by Aurora Reid
His bear roared its displeasure. The roar bounded off the tall wall of mountain, and when it came back to him, he could hardly believe it had come from him.
He didn’t know where to go. The night was still young, but he didn’t think that would matter. With no choices left, he ran ahead, following the stream, but not long after he realized he might be going mad, and by then, it was too late.
He blacked out.
Jax woke as his bear snarled and growled at chirping birds. Even the sound of the pattering stream bothered his head. The bird that he’d snarled at, bounced on its feet, quirked its head at him, and then jumped onto his head. He shook it and it fluttered off.
A bird mocking you was a bad way to start the day.
He shifted back into a human. Sitting on his knees, he peered around at his surroundings. Black Bear Peak was far away. He’d done a lot of running last night. Apparently, he’d passed out, since he didn’t remember anything, only that he’d tried to catch some fish but had been unsatisfied.
Like a bad hangover, memories came seeping in, memories that he wished he could’ve forgotten in some drunken stupor, but were still fresh wounds.
Jax started back toward the village. If he was lucky, they’d think that he’d stumbled onto some of the Black Bear Moonshine and had a night of drunken abandon. If he was lucky.
If he was unlucky, they’d think he was going mad, just like his father. The bear who had given them all such bad names, who had done some unspeakable things and tarnished their reputation for years.
Jax walked into more trouble in the village. There was commotion that he could hear from miles away, but he didn't want to shift again. Didn't trust himself to shift. That was quite unlike him, and extremely worrisome, like he'd been neutered in his sleep. Today was just a bad day, he told himself. Tomorrow, I'll shift again, and it will all be fine. No worries about mates or losing my mind. No worries at all.
"We've got to do something," someone shouted as he emerged through the sparse woods, onto the dirt path that led to the main path on which most of the homes presided.
Jax hurried along. As head alpha of the entire clan, it was his responsibility to keep everything running smoothly. Of course, it figured, as soon as he was away for a night, everything went to hell.
Where was Keith? Usually that old bear could keep the peace.
Troy stood out from the crowd. He was standing on top of a tree stump and waving his hands frantically, stirring up the mob.
"It's either we fight back or they take everything from us."
"Hold on right there," Jax said flatly. Everyone spun around and hushed.
He looked down, and saw he was still naked, his cock swinging back and forth. Shifters were used to nakedness. Many of them standing there had seen him naked before, but a few of them hadn't. His cheeks began to burn in embarrassment.
"Where have you been?" Troy asked. Jax didn't like his tone. The low grumble, a warning, clearly stated this to Troy.
"I've been late night fishing."
Troy quirked an eyebrow at him. Keith pushed off from the crowd and met up with Jax on his approach. He looked at him worriedly, but also tried to hide from his gaze, knowing he wouldn't be happy with what had happened in his absence.
"Fishing all night?" someone asked. "Hope you brought some for all of us."
Jax growled again. Louder, this time.
They all shut up as a wave of unease settled on the crowd, straightening like toothpicks down the line.
Jax had fought before, been in plenty of battles when other bears tried to challenge him, or were out of line, and needed to be taught a lesson. Many of them there had seen just how capable his black bear could be.
They didn't want to mess with him. Especially when he was angry.
His fingers dug into his hips. "Tell me what this is about. Now."
Troy didn't back down. "They're lining up at the edge of the Big Trees with all their equipment. They're going to tear right through." His eyes sharpened, his fists clenched, and he snarled. "We've got to do something, Jax. They're coming for us."
Jax held a hand up. "Thank you, Troy." He needed time to think.
The crowd murmured amongst themselves.
"What are we going to do?"
"Troy's right. We've got to act. Before they come in here and take us off the land."
"It happened to other clans. It can happen to us as well."
"Do you think our time is up?"
Another growl shut them up. It wasn't even a loud one, and they were once again staring at their alpha and waiting for an answer. He rubbed his temples.
Then he spoke.
“No one does anything until we learn more about this.”
“There isn’t time,” Troy shouted.
Jax bared his teeth. Troy shut up, hanging his head low, but still cold cocking him. It almost brought Jax to the point of shifting and challenging him, to put him in his place, but he knew that would only cause more chaos right now.
Maybe later, though, the arrogant, fiery bear would have to be taught a lesson or two.
"We don't know what's happening yet. We go and cause bloodshed. There will be more. Not just machines, but men with guns. It'll be a war."
The way Troy still glared at him, also some of the others as well, hinted that they knew this all along.
Jax strode past them. They watched him go, but he yelled back, "No one does anything. Not until I talk to them."
There wasn't another word. Halfway down the path, just before it dipped and he wouldn't be able to check on the crowd again, he turned back to see them dispersing. They were going to wait. How long though? Jax needed to hurry and talk to someone from the Marchinis to get an answer as to why they would park their vehicles so close.
I'll avoid that feisty woman. Mia will stay out of this.
He really hoped this wasn't her foolish idea, but something told him that this was all a misunderstanding.
"Here we go," he said out loud to himself. "Please, don't go crazy." Then Jax shifted. He needed to talk to someone in a hurry. He couldn't afford to waste any time. Luckily, as he sprinted through the tall trees, there was no snap in consciousness like there'd been last night.
