“She's about to give the order to give thanks before we feast.” I leaned over and whispered into her ear. “Don't be afraid. I'll be at your side the whole time.”
“Okay.” Sam's eyes wobbled uneasily, but she was putting up her bravest front, doing it for me.
“They say it was a night like this when we were created. A magic spell leveled against our ancestors by an angry shaman.” Genevieve raised her arms high, reaching straight for the pale globe hanging in the cold sky.
“But out of his anger, something magnificent walks the earth. We've all heard the myth. But this legend doesn't mention who was guiding him through his blind anger.”
“The spirits...” A dozen voices whispered it at once.
“That's right. It's to them we give thanks, offering ourselves in all our pristine beauty, our perfection. We're a special people, different from all others, and the same spirits that created us are looking down now. Tonight, I think they're pleased with their best creation.”
I released Sam's hand. My arms shot up, in unison with nearly forty others, all of us reaching for the holy, glistening moon.
“Show them your gratitude!” Genevieve sniffed, and then her voice became high and shrill. “Let the mountains echo with your thanks, all the way to the highest heavens...please or not, we will never take their power for granted.”
Her voice trailed off. I fell to the ground, the transformation beginning beneath my skin.
I kept one eye on Sam as she stumbled backward, giving everyone in the vast circle ample room to shift. Some of the Elders took longer than most to complete their transformations, but it never took long.
In less than two minutes, a swarm of grizzles crawled through the high grass, our ceremonial cloaks stretched and tattered underfoot.
I walked past Sam, stood close to my clan. Nestled together, we waited until the last bear stood, and then we opened our mouths.
The mountains echoed with our yawning roars. As men, women, and animals, we sang a deafening and somewhat mournful song.
It's our collective gratitude. But tonight, I'm thanking the spirits for something else. Something beautiful and rare.
I looked at Sam. If I could've smiled in my bear form, I would have.
When the early notes were finished, I turned slightly, angling my head to see her again. She was standing by the trees smiling.
Half of us were drunk, returned to our human forms. A few hours passed since the night's zenith, when the mountains truly held our deep roars and launched them into the sky.
“Had enough to eat?” Sam asked, a crooked grin on her face.
“More than an hour ago. Everything's almost settled now. But I'm starting to get hungry for something else...”
The meager remains of our clan feast lay on the huge tables around us. Hogs, ribs, and poultry picked to the bone. Only a small sampling of cheeses and fruits remained, along with the huge kegs of ale and cider we brewed in the autumn.
I sensed the disapproving gaze of Franklin, Thomas, or maybe Genevieve herself somewhere across the clearing. I kissed Sam anyway.
At least that asshole Emmerick is nowhere to be seen. Thank the spirits for small favors.
Sam looked at me and gripped my hands, her eyes shining. I'd seen that beautiful lust a dozen times. And whenever it returned, I wanted to spread her wider, drive deeper, and empty myself deep inside her, owning her irresistible flesh.
“Come on. Let's get back to the cabin and feast on something hotter before the sun comes up.” She stood as soon as I said it, hand pressed tight in mine.
We speed walked our way along the chilly mountain path leading toward my cabin. But we weren't even halfway home when we heard the thunderous booming in the sky.
I looked up. Heart pounding, all my confused senses sprang to life, ready to defend against a sound like the earth splitting in two.
Fuck! This can't be happening. They always said the spirits would return to earth one day...but I thought it was just a myth?
Sam froze alongside me. Her mouth dropped and her hand went up, pointing as the source of the noise soared into view.
A dark helicopter passed narrowly over the tree tops, a huge search light mounted on it spilling into the forest. These were no spirits, but men.
We heard the commotion behind us instantly. Shifters caught us along the path and ran past in a panic, trying to escape the wandering spotlight. Everybody just wanted to go home, to get to safety, and didn't care if they were in human or bear form.
I looked up, hoping the strong light wouldn't cut through the ether concealing us.
I turned and held up my hands, urging them to slow down. But there was no stopping the stampede.
Wrapping my arms around Sam, I hugged her tight and pulled her into the shallow ditch along the side. Thunderous footsteps slapped the ground as the flight continued, on and on, the Elders shouting after them.
“Go home, everyone! Get to your cabins and stay in human form until we know more! Go now!”
I recognized Franklin's voice, but I'd never heard him sound so scared. Sam peered down, meeting my gaze.
Her eyes looked like they were seeing the world for the first time. She laid on top of me and I wrapped my arms around her, seeking the comfort only our bodies could provide.
Under any other circumstances, having her beautiful body on top of my naked flesh would've led to something wonderful. But just now, we pressed our foreheads together, silently praying the mystery chopper would turn and leave us alone.
“Unbelievable! To think that they'd come here, hovering over our clan, all because of some lost boy. And on our sacred night!” Emmerick pounded his fist on the table.
The emergency session had been going for an hour. As expected, the Elders focused their interrogation on Sam. I shot the darkest, most menacing looks I could muster whenever their questions became too pointed.
You fucking idiots. Mainly just you, Emmerick. If you think there's any conspiracy here, after all this time, then maybe Sam should go and I should leave with her...
