by Elena Aitken
Soon, she veered from the ridge and into the cover of the trees, where she scratched her back against the trunk of a tall pine before rolling in the fragrant forest floor. She was so caught up in herself, she didn’t hear the animal approach until it was too late.
Luke Jackson stared directly into the bluest eyes he’d ever seen on a black bear. Not that he saw many black bears on his ridge. Or any at all.
But the moment she had heard him approach, she’d flipped over from where she was rolling in the pine needles like a cub and stared him down, baring her teeth to him with a snarl. The fact that there was a strange female black bear who was maybe half the size of his own massive grizzly, and that female stood her ground against him, intrigued Luke. A lot.
But not as much as the scent of her. Fresh and crisp like the pine trees they were surrounded by. But something else, too. A white musk filled the air, and his senses.
Which is why it took him a moment to react the way he should have immediately. Finally, his senses caught up with him. With a roar, Luke reared up on his hind legs in a move that was more threatening than predatory. But he knew it would serve his purpose and scare the intruder away, which is exactly what it did. By the time he’d dropped to all fours, the black bear was gone and to his shock, Luke was disappointed.
Very disappointed.
* * *
Luke’s role at Grizzly Ridge, the eco-adventure lodge he and his two brothers had opened a few months before, was to lead the hikes and outdoor activities. A perfect fit for him because he’d always felt more at home in the woods than anywhere else. It also meant that he could legitimately sneak away to shift into his bear and run free as frequently as he needed too. Especially now that it was autumn, also known as bump season. There weren’t many guests for the next few weeks, and the few they had at the moment seemed to be more interested in staying close to the main lodge, also known as the Den.
With his free time, he was supposed to be working on a new fly fishing tour they were going to offer to guests, but that afternoon Luke couldn’t resist the urge to let his bear run. As soon as he’d shifted and his senses were heightened, he recognized that something was different. There was an unrecognizable scent. Another bear. He knew the woods better than anyone. Every sound, every shadow…every scent.
And the scent of a female was definitely unusual on Grizzly Ridge. A few months earlier, his older brother, Axel, had taken a mate. Luke had recognized right away that Harper was at least part bear, but she’d been totally unaware of it and had never shifted until after she and Axel had mated. Once she’d discovered her bear, there was no keeping her away from it. Axel and Harper spent a lot of late nights running through the woods. But the scent Luke picked up on was definitely different than Harper’s slightly sweeter smell.
This female was different. His blood ran hotter with every breath in. She filled his senses.
It hadn’t taken long to track her. If she’d been trying to hide, she’d done a bad job of it. Luke approached quietly, stalking her. It was always best to tread lightly until one knew what he was dealing with. But when he saw what he was dealing with—a black bear, who, for all intents and purposes, looked as if she was playing—he wasn’t sure how to handle it.
And she wasn’t just any black bear. She had the most magnificent, shiny dark fur that he’d ever seen. It almost appeared blue where the sun hit it. But not as blue as her eyes. Never before had Luke seen a bear with blue eyes; when she finally noticed him and her gaze locked on his, those eyes flashed with electricity. But it wasn’t fear. It was almost a challenge.
A challenge he’d accepted. Although moments after he reared up and roared, causing her to run, he’d regretted it. It was probably for the best. At least that’s what Luke kept telling himself as he turned and lumbered back in the direction he’d come from. Back to the Den.
Nothing good could come from a female bear. Particularly one clouded his senses so quickly and completely the way that little black bear had.
No. It was definitely better that she’d run off.
Chapter Two
Once Chloe found her clothes, changed and slung her bag over her shoulder, she walked much faster back to where she’d left her rental car. How could she have been so stupid? She never should have broken her rule and shifted while she was working.
Never.
But this place. The ridge. It got to her. She couldn’t even explain it. Something in the air created a need in her.
“Chloe, you’re being stupid,” she berated herself and picked up her pace. The quicker she could get back to her car, the better. Not that she thought the grizzly would come after her. If he’d wanted to stop her, he would have already.
Her body shivered at the thought. But not out of fear.
It was something else.
Something Chloe wasn’t used to feeling. In fact, it was such a foreign sensation that the bear had elicited in her, it took her a moment to figure out what exactly it was. But when she did, she stopped dead in her tracks.
Desire.
That was ridiculous. She shook her head, her braid flipping back and forth. Chloe didn’t do desire. Or attraction or…or really, anything to do with sex. Sex led to commitment, which led to a relationship, which always led to giving up everything she ever wanted.
No way. It wasn’t happening to her. Not ever. She’d decided a long time ago that the best way to avoid losing her life to a male was to keep them out of her life. In all ways. It had been a technique that had worked well for her, too. After all, it was easy to stay celibate if you didn’t know what you were missing.
She reached her car, slipped inside and locked the door behind her, as if that would keep out the feelings that slammed through her.
Deep breaths. One. Two. Three. Breathe in. Breathe out.
She silently repeated the mantra until finally her heart rate slowed and she was once again in control of her body and her emotions.
She tilted the rearview mirror down so she could see her reflection.