Before he showed himself, he scouted the area. Troy wasn't trying to rile them. There was an absurd amount of construction vehicles parked on the outskirts of the Park.
One man watched over them. It would've been quite easy to dispose of him, but it would leave a mess, and like he'd said before, the military would then step in to put them down. That's how it always went with rebel shifter crews. Violence wasn't something he believed in, either, unless it was scrapping with other bears who could heal and who needed to be taught a lesson.
Jax shuffled out from the woods. He trotted slowly toward the man who was leaning against a back hoe, eating a sandwich that he dropped once he saw the hulking mass of muscle and fur running his way.
Jax paused. He snorted, and then he roared, putting some extra fear into him before he shifted back to human.
When he was back in his human form, the man was pressed against the machine, shaking his head, his jaws jabbering in fear.
"No, please."
"Relax, I'm not here to hurt you."
"I was worried you were a real bear. Then I realized that even if you were a shifter, you'd want to tear me to pieces for parking these vehicles here."
Jax crossed his arms and nodded to the equipment. "So, what are they doing here? Tell me and I'll decide whether I'm going to be angry or not."
The man picked up his sandwich, looked at it, and then tossed it behind him, choosing not to eat it. "Hey man, sorry, it wasn't my idea. I'm just watching over them. I don't call the shots."
After a long moment of silence, Jax asked, "And who does?"
He didn't think he wanted to know the answer.
"Mia Marchini. She's the boss now," the man said. He hopped back into the vehicle's driver seat. It was probably safer up there, he thought. Or he fel
t safer at least.
"Please tell me she didn't do this to threaten us."
He shut the door, then he yelled through the glass. "Hey, like I said, I don't call the shots."
“Thanks, you've been a lot of help,” Jax screamed back.
That name. That woman. His mate.
His bear was sure of it. His sister, with her witchy ways, was also sure of it.
But even Mia wanted nothing to do with him, and Jax didn't understand her, or why she was so adamant to chase after success if it meant the destruction of such beauty.
"Fucking hell," he grumbled. "Tell me where she is."
His senses were telling him that she was nowhere close. Ever since their kiss, their connection deepened, and he seemed to know if she was close or far. Right now, his senses were telling him that she was nowhere close.
Too bad. He'd like to have a word with her.
"She's at the company function in the city. Big ta do. Lots of executives."
Jax leaned closer to the window. His bear thought about smashing it, pulling the man from it, but he quieted his bear for the moment.
"And where in town would that be held?"
He shrugged. "Like I said, I don't know those kind of things."
He held his hand up, showing where he stood, at the bottom of the corporate ladder. "I'm down here. And they're." He held his hand up high. "Up here."
Jax sighed. He turned away from him and walked off toward the woods.
"Thanks for all your help, and all of your informative replies."
The man knocked on the window and smiled. "Glad to have helped, and thanks for not tearing me to pieces."
"Hey, there's always next time," Jax said, and then he shifted to his bear, and headed back to Black Bear Park, now certain that he would have to face Mia again, this time, under even tenser circumstances.
With their pact not to talk about business, they had been after each other’s throats.
What would it be like now...no holds barred?
His sanity or his clan’s safety, that was what was on the line. Jax knew immediately which one he would choose. As head alpha, his clan always came first.
As he was traveling back, he met another bear in the woods. He knew this bear from his immense size, his shiny coat, and right on down to his scent — yes, it was very weird, but he knew what Claude smelled like.
They both shifted back to men. It was just common to speak about matters that pertained to humans when they were human. Sometimes, their bear would have something to say that didn't pertain to the discussion, such as how hungry they were, or what type of tree they'd like to rub up against for a magnificent backrub.
"Where you headed, boss?" Claude asked as he leaned against a tree and tossed a stone between palms.
"Where do you think I'm headed?" Jax said, knowing right away that Claude had been spying the whole time.
"I'm thinking you're going to go talk to that Mia lady."
"And how exactly would you know that?"
Claude flashed his trademark grin. "Why would you ask?"
"I know you've been spying on me."
"Not spying. Just, keeping an eye out for you. You can't do it all by yourself, Jax. No matter what your alpha bear might tell you. It takes a village to do what we do."
His bear did tell him that he could do it by himself. Bears were naturally solitary creatures. Sometimes it was difficult to talk to the others and listen to advice.
Claude caught the stone. He clasped it in his hands and met Jax. "Let me come with you."
"Why would I allow that?"
And why on Earth would Claude want to come? Jax knew right away why, because he was a curious, overactive bear.
"Once you go back and tell Troy, he's going to want to go with you. That's a bad idea. Real bad idea, since he's going to fuck that function up. Me, on the other hand, I'll watch your back, and still enjoy myself."
"Hmm..." Jax wanted to disagree, but he found he couldn't.
Claude was right.
"Fine," Jax said, already trudging ahead toward the main path to tell the others the plan. "Let's just get this over with."
Claude followed close behind. He was all smile. "What are you going to wear, boss?"
"Jeans and boots, what else?" Jax didn't own much else.
