The Bear's Mate

by Vanessa Devereaux

  She closed her eyes. The cold water was starting to eat through her jacket, and she felt cold and frightened.

  “You’re shivering. Let’s get you in the car and home.”

  He took hold of her arm.

  “I’m going to walk, okay?”

  “Charlotte, you can’t because you’ll get drenched.”

  “Then I’ll hitch a ride.”

  She began walking.

  “Charlotte, you can’t just walk away because I’m in love with you.”

  “Yeah, I thought I might be in love with you, but I don’t ever want to see or hear from you ever again.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  Aiden couldn’t remember driving back to his place until he woke up in the middle of the night on the couch, drapes still wide open and the most beautiful night sky he’d seen in ages. He got up and walked to the window. The stars were bright and if he looked close enough he could see the empty space where their former home used to be.

  Life was simple and uncomplicated. They didn’t have to worry about people finding out that alien shifters lived and worked, and yes, loved, among the humans.

  Loved.

  He loved Charlotte and his heart was breaking into millions of pieces because she’d told him she loved him too but didn’t want to see him again.

  How could he put this right? He didn’t think he could live without her.

  Aiden turned away from the window. He never thought that a human would be his true mate, but he was certain she was the woman for him. If he couldn’t have her, he’d live the rest of his live a lonely bachelor.

  Knowing he wouldn’t be able to sleep, he decided to go into the woods and let his bear run free. He’d swim, and he’d maybe do some hunting and fishing. He’d think of all the things he could do to convince her that the union of a shifter and human could work, and they’d be living proof of it.

  ****

  Charlotte’s head throbbed. Each time she tried to raise it off the pillow, even just a few inches the pain shot through her temples. She felt hot but chilled at the same time. She had to get up and take her temperature because she was probably coming down with the flu that was going around.

  She was brave and managed to sit up and swing her legs around to the side of the bed. She had nightmares all night about Aiden, the couple, those babies, aliens, shifters.

  Shit, the pain in her head was getting worse. She needed a pill or something to take the edge of it.

  She stumbled toward the bathroom, squinting when the sunlight shining through the window met her eyes. She squeezed them shut because the pain was unbearable. There was no way she could make it into the clinic. She’d call Ginny and let her know they either had to close for the day or find a replacement for her.

  Charlotte slide close to the walls to guide herself back to the bedroom for the phone. Whatever she was coming down with was making her feel like shit. Guess she’d been around too many patients with that nasty flu bug.

  She fell onto the bed, barely managing to get the phone. She pushed at the numbers sensing she was about to vomit.

  “Hi Ginny, it’s Charlotte, I won’t…”

  The next thing she knew she was heading face down toward the floor and fading out just a little more the closer she got to the carpet.

  ****

  Aiden put the pillow over his head. He heard both the doorbell and his cell phone ringing but refused to respond to either of them. This was the first time in his entire life that he’d retreated into his bed, taking pity on himself and refusing to acknowledge that a world out his condo existed.

  He was entitled to his space, and his self-pity, but whoever was at the door or calling his cellphone failed to accept that fact.

  Putting the pillow over his face this time he hoped whoever these people were they’d give up. What if they were one and the same person? Only one guy he knew would do this, and that was his brother. Both ring tones stopped. There was silence at last.

  Damn, Christopher has a key to the front door.

  Aiden sat up, hearing someone heading up the stairs. Next thing he knew the bedroom door was being pushed open and there stood his brother.

  “You sick or something?”

  “I’m something all right.”

  “You look like shit,” he said sitting down on the bed.

  “I don’t really care at this point.”

  “Something wrong?”

  Aiden took a deep breath. Where did he begin with what was wrong?

  “It was all so perfect, and then it went downhill,” said Aiden sitting up and pushing his back against the bedhead.

  “Charlotte?”

  Aiden nodded. “I should have known what would happen when she found out. I should have been the one to sit her down and tell her.”

  “So she knows about us?”

  “Oh yeah, she knows. She delivered Jenny and David’s twins last night.”

  “Oh shit.”

  “You think she’ll tell someone”

  Aiden shook his head. “If she hadn’t seen the twins I don’t think she’d even believe what I told her about who we are and how we got here, so I’m sure she’s not going to risk being the laughing stock of Flathead County.”

  “And you think it’s over between the two of you?”

  “Oh yeah. I told her I loved her, but she told me she never wanted to see or hear from me again. I’d say that fits the definition of it’s over.”

  “That doesn’t sound like you. You’ve always fought for everything for us, for the survival of the group. If you love her, you have to fight for her too.”

  “Do you really think a relationship between a shifter and a human would work?”

  Christopher shrugged his shoulders. “The two of you could be the first to try it. And I feel shitty about this whole thing. I mean if I hadn’t got injured you would never have met her and you wouldn’t be lying in this bed looking like crap.”

  If he hadn’t met her, his heart wouldn’t have known what love felt like. To care for a person besides your own family.

