by C. L. Stone
If Julia noticed Ellie’s odd behavior, she didn’t comment. Likely, she attributed it to the pressure being placed upon Ellie to mate and give the boys cubs. Ran and Julia had words over him pushing Ellie to conceive soon after the ceremony, while neither won the argument, it didn’t really matter. It was really up to Ellie and the boys. Julia’s faith in the boys had always been strong; she knew they wouldn’t push Ellie to get pregnant. The boys weren’t ready to be fathers, and seeing as there were three of them, their family dynamic would be a problem to sort out in the future. Would all the men be considered their children’s dad, regardless of who fathered the kid? Or would the other guys be more like uncles or Godfathers? Julia wanted to broach the subject with Ellie, but she decided to wait until they were married. Ellie didn’t need to worry about any other details right now.
As the night wore on, Ellie grew more nervous. She picked at her nails, chewed her lip to smithereens, and almost wore a hole in the living room rug. If she didn’t spill the beans about the engagement soon, she’d explode. In the kitchen, Julia was talking to Ran about Ellie and the boys’ futures. They had a nightly ritual to talk until the sun went down. Rarely did they agree on anything, but they debated anyway.
“Maw-Maw…” Ellie hesitated. She caressed the long chain where it fell against her neck. “There’s something I’m dying to tell you, but I’m not sure how you’ll take it…”
Julia didn’t even blink. “Honey, you can tell me anythin’.”
“Well, I know you’re not big on people getting married young, but I love the guys, and I…” Ellie talked faster than she could breathe, so her face was turning red.
“Ellie, Honey, stop. I know you’re gonna marry those boys before long, it’s no surprise to me.” Julia sipped her tea.
“Wait, you knew?”
“Baby girl, anyone can see you’re crazy about them, with them bein’ bears and all…well it just makes sense. I can’t say I saw this comin’ months ago, but I can see you’re happy. I won’t stand in your way, but your daddy…” Julia shrugged and smiled tightly.
“Daddy doesn’t have a choice, because we aren’t telling him until it’s too late to back out.” Ellie sat down at the kitchen table.
Julia leaned forward on the table. “Don’t y’all think he’d want to give his little girl away?”
“Well sure, but you know he won’t approve. I don’t want to give him the opportunity to try to stop us.”
“Honey, you only get one chance at this, don’t push him away. Now, I’m not saying you tell him about the boys’ other natures, and I definitely don’t think you should tell him about the mating ceremony… but if y’all are planning to get married like humans do, you better make sure your daddy is there.”
Ellie’s shoulders curled inward. “You’re right Maw-Maw. I still don’t plan on telling him until it’s set in stone. I’ll make sure he gets a chance to get to know the guys before the church wedding, but after the second mating ceremony is complete. I won’t give him the chance to separate us again.” Ellie loved her father, despite his shortsightedness, but she also loved her bears. They were her mates…her soulmates, never again would she be separated from them by her father’s fear. She knew in her heart they would never hurt her. She’d always known it; her father would figure it out in time.
“Alright Honey, just remember he loves you. That’s the only reason he’s been so protective is because he cares.” Julia squeezed Ellie’s hand across the table.
“I know Maw-Maw, I know.” Ellie gave her a lopsided smile.
“There’s one more issue honey…how are you legally gonna marry three men?”
“Well, no one ever said it had to be legal. Ran said an alpha could marry us if we want.”
“Humph.” Julia wasn’t too keen on that idea.
6
Ran joined Julia in the kitchen early the next morning. “Julia, do you have a family Bible I can look at?”
“Sure, who doesn’t?” Julia searched her closet before plopping a worn Bible in Ran’s lap. She sat at the kitchen table beside him.
“What are you looking for?”
“No one in particular, but I figure there’s someone in here I’ll recognize.” He flipped to the dedication page where a long list of names had been written in careful script.
“I doubt it. No one in my family has ever sprouted claws.” Julie shook her head with a weary grin.
He skimmed the names, reading each one under his breath. “Maybe not, but they might have known someone who did, and that could lead to an answer.”
