Hunter felt warmth cover him as he looked over at his friends. From the moment they’d met in the bar, he’d known there was something special between them.
In the years they’d worked together, they’d become more than friends. They’d become his family. And by offering to put their own hides on the line to help protect his mate, they’d become a part of his soul.
“Guys, I don’t know what to say.”
“Say you’ll mate Kelly and stick around to hang with us,” Garrett said. “We can find plenty of work around here.”
“Yeah, don’t make me punch you,” Grayson added.
It was more than Hunter had ever hoped. From the moment he’d met Kelly, any desire to wander had been gone. He was ready to just set down his roots. All he needed to do was find that bear. “Okay. Deal.”
Garrett was beaming behind his beard, and Grayson looked uncomfortable with all of the mushiness.
“Okay, so what do we do now?” Grayson sat forward, rubbing his hands together.
Garrett cocked his head thoughtfully. “The article said something about him coming out when someone dates her.”
“Right,” Hunter said, wondering where the bear was going with this.
“Well then, keep dating her,” Garrett said simply.
A grin spread over Hunter’s face, and he cracked his neck to both sides. “Sounds good.”
And it did, both the dating of his mate and the horrible, painful death of the bear that would surely ensue shortly.
* * *
Kelly was grateful that her new friends were acting cheerful and normal as she waited for Hunter to finish talking to the guys about their plans.
For all she knew, once they found out the kind of danger she was bringing they would reject her, wanting to protect their families from her craziness and the bear.
She wouldn’t even blame them, but she at least believed that Hunter would stay by her side.
He’d reacted unlike anyone else, and she was grateful for that. More grateful than she’d ever been in her life. What she’d done to deserve such a handsome, protective, honorable man, she didn’t know.
But she would try hard to treat him just as well.
Hunter strode back into the room, holding two glasses of lemonade. “Here,” he said, handing one over to her. “Want to join me outside for a walk?”
She eyed him suspiciously, wondering why he would feel confident doing that with the bear outside, but agreed, following him to the front door.
As they headed out into the sunlight, Hunter took a turn toward the pond they’d hung out by the day before.
When he reached an older log with room for the both of them, he sat, patting the space beside him.
She looked around them warily, but not seeing any sign of the bear, she sat down as well.
The pond was shimmering in the sunlight, sending little ripples of bright silver across its surface. She released a deep breath as she let herself enjoy the beauty of nature again. The smell of fresh air, the feel of the cool breeze.
Sunlight warming her skin.
Now that Hunter was by her side, she had a feeling she was never going back to the darkness.
“I talked to the guys, and we’re confident we’ll be able to catch this thing before it hurts anyone else. Especially you. I can promise you that.”
She took a deep breath, then a sip of her lemonade, giving her time to think. “Look, I’m glad you aren’t running or thinking I’m crazy, but I’m a little worried about how nonchalantly you’re taking the bear thing. I mean, it’s huge. Dangerous. Shouldn’t we call someone in?”
He shook his head. “We can deal with it. I told you. I’ve dealt with bears before. Back in Montana.”
“What, are you a literal hunter?”
“Kind of,” he said. But he sipped his lemonade, not elaborating further. “Besides, as you’ve seen, not many people are willing to believe you, and the people you’ve hired never got any results. I think you’ve finally found the right help.”
“Ah. Well, I appreciate it.” Even if a part of her was still very nervous about something happening to her friends. She’d never had anyone agree to face the bear with her, so she’d never really had to worry about it before.
Sure, she’d been concerned that someone around her could be affected, but none of them had offered to go on the hunt.
“So what’s the plan?”
“Draw him out. Let him see us,” Hunter said, taking another sip and looking across the pond.
A chill went up Kelly’s spine as she realized this was the first step in it. Out here, they were totally exposed. “Don’t you even want to carry a gun?”
“I can if it makes you feel better.”
“How else are you going to beat him?”
“I have my ways,” Hunter said. It wasn’t the first time she could tell he was hiding something.
“What, like tranquilizers?”
“Something like that,” he said. “But I’ll carry a rifle if it helps. I’m sure Mina will let me keep one at the bar. That’s another place we’re planning to hang out to draw the bear out.”
“I see,” Kelly said. “And you’re sure we want to just face it head on like this? Because I’m fine if you just want to run.” She bowed her head shyly, then looked up into his eyes. “As long as I’m with you, I could deal with that.”
He put an arm around her shoulder, pulling her in. “I hear you, but if I’m going to travel with you, I’m going to do it because we want to. Not because we’re scared of a punk bear.”
She laughed. “Never heard it phrased like that.”
“I’m not afraid of no bears,” Hunter joked. “Besides, I told you. I actually killed one before.”
“Oh?”
“He was attacking my sister,” Hunter said. “I didn’t have any choice. This time I won’t be caught off guard, most likely. And I’ll be older as well.”
She wondered if the scratches on his back had anything to do with that but didn’t want to ask him in case it was a sore spot. He hadn’t wanted to talk about it much before.
“We can stay where we want to, but Garrett has invited us to stay here,” Hunter said. “All I ask is that we go everywhere together while we’re trying to figure this out.”
