Her Bear Protector

by Bonnie Burrows

  I knelt beside him, wrapping my arms around him. "You're so beautiful." I buried my face in his thick, warm fur. "Thank you for rescuing me that day. I love you."

  He carried me on his back the whole way home.

  Our fifth night in my cabin together, he asked if I'd like to meet his whole family the next day.

  "When I went home to pick up my clothes, I told them how very much in love with you I am, and also that you know about our little secret."

  "And everyone was fine about me knowing?"

  "Completely. They're all very happy for us, and they're all very eager to meet you. They told me to bring you to visit anytime."

  Grinning, I said I'd love to meet everyone.

  But the next day, when we neared his family's cabin settlement late in the afternoon, I suddenly got cold feet.

  "Are you sure everyone will like me? You're sure I won't make anyone uncomfortable because I'm not a shifter like you all are?"

  Arron took my hands, and we both stopped walking.

  "I'm positive everyone will not only like you, but love you. You have to remember, my three sisters-in-law were once non-shifters like you."

  I'd completely forgotten about that.

  Aaron pointed at a line of eight cabins, half-hidden behind a copse of tall evergreens, in the distance. "From left to right, the first cabin is my brother Calvin and Emily's, the next belongs to my brother Andrew and his wife Jasmine, and the next is my brother Lucas and his wife Sarah's. Then next is mine, the one after that is a cabin we use for occasional family meals eaten in human form, and then the final three cabins belong to my brothers Cole, Samuel, and Seth. Behind all the cabins are two larger ones, one for woodworking, and another for Emily's pottery and painting. Between those two cabins, we have a vegetable garden. And just beyond that, in a little clearing, we have a couple of wooden swings suspended from oaks that are probably five hundred years old. Wooden swings built for two."

  Puffy white clouds floated above the entire scene.

  "It all looks so lovely." I turned to Aaron, smiling. "And I do want to swing with you."

  He grinned, his perfect white teeth glinting in the sun. "Good. So you think you're ready to meet everyone, then?"

  "Completely ready now. I hope Emily will show me her pottery studio."

  Soon we arrived at the cabins, spotting Emily walking in front of the cabins, a basket on her hip.

  She seemed to spot us at about the same time and dropped the basket, gasping. "They're here!"

  She knocked on a few cabin doors before jogging over to us, red hair bouncing on her shoulders. "Welcome, Kyla."

  She wrapped me in a hug, and I squeezed her back with one arm, my other cradling a foil-covered plate.

  "It's so wonderful to see you again, Emily."

  It really was.

  I pulled away and handed her the plate. "I made some cookies to share with everyone. Pecan shortbread. Aaron said they're your favorite."

  Emily beamed. "Thank you. I can't wait to try one."

  Just then, several cabin doors opened at once, and soon I was being introduced to Emily's husband Calvin, Sarah and Lucas, Jasmine and Andrew, and Cole, Samuel, and Calvin. The only family member missing was Seth, who was on a hunting trip. Everyone greeted me warmly, embracing me or taking my hand, and Calvin wrapped me in what could only be described as a true bear hug.

  "Congratulations on domesticating my wild beast of a brother." He pulled away, grinning, the movement crinkling the corners of his blue eyes. "Now, see if you can get him to start leaving a few fish in the lake for me at dinnertime."

  A couple hours later, after we'd all shared a family dinner, with the cookies I'd made for dessert, Emily showed me around her pottery studio. A shelf full of dozens of different vases and pots she'd made, all of them painted with flowers, nature scenes, and intricate abstract designs, stood along one wall.

  I examined each piece, marveling at her work. "Everything is so beautiful, Emily."

  She grinned. "Thank you." She paused, surveying a row of vases before turning her gaze back to me. "You know, while it's just the two of us, I just want to tell you something."

  I looked at her. "Sure. What is it?"