“So, you think Ellie’s got bear blood, but I’m not sure why it’s so important…” She mumbled into her mug.
“It’s important because it’s unique. Bears don’t get mated to humans, and when they do, there’s a reason. They don’t typically share a mate either, but if they do…”
“There’s a reason…” Julia mimicked Ran and laughed.
“If what I’m thinking is right, this could be a very important discovery…”
“Sure, if you say so.” Julia took another swallow of coffee, watching Ran handle her family Bible like it was the Holy Grail.
Julia leveled a look at Ran. “I think we should just let the kids enjoy themselves. There’s no reason to place that much pressure on them.”
“That’s because you’re human. Werebears don’t have the luxury of sitting back and letting fate decide. Our numbers are dangerously low.”
She waved her hand at the Bible. “Alright, look all you want.”
Torben walked in the room as Ran let out a gasp. “What?”
“This might be it!” Ran grabbed the Bible, taking only a second to allow Julia time to protest, before heading out the door.
“Where the hell’s he going?” Torben gestured to the back of his rapidly disappearing father.
“Probably back to his pack.” Julia lazily stood, pouring herself another cup of coffee, before finding her seat again.
“Oh, did he find something? In the Bible, I mean.” Torben grabbed a cup of coffee and joined Julia at the kitchen table.
“Your guess is as good as mine, but it sure seems like it.” Julia took another swallow of coffee.
Mathin sauntered in with his hair still messed from sleep. “Is there coffee left for me?”
“Not enough, but I’ll make more.” Julia went to the pantry and retrieved the coffee can.
Dov walked in as the second pot stopped dripping. “Pour me one too,” he signed.
“Stop signing.” Mathin banged his hand on the table. “We know you can talk now.”
“Sure,” Dov said, his voice gravelly with sleep.
“Give him a break, years of not talking has to be a hard habit to break.” Torben sipped his coffee, careful not to burn his tongue.
“Yah, well, no one made him do it,” Mathin muttered as he cupped his mug.
“I didn’t do it by choice, Dickhead.” Dov whacked Mathin upside the head. “I couldn’t talk, even when I tried so hard I felt like I’d go insane.”
Julia tilted her head and rested her arms on the table. “Then what changed?”
“I don’t know. I got so mad at Uncle Ran…I just couldn’t take it, and it just came out…it was a surprise to me too.” He absently scratched his cheek.
“If pissing you off was all it took, I would have been willing to help you out years ago.” Mathin chuckled at the grimace on Dov’s face.
“You’re too kind.” Dov threw a packet of creamer at his face.
Mathin sighed dramatically. “I hear that all the time.”
“Anyway, we’re glad he lit the fuse, it’s good to hear your voice.” Julia’s eyes crinkled at the corners as they grew misty and warm.
“Thanks.” He sipped his coffee, scratching the back of his head and avoided making eye contact. He grabbed his coffee mug to refill it to the brim.
“I guess we won’t be seeing my dad again for a few days. From what I gathered, it takes several hours just to get there. I
bet he shows Julia’s Bible to everyone in the pack.” Torben mimicked the way Ran had puffed out his chest when he talked.
“Probably, it’s in our favor if he does. Keeps him away from Ellie for a few days, giving us time to repair any damage he caused.” Mathin burnt his tongue on his coffee even as he held it gently in his fingers.
Dov stretched his arms, before bringing his hands down to rub his aching neck. “Ellie’s already freaked out. We’re not ready for kids.”
“You boys will figure it out, she’ll listen to you, just make sure to be honest with her.” Placing her cup in the sink, Julia left the room. She had to go to the office, someone in the house needed to earn some money for bills.
“Let’s just relax and spend the day with her. I don’t want to force her to keep talking about this, she’s already overwhelmed.” Torben rose from his chair, drained the dregs of his coffee before rinsing his cup.
“Sounds good to me, cause all this talk of kids is stressing me out.” Mathin grabbed an ice cube from the freezer to put on his tongue. The guys shook their heads at him, because any burn he’d gotten would have healed instantly; it was all in his head.
