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

by Lauren Lively

  She nodded and laid her head on his chest. “I did things to survive, but that’s no excuse for liking what I did.”

  He kept his mouth shut and ran his fingers though strands of her hair hoping she would keep talking. She did and it killed him not to interrupt and wipe away the tears he felt drip on his bare chest.

  “My father kicked me out when I was 17. Mom had just passed away and he couldn’t cope. He got drunk and he got mean. More times than not he used his fists instead of his words to show me just how angry he was. I left and was on the streets. I wasn’t dressed provocatively or anything, but I was walking in a bad part of town. It was where the hookers did their thing. One of the men stopped me and offered me a place to stay and warmth. I only had to do everything he said. At that point it was freezing cold so I agreed without even realizing what I was getting myself into. Or maybe I did.

  “For months he used me and my body in any way he chose. In reward he pampered me, and at first I hadn’t realized he’d been drugging me. It was when I told him I was too tired that the withdrawals came. It was then I knew he was using drugs to keep me. I had no idea I was an addict until he took them away. I went crazy, and he kicked me to the curb. I was used and abused.

  The story could go on forever. I was with several different men who did the same thing, but it seemed to be something I couldn’t get away from. The last man though he hurt me physically, and I ran away. It was then I met an elder woman who ran the bakery. She gave me food and gave me a place to stay. She is the one who helped me get clean and off of the streets. That was right before I was taken.” She sobbed. “She probably thinks I went back, but I was enrolled in college, working at her bakery. I was really getting my life together.”

  “That’s why I was coming here actually. I’m an artist, and I was supposed to be the first student here. I don’t know if you know about the program, your dad arranged with our college to send one student every semester to study the lands and learn about your culture. I was the first, but I got intercepted.”

  Gyyx was tense. All the things she had just laid on him confused him. Why would anyone give their body away to people who hurt them? He didn’t think lower of her, it just surprised him. He didn’t understand women from Earth. They were so different than Denynso women. They were more emotional and reactive. He licked his lips. “Yeah, we thought the college changed their mind since no one showed up. We haven’t been able to get in contact with the administrator or anything.”

  She sat up and watched him weary as if she were waiting for him to say something horrible about her not so recent past. He wouldn’t. She made decisions to survive. He had no idea what living on Earth was like. He didn’t know what it was like to be shoved to the street by someone who was supposed to love him. “I don’t think any differently about you sweetheart.”

  Her eyes widened and she sobbed covering her face with her tiny hands. It was the most heartbreaking thing he had ever seen. She was so ashamed of herself. He could feel her self-hate, and he wanted to wash it all away. He would too. He would love her the way she deserved, and he would help her love herself as well as love him.

  Chapter 7

  Didn’t he hear a word I said? It was strange; I could feel his love and affection grow. He didn’t look at me with disgust. He did look sad, but not because of the choices I made. Maybe it was more because of the choices that I thought I had to make. I needed to survive, and then once I realized how stupid I was, it was too late. I was sucked into the life on the street. I lived it and breathed it. I’d learned a lot, and I had suffered a lot. After the nearly five years it was hard to go straight and narrow. I’d been clean for a couple of months before I was picked to be a foreign exchange student as part of the Uoria Program.

  “I thought maybe getting away from all the problems for three months would help me heal. I thought I would save me from myself.”

  “It was smart, but apparently we need to watch incoming ships from now on. We need to make sure everyone who is supposed to be here is accounted for, and we need to keep better communication with those we interact with from your home.”

  “It’s not your fault you know.”

  “It is though. How did we not know we were missing someone? If we would have known, you wouldn’t have been held for two months. How the hell didn’t I know? You’re my mate for fuck’s sake. I should have sensed you sooner.”

  I pulled him to me. He was angry with himself. “Hey, it’s not your fault. Now you know those—Klimnu are even sneakier than you thought. Now you know you need to have more warriors guarding the area and up your security. It’s not a big deal. I survived.”