  "Well...I just wanted to tell you that I've been in this family nearly a decade, and I've never seen Aaron so happy. He's had a couple of girlfriends over the years, but none that he's even taken home to meet us all, at least not as long as I've been here. And I've never seen his eyes light up when talking about a girl like they do when he talks about you." She smiled. "I guess I just have a feeling that you might eventually become a permanent part of our family...and that thought makes me so happy. I'd love to have you as a sister. And I'd especially love another artist in the family."

  My eyes suddenly a bit misty, I hugged her. "Thank you. I'm so, so happy with Aaron. I just want to be with him forever."

  Emily rubbed my back. "I think you will be. I can't think of anything that could ever come between you two."

  "Me, neither. I think I'm finally entering the happily-ever-after part of my life."

  Later that evening, after Aaron and I had spent some time relaxing together on one of the swings out back, watching the sun set, we joined the whole family for a bonfire in front of the cabins. Aaron and I sat together on a log, fireflies dancing all around us. Calvin strummed an old beat up guitar while Emily gave everyone glasses and began filling them with apple cider.

  Once she was finished, she sat down next to Calvin and lifted her glass. "A toast. To Aaron and Kyla, and many happy years. Here's to their happily-ever-after."

  I clicked my glass with Aaron's, grinning, and began lifting it to my mouth. But before I could even take a sip, a black shape moving down the trail leading to the cabins caught my eye. I watched it for a moment, realizing that the dark shape actually wasn't moving; it was speeding, nearly flying.

  Everyone else seemed to suddenly notice the dark shape, and Aaron stood, peering at it. "It's Seth. Although I'm not quite sure why he's racing at us so fast." He looked at me, putting a hand on my shoulder. "And he's in bear form, so don't be alarmed."

  Within seconds, a medium-sized bear with light, sandy-colored fur skidded nearly to a stop alongside the logs of our bonfire ring, then took off at a gallop towards one of the cabin doors, pushing it open with his head once he reached it. Not more than half a minute later, a twenty-something muscular man with blonde hair emerged, dressed in jeans and a t-shirt.

  He sprinted back to the bonfire, looking right at me. "Is this Kyla?"

  Before anyone could even respond, Seth continued, looking at Aaron. "You need to take her back home. Now."

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  I stood and turned to Aaron, my heart racing. "What's happening? Why does he want you to take me home?"

  Aaron pulled me close. "We'll find out. And no matter what's going on, I'll keep you safe. I promise."

  Wrapped in the strength of his arms, the side of my face on his chest, I believed him. But the almost crazed look in Seth's hazel eyes didn't allow my heartbeat to slow.

  He gestured to Aaron. "Let's all head into the meeting cabin, and I'll quickly explain what this is all about. But then --" He dipped his head in my direction. "You've got to get her somewhere far away. And fast. I said 'back home' earlier, but that wasn't even the right thing to say. She can't go back to her cabin, and even in Houghton she won't be safe. She's got to go far. Here." He began walking to the meeting cabin, motioning for everyone to follow him. "I'll explain everything."

  Aaron squeezed me, his strong arms not doing much to stop me from trembling, and kissed me on the forehead. "Don't be scared. I'll always protect you, no matter what."

  Once we were all seated around a large, circular blonde oak table in the lamp-lit meeting room, Seth continued.

  "The wolves are coming. They're aging outside of the immortality boundaries of the wilds, here -- and they don't like it. They know they'll eventually die. They plan to return and fight us to the death for the lan
d."

  Emily made a little gasp, her big gray eyes wide in the golden lamplight. "How do you know for sure?"

  "I heard them today. I heard their thoughts."

  Calvin let his breath out in a rush. "I always knew this day would come."

  Several others at the table began murmuring, and Emily turned to me, lines of worry creasing her forehead.

  "We can all pick up on the wolves' presences if they're closer than fifty miles away, but Seth's the only one of us that can pick up on their thoughts. And thank God he can, because this warning about their plan is going to give us plenty of time to get you away from all this. Don't worry."

  I nodded, heart sinking, wondering how long I'd have to be separated from Aaron.

