Bear Lake- Book Five

by A. B Lee

  “What? You wanna let your bear out?” She challenged him.

  “No!” Chance growled back.

  “But your bear wants out?” She challenged him again.

  “No!” He growled back.

  “But isn’t this usually the time that you want to shift and kill something?” Rebecca looked victorious. Chance looked fit to kill.

  All the men in the group that were watching readied themselves to take him down should the need arise. Reece was ready to drive away fast to protect Darby…

  “Yes!” He growled longer and harder.

  “Go ahead.” Rebecca tossed up a hand in his direction. “Let him out. Kill something, kill me…” She shrugged.

  Chapter twelve

  “You are…” Chance ground his teeth together and shook his head as his fingernails dug into the soft flesh of his palm. His fists were clenched so tightly that it was more than damn painful.

  “Your mate.” Rebecca snapped back at him. Chance yanked his head back on his neck as if she’d slapped him hard across the face.

  “Don’t I know it. If you were anyone else I’d have killed you already…” He ground out as he turned on his heels away from her and stalked off.

  Rebecca watched him go. She wasn’t about to follow the man.

  Jackson turned his attention from Chance towards Marcus. The big man shrugged his shoulders and expanded his hands.

  “It’s definitely an improvement.” Marcus offered.

  “How to get Chance to understand that.” Jackson growled back.

  “Want me to follow him?” Marcus was already doing just that- he knew his alpha’s mind as well as anyone.

  “Yeah.” Jackson turned to look at Rebecca.

  “Now what?” She asked and Jackson shook his head.

  “This is truly uncharted territory and I have no damn idea.” He admitted.

  ~^~

  “If you’re reflecting- that’s a good thing. If you’re sulking…” Marcus stood above the spot where Chance had stopped to rest for a while. The large rock formation that Chance had chosen to sit on had a direct line of sight down to the valley and Rebecca’s farm.

  “Get lost, Marcus.” Chance growled out. He was in no mood to deal with Marcus or any other member of his clan.

  “That’s Darby’s thing. I have a perfect sense of direction.

  Chance scowled at the sound of her name. She’d really touched a part of him with that damn drawing and her words.

  He needed to think, needed to regroup, because he missed the hell out her already and it had only been a few hours since he last saw her. He had to wonder what it would be like to be watching over her, but never able to speak to her again…

  “Do you believe there’s an afterlife?” Chance asked.

  “Like Valhalla? Sure. Why not?” Marcus offered back.

  “Do you think it’s like hell? Watching over your kin but not being able to help them?” Chance was wondering out loud. He didn’t really care what Marcus was thinking- he just wanted a sounding board.

  “Sure, maybe.” Marcus was never one to commit, not fully.

  Chance stayed quiet.

  “You know some people believe that if you die before your time, before you’re supposed too, then you go to like limbo hell…” Marcus had caught up with Chance’s line of thinking and took it a step further. Chance grunted in response.

  How much worse could hell be than watching Darby get herself in trouble and not being able to do a damn thing about it?

  “Go away, Marcus.” Chance growled.

  “You know that ain’t happening.” Marcus tossed back.

  “I’m not going to change my mind.” Chance scowled down at Rebecca’s farm.

  “Yeah, you’re a stubborn son of a bitch.” Marcus dropped down the slope and strolled towards him. “But, I think that little girl already changed it for you, you just too blind to see it.” He stood in Chance line of sight, annoying the hell out of him that he could no longer see the farmhouse.

  Chance pushed up to his full height and Marcus lifted only his left eyebrow.

  “Nothing’s changed.” Chance informed him.

  “Something’s changed. You protect Alex, Suzanna, Janice, and even Lucy, even when Lucy’s bear pisses you off, you don’t attack. You protected Darby and got her home. You looked after your mate when she needed you…”

  “I don’t need a recap on my fucking life from you.” Chance turned and started to stalk away.

