Chapter Seven
“So, can I ask a question without sounding rude?” Sam was walking next to her as they entered Ida’s training center the next morning.
Jane had given Liam his double dose of meds and dropped him off at school, reminding him to be a good boy, and if the teacher yelled again for touching things and not staying in a straight line, just to go with the flow—she’d take him to the woods after school.
“You asked me when I lost my virginity a few days ago.” Jane grinned.
“Eighteen, that’s how you got pregnant with Liam. Got that one.”
“And my boob size the day before that. I think we’ve gotten past the holy cow, let’s not offend each other stage. I love the new hair color, by the way.” Jane looked at the new pink streak in Sam’s hair. Sam seemed to change hairstyles based on her emotions.
“Thanks. Pink reminded me of love, which reminded me of sex, which…” Her cheeks flushed, and she grinned. “God, I’m a mess. Back to grilling you.”
Jane laughed at her friend. It was so nice having a girlfriend—someone to chat with, be honest with. Well, maybe not completely honest. As hard-assed and tough as her friend seemed, Jane’s secrets would still blow Sam’s mind. Probably send the woman running for the hills. And there were a lot of hills in this area. She shook her head and firmed her resolve. She’d just enjoy the short time she had with her friend. At least it would give her good memories when she left town in a few weeks. “Okay, hit me.”
“Literally?”
“No! I still have bruises from the session a few days ago. You really punch hard.” Jane rubbed her shoulder. “Figurative hit me, okay? At least until I recover.”
“Okay.”
Jane held the door open as Sam walked through.
“So, Liam’s father. He’s a shifter, right?”
The door slipped out of her grasp, smacking Sam in the back. “Ouch.”
Pinpricks of light invaded her field of vision, and her lungs shut down. Jane couldn’t breathe. She vaguely felt firm hands guiding her inside and to the floor. The hollow sound of the door locking behind her should have scared the bejeezus out of her, but she was too numb with fear. Her whole body was shutting down because of her mind. And her mind was just telling her to run.
“What the hell did you say that for?” Bo’s angry voice jolted her out of her frozen state. She took a deep breath. It didn’t quite take, so she tried again. Finally, oxygen filled her lungs, and she let out a low wheezing sputter before sagging against the wall.
Ida was tutting over her. “Come on, J-Bomb, you can’t go all deer in the headlights on us. Unless you’re a deer shifter.”
That did it. Her lungs stopped working again, and she gasped for breath. Gweee, she sucked in harsh quick breaths, but it didn’t help. She still couldn’t breathe. Ungh. She grunted as she tried to get herself under control, but her dang body wasn’t cooperating. She whimpered and knew she was moments away from blacking out. Stupid damsel in distress. Why couldn’t she be stronger like Sam or Ida? That made it harder to breathe. Tears filled her eyes, and her vision swam.
“Look at me, little girl. Now.” Bo’s voice filled with energy, commanding her to turn her gaze to him.
Her vision, still foggy, she watched the lightning-filled eyes of the man in front of her, and she gasped for breath.
“I’m going to touch you, little girl. You have nothing to fear from me.” His deep voice soothed her, and she nodded as he cupped his palms in front of her mouth. “Breathe in.”
She hiccupped and breathed in through the hollow circle around her lips. The first thing that hit her was the scent of Bo’s skin. A mixture of woods and pure male musk—and they relaxed her enough to fully take the breath he had ordered.
“Now, exhale.”
She only stuttered on the exhale a little, but obeyed him, her eyes never leaving his.
“Again. In. Out. Slowly.” His voice combined with the softness that came into his warm brown eyes, and she complied.
After a few more moments, she felt like she could breathe on her own again, but she didn’t want to lose his touch. His fingers were so warm, pressed along the bridge of her nose as his gaze told her he would protect her from anything in the world. For the first time in six years, she felt safe. Because of this man, who obviously knew about shifters. It should scare her. But, with Bo, she felt warmth and safety, as if he could protect her from all her worst fears.
But lions?
“Nu uh. You just got calmed down. Don’t get yourself all worked up again, you hear me?” Bo flicked her nose.
The sudden flick shook her from her thoughts and brought him fully into focus.
Bo took his hands from her face and leaned back, cocking his head. “Are you okay, now?”
She nodded. Not really. These people knew about shifters and might turn her into Seth if they knew him. Or worse, what if they were shifters and decided to kill her? What would happen to Liam?
