Montana Wild Bears: Books 1-4 Bundle (BBW Paranormal Werebear Shape Shifter Romance Boxed Set)

by Anya Nowlan

“Does Jackson think that way as well?” Callie asked, her voice cautious. Again she found herself in a situation where her loyalty to her clan and to her man were at opposite ends, and she didn’t like it one bit. Her mood sunk completely when Jonah nodded.

  “He does. We talked about it today, after it happened. He can’t reason with Ryder, he’s tried. Hell, we’ve all tried. He gladly meets us when we call on him, but usually it just means that another truck gets torched or a local hassled. We don’t really even know what he’s after, other than for us to leave Cabinet. It just seems… malicious. Jackson proposed we sort out a better land deal on the other side of Cabinet for them, where none of us live anyway, and there’s plenty of room and resources to set up the Bitterroots. Ryder wouldn’t have any of it. Julian basically told him to name a number and he would pay him just to go away.” Callie’s eyebrows shot up at that. She’d thought it was just about the land, of having a new place for the clan to start over. Werebears didn’t have a lot of places to choose from. They needed open spaces, forest, wilderness untouched by the human hand – not many places came to mind – and so, Cabinet had been an obvious choice to return to.

  What does he actually want then? Goddamnit Ryder, you’re really messing with my love life now.

  “Name a number? Seriously?”

  “Yes,” Jonah said, his expression indicating that the topic was obviously sour for him. “Julian was incredibly uncomfortable. He’s not the kind of guy to try and buy his way out of a problem, but it seemed like something we could try. Ryder just scoffed and said there wasn’t enough money in the world to make up for things. He’s bitter about something, and I don’t know what it is.” Jonah huffed and turned onto his side, facing Callie while resting his chin on his arm. He brushed his palm down her chest and over her breasts, making her nipples tighten into peaks under his touch. Callie felt a blush coming to her cheeks. He knew just how to get her off of a distasteful topic and onto a better one.

  “As for us? I can’t make you change sides – I know I wouldn’t. We just have to do everything in our power to come through this alive. Avoid killing anyone. And when the dust settles, we will patch things up. All of it. One way or another, after this, there will only be one clan. Whoever wins, wins. Old rules. The strongest Alpha gets the clan. And then, we won’t have a wall between us anymore. Either way, we can be together.” He smiled sadly, and Callie thought her heart would break. As much as it was difficult for her, she knew that Jonah lived through things a lot deeper than she did. Being so close to it all couldn’t have been easy for him.

  “One way or another,” she echoed. Callie leant forward and kissed him on the lips. The kiss tasted bittersweet.

  ***

  Callie still had a bounce to her step when she joined the rest of her clan in front of Ryder’s cabin the next day. She had got home about half an hour before her cabin mates had got up and been entirely impressed with her sneaking around abilities. Alice had given her a knowing look during breakfast, but other than that, Callie figured she’d done an excellent job. She was positively glowing after her much-needed night in Jonah’s arm. Her muscles ached, and all she wanted was a quick nap, but that didn’t make the night any less worthwhile.

  I miss him already, she thought to herself as she took a place towards the back of the crowd.

  She quietly considered the people around her. Half of them she hadn’t seen in forever and some were completely foreign to her. The clan had both grown in numbers and decreased in friendly faces. Not many, but some, had opted out of returning after Ryder’s call. She understood their decision, even if she couldn’t in good conscience do it herself. Some carried heavy limps and obvious painful injuries, both from the battles with the Kadin pack as well as the scuffles they’d had with the Arders. And the mood that hung over all of them was far from cheerful. She could read resentment, anxiety and a thin layer of anger floating over them. Werebears never were ones for gathering close together, and now, with the constant turmoil, tempers had begun to flare. The clan wanted all of it to end, and Callie had the sickening feeling that Ryder was planning on giving them just that. Closure.

