Jules (Big Easy Bears Book 2) by Becca Fanning (3)

“Yeah. He hung around a bit when I was really young, but then his wife put a stop to that, said his ‘real’ children needed him more than I did. When I first shifted, my mom freaked out and called my dad. The first shift is so strong it happens every night for a few nights around the time of the full moon, so luckily my father wasn’t a bear in a warehouse somewhere and actually answered his phone. He and the clan chief at the time came and picked me up. After that I only saw my father at the full moon.”

“What about your half siblings?”

He shook his head. “Human. Both of them. I think my father was upset that only his bastard inherited his gift. And female shifters are becoming rare. His daughters would have been treated like princesses if they had been shifters, at least that’s what he thought. There were three other young shifters in the clan, a little older than me. Guess he thought they’d be interested in his daughters, strengthen the bloodlines or something. Didn’t work out that way.”

“Do you treat Jane like a princess?”

“She’d kick all our asses if we tried.”

“Jules, I’m sorry, that kind of rejection is hard.” She took a step towards him.

He took that as a good sign. “I’m sorry Kaylee. That day in the airport, that was a bad change. And the news has been hyping it for months now. Maybe sometime you could come to the safe house with me. Brock could be there, he’s dominant to me and has very good control. You could see me shift and meet the bear.”

“Is it safe?”

“We generally don’t encourage people to interact with us when we’re in bear form because we are wild animals, but I think my bear would rather protect you than harm you.”

“Oh?”

He looked down at his hands. “I think somewhere along the way I fell in love with you, Kaylee.”

“I see. Look, I have to hang out here until my mom gets home. Or at least until Cora gets home, whichever happens first. Did you want to grab wings down at the pub later?”

“Are you sure?”

She nodded. “Why don’t you come inside? You can play video games with Tony. He’ll love that. Just watch yourself, he’s a shark.”

“I’ll take my chances.” He stood and slowly closed the gap between them. He could sense that she was nervous but she didn’t run. He smiled. “I won’t chase you if you run,” he said. “I’m not that much of a wild animal.”

“I wasn’t sure,” she said. She reached up and touched his cheek. “You look like a bear,” she said.

He kissed her soft and sweet, keeping it chaste just in case Tony or June were watching from one of the windows. “Thank you,” he said. “Thank you for this chance.”

The pub was busier since it was later in the evening, and they had to sit at one of the little tables in the middle of the room. The noise of the crowd gave them a little privacy—not enough that either of them was going to say the word ‘werebear’ out loud, but enough that they didn’t feel like every eye in the room was on them.

“What’s he like?” Kaylee asked.

“Honestly, he’s like a lazy hippy. All he cares about is food and sleep and staying safe.”

“I would never have pictured him as a hippy.”

“Totally laid back most of the time,” he said, grinning.

“Not grumpy like my mentor at the office?”

“That’s all me,” he agreed. “And about that, I sort of quit.”

“What?!”

“I quit my job at the shop. Or rather I had Brock call Freddie and quit on my behalf.”

“Why? I need you there. You’re my mentor. How am I supposed to finish my schooling now?”

He took her hand. “I didn’t want Freddie to fire me when that video came out. Now he can tell everyone who calls that I no longer work there. It’ll keep some of the media heat off you too.”

“Well, isn’t that just great. What about my degree?”

“I’ll email Freddie and recommend that you simply take over doing all my work and that you send everything to him for a final review before it’s passed on to the client. If you need help, there are two other designers there who can give you pointers and advice. And when you’re done with school you’ll have a job.”

“Wow. Well, that sounds good to me.”

“And it means things won’t be weird at work for us,” he said. Her blush made him smile.

“So, uh, the kids want to go to another movie,” she said, changing the subject to something much safer.

His smile grew bigger. “They were a lot of fun to hang out with. And you were right about Tony, he’s got some mad video game skills.”

“I think you’re his new hero.”

“That can’t be too bad,” Jules said. “Tell me more about them. You smile a lot when you talk about them.”

It was dark out when they left the pub, arm in arm. “That was fun,” he said. 

She didn’t answer.

He looked over to see she was staring at him. Her expression was soft and yet her gaze was intense. He felt like he’d suddenly been put under an interrogation spotlight. “Kaylee.”

“Take me back to your place,” she said.

“Are you sure?”

“I haven’t had that much to drink,” she said. “I’m sure. Let’s go back to your place.”

She dropped her purse on the floor as they came in, turned, and kissed Jules, cutting off whatever he was about to say. He wrapped his arms around her. It felt good to hold her. It felt even better that she was pressing herself hard against him.

He had always hosted her in the living room with his bedroom door closed because that was the polite thing to do. Today, he guided them straight to the bedroom. It was almost like dancing, if you could dance while you were kissing someone and couldn’t see anything. 

He was neat by nature, so he didn’t have to scramble to clean up dirty laundry or make his bed with the appearance of unexpected company in his private space. Kaylee didn’t notice that the laundry was all in the hamper. She wouldn’t have noticed if it was all over the floor either. Her full attention was on Jules, the way he kept his arms around her, the way he brushed against her as he walked them backwards. 

They stopped by the bed and he smiled down at her, his hand gentle on her cheek. “I want you,” he whispered. She reached down and grabbed the bottom of her shirt, pulling it over her head and letting it fall to the floor. He felt the breath catch in his throat and he let his eyes take in all of her. The lace of her bra framed her breasts, bright pink against her dark skin. He’d been expecting something more subtle, like her makeup, but this was beautiful and bold and suited her.

He trailed a finger along the strap and down the edge of the cup. She shivered. She licked her lips. “What about you?” she said.

Reluctantly he pulled his hand away from her and undid the buttons of his shirt. He shrugged out of it, and she was in his space, touching his skin before the shirt even hit the ground. “You look like a bear,” she said again.

“The bear is a lot hairier,” he said.

“Don’t care.” She kissed his chest. 

They took their time kissing and touching each other while their clothes came off slowly, a piece at a time. She marveled at the feel of his muscles under his skin. He was so warm. His hands were so wide. One covered her entire breast or could encircle her arm, but they were gentle, always caressing, never digging into her skin. 

They crawled into the bed and continued to explore each other, touching and kissing in the most intimate of places. Their pace was unhurried and they often paused to smile at each other, to touch each other’s faces, and to exchange gentle, tender kisses. 

She reached down and touched him, her fingers soft along the sensitive skin of his shaft. She took him in hand and spread her legs, guiding him closer. He paused, his face close to hers. 

“Kaylee, I love you.”

“I love you too.” 

He covered her mouth with his and started pushing into her. He moved slowly, teasing her with it and savoring the feel of her. They moved together slowly but passionately. When his breathing began to grow heavy and the tightness began to grow low in his groin he pulled out and took his erection in his hand.

She reached up and slid her hand over him, pushing his hand aside. She tugged and pulled, all the while looking up at him with seductive bedroom eyes. Her hair was mussed and her skin glistened with sweat. She was the sexiest and most beautiful person he had ever seen.

It didn’t take long for him to reach his peak. He leaned forward, his weight on his hands, and closed his eyes. His cum landed all over her chest and stomach. 

After a moment, she started to giggle. He opened his eyes and looked down at her. 

“Do you have a towel?”

“Yeah.” His cheeks went bright red. “Yeah, hold on.” He grabbed a towel off the top of the hamper and wiped her clean. “Sorry about that.”

“Why? I’d be more worried if I couldn’t make you cum.”

She rolled over and crawled over the bed and flopped down again, her head on the pillow. He joined her and they snuggled in close together. 

“I should get you home.”

“Mmm. I could just call my mom and tell her I’m not coming home until morning. I am an adult.”

“If you’d like. You can stay. You can sleep here.”

She snuggled in closer. “Yeah, I’d like that. You’re so warm.”

The mental autopilot almost took Jules to the print shop Monday morning. He had to drive around the block at one point when he made a left instead of the right. It didn’t help that the weekend spent with Kaylee had left him low on sleep. Remy was waiting for him in the lobby of a very large office building. “Here’s your temporary office pass and your parking pass. Where did you put your car?”

“The metered parking on the street. I only paid for an hour.”

“Let’s go then. I’ll show you where to park. Someone will appreciate the extra time on the meter, I’m sure.”

There was a two-story underground parking lot under the office building. The entrance was off the side street. Remy directed Jules to a numbered stall. “You park here every day. If there’s someone in your spot, you park in the visitor stall, the first one on the left as you came in, and you report it to security. They’ll page you when you can move your car into the proper spot.”

“Do you run into that problem often?”

“Parking in the city can be a nightmare. People will take any spot they can find some days. The elevator is just at the end there. Grab what you need and we’ll head up to HR on fourteen. They need to take your photo for your permanent staff ID tag. And there’s paperwork to fill out for payroll. Don’t expect to get much done today.”

“It’s looking that way. On my first day at the print shop, I was shoved behind a desk and given a half-finished project to complete by day’s end. Freddie is not this organized.”

“We have to be. It’s a much bigger machine at work here. You won’t have an office yet, just a cubicle.”

“That’s fine. I’ll probably miss having a door though.”

“Brock is working on it. If you prove your capability here, he’ll get you an interview with one of the smaller subsidiary companies that is requesting an in-house designer so they don’t have to send up to corporate HQ for all their needs.”

“I guess it pays to know the CEO.”

“Keep that fact to yourself for as long as possible.”

“Won’t everyone put two and two together since I’m out and he’s out?”

“Still, don’t advertise it.”

The elevator dinged at floor fourteen and Remy led him to the HR offices.

Kaylee was nervous as she walked into work Monday morning. Even with Jules’ reassurances, she had no way of knowing if Freddie would keep her on.

Mark waved her over as soon as she walked in. “Did you hear?” he said in a hushed voice.

“Which part?”

“Jules. All of it.”

She nodded. “I know he’s a werebear, and I know he quit.”

“The phone hasn’t stopped ringing, and Freddie is pacing like a caged animal. And when I tell the press that he doesn’t work here anymore they want to know if we discriminate against shifters.”

“Good thing you can honestly tell them he quit to pursue a job in a bigger company.”

“You’d think so.” The phone rang. “Hold on.”

Freddie stepped out of his office and waved her over, a phone against his ear. “Yes, sir, that’s right. No, he left the company Friday. That’s right, your project will now be handled by one of our other designers. Yes, I can guarantee that she is human.” He covered the mouthpiece and said, “Please tell me you’re human.”

She nodded.

“Of course. No, I didn’t know either. Of course. Have a good day.”

“Asshole,” Kaylee muttered.

“It’s been one or the other this morning,” Freddie said. “Either the clients want assurances that no shifter is working on their project because they don’t want to fund a shifter agenda—whatever that means—or they want to know if Jules can do their job for them because “designed by a shifter” would be a huge marketing bonus for them. I don’t know which is worse at this point.”

“Is anyone threatening to pull a deal because Jules isn’t here?”

“No, thank God.”

“Then the assholes are worse.”

“That’s a practical way of looking at things. You don’t seem surprised by all of this.”

“I saw Jules over the weekend.”

“At least he had the courtesy to speak to you in person. He had his all-powerful buddy Brock call me.”

“Well, to be fair it sounds like he had a stressful weekend.”

“Who wants to be fair at this point?” Freddie sighed. “Look, I called your professor and explained the situation.”

Panic gripped Kaylee’s stomach and twisted.

“I’m keeping you on. I agreed to this mentorship program, so I’m not kicking you out. You can have Jules’ office space. You can finish the projects you were working on with him since you know what’s going on with them. After that, I will give you clients I think you can handle and everything will go through me before going to the client. If you pass your finals, and if I still like the work you’re doing without Jules there to guide you, you can have his job when this mentorship thing is done. Deal?”

“Oh, my God! Thank you so much!” She threw her arms around him and squeezed. “Thank you, thank you, thank you!” She suddenly remembered who she was hugging and stepped back. She pointed a finger at him. “Don’t get any ideas.”

He put both hands up. “Promise.” The phone rang. “Get to work. I’ve got this mess to deal with.”

Her cellphone rang mid-morning. “Hey, Alice,” Kaylee said, grateful for the chance to rest her eyes. “How did that project go?”

“Great. You were right about that green—it needed more blue in it. I’ve been watching the news all weekend, you know, the story about the airport bear?”

“I know all about it,” Kaylee said. “Why?”

“So, that is your print shop then? It was on the news this morning, and I thought it was the same place where you’re doing your program.”

“Yup. He worked here.”

“Worked?”

“Quit on Friday, got an offer from Tandell Corporations.”

“The lucky guy,” Alice said. “That’s a dream job right there. Did you know him?”

“Alice, he was my mentor.”

“Oh, my God! What was he like? Did you ever see him shift? Of course you didn’t, what am I thinking.” The sudden gush of words ended abruptly, and then Alice said, “Shit. If he quit what’s going to happen to you?”

“Oh, the boss is letting me work independently and will be monitoring my progress. And I get the shifter’s job when the course is over.”

Alice squealed. “Are you fucking serious? You landed a job already!? We have to celebrate. I’m calling Katie and Michelle, and we are getting drinks Friday. You have no choice—you have to come. We’ll meet at the campus bar at seven.”

“Okay,” Kaylee said, laughing. “I’ll be there. Now I have to get back to work if I want to keep this job, okay?”

“Yeah, yeah, whatever, you lucky goose. Save a little bit of that luck for the rest of us.”

“This is my cubicle?” Jules asked, standing in the opening.

Remy nodded. “I know it’s smaller than your office at the print shop.”

“Who cares about that. Are you serious that I get to use that system?”

“Yeah. It’s standard in the office. Why?”

“You probably don’t want to know what I was using at the shop.”

“Probably not. Your first job is proofing. Here.” He handed Jules a USB stick. “Look over these files for spelling errors, bad layer compiling, missing elements, or anything that makes you cringe. Mark the changes in a text file and save them to the stick. That should keep you busy most of the day. You get a one hour break. Most of us time them around lunch time. Want to go from eleven to twelve, go ahead. Got wrapped up in a project and don’t head out on break until two? No one minds. Today I will come grab you and show you the clocking in and out procedure. You’re good to go?”

