by Anya Nowlan
She boxed away the pain, focusing on her right hand holding onto the knife. Hot breath hit her face as the wolf growled and nipped at her. Sara had one shot at survival, she had to make it count and she had to make it quick.
She angled her arm so her hand was beneath the wolf’s belly. Pushing upwards with a fast, sharp movement, Sara sunk her knife into the animal’s stomach with all the strength she had left. The wolf yipped, twitching before his body went slack, his eyes growing wide before the light in them faded.
Sara used her legs to shove him off of her. Blood poured over her hand, running down her elbow and splattering her shirt as she pulled the blade from the wolf’s flesh. Sara tightened her hold on the knife, even though her grip was now slippery.
Turning her attention to the door, she saw Everett surrounded by five wolves, snapping and snarling at his feet. Everett sent his paw down on the mutt to his right, claws ripping and shredding until the wolf’s fur was matted with red. At the same time, the other wolves attacked, sinking their teeth into Everett’s flesh.
“Everett!” Sara squealed, panic rising in her throat.
Suddenly, one of the wolves closest to the door was yanked back, his claws leaving marks on the floor as he disappeared into the dark hall. Roars echoed through the building as two massive grizzly bears stomped into the room. Each chose a wolf and pounced, tearing and ripping until the walls were covered in crimson spatter. Only two wolves remained, one of them Keith.
The wolf next to Keith looked around the room, scattered with bodies and painted red. With a little whimper, he backed out of the room and ran for the exit. Keith snarled, barking after the deserter. The two grizzlies, done with their opponents, backed away, giving Everett and Keith some space. Sara could see bloody, matted spots on the animals’ coats.
Everett was on all fours, growling and ready to charge. His paw shot out, missing Keith’s muzzle by inches as the wolf danced away and quickly circled behind Everett. Keith jumped on Everett’s back, digging in his claws. Everett howled, getting up on his back paws in an effort to shake Keith off.
The wolf managed to hold on.
Everett lumbered backwards, slamming into the wall behind him. Keith was crushed between the wall and the bear, yelping. When Everett stepped forwards, Keith fell into a pile on the floor. Amazingly, he still wasn’t ready to give up.
With some struggle, Keith’s wolf got back on its feet, lunging at Everett. The grizzly’s huge paw made contact with Keith in midair. Deep gashes split across the wolf’s head as he hit the floor with a thud.
This time he didn’t get back up.
The bears shifted back to their human form, revealing that it had been Evan and Ethan that had come to Everett’s aid.
“We’re fine!” Evan called out, making it obvious that they hadn’t come alone.
Everett rushed to Sara, who was in a ball on the couch, covered with blood.
“Sara! Are you hurt?” he asked, feverishly scanning her body with his eyes for injuries.
“I’m fine, it’s not my blood…” Sara said, looking down at herself.
Large scratch marks stretched across her arms and chest – cowboy jerk’s parting gift.
“Well, I guess some of it is mine, but most of it is cowboy jerk’s,” she amended, feeling detached from it all.
“The who and the what now?” Everett asked, clearly thinking she was rambling.
Sara pointed to the brown wolf lying in a pool of his blood near the couch.
“That was what I called him before I killed him,” she said, both horrified and slightly proud of her actions.
It was either her life or the wolf’s, there was no question about that, and at the end of the day, she was the one left standing.
Told you you’d live to regret it, Sara thought, turning her eyes from the wolf’s body.
“Let’s get her out of here,” Ethan’s voice came from the other side of the room.
Everett scooped Sara up, carrying her out.
“I’m fine to walk, you know,” she protested softly.
“I know. I just need to hold you,” Everett said, his voice heavy with emotion and his breath still ragged.
Sara couldn’t argue with that.
There were more men waiting outside. Sara recognized Zeke, but the other two she didn’t know.
“This is Aaron and this is Jameson, members of the clan,” Everett quickly explained, gesturing towards the men.
“Nice to finally meet you, Sara. Everett turned into quite a jerk when you went missing,” Aaron noted with a grin.
“Glad to see you’re alright,” Jameson said, giving her a nod.
“She took down a wolf all by herself. I’d say she’s more than alright,” Evan commented, prompting surprised and evaluating eyes to roam across Sara.
“Everything good out here?” Everett asked, sensing Sara was uncomfortable with the attention and trying to divert it to other matters.
“Caught some stragglers, nothing to write home about,” Zeke shrugged.
“I better get her checked out at the hospital,” Everett said, carrying Sara toward his car.
No one objected.
Sara was placed on the passenger side of Everett’s pickup. She sighed deeply as the engine roared to life and the mill disappeared into a dot in their rearview mirror. If she never saw that place again, it would be too soon.
“Sara, I know you’ve been through a lot, but there’s something I need to say,” Everett started, glancing at Sara.
“Okay,” Sara responded after a short pause, unsure of where this was going.
Her mind was still going a mile a minute, reeling from the events that had unfurled.