  “I think you need to get yourself up, dressed and shaved would be recommended too, and go and get her back.”

  ****

  Charlotte tried to focus on her surroundings. The last thing she remembered was feeling sick, calling Ginny and then getting woozy.

  Her body ached, her head still hurt like hell, and something pricked in her arm. She barely was able to focus but saw an IV stand by the bed. She squinted, seeing a nurse standing beside it adjusting the tubes. She was in the hospital.

  “Hi Charlotte.”

  “I’m not feeling so good, and I’m kinda tired.”

  “It’s okay honey, you’ve been in and out of things for a few hours, so you’re probably disoriented. Your friend Ginny phoned 911, and you’re in the hospital.”

  “I have the flu?”

  “The doctor will be in to see you soon.”

  Charlotte knew that meant she didn’t have the flu and that it was probably something more serious.

  “Just relax and I’ll got get Dr. Markson.”

  Charlotte put her hand on her head. Beads of perspiration sat upon it. Her dad, he’d wonder why she wasn’t going to the rehab center to see him. She needed to make a call. She tried to sit up but felt woozy again.

  A dark haired man that she assumed was Dr. Markson walked into the room.

  “Hi Charlotte, I’m Dr. Markson. I won’t ask how you’re feeling because judging by your temperature I’m sure it’s not that great.”

  “When I got up I thought it was the flu. And as you probably know I’m a doctor so I can take whatever it is you have to tell me.”

  He pulled up a chair. “At first we thought it might be meningitis but we gave you a spinal tap, and that was negative. All your blood work didn’t show anything unusual, no elevated white blood cells. Have you been out of the country in the last few months?”

  Charlotte shook her head.

  “How about dealt with any patients fro
m out of the country?”

  “No, not that I know of.”

  He scribbled some notes.

  “Been in contact with anything unusual?”

  Charlotte closed her eyes. Aiden, Jenny, David and the twins.

  She bit her lip she could hardly tell him that.

  “Until we know what this is I think you might like to call any patients you’ve been around in the last week or even month.”

  ****

  “I still say you’re being stubborn.”

  “That’s what we bears are,” said Aiden.

  “Now, I haven’t invited you along for a run in the woods to be lectured again.”

  “Okay, I’ll race you to the lake. Last bear there gets to buy the other one a beer and a burger at the BBQ place on Highway 93.”

  “Hope you’ve got your wallet with you,” said Aiden.

  He took off, leaving Christopher in the dust. He hoped the run, and the cold air in his face would shake off the depression he’d been in for the last few days.

  He hadn’t seen Charlotte for three days, and it felt more like three months. Christopher slammed him as he went by. Aiden ran faster and caught up until they were running side by side.

  “We should get the whole group out doing this every week,” said Christopher.

  “What have I always warned you about being obvious? You ever seen bears, wolves, cougars etc. all running together without tearing each other’s limbs apart?”

  The lake was getting closer and Aiden took off leaving Christopher in the dust.

  “Can you lend me some money to buy the burger and beers,” said Christopher.

  “I could, but I’m not that hungry.”

  “You miss her, and you’re too damn arrogant to fight for your woman.”

  Christopher rubbed his back up against one of the nearby trees and then they headed back to where they’d left their clothes safely hidden behind some bushes.

  Aiden was the first to go back into his human form, and as Christopher was doing the same, Aiden cell phone rang.

  “Hello, Aiden Renner speaking.”

  “Hi Aiden, it’s Mike Delaney, Charlotte’s dad.”

  His heart beat faster just hearing someone say her name.

  “Yes, how are you doing?”

  “I’m fine, but I thought you should know about Charlotte.”

  “Is something wrong with her?”

  Aiden saw Christopher look up at him as he sat pulling on his socks.

  “Yes, she was taken to the hospital three days ago. They can’t figure out what’s wrong with her. She’s running a fever and…”

  “Mike, and what, what’s wrong with her?”

  “I thought you might like to come and see her. She went into a coma this morning, and the doctors don’t expect her to live.”

  Aiden slumped down. “I’ll be right there.”

  Christopher ran over to him and put his arms around him as he began to cry.

  “What’s happened?”

  “Charlotte’s dying.”

  “What?”

  “I have to get to the hospital. Can you drive me there?”

  “Sure, come on, hurry.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  Charlotte wasn’t sure where her head and body were. She seemed to be floating around. And Aiden, she was sure she could hear his voice out there. And then his touch. She’d recognize it anywhere. The soft and gentle hand on hers. And then he touched her face. She put her hand in the direction and then she smelled his scent. Musky, strong, sexy.

  He kissed her. She kissed him back.

  He kissed each of her fingers one by one, so sweet. He was so sweet.

  He told her that he loved her.

  She couldn’t respond. Not that she didn’t want to declare her love for him, but the words wouldn’t come out.

  Beep, beep, beep.

  Heart machine.

  Drip, drip, drip…IV line.