“It’s time to get all that internal talking out. I can see you’re having a pretty deep conversation in that beautiful head of yours, but I can’t hear what you’re saying.” Bo gave her a cautious smile. “Can you talk to me? Tell me what’s going on?”
“How do you know about shifters?”
Bo looked at Ida and then Sam before shrugging. “We are all shifters. We don’t mean you or Liam any harm. In fact, we want to offer our protection. Whatever it is you’re running from, you’re safe here with us.”
“You’re all shifters?”
He shrugged. “A good portion of the townsfolk are. Me, Sam, Ida. I can introduce you to some of the others if you like.”
“You scented him, right? Wait, you can’t scent him in his human form. Was it his eyes?”
“You have a pretty good understanding about our kind for a human. Can you tell me about it?”
“Why?”
“Because he’s alpha of our little clan,” Sam said, and Bo gave her a dirty look.
“You, you’re an alpha?” Oh God. The alpha in him meant the strongest, the most powerful, deadliest.
“A good alpha protects those who need help. I won’t hurt you.”
He must have read her mind. “The only shifter I’ve ever met was a lion. He said all the right words, and I had just turned eighteen. I thought I knew better, but…” She winced and rubbed at the scar on her shoulder. “He was the son of the alpha of his pack, and he was cruel. I got out as soon as I saw his monster hidden on the inside.”
Sam groaned, and Bo visibly winced.
“Not all shifters are monsters,” Ida said softly, handing her a cup of water.
“I’m sorry, this is just hard for me to process. The shifter I met was a monster. Forgive me if I’m a little apprehensive about trusting you guys. What are you, anyway?”
Bo sat down next to her and leaned against the wall. He was trying to portray an image of calm, but she could feel his rigid back and energy. He was as wound up as she. “I won’t lie. Power corrupts. And we do have our fair share of bad shifters and bad guys who take charge who shouldn’t. But the human world is the same way, right?”
“But a human didn’t scar me or tell me he’d kill me if I left him. A human didn’t grow fangs and claws that still haunt my nightmares to this day.” Tears filled her eyes. She hated how wimpy she always turned, but her emotions were so tied to her body.
“You’re right, and I’m so sorry for what you had to go through at the hands of a bad shifter.” Bo turned to her and took her hand gently in his. “Bear Paw wasn’t perfect, either, but we got past our issues and are now headed in the right direction. We love all creatures and wish them to live peaceably with us.”
Bear Paw. She should have guessed sooner. “You’re bears?”
Three somber faces nodded at her.
“And you’re good bears, like Yogi?”
He laughed, a small chuff that reminded her of a bear. “Well we don’t steal pic-a-nic baskets, but I think we’re pretty good overall.”
His hearty laugh filled her tummy and made her feel warm and safe. Her body released the tightly strung tension she had been holding onto, and her heart felt lighter, like she could finally breathe, let her guard down. Somehow, she knew she was safe. But her mind kept replaying the night with Seth, and it all surged back into her. The wariness, the tight shoulders, the escape routes...all of it.
~.~
Bo wanted to pull her into his arms and hold her tightly until all her fears subsided. His bear was still fuming about her unhappiness. Jane had that look in her eyes that meant she was reliving a horrifying memory. The one that most likely put the haunted look in her bright-blue eyes.
He didn’t pause to think, just pressed his fingers along her temples and willed his energy into her. His goal was to calm her, help her release the fear. The world disappeared around him and he found himself in the past—Jane’s past. Holy shit, his first dreamscape. He pressed his energy outward, so he could see everything.
His gentle mate, Jane, stood with a tray of cookies in her hand. Bo could smell the cinnamon and chocolate; he could also smell her tension.
“I don’t understand.”
“Let me spell it out for you.” The blond male towered over her. “You’re fat, you’re not from the same lineage my parents want me to mate with, and, honestly, you’re not that good in bed.” His brow furrowed. “I thought you’d open up a bit after a couple of good screws, but you’re still too tightly wound, frigid, tense. I can smell your emotions reeling off you. As if you think you’re doing something wrong when we fuck.”
She flinched.
“And that.” He scowled. “The whole flinching, passively submitting all the time...I need someone stronger, braver at my side.” He stroked her cheek before taking a cookie and placing it in his mouth. “You cook great, and you’re learning how to make me happy in bed. I can keep you around as a fuck buddy.” His eyes lost all their warmth. “But this is not going any further. I’ll be taking Andrea to all company and family functions. She looks the part and acts it.”