  He shook his head. “No thanks to us. If it weren’t for Eliana saving you…”

  I kissed him to shut him up. I wouldn’t let him beat himself up over a mistake. He didn’t judge me for my past stupidity so I could forgive him and his species for not realizing I was supposed to be studying their land. It was a mistake I knew they wouldn’t ever let happen again.

  He kissed me back slowly at first until I nipped his lip then he added more pressure. I knew my lips would be bruised and swollen but I loved it. He pulled back before we ended up staying in bed all day.

  “I want to know more than just your body, Leia.”

  The words froze me. I pulled back with a dazed expression. I hadn’t realized what I was doing until that moment. I was treating him how I did with the other men. I thought I always had to be sexual. That wasn’t my life anymore. “It’s going to take some getting used to,” I whispered and blushed.

  He gripped my chin forcing my eyes to his. “It’s okay sweetheart. I’ll show you what real love is. You’ll never mistake me for any of those other men you were with. And trust me when I tell you, there will be no other men. There will be no drugs, and there will be no abuse. You are my world now. I’ll do everything I can to make sure you’re happy.”

  I felt the tears again and groaned before wiping them away and laughing. “You’ve got to stop being so sweet. I’m an emotional wreck, and I certainly don’t deserve someone like you, but I’ll do my best to be worthy of you.”

  He glared at me and his orange eyes flared. This time it wasn’t due to arousal. I could feel his anger spread through my body.

  “You are worthy and you do deserve me. You deserve happiness just like everyone else.”

  I would try to believe him, but it wouldn’t be as easy as he made it sound. Five years was a long time to erase, but for him I’d try even harder.

  “Tell me about you.”

  He smiled. “I was a punk for a long time. I’m the younger brother, and Pyra was always golden. He was perfect at everything. He is also pretty powerful like our dad. I did a lot of things trying to get him into trouble. Then as adults he slept his way through all of the females. So I did the same. There isn’t one Denynso woman here, that isn’t family, that hasn’t been with us both. It was like a competition. He always won, and then when Eden came something in him changed. I was jealous, but also not. She’s feisty and she has also been turned into a Denynso. Something we never knew was possible. She’s carrying my niece or nephew, and I love her to death, but she is one crazy emotional woman. Our females get angry. They don’t usually cry. Eden cries all the time. It took us all some time to get used to seeing tears.”

  I laughed. “Women are emotional period. We like to cry. It helps us let out the emotions we aren’t’ willing or ready to talk about. I never cried a lot, I used other means to express. I have a lot of anger, a lot of grief. I never had a chance to mourn my mom because my dad couldn’t bear to look at me. I look just like her, and I was a daily reminder of the woman he lost. But still I was 17 and he should have taken care of me instead of kicking me out.”

  “Have you seen him at all?”

  “I tried when I got clean, but I didn’t know if it would set me back, and I had worked too hard. Then I came here and got taken.”

  “Maybe you’d like to go see him?”

  “Not n
ow. I’m too much of a wreck. I want to have my life together before I see him. I want to show him that even though he threw me away that I still ended up okay. Seeing him now—would only disappoint him more.”

  “Whatever you want.”

  “I want to meet your family.”

  He sighed. “I wanted you to myself for the day, but if you want that’s fine. Mom is going to be thrilled. She helped with washing you up and stuff. I didn’t feel right.”

  “I know. She seems like a very kind woman. She talked to me the whole time.”

  “Shit, I keep forgetting you were aware the whole time. That’s so strange.”

  “I know.” I smiled and for the first time in a long while it was real. I didn’t force it, and it felt good. Maybe this was exactly where I was supposed to be to be healed. I had been taken for a reason. I spent days trapped inside of myself, even then. Those creatures took everything I feared and played my own memories against me. I was in my own personal hell for 57 longs days. I still couldn’t believe it. This all felt like a sweet dream.

