Complete Bear Creek and Bear Bluff Box Sets: Including brand new exclusive book Best Man Bear

by Harmony Raines

  Tears came to her eyes. She thought of her own family and her throat constricted at the thought of never seeing them again. But she couldn’t draw them into a battle with Kurt. She didn’t want anyone hurt, which was why she had run. It was better for them to have broken hearts, perhaps thinking she had run away without saying goodbye, than for them to end up with broken bodies from fighting for her.

  “Are you OK?” he asked.

  “Yes,” she whispered.

  “I’m sorry if I hurt you.”

  “No,” she said kissing his lips. “It was perfect. I just hope I’ll be able to see my family again one day.”

  “You will, Fiona. Even if I have to fight fifty wolves to make it happen. Let’s wait out the storm and then go down to Bear Creek. Brad, the sheriff, is my good friend. He’ll get a message to them or something. It’ll be OK.”

  “I’m so grateful you found me. And I don't mean just because I found my mate. I’m lucky you are so kind and understanding. And loyal.”

  “You don’t know me, Fiona.”

  “I know enough.”

  Chapter Thirteen – Hal

  She had slept in his arms all night. He couldn’t imagine her not being there now. It was as if she was the thing that he had been missing all of his life. She completed him and he only hoped she felt the same way about him. Together they would take on this cousin of hers, no one, no wolf, would ever come between them, or hurt her. He would tear his head off...

  These thoughts worried him. His temper had raged over his sister getting hurt: What would it be like if he was protecting his mate? He hoped they would never find out. However, he wasn’t sure she would be content to stay up here all of her life, not when she had family in Wolf Valley.

  He stretched and she stirred next to him. “Morning,” he said. “I think the storm has passed, it’s lighter today and the wind has dropped. I’m going to go out and retrieve that pack. At least then we won’t run out of coffee. There is no accounting for my moods if I don’t have caffeine.”

  “OK. Give me half an hour and I’ll be ready.”

  “Wait. I thought you would stay here.”

  “You did?” She sat up, holding the covers against her breasts. “I am going to come and help you.”

  “I can do it myself.”

  “I daresay you can. But it’s safer out there if two of us go. If you get into trouble, I can help.”

  “Fiona, please stay here where it’s safe.”

  She kissed him on the cheek and then headed out of the room. “The way I see it, I’m safe where you are.” Just before she disappeared she poked her head back in and said, “And you are safe where I am. I’m capable of looking after myself.”

  Hal sat up, looked at her pointedly and said, “Aren’t you the silver wolf I picked up off the mountain before you froze to death?”

  “That’s unfair.” She came back to him, and wrapped her arms around his neck. “There were four of them. And I’m scared in case they are out there still. What if you disappeared and I never knew where or why. I can look after myself.”

  He rested his head on her chest, her heartbeat loud in his ears. “I would never forgive myself if anything happened to you.”

  “You don’t think that’s how I feel about you? If you were attacked, it would be because of me. Please don’t fight me on this.”

  He sighed. “I can see I would lose if I did.”

  She smiled down at him. “You learn fast.”

  “I can see my life is never going to be the same. As the man, I thought I was supposed to be sole protector.”

  “Maybe if your mate was a human, but not when she’s a wolf. I’m sorry.”

  “I’m not.”

  She smiled brightly. “Thank you. I’ve been on my own so long I’ve got used to fending for myself. I don’t think I could settle down and be the little housewife.”

  He chuckled. “I could chain you to the kitchen. Make you cook and wash for me.”

  “I have claws, you know.”

  “Mine are bigger.”

  “But I am so much faster than a lumbering old bear.”

  “Go and get dressed, little silver wolf, or we won’t ever get out of this cabin. This lumbering old bear is in the mood for dragging you back to bed so I can teach you who’s boss.”

  She pulled away from him. “I can see I’m going to have to train you, big bear.”

  She was out of the room before he was out of the bed. His cock was hard and he wouldn’t have been responsible for his actions if he had caught her. He was in the mood to bend her over a chair and fuck her long and hard. But they needed to get the pack; so, instead, he pulled on some warm clothes.

  This time he was going to be prepared, in case he had to change back into his human form. He would need to check Fiona was wrapped up, too. He hated to admit it, but it would be easier if she came along. That way she could help put the pack on his back. It would be so much easier to carry it back here that way than dragging it in his human form.

  He only hoped they didn’t get into difficulties. The storm might have abated, but the snow would have drifted and the temperatures would be bitterly cold.

  Chapter Fourteen – Fiona

  “I can hardly move.”

  “Believe me; you’ll be glad of those clothes. When we reach the pack I’ll show you quickly how to fit it on me, and then we’ll come straight back here. Hopefully, it should take an hour at the most.”

  “No problem. Let’s get this done and be back inside before my paws freeze.”

  “Anything goes wrong, follow the tracks back here.”

  “What can go wrong?”

  His face dropped and he looked so serious a shudder passed through her. “The mountain can kill, Fiona. Never forget that.”

  She sighed. “Let’s go.”