  Seth continued. "I traveled far on my hunting trip the past few days, tracking a herd of elk east along the peninsula. And the farther east I went, I started to pick up on their ‘chatter,’ as it were. Mostly Alexander's, although a few of the other six as well. I also was able to detect their physical presence, less than twenty miles to the east of my location at the time. Which means they've already left Canada and are currently back in the U. P. And then today, I heard some of Alexander's thoughts clear as a bell. He plans to lead the pack even farther west across the peninsula tonight and tomorrow. I expect that soon we'll all be able to detect their presence, because very soon they'll be within fifty miles of us."

  Emily suddenly sat up a little straighter, cocked her head to the side for a moment, and frowned. "Just now. They're fifty miles exactly."

  Several other members of the family said they could sense it, too, and Seth nodded.

  "Alexander plans to lead the pack even farther west tonight, rest for a short while, and then close the rest of the distance tomorrow. Then, they'll stop several miles from here, and rest again at night. He knows I'm possibly picking up on his thoughts. He wants us to meet him in the clearing a half-mile east of here for battle at sunrise Sunday morning. And that only gives us a little over forty hours to prepare." Seth paused and took a deep breath, looking at Aaron. "Aaron, what are your thoughts? As our leader, I know you'll have the final say on if we meet them and how we decide to do battle, but as second-in-command, let me say that I want to fight. We can't allow them back in our wilds. We can't give them the chance to hurt any of the people of Houghton."

  Aaron nodded, muscles working in his strong jaw. "We will fight. We'll take them head on. We'll meet them in the clearing Sunday at sunrise, where they will all meet their deaths. I know the seven of us can take them."

  "Seven?" Emily looked around me to Aaron, frowning. "I'm fighting, too."

  Jasmine and Sarah both agreed they would be, too.

  Calvin looked at Emily, his breathing suddenly fast. "Like hell. You'll be somewhere safe during the fight. I won't let you get hurt. Even in bear form, you're much too small to ever take on a wolf. As are all you women, no offense intended. It's just a fact."

  Emily sputtered for a few moments before sighing. "Okay, well, maybe you're right. But I can still help in the fight. And I'm going to."

  A long, loud discussion occurred, with Calvin, Lucas, and Andrew arguing with their wives about who would take part in the battle. Eventually, Aaron was asked to make the final decision, but he declined.

  "I'll allow the women to fight, and I won't try to stop them, but ultimately, I think this is a decision that needs to be made between husband and wife."

  At least ten minutes of arguing between the husbands and wives later, it was finally decided that the wives would stand behind the men during the battle, a very safe distance behind, and would only jump into the fray in the event of extreme need, and even then, only when signaled to do so.

  Calvin took Emily's tiny hand in his own much larger one. "But that won't even be necessary. You and Jasmine and Sarah will be kept safe."

  Emily nodded, seemingly satisfied. "Okay. But if you men get into trouble, I'm going to help. I know you love me too much to see me get hurt, but that feeling goes both ways, you know."

  Soon Aaron was called on to outline specific battle plans and strategy, and he said he would, but later.

  "Right now, Kyla's well-being is my top priority, and I need to get her to safety."

  I turned to Aaron. "But why can't I just stay here? I get that you don't want me near the battle, but I can just wait for you here. I just don't want to be very far away from you. I want to stay."

  He shook his head. "No. Alexander and his pack have the ability to detect human scent from literally miles away. If they detected you here, they'd probably figure out that you're a human very special to this family, and if one of them broke away from the pack and found you here...." Aaron gave his head a little shake. "I don't even want to think about it."

  "Maybe I'll just stay at my own cabin, then."

  "Also too close. Way too close."

  "Houghton, then?"

  "Absolutely not. Some members of the pack could also decide to break away from the pack to cause destruction in Houghton before or during the fight. It's too big of a risk. I want you safely at your home in Detroit while all this is happening, or at least somewhere in the lower peninsula. At the very least."

