Facing the water again, Cord rolled up to a seated position barely mindful of the debris clinging to his own sweat-coated form. His mind played images of the available women in their community. Beautiful Were-females, who were fertile and ready to find a male to commit themselves to for life, females who didn’t stir his heart or his lust. Even his ex was easily discarded. Each one passed through his thoughts in a haze until he reached the only female that had captured every part of him, long ago. He knew she was a woman now, but he could only picture her as a teenage girl, the last time he’d seen her. At almost sixteen, he had already been two years into his first season. However, his mating lust had not fully activated yet.
A group of them had been out fishing and swimming that day. He’d taught her how to fish all afternoon and she’d struggled with the line and hook, getting it caught on everything but in a fish’s mouth. He had visions of teaching her to salmon catch while in bear form as the delicious fish swam upstream to mate. He’d been shocked when the girl had told him that her parents never allowed her to fish or taste of the iron-enriched treat.
She’d laughed along with everyone as they joked around about her poor technique. She’d been over two years younger than he. But, she’d still intrigued him with her natural ebony waves in a wild array surrounding her face, her full lips and her skin, brown as if kissed at birth by the sun. When she’d finally caught a fish, her hazel eyes had shimmered with pride. Sitting on the short pier beside her, he’d been unable to resist. Leaning in he’d kissed her. It was an action done on pure instinct. He didn’t stop to consider the others around them swimming, talking and fishing. It didn’t matter what anyone else thought, whether they saw them.
At that moment, he had to taste her. The kiss had been sweet in the beginning, his lips against hers but an impulse to slip his tongue between her lips changed everything. The contact of their tongues felt as if he’d been shocked by a lightning bolt, causing them both to pause and in that small window of time, he felt her heartbeat. His body seemed to come alive for the first time during that kiss. As a Were, he was ultra sensitive and intensely he felt everything—the inside of her mouth was warm, it throbbed and pulsed, matching rhythm with his. She had been the first to pull away, shy and nervous. Her hand had covered her lips as if trying to control the pulsation; he’d had the same urge. It hadn’t been his first kiss, but he was positive it was hers. Then everything had changed in an instant.
She was gone. Taken away by her mother and he’d never seen her again. Since then, he’d kissed other girls and women, expecting the same result and never finding it. There had been no electric current shooting through his body and the only pulsing he’d felt was in his lap. None of the other women’s heartbeats could he feel unless he reached out and touched their pulse points with his hand. The final disappointment had been his onyx eyes had never become gold again.
“Is it wrong of me to request time to find a partner like you have with mom? A match. Someone whose heart shadows my own?” Glancing away from the shimmering water, he captured his father with a stare.
His father shook his head and dragged his fingers through his short hair. “No, son it is not. However, time is running down. You’re the next in line to lead the sleuth, mayor of Den, but you cannot do that if you are not equipped in all areas. Tim will attempt to sway the county. My brother’s son has a silver tongue and will begin to pull the community in his direction.”
A low growl rumbled in Cord’s chest. “We both know I am stronger than Tim. I have bested him several time—”
The hand his father raised stopped him.
“But he has found his companion, his life mate. Last year, while you were not around…when you left.” His father shook his head, still disappointed by Cord’s actions. “Now, you will begin to see that their joining will provide Tim the strength and leadership he will need. Nita even now is breeding and even that will add to it. As I have told you before, you and your twin sisters gave me great might. I used it to guide the community, not abuse and force them as Artie would have done.” His father sighed and stared up at the stars and the moon. “Now, Tim will desire it from you. It is how my brother has raised him.”
Cord sat silently, just like his father; he cast his gaze toward the heavens, the moon. More than half of it was not visible yet. However, he knew, could sense his time was running out. He would have to choose. All that his father said was correct. His uncle Artie had envied his older brother, Cord’s father, all their lives. Artie had raised Tim with the passion to be mayor of Den.
Did he want the line to be altered because of him? Cord knew deep in his soul that was not the case. His great-grandfather had led the first sleuth of Were-bears into the Redwood Forest in northern California; first to conceal them from humans that would have hunted them down and second to unite them all in one place. Lorek Bjorn built a community and it had thrived under his leadership. That mantle was passed at sixty to the first male son.
“Maybe it is best if Tim takes the community when you step down next year. If I don’t find my real companion, my strength will not increase anyway.”
The warm presence of his father kneeling beside him and the firm hand on his shoulder made Cord look at the older man. The leader of the community.
“Then whichever Were-female you choose, you mate with her fiercely and often. Ensure she is breeding soon and that child will still fortify you. Besides you have my first-born bloodline and that of every Bjorn leader before me so that means you have more strength in your core naturally than Tim could have with five cubs.”
His father’s mouth pulled up on one side. It wasn’t a complete smile, but one Cord understood was meant to encourage him. He’d seen it several times over the last few months.
“I won’t disappoint, Dad.” Cord covered his father’s hand with his.
The smile stretched wide this time. “I never thought you would. Now, let’s go for a swim and get home before your mother sends Mina and Kelly after us.”