“Sure.”

“Oh, here.” He handed Jules a slip of paper. “Login info for the system. I’ll see you for lunch.”

Jules called Kaylee after work. “How was your day?” he asked. “Did Freddie give you a hard time?”

“He was too busy talking on the phone all day,” Kaylee said. “He was mad that you left without giving notice, but he’s happy that he’s not losing any contracts.”

“Why would he lose contracts?”

“Because some people don’t want to give their money to shifters.”

Jules shook his head and sighed. “This is why so many of us don’t come out.”

“How was your day?”

“You’ll be jealous. I have a brand new system with all the latest software.”

“The print shop was already an upgrade from my system at home.”

“This is ten times better.”

“All right, I am jealous. But I need some reason, right? Since I can’t be jealous of Jane anymore.”

Jules chuckled. “I guess so. I’m going to turn the TV on and let my mind go zombie for a few hours tonight. Did you want to meet for dinner tomorrow?”

“Tomorrow is good, but Friday I’m going out with the girls to celebrate my promotion.”

“Sounds fun. I’ll see you tomorrow after work then. I love you.”

“I love you too.”

“Oh, look at him,” Alice said. “He’s hot. And he’s looking this way.”

“Mm-hmm,” Kaylee said, sipping her drink. Kaylee was older than the other girls in the graphic design program, but that hadn’t stopped them from forming a close friendship over the last two years. They met here at the college campus pub for drinks between exams and after big projects to relax and reset and flirt with the college guys. 

“You’re not even looking.” She slapped Kaylee’s arm.

“Oh! Does Kaylee have a boyfriend?” Michelle said. 

“Maybe,” Kaylee said with a sly smile.

“Spill the beans,” Katie said. 

“I met him at work,” Kaylee said. “He’s a little older than me, but we have a lot in common, like jerk-faced fathers.”

“Oh, my God,” Alice said. “It’s your mentor. The shifter. Is that why he took the other job?”

“Wait,” Katie said. “You worked with the shifter? The werebear from the airport?”

“Keep it down,” Kaylee said, glancing around. “I don’t need everyone in the bar trying to listen in.”

“Sorry,” Katie said, blushing.

“So, it is him?” Michelle pushed.

Kaylee nodded. “No, I’ve never seen him shift, and I only found out about it about a week ago.”

“What’s he like?”

Kaylee shrugged. “He’s a nice guy. Quiet, easily stressed, a damn good designer. I don’t know. He’s just Jules. I mean the guy is a mountain. I think I come up to his belly button.”

“Are you serious?” Katie squeaked.

“No,” Kaylee said. “It’s not that bad, but he’s huge. My siblings adore him. He plays video games with Tony, and he took me and Tony and June to see a movie.”

“Aww,” Michelle said. “That sounds so sweet.”

“I thought I told you to save some of that luck for the rest of us,” Alice said. She raised her glass. “Here’s to Kaylee. May her luck rub off on the rest of us.” 

“To Kaylee!” They all tapped glasses, laughing.

Friday night saw Jules back at the print shop. Freddie and Mark had stayed late after work, and the three of them were sitting around Freddie’s office drinking beers and playing cards. 

“Fold,” Freddie said, throwing his cards down. “Mark wins again. You’ve got the ace up your sleeve, don’t you?”

“You just want me to take my shirt off, don’t you?” Mark said with a wink.

“You’re not my type,” Freddie said.

“I could be.” He blew Freddie a kiss.

“I’m going to tell your boyfriend you’re flirting with the boss again,” Jules said as he started to deal.

“My boss,” Mark corrected. “You quit. Quitter.”

“You’re welcome,” Jules said. 

“You would not believe the number of phone calls we had to deal with this week,” Freddie said. “It’s been insane. And you’re hidden away behind a big corporate curtain now, so I can’t even make you deal with the mess you left me.”

“Honestly, I only half quit for you,” Jules said. 

“Two please,” Freddie said, tossing two cards face down on the table. Jules handed him the requested cards. “You quit for Kaylee. I think we all know that. You could have stayed. I wouldn’t have fired you over a little office romance.”

“Still, given that I was her mentor, it’s better this way.”

“Better for you maybe,” Freddie muttered. “You’re the one getting lucky.”

“I keep offering,” Mark said. “Three for me.”

Jules dealt Mark three cards then dealt himself one new card. “Freddie?”

“Fuck it, I fold again. You two are robbing me blind here.”

“Mark?”

“I’m good. I’ll raise another twenty-five.”

“I’ll see that,” Jules said. He tossed the quarter in the pile and flipped his cards. Mark’s four queens beat his four tens and the pile of quarters and dimes was pushed across the desk. “Freddie, you might want to listen to Mark here. He seems to be the luckiest man in the room. I’m sure he could rub a little of that off on you.”

“Oh, shut up,” Freddie said. “Gimme the deck. It’s my deal.”

They packed up a few hands later and walked out the back door together. While Freddie was fighting with the door, Mark said, “Hey, sorry your coming out was so public. At least your mom already knew. I thought my mom was going to kill me at the time.”

“Did she?”

“Naw, she was surprisingly cool with it. I’m glad you’re doing well. Keep your head up. The fuss will blow over.”

“Thanks man.”

“I can’t believe you’ve never seen it!” Kaylee was laughing and hanging onto Jules’ arm as they made their way from the car up to his apartment. “It’s on Netflix. We’re watching it tonight.”

“I had other plans for tonight,” he said as they stepped into the elevator. It was otherwise empty, so he backed her into the corner and kissed her breathless.

“Okay, you’ve made your point,” she said, clinging to his shirt until her knees stopped shaking.

He laughed.

The door slid open with a ding and they stepped out into the hallway. Her knees were still a little weak and her steps were wobbly. She giggled.

“Hello, Julius.”

Jules’ whole body tensed, and Kaylee stopped giggling; his reaction was enough to put her on high alert. A man was leaning against the wall next to Jules’ apartment door. He straightened as they approached, and Kaylee recognized that same bottled strength, the same natural grace, that she had noticed when she first met Jules. 

“Hello, Gabriele.”

“What? First name basis? I guess I deserve that.”

“Your wife doesn’t like me calling you ‘dad,’ remember? She made it very clear I wasn’t really your kid, no matter what DNA we might share.”

Dad. Kaylee looked again. The two men had very little in common at first glance, aside from their movements, which Kaylee guessed was more because of their bears than any other part of their shared genetics. There was a slight similarity in the nose and maybe the eye brows. And they both had black hair, but then this was New Orleans, and black hair was exceedingly common. It didn’t help that Jules was a head taller.

“Well,” Gabriele said. “She’s not here right now.”

“Why are you here?”

“I saw you on the news. I thought you could use a little support. Being out can be hard.”

Kaylee stretched up on tiptoes and kissed Jules’ cheek. “We’ll take a rain check on that movie.”

“No, Kaylee…”

“Hey, it’s okay. This is important. Deal with this, and we’ll catch up another evening.”

“At least let me give you a ride home.”

“I can find my own way. It’s not that late.”

He kissed her, and the way he looked into her eyes, with an intensity that worried her, made her weak in the knees. 

“I’ll be okay.” Her words did nothing to ease the worry in his eyes.

“I know you will be.”

“Call me later.”

He nodded and watched her until the light above the elevator showed that she’d reached the main floor. Finally, he turned back to his father.

“You turned your back on me, a stronger shifter. What is Remy teaching you?”

“Are you threatening me?”

Gabriele smiled. “Of course not. Just the overprotective side of me. I’m sorry, I didn’t know you had plans.”

“How could you have known? You haven’t called once since you left town.”

“I’ve been busy, and I’m betting you have been too. Is it wise to talk out here in the hallway?”

Jules considered his options. None of them were ideal, so he reached into his pocket and pulled out his keys. “Come in and we’ll talk.”

“Thank you.”

He felt more awkward opening the door for his father than he had the first time Kaylee had come over for dinner. The place was clean. He’d been expecting to spend the evening with Kaylee after all, but it was small, rundown, not something he felt overly proud of, but it was the best he could do for the time being. But his best had never been good enough for his father before.

Doesn’t matter. Just get this over with. “Does Remy know you’re in town?”

“No. I haven’t gone through all the formal welcomes just yet, but I will. I don’t want to hurt the clan chief’s feelings.”

“It isn’t about feelings—it’s about tradition.”

“Of course. Not a bad place.”

“Can I get you a drink?”

“Water is fine.” He sat at the kitchen table. “I saw the original footage on the news, back before The Human Order attacks. I didn’t know it was you.”

“No one outside of the police and the clan did.”

“You could have called and told me you were in trouble.”

“I wasn’t in trouble. I was being targeted. And it was taken care of.”

“And now you’re out.”

“And that situation is being taken care of as well. You haven’t said a word to me in years. Why come now?”

“I told you why. That, and because I have news of The Human Order that your clan chief should hear. Since I was once a part of this clan, my new chief sent me here as his ambassador.”

“Is that what they’re called now?”

“You don’t trust me, I understand that. I know why you don’t trust me. I wasn’t there for you, and I should have been. I was troubled and upset. My girls, they weren’t shifters, either of them. I felt like I had failed them, failed my family. And then your mother calls me in a blind panic because there’s a bear in her living room.”

“I thought it would have made you happy.”

“I realize now that it should have. Julius, I should have been there. I should have been more proud of you. I should never have let a jealous woman keep me away from my son. If Remy gives me permission to stay for a while, could we spend some time together? Catch up a little? I can’t change the past, but maybe we can have a better future.”

Jules took a deep breath. “Okay. We can give it a try. Have you called my mother yet?”

“No. I wasn’t going to. She and I fought worse than you and I did before I left. She made it very clear that I was not welcome in her life anymore. I thought it would be for the best if I just let it be. Is she happy? Secure?”

Jules nodded. “She’s working, she has an apartment, she has a little group of friends.”

“No boyfriend? No, don’t answer that. It’s none of my business. I’m glad she’s happy. And you. Who’s the girl?”

“Her name is Kaylee.”

Gabriele waited a moment, but when Jules didn’t offer any further information he said, “Would you call Remy for me? Arrange the meeting for tomorrow night? I think he would take this better if he heard from you first.”

“Of course.”

Gabriele pulled a card out of his wallet. You can reach me at this number and let me know what time to meet you at the warehouse.”

“You’ll have to come here, and I’ll drive you to the warehouse.”

“I know where it is,” Gabriele scoffed.

Jules shook his head. “We sold it after the attack and moved to a different location. Too many people knew about it, and we were having problems with the media.”

“At least Remy did that much right. Give me the address, then.”

Jules shook his head stubbornly. “I can’t. But I will call Remy for you. Where are you staying?”

“The Omni Riverfront.”

Jules knew it. It was a fancy place, one he’d probably never stay in—not unless he was on a business trip and Tandell Corporations was footing the bill. “I’ll call you later when I’ve spoken with Remy.”

“Of course. Thank you for inviting me in. Jules, I really want things to work out between us.”

“Sure.”

“I’ll see you again tomorrow. Goodnight, son.”

Jules sat at the table for a long time after his father left. His thoughts were in a turmoil. All his childhood all he’d ever wanted was a normal life, with a mom and a dad and food that didn’t come from a food bank and clothes that no one else had worn before. Normal had gone out the window when he’d started shifting, but he’d held out hope that his father would start acting like a real father. He had acted like a real father, for a little while, right near the end.

Then the fight had happened. Remy’s parents had retired to a clan in Florida, and Remy had been chosen as the new clan leader. Gabriele had been the other nominee. He didn’t take losing well and had taken a transfer with work. It hurt Jules that his father would rather never see him again than have to face Remy at every full moon. 

He had locked all the disappointment and self-doubt away after that. He’d focused on school, on getting a job, on proving to himself that he was worth something. And he’d made it too. He had a home, food, clothes, a job, a car, the perfect girl. He didn’t need his father’s approval to validate any of that. So why were all these old feelings still there? Why does it matter if he likes the apartment? 

When he picked up his phone, it was Kaylee’s number and not Remy’s that he dialed. Kaylee picked up right away. “Are you all right?” she said.

“Fine. I’m fine.”

“What does he want?”

“He has news for the clan, from his clan leader. And apparently, he’s here to make peace with me.”

“What do you think?”

“I have to call Remy. I have to set up a clan meeting for tomorrow. After that we’ll see.”

“So, no rain check tomorrow night?”

“Sorry.”

“It’s okay. What about the night after? You can pick me up after work. And give me a lift to work in the morning.”

His breath caught a little in his throat as desire wrapped a fist around his chest and squeezed. “Okay. It’s a deal.”

“Goodnight, Jules,” she said in a singsong voice. She’d caught the change in his, obviously.

“Goodnight, Kaylee,” he growled back. He could hear her laugh as she hung up, a crystal ringing sound that eased the tension of his father’s visit.

He called Remy next. 

“Jules, is everything all right?”

“I don’t need the safe house,” Jules said. It was truth, the only way he could answer that question that was both truthful and reassuring.

“Ah. So, what is the problem then?”

“My father was waiting at my apartment today. He asked me to arrange his official greetings for tomorrow. He says he has news of The Human Order from his clan.”

“His clan chief could have emailed me. We have a communication network in place.”

“He said he came as a messenger so he could see me again. Because he saw me on the news.”

“I see. All right. Philippe might be working, but I can get the rest of the clan together. What time?”

“He told me to call him when you set the time.”

“Fine. Nine. Did you give him the address?”

“No. He’ll meet me here.”

“Good. Jules, thank you for calling me.”

“It doesn’t look all that different from the last place,” Gabriele said as they pulled up in front of the warehouse the next night. There were four cars already parked there.

“What should it look like?” Jules said. “It’s an old warehouse.”

“And it’s pretty close to the old place.”

“This is a warehouse district. They’re waiting for us.”

