Saved by a Bear (Legends of Black Salmon Falls Book 2)

by Lauren Lively

  “That’s not funny.”

  “I’m sorry Pyra. I’m sorry you were mad at me, and I don’t even understand why. I’m sorry about the bond between me and Ciyrs too.”

  “Don’t. None of it matters. I am the asshole—”

  “Let’s just move on then.”

  “You’ll forgive me that easily?”

  I raised a brow. “Don’t you think the last few months have been punishment enough?”

  He gulped and nodded. “It was the worst hell I’ve ever been in. They made me leave you every couple of days to shower and sleep. Otherwise I sat by you trying to find a way to wake you.”

  I leaned into him and he wrapped both his arms around me. “Do you need anything?”

  I shook my head. “Just you. I’m so cold, and I’ve missed you.”

  He let out a breath. “God, I’ve missed you too, love. Don’t ever do that again.”

  He kissed my hair and I shuddered. “I’m probably pretty gross, but I doubt I can take a shower.”

  “If you don’t mind Mom helping you she offered knowing you’d probably want to get cleaned up. She’s been here every other day or so giving you a sponge bath.”

  I blushed. “Oh man that’s so horrible.” I knew my hair was disgusting. “I would like that. That’s what I want, and I think the water will warm me up. My bones ache from being cold.”

  “I’ll go get her.”

  He lifted me back on the couch to where I could lean in the corner and not fall over and went outside. A few seconds later his mother came in smiling.

  “It’s so good to see you’re awake. We were all pretty terrified.”

  I nodded. I hadn’t had a chance to get to know her, but she was basically my mother in law. “Thank you for taking care of me.”

  “Of course honey. You’re family, and I wouldn’t trust any of the men to do this right. They wouldn’t know what to do.” She laughed and I smiled.

  She helped me to my feet and I wobbled. “How long is this going to last?”

  “It could be a few days.”

  My shoulders slumped as I was led to the bathroom. I moved like an old woman and when I looked in the mirror I gasped in horror. I looked horrible.

  Chapter 6

  Pyra waited for Eden to get cleaned up and paced around. He didn’t want to be away from her any longer than he had to be. There was too much lost time, and he was a wreck. He’d gone home and taken a shower while his mother was with her.

  His mother helped her out and she smiled at him. “She’s all good to go. I told her to just holler if she needed me.”

  He jumped up and kissed her cheek. “Thank you.” He took over and guided Eden to the couch. He hated how weak she was. She was rail thin and didn’t look well, but to him she was the most beautiful woman in the world.

  “I feel like an old woman. Get me a walker so I don’t need help,” she said tensely.

  He chuckled. His mate didn’t like to be taken care of, or needing help.

  “Do you want to go home instead of staying here? Ciyrs can do the tests later.”

  “I want it over with. I want to know if I’m still going to freaking glow and heal like I did.”

  “I doubt it. He thinks that is what caused this, but since no healer in all of history has ever brought a human back to life we have no fucking clue.”

  “I still feel different, only less sick.”

  He went into panic and sat her down and rushed away without waiting for her to say anything else. Ciyrs came rushing in behind him.

  “He says you still feel off?”

  I glared. “I didn’t mean to go get the doctor. I meant the changes I felt before, I still feel them, but I don’t feel like I’m going to pass out or anything. I don’t feel like me though.”

  Both men visibly relaxed and she laughed. “Geez calm down.”

  “Eden you have no idea what it was like for us.”

  “I know, I wasn’t aware of anything.”

  “Well we were.”

  “Fine, do your tests if you have to.”

  Ciyrs took another few vials of blood and Pyra took her home. She wouldn’t be leaving his sight, and if he had to be somewhere someone would be with her. Last time he left her she went into a three month long coma.

