9781631054747HerstoBearHoffa

by Tamara Hoffa

  Jenna tsked at him, and he turned to the closet to pull on some slacks and a shirt, just as a knock sounded at the door.

  “Thank you, Hans,” Jenna said taking the bag from his hands. “We’ll be down in a minute.”

  “Yes, ma’am,” Hans said with a nod. She lifted an eyebrow at him. “I mean Jenna.”

  She nodded. “Okay, see you soon.” She closed the door and crossed to the bathroom mirror, leaving the door open, she dumped the contents of her purse on the vanity and rummaged for her foundation.

  Jenna quickly applied foundation, blush, powder, eye shadow, mascara and lipstick, while she heard Bern grumbling in the bedroom about females and taking forever to get ready.

  She shoved everything back in her purse and stepped back into the bedroom with the clutch under her arm, swinging her hair around her shoulders. “Ready to go.”

  Bern stood up from the bed and came over to kiss her. “Worth the wait too. I guess.”

  “Don’t muss my lipstick.”

  “Oh, that will not work,” he said, taking his finger and rubbing the lipstick from her lips, he kissed her soundly. “You can wear lip gloss, because I will kiss you anytime I want, little one.”

  “Bossy bear,” she muttered and she dug a lip gloss from her bag and swiped her lips.

  “Mmm, strawberry,” Bern hummed. “Better yet.”

  “You’re terrible!”

  “And you love it.”

  She smacked his arm. “It’s a good thing I love you or I would have to put you in your place.”

  He kissed her nose. “Yep, good thing.” He took her arm and led her from the room. “Let’s wait in my office. Sebastian should be here soon.”

  Jenna looked at her watch, it was 1:53, and yeah Sebastian would be here soon. When they reached the bottom of the stairs they could hear a car pulling into the driveway, so they bypassed the office and headed to the front door.

  Jenna and Bern stood side by side outside the open front door waiting for Sebastian and his entourage to exit his SUV.

  The driver exited first, surveying the area from behind his dark mirrored glasses before he moved around to the passenger side and opened the door for Sebastian’s second, Anton. Anton carefully scented the air, walked a full circle around the vehicle and then returned to open the back seat door of the SUV. Victor and two other men Jenna didn’t recognize left the vehicle, forming a tunnel into which Sebastian exited.

  He stepped forward, surrounded by his men and they walked forward as a group toward the front porch. Once they reached the steps, Bastian waved a hand to halt the men’s progress and walked forward with his hand extended to Bern. The two men shook and then Bastian leaned in to kiss Jenna’s cheek.

  “It’s so good to see you again, my friends.”

  “You as well, my friend,” Bern said, clapping him on the shoulder. “Let’s go to my office.”

  “Come along, men,” he called over his shoulder.

  It was a good thing Bern had a spacious office because seven very large shifters and one not so small soon to be shifted lady took up a lot of room. The men scattered around the office and settled on couches and chairs, Bern distributed drinks and then took the place of power behind the huge oak desk with Jenna perched on his lap.

  How a mood could be somber and joyous at the same time, Jenna didn’t quite understand, but that was the feeling in the room. The men were happy, yet you could tell the event was a momentous occasion.

  Sebastian was the first to speak, he leaned forward in his chair. “Bern, gentlemen, I am pleased and honored to be here today. I hope this is but the first of many gatherings between our circles.”

  Bern tightened his grip on Jenna. “Bastian, you do me a great honor by bonding with me today. I am aware of your power. I feel it in my bones. I believe our union will be beneficial to all concerned, and I pray to God and Goddess that all shifters remain safe from harm.”

  All the members of the group voiced words of agreement, from “Amens.” To “I’ll second that.”

  Bern tapped Jenna on the hip and she stood, he walked around the desk until he was standing in front of Sebastian. “We will conduct the ritual in the circle at sunset, before my clan tonight, and then again tomorrow in front of your pack. Is this acceptable to you, Alpha Von Drake?”

  Sebastian stood, and the two men were eye to eye. They clasped arms, hand to wrist, in a warrior’s handshake. “It is acceptable, Sippe Helms,” he responded with a nod of his head, and with that the formality was ended. Bastian’s face broke into a broad grin and he slapped Bern on the shoulder.