“Ditto.” Dov drank the last of his cup, before the boys washed their mugs out, and put them all in the dishwasher. The group headed off to wake Ellie, if they could; she wasn’t too keen on being woken up in the morning.
They spent the day watching movies, deciding it was the best way to occupy their minds while still spending time together. Ellie curled up with Mathin, Dov sat at her feet, and Torben sat on Ellie’s other side. Dov wound up with the remote after a rather comical brawl. Mathin tried to trip him, but Dov was the biggest and strongest. Mathin wound up on the floor by himself. Ellie laughed at their antics till she cried—she’d needed a good laugh—she was wound so tight after meeting Ran. The weight of the world, or at least the pack, was on her shoulders. How can I be the one destined to save the werebears? Night fell quickly as the movie marathon wound to a close.
“I think we’re going to go for a run, I’d offer for you to join us, but humans can’t keep up with a full grown bear.” Mathin’s smile was tight. He didn’t like leaving Ellie alone, but his fur was itching to come out. If they put off their run any longer, he’d shift without trying to.
“It’s ok. I wanted to talk to Maw-Maw anyway, you guys go, I’ll be fine.” Ellie practically shoved their bodies out the door to get them to go. She could see how badly they needed to shift, and she didn’t want to hold them back. Ellie sighed heavily as she watched them run off into the woods.
When Julia returned home shortly after, Ellie waited in the kitchen with a pitcher of sweet tea.
“Hi Maw-Maw, I made tea.” Ellie beamed, her left dimple trying to pop out.
“Thanks, Honey, where are the boys?”
“They went for a run. Werebears…” Ellie jokingly rolled her eyes, and they shared a laugh. Julia sat down, and Ellie poured them both a tall glass. The sugar hit Ellie’s tongue with a rush of flavor, as she’d made their tea very sweet just how they liked it. No one made tea like Southerners.
“Now that it’s just the two of us, are you plannin’ on showin’ me that ring y’all got? Or are you plannin’ on keepin’ that a secret too?” Julia laughed as the blood drained from Ellie’s face. “It’s not that big of a deal, Honey, you can show me.”
“It’s not that I didn’t want to share it with you, I did, it’s just…apparently the guys have a lot more money than they thought they did. Now that Torben’s father knows they’re alive…” Ellie started to pull the chain above her shirt, but paused.
“It’s okay Ellie, I won’t judge you.” Julia smiled sweetly before taking a long drink from her glass. “Ah, that’s good.”
“Here.” Ellie whipped the ring off the chain, pushing it on her finger beneath the table. Practically shoving her finger in her grandmother’s face, she looked away and blushed.
“Wow! Now that’s a ring!” Julia laughed as Ellie choked. “It’s not what I would have expected the boys to buy. Until the other day, they were pretty poor, but that’s quite a rock. Did they pick it out or did you?”
“It was a combination. They wanted a good quality ring while I wanted three stones, one for each of them.” Ellie took another drink to avoid making eye contact again.
“Honey, there’s nothing to be afraid of. Did you think I was going to make you take it back?” Julia stared at Ellie, until she looked her in the eye.
Ellie had the decency to look ashamed. “Maybe. I really didn’t know, but they proposed so sweetly…it looked like it was made for me. I can’t imagine wearing a different one.”
“If it makes you happy and they were willin’ to spend that much, then I have no right to object. Just because I chose a small stone, doesn’t mean I’d force my tastes on you, Honey.” Julia smiled and hugged Ellie tight. “I just want you to be happy. While I don’t think you need a huge rock to do so, I’m not so pushy as to make you pick another. I’m happy for y’all.” Julia kissed Ellie’s temple.
“Thanks, Maw-Maw.” A tear welled up in Ellie’s eye.
“You’re welcome, Honey.” Julia wiped her own misty eyes. “Now, why don’t you get rid of that chain and wear that ring like you’re supposed to?”
“I think I will.” Her grin reached from ear to ear. Ellie breathed a sigh of relief; she couldn’t have been happier with Julia’s reaction.