“Okay,” she said to herself. “It’s just another job. You’re a professional. You’ve got this.”
There was no doubt the grizzly she’d run into was one of the Jackson brothers. The advantage Chloe had was that they didn’t know who she was. There was no reason for them to know she’d been the black bear on their ridge. All she had to do was stay professional.
No problem.
She stuck the key in the ignition and put the car in drive.
It was time to go to work.
The first thing Chloe noticed when she pulled up to the main lodge of Grizzly Ridge was how inviting and cozy it looked. Not that it was a small house. Not at all. It was a massive log building with an oversized porch stretched along the front. Huge windows covered the front half of the lodge and a stone chimney stuck out the top of the peaked roof. A wooden sign with The Den carved into it was nailed to the porch rail.
“How cute.” Chloe shook her head but couldn’t help and smile at the Jackson brothers’ sense of humor. She allowed herself a moment to look around and take in the rest of the area. Some smaller cabins were set behind the main lodge and over to the left, the start of something was under construction. She made a note to investigate that a little closer. Part of the job was making sure the environment, particularly the native animals, weren’t disrupted by any new buildings in the area.
Chloe could have happily sat in the safety of the rental car for a few more minutes, but when the main door of the Den opened and a couple stepped out onto the porch, she knew she was out of time.
She gathered up her bag, shoving a few extra pens inside, and opened the door. “Here goes nothing.” She pasted a smile on her face and headed up the steps but she needn’t have rushed. The couple out on the porch hadn’t even spotted her yet. In fact, judging by their embrace and the way their lips were locked onto each other’s, they hadn’t noticed much of anything.
Chloe cleared her throat to make her presence known. She had a very low
tolerance for any public displays of affection and the last thing she needed was to witness anyone else’s passion.
The couple stopped kissing, but didn’t release their embrace. Instead, their grip relaxed and they turned, arms still around each other, to greet her.
“Hello.” The man smiled. He was tall, dark, and incredibly handsome. “Welcome to Grizzly Ridge. How can I help you today?”
Chloe nodded. “Hi. My name is Chloe Karrington. I’m an investigator for Environmental Energies, a private company that investigates reports of any causes for environmental concern.”
The man unwound himself from his partner and crossed his arms over his chest. He still smiled, but Chloe could see the flicker of concern in his eye. It was a look she was familiar with. “Environmental concern?” he asked. “Do you have a reason to be environmentally concerned with Grizzly Ridge?”
“It’s not that there is a concern,” she said. “And that’s what I’m here to assess.” She smiled as sweetly as possible. From her experience, it was much easier to do her job if she had the cooperation of the subjects under investigation. “I assure you, it’s a very preliminary investigation at this point.”
“And if we refuse?”
“Axel.” The woman put her hand on his arm. “I don’t think there’s any need to be rude or defensive,” she said. “Especially since we know everything on the Ridge has been done with the environment and the animals in mind.” She turned and smiled at Chloe. “Hi. I’m Harper and this is Axel Jackson. Please excuse his abruptness. It’s been a busy week.”
Chloe instantly warmed to the woman and her welcoming manner. She exuded friendship and kindness, and despite the fact that Chloe couldn’t remember the last time she’d had a female friend, she wanted to know Harper. She took the woman’s outstretched hand and shook it.
“It’s nice to meet you.” Chloe faced Axel. “I promise, I’m not here to look for trouble. Just to look.”
He smiled, albeit a bit more reluctantly, and shook her hand as well. “I believe you,” he said. “You’re just doing your job.”
“Exactly. Is there somewhere we can talk for a few minutes to get an idea of how I can check things out?”
Axel led them through the doors into the Den. If Chloe thought the outside was spectacular, the inside was even more so. The giant stone fireplace was the centerpiece of the room, with cozy couches scattered around in front of it. She could imagine curling up there with a glass of wine and a good book. The thought came so suddenly out of nowhere it shocked her. A large staircase, presumably to the guest rooms, curled down into the main sitting area. Bookshelves lined some of the walls, as well as tables designed for cards, puzzles, and games. Behind the fireplace, Chloe could see a large family-style dining room and a door she assumed led to the kitchen.
“It’s beautiful.” It took her a moment to realize she’d spoken aloud, but when Harper smiled and grabbed her arm to give it a squeeze, she blushed at her slip.
“It really is,” Harper said. “Why don’t you guys start chatting and I’ll go grab some snacks from Kade?”
Chloe waited until Harper disappeared into the kitchen and turned to Axel. “She’s lovely. Your wife—”
“Mate.”
He might as well have smacked her for the shock that radiated through her at the word. She cleared her throat. “Pardon?”
If Axel had meant to shock her, it worked, but there was no sign of maliciousness on his face. He was grinning and obviously trying not to laugh. “I can’t figure out what clan you’re from,” he said. “But I sensed it on you right away. I assumed you’d figured us out as well.”
Chloe nodded. “The Jackson brothers are kind of well-known in the community.” She shrugged an apology, but Axel nodded his agreement. It was no secret they’d been banished by their grandfather and cast out of their clan. It was good to see they weren’t sensitive about it. At least Axel wasn’t. “But I didn’t realize Harper was—”
“She’s half-blooded. It’s not easy to spot.”