  He pulled the door open; a blast of Arctic air hit them. She went first, changing into her other form as she leaped into the snow. Behind her, she heard the door slam and then felt the prickle of electricity flowing across her fur as he changed. Then they began the hard trek down the mountain.

  At first, she went on ahead. Then, because she had no idea where they were heading and because it was easier to follow in his footprints, Hal moved into the lead. Fiona walked in his wake, her footsteps, lighter than his, following his exactly. It made the going much easier for her, but she could see how much of a strain it was for Hal. His big bear feet flattening the snow and then his short strong legs powering him forward.

  Once or twice, he floundered into a deep pocket of snow, but on the whole, he knew where to walk and where to avoid. She had to admire his complete knowledge of this mountain he had roamed for so long. Faithfully she followed him, completely confident that he would get them to the pack and home safely.

  But the temperature was freezing; her paws were so cold they were numb. She wondered if wolves ever got frostbite, but doggedly she ploughed on. Then he stopped and sniffed the air, looking around. She waited patiently, sniffing the air too. But she couldn’t smell anything other than the cold air. It was cleansing to her mind and spirit.

  Hal put his head down and moved forward, then began digging in the snow. She joined him, although she did it to keep warm rather than because she had any idea where the pack would be. She watched him work methodically. He dug deep and then stuck his short snout into the snow, before moving and digging again. He knew exactly what he was doing. Whereas, she felt like a complete amateur. But if effort counted, then she was doing as good a job as he was.

  However, it was Hal who found it. He dug down, sniffed and then pulled back to dig deeper. He eventually found the pack about a foot under the snow. It made Fiona shiver to think that would be her body if he hadn't found her. She would have been buried without all trace.

  Now he had the strap in his hand and he was pulling it with all his might. She went to him and joined him, dragging it out of the snow and onto firm ground. Once it was completely uncovered, he stood looking at her, then looking around
, and sniffing the air.

  After several minutes he seemed satisfied, the air crackled, and she watched him change back into his human form. At the point he disappeared, she felt the loss of him leaving this world, but then a surge of relief when he stood there as a man in front of her.

  Now it was her turn. For some reason, she felt as self-conscious now, when she was about to change in front of him, as when he had first seen her naked. She tried to imagine herself in her human form, but it evaded her.

  Her heart beat rapidly. Was this a residue of confusion from when she had spent so long unconscious as a wolf? She panicked. Then she felt Hal’s hand on her fur, making her shiver as his fingers ran through her silver coat and she calmed herself down. Looking up at him, she saw him smile and knew it didn’t matter if she messed up. He would never judge her. He had made his own mistakes and understood that no one was perfect.

  Breathing in the cold air, she kept her breathing steady and held her human form in her mind. The build-up of electricity in the air crackled and sparked; she saw it reflecting off the snow before the bright white world swam away from her. Then there was nothing before she came back into the cold, snowy world, her eyes connecting with his as her human form appeared before him.

  “It’s cold” was all he said, then he turned to the pack and turned it over. She went to help him. He was right, it was freezing and they needed to do this as quickly as they could.

  “What do you need me to do?”

  He turned the pack, spreading the straps out. “I’m going to put these around my arms. Then I’ll change, the pack should be easy for me to shrug on, then you need to tighten up the straps.”

  “OK. How the hell do you manage this alone?”

  “When it’s empty I drag it behind me, so going down is easy, but I couldn’t drag it back up. When I go into town, I buy what I need and take it back to a friend’s farm. We pack it in here and then he helps me put it on.”

  “Cool. OK. I can do this.”

  “Yes. You can. It’s easy. Just pull here and here. But not too tight or I won’t be able to move.”

  “Sure.” She watched him shrug the pack onto his shoulders, not taking the weight yet. Then he stood with a faraway look in his eyes. At that moment, he shimmered out of this world and then reappeared as a bear. He changed so fast, the straps didn't even have chance to slip to the ground. She wondered how long he had taken to perfect this over the years.

  Not wanting to spend more time than she needed to in the bitter cold, she moved to him and pulled the straps. Checking each one twice, she asked him to move forward to make sure it was comfortable. He didn’t move.

  “Hal, come on, I’m freezing. Take a couple of steps to check they aren’t too tight.”

  His hackles rose, the sight of him spreading a deep dread through her, chilling her more than the mountain air. Her wolf senses would have told her they were coming. Her human senses missed the wolves as they ran down the mountainside, until it was too late. She couldn’t change quickly enough and one wolf sprang at her, but Hal swiped at him, knocking him off balance. He ploughed into the deep snow, flailing as he tried to get up but failing to get a grip.

  Two other wolves confronted Hal, circling around him.

  “Stop!” Fiona shouted, coming forward to stand in front of Hal. The bear, however, pushed her back, using his big broad body to defend her. “Hal. Don’t fight them. They’re not worth it.”

  The wolves bared their teeth, but she could tell how weak they were. She wanted to stop anyone getting hurt, but Hal was snarling, tilting his head to one side and then roaring loudly. She grabbed hold of a fistful of his fur to get his attention, but his rage was intense.

