Cuffed & Claimed

by Lori King

  Even though I had legitimate reasons for bringing him in, I could have said I’d done it just because I’d known she would come.

  Blaine had a drinking problem, got in far too many fights, and he needed to get his shit together.

  Doris stood, glanced at me, and gave me this sympathetic look. The whole fucking town knew everything about everyone, and that included the relationship Brittin and I had back in the day.

  When Doris took Brittin back to the cells, knowing she’d want to make sure her brother was okay, I wanted to get up and go to her. She turned her head in my direction right before she disappeared down the hall that led to where the prisoners were kept.

  I saw the changes in her when our eyes locked. I saw the way she stiffened, smelled the scent of her pleasure for me, and sensed how she wanted me but fought it.

  She still wanted me, but the past rose up like a fucking wall.

  I should have done so many things differently. I shouldn’t have told her I wanted her to stay home, give up her career and dream, and run the house. She was a strong, independent woman, and because of my stubbornness, because I wanted things done my way, we’d drifted apart. And because I wouldn’t budge from what I wanted, because I kept pushing her to submit to me, I’d lost the best damn thing in my life.

  But as time went on, and months turned into years, I became the Sheriff, and time took over. I realized I had screwed up so severely I couldn’t rectify the situation.

  She disappeared down the hallway and I exhaled, not realizing I’d been holding my breath. I didn’t know how long she planned on staying, but I had to talk to her and see how things were. I had to apologize for how I’d fucked up all those years ago in pushing her away.

  Brittin was the only one I wanted. She was the only one—human and shifter alike—that I’ve ever wanted.

  Hell, there had been no other females for me since we got together, or after we broke up, for that matter. I’d been celibate since she’d left two years ago, with no desire to even be with another female.

  I scrubbed a hand over my face, the trimmed beard I’d grown really adding to the hard ass, grizzly bear shifter Sheriff reputation I had in town.

  She’s here for Blaine. Maybe I should just back the fuck off. She hasn’t contacted me in all this time either.

  Yeah, I couldn’t let this go.

  And what, you think she’ll just accept you after all this time? You think she gives a shit that after seeing her again after all this time, you want to make things right?

  Shit.

  I ran a hand over my hair; the short strands were standing on end.

  Fuck, I didn’t care if she fought this. Since we’d separated, I’d wanted her back with a fierceness, but I’d given her that space she’d demanded.

  But she’d been through so much, Blaine too. Their life had been so fucked because of their piece of shit old man, and as much as I’d wanted to tell her that being with me would make things better—as arrogant as that had been and sounded—I’d loved her enough to let her go.

  And though she’d left, I’d never really let her go.

  I’d even told myself if I’d been a real man, I would never have let her go. I would have demanded she stay with me.

  But doing that, trying to control her because I was too damn alpha to realize how I should have acted with the woman I loved, had ruined everything.

  That had been the worst mistake of my fucking life.

  But I’d show her that I’d changed.

  I’d show her I was a changed bear.

  Am I really? I know I’m still as alpha and controlling as ever.

  I couldn’t waste this opportunity, not when she was back in Stales. Seeing her after all this time had that intense love I had for her rising up like a violent fucking beast.

  2

  Brittin

  It took everything in me not to go to Law right then and there. But I reminded myself I was here for Blaine, because of Blaine. I needed to get him healthy before I could worry about anything else.

  But God, seeing Law made everything seem right. It had been so long since I’d seen him. He’d gotten bigger, more muscular. He looked good in that Sheriff’s uniform.

  We’d loved each other so much, and I still cared about him more than life itself. But his dominating attitude, his thinking and reasoning that I should have stayed home, been pregnant and barefoot, and tended to him and his needs, had driven a wedge between us. The fact he hadn’t been as supportive of what I wanted recognized that I needed to be independent with my degree and a career, and also his demanding attitude, had things becoming tense and rocky with us. Over time, and because I’d stayed, wanting to work things out, had us eventually drifting apart. My love for him never died, and I could see by the way he’d looked at me he still loved me, too, but I knew I had to stay away from him, or I’d fall right back into his way of things.

  And if he still thought the same way he did back then, I knew couldn’t have that in my life. I knew I couldn’t go through that again.

  But what if he’s changed? What if he tells me he fucked up, that he wants me to have the career I’ve always wanted?

  I shook my head. No, I wouldn’t even go there. I couldn’t.

  And then I saw Blaine and all other thoughts vanished. He was sitting on the cot in the cell, alone, his head downcast and his hands moving up and down through his hair. He looked defeated, and I hadn’t seen his face yet.

  “He’s been locked up long enough to get semi-sober,” Doris said softly.

  “Are charges being pressed?”

  Doris shook her head, and I breathed out in relief.

  “No, but he’s reached his strike-outs, Brittin.”

  I nodded and kept my focus on Blaine.

  “In fact, if not for Law stepping in and using a favor, Blaine wouldn’t be getting out.”

  I felt tears fill my eyes. I glanced at the older woman I’d known nearly my whole life. “Really?” I whispered, emotion clogging my throat. Things might not have gone well in the break-up department with Law and me, but he still had a big heart, and it was clear he didn’t hold a grudge that I called things off.