  “Sure about that?” Marcus followed him. Ready to let his bear out if he needed to.

  “Very.” Chance growled back over his shoulder.

  Marcus was like a damn tick that he couldn’t shake loose, and boy did he wanna shake him loose.

  “You didn’t take your mate when you had the opportunity.” Marcus reminded him and that image, that memory of him and Rebecca together, the way she felt against him, the way she scented, tasted- well, that kicked him right in the damn balls.

  “Drop it, Marcus.” Chance kept going. He had the urge to turn and shake his bear loose, get up close and personal with Marcus’s bear, and yet he choose to keep walking…

  “Look at you now.” Marcus chuckled. That deep, soulful laughter grated on Chance’s nerves. “By now your bear would have been all over me…” Marcus reminded him of how it had been- and Chance ground to a halt with the realisation that Marcus was right. His bear was still caged within him- not even clawing to get out.

  “That’s…” Chance bit down on his words. He reached in and felt the very essence of his bear- calmer- his bear wasn’t exactly content, but it wasn’t chaffing at the damn fang to rip Marcus’s head off either.

  “See the difference in you, Chance?” Marcus pushed him a little more.

  “That’s for now. My beast is confused…” Chance didn’t want to believe in that hope that he’d stashed away.

  “Your beast is content.”

  “For now.” Chance turned to glare at the man.

  “Imagine how your beast is going to be when you take your mate and bond with her?” Marcus offered him that glimmer of a future to entice him further out into the light. “It’s awesome man. That bond. That connection…”

  “Until I rip her fucking throat out.” Chance growled back. His bear roared within him at the thought of harming their mate. Marcus just shook his head.

  “It’s never gonna happen. She’s imprinted on you and your bear. She’s calmed the beast…”

  “You’re seeing fucking rainbows man…” Chance growled.

  “And you’re used to those black clouds and thunderstorms. Bring your head up out of your ass and smell the air. The storm clouds have lifted and it’s a new day.” Marcus shrugged his big shoulders.

  “Bears like me don’t get second chance’s…”

  “Your mother named you Chance for a reason.” Marcus chuckled. “But Rebecca’s not a chance, she’s a certainty. Take what fate offered you, and stop bitching around like a girl.”

  “Marcus, I swear…” Chance growled.

  “Swear all you want, man, but you know what? You haven’t shifted and attacked.” Marcus shrugged again before he strolled off, leaving Chance to his thoughts.

  He wasn’t going to go far- he still needed to keep an eye on the man- just in case he took it into his head to do something stupid.

  Chance’s hand reached absently for his back pocket and he thumbed the folded up piece of paper that he’d stashed there. Darby’s drawing of his bear and her together. He took a long breath in and sighed it out.

  What if Marcus was right?

  ~^~

  Rebecca didn’t feel like doing much of anything. Janice had arrived with a bottle of wine and a sympathetic smile and now they were curled up on either end of the couch by the roaring fire looking like bookends.

  There wasn’t much in the way of conversation, but that was what Rebecca needed right then.

  Darby had been in and out of the room- showing some interest in Janice and then going back to he
r room to draw or play with her toys. She was unsettled- still mopping about Chance leaving and it would be pointless to try to put her to bed when she was an anxious little bundle of trouble.

  “I can’t blame him for trying to protect us, can I?” Rebecca frowned into her wine glass. It was a damn fine wine, but even that couldn’t give her any real enthusiasm tonight.

  “Nope.” Janice offered back.

  “I can’t hate him for it either.” Rebecca shrugged her shoulders.

  “Nope.”

  “But I can be damned pissed at him.” Rebecca ground out, annoyance flared within her again.

  “I would be.” Janice offered back- trying to keep her tone neutral as she could and just let Rebecca vent.

  Then there was silence once more. It seemed to drag on as Rebecca’s mind tossed and turned back and forth over everything that had happened.

  “Men are just- so…” She did her best impression of a growl.