When they got to the door Jules reached for the key pad, but the door opened before he could start tapping his code. Philippe stood in the opening. He was in his work clothes, black pants, belted, a black dress shirt with the top button undone. He’d had the shirt tailor made to accentuate his build. He made an imposing bouncer. 

He nodded, unsmiling, to Jules before turning his attention to Gabriele. “The New Orleans Clan welcomes you. Enter, guest, and share in our sanctuary.”

“A little formal for an old clan member, no?” Gabriele said.

Jules jumped a little. Until he heard his father’s voice in his ear he hadn’t realized how close Gabriele was standing. 

Philippe just held the door open and waited. 

They went in together. The warehouse was cleaner than usual, the barrels neatly stacked instead of pushed in a corner. There was a table set up instead of the usual ring of chairs. Remy sat at the head with Brock at his right hand. Jane sat next to Brock. There were two empty chairs on the other side of the table, Philippe and Jules’ spots. They were all wearing office clothes or church clothes. Jules was glad he hadn’t changed into something casual after work. 

When everyone was seated, Gabriele said, “Thank you for welcoming me into your territory, Remy. I was sorry to hear of your clan’s difficulties this past year.”

“Given the circumstances of your move, I am curious why you are here,” Remy said.

“I am here with news of The Human Order,” Gabriele said.

“Your clan chief has a computer—and my email address.”

“Yes, he does. However, cyber security is part of the issue I’ve come to speak on, so when I requested permission to visit my son, he asked that I deliver this message while I am here.”

Remy nodded. “How long are you petitioning to remain in my territory?”

“I would like the chance to spend some time with my son.”

Remy turned to Jules. “Are you agreeable to this?”

Jules nodded.

“Then we extend our welcome to you for the duration of your visit. Jules, you will bring your father here on the full moon. The hospitality of our sanctuary will be open to you for your change.”

“You are a gracious host,” Gabriele said with a slight bow. “May I have a seat?”

Remy nodded.

“The wolves are taking the brunt of the spotlight pointed at us all by The Human Order. There are more wolf packs in North America than bear clans and more wolves in each pack. The fact that humans have long been interested in werewolf myth while we are a relatively newer phenomenon has helped us. However, The Human Order is attempting a new tactic. We believe that in addition to attempting to sway public opinion against us, they are attempting a cyberattack. Multiple attacks. They are attempting to hack the pack and clan servers, when they find them. They appear to be after the identities of the werebears and werewolves. They mean to bring us all out.”

Silence descended. Finally, Remy said, “This is a good reason to avoid email, though a phone call would have sufficed. Still, I thank you for the warning. Already nearly half our clan is out to the public, and already the Human Order has their identities. The only thing stopping them from taking that information public is the knowledge that it will incriminate them in the terrorist attack last year and will result in their immediate arrest.”

“Not a viable threat to keep you all safe,” Gabriele said.

“So far it is working. Do you have any further news?”

“Only that my clan chief extends any help you may need in this matter.”

“I will contact him should I need to. Thank you. I don’t think I need to remind you that your behavior in our city is a direct reflection on our clan?”

“No, and you don’t need to threaten me with the consequences either.”

“Then this meeting is adjourned.” 

Jules and Gabriele stood first and made their way to the door. They were almost there when Jules heard Jane say, “Why did we all need to be here for this? What a waste of time.”

He cringed. If he could hear it his father could too.

“Traditions have not been updated to take technology into account, I’m afraid,” Remy said. “And while we may be willing to bypass some traditions within our own clan, we must adhere to them when dealing with other clans.”

Jules hurried his father out.

“Do they often question him like that?” Gabriele said.

Jules shrugged. “I don’t know how it is in other clans,” he said. “And I don’t know how it was before Remy took over, not really. But Remy encourages us to speak up.”

“I see. Very interesting. Do you have plans this evening? You should come back to the hotel with me and have a drink.”

“Sure. But I already have plans for tomorrow night.”

“Yes, Kaylee, I remember. Don’t worry. I will keep myself busy and stay out of trouble. I would love to see where you work.”

“Looks just like any other office building,” Jules said. “Tell me about Wyoming.”

They talked in the car and at the hotel bar late into the night, and by the end Jules was starting to feel relaxed. This is what it’s like to have a father, a real father, one that’s interested in you and wants to spend time with you. Maybe he really has changed. Maybe this can really work.

The ring of his cellphone woke him before his alarm Monday. Groggy, Jules rolled over, reaching for the little square of light that was the cellphone screen. His first thought was Kaylee, that she was in trouble, but she murmured in her sleep and rolled over against him. He grabbed the phone, fumbled, and finally answered.

“Jules, sorry to wake you.”

“Remy?”

“We’ve found the blackmailer. Police are en route now. Can you come down to the police station this morning? You can have the time off work.”

“Uh, sure. I have something to do on my way there. I can be there at eight.”

“I’ll tell the detective to expect you. When you’re done, come to the coffee shop by the office and we’ll talk this over. Okay?”

“Sure, okay.” He hung up.

“Whoisit?” Kaylee mumbled.

Jules bent over and kissed Kaylee’s forehead. “Shh. We’ll talk later.”

She sighed and drifted back to sleep.

Later, when they were up and having coffee, Kaylee said, “Did I dream it or did the phone ring this morning.”

“Not a dream,” Jules said. “It was Remy.”

“Did the baby come early?”

“No.”

“Emergency?”

“Not really.”

“Jules?”

“Don’t worry, okay? They caught the blackmailer. I have to go in to the police station.”

“And he had to call you before the alarm why?”

“So I wouldn’t see it on the news in the morning? Because he thought I was alone and would get up that early to go to the police station? I don’t know.”

“He doesn’t know I’ve been staying over?”

“He’s not my parent or my life coach or my therapist or …”

“Okay,” she said, laughing. “I get it. Not his business. You want me to grab a bus to work?”

“No. I’ll drive you.”

“You’re spoiling me.”

“I like driving you to work, okay?” He leaned across the table and kissed her.

“Okay. Are you still seeing your dad tonight?”

He nodded as he sipped his coffee.

“Well, that’ll give me a chance to do my laundry and call a few friends. Maybe I’ll go catch a chick flick with Alice.”

“You could come with us.”

“I really do need to do laundry. Don’t worry about me.”

“I’m not worried about you.”

Kaylee studied him for a moment. He was staring at the cup that he was holding in both large hands. “Is everything going all right with your dad?”

“Yeah. Of course it is. I guess I’m still nervous that this is too good to be true.”

“Hey, it’s totally up to you. You know that, right? If you think it’s time for him to go home, tell him that.”

“I don’t want to do that. He came out here for me. The least I can do is give him the chance.”

“Okay. I’m just a phone call away if you need me.”

He dropped her off at the print shop and then made his way through the city to the police station. The officer took him in right away and the detective waved him over. 

“Julius Beauregard. I’ve been expecting you. Have a seat.”

“I’m not sure what you need from me.”

The detective slid a photo across the table. It was a woman, probably in her thirties, with narrow eyes and thin lips. Her hair was a dull blonde. “Do you recognize her?”

Jules shook his head and slid the picture back. “No, sorry. Should I?”

“This is Anne-Marie Thatcher. We traced the emails back to her, and she confessed in interrogation.”

“This is the blackmailer?”

The detective nodded.

“I was expecting … someone else.”

“So were we, to be honest. There is nothing in her work record or private life to suggest she’s ever done this or anything else illegal before. She has no ties to The Human Order. In fact, she broke down sobbing after she confessed.”

“What’s going to happen to her?”

“The DA will probably accept a plea bargain. She pleads guilty, she gets the lightest possible sentence, we avoid the expense and publicity or a public trial. She’ll lose her job for sure and will always have a criminal record, but the DA will likely recommend a work placement program so she can find a job.”

“Seems like a lot of effort.”

“She doesn’t have ties to The Human Order now, but she’s a prime target for recruiting. We’re just trying to make sure she doesn’t get disgruntled enough to join a terrorist organization.” He slid a folder across the desk. “This is everything your boss gave us concerning the case. I need you to read through all of it to make sure it is complete and, to the best of your knowledge, unaltered. Sign the page at the end if it looks good. If you notice any changes or omissions, you are legally required to inform us before you sign and provide us with unedited copies. Understand?”

Jules nodded and opened the folder. When he got to the last page, which was all the legal nonsense he had to sign, he said, “Well, the emails look different, but that happens when you print. The content is all the same. I don’t think he even edited her spelling.” He grabbed a pen from the cup and signed the paper. “Anything else?”

“I’ll have an officer record your statement. We need to know, in your words, when you received the emails, when you replied, how much you paid and when, how the failed entrapment scheme went down, why you didn’t come to the police straight off, and any effects the release of the tape had on your private or professional life. Do you have any questions?”

“Do I have to testify in front of people?”

“If Ms. Thatcher takes the plea bargain then your statement will be enough. If we are forced to take this to trial, you will be asked to testify. A case like this would be quick and painless. Defense would mostly be challenging why you didn’t come to us and how badly it hurt you—to try to lessen Ms. Thatcher’s sentence.”

“I’d like to avoid that, if at all possible.”

“I’ll put it on record that you are in support of a plea bargain.”

“Uh—you know, she sounds pretty shook up about all this. I’m okay with her getting a light sentence. Is there any way I can get my money back? Life is pretty tight.”

“I’ll see what I can do.” He stood and offered his hand. “Thanks for coming in so promptly, Jules.”

“Thank you for wrapping this up for me.”

When he stepped outside, a man walked up to him and said, “Excuse me, are you Mr. Beauregard?”

“Who are you?”

“Jeremy Curtis. You are Julius Beauregard. The video online is poor but it sure looks like you.”

“What do you want?”

“Just to ask you a few questions. When did you become a werebear? What’s it like? How many of you are there? What are your plans now that you’re out?”

“You a reporter?”

The small man nodded. His smile was eager.

“I don’t want to do any interviews. Excuse me.”

Jeremy trailed after him. “Why were you at the police station? Does it have to do with your case? Did they catch the blackmailer?”

“Ask the cops.”

“What were their demands? How much did you pay?”

Jules unlocked his car door. “For a reporter, you’re not very perceptive. I don’t want to talk to the press—at all. Excuse me.” He got in the car and pulled out of the lot, careful not to drive over the little reporter. He drove two blocks up and pulled into a coffee shop parking lot.

Since Remy had given him the day off, and since Kaylee was working, Jules called his father. The hotel put him through to his father’s room. 

“Hello?”

“Dad? It’s Jules. Today just opened up. Can I come by?”

“I was just on my way down for breakfast. How far out are you?”

“Five, maybe ten.”

“I’ll wait in the lobby for you. Have you eaten?”

“A little.”

“Then we’ll have breakfast at the hotel. They have a wonderful eggs benedict, and their hash browns are perfect.”

“I’m on my way.”

The Riverfront was every inch a five-star hotel. Tasteful, elegant décor in modern yet classic color schemes, staff in dress pants, white shirts, and crisp black vests, and not a speck of dust or litter anywhere in the lobby. Gabriele was off to one side talking with a young woman in a staff uniform. She was smiling at him and laughed at something he said. 

Gabriele looked up. “Ah, Jules. You’ve made it.” He looked down at her again. “Thank you again.”

“Anything you need,” she said. She smiled at Jules. “Welcome to the Riverfront. Excuse me.”

“Everything okay?” Jules said.

“Perfect.” He put a hand on Jules’ elbow and steered him towards the dining room. “Except that I’m starving.”

Jules took one look at the dining room and tried to back pedal. “Don’t they have a little breakfast nook, with continental waffles and stuff?”

“Nonsense. I want a proper breakfast. It’s my treat Jules.”

Jules nodded and followed his father to a table. At least in his casual business attire he didn’t look as out of place as he felt. Gabriele picked up the menu. “Ham or sausages today?”

Jules picked up his menu. Out of habit, the first thing he looked at was the prices. He paled a little. Swallowing his protest at the price, he tried to focus on what each option offered. Pancakes, eggs, waffles, what did he feel like this morning?

A waitress came up to the table and said, “Good morning. Can I start you off with something to drink?”

“A coffee please,” Jules said. “Black.”

“I’ll have coffee as well,” Gabriele said. “Dark roast, moka brewed. Bring the cream and sugar to the table please.”

“Certainly.”

“That’s some pretty fancy coffee,” Jules said. 

“Ah, but the flavor is so much richer than standard coffee. You should try it.”

The waitress returned with a carafe and filled Jules’ cup. She smiled. “Your dark roast will be ready in a few minutes.”

“Thank you,” Gabriele said.

Jules sipped his coffee and shrugged. “This is already better quality than I’m used to.”

“You’re on a tight budget, I take it.”

“Very tight. The print shop didn’t pay out millions to the designers every year.”

“But you pay for the apartment yourself?”

“Yeah. And the groceries too. I haven’t borrowed money since I graduated, and I only borrowed money for tuition.”

“Okay, I’m sorry. I worry about you. I know the economy isn’t the greatest right now, and I don’t want to see my only son slipping into debt. It’s not a bad apartment you know. Small, not a great location, but nice enough.”

“Thank you.”

“And a car too. When did you get that?”

“Not long ago.”

“Secondhand?”

He nodded.

“Nothing wrong with that, if it runs. Most people start with a secondhand car. I got my first car in ’81. It was a ’71 Pinto. What a piece of junk it was. Moved up to a better secondhand car a few years later.”

1981. Of course his dad had gotten his first car at eighteen. His stepsisters had probably gotten their first cars at eighteen too. At eighteen, Jules had been working as many hours as his school schedule allowed just to help his mom pay all the bills. Neither of them could afford a car at that point. He hadn’t been able to afford this car either. He focused his attention on the menu.

The waitress came back and set a coffee in front of Gabriele. “Are you ready to order?”

“Yes. I’ll have the eggs benedict. Two eggs, three sausages, well done please, and brown toast.”

She jotted that down and turned to Jules. “And for you?”

“Denver omelet please.”

“Two eggs or three?”

“Oh, uh, three.”