  Doris placed a hand on my shoulder. “Really, honey.” The silence stretched on for just a second, but it felt like a lifetime. “I know it’s been a long time for you two, but Law still cares—”

  “That’s enough, Doris.”

  Law’s deep, booming voice had me straightening. I looked at the man I had left behind, the man I’d wanted to spend my life with, the man I was still madly in love with. Time didn’t stop how someone felt, that was painfully obvious. But just because he’d helped Blaine out so he wouldn’t be in any more trouble than he currently was, didn’t mean Law still felt the same way for me.

  For all I knew, he’d moved on and had someone else.

  God, that hurts just to think about.

  Law came closer, and I tensed instinctively. I could smell him before he even got to me. His deep, masculine, woodsy scent instantly had my body on fire. I prayed he was too caught up in his own things to smell the arousal coming from me. With him being a shifter, he’d be able to pick up on that.

  He moved by me without another glance, grabbed the cell keys, and unlocked it, pulling the door open. It made this clanking noise, and I didn’t stop myself from moving closer to Blaine. He was already standing, his eyes trained on me. They were bloodshot, his short dark hair was a mess around his head, and his clothes were wrinkled all to hell. The scent of him was like stepping into a stale as fuck brewery, but I embraced him all the same.

  “I’m sorry,” he whispered into my hair as we hugged. He was six foot three, a foot taller than me, but still shorter than Law. Even the smallest things like that made me remember so much stuff, so much of what I missed.

  I squeezed my eyes shut and held Blaine tighter. “We’ll get you the help you need.” He hugged me so tight I couldn’t breathe for a second. “And I’m not leaving.” I felt his big chest rise and fall as he
breathed. “I’m not leaving you.” But I knew this was not just about Blaine.

  I knew staying here would be about Law, as well.

  * * *

  Law

  To say it was hard as fuck acting like I wasn’t affected by Brittin’s presence was an understatement. Until I knew what I was going to do, or how this would play out, I needed to keep my distance. She had a lot of shit to deal with concerning Blaine, and although I had called in a pretty big favor so charges weren’t pressed against him, Brittin’s brother had a lot of shit he needed to get sorted out.

  And Brittin would be by her brother’s side.

  I needed to give her time to acclimate to all of this, to make sure Blaine was on the road to recovery. But after that, I’d tell her. I’d explain that she was all I’d thought about.

  Hell, what would she say if she knew I’d driven all the way up to see her, only to turn around because I knew she wanted her space?

  I heard her leave the station with Doris telling her how good it was to see her, even though the circumstances weren’t the greatest. Doris had been in their lives since they were both younger. She was a wonderful woman, volunteered throughout town, but had no issues telling you how it was if you were being an asshole.

  And when I saw Doris come into my office looking ready to scold me, I knew shit was about to go down.

  She might be in her seventies, but she didn’t put up with any bullshit.

  “What?” I asked, knowing this wasn’t going to be pretty. I scrubbed a hand over my beard, my mind still on Brittin.

  God, she’d looked so damn beautiful. Brittin was even more gorgeous than ever. She hadn’t changed at all in these last two years. I wondered what she thought about me, if she noticed the difference in my size? I’d been working out even more than before, ever since she left, because the truth was if I didn’t have some kind of outlet for my emotions I would have either been at the bar a hell of a lot or getting into fights.

  I thought about Blaine. Back in the day, we’d been pretty damn close, but he’d wanted to go down a different path, no matter how many people tried to help him, the interventions, rehab, or the many times he’d been in jail.

  But this really was the last straw for Blaine. He’d used all of his “Get Out of Jail Free” cards. He was either going to end up dead from the booze and the fighting, or spend the rest of his life behind bars because he’d gone too far and really hurt someone.

  “When are you going to get your head out of your ass and realize you and Brittin were made for each other?”

  I growled low, not in warning to Doris, but because I was frustrated with this whole damn situation.

  “Doris, you, as well as the rest of this fucking town, know that we broke it off. It happens; people move on in their life, and that’s it.”

  But hell, I haven’t moved on, and the fact I scented Brittin’s clear desire for me, her emotions were as strong as ever, told me she hadn’t moved on either.

  Doris snorted. “I swear you two are exactly the same. You’re both so stubborn and would rather be miserable without each other than admit breaking it off was the wrong move.” She shook her head. “I may be only human, Lawson Ryan, but I can sure as fuck tell she still wants you, and you her.”

  Damn, she’d gone and used my first and middle name in the same sentence. She meant this.

  “It’s complicated, Doris,” I finally said, too damn tired to fight her on this.

  Doris got this sympathetic look on her face and exhaled. “Law, honey, this is your last chance with getting your life back where you want it. You may have fooled a lot of people, hell, even yourself, but you know you have been missing the hell out of Brittin.” She smiled softly. “I know you feel like something is missing when she’s not with you.”

  Yeah, I sure the fuck have.