Her shoulders were tight, and her face was scrunched tight as if she was trying not to cry. “You are being very mean right now.”
He snorted and rolled his eyes. “I’m just telling you like it is, babe. I’m the alpha’s son. I must look good, which means, by proxy, my mate must look good. And a fat coward of a human just doesn’t look good next to the alpha.”
She visibly wilted, and Bo roared in rage, but this was a dreamscape. It was her memory, and there was nothing he could do but watch.
Somehow, Jane found some inner strength and she raised her chin to meet the fucker’s gaze. Her face was red with embarrassment, anger, and fear, but she still opened her mouth to speak. “I”—she swallowed—“I think you are being extremely rude and insensitive. It hurts my feelings that you’re treating me this way. And I will not be your...eff buddy. I deserve better than you.”
“Excuse me?”
Bo grimaced at the flash in the man’s eyes. Please be quiet. Don’t say a word. Just avert your eyes, baby girl. He willed Jane to back down, but the brave little woman stood her ground. She had no way to know about shifters or what the protocol was, and she was treading a very dangerous line.
“I said, we’re through. I don’t know what kind of crazy family you’re part of—none of what you said makes sense. But I do know I choose not to have someone in my life who treats me so atrociously. I’m leaving.” She turned her back to grab her purse off the kitchen chair.
No! Bo tried desperately to get in front of her to stop the attack, but he was rooted to the spot as he watched.
The male surged forward, grabbed her by the ponytail, and flung her around to meet his black gaze.
She shrieked. Her hands flew in front of her face, but it was no good. His fists were faster. When she crumpled to the ground, sobbing, he picked her back up and threw her onto the couch. The wood cracked under the momentum, and her head bounced against the wall.
“You don’t get to leave me, bitch.” His fangs had elongated, and the razor-sharp claws erupted from his fingertips.
She screamed again.
“Shut up. Do you understand why you’re not good enough for me? I’m better than you, you worthless human scum.” He growled. “I am the epitome of grace and strength and power. You are just...” He spat. “Weak and fat.”
She mewled, and her eyes squeezed shut when he reached for her again. She shuddered when he leaned in close and growled into her face. Tears streamed down her bloody face. “Please let me go.”
“No. Never.” He released her and started pacing back and forth. “I still have uses for you, and you don’t get to leave until I say so.” He stared back at her with his jet-black eyes. “Say you’ll obey me in everything and will never leave me.”
“I c-can’t,” she said through shaky breaths and a split lip. “I d-don’t want this. You.”
Shit. Bo begged the memory to stop, to be taken away. He clawed at the periphery of his consciousness, but it did not yield. He stayed rooted in place.
“You. Don’t. Want. Me?” The shimmer of light engulfed the room. The gold-and-black colors of the huge male lion that sat back on its haunches. Then leaped. Straight toward his screaming mate.
Bo jolted out of the memory with a loud thud as he fell backward onto his ass.
“You okay?” Ida looked between him and Jane, her brows drawn tight.
He shook his head and saw the realization dawn in Jane’s gaze.
“You saw that, didn’t you?”
He nodded and gently pulled back the strap of her tank top to reveal the puckered scar along her upper chest. “I’m so sorry. I wish I could say all shifters were kind and good.”
Tears fell from her eyes, but she sniffled and rubbed them away with a glare. “Me, too. I wish I’d never heard of them. Sorry, no offense.”
His poor mate was afraid of offending them. Her innate kindheartedness had been overrun by an exaggerated people-pleaser need—not out of love, but out of fear. And that pissed him and his bear off. He stifled the rumbling growl building in his chest.
“I didn’t mean that. If I didn’t know about shifters at all, I’d be pretty freaked out when Liam made his first shift,” she said with a strangled laugh.
“I’d say you’d piss your pants and pass the fuck out,” Sam, ever the eloquent one, said, and Jane laughed.
Okay, he’d been about to tell Sam to shut it, but Jane reacted well to his cousin. Maybe she realized Sam projected a brusque attitude, using harsh words and actions to protect herself. Sam was actually as tender and affectionate as Jane, but she hid it from others.
“Liam is definitely the lion’s?” His bear raged at even bringing the other man up, but they needed to be sure.