  I lay in Pyra’s bed and sipped broth from a coffee mug. It had been three weeks since I woke up and I was still too weak and everything else I ate came back up. From Pyra’s worried expression, he was about to cart me back home and have human doctors do some tests. Ciyrs still hadn’t found anything and no one would listen to me. I was fine—mostly. He hadn’t touched me sexually since that last night and I needed a release. He was so worried about hurting me, but I worried it was because I was so ugly. I couldn’t even stand to look at myself. I was a skeleton. It didn’t matter how much I tried to eat. Something in my life was missing, only I didn’t know what it was.

  He came in and smiled. “How are you feeling, love.”

  “The same. Come sit with me.”

  He nodded and sat next to me. I was getting stronger. I climbed on his lap and laid my head on his chest. It was my favorite place to be. I felt his heart thump, and he wrapped his arms around me holding me close. I tipped my head back and looked at him.

  “Kiss me.”

  “It’s too soon.”

  I glared. “I’ve been awake for over three weeks. When isn’t it going to be too soon for you? Have you wondered if maybe that’s what I need?”

  “If that could heal you baby I would fuck you into the next universe.”

  I gasped at his words and my eyes dilated.

  It was then his eyes widened. “Your eyes—they’re orange.”

  I felt him harden for the first time and moaned. “Kiss me, please I need you.”

  I felt his resolve chipping away. “I don’t want to hurt you.”

  “You won’t.”

  He closed his eyes, and I took the opportunity to press my lips on his. He stayed still while I kissed him. I kept the pressure light and slid my tongue along his bottom lip. His hands tightened, and I smiled against his mouth. He would give me what I wanted.

  I pressed my body against his and rubbed against him. “Please, please take this ache away.”

  His eyes shot open. “You’re hurting?”

  I sighed and gripped his hand and shoved it between my legs. I knew he’d feel the heat and wetness through my shorts. “For you. Do you not want me?”

  He growled. “Of course I do.”

  “Then prove it.”

  His eyes flared and he set me on the bed and stood stripping. I smiled. Finally, my core throbbed. I didn’t know what the hell was wrong, but something inside of me knew if he would give me what I needed I’d start getting better.

  I lifted my shirt off and wrapped my arms around myself. I didn’t like my body, but when he eyes brightened I knew he still found me desirable.

  “They’re still orange. I don’t know how this is fucking possible, but you’re one of us now, or at least you’ve adopted some characteristics.”

  He was stunned, and at the moment I didn’t care what the hell color my eyes were. I wanted him in me, over me, and under me.

  He walked towards the bed. His eyes were feral and a wave of lust washed over me. “Hurry.”

  “Lay down. I’ve got to do this right, gently. I refuse to hurt you.”

  I nodded and laid down spreading my legs wide for him. He could see the proof of my arousal.

  “Oh shit.” His control broke and he was on me, but when I felt his fear I rubbed his back.

  “You won’t hurt me,” I whispered.

  “Never.” He slid inside me so agonizingly slow I cried out in frustration and went to lift my hips but he growled. “No, we do this my way.”

  I whimpered when he slid out and then slowly eased back in.

  My body wanted him so badly. “I can’t wait, seriously I need you inside of me now.” Then before he realized what I was doing I wrapped my legs around him
and that pushed the rest of him inside me.

  I moaned and clenched tightly around him holding his cock inside of me. “See I’m fine. Actually I am better than fine. Oh god you feel so good.”

  His eyes widened. “You feel—different, familiar.”

  I knew what he wasn’t saying. I suddenly knew what happened. Why I was so sick. Somehow Ciyrs changed me. I was now a female Denynso. I wasn’t sure how much so but enough that my eyes were orange, and apparently my pussy felt like a female Denynso.

  “I’ve changed.”

  He nodded and thrust in and out of me with ease. When I showed no discomfort he calmed and sped up. It was still slow and sensual, and I held on to him tightly as he rocked into my body. My senses heightened, and I could smell his arousal and mine mixed. I moaned and cried out when I climaxed. When my pussy tightened around him he grunted and I felt him come inside of me.

  He clenched his teeth and sped up to finish releasing his seed inside of me. I grabbed his face and kissed him with love. For the first time I felt it, I felt how he felt for me when we met. It all made sense. He was mine and I was his—forever. I would never let him go.