“Sounds fair,” Kelly said. “But I’m sorry you have to babysit me.”
“You mean you’re sorry I get an excuse to spend every waking minute with you? I’m not. I haven’t been able to get enough of you from the moment we met.”
“You move quick. I’ll give you that.”
“You have no idea,” he said cryptically, a little smile curving the corners of his lips.
She stared at him, wondering what that meant, but he was just sipping his lemonade, looking all nonchalant.
She gazed around the clearing again, looking for any sign of the monster. “Still can’t believe we are just going to try and draw him out.” She shuddered. “What if something happens to you?”
“Something did happen to me, Kelly,” Hunter said softly. “You happened. And I’m not going to leave your side.”
Then he leaned in to kiss her, and her curls brushed her cheek as the wind blew over them, contrasting beautifully with the warmth of their kiss.
His lips held a promise, and his hand gently stroked at her cheek.
She knew he would protect her, and she didn’t even really know why.
It all still felt surreal, finally being safe like this, finally having people by her side.
But if it was a dream, she didn’t want to wake up.
Finally, he pulled back, extending a hand to her so he could help her stand up. “Let’s go back and get lunch with the others. We can go out again tonight.”
She nodded, putting her hand in his so they could walk back together.
“We’re all here for you this time, Kelly. It ends with the bear right here in Silver Lake.”
Chapter 13
Hunter thought it was a good idea to go out drinking that
night, both because everyone could relax and have some fun after a stressful day and because he just wanted to get in another few dances with his mate.
Grayson and April had joined a poker game and were currently making some locals cry over their wallets, and Garret and Dawn were talking to Mina at the bar.
Hunter was sitting with Kelly, enjoying the flush on her cheeks as she seemed to finally be accepting that she was safe and not alone.
Mina had agreed to let Hunter keep a shotgun behind the bar just because it seemed to make Kelly more comfortable. She’d said it might help to deter drunks anyway.
Drunks were the least of Hunter’s worries tonight. Not that he actually thought the bear would follow them to a bar, but he was ready if it did and hadn’t yet imbibed any alcohol.
He wasn’t sure if the bear would even show up anytime soon, or if he was the type to go away and come back after a little while, satisfied he’d scared people away from his supposed mate.
Well, that bear could go fuck itself if it thought it was going to take Kelly from Hunter. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d been so pissed.
Kelly smiled up at him warmly, sipping a beer from the tap. Well-being spread through his whole body every time he saw her enjoying herself, free of threat.
“How’s the beer tasting?” He sat next to her with a grin.
“Great,” she said. “Best beer ever. Though, it may be the company I have.” Her brown eyes twinkled.
“Maybe,” he said, putting a hand on the counter. “Mina? Another lemonade.”
“No drinks at all tonight?” Mina asked, coming over from where she’d been helping Garrett.
“Nope,” Hunter said. “Gotta keep an eye on this little lady right here.”
Mina’s green-brown eyes twinkled. “I had a feeling you two would be good for each other.”
Suddenly, shoving erupted from the card table, and Hunter heard Grayson let out a snarl as he got between his mate and a poker player who had clearly had a little too much.
“Cut it out, Barnaby,” Mina yelled at him. “Don’t play if it makes you pissed off.”
“She cheated!” Barnaby slurred, swaying slightly as he jabbed a finger in Grayson’s direction. Two of his friends stood at another booth and walked over, clearly intending to back him up.
Also clearly just as drunk.
Grayson sent a look at Hunter and Garrett, and both of them stood and came to stand at Grayson’s side.
Barnaby was the first to take a swing, clumsily, but Grayson just side-stepped him, grabbed him by the collar, and began to drag him outside as April stepped out of the way, covering her mouth with her hands.
The other two stumbled forward, and Hunter and Garrett followed suit, grabbing and dragging the men out by their scruffs.
After they’d deposited the men roughly in the dirt, Mina came over to lock the door and bolt it shut.
“I’m sorry,” she said to the rest of the bar. “Don’t know why this always happens. I’ll unlock when they’ve headed off.”
“Mina!” Barnaby’s voice carried through the doorway. “I’m sorry! Let me back in! I won’t gamble again!”
“You’ll never learn if you don’t get consequences!” Mina shouted back, leading to grumbles from Barnaby and his friends behind the door.
Grayson sat back at the card table with the three other people he’d been playing with, along with April, and calmly began to deal out the cards.
Slowly, the bar returned to normal, with banter and drinking and music playing overhead.
Hunter noticed Kelly swaying slightly and bobbing her head to a certain song, and he stood, reaching out a hand to her.
“Can I have this dance?”
She looked up at him, and her sparkling brown eyes were clearly a little buzzed. Probably just enough to give her that warm, relaxed feeling she needed so bad.
She nodded and practically fell into his arms. He smiled, propping her up with one hand on her back and the other hand clasping hers to the side.
Her body was warm, and her cheek against his shoulder felt extra flushed. She smelled amazing, like vanilla and wild violets, and he hummed as he held her close, enjoying the feel of her in his arms.
