by Bianca D’Arc
“You shouldn’t have done that,” Thea warned the other woman.
“Why not? You’re just a filthy animal,” Sarella spat.
“Wrong,” Thea told her, shaking her head. “I’m a fucking bear, Sarella. The bear you once bled is now going to make you bleed. Remember me now?”
And, with a roar, Thea allowed her bear to come over her. Her clothes shredded, but she didn’t care. The bear wanted out, now. It wanted revenge on the woman who had hurt her so badly. It wanted justice.
Sarella gaped and seemed to order her wolves to attack, but Thea in bear form sent them all flying. She tried to swat them away so that none would be permanently hurt, but she couldn’t be sure. A couple of the faster wolves tried to bite her, but Thea was having none of it. They all got swatted, and if they came back, they got swatted again. Eventually, they learned their lesson, and it was just Thea and Sarella, facing each other.
Thea’s bear was in a rage, remembering what it had suffered at this woman’s hands. But there was no cage around Thea to protect Sarella this time. Sarella tried to send her muddy red mage fire at Thea, but it all just slid right off Thea’s fur while her righteous anger carried her forward. Sarella raised her arms to throw even more magic at Thea, but she was too close now.
Thea pounced, taking the sorceress down to the ground, her claws biting into the woman’s shoulders, making her bleed. The rich, coppery scent of Sarella’s blood brought a deep sense of satisfaction to Thea’s bear half. Finally, she was getting a little of her own back, and this woman—this sorceress—would never hurt her again.
Down below, Sarella’s spells began to falter as Thea confronted the sorceress above. Ezra watched closely as the wolves began to come awake, some looking around in horror and disbelief as if waking from a nightmare.
The two Alpha stopped in their tracks and just looked at each other.
“What the fuck is going on here?” Chase Rivers asked as he shook his head as if to clear it.
“Magic,” Arch Hanson spat, coming up to stand next to his nephew, Brock, the White Oaks Alpha. “We’ve all been bamboozled and bespelled, but our bear friends stepped up where we dropped the ball. Can we help now?” Arch offered, looking directly at Ezra then switching his gaze to the side of the hill where Thea, in bear form, had Sarella trapped beneath her claws.
Ezra signaled the bear brothers—who were all in bear form—to close in on Thea’s position, now that the wolves seemed to have shaken off the spell. Ezra was already climbing the side of the hill, as well.
“Just stand down,” Ezra called back to the wolves. “We’ll take care of the mage.”
Ezra reached the two women just as Thea reared up, away from a black blade that gleamed dully in the night air. It reeked of evil—and blood. That had to be the mage’s athame, and Ezra would be damned if he’d let it hurt Thea ever again.
He dove for the woman, reaching out with both hands to take her wrists and keep the blade away from Thea. His momentum took the woman back to the ground, and they rolled a bit, somehow ending up with Ezra rolling free and jumping up to face the woman.
But Sarella didn’t get up. In fact, the smell of blood only became stronger. And then, he realized…
She’d stabbed herself with her own blade in the tussle. Right through the heart—if she actually had one.
Sarella was dead.
And the wolves were freed.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Many of the werewolves just sank to the ground wherever they stood, those in their fur changed back to human form and began searching for their discarded clothes and shrugging into them. Those who had remained in human form looked bewildered and seemed to be seeking the comfort of their fellow Pack mates.
Ezra went over to Thea and just held out his arms, letting her choose whether or not to come to him. He was okay with whatever she wanted to do. She was a full grown, badass grizzly bear, and he loved every inch of her furry little self. Of course, she was little only in relation to him.
His bear was larger than hers, so to him, she was petite, while to everyone else, she was one titan of a mama bear. He loved that. He loved that everyone else would give her a wide berth, but she was his perfect match. She would never have reason to fear him in either of his forms, because she was as fierce and not-to-be-trifled-with as he was.
Thea came up to him and nestled close to his side. He ran his hands over her soft fur and reveled in the feel of his mate, safe, sound, and whole. He knelt in front of her to look into her eyes.