  “Now, lead me to this famous bar-b-que I’ve heard so much about!” he said.

  “I’ve got a whole pig in the pit roasting away,” Bern said. “It’s gonna be good eats tonight.”

  “Oh, man. That sounds great,” said Viktor. “I love roast pig.”

  “Let’s head out to the patio, beer’s in the coolers,” said Martin. “The clan members will be arriving soon and we can start making introductions. We’re expecting about two hundred to show up tonight, because the Sippe is introducing his mate. This is going to be one hell of a clan meeting.”

  Martin hadn’t been exaggerating. People kept arriving, one after the other and every one brought some kind of dish to the pot luck gathering. Jenna had never seen so much food in her life. So far there were six banquet tables covered with casserole dishes, salad bowls, cheese trays and every kind of dessert you could think of. Jenna was thinking of stealing a peanut butter pie and hiding out in the kitchen, no one would miss one little pie, right?

  Jenna had always been a nervous eater and meeting all these people and being the center of attention was definitely making her nervous. Arms reached around from behind her and gave her a hug from behind. Jenna jumped a foot.

  “I’m sorry, darlin’, I didn’t mean to scare you,” Julia said.

  “It’s okay, I’m just kind of jumpy. I’m glad to see a familiar face.” She turned to Julia with a smile. “Are the kids here?”

  “No, James’ mother is babysitting, children aren’t really welcome at clan meetings. Those that aren’t coming take turns watching the kids for the ones that are coming.”

  “Oh.” Jenna could feel her face fall, she was hoping for some little ones to keep her distracted. She looked over the crowd behind Julia. “Where is James?”

  Julia shrugged. “He’s around here somewhere. He probably found Bern and his cronies and is shooting the bull. So, are you excited about the introduction ceremony?”

  Jenna squirmed. “Um, yeah sure.”

  Julia arched an eyebrow at her. “That has the crackle of Confederate money. What’s the matter?”

  “I hate being the center of attention. I’m afraid I’ll embarrass Bern. I’m not beautiful or sophisticated, or…” She shrugged.

  Julia hugged her, and then held her by the shoulders and looked into her eyes. “Jenna, you have to understand something about shifters. Humans place a lot of emphasis on outward things—physical appearance, status, sophistication. For shifters, it’s all about what’s inside—strength, power, heart, soul. Something in your soul touched Bern’s. That’s all the clan will care about. Plus I’ve seen your heart. I see how you are with the children, Sarah adores you. I can already tell you and I will be the best of friends. Just relax, Jenna, you are already one of us.”

  The sincerity in her eyes was hard to ignore and Jenna felt some of the tension in her shoulders loosen. “Thank you. I think we’ll be good friends too.” She leaned in and kissed Julia’s cheek.

  “Now, did you see that dessert table? I think we should steal a pie and sneak off to the kitchen,” Julia said.

  Jenna laughed. “That’s what I was thinking when you walked up!”

  “Peanut butter!” they said together and laughed like loons. Bern walked up and laid his hands on Jenna’s shoulders. “What’s so funny?” Both women laughed harder and almost fell over in their mirth.

  Bern looked between Jenna and his sister
and shook his head. James had joined them and looked at his brother-in-law. “Do you have any idea what’s going on, James?”

  “Not a clue, but I’ve learned not to ask,” James answered.

  Julia wrapped her arms around her husband and kissed his cheek. “Good answer, husband.” Julia finally managed to control her laughter enough to speak.

  Jenna threw an arm around Bern’s waist and leaned against him. “Julia was just trying to make me less nervous,” she said.

  “Well, it looks like she succeeded,” Bern said.

  “Yes, she did,” Jenna responded with a smile. “She is an angel.”

  “Oh my God, stand back, James, lightning is gonna strike.”

  Julia punched him in the arm. “I am so unappreciated! It’s a good thing I have a new sister, because my brother is a brat.”

  “Your sisters would say the same thing.” Bern chuckled.

  Julia blew a raspberry at him.

  “So mature, Jules,” Bern said with a wink at Jenna.