Then a scream broke the quiet of the moment, and Hunter jerked up his head in alarm.
There was pounding on the door, followed by more yelling.
“Mina! Let us in! There’s a goddam bear out here! For the love of God!”
Mina rushed to the door, trying to unlock it even as it rattled from the force. When she got it open, Barnaby and his friends piled in.
Hunter led Kelly to a stool right by Dawn and Garrett and then walked over to where Mina kept the shotgun.
He pulled it out from under the counter and slung it over his shoulder as he headed for the door, knowing he wouldn’t need it but it would make Kelly feel safer.
Truth was the gun wasn’t good enough. When Hunter killed that bear, he wanted to use his claws and his teeth.
As Hunter exited the bar and pushed the door shut behind him, hearing people still panicking inside, he looked out across the road, almost thinking the bear would have vanished.
To his surprise, it was there, standing on the edge of the road, lit by moonlight, calm as could be.
It had soulless black eyes and was truly gigantic, the size of a shifter bear.
So that answered at least one question.
It paced, staring at Hunter, then glared past him at the bar, raising its nose to sniff the air and looking agitated and eager to go over there.
Over Hunter’s dead body. He felt the cougar rising inside, the shift just a second away.
But he couldn’t right now because Kelly and the others might be watching.
He took another step forward, shouldering the shotgun and aiming it at the bear, more for show than anything else.
As much as he wanted to take on the bear, this wasn’t the right place to do it. No amount of human ammo would take this thing down or stop it from regenerating, and fighting it in cougar form in plain sight of humans was against every shifter law.
So right now he just needed to scare it away.
Hunter took a step forward, letting just a partial change take over. He felt his canines elongate as he bared his teeth in a frightening smile. He let his claws extend, knowing they would glisten, attracting the bear’s attention in the moonlight.
The bear stared at Hunter, clearly confused and off-kilter, and then took a step back, scenting the air.
That’s right, douchebag. You can’t smell what I am at all.
A power unique to cats.
The bear huffed and paced side to side, then made as if to charge Hunter.
Hunter let a low growl emanate from the center of his chest, signaling that he was not going to run. His teeth extended even farther.
The bear stared for a long moment, going eerily still. Hunter scented the air and felt the bone-deep sensation that whatever this animal was, there was something not right with it.
If evil had an aura, this was it.
Hunter took one more step of warning, ready to engage if the creature didn’t back off.
But apparently, it also didn’t want to fight tonight, and it turned and rumbled off into the bush.
Hunter waited, using his excellent hearing to make sure the bear was really heading off, not just going a little way to hide and ambush someone.
Finally, when Hunter couldn’t hear or scent the bear any longer, he walked back to the bar, ready to face whatever people wanted to say to him there for going out to face a bear alone.
When he opened the door, the bar went quiet, save for Kelly who was struggling against April and Dawn who were trying to hold her back.
Tears were streaming down Kelly’s face, and when Dawn let her go, she went running to Hunter, throwing her arms around him and burying her face in his chest.
“What were you thinking just going out there without any backup?” Mina asked, looking at him in disbelief. “You
should have stayed here with us. You could have been hurt.”
“I had my reasons,” Hunter said. But he regretted doing anything at all if it had caused Kelly pain. He stroked her hair back. “Shh, I’m okay.”
“I was so worried. They wouldn’t let me go to you, and I didn’t know if you were all right. If anything happened because of me…”
He tilted her face up, cupping her cheek. “Hey. It wouldn’t be because of you. I made my choice to face that bear. If anything, it’s his fault. But anyway, he’s gone for now.”
Her eyes, now that they weren’t fearful, had a hint of disappointment. “But he’ll be back.”
“Not tonight. I don’t think,” Hunter said. “I think he wants to catch you alone. I don’t think he wants to fight if he doesn’t have to. I don’t think he wants an audience as well.”
She sighed. “Okay, then. How are we going to draw him out?”
“Stupid bears are pretty patient, but eventually, he’ll see I’m not leaving and he’ll have to go through me to get to you. And then I’ll destroy him.”
Her arms dug into the back of his shirt as if his words weren’t any real comfort to her. “I don’t want you to be in danger for my sake.”
He pulled her in close against his chest again, glad that talking was resuming in the bar and people were letting him and Kelly just recover in their own little corner by the front.
No one was listening in.
“It’s my choice, Kelly. You can’t take it from me.” He loved the feel of her curls as they grasped at his fingertips like little springs. “Please say you won’t.”
“If you got hurt, I wouldn’t be able to take it. Not for the rest of my life.” She shook her head against his chest desperately.
“Hey, you think I’d lose to a big, dumb bear? When the woman I love is at stake.”
She looked up at him slowly, brown eyes luminous from the recent tears. Little droplets hovered at the edges of her eyelashes, clinging on. “You love me?”
“Of course,” Hunter said. “I know that’s fast, but I felt something the minute I saw you. I want to date you. I want this to go somewhere. And, Kelly, no matter what you say, I’m going to get rid of this bear. I want there to be no more fear in your eyes. I won’t stop until he is done.”
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