“Oh, Great Spirit, I ho—”
Before Cord could finish his sentence the cool water of the lake surrounded him, a result of his father giving him a shove into the water. Cord broke through the surface sputtering, eyeing his father who was still standing on the bank clutching his stomach chuckling. “Fine old man, if you think that’s funny, watch me beat you to the Berend pier.”
Jasper Bjorn’s expression sobered, as he yelled. “You cheat.”
“I didn’t give myself a head start.” Cord called back as he began swimming in the direction of the pier a little under a half-mile away.
There were multiple splashes behind him as not only his father but other males joined the race. Weres were naturally competitive and couldn’t resist a challenge no matter the reason it had been issued.
This was just what Cord needed to take his mind off finding a life mate. Correction, only a companion. At least for a little while he had the pleasure of focusing on nothing but his strokes slicing through the water.
When the pseudo race had ended, Cord was the victor with his father only a single stroke behind him followed by other Den County males falling in. Cord pulled himself onto the pier and sat on the end, staring into the water at the other men looking up at him. Apprehension cloaked his shoulders for a moment. Can I lead them? Am I the right person to lead them?
A Bjorn male had never taken the seat of mayor without a life mate, that additional strength now his father expected it of him.
Tilting his head back he stared up into the night sky. The crescent-shaped moon hung high above his head. Cord wanted to send up a prayer to the Great Spirit, but he wasn’t even sure what to pray for: guidance? wisdom? patience? All of those were probably appropriate but there was only one thing his gut wanted him to entreat the Spirit for, but he doubted it was even an option.
Chapter Two
Rena sat at her desk, feeling green. Her stomach felt like a pitbull had his jaws locked around it and was shaking the rest of her like a ragdoll.
She was so off balance that bile had taken up residence in the back of her throat for hours and was now staging another escape from her stomach. That morning, she had not consumed another anti-nausea pill, not after last night’s prayer at the toilet. Sitting before her computer she tried to concentrate on the data collected on the previous show season, but the image before her was coming in and out of focus with each wave of queasiness. She didn’t want to be at work and she couldn’t afford to go home again. Not if she wanted to keep her job. As soon as she could take a break she was calling her doctor and attempting a lunch-hour appointment.
“We need to talk, Rena.” A firm, light voice spoke to her from the side.
Rena hadn’t even heard her supervisor approaching. Glancing up, she stared at the older black woman, with her designer glasses and long Nubian braids, standing at the opening of her cubicle. “Good morning, Ms. Crawford.” Rena forced a smile on her lips and attempted to lace her voice with cheer.
“It doesn’t look so good for you.” Sighing, her supervisor continued, “My office please.” Turning on the four-inch burgundy heels that complimented the dark gray suit she wore, Ms. Crawford strutted away.
Picking up her ginger ale, Rena took a liberal gulp of the soda, hoping it would calm her stomach, then rose and followed her boss.
“Take a seat, please.” Ms. Crawford moved behind her desk and directed Rena to one of the two chairs beside it.
Claiming one, Rena waited as her supervisor stared at her. The other woman assessed her slowly, looking from her face—that Rena knew was showing beads of sweat—to the hand that clutched at the clothing over her stomach and finally arriving at Rena’s flats that were anxiously tapping against the carpet. Rena had given up wearing heels weeks ago as her sickness had increased. It was bad enough trying to maintain balance standing, let alone fearing she’d topple over three extra inches from the ground.
“You look terrible.” Ms. Crawford’s voice was direct and calm, a touch of sympathy echoed behind it.
“I’m okay.” Rena lied.
“No, Rena you’re not. You look a mess. Your work hasn’t been getting done for weeks and what you do turn in is so below your expert status, it’s laughable.”
Those words hurt, even though Rena knew they were the truth. “I’ll do better. I’ll come in early and stay late if I have to, so I can get things done right.” She could hear the whining in her own voice, but she didn’t want to lose her job and she could almost sense the hammer coming down.
“When, Rena? In between doctor appointments?” Ms. Crawford threw her hands up in a helpless gesture. “You have no more sick time remaining. Another boss would have canned you months ago. But I like you, and over the years you have kicked ass here. But—”
“Don’t say it.” Gripping the arm of the chair, Rena rushed on, “I can do this. I know I can. Green or not, I can do this job better than most people in this department.” She wasn’t bragging but telling the truth. She had a cubicle filled with awards from the station.
Leaning forward, Ms. Crawford barked out, “No, Rena, you’re better than every fucking person I supervise on the production staff and that is the only reason that once you get yourself better I’ll hire you back in an instant. I’ll create a job for you if it comes to it.” In low tones, she finished, “But, now I have to let you go.”
Rena could feel the burning in her eyes and the tears crawling down her cheeks. Nodding, she stood and headed toward the door. There was nothing else that needed to be said.
“Get better, Rena.” It was almost a command, an order from a supervisor to an employee.
Pausing in stride, Rena glanced over her shoulder and took in the smooth sophisticated woman that had trained her and been a good mentor. “I will.”
Continuing on, she went to her cubicle, packed up her things in an old box she’d found and left the building, not stopping to say goodbye to anyone.