  Callie’s breath rose in steam pillars and the sky was ominously cloudy as Ryder walked out of his house and stopped on the porch. His arms were crossed on his chest, and he looked like a haunted man. The mischievous grin she had remembered him wearing like a badge of honor as a young man was gone, replaced by a constant glare. Though he was in peak physical condition his bright blue eyes seemed darker and his face sunken. He stood before his clan like a messiah of destruction, and it made a shiver run down her spine. The crowd fell completely silent. Troy and Drake were standing to either side of the stairs leading up to the porch, their dark auras blanching in comparison to the pure unfiltered rage that Callie sensed in Ryder.

  This can’t be good, she thought at the sight of him. In an instant, her happy glow disappeared. She shared a look with Alice, who seemed more worried than anything as she glanced over her shoulder at Callie.

  “Bitterroots, I’ll keep it short. Yesterday, the Arders attacked some of ours again,” Ryder started, his voice booming over the assembly of werebears. “We’ve dragged it out long enough. It’s time to put an end to this. Today, we will face them head-on.” Ryder paused for a moment, and Callie’s body went rigid with fear. Jonah had been right. Ryder really had lost any sense he had left and was going to play the conflict out in the bloodiest way possible. Werebear clans had understood long ago that killing their own kind was the quickest path to self-destruction. While battles happened, they were rare and usually only held between individuals. But, Ryder obviously wanted to take everyone down right along with him. Murmurs stirred up in the crowd, only to be quieted by Ryder’s narrowing scowl. Callie’s hand gripped tightly at her phone in her pocket.

  “It’ll be a fair fight. They are back and ready, and so are we. I want to come out of this as the sole owners of the Cabinet Mountains, and I won’t hold my claws back to accomplish that. I expect all of you to show just as much commitment. We used to live on these lands, and it’s time we take them back. An Alpha’s foolishness many years ago made us live here as guests, and the Arders act as if the mountains are rightfully theirs. I am here to tell you that they are not. They are ours. We move out in an hour. I have it on good account that the Arders will be gathered then, and there’s no better time to get this all over with than now. Forget about your friendships, forget about your duties. For now, those bears are our enemy. And unlike with the Kadins, this time we have a chance to destroy our enemy,” Ryder finished. All Callie could do was to stare in wide-eyed disbelief.

  I can’t believe he’s actually going through with this… I need to warn Jonah!

  Callie’s knuckles were white from holding onto her phone so hard. Her clan stood silent, a mix of resignation and excitement bubbling through them. It was not their way to question the Alpha, and many of them wouldn’t. Even if it meant the lives of those on the other side – their loved ones and the bears they considered friends. After their losses at Bitterroot, the bears knew well what defeat could mean. Alice’s head was lowered, and Callie could see the younger werebear shudder. The waitress wasn’t the only one who had deep ties with the Arders aside from Callie. But, the clan came first. The Alpha came first. Even if he had turned from a rational, powerful leader into a twisted shadow of what he had once been. Ryder turned around on his heel and walked back to the cabin, some of his inner circle separating from the crowd and following him in.

  Callie pulled out her phone and left the group with hurried steps. Her trembling hands were typing a message to Jonah when long fingers snatched it from her palm. Callie yelped, spinning around to face whoever it was that had taken her phone. Troy was eyeing her message with a raised brow and an amused smirk. Callie tried to grab the phone back, but he raised it above his head, out of her reach.

  “Tsk tsk, Calliope. No fraternizing with the enemy anymore. You didn’t bring Ryder anything useful, though you kept runn
ing off with that Arder chump. And this is not the right time to betray your Alpha.” He grinned wide, pocketing the phone despite Callie’s objections.

  “Give it back to me! You have no right, Troy,” she hissed. Callie was inches from flinging herself at his grinning face and ripping the smile right off his lips.

  “Now, go get ready. Even traitorous bitches like you get to come and play today. Time to watch some Arder blood splatter the ground,” Troy said with obvious satisfaction, brushing off her anger. He gave Callie a mock salute and left her standing in the middle of the field, seething with rage. Just then, the first snowflakes drifted down to the ground.

  What the hell am I going to do?