  “Brittin is going to need you a lot now, what with Blaine in the trouble he’s in. That girl deserves happiness, and you need to get your head out of your ass and be the man she needs.” Doris gave me one more smile before turning and leaving me sitting there thinking about all the shit I should do with the only woman I ever loved.

  3

  Brittin

  I stood in the center of our father’s living room. Our dad might have been dead for the last decade, but Blaine still lived here. It was paid off, so my brother hadn’t needed to use the money we’d each gotten to worry about that. Instead, he’d drunk it all.

  I hated this place. It had been where I’d grown up. I’d seen far too much nastiness from the man who should have been taking care of his kids. Instead, he’d brought random women home, both of them drunk, loud, disgusting. I couldn’t admit that I didn’t have some fond memories of being here.

  Memories of Blaine and me speaking softly to each other at night, telling the other what our dreams of the future were. Memories of Blaine telling me things would be okay, that this wasn’t the life we’d always lead.

  Blaine, my poor, poor brother.

  That was the life he was leading.

  I looked over at Blaine, who slept on the ratty couch that had been in this house since probably before we were even born.

  I walked over to him, pushed the short dark hair off his forehead, and felt my heart drop. We were going to the rehab place just outside of town in the next couple of days. There he’d stay for the next three months. It was voluntary, and I knew Blaine had hit rock bottom. He’d stay there, if not for me, then for himself and his health.

  He’d always gone through the entire rehab program. It was after he was out that he relapsed.

  “I won’t let that happen again. I’m not going to leave you.”

  Truthfully, I wanted to be here, not just for Blaine, but for myself as well. I wanted to be back in Stales, a town I’d run from, and I wanted to be near the man I still loved.

  I turned and jotted down a note for Blaine, letting him know I’d be going for a walk in the woods not too far from the house … the same ones we used to go to when we wanted to get away.

  The same ones I used to go to with Law.

  I tried not thinking about the man I still loved, and I focused on what I had to do for Blaine.

  If I was going to stay in Stales, I needed to make Blaine’s place livable. It was filthy, there was hardly anything to eat, and it smelled like something had been rotting in the fridge. Yeah, an overhaul needed to be done, and I was doing this for Blaine.

  He’d be gone for three months, and in that time I’d make his place livable again and get a landscaper out here to do something with the yard, so when Blaine came back sober and healthy, he’d have a nice place to recoup and stay on top of his issues.

  But I sure as hell wouldn’t be staying here myself. I couldn’t. The memories of our father were too strong, and I hated this place.

  I’d tossed out any alcohol I’d found when we got back from the police station. I’d even checked the old hiding places our dad used to stash liquor, just to make sure. Now that I was convinced Blaine wouldn’t be tempted while I was gone—even if he woke up, which I doubted since he had been exhausted—I grabbed my keys and headed out.

  My emotions were intense, so strong that I couldn’t breathe if I thought about them too hard. But I had to be strong for Blaine, had to make sure I got through this for the both of us. If I caved, how could he make it through? Blaine had to see I was holding it together.

  My emotions were wild, a little untamed, and I kept thinking about Law.

  I got in the car and headed toward the woods. It was only about a twenty-minute drive from the house. Knowing I was going to go to a place that had always calmed me had everything in me settling, at least for the time being.

  Once I got to the little road that led to a trail we always used, I parked the car and climbed out. Stales had a bunch of shifters living within it, and one could even call it mainly a shifter town. This forest was also used by those who wanted to change into their animal forms and run.

  Walking through the trees and up a na
rrow incline, I took in the sights and sounds of the wilderness, just absorbing the peace that came with being out here.

  Once I was a good ways up the mountain, I stopped, turned around, and made sure I was alone. Inhaling deeply and closing my eyes, I took in everything around me. I just took in the wilderness that surrounded me. I might not be a shifter, but it felt good to try to be one with nature.

  I continued to walk for long moments, not thinking about anything but the silence and scenery around me.

  At least, I tried not to think about any of it.

  * * *

  Law

  I’d been home for only about twenty minutes after working a double. I was tired as fuck, but sleep wouldn’t come to me.

  I stood on the back deck attached to my small cabin and stared at the trees that surrounded the five acres I owned. The air had a nice breeze to it, and the sun was partially blocked by an overcast sky.

  I knew what I needed to do, something that would help my body let loose the energy inside, and hopefully, tame my thoughts of Brittin. I needed to contact her, to talk to her about, hell, I don’t know. I just wanted to hear her voice again.

  I went for the hem of my t-shirt, pulled it up and over my head, and then undid my belt, unbuttoned my jeans. I should have just stayed naked after my shower.

  It would have saved me time.

  Once I was fully nude, I tilted my head back and closed my eyes. My bear came forward, the bastard wound up since it had seen Brittin last night.

  My muscles swelled from the increased blood flow, my bones popping as my body grew exponentially. The change came over me like a fucking tsunami, and I welcomed it with open arms.

  I was now a bear, my vicious, powerful animal who could tear into flesh like a hot knife through butter. Although my animal controlled my thoughts right now, the human side of me was still conscious. I was still able to understand what was going on, but it was my bear that had the power.