“You’re amazing, Thea. Gorgeous and strong, and all mine,” he whispered for her ears alone.
She put her massive, furry head over his shoulder, and then, he felt the tickle of magic as she turned back into her human form, hugging him with all her might. She was luscious and naked, but everyone around was a shifter. Nakedness was no big deal among their people. Still, she’d need some sort of covering to drive back into town. Ezra would deal with that in a minute. For now, he just held her through the shakes that came after the confrontation.
Thea wasn’t a hardened soldier. She wasn’t used to this kind of thing. Still, she’d handled the problem like a pro and had come out the victor. Her actions had brought about the end of an evil person who had held not just one, but two entire wolf Packs in thrall and ready to do mayhem to each other. Thea had helped save many wolf lives this night, and if she was a little shaky after the fact, nobody would think less of her for it.
On the contrary, the fact that she didn’t take the death of the sorceress in stride made the wolves respect her more. They’d heard what she’d said to Sarella, even in their zombie states. They might not have understood the full import as it had happened, but they knew what Thea had been saying now, and Ezra saw many of the wolves looking at them with approval, some with compassion, others with awe.
Not every member of the Packs that had been about to fight were actual fighters. There were many women and younger Pack members present on these hillsides. Many that wouldn’t have been engaged in warfare in the normal course of business. Those were the one who wore looks of horror at what had been about to happen. Non-dominant wolves and downright submissive wolves who would normally have been protected from this sort of confrontation.
Ezra noted the two Alphas going around to their people, speaking quietly and offering comfort. Nobody approached Thea and Ezra, though. The three bear brothers stood guard around them, their tall forms blocking the way even if any of the wolves had gotten up the gumption to interrupt.
But the wolves were moving away, gathering around their respective Alphas, seeking comfort and a clue as to what was going on. All hint of hostility was gone, and Arch was acting as go-between among the older and more military-looking of the Pack’s elders. Ezra thought that was a good sign.
“You guys okay?” Ace asked from beside Ezra. He was facing outward, watching the crowd below and the body of the dead sorceress rather than Ezra and his lady. Classy. And vigilant.
“We’re good, right, Thea?” Ezra drew back to look into her eyes. She was still a little shaky but doing better with each passing minute. She smiled for him.
“Right,” she told him. “But I ruined my clothes.” They chuckled together, able to smile after the ordeal. They’d lived, and the bad guy was dead. That had to count for something.
“That’s okay,” he told her. “You’re a knockout, no matter what form you wear. And I bet we can scrounge up something for you to cover up with for the ride back to the hotel.” He spotted something over her shoulder. “Your shoes survived, at least.”
Ezra looked up at Ace and gestured with his eyes. The other man went over and picked up the shoes Thea had worn, which had taken only minimal damage when she’d shifted to her bear form. Ace dusted them off and placed them down next to Thea, then he seemed to go into hunt mode.
The sorceress had ridden in behind the Southern Buttes Alpha, and she’d left some of her gear on his bike. Ace seemed to realize about the same time Ezra did that the other w
oman wouldn’t be needing her fancy coat or the scarf she’d left behind anytime soon. Plus, there might be information in her clothing that they could use. Regardless of whether or not Thea wanted to wear the coat or scarf, they’d be taking it back with them when they left, for further examination.
Ace called to his youngest brother—the one who was sensitive to magic—and asked Jack to sniff over the belongings of the dead sorceress. Wise precaution, Ezra thought. Jack nodded before Ace turned and brought the items back to Ezra.
Meanwhile, King went down to talk to the local wolf Alpha. When he came back, he went right back to the Alpha’s bike and removed a set of saddlebags, handing them to Jack for a good going-over before he headed toward Ezra and Thea with them. King crouched down beside Ezra and emptied the bags, which were full of clothing.