  CHAPTER NINE

  I wonder if she’s okay, Jonah thought to himself, looking across the wide-open expanse of the Yellowhead riverside. A light dusting of snow had covered the ground, growing thicker with each passing minute. The river flowed down from the mountains ceaselessly, not bothered in the least by the large gathering of werebears on its banks. Jonah’s chin squared as he looked up to the mountains where the river began its trundling descent. They weren’t too far from where Jackson had been attacked a few months ago. And just some days ago he had sat on the banks of the river with Callie. His bear was restless and so was he. Nothing about the situation felt right to him and above all, he couldn’t stop worrying about Callie.

  “Jonah, are you listening?” Jackson asked, his expression terse. Julian nudged Jonah, and he stirred from his revelry, the thoughtfulness clearing from his hazel eyes.

  “Yeah, sorry. It’s just surreal that we’re actually going to do this,” Jonah said, returning his attention to the small circle he was standing in. Jackson nodded in understanding, and Julian squeezed his arm. Derek looked as stone-faced as ever, now even more so after the Bitterroots had dared pick a fight with Keely. The Arder brothers were all on edge, but Jackson had managed to keep their heads in the game, at least for the most part. It showed that Jonah had been hit hardest by the quick progress of events.

  “So, are we all in agreement? We seek out Ryder as fast as we can. Whoever gets to him keeps him busy until I get there. I think he has the potential to do the most damage, and if I can take him out then we can end this faster than in any other way. This won’t be over until one of us – Ryder or I – can’t fight anymore. Look out for the ones you know need help. Control your groups. Protect your people.” Jackson cast a look across his close circle. Julian nodded, his usual happy demeanor nowhere to be found.

  The middle Arder brother had made quick and impressive strides in becoming one with his bear, and had turned out to be one of their fiercest warriors. Just as his heritage had predicted. Jonah inclined his head in agreement as well, trying to shake off his numbing worry for Callie’s wellbeing. Derek patted Jackson on the back and peeled away from the group, heading back to the werebears he was in charge of. Though not an Arder, he had been Jackson’s right-hand man while Jonah and Julian had been away, and he deserved the respect of being kept close to the heart of the planning.

  “Are you okay?” Julian asked Jonah, the three brothers left amongst themselves for a moment. Jonah knew they couldn’t have much time anymore. Alice’s call had come in about forty-five minutes ago, and the Bitterroots would be there any moment. Ryder had found out where and when the Arders were planning to train that day, and it was only thanks to Alice’s call to Susie that Jackson had managed to call all the bears together instead of just the ones scheduled to prepare for the day. It was a huge blessing that there had been someone to give them notice like that, but the fact that it wasn’t Callie made Jonah fear the worst.

  “As good as can be expected,” Jonah answered, unclenching the fist his hand had unwittingly made. “I wish I had heard from Callie. I can’t believe that she wouldn’t contact me if she found out about this. I wonder if Ryder did something to her,” he said darkly, his brows knitting in frustration.

  “I don’t think he’d go that far, Jonah. I’m sure she’s fine. Alice told Susie that some of Ryder’s lieutenants were keeping an eye on them so no one would flake at the last minute. I bet they made a point of not letting Callie get in contact with you. You’ll see her soon. It’ll be fine,” Julian said, though the tone of his voice told Jonah that his brother was as doubtful about the possibility of a good outcome as he was.

  Jonah didn’t get a chance to reply as a bellowing, earth-shattering roar crested above them, cutting through the air. Jackson whipped around to face the sound, and all three of the Arders snarled at the sight of Ryder’s big grizzly rearing up on his back legs.

  “It’s time,” Jackson called, his muscles flexed. Jonah and Julian both split from Jackson, meeting up with their groups. Midstride, Jonah’s shift took him. His head was pounding with a million questions and worries, the blood starting to boil in his veins as it always did when he entered a battle. As his bear was allowed out, his mind quieted bit by bit. His senses sharpened as his body grew and expanded. Thick, sharp claws dug into the ground, and his rich, dark coat quickly became dappled with the snow. Adrenaline pumped through his veins, and a roar burst forth from him as soon as the shift was complete. His roar was echoed by dozens of others as his people turned and entered into their bear forms.