  Her dad’s voice. Aiden’s voice.

  She was tired. She wanted to sleep now.

  ****

  “Charlotte, stay with me, please don’t leave me. I know what’s wrong with you. It’s a virus that you’re not immune to. You caught it when you delivered the twins, but I can give you my blood.”

  Aiden kissed her again. He was risking everyone finding out about them, but he didn’t care. Saving Charlotte was his top priority. Sure the group might hate him, kill him maybe, but without Charlotte he didn’t have a life.

  He got up and went outside to find Christopher.

  “How’s she doing?” he asked.

  “Not good and we need to give her some of our blood.”

  “We can’t.”

  “I know we can’t get a doctor involved in this, so we’re going to have to sneak her out. Tonight you’ll stand guard outside and I’ll carry her out, and hopefully this will work.”

  ****

  It was the strangest thing. A bear was carrying her along a corridor. She reached up touching his face. Aiden had been right about them really being just like teddy bears.

  Aiden…this bear reminded her of Aiden. Those brown eyes.

  “It’s you,” she barely managed to say.

  “I’m going to make you better.”

  She felt sleepy and then cold air hit her face. He was taking her into the woods. Isn’t that what bears did?

  He was big and strong just like Aiden. She stroked his face again, feeling the fur so soft and thick beneath her fingers.

  Aiden sat her down on the ground. She felt something cold going into the IV in her arm.

  “What are you doing?”

  “Saving your life because I love you.”

  “But you’re a bear.”

  “I’m a bear shifter.”

  “Will this make me one too?”

  “We’ll have to wait and see.”

  ****

  Aiden couldn’t help but laugh as he waited beside Charlotte’s bed. A wear bear she’d called him. Would she become a bear shifter now? She’d be one sexy shifter if that were the case. He could envision the two of them running around Flathead Lake, hand in hand. Jumping in the water. He smiled when the nurse came in to check the IV lines. He’d left no evidence of the blood he’d given her. It was still their little secret.

  “Well, wouldn’t you know it? I think she’s coming out of the coma,” said the nurse. “Wait there and I’ll get Dr. Markson.”

  ****

  Charlotte opened her eyes. Her fever had gone. The headache had gone. Her eyes didn’t hurt from the light anymore.

  Maybe she’d died, and this was heaven. Freedom from pain and suffering.

  If that was the case, heaven looked a lot like a hospital room. Aiden was sitting in a chair by her bed.

  Yeah, definitely heaven.

  “Hello sleepyhead,” he said, grabbing her hand.

  “Where am I?”

  “The hospital, but you’re going to be okay. Your dad’s just gone for some coffee and some breakfast. I made him take a rest.”

  “What day is it?”

  “Friday.”

  “So I’ve only been in here a day?”

  “Nope, it’s Friday the following week.”

  He rubbed the side of her face as the doctor walked in.

  “I heard that you’re awake, so I wanted to check on you.”

  “I’m feeling a lot better. What did you do to me?”

  “Nothing because we couldn’t figure out what it was, but it’s obviously run its course.”

  Aiden squeezed her hand.

  “I’ll let you two visit for a bit, and then I’ll stop back.”

  Aiden stood and sat on the bed beside Charlotte, taking her hand into his.

  “You caught a virus from the twins when you held them.”

  “None of this was a dream, was it? I mean you carrying me outside and giving me blood? Your blood.”

  “You’re feeling better that’s the main thing.”

  “Aiden, I saw you and…”

&nb
sp; “And what?”

  “I don’t know.”

  He squeezed her hand. Her parents had always taught her that if you loved someone, truly loved them, and then you’d overlook their faults and their differences. Being a bear was one hell of a difference.

  “Will you overlook mine?”

  Shit, he could read her mind. She’d been right all along.

  ****

  Aiden looked at Charlotte as his bear side emerged.

  “You want to go jogging?” he asked.

  “I guess I’ll be perfectly safe from other bears and predators.”

  “That you will be my lady.”

  They began running side by side.

  “So you feeling fully recovered now?” asked Aiden.

  “I am, in fact, better than ever.”

  “I’m glad to hear that. Hey you want to go and sit over there? I love to watch the moon reflected off Flathead.”

  They strolled over to a clearing in the woods and sat down on a fallen log. Aiden closed his eyes. She’d seen enough of the bear, now it was time to experience the man side of him again.

  “You do know that you’re naked right?” asked Charlotte.

  “Bear naked, yeah. And all the better to make love to your under the moonlight.”

  They fell to the ground laughing before he put his lips on her.

  “You think you might consider being a doctor for the shifters?”

  “I guess I can’t say no seeing how one saved my life.”

  “And I was thinking that maybe you and I could be a forever couple.”

  “You mean as a bear’s mate?”

  He nodded.

  Yes, she might kind of like that.

  The End

  www.vanessadevereaux.com

  Other Books by Vanessa Devereaux:

  www.evernightpublishing.com/vanessa-devereaux

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