  “Oh yeah.” Janice agreed.

  The sound of the back door opening and closing again a moment later made Rebecca sit upright against the cushions and strain her neck to see who had come over that late.

  When Chance appeared and took up virtually the whole doorway she almost swallowed her tongue.

  “We need to talk.” Chance made it sound like a demand.

  “Do we now?” Rebecca offered back with a snort of contempt. Chance looked a little confused.

  “I thought you wanted to talk to me?” He growled.

  Had his mate seen the light and changed her mind?

  Did she realise that he was just too dangerous a proposition for her to take on?

  “I did. You didn’t.” Rebecca snorted contempt again. “Try asking- not assuming I’m just going to fall at your damn feet whenever you appear.”

  “Ha! Score.” Janice chuckled into her wine glass. Chance growled in annoyance.

  “Fine. I’ll leave.” He turned on his heels.

  “Don’t let the door hit you in the ass on the way…”

  “Chance!” Darby squealed at the sight of him. Chance ground to a halt and turned back towards her with a smile.

  “Hey, Darby.” Chance’s eyes flicked towards Rebecca before going back to Darby who was running towards him at full pelt from across the room. He bent down and scooped her up into his arms.

  “You didn’t leave.” Darby grinned hard, her eyes flashing with excitement.

  “Nope.” Chance shrugged his shoulders and was taken aback when Darby lunged forward, wrapped her arms around his neck and cuddled against his chest. “Err…” His eyes flicked back to Rebecca; she shrugged.

  “Are you staying then?” Darby asked.

  Chance had a mind to peel her away from him and yet he didn’t have the heart to do it. She felt good wrapped around him like that- he could protect her better if he never put her down again…

  “That’s up to your mother.” Chance flicked his eyes towards Rebecca and she almost choked on her own tongue.

  “Seriously?” She demanded, and Chance was lost again.

  “Can he stay, mummy? Please…” Darby’s head shot up and her eyes pleaded. Rebecca’s mouth dropped open a little.

  Chapter thirteen

  “Maybe I should take Darby home with me tonight?” Janice offered as she pushed up from the sofa and gave Rebecca an amused and expectant look. Rebecca pressed her lips together and counted- she got to four…

  “I don’t believe men.” Rebecca huffed and stalked off into the kitchen. Chance frowned hard. He’d done something wrong but for the life of him he didn’t know what.

  “Here…” Janice walked over to him and held out her arms for Darby. He reluctantly gave her up. “I’ll drive Darby to my place and you and Rebecca should talk.” Janice offered.

  “Is Marcus going to be there?” Darby asked all wide eyed and enthusiastic. Chance growled.

  “Yep.” Janice gave Chance a teasing grin. “And we can watch girlie TV, and do girlie things, and make Marcus suffer.” She offered Chance that glimmer of amusement. He had to admit, that made him feel better about letting Darby go.

  “That sounds great!” Darby giggled.

  “Good. Let’s go then.” Janice saw Chance’s hand come up as if he wanted to snatch Darby back into his arms, but she turned her body so that he didn’t get the access he would need and strolled towards the door. “Take your time picking her up tomorrow.” Janice announced with glee as she yanked open the front door and disappeared into the night, closing it behind her and mentally crossing her fingers.

  “You sure this is a good idea?” Marcus came out of the darkness towards them.

  “Marcus!” Darby grinned harder.

  “Hey, little lady.” Marcus grinned back and the sun shone on Darby. The girl was in awe.

  “I think it’s the way it’s supposed to be.” Janice offered back as her eyes flicked towards Shane, she nodded and he nodded back.

  Shane wasn’t going anywhere tonight, at least, not until Chance had successfully mated.

  “Let’s go home and paint Marcus’s toenails.” Janice announced and Marcus twisted his head on his neck and stared at her in horror.

  “My toenails?” He growled.