  Chapter 7

  News traveled fast. Pyra was still coming to terms with the fact that Ciyrs had turned his mate into one of them. They still weren’t sure how much of their genealogy she had, but it was enough that her eyes were orange and her reproductive system was like the Denynso females.

  Turned out she did need him to make love to her. She was going through the mating heat as he did. It’s why she craved him and ached. Once they completed the bond for a second time, she seemed fine.

  She was able to eat and was putting on some weight and almost had all of her normal energy back.

  Eden spun in a circle out in the grass. Ciyrs released her from bed rest but made her promise to lie down if she felt weak and tell Pyra right away. So far her symptoms were gone.

  “It’s about time. I’m out of lock down.”

  He chuckled. She could be so dramatic, but he fucking loved her, and he was ready to tell her, and he knew she loved him too, but she had yet to even hint at feeling that way.

  “Come here, love.”

  She spun and danced toward him. He’d never seen her so girly. It was amusing and sexy all at the same time. Her cheeks were flushed and she glowed. “Come get me,” she teased and ran.

  He loved the chase and narrowed his eyes until she sped faster than ever before. Then he ran and caught up to her wrapping his arm around her waist and lifting her off the ground. “Damn, did you realize how fast you were going?

  She laughed. “No why?”

  “You’ve picked up another characteristic.”

  She grinned.

  He kissed her and when she pulled back he saw tears in her eyes.

  “What’s wrong love?”

  She shook her head. “I love you.”

  He froze and glared. “That’s what I was about to say. You just stole my thunder woman.” But then he spun her around in his arms. “I love you too.”

  I was changing more each day and growing stronger too. I was starting to throw up again however and that was concerning considering I had been sick for too long. I didn’t want to go backwards.

  Ciyrs met us at the field. “Hey can I borrow you for a little bit, sweetie?”

  I looked to Pyra first. I learned quickly that he came first and my bond with Ciyrs came second. It was a delicate balance.

  He nodded. “Don’t keep her too long, I have plans tonight.”

  I laughed and spun and ran into his arms kissing his lips before running to my brother because that’s what he was, though technically he was my maker. I wrapped my arms around him and he kissed my hair.

  “Let’s go before you piss your mate off.”

  He let go of me, but I looped my arm with his. Pyra was more bark than bite, and he’d really learned that there was nothing more than family love between me and Ciyrs. It didn’t surprise me when we went back to the infirmary.

  “I want to try something,” he said and held open the door for me.

  I went inside and saw one of the warriors sitting on the table shaking. He was pale and blood seeped out of a wound on his stomach.

  “What happened to you?” I asked and instinct pushed me to him. My need to help took over and I lifted his shirt and gasped.

  “Fight.”

  “With who?”

  “Klimnu.”

  I froze.

  He grinned. “It’s all good Eden baby, just a scratch, but it hurts like a bitch. I was hoping Mr. Healer here could help me out.”

  The man in question stood back and crossed him arms. “I think Eden’s going to heal you.”

  I laughed. “That’s funny, I haven’t’ shown any signs since my coma.”

  “You’re changing more each day. Try again. It’s a small wound so focus and heal him. That will tell us what we need to know.”

  I shrugged. “Okay but don’t say I didn’t warn you. I’m probably useless to this poor guy here.”

  He smirked. “I highly doubt you’re useless to anyone.”

  Ciyrs growled. “Shut it, Ero.”

  I grabbed a warm rag and cleaned the blood from his wound. He flinched but didn’t make a sound. I was gentle, and once the blood was gone I could see it was really just a scratch, but it was deep. I cupped my hand over it and closed my eyes focusing just like I had seen Ciyrs do. I felt my hand warm and Ero groaned. I opened my eyes and his head fell back and his lips were parted. I watched as my hand glowed green like it had before, and then his skin knit itself back together. When Ero moaned I pulled back.

  “You’re all good.” I blushed when I noticed the affect the healing had on him. He blushed too and looked away covering his lap.

  “Shit Eden, I’m sorry.”