“Bacon, ham, or sausage?”

“Bacon, well done.”

“White, brown, rye, or gluten free toast?”

“Rye is fine.”

“Is that everything?”

“Yes, thank you,” Gabriele said.

“I’ll bring that out as soon as it’s ready.”

“So, what’s it like in your new clan?” Jules said. It felt strange asking that. Gabriele wasn’t exactly ‘new’ to his clan anymore, he had been living there just over ten years now. But Jules hadn’t spoken to Gabriele in all that time.

Gabriele shrugged and sipped his coffee. “It’s a clan like any other. We have very little to do with each other really, aside from the full moon and the occasional meeting. We’re a large clan, the third largest in North America and the largest in the US. Almost half our clan is female, and we have six youngsters who have, in the last year, made their first change.”

“That’s impressive,” Jules said. “It’s nice to see a clan prospering and growing.”

“Your clan is not.”

“Jane joined us from Canada. And Brock and Gia are expecting their first. Gia seems set on a huge family, so chances are good that some of them will be shifters.”

“And the rest of you?”

“Brock’s the only one who’s married.”

“And this Jane, I seem to recall her transfer was the center of some controversy.”

“Nothing that reached us here,” Jules said. “Jane doesn’t talk about home much, except that she lost her parents.”

“I remember that. Hunting accident. That’s what happens when werebears go out into the woods on the full moon like savages.”

Jules took a gulp of coffee. He didn’t think Jane was a savage at all, but it sounded childish to say it out loud.

“Your Kaylee is not a shifter.”

“No, she’s not. Neither is my mother. Or my stepmother.” Why did you say that?

Gabriele froze, his cup halfway to his mouth. After a moment, he said, “good point,” and took another sip of coffee. “Of course, there were no females my age in the clan when I married.”

“You’re not trying to set me up with Jane, are you?”

“I’m curious why you found Kaylee, and indeed why Brock married Gia, when one of your own kind is available.”

“Uh, because she’s not interested? Because it would feel like I was marrying my sister? Because Brock loves Gia, and Gia loves him?”

“Love can be a fickle thing. Look at your mother and me. My wife and I loved each other very much, but that didn’t stop us from having marital troubles. I fell in love with your mother, truly I did. I never meant to get her pregnant. I didn’t even know she was pregnant. I reconciled with my wife and told your mother it was over. She took it well, all things considered, until she learned she was pregnant. That made my life interesting for a while. I tried, you know. I tried at first to make it work, to balance your mother and my wife. To balance the girls and you. Between the clan, my job, and having two families, it got to be too much. I was young still. Things were going badly with my wife again. She threatened to leave with the girls.”

“It’s okay,” Jules said, even though it wasn’t really. He’d always known his father had been forced to choose, and that he had chosen his elegant, blonde, suburban-queen wife and his lovely blonde sweet daughters over his Cajun-ghetto mistress and the son who looked too much like her. “You would have lost out either way. It’s a long time ago.”

“Jules, you are a man of rare understanding. I thank you for that.”

Their food arrived and Jules busied himself cutting his egg and spreading jam on his toast. It was a welcome distraction.

“But you were asking about the clan. We have to have a much larger meeting place for the full moon because of how big the clan has become. It’s a large warehouse, very new, on the edge of town.”

“Does that make it more difficult to keep everyone’s identity a secret?”

“Sometimes. We don’t have any high-profile members in our clan. No billionaires, no mayors. Our clan chief is known to the local authorities, as is required by the council of clans, but otherwise only a half dozen of our bears are out.”

“Any blackmail cases?”

“One recently. It was dealt with quickly and quietly. How is your blackmail case coming along?”

“That’s why I have the day off. I just came from the police station. They caught her.”

“Who?”

“The blackmailer.”

“It was a woman? How odd. I was fully expecting a man, middle-aged, disgruntled, impoverished, and with ties—or at least sympathies—to the Human Order.”

“I was surprised too. She worked in the baggage department at the airport. The guy in security who gave her a copy of the tape lost his job as well. He’s under investigation for breach of privacy. Not sure if anything will come of that.”

“But they are charging her?”

He nodded. “They think she’ll take a plea bargain since she already confessed.”

“Huh. That’s what’s wrong with the world today. Letting criminals off easy because they have a sob story. Are they getting you your money back?”

“Don’t know yet.”

“Typical. I know a good lawyer. I’ll get you his number.”

“I don’t think I need a lawyer. I’m represented by the DA.”

“And the DA works hand in hand with the cops. If you just let this go, you’ll never see that money.” He already had his phone out. “This will just take a second. I could even call him if you wanted.”

“No, I don’t want you to call him for me. I don’t want to call him for me. I don’t need a lawyer.”

Gabriele half looked up and said, “Jules,” in that ‘father-knows-best’ tone.

“Gabriele,” Jules replied.

Gabriele put the phone down and sighed. “You’re right. It’s your choice of course. I forget that you grew up while I was gone. I still see a teenager across the table from me. That’s why I really appreciate this time together. Just be patient with me.”

“We haven’t seen each other in a decade. We both need time.”

“There’s that understanding again. You must get it from your mother.”

“Have you changed your mind? Do you want to see her at all while you’re here?”

“No. No, it’s for the best. Have you told her I’m in town?”

“I haven’t spoken to her yet. Kaylee and I are having dinner with her later this week. Should I keep it a secret?”

“Really, that’s up to you. I am here at your pleasure after all.”

Something in his father’s voice made him drop his eyes. “It’s not like that.”

“According to clan law, that’s exactly what it is. If you had told Remy you did not want to spend time with me I’d already be home. Don’t worry, it doesn’t offend me.”

“That’s good. I don’t think Remy was trying to be offensive.”

“Well, what shall we do for the day? You’re too old for zoos and museums and random trips to the mall.”

“We don’t have to do anything. We can just sit somewhere and talk all day. We have a lot to talk about.”

“Yes. Yes, we do. All right then. That’s what we’ll do.”

They were back at the warehouse the next evening. It was good he had spent all weekend with Kaylee, but after not seeing her since driving her to work the day before he was missing her fiercely. He’d called her on his lunch break today just to hear her laugh. He wasn’t paying attention to the road and hit a rather large pot hole with the front passenger tire.

His father grunted.

“Sorry.” He drove around the next hole in the road.

They arrived at the warehouse about twenty minutes before Philippe, who was the last to arrive. When they were all accounted for, Remy said, “We put the meat in the barrels earlier today. The sun is setting and the moon will soon call us. Unless anyone has any pressing business, it is time for us to embrace the moon and our other selves.”

No one spoke up.

“Then let us shift, as our fathers and forefathers have for centuries.” It was a lot more formal than what Remy normally said on a full moon, and was probably said only for Gabriele. They all stepped back away from the circle to remove their clothes and shift.

Jules noted that the rest of his clan all moved away from Gabriele a lot more than they moved away from each other—and that Remy and Brock very clearly put themselves between Gabriele and Jane.

They shifted quietly, except for the odd grunt or growl born of discomfort, and then all six bears began to prowl around the warehouse. They wrestled and growled at each other. They knocked barrels around the room in search of food. They bickered over the meat and fish.

It was strange. All week Jules had felt things with his father were going well. The time they spent together, their conversations on the phone, all good. It was a little awkward at times, a few misunderstandings, but that happened when you were trying to reconnect with someone after so long. They didn’t know each other at all, after all. Tonight though, the bear was avoiding Gabriele. In fact, all the bears were either avoiding him or acting confrontational.

It wasn’t until afterward, after they were all human again and dressed and Jules had driven Gabriele back to the hotel, that he had the time and inkling to mull over what it could mean.

Remy and Brock, he understood. Even Philippe was old enough to remember the drama from ten years ago. But Jane hadn’t been a part of their clan then. What had Remy told her? Remy doesn’t talk about it, ever, to anyone. Would he have told her anything? Did Brock? Is it fair to hold all that against him? It’s been ten years. Try as he might he could find no answers, not to the behavior of his clan, not to the behavior of his own bear.

Kaylee smoothed her skirt three times in the car and twice more on the way up the front walk. Jules squeezed her hand. “You look fine.”

“Are you sure? Maybe I shouldn’t have worn the skirt. Is it too short?”

“Do you want my opinion as your boyfriend or my opinion from my mom’s point of view?”

“It is too short.”

He stopped walking and stopped her. “I’m sorry, I was teasing you, it’s fine. You’re fine. You look great.” He kissed her forehead. “My mom’s sweet. You don’t have to worry.”

“Of course I’m worried.”

“I’ve met your mom. She threatened me.”

“Good point.”

“Just remember. You can swear in front of my mother. And any embarrassing stories she tells about me are exaggerated to get a laugh.”

“Uh-huh.”

He rang the doorbell and the door opened immediately. Almost as though she’d been waiting at the door for them. He wouldn’t ask if she had been. He knew better.

“You rang the bell? What? You don’t love me anymore? Never mind. I need the salad bowl from the top shelf.”

“What’s wrong with the regular serving bowl we always use?”

She glared.

“Okay. I’m going to fetch the bowl on the top shelf.”

The skinny, dark-haired, sharp-tongued Cajun woman who looked remarkably like Jules, except for her size, turned to Kaylee and smiled. “I’m Simone, and you must be Kaylee. I’m so glad he finally brought you around. He hasn’t brought a girl home since high school, and I knew those weren’t serious.”

“Uh…”

“Ma, don’t scare her!”

“I’m not scaring her. I’m being nice.” She leaned in closer to Kaylee and muttered, “Is he bossy like this with you?”

“Sometimes,” Kaylee admitted.

“Thought so. Come sit down dear. I have photo albums.”

“I can hear you!”

“Then finish the salad for me,” Simone called back. “Living with a werebear is no picnic, I tell you. They snore like chainsaws and they hear everything. No privacy. A nightmare. It was a blessing when he moved out.”

Kaylee was trying to contain her laughter.

“So, no photo albums then. Tell me about you instead.”

“Oh, uh, not much to tell really. We met at work…”

“Not about you two, just about you.”

Kaylee felt her cheeks heating up. “Uh, I’m a graphic designer, like Jules. I work at the print shop. I have two sisters and a brother, all younger. And this is even worse than writing bios online.”

Simone laughed. “I’m sorry. I don’t mean to put you on the spot.”

“Yes, you do.”

They both looked at the kitchen doorway and then back to each other and rolled their eyes. And just like that Kaylee felt more relaxed.

There was a beeping from the kitchen and Simone leapt up. “That’s the chicken. Come eat.”

The next hour was full of delicious food, good wine, and laughter. Kaylee soon relaxed completely as Simone’s dry wit and easy laugh made her feel at home.

“You should meet my mother,” Kaylee said. “You’d like her.”

“Oh, no,” said Jules. “Then all three of you will be talking about me together. I don’t need that.”

“Sounds lovely dear,” Simone said. “You just call me any time.”

“Does anyone listen to me?”

“Of course,” Simone said. “Who wants dessert?”

When all the food was done, Jules cleared the table and started filling the sink. “Dad’s in town,” he said with a forced casualness. 

“When did he get in?” Simone said, her voice equally forced.

“Just before the full moon.”

“I see.”

“He wasn’t sure you wanted to talk to him, so he isn’t planning to see you. I just felt weird keeping it a secret.”

“No, he’s right, I’d rather not see him.”

Kaylee was sure she sounded a little relieved.

“Have you met him?” Simone said to Kaylee.

Kaylee nodded. “A few times.”

“Jules, can you run the garbage out for me. I meant to do it before you arrived. Rude of me. Whole kitchen will start stinking soon.”

Kaylee was about to protest, but Jules dried his hands and grabbed the bag. He disappeared out the back door.

“You didn’t have to…”

“Sharp ears,” Simone said. “Watch yourself around that man. You’re not his type, thank God, too strong, too sure of yourself, not like I was at twenty. Still, best not to let yourself be alone with him.”

“Are you done?” Jules called from the back step.

“All done,” Simone called back.

It took a little while before the strained small talk began to loosen up again into comfortable conversation. They moved to the living room, Simone taking the arm chair while Jules and Kaylee took the couch. They talked about work and Gia and the baby that just didn’t want to come out, about childhood memories, about politics, about music. 

When Jules yawned so wide his jaw creaked Simone said, “You two should be on your way. Don’t let a lonely old bat like me keep you here so late.”

“You’re just kicking us out so you can call your boyfriend over,” Jules said.

“None of your business if I was,” Simone said. She walked them to the door. “Don’t be a stranger, Kaylee. My door is always open.” She pulled Kaylee into a one-arm hug and held her. When she stepped back Kaylee thought Simone’s eyes might have been a little too bright, as though maybe tears were clinging there. But why she would be crying, Kaylee had no idea.

Jules and Kaylee spent Saturday morning at her house. Jules played video games with Anthony and they had lunch with Kaylee’s mom. They snuck out while Anthony was doing homework and headed back to Jules’ apartment. 

“Too many meddling middle-aged women,” Jules grumbled. “And I have to deal with another one tomorrow.”

“Aw, poor Jules.” She kissed his forehead and they went inside. She half expected Gabriele to be lurking somewhere ready to intrude upon them again, but the hallways were clear and they made it to the apartment without interruption.

He locked the door behind them and threw the chain.

“Expecting an interruption?” she said.

“Making it harder for you to escape.”

That was all the warning she had before he was on her. He swept her up in his arms and kissed her hard. The kisses trailed down her jaw and neck. He was walking as he kissed her. He backed her up against the nearest wall before setting her feet back on the floor. He caught her wrists and pinned them over her head with one large hand. All the while he was still kissing her. 

She was panting, and her knees were weak. 

He reached under her shirt and she moaned. He flicked his tongue over her lip. She tried to chase it and he chuckled. He flicked his tongue there again, pulling away, out of her reach. She made a small, desperate noise in the back of her throat and strained against his hand. She couldn’t reach him with her hands or her mouth, so she arched her back, trying to rub up against him. 