She curled her legs under her after setting her water cup down then rocked back and forth with soft sighs. Bo wasn’t sure if she would be receptive or not, but his bear wasn’t taking no for an answer. Their mate needed warmth and comforting. Hell, if she pushed him away, it would kill him. But he needed to try—anything to help her. He wrapped his long arm around her shoulders and opened the side of his body up so she could lean against him. His bear chuffed with joy when she snuggled into his side and settled against him. This was heaven. Her rocking stopped, and her shivers subsided as she melted into him, accepting the warmth and safety he offered.
“Yes. Liam is his. I was a virgin, and my parents had refused to let me have anything to do with him, saying he was a bad sort and not to trust anything he said. I had never rebelled against authority in my life, and on my eighteenth birthday, I did just that. I ran away from home and lost my virginity and my family all on the same night.”
Bo eased his breathing and unclenched his fists, knowing they would scare her. Hell, he was trying to show her that shifters could control themselves. But hearing her talk about having sex with another male—and one who hurt her—filled him with rage. He took a few deep breaths and forced the calm through him. “The vision that I saw…”
“That was three weeks into our relationship. I had moved in with him, and you saw the rest. I left the next morning, went back home, and found my parents…” Her lip trembled, and her body shivered.
Bo gave her a gentle squeeze, and Sam sat down with them.
“They were my adoptive parents, but I’d always loved them. If I had just listened to them, they wouldn’t have been mauled by those beasts.”
“And you’re sure the lions killed your parents?” Bo growled at Ida for asking such a rude question.
“No, it’s okay.” She nodded at Ida. “Yes. I’ve got firsthand knowledge of what a lion attack looks like. Besides, he sent me a text to get back to him or he’d keep killing everyone I was close to.” She shuddered, and her eyes cleared. “So, I ran. As fast and far as I could. I had a trust account they’d always told me was for emergencies. After flying to Seattle then taking the train to Kansas then another flight to Michigan, I realized I was pregnant. I still have some money left, but I use it sparingly, so I don’t run out. And the under-the-table prescriptions to keep Liam from shifting have gotten expensive.”
Bo was still deep in thought. What had his poor mate gone through, having to travel all by herself and give birth to her cub—the boy must be a lion cub—all by herself.
“My niece took prescriptions to stall her shifting, too. I understand. But now that you’re safe here, honey, would you consider stopping the medication and letting Liam shift?” Ida’s question brought his focus back.
“I…I don’t know. This is just so much to take in. They’re following me, and whenever Liam gets close to his shift, it seems easier to find us.”
“I still put my money on human help. Did you find anything about the idiot from the other day?” Bo sharply asked Sam.
She rolled her eyes. “No, he hasn’t been back since I freaked him out and made him all buggy-eyed. I think he was a dick.”
Jane giggled. The vibrations against his chest made his cock surge to life. Now was not the right time for these kind of thoughts, so he tamped them back down.
“I mean, he seemed like one of those shady private investigators you always see in bad movies.”
“Could be. I’ll ask Zach to look into it,” Bo answered. That’s what had brought Zach—a shifter-private investigator on his own mission—into their lives and into Bo’s sister’s heart. They were now happily mated. After the lion attack. It was too much of a coincidence that lions had come into town not long after Jane moved to Bear Paw. Should he tell her about the attack? His bear rumbled at him. No. They’d killed both lions that had attacked Nissa and Zach. Besides, she and her cub were now under the protection of the Alpha of Bear Paw River. No one would touch a hair on her or Liam’s head. The power surged through him, demanding he mate the woman and take the full mantle of alpha. He pushed it back down. It was hard to do, but he did it. The poor woman had enough hardship in her life, and to add mating to his grizzly as a human? It was madness. She’d be even more scarred than after her lion attack—emotionally and physically. He shook his head at Ida, who had been giving him those cryptic looks for the past ten minutes—meaning she was thinking the same way he was.
“I vow to you as Alpha of Bear Paw, no one will harm you. You are both under our protection.”
Her eyes widened with fear, and he realized he had done more harm than good. Shit. he was so not good at talking to females.
“And while you’re here, you may as well keep taking the self-defense classes,” Ida inserted smoothly. “It won’t hurt anything.”
Jane nodded, her forehead furrowed as if deep in thought.
“And if you like the idea of bears and picnic baskets…” Ida grinned. “We’re having our annual Spring Bear Romp this Saturday.”
Bo shot straight up when Jane’s fear spiked.
“That is, if it’s okay with Alpha?”
“Yeah, of course. We don’t have very many bears. Um…” He ticked off the numbers from his head. “A dozen elderly—like your grandmother and grandfather sorts. About five females your age. Four more, Ida’s age. A couple dozen cubs. Oh, and some teenagers.”