  Chapter 8

  She was something else. He knew she was damaged from her imprisonment, but it was even worse than that. Her life had been rough. He wasn’t sure what ‘living on the streets’ was like especially not on a place like Earth, but he had a feeling it hardened people. She had walls built higher than anyone he had ever met.

  It would take time to get her to fully trust him. Her story hurt him. He wanted to go find her father and beat him to a pulp. But Gyyx believed that everything happened for a reason even if the reasons were terrible. As much as he was beating himself up over not sensing her sooner, he knew there was a reason. Cause and effect.

  “Now let’s get out of here before you end up ravaging me again,” she said and winked before sliding out of bed.

  He shook his head and chuckled. She was a strange creature. She went to the bag of things from the girls and sifted through it. He heard gasps and small girly giggles.

  She noticed his stare and blushed. “Sorry it’s been awhile since I’ve had anything so pretty, that isn’t also slutty.”

  He didn’t say anything. He froze when she stripped her dress with her back to him. Thin scars lined her perfect skin. He studied her every move as she slid on each article of clothing. The scars must have been recent. They were still angry and healing in some places. Gyyx wasn’t sure if they were from the Klimnu or the last man in her life, and at the moment he chose not to ask, but he would find out, and he would find a way to make whoever it was suffer.

  She spun and gasped. “I forgot…”

  He didn’t say a word. Her eyes said it all. She pleaded with him to ignore what he had seen. He stood from the bed and left the room. He couldn’t ignore it, and it was on the tip of his tongue to question her. She already reveled a lot and he wouldn’t pressure her to tell him more.

  He hated that his mate had been abused. Denynso males cherished their females. He didn’t understand how anyone could do differently. He paced his living room while she finished getting ready. He looked down and groaned realizing he was walking around naked. She did things to him that made him forget the most basic things in life—like clothing. He went back in the room and saw her in the bathroom brushing her long hair.

  She saw him in the mirror and shrugged. He smiled but it was forced as he slid on clean shorts and a shirt. He waited until she came out and then he went into the bathroom and combed his flattened Mohawk. He never liked to spike it. It was too much work and he spent his time out with the warriors.

  He brushed it and was done. When he came out she was sliding on a pair of sandals and when she stood up she was a few inches taller. He looked down. “What the hell are you wearing?”

  She laughed. “They’re called wedges, they make short people like me taller, and they’re sexy.”

  He nodded. “I can’t disagree, but I love how small you are.”

  “I hate it. Being five feet tall and weighing 80 pounds when you’re on the streets isn’t a good thing, but I learned to protect myself. People underestimate me, and I guarantee your friends will too. They all will treat me like something delicate.”

  He stood in front of her and laughed when her head still didn’t even meet his shoulders. He looked down. “You are my delicate mate.”

  She glared and then chuckled. “Right, you haven’t gotten to know me well yet.”

  He doubted she was very strong but he didn’t want to hurt her feelings. She was tiny and small everywhere. He didn’t see her being able to do much more than maybe kneeing him in the nuts. “Okay sweetheart. I get it you’re tough.”

  She raised a brow. “You doubt my skills?”

  He held up his hands and laughed. “Never.”

  She pursed her lips. “I see how it is. Fine I’ll prove it.”

  “Oh don’t be mad.”

  She smiled. “I’m not, but you’ll still see. One of your friends will make a comment about my size I bet. Hell, they all might.”

  “Let’s go my fierce little mate. Mom and dad will want to suffocate you with love and welcome you to the family.”

  For a few seconds she froze. “You won’t tell them—”

  “No that’s your past. I won’t tell a soul. You talk about it to whoever you want, or not.”

  “Thank you.” She wrapped her small hand around his forearm, and he led her out of the bedroom. The house felt different. More alive now. It was even brighter with her there. She already changed him. He didn’t feel so gloomy anymore. He also knew what Pyra meant when he had said, “One day you’ll know Gyyx and you won’t doubt why I’ve changed. When you meet yours you’d be willing to change anything.”