That made sense. Once they got the formalities out of the way, Chloe launched into the reason for her visit and what she would need from the Jackson brothers, which was mostly access to the land and buildings. Axel turned out to be very receptive and easy to talk to. By the time Harper came back with a tray of cookies, with a man behind her with a carafe of coffee, they’d already made the preliminary arrangements.
“Chloe, I’d like you to meet my youngest brother, Kade.” She stood and shook the man’s hand. He was large like his brother, but even though he was slightly shorter, he was far more intimidating than Axel. A tattoo of something tribal snaked down one arm, and despite his smile, there was an edge to him. “She’s here to make sure we’re doing everything right by the environment up here. I assume you’ll be staying with us, Chloe.”
“Oh, I…I actually booked into a ranch down the road.”
“The ranch?” Kade scoffed. “I don’t think so.”
“I assumed you were booked already.” That was only partly true. Of course, there was a chance that the Ridge might be booked, but mostly she wasn’t sure it would be a great idea for her to stay at the location she was investigating. However, now that she was here and saw how inviting the Den was, not to mention the people, she definitely had second thoughts.
“You can’t stay at Blackwood Ranch,” Kade was saying. “It’s run by a bunch of damn wolves. You’ll stay right here. We have extra room, don’t we, Axel?”
Axel nodded. “Not that there’s anything wrong with the wolves.” He gave his brother a look. “But Kade’s right. You should stay here. It’s bump season. There aren’t a lot of guests right now—we have lots of room.”
“I don’t know…I probably shouldn’t—”
“Nonsense,” Harper said. “I can’t see any reason why you shouldn’t stay with us. Besides, it would be nice to have another woman around.”
“You have plenty of women around with our guests,” Axel said.
“This is different.” Before Chloe could protest again, Harper jumped up from the couch where she’d been sitting with her mate and grabbed Chloe’s hand. “I insist that you stay with us. Come on, I’ll show you your room.”
Luke finished putting away the last of the mountain bikes in the shed and wiped his hands on the legs of his jeans. It had been an unexpectedly busy afternoon. He’d misjudged their current guests. They seemed like the types who would prefer to stay close to the Den, enjoying the cool fall days from the comfort of the porch. That certainly wasn’t the case when they found out Luke had just added a small fleet of mountain bikes as part of the adventure center. He’d also added the name—adventure center—to the small shed where he kept the outdoor equipment. It was an idea Axel had initially scoffed at, but Luke had been right. When the guests thought there was an added sense of adventure to their activities, they were definitely more likely to sign up for them.
That had definitely been the case with the Wesleys and Coopers, the two couples he’d just had out biking on the trails. It had been a fun afternoon, and everyone was exhausted when they’d returned. Including Luke. All he wanted to do was grab his dinner to go and spend the night alone in his cabin.
Maybe then he’d allow himself a moment to think about that little black bear he’d stumbled across earlier.
No.
He’d managed to keep her out of his head all day; he wasn’t about to let her into his thoughts now. Not until he was alone.
But first—food.
His t-shirt was soaked through with perspiration and clung to his chest, so he stripped it off and tossed it in the corner of the shed, before exchanging it with a clean flannel button-up. Luke glanced down at his muddy jeans. He didn’t have any spares in the adventure center; they would have to do. Harper would definitely have something to say about his appearance, that was for sure.
He laughed and shook his head at the way his brother’s mate had so quickly taken on a role of mother bear with all of them. Not that i
t mattered much; in fact, he wouldn’t admit it but Luke kind of liked it. It was nice to have a female care, even if it was different than the way she cared for his brother.
Not for the first time, Luke’s thoughts drifted to the idea of a mate. Maybe Axel was onto something? Maybe a mate wasn’t such a bad thing after all?
As quickly as the idea popped into his head, he dismissed it. Of course having a mate was a bad idea. Look at what happened with his parents. His mother had been cast out of the clan for finding a mate who wasn’t from an approved clan. At least that was the story their grandfather told them. Not that Luke could ask for more details, even if he wanted to. The Jackson brothers had also been cast out of their clan. Their offense? Failing to bring back their sister, Kade’s twin, after she’d fallen in love and run away with her own mate.
No. Mating was a bad idea.
No matter how much Luke’s bear might be telling him different.
He flicked off the light and closed up the adventure center before he headed straight to the Den and the delicious aroma of Kade’s pot roast.
Everyone was already sitting around the large wooden table when Luke walked through the doors. Guests of Grizzly Ridge all ate together family style, and more often than not the Jackson brothers all joined them.
“Sorry I’m late.” Luke walked closer. The food smelled amazing, and a little different than Kade’s usual pot roast. “It smells fantastic, Kade. Did you do something different today? There’s something almost—”
He couldn’t finish his thought. All Luke’s attention was focused on the woman next to Harper. She was shorter, and her back had been facing him, so he hadn’t seen her at first, but when she turned in her chair, Luke couldn’t see anyone but her.