  Ciyrs chuckled. “It’s normal to get aroused by the healer’s touch.”

  I laughed. “Pyra will hate this even more now.”

  “How do you feel? Sick?”

  I shrugged. “I’m fine right now.”

  He nodded and Ero hopped off of the table and bolted from the room.

  “He won’t come near me again for a while will he?”

  “If he knows what’s good for him no.”

  “It wasn’t his fault though.”

  “Doesn’t matter, you’re Pyra’s.”

  I glared and cocked a brow. “And you’re point is?”

  “Hey it would be no different if he aroused another woman right?”

  My eyes flared, and I growled stalking toward him. I wrapped my hand around his throat lifting him from the ground. “Don’t even say that.”

  Then just as quickly as I felt it, the anger was gone and I let go stepping back in a panic. “Oh my god, I’m so sorry.”

  His eyes were wide. I’d never shown any kind of temper toward him, and our relationship was the happy go lucky type. He was pretty much the only one who saw that side of me.

  “What the hell was that?” He rubbed his neck.

  Tears spilled down my cheek. “I don’t know.”

  Then I ran to the bathroom and emptied the contents in my stomach. For the next hour I lay with my face against the tile and growled anytime Ciyrs tried to help me. I’d hurt him, and I was literally sick over it. What was I turning into?

  Chapter 8

  Pyra pounded on the door, but she ignored him. He knew she was okay because he heard her sobbing and that actually scared him more. “Love open this damn door now!”

  “Go away!” she yelled back.

  He sighed and went to talk to Ciyrs. His friend was shaken up. When Ciyrs called for him he ran in a panic thinking something horrible had happened. Every time he was away from her he feared she would slip back into a coma. When he found out that she freaked out about a comment Ciyrs had said, he couldn’t help but chuckle. A female, especially his female who already had a temper, didn’t mess around when it came to their mates. He’d found that out when he made a comment about how he used
to sleep around. His nuts still ached anytime he thought about her reaction.

  “You shouldn’t have teased her.”

  “Yeah well, she’s never been violent towards me, and she’s still sick. I want to test her blood again. What if this is her way of rejecting the change?”

  Pyra paled. He hadn’t thought of that. “I’ll get her.” He stormed down the hall and slammed the door open. What he saw stopped him in his tracks. She was asleep on the cold, hard floor. Without thinking he scooped her up and carried her shivering body out of the bathroom. She reeked of vomit, but he didn’t care. He laid her on the table. “I’ll be back.”

  Then he disappeared. He went to the main house and found his mother. “Mother.”

  She looked up from her breakfast and her smile fell from her face as soon as she saw him.

  “Is she okay?”

  He ran his hands over his Mohawk. “She healed one of the other warriors today. Ciyrs said something triggering her temper and she nearly choked him out. After she realized she hurt him, she freaked out and was in the bathroom throwing up again.”

  He didn’t notice his mother’s eyes light up. She wiped her face and pushed her plate up and stood. She was always so poised. “Go back and wait for me.”

  He nodded knowing not to question her.

  When he came back, Eden was awake and her puffy eyes shined with tears. “I’m horrible. How could I have hurt him?”

  “It’s okay love, I’m sure he’s over it by now.”

  “I know you didn’t mean it, sweetie,” he said and kissed her forehead.

  She sniffled. “I’m so fucking emotional, it’s ridiculous. I’m never like this, and I never have been.”

  “That’s because you are carrying my son’s child—my grandchild,” his mother said as she walked into the infirmary. Silence followed his mother’s announcement.

  Ciyrs smacked his head. “Why the hell didn’t I think of that?”

  “Simply because you’re not a woman.”

  He hurried away to use some of the blood to test her for pregnancy.

  “That’s why I’m so sick—and mean?”

  His mother laughed. “Honey I hate to say this but you’re usually mean. It’s the teary, sappy emotions that are new.”

  Eden laughed and shook her head. “Thanks for that.”

  “Anytime. You fit in well here. You were made to be one of us. We simply didn’t know it was possible, and who knows maybe it isn’t.”