~YH~
“Hi, Grandma. What are you doing at the Sheriff’s office at this time of night?” Lying on the cement slab of her balcony patio again, Rena pressed her cell phone to her ear. She was thankful she’d had the foresight to bring it out with her. She was happy it was her grandmother calling her, not her mom. Her mother, Lillian, was the type of parent that called at odd times of the day and night. Most people would call it nosy or controlling, and so would Rena, but she also knew her mother cared and was always concerned. Especially since Rena first became ill. Her mother had encouraged her to go to the physician but also warned Rena about her allergies.
Rena had not opened up to her mother fully. She’d not confessed her cravings and maddening desire for those forbidden items and something else, something she could not completely express to herself or others. She was hearing voices. More like a voice. Not around her but inside of her. So low, Rena couldn’t make out the words.
“It’s not that late in California.”
“That was true.” Rena had momentarily forgotten that it was late in North Carolina where she lived but three hours earlier at her grandmother’s house.
“What’s wrong, Red dear?”
Feeling as if she wanted to cry from the overwhelming ache in her stomach, and the calm comfort of her grandmother using her nickname, Rena inhaled a few breaths and took in the cool night air. She was no weakling and hated that her illness had brought her down to this.
“I’m okay, Grandma.”
“Now, Red, don’t you lie to me.” Genma Berend admonished, the firmness of her statement coming through the line. “I can hear it in your voice that you are not well.”
Her grandmother was always astute, wise and practically clairvoyant if Rena had to put a name on it. With a dry, low laugh, Rena said, “I don’t want you to worry.”
“Let me take care of my own emotions. What’s going on?”
Rena’s heavy sigh shot into the air. Her grandmother had always been her private confidant. Her mother didn’t realize how often she and her grandmother still communicated. Rena’s mother and grandmother had a falling out when Rena was younger and it had been since that time that Rena had seen her grandmother. However, Rena would still go to the park at least twice a month and call her grandmother. She never asked what the disagreement was concerning, and neither of the two women seemed to want to volunteer the information. Her grandmother would always just say, it is your mother’s concerns and not mine to share.
Rena knew better than to ask her mother. The spring after her mother had taken her away, Rena had asked to go see her grandmother. However, her mother had become angry and told her that her grandmother’s county was not ‘safe’ for Rena. Not a healthy place for a young girl to be raised.
She found it hard to believe since her mother had lived in that wooded community all her life, so Rena just let the conversation die.
“I’m not well, grandmother.”
“That I can hear.” Genma was always straight and to the point. “Have you seen a doctor?”
“I have. My physician and I have tried many things over the past year.”
“A year!” The outrage in her grandmother’s voice was more than clear. “Why haven’t you said anything before?”
“I did—”
“Don’t you dare say you didn’t want me to be bothered.”
Rolling to her back, Rena closed her eyes and just tried to absorb the light breeze moving that night. “I wasn’t. I was going to say that I thought it was a passing thing. I didn’t think that almost a year later I’d still have no answers. It’s called modern medicine for crying out loud.”
“But they still don’t know shit.”
“Grandmother!” Rena laughed and groaned, feeling the ache increase as her stomach clenched.
“It’s the truth. Tell me what is going on. What are your symptoms? Maybe I can send you something in the mail.”
Rena didn’t doubt that her grandmother at the moment was taking notes on the various jars of herbs she grew and stocked. In the background she could hear the low hum of r
adio that she knew was in the sheriff’s office from many other calls she’d had with her grandmother. Den County was deep in the woods of Northern California. All of the residents there communicated through CB radios.
“Nausea like I’m going to throw up or pass out at any moment. Which I’ve done both more times than I can count.”
“Hm hmm…what else?” She imagined her grandmother scratching fiercely on a tablet.
“Nothing real.” Moving her hand to her stomach Rena rubbed it mindlessly. “We’ve tried pills and various medicines…I even went to see an acupuncture therapist. That was a joke. She just told me some mumbo jumbo about my life about to change…or transition…or shift… I can’t remember.”
The other end of the line went silent. “Shift? You said she said shift?”
Shaking her head, Rena recalled that frustrating day of finally reaching out to a woman that a coworker had told her helped her to stop smoking. However, the woman didn’t do a thing for Rena and afterward her symptoms even seemed to get worse.
“Something like that. But I’m sure she was indicating that I was going to lose my job. Standing in the unemployment line is one major transition she could have warned me about.”
“Sorry about your job. I know it was something you really enjoyed.”
“I did, but I’m more concerned about getting myself better. I have enough savings to get by for a while.”
“Red, are you sure sweetheart that nothing else is going on? That you’ve had no other symptoms?”
She wondered what her grandmother had cooking in her mind. Genma never asked any arbitrary questions. “No, just the nausea that usually brings on a headache and full body aching. Reason I thought it was just a bad case of the flu.”
“I see. Anything strange happen?”
Strange? Rena pushed herself up to a sitting position. The hair on her arms rose and there was a tingling sensation along her spine. Did my grandmother know something about what was going on with me? “Grandmother, do we have a family history of some kind of illness? I tried to ask mother, but she just shooed me off the topic and simply instructed me to stick to my diet.”
Red's Bear (Erotic Shifter Fairy Tales) Page 2