“Chase said that this was all Sarella’s, and we’re welcome to it, if it’ll help. He’s a bit in shock and feeling a lot of guilt. I think we’re going to have to talk to the man tomorrow, once this all sinks in,” King said.
Ezra nodded. “We can get help for him, and the others, if we need to, but I think he’ll bounce back. His Pack is strong and, aside from this incident, solid. Now that they’ve been badly burned once, they’ll be more hesitant about who they let close in future.”
While Ezra talked in low tones with King, Thea peeled back from him and started looking through the scraps of fabric. They were just clothes, as far as Ezra could see. Nothing dangerous, even if they had belonged to a madwoman.
Luckily, Thea was able to find a pair of stretchy yoga pants in the pile and a matching tank top. Both were black and both fit her like a second skin. Yowza.
The little white leather jacket fit over the stretchy black and looked amazing on Thea. For borrowed clothes, they fit like a glove. Nobody would ever know, looking at her now, that she was walking around in someone else’s kit.
Everybody else who had shifted had gone back to human form and found something to put on, just in case their little party was found by any passing humans. They hadn’t exactly hidden their trail here, but so far, it looked like they were going to get away with it, without any humans having seen anything.
When Ezra noticed Chase approaching Brock, holding out the hand of friendship, he realized everyone was holding their breath to see if the visiting Alpha would take issue with what had almost happened because of Chase’s girlfriend. But Brock was a steady sort of fellow, and he took Chase’s hand without hesitation, even pulling him in for a bro hug and some quiet words. Ezra noticed Arch nodding in approval from the background, as were several elders on either side.
When the Alphas broke apart, they walked together to where the bear shifters were safeguarding Sarella’s body. Thea was keeping her distance, but Jack was right next to Sarella, keeping watch with his extra sharp magical senses.
“How can we thank you?” Brock asked simply, looking at all five bear shifters in turn but focusing especially on Thea.
“You saved us all a lot of bloodshed and sorrow,” Chase added in a subdued tone. “If not for you, a large part of our Packs would be injured or dead by now.” Murmurs of fear and agreement met the local Alpha’s pronouncement.
“I’m just glad Thea was able to stop her,” Ezra said, standing tall beside his mate. She really deserved all the credit here. If not for her, they would have had a hell of a time dealing with Sarella.
“You killed her?” Chase asked Thea, looking at the body of the woman he’d been sleeping with until now. Ezra knew there was a lot of regret in the other man’s eyes, but he’d have to be one cold-hearted son of a bitch to not feel something now that the woman was dead.
“I’d have to take credit—or blame—for that,” Ezra said, stepping in. “She had the knife pointed at Thea’s belly. I dove for Sarella, grabbing for her hands, and we tumbled. In the tussle for the blade, it got turned around, and when we rolled, she took it to the chest,” Ezra reported the way he’d been taught in the military. Just the facts. No excuses.
“You weren’t intending for her to die?” Chase asked, proving that he wasn’t as cold-hearted as he tried to portray. That was actually reassuring to Ezra.
“No. If we could have captured her, I would have escorted her to the Lords myself. She might have been a good source for information about what our enemies are up to right now,” Ezra said, honest as he could be with the man who had just had his love life turned on its ear.
Chase nodded solemnly. “I know I’ve been a fool, but I really liked her when we first met. I’m not sure when the brainwashing—or whatever you want to call it—started, but she seemed like such a nice girl before…” Chase swallowed hard. “It’s going to take time,” he said finally and turned away.
Ezra felt for the man. Brock put a comforting hand on Chase’s shoulder, and the two werewolf Alphas walked away, back to their waiting Packs. Both Packs were intermingled now, friends again after a harrowing experience, Ezra was pleased to note.
By ones and twos, they began to head back to their bikes and then get on the road back to town. They’d arrived in a staggered fashion to avoid causing too much of a stir. They’d go back the same way.
Arch Hanson came up to the bears with a delegation of older wolves who all had that military bearing Ezra knew, from experience, was hard to shake. Arch looked at Ezra and then at the body of the fallen mage.