  All it took was meeting his mate. Every ounce of insecurity he felt all but disappeared. He’d never need to over shadow Pyra. He’d never feel like he was less because he was the youngest again.

  When he stepped outside with his mate close, he stayed alert. There hadn’t been any attacks in a week, but no one knew when they would start again. Every day without an attack was a blessing, but all of the warriors were all tense and on edge waiting for their peace to end.

  He led her down the stairs and walked towards his parents. Pyra was the first to stop them.

  “Well hello little one! It’s great to see you awake.” His brother had no idea and he chuckled.

  She tensed digging her nails into his arm and then she shocked him.

  Her smile widened. “I’ll let that go since you’re my new brother, but please keep in mind that powerful things come in small packages, and I’d be careful on what you imply about me.”

  Pyra’s eyes went wide. He was tall, even taller than Gyyx and he laughed. “Is she for real?”

  “I’d be careful, she’s fierce and not at all delicate,” Gyyx said with humor.

  “Oh well, you’re my new sister. I think a nickname is necessary right? Isn’t that what humans do to show affection?” He was seriously trying to be nice.

  She relaxed realizing he hadn’t meant to offend her. Of course she was small compared to him. Everyone was.

  “Oh well okay. I guess I can deal with that. Plus you’re a freakin’ giant, and I don’t think anyone is bigger than you.”

  Pyra laughed and yanked her from me lifting her off of the ground and hugging her tightly. “Welcome to the family, little one.”

  She gasped at his strength and he let her go. “My god you’re a freakin beast.” Then she seemed to remember what he said. “And thank you.”

  The whole way everyone stopped them and welcomed her to the family. He felt her emotions swell by the time they got to his parents’ house she was close to crying again.

  “So many nice people. They all accept me because of you? It’s strange.”

  “We are one giant family.”

  “Apparently.”

  He led them up the stairs and the door swung open before he’d even had a chance to knock. His father knew everything.

  Chapter 9

  I stared at
the man who was an older version of my mate. Even Pyra didn’t look as much like the king as Gyyx did. It was crazy.

  The man smiled and his teeth glistened in the sun. Automatically I felt a calm override my nerves. He pulled me from his son’s arms and wrapped his around me. My head came up to right below his pecks, and I found myself burying my head into him taking in his comfort. The comfort of a father. The dam broke and I sobbed against him. I didn’t know why, but I wasn’t able to stop it.

  No one said anything and he patted my hair soothingly and let me cry. After several minutes I pulled myself together and blushed when I pulled back. “I’m so sorry. You are just very comforting.”

  The man laughed and shook his head with a light in his bright orange eyes. “Oh my new daughter. It’s a great day for new family members. I am happy both of my sons have found their other halves.”

  I stepped back, but he grabbed my hand and pulled me inside leading me through a giant foyer and into a dining room that rivaled anything I had seen during my time with Bill. He was the rich man that liked to have me hanging from his arm. He was older, fat, but incredibly wealthy. He paid well too. But even his giant house and dining room didn’t compare to the immaculacy to this place. It wasn’t even over decorating and it didn’t scream wealthy.

  He led me and Gyyx to the table. “Sit, food will be served, Thiea will be here shortly. She is so excited to meet you—”

  “Leia.”

  “Leia, what a pretty name.”

  “Thank you.” The men were all charmers; all three of them. It was strange but you could tell they were the royalty. There was just something about the air that surrounded them.

  Thiea came down the stairs wearing a long silk dress and her orange eyes shined brightly. Her white hair was curled and pulled from her face. Her face was long and fierce. Even though she looked sweet, I knew inside she was an independent woman. She could hold her own.

  She smiled and floated to me. Yes, I didn’t even see her feet touch the ground. She pulled me from Gyyx and hugged me. “Oh my you’re so beautiful my dear. I’m so glad you’re awake. My poor boy was a wreck.”