Of course, they'd never allow that. They wouldn't even let me scout in Kalispell after the helicopter buzzed away.
“It's not that uncommon!” Sam snapped, at her wit's end. “Look, my people search for missing persons all the time – especially when they're minors.”
Rufus had returned with news about what happened. Apparently, a boy in his teens had gone missing while camping with a small group that night, vanished without a trace in the cold mountains.
My beautiful mate paced across the room as suspicious eyes followed her. Mine were the only ones that wanted to bathe her in a protective shield, hiding their horrible looks, their dangerous lies.
“Others have disappeared in what you call Glacier. Men never sent out search crews like this,” Genevieve said, followed by her trademark sniff. “Why him? Why now? If you really have nothing to do with it, then these should be easy questions.”
“I told you already. Things have changed a lot in ten years since the last person went missing. We've got the web, alerts on text messages, the Amber system. You're making a big mistake if you think holding onto these things and keeping your secrets is going to help you.”
Sam's face twisted in disgust as she waved toward the table. I followed her gesture, staring at the torn, bloodied bits of a backpack, tent, and wallet several shifters had found in the forest, just outside Horseshoe Creek's borders.
“Sam's right,” I said, moving to her side. “I know you don't trust us and you don't want to hear it. The ether may have kept us safe from human searchlights for now – and that's only speculation – but more of them will come. Men on foot will come deeper into the woods, searching for this kid, if we don't turn over what we have.”
Franklin looked at Rufus over his spectacles. “One more time. You're telling us there was absolutely no sign of the boy? Not even a stray piece of flesh or bone?”
“No, Elder. But I can tell you his outlook isn't great. Not with the
puddle of blood we found next to this mess...” Rufus shook his head.
We were used to nature's violence. But the idea that any sentient being, especially a young one, might have been devoured by a wild grizzly filled everyone in the chamber with loathing.
Everyone, perhaps, except Emmerick. He sat perched on the council bench, quietly fuming.
Look harder, buddy, but look at me – not my Samantha. And just where were you last night, anyway?
“Then it's settled. It seems to me we only have one option, however unsavory. Do we need a private vote?”
Shifters behind us in the pews began to talk quietly among themselves. Genevieve’s face flushed and she slammed her gavel.
“I think we need to make this public, and fast. It'll go a long way toward restoring confidence with an understandably shaken public.” Thomas gave Genevieve a wry smile and she nodded back.
Friends in justice. And in the bedroom too, if what I saw them doing in the brush last night was any indication, before that chopper swept in.
I pushed the sickening memory of the Elders' old flesh twisting, smacking, and writhing together out of mind. The day was rough enough without imagining these two having sex.
The crowd grew deadly quiet. Sam and I shared our anxiety in silence as we stood next to one another, waiting for the final word.
“All in favor of the motion to send Don Flood and this human female into Kalispell to turn over the evidence, raise your bones and say 'aye.'”
There was a clatter. Three of the Elders reached beneath the table, grabbed the long white slivers of long slain grizzly bears they used to formally vote, and lifted them over their heads.
“Aye!”
“It's settled. Three to one.” Genevieve shot a quick glance at Emmerick, whose stony silence gave way to red faced rage. “Execute the mission and come back to us soon, Flood. And I mean with the female. If either of you fail to show up, I'll send others out to drag you back here, no matter where you go.”
“We'll be back,” Sam said smartly. “Count on it.”
We were well past the clan's borders when we heard the noise in the trees. I turned around to face Sam, one finger pressed to my lips, ears perked up at the commotion.
“It's probably just hikers,” I whispered. “We're getting close to the road now. Hope it won't take too long to hitch a ride.”
She nodded. I hoped I was right. If it was anything else, she was in no condition to run with the big backpack strapped to her, carrying the remnants of the disappeared teen we had to turn over to the police.
An exasperated hiss left my mouth as the huge grizzly wandered into view. My heart slammed into my ribs. Twice as fast when I raised my hand and saw no look of recognition in the bear's eyes.
Damn! Who the hell's way out here? Someone the Elders put on my tail to make sure we do our job?
“Stay back,” I said quietly.
Sam was already taking several steps behind me, putting a little more distance between herself and the bear. I moved forward, waving more firmly now.
“You're not supposed to be out here. I swear, Emmerick, if that's you I'm going to –“
The bear lunged. It charged me, a thousand pound boulder covered in matted brown fur, snarling and opening its jaws.
I barely had time to shift. The noise of my clothes shredding seemed to buy me a couple more seconds. The bear slowed, more angry and confused than ever at the way I'd just taken its form in front of it.
It wasn't until the grizzly crashed into me that I realized it was truly wild. Its foul breath poured onto my snout, grim death contained in a horrible roar. I pushed my claws against its arms, holding back the murderous onslaught aimed at my throat – but just barely.
Its eyes had no consciousness, but a different kind of wilder, purer fire.
The bear went straight for my shoulder with its mouth. Sharp teeth sank into my furry flesh and held on. I screamed, roaring with all my might as I pushed into it, forcing my claws into its sinewy muscle.
It was enough to break the savage attack. The bear flipped its head back, sniffed the air, panting against my skin. It was staring past me, looking at Sam.