He pushed against her, his erection hard against her stomach. He squeezed her breast and kissed her hard. He released her hands and she ran them through his hair and down his neck, returning his kiss.

He ran his hands down her body and grabbed her under the butt, lifting her. She wrapped her legs around his waist. That brought her whole body up higher and let him trail kisses down her neck and down the edge of her collar. She fisted her hands in his hair, panting.

“More,” she whimpered. “Please.”

Using his body and one hand to hold in her place against the wall, he tugged on her shirt and said, “Could just rip it off.”

She whimpered but didn’t protest.

He pulled her away from the wall and carried her, still wrapped around him, to the bedroom. He tried to drop her on the bed, but she held on tight and he ended up toppling in with her.

The playing field levelled after that, but only because he didn’t actually try to pin her down again. It was too much fun to let her roll him on his back and straddle him. He watched as she fought with the buttons on his shirt. Her eyes were bright with desire. Her hair was already mussed up. He’d kissed away all traces of her lipstick. He wondered if any of it clung to his face. 

Her kisses along his neck and chest betrayed a hunger for his body. Her hunger for him fed his hunger for her touch. 

He flipped her over and held her hands above her head with a loose hold, one he knew she could pull free of without trying. She didn’t pull free, and he kissed her neck lightly before nipping it. Her chin went up and she purred. She was so strong, so independent, so fierce, maybe that was why it was so arousing to watch her surrender. He knew it was willingess. He knew it was trust. He knew it was arousing him.

Her shirt went over her head with minimal struggle. They were getting used to each other now, knew when to help a little to make sure the clothes didn’t tangle as they were removed. He’d already ripped one shirt in his haste to get them both naked.

She was wearing a bra he hadn’t seen before. It was little more than swirls of lace, just enough fabric to hold the whole thing together, and in a shade of plum that flattered her skin tone and made her look like royalty. He left it on her.

The matching panties, however, quickly followed her jeans onto the floor. She pawed at the waistband of his pants but could do little more than undo the button from where she was lying. He grinned and continued to kiss her, ignoring her frantic attempts to undress him. His hands worked their way over her body making her squirm. He reached down and slid a finger inside her and her back arched. She gasped, her eyes wide. They both froze.

“Well?”

Her body relaxed from shoulders to toes, like she had simply melted. “Don’t stop.”

It wasn’t the words themselves but the pleading in her voice that made him start moving his hand. She groaned and dug her fingers into his back. 

“Please.”

He teased her a little longer while she panted and begged beneath him. When he pulled his fingers out, she whimpered. He kicked free of his pants and she reached out, wrapping her hand around his cock.

He thought she was going to play with him, return the teasing, but she pulled him close and guided him towards her opening. As he slid into her he said, “You don’t want to slow down a little?”

She thrust her hips up in response.

He held on to enough of his control that he didn’t bruise her wrists when he pinned her hands above her head or bruise her anywhere else as he fucked her hard. The bed creaked. She moaned. Her fingers bit into his back. Her teeth bit into his shoulder. 

It was over quickly, and as he rolled off of her, he feared too quickly. She made happy murmured noises and snuggled against him. 

“That was intense.”

“Did you …”

She shook her head. “You can make it up to me next time.”

“You’re not mad?”

“I wouldn’t change a thing,” she said. “Except that it was over too soon. Guess I’m just that good.”

He squeezed her close and smiled. “Yes, you are.”

For a long while they stayed close to each other, each lost in thought and content where they were. Jules drifted in and out of a half-doze, his arm lazily around Kaylee. 

“Jules?”

“Mmm?”

“Does your mom make you take the trash out often?”

“Was my job growing up.”

“I mean like she did today.”

Jules sighed. “When she figured out that being a werebear gave me keen senses, even in human form, she’d send me out with the trash, even if it wasn’t full, whenever she had to make a private phone call or talk to a guest privately. I sort of figured it out, what she was doing. Didn’t bother me. Didn’t want to hear it most of the time.”

“You aren’t curious about what she told me?”

“’Course I am. Want to share?” When she didn’t answer, he added, “Don’t have to.” 

“I’m not sure I want to, no.”

He kissed her forehead. “Then I won’t ask. Remind me to give you her cell number in the morning.”

“Why?”

“Case you want to talk to her. In case something happens to me, you can check in on her.”

“Jules, nothing is going to happen to you. Why would you say something like that?”

“’Cause I love my mom and look after her.” He yawned. “Sideways doesn’t work.”

They sat up and rearranged themselves so they were tucked properly into bed. She took off her bra and tossed it onto the floor. She’d worry about where it landed in the morning. 

“Thanks for today,” she said.

“You can have great sex anytime.”

“I meant your mom,” she said, giving him a playful slap on the chest.

“We can do that anytime you want too.” He kissed her deeply and slowly and then once quickly on the nose. “Goodnight, Kaylee.”

When Jules pulled up to the front gate of Brock’s house, Kaylee’s mouth fell open. Jules chuckled. “Are you really surprised?”

She shook her head. “Knowing he’s rich and knowing he’ll have a big house doesn’t mean I’m not impressed.”

“He’s updated the interior, and it really downplays just how rich he is. Don’t feel intimidated, okay? Brock and Gia are about the most down-to-earth rich people you’ll ever meet. I worked for Gia’s father for a while. Well, he was a client at the shop.” Jules shook his head. 

“Strange that a man so wealthy would use a small-time shop like that. You’d think he’d have his own interior marketing department.”

“He did. He said he was farming out projects because his staff were overworked, and if he liked what I did he’d hire me. Of course, he was lying. He was involved with The Human Order, but he was a snooty piece of work. Just don’t mention him around Gia and Brock, okay?” He turned off the car. “Come on. Looks like we’re the last ones here.”

“It’s not my fault,” she grumbled as she took off her seat belt. 

He leaned over and kissed her. “It’s your fault you look so damn good today.”

She couldn’t help but smile. “Am I going to be the only normal human here?”

“No. Connie is Brock’s housekeeper and she’s human. And Gia is human. You’ll be fine. They’re going to love you. Just, ah, be warned. Connie is a bit overbearing. And she’s a romantic. And she loves babies and weddings.”

“So, she’s going to want to know when we’re getting married and having a family. Got it. When are you going to propose anyway?”

He growled through a grin and she laughed.

“If Connie’s going to be asking, I thought I should have an answer to give her!”

They were met at the door by a round-faced middle-aged woman. “You’re late,” she said with a finger wag. “Get in here before the get into the cake.”

“Yes ma’am,” Jules said. “Connie, this is Kaylee, my girlfriend. Kaylee, this is Connie—she’s in charge around here.”

She reached up and patted Jules on the cheek. “You’re a sweet boy. And smart.” She turned to Kaylee and pulled her into the house. “Come, I’ll show you were to drop that present and then I will introduce you around.”

Jules took off his shoes and followed the noise to the living room. It was strange, meeting there. Generally, they hung out in the kitchen at the big island. It was closer to the fridge and felt more casual. This felt prim and proper and polite. He was afraid to ask for a beer.

Remy came over and pushed a cold beer into his hand. “Relax. No one will flick your nose for sitting on the couches. We’re in here because Gia can’t manage the bar stools anymore.”

“You read my mind,” Jules said. 

“How are things with your father?”

“Good—better than I thought. We might actually be able to maintain some sort of relationship when he returns home.”

“Any idea when that will be?”

“Soon, I would think,” Jules said. “He does have a wife and a job after all. I think he mentioned something about joining us for the full moon again. I’m surprised she’s okay with him staying this long. She never liked me.”

Remy nodded. “I’ll speak with him then. If you two are still mending your relationship he is welcome, but I would like to know.”

Kaylee was at the other side of the room being introduced to the guest of honor. “It’s so good to finally meet you,” Gia was saying. “It will be nice to have someone to talk to while they’re doing all their serious clan business stuff.”

“We won’t be included?”

“Oh, we are sometimes, especially Human Order stuff since that affects us and our security directly.”

“You were part of that whole hostage situation, I remember that now. God, that must have been terrifying.”

Gia nodded. “Terrifying is a good word. And devastating. But we survived.”

“Enough of that,” Connie said, bustling over. “Everyone is here now. We can have cake and open presents.”

Kaylee stepped back and stepped on a foot. She turned, already apologizing. “Sorry, I’m sorry. I didn’t see you there.”

“It’s all good.” The woman smiled at her.

If the petite pregnant lady was Gia and the overbearing middle-aged woman was Connie, then this last woman had to be Jane. She was shorter than Kaylee by several inches and solid in the shoulders. She wore no makeup and had her brown hair back in a simple pony tail. She was possibly the palest person in the room with the lightest hair. 

She held out her hand. “Jane.”

“Kaylee. A few months ago, I thought you were sleeping with Jules.”

Jane laughed. “Sorry, I don’t mean any offense, but he’s definitely not my type.”

“More for me,” Kaylee said with a smile. She relaxed a little. “And I know that now. That was before I knew about Jules being a werebear.”

“A bit of a shock, was it?”

“I’ll say. I saw the video before he told me.”

“Shit. Look, Jules is a good guy, and he’s come a long way. I think you’re part of the reason for that. He’s got faults but disloyalty isn’t one of them.”

“Thanks. He doesn’t talk about any of you ever, so I’m sort of at a loss here. I don’t know what kind of small talk to make.”

“Don’t ask about the bears,” Jane said with a chuckle.

“So ‘how long have you been a bear?’ is a bad question?”

“You’ll always get the same answer. We were all born this way and started shifting around puberty.”

“Where are you from? You don’t sound like you’re from New Orleans.”

“I’m not. The French accent fools most people. I’m from Quebec, in Canada.”

“Wow. What was it like up there?”

“A hell of a lot colder than down here, that’s for damn sure. And wilder. I didn’t grow up in a huge city like this. The woods started a hundred meters from my back door. Made it dangerous to be a bear but a lot more fun too.”

“You miss the woods?”

“Oh, yes. But I don’t plan on going back. This is home now. This clan is my family.”

There was something in Jane’s voice, a twinge of emotion desperately hidden, that made Kaylee want to push for answers.

Brock appeared next to them. “Sorry Kaylee, I have to steal Jane. And Jules and Philippe. I have a safe room downstairs and they need to know how to operate the security around it.”

Kaylee nodded. 

Gia, with Connie’s help, got up from her big comfy chair. “And I have had too much lemonade. Excuse me.”

“You had half a glass,” Remy said.

“When you have a seven-pound bear cub tap dancing on your bladder, you can criticize me for going to the bathroom too often. Until then …”

“I know, I know. Shut up. Got it.” He turned to Kaylee as the others dispersed. “How are you doing?”

“Oh, I’m fine, thank you. I guess you’re Remy.”

“Yes. I didn’t mean in general. Are you okay? Being surrounded by werebears can be overwhelming at first.”

“Okay, a little,” Kaylee admitted with a little laugh. “But they’re all nice enough.”

“Yes, they are. I understand you’ve had a chance to spend some time with Jules’ father. I was hoping he wouldn’t negatively color your view of us.”

“Any negative behavior I’ve seen I’ve chalked up to him being an asshole father. I never would have blamed it on him being ‘other’. But I’m biased against fathers.”

“I think Jules mentioned something about that. Kaylee, can I ask your honest opinion?”

“Of course.”

“What do you think of Gabriele?”

“Definite asshole father. I was willing to give him a chance for Jules’ sake, but I don’t like what I see. He asks the wrong sort of questions, and he sneers a lot at the answers. He doesn’t like you and I have no idea why. He apologizes a lot, but only when someone calls him out on something. I don’t know. I’m sorry. I’ve only met him a few times.”

“No, that’s really why I wanted your insight. There’s a lot of history between Gabriele and I, and that is going to alter my ability to judge this situation fairly. Your first impression may be the most honest one. How much did Jules tell you about what happened with his dad?”

“Only the abandonment stuff. Is there more?”

“It’s old clan history now, no need to bring it up.” He patted her arm. “Is Jules explaining everything okay—about werebears? Did you have any questions?”

“I’m good. It was an adjustment at first, but we’re good now. Thanks.”

“Then why don’t you come downstairs. I understand you have never seen a werebear shift. It takes some getting used to and Jules will handle the experience better with the clan here to calm him down.”

“It’s really okay for me to see him shift?”

“Of course. If he ever shifts around you, like he did at the airport, you remaining calm and accepting will be one of the things that helps him maintain control. If you panic or reject him he may go berserk.”

“Like at the airport?”

“Oh no, he showed extreme control at the airport. Come on.”

Remy got ahead of her by a half dozen steps while she absorbed what he had said. She could see the luggage flying as Jules charged through the airport as though she had the video playing in front of her.

“Are you coming?”

She nodded and followed after him. It was something to think about.

The basement was sparsely furnished, just some workout equipment and storage shelves. At the far end was a door around which Brock, Jane, Philippe, and Jules were gathered.

“So, that lets you into the outer room,” Brock was saying. “Inside there is a cage with an automatically locking door. It cannot be opened from the inside. There is an intercom in one corner which is connected to several units throughout the house. Connie already knows how to operate all of this.”

“Why is this here?” Kaylee asked.

They all turned to look at her. “It’s safer than the warehouse, if someone loses control,” Brock said. “Generally, Remy and I deal with getting clan members here and locked down, but with the baby coming I don’t know how I’ll react to Gia’s distress. We’ve agreed to a home birth to minimize exposure to possible accidental victims.”

“But if you go berserk they have to know how to control you?”

Brock nodded.

“I thought this would be a good chance to introduce Kaylee to Jules’ bear,” Remy said, his hand on Kaylee’s arm. 

“Is that really safe?” Jules said. “Is that a good idea? I mean my bear and I, we’re not always stable. I don’t know what he’ll view as a threat right now.”

“Your bear knows all of us. We’re all here to lend you our strength. We will not let anything happen.”

Kaylee offered him a shy smile. “It’s okay. I won’t run away screaming, I promise.”

Jules nodded. He keyed in the security code and the first door opened. He went in and opened the second door and stepped into the cage. When the door was closed, he stripped. He turned to find Kaylee the only one in the viewing room.