“When I lost you, everything became clear. I want you in my life and not just for a while. I want you here all the time,” he went on, glancing at her. “You are my mate and I refuse to let you leave without a fight. I know you’re used to being on your own, so am I… But I think this thing we have is worth it; it’s worth a real shot. Sara, I love you,” Everett said, the car suddenly coming to a stop at the curb of the road.
Sara looked at the man who had just risked his life for her and couldn’t hold back the tears that started streaming down her face. No one had ever touched her heart and soul the way he had and the electricity between them was undeniable.
She loved the highway, sure, loved the freedom, answering only to herself. But did she love it more than Everett?
The answer that immediately came to Sara’s mind was no.
Sara threw her arms around Everett, ignoring the pain when her scratches made contact with his body and clothes. Having him close filled her with a kind of calm that told her she would always be safe with him around.
“I love you, too,” she whispered, the words more true than any she had ever spoken. “You won’t have to fight anymore, I’ll stay,” she continued before Everett’s mouth crushed against hers.
Epilogue
Sara lowered herself down with the grace of a baby giraffe.
Her large belly made even the most mundane of tasks an uncomfortable struggle. The room she was in was still unfinished, tools scattered on the ground and the furniture covered in plastic.
Sara landed in the chair with a thud.
Everett jumped up from inspecting something on the floor.
“Baby, I think you should be at home, resting,” he said, rushing over to Sara.
“I’m pregnant, not ill,” Sara responded with an eye-roll. “I want to see how everything is going. We’re set to start hauling next month,” she continued, her gaze roaming around the room.
“We’ll be ready, don’t worry,” Everett said, kneeling down in front of Sara and placing his big hands on her stomach.
“And all the timber suppliers we talked to are still on board?” Sara asked, a hint of nervousness in her voice.
She’d never had a business of her own before. Even though she knew the trucking industry inside and out, it was still a daunting undertaking. And now, with the p
regnancy, she’d had to let most of the work fall on Everett.
He laughed.
“Calm down, everything is going to be fine,” Everett said reassuringly. “All you have to worry about is taking care of yourself,” he added, planting a kiss on Sara’s cheek.
Footsteps drew near as Ethan and Jennifer appeared in the doorway.
“I’m almost done in the other room, want to take a look?” Ethan asked Everett, prompting him to stand up and follow his brother out.
Jennifer took the seat next to Sara.
“How are you doing?”
“Oh, you know. Like I’m about to pop,” Sara noted with a wry smile.
“I know the feeling all too well,” Jennifer giggled.
“And you had two of them in there!” Sara exclaimed, staring at Jennifer.
“Well, there you go. You only have to push out one. Easy-peasy,” Jennifer winked, patting Sara on the shoulder.
Ethan and Everett walked back into the room, discussing different finishing options for wood.
“Okay, we’ll pick this up tomorrow. I’ve got to get home and cook this one some dinner before she gets cranky,” Everett said, giving Sara a pointed look.
“Hey, eating for two here,” Sara protested, hands on her belly.
“Okay, okay, come on. Let’s go,” Everett smiled, extending a hand and pulling Sara up from the chair.
Jennifer wrapped Sara in a quick hug.
“We still on for lunch tomorrow?” she asked as she was pulling away.
“You betcha,” Sara confirmed, taking Everett’s arm.
They all walked out together, Jennifer and Ethan getting into their car and Sara climbing into Everett’s pickup. It was chilly outside and Everett turned up the heat as soon as they were in the car.
Sara was lost in thought for most of the drive home. How drastically her life had changed over the past year. It used to be just her and her truck, and now she was part of a huge bear family with another member on the way.
To think how different everything could have been, if Keith’s plans hadn’t been interrupted.
The wolf pack suffered a devastating loss the day Sara was kidnapped and they were yet to recover. It was rare to see a Clearpond member out and about around town now. And when you did spot one, they looked like they had their tail between their legs even in human form. While the wind had definitely been let out of their sails, Sara was sure they hadn’t seen the last of the Clearponds.
Everett pulled up to his cabin, or more precisely, their cabin.
Learning to share had been tricky at first, but they’d figured it out. It was all about compromise and effective communication.
Resolving conflicts with hot, sweaty sex didn’t hurt, either.
Sara plopped down on the couch as Everett went to work in the kitchen. After a while, the smell of tomato and garlic filled the air.
“That smells familiar,” Sara said, feeling nostalgic.
“Spaghetti Bolognese. The first dish I ever cooked for you,” Everett said, coming to sit down on the couch next to Sara. “The sauce needs to simmer a bit,” he said, pulling her into his shoulder.
“Have you given more thought to the name?” Sara asked, patting her belly.
“We could continue with the E theme,” Everett offered. “You know, Evan, Ethan…”
“Eduardo?” Sara interjected with a laugh. “Did you ever think this is where you’d end up? Starting another business, a baby on the way?” Sara suddenly asked.
“Not until I met you,” Everett said, kissing the top of her head before heading back into the kitchen.
Sara settled in, absently running her hand over her belly, and after a while, Everett reappeared with plates of food.
“I think I finally might be a match for you in the eating department,” Sara noted before chowing down. “If I happen to fall, I’m in serious danger of rolling away,” she added with a sigh.