Now, I was really pissed.
You're not making a meal of her!
I pushed into its meaty bulk, forcing my claws deeper, so hard I swore my joints were about to snap.
The grizzly roared again, but this time it was a more pathetic sound. It wasn't pushing back as much, and finally crashed onto all fours.
I went after it. The bear began to run, racing for the dense brush in a headlong retreat.
You monster. I'll kick your ass all the way to Missoula and make sure you never get anywhere near her again!
I crashed into the brush, sucking in heavy, cool air. My shoulder throbbed painfully, but the bite wasn't the worst thing I'd ever taken. Didn't hold a candle to the time a hunter got his knife in my back.
The bear slowed, staggered, clawed its way deeper into the forest. I was almost on top of it and about to sink my claws into its beefy back when I saw the jagged wounds – bare scratches too low on its big butt for me to have made.
I stopped, planting my paws at the ground as I landed with an “umph!”
The grizzly ran on. I watched it in silence, trailing its dank scent and the fading noises it made as it disappeared deeper into the woods.
“Don? What the hell happened? Are you okay?” Sam was several feet behind me.
I turned to her calm, scared voice. She watched me shift, eyes wide when she saw the blood running down my shoulder.
“Jesus! Let me dress you up.” She ran forward and held me tight.
“I don't understand why that bear was wounded,” I muttered, sitting on a half-buried rock and holding my breath every time she rubbed the antiseptic across my skin. “It was confused, pissed off. Something or someone had already hurt it.”
“Just be glad it ran. For a moment, I was torn...I didn't know who to protect.” She paused, and I watched her suck her lip into her mouth, fighting back tears. “I'm sorry, Don. Everything is so messed up. Hold still.”
Despite her shaken state, she managed to bind my bite up in gauze. Luckily, it was an old bear with duller teeth, and so confused in its wounded state it hadn't ripped into me with full force.
“You're okay. It's probably half a mile from here by now. But we need to keep going. Where are my clothes?”
Smiling, she reached into the side compartment on her backpack and pulled out a fresh change. We'd come prepared, packing several outfits in case I had to shift.
Her eyes beamed love and desire. She watched me dress, and when I only had my shirt left to button I turned to her.
“And hey, what did you mean about who to protect? I'm the only other person here. Did you meant he evidence?”
“No,” she said quietly.
Fear returned to her eyes, but something else danced with it. It looked like happiness, uncertainty, enjoyable surprise.
I reached for her shoulders and clenched my fingers tight. My heartbeat picked up before she opened her lips to speak.
“I'm...I'm pregnant, Don.” She looked up, met my eyes, and it was my turn to tremble a little.
Her words nearly sent me to the forest floor, booming and unreal as the helicopter's spinning blades had been. Then my deepest instincts fired, and the bear stood up inside me, roaring its approval.
“My fated mate!” I lifted her high, sweeping her off the ground.
I rested her along my wounded shoulder. It hurt, but I didn't care.
Her tears evaporated against my lips, kissed away, paving the way for gentle laughter. We renewed our love in the forest with long caresses, stopping only when we noticed the sun sinking a little too low behind the horizon.
You don't know how badly I want you. Even when I've claimed you in the deepest way a man can, I still want you. I always will. Always.
A low growl burbled in my throat as I took her hand and led the way toward our path. We had a job to do,
no matter how badly I wanted to throw her to the cold dirt and bury myself, deep and warm, in the sweet flesh I'd claimed forever.
“Let's get this over with,” I said. “Just know, once I get the council off our backs, I'm not letting you out of my sight again until you're safe with our baby. Got it?”
“Yes, sir,” she said softly.
A few minutes later, we reached the side of the road, and stood by it waiting for a ride into town. Just as a big semi began to slow, she leaned into me, planting the kiss on my cheek she'd been saving for what must've felt like an eternity.
IX: Banishing the Darkness (Sam)
“Samantha? Oh, my God!” Jenn's voice squeaked when she saw me standing on her porch.
She threw open the door and pulled me into her arms. I hugged back, loving the way her delicate embrace reminded me I was really back among humans.
“Where the hell have you been? And where on earth did you find such a yummy looking boyfriend?” She pushed past me, eyeing Don up and down.
“Don Flood. Pleased to meet you.” He stuck out his hand. I smiled as I watched them shake. “It's really good to meet an old friend of Sam's, Miss, but I'm afraid we're here on business. There's something we need to give you...”
In the living room, Jenn shook her head.
For an instant, I was teleported back to Jr. High, watching the old friend I remembered trying to cope with a hundred surprises at once.
“Okay...I'm sorry, but I'm just trying to understand all this. Why do you need me to take this poor boy's things to the cops again? Aren't you back in Kalispell for good?”
“Don here has a record,” I said. Jenn's eyebrows lifted up and she looked at him anxiously. “It's nothing serious. A couple bar fights in the past and a little time in the slammer. Right, honey?”
I craned my head up to face Don behind me, beaming him my sweetest smile. His lips split in a forced grin, but I detected wicked appreciation in his eyes.
Love to Bear: A Werebear Shifter Romance Page 11