“They’re just outside,” she said. She sat down on the floor. “How long will this take?”

“I honestly don’t know. I only change when the anxiety gets bad or when the moon is full. I’ve never done this before.” He sat down too.

She crawled over to the cage and reached through. He stared at her hand for a moment and then reached for it. Their fingers intertwined. He took a deep breath and then another, letting each one out slowly. 

“Okay,” he said, pulling his hand away. 

Before Kaylee could say anything, the change started. She couldn’t look away. It started at his shoulders, a sprouting of coarse black hair that rippled down his back and chest. Then he seemed to swell, his already broad frame growing wider, his arms thickening. It moved over his face fast, one moment human, and then a ripple of fur and magic and he was a bear from the waist up. It went faster now, and he rolled as his legs thickened. The worst was the popping sound his joints made as they adjusted to the new positions. When he stood it was on all fours. He shook like a wet dog, nose to tail, and sneezed.

He looked at Kaylee with dark eyes. She stared right back. She grabbed the bars and pulled herself to her feet. “Jules,” she said. “I thought you were big before, this is just amazing. Can you hear me? Do you recognize me?”

He approached the bars. She didn’t move. He sniffed her hands. She didn’t move. He licked her like a puppy might. She giggled. “Gross.” She wiped her hand on her jeans. “Really, Jules? Well, I guess that’s one way to answer me.” She stretched her arm out slowly and rested her hand on the top of his head. He sighed. His whole body relaxed. “It’s so thick,” she said. “I’m coming in.”

He backed away, right to the back wall of the cage, and made sounds that were remarkably like speech, just missing the words.

“Oh, don’t worry,” she said. “I trust you. And the clan is right outside.”

She opened the cage and stepped in, closing the door again behind her. Then she sat on the floor and waited.

He paced along the back wall, though it was only two or three steps either way. He’d stop every few laps and huff at her. Still she waited. Finally, he stopped and stood watching her. She quirked her eyebrow at him. “Well?”

He huffed again and came closer, lying on the floor with his head on his paws so his nose touched her foot. She smiled. She slid up onto her knees and reached over, stroking the top of his head again. She scratched behind his ears and along his jaw until his eyes fluttered shut. 

“You’re beautiful,” she said softly.

When the viewing room door opened a short time later, Jules was still lying on the floor, curled in a ball with Kaylee tucked in the curve of his massive body. She was stroking his giant paw and talking softly. They both looked up at the sound of the door clicking. 

“I’m sorry,” Remy said. “It’s time. Jules needs to call the change and become human again. Already Jane and Philippe have left, and it’s time for me to leave as well.” He had both hands in the air, shoulder height. Still Jules glared at him. “Jules, for her safety, yes? It’s time to change.”

“Should I come out?” Kaylee said. 

Jules lumbered to his feet.

“Given that he’s between you and the door, I don’t think he wants you to,” Remy said. “This change is safer. He may come out of it feeling grumpy, but he will be a man, not an animal, and grumpy men are not likely to take a swing at their girlfriends.”

“Okay,” she said, nodding. She scooted back. “I’ll stay here.”

Jules closed his eyes. His nose dropped to the floor. The change back started at his hands and feet. As his legs finished changing he dropped to his knees. It was even stranger watching the great bear shrink back down into the man, even a man as large as Jules. He stayed that way for a long moment, his forehead resting on the floor. Finally, he said, “That was very different.”

“Is it okay to touch you?” Kaylee asked.

Jules shook his head. “Still feels like pins and needles everywhere.”

“I’m going to leave the cage door open and leave you two. Connie’s waiting upstairs. She may try to feed you.”

“I might let her,” Jules said. “Remy.” He looked up. “Thank you.”

Remy nodded and went out.

After a long while Jules sat up. Kaylee handed him his clothes with a shy smile. He dressed and offered her a hand up. “Are you okay?” he said.

“I should be asking you that. Some of that sounded painful.”

“Awkward and uncomfortable, but not painful, not anymore. I guess we get used to it. I didn’t scare you or hurt you?”

“No. You’re amazing. If it was safe, I’d get you to do that more often.”

He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her forehead. “I love you. Now come on, before we overstay our welcome.”

Jules’ car was in his usual parking spot in the staff lot at the print shop at the end of the day. Jules was leaning against the trunk, his arms crossed. His shirt clung to his chest and arms. It would have looked like a commercial photo shoot for an automotive company, except that the car was a secondhand piece of crap. Kaylee came out the front door, which meant her back was to him. She had her eyes on her phone. 

He whistled and said, “Hey there hot stuff, you want a ride?”

She whipped around and her face lit up in a smile when she saw it was him and not just a random asshole. She jogged across the parking lot and all but threw herself into his arms. “Jules! I didn’t think I would see you until the weekend!”

“I told Remy it was important, and he let me out of my cage early today. I missed you.”

“I just saw you yesterday.”

“Does that matter?”

“Not one bit.” Jules was large and this close to him she couldn’t really see past him. Still, just past his arm, she saw movement and leaned to the side. “Is someone in the car?”

“Come on, get in. We’re going for drinks.”

“Is that your dad?”

“Yeah. He wants to spend some time with us. Please come, Kaylee. I don’t know how long he’ll be in town, and this is important to me. Please. I don’t want to have to choose between the two of you.”

“Okay,” Kaylee said. “I’ll come along.”

“Thank you.” He kissed her. “Thanks. Climb in.”

Kaylee went around the passenger side, ready to slide into her normal seat, only to find that Gabriele was sitting up front. She climbed in the back.

“I’m glad you could join us,” Gabriele said.

“Sure,” Kaylee said. “First round is on me.”

“Deal,” Jules said. 

“Jules, should you be making her pay?”

“Who’s making me?” Kaylee said. “I’m making a nice pay check, now that Jules switched companies. It’s my treat.” She wanted to add, ‘if it makes you feel better I won’t buy your drink,’ but even in her head it sounded bitchy. This is important to Jules and it’s not a forever arrangement. His father will go home and things will settle down again.

As they entered the pub, Jules said, “I’ll grab the table by the window.” He kissed Kaylee’s cheek. 

Kaylee went over to the bar with Gabriele trailing after her. The bartender, the usual guy, smiled at her. “What’ll it be?”

“Two Guinness, two baskets of wings, and uh,” she glanced over her shoulder. “What would you like to drink?”

“Just a water for me.”

“Sure thing. That’ll be an even twenty.”

Kaylee reached into her purse to fish out her wallet but Gabriele reached past her, a twenty in hand. He ignored her hard stare and even collected the drinks off the bar. 

“I could have paid.”

“Unlike my son, I have a sense of chivalry.”

“Your son understands independent women,” she shot back. Since there was no way shy of stuffing a twenty in his pocket for her to pay for the round, and since the idea of being that close to him left her with a sense of revulsion, she turned on her heel and strode to the table she and Jules regularly shared.

She slid in beside Jules, leaving the other bench open for his father.

“Hey, is everything okay?” he said, wrapping an arm around her shoulders.

“Sure. Everything’s fine. The wings will be right out.”

“You’re in for it tonight,” Jules said. “There’s no way you’re keeping up.”

She laughed. “I’ll settle for holding my own.”

“Good luck with that. I missed lunch.”

“Damn. I should have gotten three baskets off the bat.”

“You two come here often?”

“I brought Jules here for wings just after we met,” Kaylee said. “They’re good wings, service is good, and this place is close to work. A little hidden gem.”

“You came here a lot then?”

Kaylee nodded. “It was a nice place to kick back after an exam or a rough assignment.”

He eyed Kaylee for a moment, then her drink, and then turned his attention to his son. “You were telling me about working for Brock.”

“Yeah, it’s a big change. I really liked working for Freddie, even if he was a creeper and a bit shady.”

“Creeper?”

“You know, a guy who makes creepy advances and won’t take no for an answer,” Kaylee said. “Ah, here’s the wings.”

The waitress glanced at Jules, who still had his arm around Kaylee’s shoulders, and kept her smile polite. It wasn’t until she turned to look at Gabriele that the corner of her mouth went up in a flirty smirk. Kaylee didn’t blame her. Gabriele was smaller than Jules but obviously fit. He was clean shaven and there was no grey in his black hair. He was well-dressed and he had both arms up on the back of the bench, lounging there like he owned the place.

“Another two baskets please,” Jules said. 

The waitress turned her attention back to him. “Feeling hungry today?”

“Sure am. Are the buffalo ones almost ready?”

“I’ll put a batch on for you.”

“Better make both batches buffalo,” Gabriele said. 

She turned again. “Do you like it hot?”

“The hotter the better.”

“Coming right up.”

When the waitress was gone, Kaylee said, “I thought you were married.”

Jules stiffened beside her but Gabriele laughed. “I’ve found a little harmless flirting goes a long way to getting the very best service, in many situations. You’re dating my son and yet you work for a man you profess to be a creeper.”

“And I don’t flirt with him,” Kaylee said. “He knows I’m with Jules and he minds his manners with me.”

“So, which office building do you work in, Jules?”

Kaylee grabbed a wing. She was fighting to keep her anger hidden. The way he changed the subject like that, just dismissing her out of hand with his words and his body language, infuriated her. She’d fought too hard as a young black female to be heard and seen and recognized as having value beyond her sex appeal; his slights were everything she hated about the world.

“The main office. I’ve got very low seniority, of course, but I work in the same building as Remy. Brock doesn’t work there anymore, of course. He had to put the company assets into a blind trust for the duration of his term as mayor.”

“Really? Well that’s the responsible thing to do, of course. So, that’s the Tandell Building, downtown, right?”

Jules nodded. 

“Where do you park? Parking at that end of the city is atrocious.”

“There’s an underground parking garage.”

As the conversation continued and Gabriele asked question after question about Jules’ office, Kaylee focused on the food, her beer, and keeping her mouth shut. Remy hadn’t told her much, but she was under the impression that Gabriele’s relations with the entire clan were sour. So why is he so curious about Brock’s businesses?

Finally, after a few more beers and a lot more wings, Jules stretched and said, “I think I’m done for the night.”

“You’re my ride home,” Kaylee said. “I missed the last bus to my street.”

“Dad?”

“No, you two go on without me. It’s been a while since I was in New Orleans, and I haven’t really had the chance to walk the streets in a while. I’ll find my own way back to the hotel.”

“Are you sure?”

“I’m sure.”

Kaylee tugged Jules’ sleeve and he followed her out.

As she buckled up, now in the front seat of the car, she said, “You don’t have to take me straight home if you don’t want to.”

“I’m pretty tired.”

She leaned over and kissed him, deeply and thoroughly, one hand on his cheek, the other on his thigh.

“Okay. My place it is,” he said, a little breathless. 

“I’ve missed you.”

“I can tell. Shit.”

“What is it?”

“I don’t have my keys. They must be in the booth.”

“Weren’t you complaining about them earlier?”

“That’s right. They were poking my leg so I put them on the table.” He kissed her cheek. “I’ll be right back.”

When he went in the table by the window was empty. He swooped in and grabbed his keys and paused to take a look around for his dad. Gabriele had moved to the bar and was talking with the waitress. From his vantage point Jules couldn’t hear them, not even with his superior hearing, but he could read their body language just fine. She had her hip out towards him, her hand on the bar. He was leaned forward, a sign of interest, and he was smiling. She kept playing with the collar of her shirt. He kept touching her hand. 

Harmless flirting, that’s what he said. Kaylee’s waiting for you. He headed for the door but paused and looked back over his shoulder. They were leaned towards each other now, and he was saying something close beside her ear, something that was making her smile.

He retreated to the car and dropped into the driver’s seat.

“Is everything okay?” Kaylee said.

He looked at her, let her fill his mind and block out all other thoughts and images. “Everything will be perfect as soon as I get you home.”

She smiled at him. “Then let’s go.”

Kaylee let herself in with the spare key Saturday morning. Jules was just loading the dishwasher and looked up as she came in. “Good morning,” he said, his face lighting up with a wide smile. He closed the dishwasher and went over, wrapping his arms around her. 

“’Morning. Is your dad around?”

“No. Actually I thought you were him, except that he doesn’t have a key. I haven’t seen you in a few days. How is work going?”

“Work is fine. Hey, can we talk quick before your dad gets here?”

“Sure. Is everything okay? You look so serious.”

She took him by the hand and led him to the couch. She took a deep breath and said, “I’ve been trying to figure out how to say this for days. I don’t want to hurt you.”

“Kaylee? What’s wrong? Did I do something?”

“No. Oh, God no. I’m not breaking up with you!”

He let out his breath in a rush and wrapped his arms around her. “Okay. You were scaring me there.”

“I’m sorry.” She untangled herself so she could look at him again. “Okay, look, I don’t know how to say this so I’m just going to say it. Please don’t be mad, okay? I don’t trust your dad.”

“What? Why?”

“I don’t know, Jules. I wanted to, I really did. I was so happy for you that your dad was here and that he wanted to get to know you. But the way he’s acting, I just don’t know how you don’t see it.”

He pushed thoughts of the waitress and what could have made her smile like that out of his mind. “See what?”

“First of all, he’s asking for a lot of information about Tandell Holdings. If this was a movie I’d say he was using you to case the joint, but he doesn’t strike me as a master thief type.”

“He’s not. He may have been a jack ass when I was younger, but he’s not a criminal.”

“I know, Jules, I know. But that’s just it. He’s manipulating you. He’s twisting your emotions. I’m watching you trying so hard to impress him, and he’s stringing you along. I’ve been in enough bad relationships to recognize it.”

“You’re seeing things, Kaylee.”

“Then why is he still here? Doesn’t he have a job?”

“He’s here to spend time with me.”

“A whole month?”

“What? You don’t think I’m worth that sort of attention? Or are you jealous that I’m spending time with him instead of you?”

“That’s not fair.”

“Look, just because your dad is a useless drug addict and you have no chance of a normal relationship with him doesn’t mean I can’t try to have a normal relationship with mine!”