“You deserve to be happy, and you shouldn’t have to hide it.” Julia patted Ellie’s head. “Your daddy has kept you on too tight of a leash with no good reason.”
“I’ve always tried to follow his dictates, but sometimes that’s what it feels like, like he’s being a dictator. I’m twenty now, not five, I want to think for myself and make my own mistakes.” Ellie shrugged even as she grimaced. “Daddy never gave me much of a choice.”
“There’s always a choice, but I’m glad you’re ready to stand up for yourself. Just make sure you don’t take it out on him. He had to play two parents, he’s done the best he knew how, even if he was overbearing.”
“I know, Maw-Maw.” Ellie held up her fingers, showing she wasn’t crossing them. “I promise not to cut him out of our lives, but that doesn’t mean it’s gonna be easy.”
“The best things in life never are.” Julia clasped Ellie’s hands for a moment before rising, then took her tea with her as she left the room. Sitting still, Ellie stared at her ring. How am I ever going to get my dad to accept my relationship with all three guys?
The back door that led into the kitchen flung open as Ran appeared in the doorway. “We need to have a family meeting. I’ve figured it out,” he said, brushing past her. He’d already called to the boys outside so he went in search of Julia. When they were all gathered in the living room, Ran paced in front of them.
“Well?” Ellie said, her tone a bit short.
“It’s bigger than I’d imagined. You are a very special girl, Ellie.” Ran stopped pacing and stared at her.
“How so?”
“I’ve traced your lineage back several hundred years, and what I found…well, it even surprised me.” Ran’s smile was bright, and his eyes were wide.
Torben leaned back in his chair, already tired of the conversation. “Spit it out, what is it?”
“Ellie’s the descendant of Naren, a werebear prophesized to save our people from extinction during a dark period in our history.”
“So why is that important?” Dov interrupted. “I’m assuming the dark period is over.”
“Because according to legend, Naren could only sire female cubs. His father arranged for him to be married to the Alpha’s daughter of a rival pack. They’d been feuding for years, and with the marriage of the two, the war could end. As the story goes, Naren found out his daughters would be used like chess pieces. Each one would be sent to another pack as a bid for peace. While Naren wanted the packs united, he was a softhearted man. He didn’t like the idea of his future children being traded for treaties. So, he left d
uring the night. He snuck out with a small bag and never came back. Some of his family looked for him, but only his brother ever learned where he’d gone, and he refused to share the secret with anyone else. All he would say was that Naren had gone to live among the humans—human’s related to Julia and Ellie here. Ellie is his direct descendant.”
Mathin cocked his head and squished his face. “I still don’t get how that makes Ellie different.”
“Because, when I looked through her genealogy, her mother’s line only had girl babies tracing all the way back to Naren. If you have kids with Ellie, they’ll all be girls.” Ran was almost trembling where he stood.
“But, that doesn’t guarantee they’ll be bears, right?” Ellie felt the weight on her shoulders grow heavier as Ran spoke.
Torben reached out to hold Ellie’s hand. “Yeah, her other ancestors were human, weren’t they?”
“I sure am.” Julia laughed.
“Yes, but Naren married a human. Ellie carries werebear blood, even if it is very diluted.” Ran began to pace again. “When she gets pregnant, she should carry girl cubs every time. This is amazing! This could change everything.”
“Wait just one second!” Ellie stood, stomping her foot, a move the guys had missed over the years. “I am not ready to have kids, and even if I were, you can’t just ask me to repopulate your species.”
“No one is asking you to have dozens of kids, although that wouldn’t be frowned on. I’m just saying any children you do have with these boys would be female werebears. Let’s say you have three girls and each of those girls carries the same gift as you. So, each baby they have would also be a girl. Since they will be werebears, it’s natural to assume they would have mates among bears. Their children would be girl cubs, and their girls would have girls, and so on and so forth. Eventually, the number of werebears will rise. Between humans hunting us and bears feuding, our numbers are low. If we don’t do something, our kind will die out. Do you want that to happen?” Ran stared pointedly at Ellie.