“Any plans on what to do with her?” Arch asked quietly.
“Not a one,” Ezra replied. “Do you have any ideas?”
“Clint here is a local, and a fellow SEAL.” Arch gestured to the burly werewolf standing to his right. “We can disappear her where she’ll never be found, if that’s all right. Is there anything special we need to do considering her magical past?”
“If you don’t mind me tagging along, I can take care of that for you,” Jack volunteered. Ezra nodded at the youngest brother, glad he’d stepped up.
“Jack’s your man for magical stuff. He’s got the best nose of all of us and not inconsiderable abilities of his own.” Ezra endorsed the younger bear.
“Then, we’ll be glad of his help,” Arch said, nodding, as did the other ex-military wolves with him. Then, Arch stepped up to Thea and took her hand in his. Ezra watched carefully, bristling at the nearness of any male to his mate. “Thank you, milady,” Arch said softly. “Your bravery in standing up for us has not gone unnoticed. We owe you a blood debt, and we will never forget that. You have friends among the White Oaks and Southern Buttes Packs, now and forevermore.”
Then, Arch leaned down and kissed the back of Thea’s hand like some kind of medieval knight. Ezra watched, bemused, as Thea blushed. She seemed surprised by the attention but truly touched by the warrior wolf’s words.
Arch turned and left her, moving to discuss logistics with his small group of ex-military wolves and Jack. Thea just shook her head as he left, meeting Ezra’s gaze with a sort of shocked and amused expression on her lovely face. Ezra went to her and tugged her in for a quick hug.
“All right?” he asked. When she nodded, he shifted so that his arm was around her shoulders. “Ready to roll? I think these guys can handle the cleanup here.”
“Yeah, I’m ready to leave this place and never come back,” she said, her words dripping with post-battle exhaustion. After the adrenaline that must’ve been powering her moves throughout the confrontation, there was bound to be a bit of a letdown now that things were quieter.
Ezra walked, arm in arm, with Thea back to where they’d left their bikes and took a moment to just hold her before they took off. When they parted, they mounted their separate bikes and headed out, making their way back to town and their waiting hotel room.
Once back at the hotel, Thea stripped out of the borrowed clothes and put them in a plastic bag. She didn’t want to see them ever again, but Ezra might want them for some reason, since they’d belonged to Sarella.
Sealing up the plastic bag as tight as she could, she put it in the farthest corner of the room. She didn�
��t want to be reminded of that woman or her clothes for as long as she could manage it. Sure, the fallout of this day’s work would take a long time to deal with, but Thea didn’t really need the visual reminders on display every time she walked through the room.
Thea heard Ezra making a phone call and letting someone know that the cavalry was no longer needed. He had a large network of friends with very interesting skills, it seemed, which she thought was probably a very useful thing to have when you put yourself on the line as part of your daily work routine. He may call himself a troubleshooter, but he was more of a trouble-magnet.
Of course, there was no one better suited to deal with trouble when it found him. Ezra was one in a million. She’d respected him before, but after the action today, her admiration for his skills and acumen had only risen. He was hell on wheels when it counted and she was so blessed to have him in her life. He was a special man. A special bear.
As she listened for a moment, she could hear him giving a concise report of what had happened. She went about her business as he spent a few minutes explaining the action to whoever he had called, but Thea tuned him out after the first few moments. She had better things to do than rehash what she’d just lived through.
She marched herself straight into the shower and turned the water on as hot as she could stand it. She needed to wash off the stink of the battle. The stink of her own fear and sweat. The smell of Sarella’s blood on her hands.
A hot shower would be a good start.
Ezra let Thea have a few minutes to herself, but he knew not to leave her alone too long. He had a few reports to file, and he could easily guess at the kind of emotional issues sweeping through Thea’s mind.
He’d been in combat. Many times, in fact. He knew what it could be like after, and he hoped he could provide what Thea needed so that she wouldn’t suffer damage to her own fierce spirit by what had happened tonight.