“How dare you.” Her face hardened. “I didn’t come here to pick a fight with you. I just wanted to voice my concerns because that’s what people do when they care. I guess I shouldn’t have bothered.” She started for the door.

“Kaylee, wait!”

“No. I’m going home.” She put the spare key on the table. “I’m going to be busy for a few days. Your dad might want this.” She went out, closing the door firmly behind her. Her anger carried her all the way out of the building and down the block. By the time she reached the bus stop, the anger had given way to a raw, empty sorrow. She looked back. He wasn’t following. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and shook her head. She kept the tears bottled up inside until she was home and locked safely in the privacy of her room.

Jules and Gabriele arrived at the warehouse early on the night of the full moon. They easily could have stayed at the apartment for another fifteen or even twenty minutes, but his father’s persistent questions were starting to grate on his nerves, so he suggested leaving a little early. No, he thought, it wasn’t the questions themselves, it was the fact that every question made him think about Kaylee and her concerns. It was the guilt that was grating at him more than annoyance. 

Jules began pulling the chairs down, but Gabriele just stood off to the side, watching. “Why do you do that?” he finally said.

“I’m the first one here.”

“Are you the lowest in the clan?”

He shrugged. “Jane might be lower than me,” he said. “Remy would know. Jane and I never really fought it out. There was no real need.”

Gabriele shook his head, his mouth edging towards a sneer before settling back into a mask of neutrality. Jules tried to pretend he hadn’t seen it, that maybe he was misreading the situation. Kaylee’s making you paranoid, he thought. Dad’s not a bad guy. If that’s the case, why did you feel the need to get out of that little apartment? You felt trapped, and you know it.

“Thanks, Jules,” Remy said from the doorway. “Good evening, Gabriele.”

“Hello, Remy. I hope your clan is on time tonight.”

Remy frowned. “Why? Is there a problem?”

Gabriele shook his head and smiled, but it was insincere. “No. No problem.”

Philippe and Jane arrived together, as they often did. They lived in the same neighborhood and often carpooled. Brock was the last to arrive and everyone rounded on him. “Did the baby come yet?”

“No,” he said. “No baby. But the city budget report is going to drive me crazy.”

“Ach, politics,” Remy said. “We want the baby to come.”

“You and Gia both. She says even her ankles are fat. I don’t see it, but I know better than to argue about it.”

“Smart man.”

Brock looked past Remy and nodded. “Gabriele.”

“Brock. Sorry I missed the shower.”

“I won’t take offense.” 

Jules kept his mouth shut. He had the distinct feeling that Gabriele had purposefully not been invited and would not have been welcome.

“Everyone’s here,” Remy said. “And the meat is already in the barrels. The sun is setting and soon the moon will call us all. If there’s nothing to discuss...?”

“I have something,” Gabriele said. 

“More news of The Human Order?” Remy said.

“No. An official challenge.”

Remy just stared calmly at Gabriele while behind him Brock bristled. Jane and Philippe exchanged a dark look, and Jules felt all his hopes straining towards breaking point. He held his breath.

“You cannot issue a challenge here,” Remy said. “You are no longer a part of this clan. Visitors have no rights.”

“I can if I have support from someone within your clan,” Gabriele said. “My son Jules will back up my claim and second my challenge.”

All eyes turned to Jules.

In the silence, he looked at each of them in turn. Jane was angry. Philippe had somehow managed a poker face, not surprising really since he worked as a bouncer. Brock’s rage was seething just under the surface. He looked even angrier than he had when The Human Order had kidnapped Gia, if that were possible. Remy’s whole face was a mixture of hope, questioning, and disappointment. His father looked smug.

The anger he could deal with. The smug triumph he could maybe forgive. The disappointment coming from Remy, that was the worst part. Remy had taken him under wing when Gabriele would not. He wasn’t old enough to be a father figure, more an older brother, but it was Remy who had celebrated his graduations with him, Remy who had taken him for drinks when he got the job at the print shop, Remy who had backed him up through The Human Order’s manipulations and the blackmail scandal. 

Where was your father through all that?

There was a bitter taste in his mouth.

“You fucking asshole,” he said. His hands clenched into fists. His voice was surprisingly calm. “You fucking used me. This was the plan all along, wasn’t it? You never cared when I was young. How could I ever have believed that you would care what happened to me now?”

“Jules, I’m doing this so we can be a family again, so I can move back to New Orleans and spend time with you.”

Jules shook his head. “No. No. You were here for the first nineteen years of my life and you never wanted to be a family. You never wanted me in your family.” He voice was rising now. “But what the hell, I gave you a second chance.” He spat at his father’s feet. “Go to hell. I won’t second your challenge.”

“Then this matter is at an end,” Remy said. “There will be no challenge tonight.”

The others stepped back. They would move to the outer edges of the room to begin the change now. And tomorrow morning Remy would force Gabriele to leave. That was all that mattered to Jules now. With Gabriele out of the city, he could focus on patching things up with Kaylee—who had been right all along.

Because he was the slowest to turn, he was the only one who saw Gabriele’s body tense like a coiling spring. He angled towards Remy, his knees bending, and then he launched at the clan chief. 

Jules didn’t have time for any sort of fancy lunge. He barreled forward, slamming into his father’s side and sending them both to the floor.

Gabriele snarled. He and Jules clamored to their feet. There were no words now. They fought as men with their bears raging just beneath the surface, desperate to get out. Their gold eyes glittered, Gabriele’s with a nastiness Jules had never seen before, Jules’s with a rage-fueled need to protect his clan.

Gabriele was not a small man, and being a shifter made him stronger than he looked, but Jules was bigger and Jules had grown up in a rough neighborhood, not some safe, middle-class suburb. He’d been in fights before against boys older and bigger than him. He’d been in fights since before his first change. He hadn’t been in a fight in years, but there were some instincts that the body never forgot.

They grappled. They swung punches. They lashed out with their feet. At one point, Gabriele grabbed a chair and slammed it over Jules’ shoulders like a scene from a bad movie. Jules hit the cement floor with enough force to knock the air out of him. He pushed himself up, and his father kicked him in the ribs.

“You’re a failure. A disgrace.”

“I don’t give a fuck what you think of me,” Jules growled. The bear was struggling to be free, but he had to finish this fight first. He had to prove that he had at least that much control. 

Gabriele kicked him in the head and sent him reeling. “If you weren’t a shifter, I’d never believe you were my son.”

“Good,” Jules said, finally pulling himself to his feet. He spat blood on the floor. He opened his mouth as if he were going to say more and punched Gabriele on the side of the jaw without warning. The older shifter’s head snapped up and back and he crumpled to the floor.

Remy grabbed Jules, steadying him. “Back up,” he said. “He’s going to wake up a bear, and the bear is going to be pissed.”

“Me too,” Jules said.

Remy nodded. Out of the corner of his eye Jules could see that the rest of the clan had already shifted. He shucked his clothes aside, swearing as his pants caught on his shoe. He just barely made it before the coarse hair started sprouting down the length of his arms. He dropped to the ground and let the bear take over.

Jules had never experienced a full moon quite like this. The familiar bears of his clan stayed close to the barrels. They rolled them about and dug the meat out of them. Jules found a whole fish in one and squabbled with Jane over it. On the other side of the warehouse, the bear that was Gabriele paced back and forth. He made snuffling noises and vocalized in their direction. The only time they paid attention to him was when he tried to come closer.

Remy stood up on his hind legs and bellowed. Gabriele backed down and went back to pacing. He had to be told more than once.

At some point in the night, Jules lay down, resting his head on his great paws. The others lay down around him and the bears slept.

They woke up in the wee hours of the morning, all human and all naked. They dressed in silence. Remy disappeared for a moment and came back with a pair of sweats and a t-shirt. He handed them to Gabriele.

Gabriele glared but took the offered clothes. His were in tatters.

When they were all dressed, they gathered together in the middle of the warehouse. When Remy spoke, it was with the power and authority of a clan chief—they could all hear it in his voice. “Gabriele, you will return to your own clan. You will leave today. I will contact your clan chief. You are no longer welcome in New Orleans for so long as this clan is under my protection.”

Gabriele turned to his son. “Jules, I…”

Jules shook his head. “I’m at the bottom of this clan and even I beat you in a fair fight. You are not strong enough to be clan chief. I won’t follow you. I won’t back you. I won’t leave with you. This is my clan. This is my family. You didn’t want me, so just leave. Don’t pretend you want me to come with you.”

Gabriele’s mouth was a thin line, but he nodded. He backed away from the group and then turned and stalked out.

When Gabriele had gone, Jules dropped into one of the chairs he’d pulled out the night before. “I’m sorry,” he said. “I was blind to what he was doing. I shouldn’t have let him stay this long.”

“We are a young clan,” Remy said. “My parents, Brock’s parents, and your father, were the oldest bears here. When my parents retired to Florida, your father assumed he’d be next in line to lead the pack simply based on his age. He didn’t realize how dominate Brock and I were. Or how low in the pack he actually ranked. As we all came of age we all became more dominant than him. He resented that. A lot. Turns out even you are stronger than he is.” Remy laid a hand on his shoulder. “I’m sorry that it came to this. I’m sorry he used you like this.”

“I’m going home,” Jane said. “I’m only going to get another two hours of sleep before work.”

“Me too,” Brock said. “Gia probably tried to wait up for me again.”

“I don’t have to be at work for fourteen hours,” Philippe said, stretching lazily.

Jane punched him.

“Go home,” Remy said. “All of you.”

Jules nodded and followed them out. His feet dragged and he kept sighing. But his thoughts were not on his father and the clan drama. His thoughts were on Kaylee.

Kaylee got off the bus at the corner of her block still feeling bummed. Last month Jules had texted her in the middle of the night just to tell her everything had gone well at the full moon clan gathering. Last night her phone remained silent. She’d debated calling Jules a few times these last few days, but she wasn’t sure she was ready to apologize—and she wasn’t sure he was ready to be reasonable.

She turned up her walk and heard a crash from inside the house followed by shouting. “Shit.” She shoved her phone in her purse, sprinted up the walk, and took the porch steps in one stride. She burst in the door.

Frannie was standing in the doorway between the kitchen and the living room with a split lip and a look of sheer determination on her face. All three kids hovered behind her. In the middle of the living room stood the reason for the split lip. He had his back to Kaylee, but she knew him immediately. 

Her father.

“Get the fuck out!” Frannie was screaming.

He took a step towards her. “It’s my house! You can’t kick me out.”

“It’s not your house anymore. Get out.”

He grabbed Frannie by the shoulders and threw her into the living room.

Tony shouted, “Leave my Mom alone, you asshole.”

Kaylee saw the wind up. She dropped her purse and darted through the house until she was between her father and her younger siblings. The kick that had been aimed at Tony caught her on the calf. She spun to face her father. “Some big tough guy you are, trying to kick a twelve-year-old.”

He back handed her. “Don’t talk back to me.”

“Or what? You’ll split my lip and throw me around too? I’m not a little kid anymore, so there’s no way in hell this is discipline. You get the fuck out or I’m calling the cops.”

“I’m not going anywhere, and you are going to learn some manners.”

Several times throughout the day, Jules had almost picked up the phone and called Kaylee. He missed the sound of her voice, and he knew it was up to him to make the first move. Some apologies were best said in person though, so he resisted the urge and waited for the end of the day. He was shutting down his computer when Remy appeared at his cubicle. 

“Just letting you know, it’s been confirmed. He got on a plane today. I’ve already spoken with his boss. He won’t be back.”

“Thanks, Remy.”

“No, thank you. Thank you for standing up for me. I can’t imagine having to make a choice like that.”

“Wasn’t actually that hard a choice to make,” Jules said with a shrug.

“Still, if I had handled it he’d be likely to show up again with a walker and try this stunt again when I retire.” He smiled. “I’m proud of you, Jules.”

“That’s why it was an easy choice,” Jules said. “Look, I gotta run. I need to see Kaylee tonight.”

“Sure. Just be careful. Day after and all, I don’t want to hear your name on the news tonight.”

“No, sir.”

Traffic was backed up and he ended up in the wrong lane and missed his turn. Muttering swears under his breath, he looked for a place to turn around. He still couldn’t change lanes, but at the next intersection there was a grocery store on his side of the road. He turned in, intending to turn around in the parking lot and then make the left at the light and double back to his turn. Instead, he parked and went in. He came out with flowers and was on his way again.

He parked the car and crossed the street to Kaylee’s house. He could hear raised voices from the sidewalk, one of them male. He spotted the open door, and his heart leapt into his throat. Right away the bear was on high alert, pacing around Jules’ mind, waiting for some sign to calm down or to fight.

He ran up the steps on predator-silent feet and skidded to a halt in the doorway. There was a strange man in the room. Frannie was sprawled on the living room floor. The kids were backed in a corner in the kitchen. And Kaylee stood between this stranger and her siblings.

“I’m going to teach you a fucking lesson.”

“Why don’t you teach me instead?” Jules said.

The man spun. “Who the fuck are you? Get out of here. This is none of your business.”

Jules filled the doorway and this man wasn’t even flinching. Stupid, he thought.

Then he turned his back on Jules, as if he were unimportant, as if he would simply obey.

Even stupider.

“Who the fuck is this asshole?” he shouted at Kaylee.

“My boyfriend,” Kaylee said. “You’d better get out of here—now.”

He backhanded Kaylee hard enough to throw her off balance. “Don’t you dare threaten—”

Jules slammed into his side, throwing him to the floor. “You okay?” he asked between deep gasping breaths. He bent double.

“Fine,” Kaylee said. “What’s wrong?”

“Get kids out. Don’t see this.”

“Shit,” she muttered. “Cora, take them to the bedroom. Lock the door. Only open it for Mom or me. Go. NOW!”

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the scramble of bodies. “Go too,” he managed, and then he dropped to the floor with a groan.