  “Yeah!” Darby giggled. “Fingernails too.” She beamed him a smile and Marcus melted on a sigh of resignation.

  “One word.” He growled at Shane as the shifter chuckled.

  Shane held up his hands and gave a slow shake of his head. He wasn’t even going there, at least, not until Marcus had his beauty treatment for all to see, and then all bets were off.

  ~^~

  “Janice has…” Chance walked into the kitchen and found Rebecca with her palms pressed against the counter, her head dropped on her neck, and her back to him.

  “I heard.” She bit out.

  He felt the tension in the air between them.

  “I thought we could talk.” Chance started towards her, but the warning look she offered him over her left shoulder made him stop in his tracks.

  “You start.” Rebecca was still smarting from earlier.

  “I don’t want to hurt you.” Chance took another step and her eyes narrowed. He held in place.

  “Then don’t.”

  “I can’t promise you that.” Chance needed to be honest. His bear was dormant now, but the moment that he touched her again… he didn’t know what was going to happen, especially if she agreed to be his mate.

  “I get it, Chance. I got it the first time…”

  “And yet you still let me touch you. You still wanted me…” Chance covered the distance between them. He wouldn’t be held back with just a look this time. She was going to have to tell him to get lost. “I could scent your arousal… I felt your body pushing back against mine.”

  “And then you chose to kill yourself.” Rebecca scowled at him.

  If she lifted her hands from the counter she’d be done for. She wanted to reach out and touch him; it was a crazy fever within her that was itching to get out.

  “I chose to protect you and Darby.” He corrected her.

  “Hmm, by killing yourself…”

  His hand snagged her wrist and he yanked her around towards him so fast that her head spun and her eyes couldn’t latch onto anything. Her body instinctively searched for the stability of his. Her hand pressed against the hard muscles of his chest, and when she gasped in a breath, his lips were on hers, covering them, his tongue pressing inside…

  Chance was a desperate man. He needed to touch her, to feel her against him, in his arms. He wanted to taste her on his tongue and know that she was real- really here- really his.

  His hand fisted her hair and he eased her head back and held it where he wanted it so he could get to her mouth.

  Rebecca was lost in that kiss. The passion was all consuming- her mind took flight and her body responded like she’d hit a brick wall at fifty miles an hour.

  He’d circled her other arm around her back and used it to leverage her body against his, locked
in place, he took what he needed and gave her back the same until she melted- bone mush- in his arms.

  “Do I have your full attention now?” Chance growled against her lips and watched her peel her eyelids back as far as she could get them. Her brown eyes were still hooded as she stared back at him.

  “I think so…” Rebecca tried to pull in all the air she needed.

  Chance’s lips started to bow upwards. His eyes were jet black and yet they shone brightly as he stared down at her.

  “I want you.” He frowned hard. “But I need to know that you understand what could happen.” He didn’t want to think on it, but he had no choice. His bear growled within him as if it was insulted by his words.

  “I understand.” Rebecca had been over it again and again in her mind. The angst that she’d felt was very real.

  Did she have the right to do this to Darby was her prime concern.

  What if things went wrong and Chance got out of hand?

  What if she died and left Darby alone?

  What if he bit her and turned her into a bear, would she be a danger to Darby?

  “Life has risks and we all take them just by getting out of bed in the morning.”

  “This isn’t the same thing. This is you throwing yourself into the lion’s den…” Chance scowled.

  “The bear cave?” She teased back and saw him smile again. He nodded.

  “Yeah. The big bad bear that might just eat you.” Chance didn’t want to fancy it up. He wanted to slap her right in the face with the truth and make sure that she understood, truly understood what she was getting into.

  In his right mind, he’d never harm her, but if they mated would he be in his right mind?

  “You’re big, but you’re not as badass as you like to think you are…” She grinned. “At least, not around me.” She wanted to climb up his body and wrap herself around him, rub her sex against his length until he got the damn message, but he still held her prisoner against him, and she liked that too.