  “Hal, please.”

  He turned and snapped at her, pushing her back out of the way. Her wolf hammered to be released to teach these stupid men to calm down. The wolves were in no condition to fight, while Hal was willing to risk everything to protect what was his. She was scared that if they fought Hal, he might be injured. It would only take a deep bite to one of his legs to make it impossible for him to get back to the cabin.

  No matter how much she would like him to teach her pursuers a lesson; she would never want him to risk himself for her. Even if it meant her being taken, but she knew these wolves were in no condition to fight. They were desperate, making them more dangerous.

  Chapter Fifteen – Hal

  He should have spotted them sooner; now here he was weighed down by the pack, unable to protect his mate. Snarling at her, he made her move behind him. There was no way he was going to let them take her. Yet fighting with the pack on his back would seriously encumber him. He could pull the straps and release it, but in the seconds it took him to do that, he would expose himself to the sharp fangs of the wolves.

  “Hal, stop,” she shouted again. Why would she protect them like this, she was his. Or at least she had said she was; did she love one of these wolves? Had she spun him a web of lies, catching him in the lust of bonded mates, only to betray him now?

  He stepped forward, roaring and snarling, his mind becoming clouded by the fog of rage.

  “Hal. No. Please, you might get hurt.”

  His teeth snapped at the nearest wolf as he continued to ignore Fiona. She wasn’t worried about him, only her precious wolves. Once this was over he would teach her some respect, she was his mate and he would not share her.

  “Kurt,” she shouted at the wolf in front of him, who looked worn out and feeble. He could take him easily, one bite around the neck and he would snap him in two. But the one behind him would spring and do him an injury, or hurt Fiona. “Don’t do this. You will all die here on the mountain if you fight.”

  Behind him, he could hear the third wolf floundering around in the pit of snow he had been flung into. He had to act soon or there was a chance the odds would change again. One-step forward and he would be in a position to leap into the wolf in front of him and then swipe at the one by his side. With the right timing, he would take them both out.

  Then she was there in front of him, on her knees, her arms around his neck. “Please, Hal. You don’t want their blood on your hands. Don’t do this. Please.”

  He took a step back, his eyes fixing on hers. Slowly her meaning filtered through to his thick brain. If he fought these wolves and they died, he would have their blood on his hands and would have to answer for the crime. Brad would have the job of arresting him, and that would be terrible for his friend.

  The wolves advanced. She turned around and faced them. “Go home, Kurt. I belong here now. You will die up here if you fight. I can see how tired you are, and starving no doubt.”

  The wolf behind Kurt whined at her words; she was right; they had been up here since the night he had found Fiona. They were cold and weak, probably been in their wolf form for too long and were becoming desperate. What worried him more was that originally there had been five of them. Where were the other two?

  He turned and nuzzled Fiona, breathing in her scent. She was right; there was another way to end this. Pushing her hand up towards the pack, he tried to tell her to open it. If they gave the wolves some food, showed that there was another way out, then this fight could be avoided. He was willing to try it, but if it failed he would fight and be damned the consequences. If they tried to take her, he would protect her. However, he was willing to try it her way first.

  Chapter Sixteen – Fiona

  It took him a couple of attempts to show her his meaning. Then she understood. Opening the pack carefully, she took out a can of beef stew. It had a ring top that she could pull and so she did, the lumps of meat and gravy spilling out into the snow. The wolves leaped forward to lick it up. She reached in for another can and opened it up.

  “Kurt, if you want this, you have to change.” The wolf looked at her steadily. “You know what I mean. You’ll only get more food if you are standing in front of me in human form. Do you understand?”

  The wolf advanced, but Hal sidestepped and pushed him wit
h his big bear shoulder. The wolf snapped at Hal’s fur; the bear snarled back.

  “Hey. I mean it. No food unless you show me your damn Judas face.”

  He snarled and snapped at her. But then the other wolf pounced on him, knocking him to the ground. Kurt snapped at the wolf’s legs, but he was too weak and eventually gave in and lay still.

  “Change,” she said.

  He shook his head, struggling once more before lying still. Hal lumbered over and put his foot on Kurt's neck.

  “No,” Fiona said, but when she looked, she saw he had hardly any pressure on Kurt. Instead, he was pointing his snout at the other wolf. She had no idea at first what he wanted, and then she realised. “You need to change,” she said to the second wolf. “We need to talk.”

  He stood looking at the food and then to Kurt, lastly he stared suspiciously at Hal. The situation was obvious. The wolves were at the mercy of Hal and Fiona; if they wanted to live, they needed help. With a struggle, he shimmered out of this world, for a moment appearing and then disappearing again. He was too weak to hold himself together. In the last moment, he pulled himself back into the world in his human form, his clothes unsuitable for the conditions.

  “We need to make this quick,” she said, handing him the food. “So just listen.”

  The young man before her knelt in the snow eating the stew out of the can while Fiona talked.

  “You need to get down off this mountain. Where are the others?”

  “They never made it back through the pass.”

  “Does that mean they were stuck under the snow?”

  “No. They were the other side of it.”