“You are absolutely beautiful,” Everett said, placing a hand on her ever-growing stomach.
“Yeah, right,” Sara snorted. “I’m a balloon!”
Everett set his plate down, prompting Sara to do the same.
“You will always be the sexiest woman I have ever seen,” he said, pulling Sara close.
He brushed her hair behind her ear, pulling Sara’s face close to his.
Sara licked her lips in anticipation, the crackle of electricity between them still as strong as the first day they met.
Everett pressed his lips softly against hers. Without even thinking about it, Sara edged closer, wrapping herself in the warmth rolling off Everett’s body.
Their kiss deepened, steaming plates of pasta forgotten on the table.
“I can reheat it later,” Everett said, tearing himself away for a second and scooping Sara up into his arms.
Even now it caused him no difficulty. Sara was pretty sure she’d really need to get a grizzly bear appetite and maintain it for a couple of years before it ever became a problem.
“Where are you taking me?” Sara demanded with a laugh.
“To the bedroom, of course,” Everett chuckled nonchalantly.
“You know, that is how we got ourselves into this in the first place,” Sara said, glancing at her tummy.
Heat was already spreading out across her body, well aware of the things Everett could do to her.
“I remember,” he said with a sly smile as the bedroom door slammed shut behind them.
Big Bad Wolf
Sweetwater Brides
One
Rachel
“Aah!” Rachel yelled as boxes upon boxes of cereal fell on top of her head.
Good thing this isn’t a shelf of canned beans, or I might have been in some real trouble, she thought, rubbing her forehead.
Rachel was in the middle of shoving the boxes back into their respective places when a tiny woman with short curly hair ran into the supply room, scanning the space with a concerned look.
“What happened? Are you okay?” she asked, walking towards Rachel.
“Everything’s fine, Alice. Just noticed we were running low on Frosted Flakes and came back here to get some more,” Rachel replied, scooping up a couple of boxes and heading towards the door while rubbing the sore spot on her head.
“Whoever stacked these was obviously trying to kill me,” she continued, glancing at the merchandise in her arms.
“I think that was you,” Alice responded with a raised brow, turning sideways to let Rachel pass.
Rachel considered it for a moment.
“Sounds about right,” she said with a slight shrug. “I always knew I’d be my own worst enemy.”
Rachel had been running the general goods store in Sweetwater, Wyoming for a good couple of years now after buying it from the previous owner. While she was a savvy businesswoman, she still needed help in some areas. That’s why she’d hired Alice.
After all, I can’t be good at everything, Rachel thought wryly.
“Let me get those,” Alice said, taking the boxes from her hands and disappearing to stock the shelves.
Rachel took her usual spot behind the counter. The little bell above the store door jingled, prompting her to look up from the shipping slips she was studying. She quickly tucked them away behind the register, ready to greet the customer.
“Oh hey, you,” she said, relaxing as Everett Grimpaw sauntered in, ducking a little to fit in through the doorframe.
“Hey, Rachel, how’s it going?” the man responded, walking over and leaning on the counter.
Everett was a tall, striking man with a muscular frame and thick dark brown hair. When he’d asked Rachel out almost two years ago, she’d happily said yes. They went to dinner, had a great time, and ended up talking for hours. Everything was seemingly going great.
Rachel still vividly remembered how the night had ended. They stood awkwardly outside this very same store, the second story of which was also her home. Everett leaned in for a good night kiss. Rachel sensed that it stemmed more
from obligation and curiosity than any real eagerness.
She wasn’t exactly burning with passion either. As soon as their lips touched, they both felt it.
Nothing. Absolutely nothing.
No butterflies, no hunger, no spark at all.
It was a troublesome trend that had carried over to her subsequent forays into finding love.
Everett and Rachel’s first date had also been their last, but they remained good friends. The date had gone well after all; they just had no desire for a physical relationship.
“Oh, you know – same old, same old. How’s Sara?” Rachel said, asking about the woman who definitely did make Everett’s heart beat faster.
A small twinge went through Rachel. She was happy for her friend, no question. But she was still painfully single and all but ready to throw in the towel when it came to dating.
“Good. Definitely has her hands full with the little one though. He keeps shifting at the most inopportune moments,” Everett responded with a laugh.
Anywhere else, that sentence might have caused some raised eyebrows or puzzled stares, but this was shifter country. Sweetwater was home to two shifter clans – the Grimpaw werebears and the Clearpond werewolves. Safe to say, the two didn’t exactly get along, but it did mean that it took more than a bit of shifting-talk to surprise Rachel.
The Grimpaws had been growing in numbers and power for a while now, and factions within the Clearpond wolves felt threatened by that. They had taken shots at the bears too many times to count, often using less than honorable methods, or at least so she’d heard. The resulting defeats had almost torn the pack apart with infighting and power struggles.
Rachel barely saw any of the Clearponds around town anymore, and she didn’t really mind. She had had to have two shelves and a freezer unit replaced a couple of months ago after two Clearpond members happened to run into each other at her store and got into an all-out brawl. As much as Rachel could gather, they’d had differing opinions on who the pack should choose as their leader.