  "But-"

  "We'll talk more about this later, in private. But my decision is final, Kyla. I won't compromise when it comes to your complete and total safety."

  I could tell by the hard line of Aaron's jaw that he was done discussing the matter with me, and I didn't say anything else.

  Soon it was decided that he'd take me home and help me pack, and then would see me off on the road very early the next morning.

  "Alexander and his pack could be near as early as late tomorrow afternoon. I want you at least across the Straits of Mackinac before then. And I'd actually like you deep into the lower peninsula by then."

  After seeing me off, Aaron would then return to his family for a battle plan meeting, and then they'd all go to the clearing a half-mile east of their cabins to stay the night and prepare for the battle.

  "And then when can I come back to the U. P?"

  "Hopefully very soon, because I intend the fight to be quick. However, Alexander and his pack are cowards. After a few of them are killed, I wouldn't put it past those remaining to flee. And if that's the case, we might be in for a few weeks of tracking them down and dispatching them all before it's completely safe for you to return."

  I cringed inwardly, almost unable to even contemplate a few weeks being separated from Aaron.

  Soon he and I passed the smoldering embers of the bonfire and headed down the trail back to my cabin. When we were out of view of his family's settlement, he took off his clothes, tied them into a pack, and gave it to me. And then he shifted into a bear and carried me home through the dark on his back. I sniffled into his fur the entire time.

  Once he'd shifted back and gotten dressed at my cabin, I asked him if he was absolutely positive that I couldn't stay somewhere close during the coming days. He said he was more than absolutely positive.

  "But what if I disguised my scent or something? What if I rubbed your clothes all over me or something, so that to the wolves, I'd smell like just another shifter?"

  Aaron seemed to consider this for a moment but then shook his head. "No. We can't be absolutely certain that would work, and for how long. Especially not when there's no need to take the risk. Not when we can have you easily far away, safe, until I contact you to return, whether that be days or weeks. Or even longer. I want every possible threat removed before you return."

  I sighed. "I understand that you want me safe. But like Emily said, it goes both ways. I'm worried about your safety, too. I'm scared about you getting hurt or worse. And God forbid you did get hurt, I'd want to be nearby."

  Aaron took me in his arms, just the slightest hint of a smile playing along the edges of his mouth. "I appreciate you being concerned, but I won't be hurt. That I can promise you. I've beaten Alexander in a fight once before, and I'm positive I can do it again."

&n
bsp; I rested my head against his chest, willing myself to believe him.

  A short while later, we went to bed after it was decided that I would stay in Traverse City, a city in the northern part of the lower peninsula, rather than returning all the way home to Detroit.

  Aaron sighed. "I'll agree to it, although Traverse City is just barely far enough away for my comfort."

  "Well, I just agree that I absolutely refuse to be any farther away from you than that."

  Despite the comfort of Aaron's strong arms around me, it took me at least an hour to fall asleep, and once I did, I didn't stay asleep. I was only able to finally enter a deep sleep around one in the morning, after Aaron and I had made love.

  He kissed me awake the next day just before sunrise. He loaded a few suitcases of clothes in my car while I got into the shower, my stomach in knots. Even though I knew that he'd most likely be fine during the battle, and even though he'd promised me that, I knew that realistically, there was a chance, however slim, that he might not be fine. And I knew I could never live with myself if something happened to him and I couldn't be there for him more or less immediately. I shuddered under the warm spray of the shower, imagining him lying in bed, injured, maybe mortally, while I was seven hours away in Traverse City.

  By the time I'd dried my hair and gotten dressed, I'd made a decision.

  Aaron looked at me from the front door. "You ready?"

  I shook my head. "No. I'm not going. You may be the leader of your family, and maybe you can control them, but you can't control me. I'm not going. And that's final."

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  Aaron looked at me, his jaw clenched. "You are going. And that's final."

  "But-"

  "No buts. You are going. I love you, Kyla. Do you seriously think I'm about to take any chances when it comes to your safety?"