  “Stop being mean to my sister.” She nudged him with an elbow.

  “You’re taking her side?” Bern asked.

  “Of course! We girls have to stick together,” Jenna replied.

  “Great,” James muttered. “As if we weren’t already outnumbered enough.”

  “We’ll just have to have lots of sons, so we can even out the group,” Bern said with a nod.

  Jenna could feel the blush crawl across her face to the roots of her hair. She looked at him in shock.

  “Just for that, I think I’ll only have girls!”

  “You know it’s the man’s sperm that determines the sex of the child?” Bern intoned sagely.

  “And you know I can close my legs and say this station is closed for business, right?” Jenna snipped.

  Julia grabbed James’ arm and said. “I think we better be going now, you started a shit storm, and I don’t want to be here for the fall out.”

  The two bears skulked away while Jenna glared at Bern.

  Bern advanced slowly toward Jenna and put his hands on her shoulders, she shrugged them off and turned her back. He wrapped his arms around her from behind and started kissing her neck. She tried to stay mad, but damn, that felt so good, involuntarily her head tipped to the side to give him better access.

  “Are we seriously fighting about whether we will have boys or girls as children?”

  Jenna felt another blush, this one from embarrassment instead of anger. She turned in his arms. “I’m sorry, I can’t believe I flew off the handle like that. I’m just so nervous, I over-reacted.”

  “I’m sorry too. I shouldn’t be teasing you when I know you’re all keyed up.” He kissed her tenderly on the lips, brushing his tongue across the seam, seeking entrance. She opened for him and their tongues mated, reaffirming their bond with passion and caring.

  Chapter Twelve

  “Goddess be with you.” Bern intoned from the center of the circle. Jenna stood to his right and Sebastian to his left. Martin, Guiles and Hans stood behind Bern. Anton, Viktor and Ivan stood behind Sebastian.

  The meeting had begun. “Brotherhood, strength and honor hold the circle,” the assembled group replied and Jenna felt goose bumps cover her skin.

  “It is my honor and privilege tonight to not only present to the clan my beloved mate, but also to join in a blood bond with my brother wolf, Sebastian Von Drake.”

  Gasps and murmurs rippled through the crowd and Bern raised his hands to silence them. “I know this comes as a surprise to some of you, and frankly the offer came as a surprise to me. A blood bond has not been formed in centuries and we are honored to be joining with the Von Drake Pack.”

  Cheers went up from the crowd. Bern turned to Sebastian with a nod and the two men stepped forward and faced one another. They stood with their hands on each other’s shoulders.

  Sebastian spoke in a voice that rippled with power. “I, Sebastian Von Drake pledge my loyalty, my fealty, my strength, my honor, my sword, my claws, my wisdom and my brotherhood to Bern Helms and the Honey Corners Clan from this day until death takes my soul.”

  Jenna shivered as the power spread throughout the glen. Bern’s voice boomed with more power than she’d ever heard from him in the past. “I, Bern Helms pledge my fealty, my strength, my honor, my sword, my claws, my wisdom, and my brotherhood to Sebastian Von Drake and the Von Drake Pack from this day until death takes my soul.”

  Both men struck at once, turning their heads and biting into the wrist of the right hand resting on their shoulder. Though the night was clear, lightning lit the sky. The men released the bites, blood dripped from the wounds and fell to the ground, the two men threw back their heads and a roar came from Bern’s throat, while Bastian howled like the wolf he was.

  Echoing sounds came from the crowd, along with cheers and whoops of joy. Bern and Bastian licked their wounds to stop the bleeding, and then leaned forward and embraced in a man hug. Thumping each other’s backs and then pulling back to stare into each other’s eyes.

  Jenna could feel the connection between them from her spot five feet away. It was almost scary.

  She couldn’t wait to talk to Bern about it. With their arms clasped around each other’s shoulders they turned to face the clan as one. Each raising their free outside hand to call for quiet. The crowd settled and the two men nodded.

  “We two are now one,” Bern said. “One heart, one spirit, one clan.”

  “One pack,” Sebastian added.