Kaylee’s father stood and sneered. “Not much of a fighter, your boyfriend.” He kicked Jules in the ribs and Kaylee gasped. “Oh, you don’t like that?” He kicked Jules again. Jules didn’t get up. Sneering, he stepped around the larger man. Kaylee took a step back, into the kitchen.

The knife block. Just let him back you up until you hit the counter. You know where they are. I hope they’re washed and put away!

“You little stuck up bitch. I’ll teach you to respect your father.” When her back hit the counter, he grinned. “Nowhere left to run.”

She half turned and grabbed the butcher knife from the block, brandishing it in front of her. “Get away from me.”

He put both hands up, leaning back, away from the blade. “Whoa now, you really don’t want to do that.” He moved without warning and grabbed her arm.

Through the haze, Jules saw Kaylee and her father struggling. Light glinted off the blade. He stopped fighting the bear. Help me, he said to the beast. We have to save her. The bear ripped free and Jules screamed in pain.

The sudden sound startled both Kaylee and her father and they paused, his hand still gripped tight around her wrist, to look. The change was fast, and if the sounds coming from Jules were any indication, very painful. 

“What the fuck?” he breathed.

“I warned you,” Kaylee said.

Jules stood, fully bear, for the first time ever in full unity with his beast, and confonted the hard-faced man who dared to threaten his Kaylee.

Kaylee’s father yanked the knife free and reached for Kaylee, but she ducked out of his arms. He had no choice but to turn and face the bear without a hostage. The knife had looked huge when Kaylee had been waving it under his nose, but in the face of a bear it was nothing.

He lunged, but Jules-the-bear swatted him aside and sent him flying. He staggered to his feet and charged again. Jules batted him aside again and again. At some point, the knife went skittering across the floor. The man screamed and charged in. This time Jules-the-bear let him get in close.

He pinned the man to the floor and bellowed in his face until he stopped struggling. Kaylee came over. She could see her father was crying.

“Go away,” she said. “We don’t want you here. We won’t give you money. We won’t give you a place to sleep. You aren’t part of this family anymore. We don’t need you. We don’t want you. And it doesn’t matter what you do to hide. If you set foot in this yard again Jules will find you. Do you understand?”

He nodded. There was snot dribbling out of his nose.

Kaylee reached out and touched Jules-the-bear just behind the ear in that sweet spot where he like to be scratched. “It’s okay now, let him up. He won’t bother us again.”

Jules-the-bear bared his teeth and the man sobbed. He lifted his great paw and the man scrambled out of the house. He tripped over Kaylee’s purse and hit the ground. He scrambled up again and disappeared.

Frannie groaned and sat up. Jules-the-bear tensed and glared at her.

“Hey, now,” Kaylee said.

Frannie’s eyes went wide. She sucked in a breath, ready to scream.

“Mom, don’t do that,” Kaylee said. “Just stay still and quiet for a moment. Please.”

Frannie’s mouth clamped shut and she nodded.

“Jules, you know Mom. You know Frannie. She’s safe. We’re all safe now. You can relax.”

“That’s Jules?” Frannie said.

Jules made a huffling whine and lay down.

“I think he’s trying to look small,” Kaylee said with a giggle. “Sorry. Jules, I’m going to help Mom up, okay?”

“That’s really Jules?” Frannie said again.

Kaylee nodded. 

“What’s he doing here? Looking like that?”

“Not sure why he showed up, but he scared Dad off. I don’t think he’ll come back to knock us around again.”

“Look at him,” Frannie said. “Just look at him. I grew up here in the heart of the city. I’ve never seen a live bear before. I didn’t realize they were so big.”

“Hello?” The voice drifted from down the hallway and it sounded shaky.

Kaylee looked up. “Oh, Cora and the kids. I’ll go get them.”

“No,” Frannie said sharply. “No, ah, why don’t you stay here and I’ll go talk to the kids. Okay?”

“Okay, Mom.” Kaylee looked down at Jules. “That was impressive—a lot more impressive than last time.” She scratched his ear. “I guess you’re right about being a wild animal.”

“No, Tony. Tony! Don’t run!”

Tony skidded to a halt in the doorway and his jaw dropped open. “Holy shit, he really is a bear.”

“Watch your mouth,” Frannie said. 

“Kaylee was swearing at Dad.”

“I’m an adult,” Kaylee said. 

“Why doesn’t he change back?” Frannie said.

Jules huffed and nudged his nose towards a pile on the floor.

“I don’t think he can Mom. Usually they take their clothes off before they shift but he changed fast to stop Dad from hurting me. I think his clothes ripped.”

“And he’s so big. I don’t know if I have anything that would fit him,” Frannie said. 

“Jules, did you drive over?”

The bear nodded.

“Okay. Mom is going to take the kids to the bedroom and you’re going to shift. Once you’re human, you can hang out in the bathroom until I get back, okay? I’ll grab your car and fetch clothes from the apartment.”

He just stared at her with big black soulful eyes. 

“I’m safe now, thanks to you.” She bent down and kissed his nose.

“Come on kids,” Frannie said, trying to round them up.

Tony slipped past her and dropped to his knees beside Kaylee. He wrapped his arms as far around the bear’s neck as he could and said, “You’re my hero.”

Jules stepped out of Kaylee’s bathroom dressed in the clothes Kaylee had fetched from his apartment for him. Just down the hall, he could see Kaylee and her family setting the table for dinner. He took a deep breath and walked into the kitchen.

“I’m sorry for scaring you, Frannie. And I’m sorry for exposing your children to that.”

Frannie drew herself up to her full height, which was still a good inch shorter than her eldest daughter and more than a foot shorter than Jules. “You saved us all a world of hurt. That man is nothing but trouble. Too many times he came back just to steal money and crash in my bed, often with unwanted company. To be honest, when your name came out in that news story I was worried about my daughter’s safety. Now I know she’s safer with you than with anyone else. Werebears aren’t the bad guys in this world. It’s men like her father that I should fear.”

“Thank you,” he said. 

Tony walked up to him, studying him. “You know, you sort of look like a bear.”

Jules smiled. “You’re not the first person to say that to me.” He glanced at Kaylee. She was smiling too.

“Would you do that again sometime?”

“Where you can see? Maybe. I’ll need your mom’s permission, and I’ll need my clan chief there, for safety.”

“Ah, you won’t hurt me,” Tony said. “You’re a hero.”

“While I appreciate your timing,” Frannie said. “I’m sure you didn’t come here intending to scare my ex away.”

“No,” he said. “I actually came to talk to Kaylee.”

“Go on,” she said. “You can eat later.”

They went out to the porch. Next door, an older lady was watering the flowers on her porch. “’Afternoon, Kaylee,” she said.

“Hello, Mrs. Jones.”

“Is everything all right dear? I thought I heard screaming next door.”

“Everything is fine. Thank you. Just a run in with my father again.”

“I’m sorry, dear. You try to have a good evening.”

“Thanks, Mrs. Jones. You too.”

Mrs. Jones disappeared inside and they settled on the porch steps. He wanted to put an arm around her, but he put his hands in his lap and picked at the corner of his fingernail.

“Well, this isn’t how I pictured this conversation starting,” Jules said.

“Things always get ugly when he comes around, but that was the worst it’s ever been. I’m sorry you had to see that.”

“I’m not. Kaylee, you were backed into that corner, and for the first time ever the bear and I agreed on things. It was always like The Hulk. I’d get angry or scared and this beast would explode out of me and I couldn’t control it. This time I asked it to come and he did. And he left again when you were safe.”

“Why did you come?”

“My father left today.”

“I’m sorry to hear that.”

“I’m not.”

That gave her pause. She looked at him. He was staring down at his hands and refused to look at her. His shoulders slumped. He looked like he was trying to curl in on himself.

He took a deep breath. “You were right, Kaylee. You were right about my dad. Last night he challenged Remy for the leadership of the clan.”

“Did Remy win?”

“Remy didn’t fight him. My father isn’t allowed to challenge someone in this clan without the support of someone already in this clan.”

“Oh God, he wanted your support.”

Jules nodded.

“What happened?”

“If I had supported my father, I’d have been put on a plane this morning too.”

“Oh. But you would have been with your dad. You could have been a family.” 

“This is my home. The clan is my family. I couldn’t betray Remy, not after he got me through school and stood up for me in the clan and stood in as an older brother whenever my father was being an asshole. And I couldn’t just walk away from you.”

That last bit left Kaylee feeling warm and tingly. He had chosen her over his father. “So, that’s that.”

“Not quite.”

“Why, what else is there? What happened?”

“He attacked Remy. Waited for his back to be turned.”

“Ah, shit. Is Remy okay?”

Jules nodded. “I got in the way.”

“You? Two fights in two days, huh?”

He nodded again, still staring down at his hands. 

She touched his cheek. “Are you all right?”

“I think so. I feel level now, like all the pieces are finally in place.”

“I’m sorry that I was right about him. I didn’t want to say anything. I really wanted to believe that he had changed. I didn’t want to hurt you.”

“I know. God, how could I have been so blind?” he said, running his hands over his face.

“You wanted to believe it too. There’s nothing wrong with that.”

 “I’ve missed you, Kaylee.” When she slid closer to him, he wrapped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her in close.

She sighed and relaxed against him. “I almost called you a few times, you know.”

“I wish you would have. I missed the sound of your voice.”

“I didn’t want to fight again.”

“Yeah, I wasn’t quite ready to listen to you. You know, we’ll probably fight about something again, at some point.”

“I know.”

“Fighting could be fun,” he said. “When you fight, you get to make up afterward.” He gave her a little squeeze.

“Why don’t you come in for dinner, and then we can go back to your place and finish making up?”

He kissed the top of her head. “Deal.”

Sex that evening was physically gentle and slow, but there was an intensity about it that was new to Jules. Even without the fast, hot passion of other nights it was somehow more than it had been before. They lay in bed together afterwards, sweaty and satisfied. He marveled at the way she fit so perfectly against his side, her head on his shoulder, his arm secure around her. Her fingers trailed idly over his chest, and he closed his eyes, totally relaxed.

“We’ve been so caught up with your dad that I never asked—did the media attention ever go away?”

“I work in a big enough office now that it’s almost impossible for the media to get through the layers of the company to get to me. They’ve stopped leaving messages on my phone for the most part. I had over a hundred friend requests on the computer that I declined.”

“You don’t want fans?”

“No. I like my privacy. It’s slowing down now. They’ll forget all about me in a while.”

“So, no groupies?”

“Are you jealous?”

“Only if you’re flirting with them.”

He kissed her forehead. “I’m not.”

“I could use a shower. I put this new hair stuff in this morning and now my hair feels like straw.”

“Want some company?”

She snuggled closer to him. “That would be nice. Sure.”

Sharing a shower was supposed to be romantic, but it turned into an exercise in patience since it was a tiny apartment shower and Jules was very large. She ended up stepping out to towel her hair dry while he finished rinsing off.

“I could get used to this,” she said over the noise of the water and the fan. 

He chuckled. “You’re welcome to come over anytime you know.”

“You know, my sisters have been complaining about having to share a room. Cora’s seventeen, and I think she really wants some privacy.”

“What are you hinting at?” He turned off the water. “Hand me a towel.”

“Maybe I won’t,” she said, letting her eyes roam over his naked dripping body.

“It’s cold, come on Kaylee.”

“Okay,” she said, laughing. She handed him the second towel. “It’s just that… I love you.”

“That’s good to hear.”

“And you love me.”

“Yes, I do.”

“And I love your cooking.”

“We’ve already had dinner today.”

“And we were meeting up almost every evening after supper before we had that fight.”

“Get to the point, Kaylee.”

“Wouldn’t it be easier if I just moved in here?”

“Here? It’s a pretty small apartment. With a small closet. And a small kitchen.”

She sidled up close to him. “I wouldn’t mind being crowded in with you,” she said. “And if we’re both working maybe we could get a better place.”

“You’ve got your mind made up, don’t you?”

“I sure do.”

He bent over and kissed her. It was meant to be a light, quick kiss, but it soon deepened. He pulled her tighter against his chest and her towel came loose. The feel of her skin against his was enough to get him aroused again. When he pulled away she was breathless, and his voice was deep and husky. “When do I have to drive you home?”

“If I moved in you wouldn’t have to.”

“That’s blackmail.”

She wrapped a hand around his shaft and caressed him teasingly until he groaned.

“Yes. Fuck, yes.”

She kissed him. “I love you.”

Jules had his arms full of boxes when his cellphone rang. “Can you grab that?” he shouted as he came in the door. Kaylee appeared from the bedroom and fished the phone out of his front pocket with a wink that made him growl.

“Hello?” she said as he went to find some empty spot to stick the pile of boxes. “Jules, it’s Remy.”

“Okay, hand it to me. Jules here.”

“I know you two are moving into your new place today, so I’ll keep it short. Gia had her baby.”

“Finally!”

“Brock is so happy he’s speaking gibberish, so I’m making phone calls. It’s a boy. They named him Paul Giancarlo, after the grandfathers. Give them a few days before coming by.”

“Of course we will. Good thing we’re basically at the new moon.”

“I’ve never heard of a shifter changing while their spouse had a baby. I still have to call Philippe. He should be up by now.”

“Okay, I’ll pass the news along to Kaylee.”

“What news?” Kaylee said as Jules hung up the phone.

“Gia had a boy, Paul Giancarlo Tandell.”

“Oh, how precious.”

“You’re going all starry eyed. You’re not going to ask for a baby next, are you?”

She laughed. “Oh, you should see the look on your face, Jules. You look terrified. Don’t worry. I do want kids—someday. Let’s just enjoy being together for a while first.”

He wrapped his arms around her. “Now, that sounds like the perfect idea. How are things coming in the bedroom?”

“Just about done. How many more boxes?”

“Just the one more trip to get the dishes and the living room furniture and we’ll be done.”

“Good, because I’m looking forward to celebrating with you tonight.”

“If you don’t keep your hands to yourself, I won’t get that last load done.”

She giggled and pulled her hands out of his pockets. “I love you.”

“Good, because I love you too.”