Chapter 13 - Chase
They’d spent their last days together falling into a routine. Talking, temptation, and trails made up their new routine. Bruin allowed Chase to follow along with him on a trail so they could check on the cubs in the forest. Chase had fallen in love with the cubs and remembered he couldn’t actually have one. Chase saw the light in Bruin’s eyes when he checked in on the cubs. Chase held Bruin’s clothes as he shifted into his bear to talk to the scruffy balls of fur in bear-talk. Seeing him amongst the cubs, the way the cubs clawed at and ran between his feet, he saw that a part of Bruin was truly in his element. Not quite a daddy bear, but maybe a big brother protector bear.
How could he expect Bruin to leave this?
They’d argued over Bruin coming with Chase to Florida, their default pillow talk after giving in to several rounds of temptation. He’d been in contact with his uncle, who was no longer worried and encouraged him to bring Bruin with him. Beyond having the extra hands around the sanctuary, he could hear that his uncle was excited more because of Chase’s excitement.
But Bruin was firm in his resistance, claiming he’d have to wear his baby blanket as a neck scarf in order to survive Chase’s constant temptation.
But he could see now what it boiled down to. Chase had gotten it in his head that there was nothing for him here, but watching him frolic with the cubs in the snow made him second-guess that sentiment. “I can see why you want to stay,” said Chase, when Bruin shifted back.
He watched Bruin putting on his clothes, burning every image of him in his mind, since this was their last morning together and they’d meet with the council around noon. Chase figured he’d be dead or out of there by sunset.
“They’ve been like that for months,” said Bruin, laughing at the cubs. “They can shift back but they don’t want to.”
Chase saw Bruin lost in a smile. If he had that much fun as a kid or a bear, he’d probably not want it to end either.
Chase saw Bruin’s face stiffen. He knew what was on his mind, the conversation was a part of their pillow talk routine. “They’d be idiots to take the territory away from you,” said Chase. He was trying to reassure Bruin that his worse fear wouldn’t come true. “You’re too good with the cubs. It’s like firing the world’s best babysitter.”
Bruin laughed. Chase felt Bruin’s tight warmth enveloping him from behind and jumped when Bruin tickled his neck with a kiss. “I’m going to miss the way you look at things,” said Bruin.
Chase’s face fell, but he resisted the urge to try to coax him into coming to Florida. He knew now that this was really Bruin’s place. He allowed himself to be lost in Bruin’s arms instead, if only just for the moment. Excitement coursed through his body as he smelled Bruin’s scent. The time they’d spent frolicking in temptation had given Bruin control over his bear, but Bruin’s scent had also taken control over Chase.
Was this really going to be over in a matter of hours? “Let’s get back,” said Chase.
Bruin nibbled Chase’s ear, surely knowing what Chase had in mind in their last hours before the council.
Chase wanted one more round of temptation (at least), but also one more talk before the council.
***
The council looked ready to crucify, tar, and feather Bruin, all before burning him at the stake. His uncle hadn’t lied; he refused to come to Bruin’s defense.
The council went on, demanding accountability for Bruin’s actions. They presented their case of charges against Bruin, from revealing himself to the passengers of the bus, to claiming a man on den territory without notice or authorization.
“I didn’t claim him,” said Bruin.
“Then you kidnapped him?” barked a woman on the council. “Held a man hostage? Abetted a trespasser? Endangered his and your den’s lives? Which one is it?.”
Chase thought their take on things was horrible. He found himself wondering again why Bruin would want to stay here; even worse, Chase was becoming concerned that they may not let him leave.
Bruin looked at Chase. They were implementing their plan. The best/worst case scenario.
Bruin rose to his feet to address the Council. Chase saw Bruin’s mother lean forward from her seat in the middle of the Council.
He knew Bruin wouldn’t keep trying to tell them the truth, that yes he had chased Chase, but that Chase had gotten injured in the forest and needed a safe place to get well. He wouldn’t bother defending his actions with logic because the council wasn’t interested in that.
His uncle had warned Bruin just before the council convened that they were between a rock and a hard place. The Council wanted to make an example of Bruin, to ensure no one else would attempt his actions. Were he not the son of the den mother and the nephew of a powerful uncle then he would perhaps already no longer be living, and if so, not in the den’s territory. Bruin had erupted in anger. He was convinced that his uncle was lying and trying to psych him out before the Council, or worse yet, that it was true. Either way, the idea that someone else would decide his fate almost caused him to shift. He finally understood what Chase was telling him, that though he liked being there, he’d ultimately never be free.
Chase had told Bruin that he would do whatever it took. He understood the risk, but felt the greater risk would be losing out on Bruin. He didn’t want to live a life in which he didn’t even fight for the first person for whom he had true feelings. But he wasn’t sure if Bruin would do it, they’d fought about the risk to Chase.
“Honored council members,” said Bruin, “I give no defense.”
Some council members talked to each other in a hush, their smiles indicating it was what they wanted to hear.
Chase edged to the front of his seat, waiting for Bruin to finish what they practiced.
“Do you have any further words?” demanded the doglike woman.
Bruin remained silent. He looked down, avoiding eye contact with Chase or the council. Chase and Bruin’s mother shared a concerned glance.
Do it, thought Chase.
“If you have no further defense, the council will-“
“I claim him as mine,” said Bruin.
Chase, Bruin’s mother, and the rest of the council all rose at once. A gavel banged, demanding order.
Chase was summoned to the center of the council, to stand with Bruin, just as Bruin said they’d do. Now that Bruin had claimed Chase, he could demand they be mated, and both be allowed to leave. The risk was that Chase may not survive the process.
The test was simple: a kiss of true mates. They needed to kiss each other without Bruin shifting. If they were true mate’s they wouldn’t need the safety blanket, thus it would not be allowed. If Bruin couldn’t control his urges, there’d be nothing to stop him from shifting into a bear and devouring Chase.
Chase’s heart fluttered as the moment was near. The Council had calmed and demanded they get on with it.
Chase looked deeply into Bruin’s eyes, hoping he was looking into the future, and not the death of him.
They kissed.