  More cheering rose from the group. Again the men signaled for quiet, this time Sebastian spoke. “I believe we have a joyous event to celebrate this evening, and if Bern would allow me. I would like to be the first to introduce you all to your Sippe’s new mate.” Bern nodded, Sebastian stepped away and extended a hand toward Jenna.

  Her hands were shaking, but she put her trembling hand in his and he placed it in Bern’s large paw.

  “I present to you, Jenna Marie Raynes, Sippe Mate, and…” he looked deep into her eyes, that power and strength he wore so well filling her soul, “…extraordinary person. May she bring our clan the peace and joy that she has brought our leader.”

  Bern enfolded her in his arms and kissed her sweetly. The cheers of the crowd faded away and all that remained was her big bear, holding her tightly in his embrace. The kiss was a promise of things to come, not of the passion they had already shared, though she was sure there would be much more passion to share in the future, but of a lifetime together.

  When he finally lifted his head, tears shimmered in her eyes and he surreptitiously wiped them away. “I love you, little one,” he leaned in and whispered.

  “I love you too,” she tearfully responded.

  Bern put his arm behind her back and turned to the clan. “My Mate! My Jenna!” he shouted.

  The cheers and shouting that ensued could probably be heard in Nashville. Jenna wondered if her parents could hear them sitting out on their front porch and stifled a giggle at the thought. When everyone had finally calmed down, Bern called an end to the meeting with more of the formality and pomp, and then everyone descended on the food like a pack of dogs on a three-legged cat.

  While everyone was scattering Sebastian pulled Jenna to the side. “Where is the lovely Alice this evening?”

  “I’m sorry, Bastian. She stayed at my house to work. She got your flowers and chocolates, she said she was going to call you. Didn’t she?”

  “Yes, she called,” he said with a deflated look. “She thanked me, but declined my invitation to meet for dinner. Why is she so against seeing me again? It can’t really be just her career.”

  “I’m sorry, Bastian, but that’s not my story to tell. Alice is a wonderful woman, she has a heart of gold and if she loves you, she would do anything for you. But she surrounds herself in a suit of armor and very few break through. If you are one of the lucky ones, you’ll have the best girl in the world. I wish you luck.” Jenna leaned up and kissed his cheek.

  “Are you pulling f
or me, or are you against me?” he asked, with a quirked brow.

  She raised a brow right back at him. “That remains to be seen. I am pulling for Alice. If I see that you are right for her…We’ll just have to wait and see.” With that she turned to go and find her mate.

  She found him sitting at one of the many picnic tables with his sister Julia and James and several others she didn’t recognize. Coming up behind him and placing a hand on his shoulder, he reached up to pull her onto his lap.

  “Hello, love,” he said. “Meet a few more of the crew, these are my sisters, Andrea and Dagmar and their husbands, Artie and Kevin.”

  “Hi, I didn’t know more of Bern’s family would be here tonight. It’s nice to meet you. I can’t wait until dinner Wednesday when we can all get together and really talk,” Jenna said.

  “Me either,” replied Andrea. “What about your family, when will we get to meet them?”

  Jenna felt her cheek heat. “I’m not sure yet. My parents are supposed to be coming up for Christmas. We haven’t had a chance to tell them yet, with everything going on. We were actually going to call them tonight and give them the good news,” Jenna said with a smile.

  “Oh,” Dagmar said frowning. “Do you think they will be okay with it? Do they have a problem with shifters?”

  Jenna shook her head adamantly. “No, not at all. My parents are very open minded. They were very supportive of me when I got the job here. The only thing they didn’t like was that it was so far away from them. They have no problems with shifters.”

  “Yeah, well, it’s one thing to say it and something else to be faced with your daughter being mated to one,” Dagmar muttered.

  Anger started burning in Jenna’s gut, who did this sow think she was to judge her parent’s? She’s never even met them for Christ’s sake. “Easy, little one,” Bern whispered in her ear. “Kevin was human and his parent’s didn’t take their mating very well. Dagmar is a tad bitter. Don’t take it personally.”

  “How can I not take it personally, she’s attacking my parents and she doesn’t even know them. And I told you to quit doing that. I don’t like you in my head!”