He hadn't even thought about it. Wouldn't think twice about it. But a part of him wondered if Mia would be even more frustrated with him if he showed up at her fancy part dressed like a dirty bearjack.
It didn't matter. There was no time.
Honestly, he wasn't trying to piss her off. He'd been trying to get along with her....
Hell, he'd kissed her, in the most intimate and romantic way that he'd ever done with anyone. He'd opened himself up, something that he didn't think was possible.
It had been a long time since he'd been....emotional. Emotions like the ones he felt for Mia weren't necessary, in fact, they were a hindrance in the hard work that he did every day. In order to stay on top, and deal with his father's actions, he'd needed to be numb.
Now, he'd opened himself up to Mia, only to be shut down again. But still, he wasn't going to dig it further into the ground...if he could save their relationship, he would.
Oh yes, he would. He wanted that beauty, wanted to cherish her, to care for her, until the end of days. Just thinking those thoughts, a peace passed over him, a calm that he'd been so against for so long.
Claude woke him from his daydreaming. “Just checking if I needed to get dressed up. I’d be more likely to choke myself with a tie then get it on right.”
Jax started to laugh. Then he realized Claude was serious.
“Something tells me I’m going to regret taking you along. If you're a bearjack, you can learn how to tie a simple knot."
“You know these mitts, boss, it’s why I do the heavy work, not the intricate stuff. That kind of stuff doesn’t suit me. Now what suits me, is an open bar, and a buffet. Now that suits me just fine.”
Jax had to laugh. But when he looked back again, Claude was completely serious, and that glint in his eye spelled trouble.
"I'm really going to regret taking you along."
"Maybe, boss, but I can promise you something. A little adventure, and a good story to tell later. Isn't that worth all the trouble?" He clapped Jax on the back and chuckled.
They were at the entrance to the Park, and continued on, Claude at his heels. There was still a size-able crowd around the stump with Troy sitting patiently on it, head in hands, waiting for an answer to their little problem.
After telling them the plans, Jax and Claude shifted. They ran full speed toward the city.
Claude hadn't even asked, but he must've figure that Jax had finally discovered his mate. He was good like that, not bringing it up, keeping it a secret from the others, but Jax wondered if he was only keeping quiet for a pass later on.
Claude at a convention with free drinks and a buffet? Jax knew this was going to be a troublesome, yet interesting night, just like Claude promised.
Mia hated these functions.
She was never one to be great in crowds. It reminded her of school dances. Dances which she was never picked to dance, where she stood off to the side, or roamed the hallways, to find a safe place to hide. Just thinking about those lonely nights got her anxious.
Now all the men were lined up. They were all trying to get with her, and she knew exactly why. Because she was worth money now. Because she held power. Where were they years ago when they didn't know she was part of the Marchini company? When she was just a lonely, curvy girl without any prospects?
At least, she was smart enough to turn them away. They might be a fun time, but these men, in their expensive suits and their charming looks, instantly turned her off.
Another reason why so many approached was clear as day. Her father stood off to the side, watching the entire time, his fury blossoming as he watched her turn away man after man. Dad wanted a grandchild, and with the way Mia moved to get one,
he would need to live two lifetimes to see it.
They were in a grand ballroom at a local country club. It was toasty inside, and outside, there was a bit of a chill, just the right temperate. Enough for short sleeves, and maybe a long sleeve shirt, either being just right.
As she stole off to grab a drink, she thought about how she missed Jax, the way that he wasn't afraid to speak his mind around her. That was priceless.
And then suddenly, he was there, standing by her side.
He stood out from the group. Jeans, t-shirt, gruff, and tough, like he'd walked right out from his lumberjacking job.
His forearms flexed as he stared her down. She imagined those capable hands squeezing her, caging her, keeping her pressed closely against him. That kiss played out on her body again, and once again, she was hot, tempting the fire that burned in her ever since the first day she laid eyes on him.
Jax spied the man she'd just talked to. The douche went on his way, cursing about her to his friends.
There was a curious glint in his eyes. Also, his lip twitched to one side. "Either you couldn't stand not talking to me again, or you want a war with the Black Bear Clan." His muscles tightened even more. "Which one is it?"
In all honesty, it had been a little of both, but Mia wasn't going to say that.
As she thought over her answer, Jax roamed over her dress. That defiance he was showing came to a halt as he was taken aback. Did she even spot his breath catching?
Strange, she'd not seen a man at this function look at her so primally, but oh yes, oh...how much did she want it, did her body call out for it, to be taken by Jax in the way that he gazed upon her. Never did Mia feel sexier than this, in her black, form fitting dress, hugging her curves in just the right way.
Then he lingered over the necklace, the one her mother had given her, resting above her cleavage, and she spotted his Adam's apple ripple as he took a hard gulp.
"I told you the options. I have no recourse now but to throw you off our land,” she said clearly.
Jax winced. Then he took a step closer. Heat billowed from his being, engulfing her.
"You wouldn't," he threatened.
"I would, and I might have to, unless we can come to a compromise." She peered over her shoulder, then looked around the room to see if anyone was watching. There was quite a bit of people who noticed her talking to the strange man, who was quite obviously a shifter from Black Bear Park.