“How many males your age?”
Bo scowled. They had lost too many when Stuart had been part of the pack. “Three counting myself.”
“Wow, you really are small in numbers.” Her gaze sharpened. She was replaying his words about protection and was coming to a much different conclusion based on the straight line of her mouth.
“We have plenty of friends to the pack.”
Sam laughed. “Yeah, a badger couple who screws often while running a restaurant.”
Bo continued, “A lion and tiger I met years ago during a pack swap; Zach, the wolf mated to my sister—”
“Wait, wait, wait,” Jane interrupted. “Rory and Amy are badgers?”
“Honey badgers. They’re crazy motherfuckers, but you can bet your life they’ll be there if you ever need them,” Sam said, shrugging at Bo’s glare. “What?”
“They might have wanted to come out themselves, instead of you doing it for them.”
“Oh, come on. Not like she couldn’t tell they’re cray cray. They screw like five times a day in that office, and they talk shit at each other for the rest of it.”
Jane laughed again. “They kind of reminded me of my parents.”
Sam had done it again. She and Ida had a way of relaxing his mate. Something he was failing miserably at. And she’s not our mate. He reminded himself and his bear bitterly. We can’t have her.
“J-Bomb, what do you think?” Ida asked with a smile. “You could bring Liam to the picnic, hang out with all the crazy, but safe shifters. Maybe let him try to shift.”
“If you want him to,” Bo cut in.
“If she wants to, it’s the safest place for him to try,” Ida reminded him. “He can let loose for once, stop getting in trouble for being different at the human school. Because he is different. He’s a shifter. And anyone can tell you, a cub’s got to be able to get dirty once in a while, or he will get into a mess of mischief, right, Bo?”
Heat rose into his cheeks as he remembered all the trouble he and his brothers and friends had gotten into as cubs. But they were just being cubs, his mother always reminded his father. The ache pierced his chest. He missed them so much. He would make sure Liam never felt the loss like he did. He’d protect them both with his life. Which meant martial arts training with Aunt Ida for Jane, and, as much as it made him nervous, the spring romp. It would be perfect for them both. They could see the townsfolk as shifters and people, a good energy that would be there if they ever needed them.
“You have to come to the picnic.” He didn’t mean to growl. It just popped out, and Jane scooted away from him. “Sorry, that came out grumbly. I mean, we’d love for you to come. It would mean the world to us to show you what bears and other good shifters are like when together for fun.” It would mean so much more to have her back in his arms again. He didn’t say that part. “Would you come?”
“I’ll think about it. Let me see how this week goes, and I’ll let you know on Friday. Thanks.”
“All right. Any time you decide, you let me know. I’ll be around.” A lot. He wasn’t letting her out of his sight. Not only because of the lion threat he still wondered if he should tell her about, but also because his bear wouldn’t let her get away. He wasn’t taking any chances.
“Thank you all so much.” She gave each of them a quick hug. “I’m going to run to the restroom before we start our session. Is it okay if we still practice?”
“Of course. Come out when you’re ready.” Ida smiled and shooed Jane toward the bathroom before rounding on him. “You dreamscaped with her.”
Bo could only nod. Of course, Ida would be able to tell. She had been the one to teach him how to do it after Caleb had left and his parents died.
“You know she’s your mate. You only have that kind of power with your mate. And only if you’re alpha.”
“I’m only holding the position for Caleb, and she’s human.” He scowled. “The fates are wrong on this one, on both counts.”
Sam rolled her eyes and was about to say something snarky, but closed her mouth at the firm look he gave her. The only good thing about being alpha was the eye thing. Yeah. Call on it, and you’d freak people out and shut them up when they’re bugging you.
“I’m headed out. Tell Jane I’ll keep in touch.” Bo stormed out before he said anything else. He already felt enough guilt about being in this position and getting grouchy with his cousin who hadn’t meant any harm. And then there was the beautiful young human female who called to him with every aching muscle in his body. He needed to get his head on straight before he talked to anyone else. His bear needed some time in the woods. His body needed her. A cold shower was on tap for tonight, or he would never survive all the time around this female. He planned on seeing her safely to and from work, home, school; he’d watch over her like a…a grizzly bear on a mission. And every sway of her hips and every wafted scent of her would not deter him. He would not take her as his mate. He would not fully accept the position of Bear Paw’s alpha. But he would protect her with his life. Her and her cub.