, shaking his head and running a hand through his hair. “You could have been killed, Jo.”

“I know that,” she replied, reaching for him. “But if I hadn’t done something then you…” She trailed off, not able to finish the sentence. Slowly, she became aware that neither of them wore any clothes. “You’re…uh…naked.”

“Yup.”

She blushed, embarrassed. “Both of you?”

“They tend to rip when we change.”

“Oh.” Jo didn’t know where to look, her eyes drifting somewhere to the left of Nick’s shoulder.

He grinned. “Sorry. Tom’s usually got spare clothes in the back of the truck.”

“I didn’t take the truck,” Tom called, wandering over towards them with his hands covering himself. “Got something I can borrow, Jo?”

“My luggage is in the trunk,” she replied, turning away from him to face Nick. Her face was hot, aware that this was completely normal for them. It was going to take a bit of getting used to for her.

Reaching for Nick, she took his hand in hers, catching his hiss of pain. “You’re hurt?”

He nodded. “Just a bit.”

“I am too, if anyone cares,” Tom quipped, trying to lighten the mood as he emerged with one of Jo’s shirts around his waist. “Although I’m guessing that right now, you two are just happy to be back together.”

Jo nodded. “I –” Her explanation was cut off as a loud growl came from over her shoulder, before turning into a scream of pain. “What’s that?” she whispered, her eyes widening.

Tom hurried over to the front of her car, catching the man’s forearm. “Looks like you’re not dead, then,” he said, grimly. Dan had changed back into his human skin, not pinned by the car any more. His body looked broken, as he struggled to stand up.

“What?” Nick strode over, with Jo behind him. “He’s not?”

“I’m not,” Dan bit out, his entire body shaking as he slowly collapsed onto the ground.

Jo stared at him, her mouth working for a few moments. “I’m not a killer,” she breathed, relief filling her.

Nick grinned into the darkness, putting an arm around her shoulders. “No, you’re not.”

Tom snorted. “Great. We get rid of one problem,” he began, gesturing at Jo. “Only to get another one.”

Jo opened her mouth to argue that she had never been a problem but closed it again straight away. She didn't need to start an argument now. She and Tom could work things out later.

“So what are we going to do with him?” Tom continued, looking at Nick.

Nick shrugged. “I don’t know. Leave him here?”

Jo gasped. “You can’t do that!”

“Why not?” he replied, frowning slightly. “His pack will come back and find him eventually.”

“Not if they think he’s dead,” Tom interrupted, scowling at Dan.

“He’s hurt!” Jo protested. “You can’t just leave someone out in the cold.”

Nick let out a long sigh. “He’s a bear shifter, he’ll be fine.”

“He’s a bear shifter who’s been hurt,” Jo insisted, walking over to Dan. “By me.”

“Because he was attacking us,” Nick reminded her, growing exasperated.

Jo bent down, just out of Dan’s reach. The last thing she wanted was for him to change and attack her, given what she'd just done to him. "How badly are you hurt?"

His throat rattled, as he glared at her.

“Hey,” Tom growled, bending over Dan. “She’s the one trying to help you, idiot. Be nice.”

Swallowing her fright, Jo looked back at him. “Can you walk?”

Sullenly, he shook his head.

“Right,” Jo decided, getting to her feet. “Tom, why don’t you stay with Dan, and Nick and I can go back to get another car.”

Nick raised an eyebrow. “We can?”

“Unless you want to change back and go that way?”

He grinned at her. “Good idea. Faster that way.”

Tom shook his head, raising his eyes to the sky as he sighed, heavily.

“What’s the matter, Tom?” Nick asked, innocently. “Do you want to go?”

Glowering at his brother, Tom shook his head. “Can’t,” he said, eventually. “Bad leg.”

The grin slid off Nick’s face. “Will you be okay?”

“I’ll be fine,” Tom replied, brushing away his brother’s concern. “Just go get that car, will you? And maybe some clothes?”

 

As Nick walked into the darkness, letting the bear free once more, Jo made sure that Dan was as comfortable as possible, even getting her coat to drape over his cold body.

Dan frowned, his face etched with pain. "Why are you being so nice to me?" He was the enemy, part of the Northern Wind pack. They had every right to kill him for what he'd done but instead, this human mate of Nick's was busy trying to look after him.

Jo shrugged. “It seems like the right thing to do.”

“Even though I tried to kill Nick.”

An arrested look came over her face, her lip trembling just a little. “Yes. Even though you tried to do that.” She looked at him then, her eyes angry. “Don’t think that I’m okay with what you did, or what your pack did, though. I just don’t want to have your death on my conscience.” Getting up, she walked away, around to the back of her car, leaning against the trunk. Her hands were shaking, as anger filled her. She’d just been helping the guy who’d tried to kill Nick, for no other reason than she didn’t want to feel guilty about hurting him, even though she’d done it to save Nick.

“You okay?”

She shrugged, not really wanting to talk to Tom. “I guess.”

He limped over to her, his leg getting more and more painful as he walked. “You don’t have to feel responsible for him.”

Jo shook her head, not looking at him. “My head’s just a mess.”

Grinning, he leaned against the trunk next to her. “Guess it’s been that way since you found out about us.”

“You can say that again!”

Chuckling, Tom sat quietly for a minute. “Jo, I want you to know that this was never about you. You seem like a really nice person and you’re good for Nick, but I was just trying to protect him.”

“I know that now,” she replied, softly. “Humans and shifters don't mix, right?"

“Right.”

“What if I decide to stay?”

Tom patted her awkwardly on the shoulder. “Jo, the fact that you came back is proof enough for me.”

“Proof of what?”

“That you’re Nick’s mate.”

“His what?”

He chuckled. “I forgot you wouldn’t know what that was. Basically, you and Nick belong together. The bear says so.”

Jo frowned, wondering if he was being serious. “The bear?”

“Yeah, his bear’s basically chosen you and that means you and Nick are bound together for life.”

“And what would happen if I decided that Nick wasn’t right for me?”

“Then he wouldn’t find anyone else.”

“Ever?” Jo asked, surprised.

Tom shook his head. “No, never.”

Jo let out a long breath. “Then I guess I’m staying.”

“I’m glad to hear it.”

“I thought you’d want me to leave.”

Letting out a long breath, Tom shook his head. “You make Nick happy, and that’s all I want for my brother. If you left, he’d be a wreck. I know it. So yeah, I’m glad you’re staying, Jo. He needs you.”

Jo smiled softly. “And I need him,” she whispered to herself.