  The anxieties lifted from him and clear focus took its place. He quickly checked if all his bears were ready. It was comforting to know that so many good, strong, fearless bears had his back, but it was equally as horrible to think that not all of them might return. A soldier knew how to forget about his own mortality, but a commander couldn’t ignore the lives of his men. The air grew thick with the snarls of countless grizzlies, the bank of the Yellowhead River paying witness to the largest gathering of werebears seen across the lands in a long, long time. The ground shook as the Bitterroots descended upon the Arders in a flurry of brown coats and snarling maws. All hell had broken loose, and Jonah and Callie were stuck in the middle, their loyalties as strong as their love for each other.

  The Arders had taken places in line. Jackson was in front of them all, backed by Julian, Jonah and Derek, and then their groups behind them. Jonah could feel the heavy, seething growls of the young werebears behind him. He didn’t need to check to know that Arrow and Damian were the loudest of them, itching to break formation and charge into Ryder with reckless abandon. Watching the Bitterroots come down from the ridge of trees that had hidden them before made Jonah’s hairs bristle. He scraped at the ground, his bear more than ready for the fight. The reasons behind it were less than satisfying, but a bear had to do what a bear had to do.

  Every step that took the Bitterroots closer made it harder to not charge forth. But, Jackson had a better eye for the area and knew that they would be at a disadvantage if the battle was to take place on an incline. As soon as the Bitterroots crossed onto the open plain, Jackson roared so loud that Jonah thought there was surely going to be an avalanche somewhere. He and Julian joined in on the roar – the Alpha trifecta made strong by the magic of their heritage and the strength of their characters. Jackson broke into a run and the rest followed. Jonah felt like binds had been snapped free from around him, finally allowing him to release the beast. The ground shook and trembled under the heavy steps of more than a hundred werebears.

  Jackson took a beeline for Ryder, but far before he could reach the rivalling Alpha, the familiar forms of Troy and Drake cut out in front of Ryder and plowed into Jackson from either side. With that, all hell broke loose. The lurch of powerful, heavy bodies colliding against one another, and jaws and nails scraping at flesh filled the air with terrifying sounds. Jonah veered around the mass of bodies that formed around Jackson. Julian had speared into them and already bit into Drake with the ferocity of a man who had a debt to settle. Ryder was lost in the tussle of countless bears snapping and clawing at one another. It didn’t take long for the snow to be sprinkled with the thick red of werebear blood.

  Jonah tore a Bitterroot off of one of the women werebears in his group, fights br
eaking out all around him. He tasted blood in his mouth from the flesh wound he had given the Bitterroot, and it tasted like the vilest poison. There was nothing right about fighting his own kind. All the memories of the horrors he had seen during his tours wanted to flood back, but Jonah pressed them down deep. His vision blurred at the edges as he looked for Ryder and Callie. He wanted to see her, just to know that she was okay. She was nowhere in sight, but through the haze of tumbling bodies and flashing teeth, Jonah noticed Ryder’s familiar hide. He’d run with him many times when they were young, and the dark, angry aura that surrounded him was unmistakable.

  Jonah plowed into Ryder from the side just as the powerful bear was about to latch his teeth around an Arder bear. Ryder yelped as he fell to the ground along with Jonah, both bears up on their feet almost instantaneously. Jonah snarled at Ryder, his ears perked in the hopes of hearing Jackson running towards them. The faster it was over, the better. He saw a glint of familiarity in Ryder – the look of a bear backed into a corner and ready to fight to the end if he had to. Jonah had seen that look on the faces of many of the men he had fought with, and he knew as well as anyone that no man wanted to feel that way. Still, there was nothing to do but fight back. Ryder roared angrily, his voice carrying across the writhing, seething mass of blood-hungry bodies.

  The two bears collided again, and powerful jaws ripped at each other. Jonah felt a sharp pain in his shoulder just as he ran his long claws across Ryder’s neck, drawing blood. They both backed away for a moment, but soon the air echoed again with the heavy, sickening sound of two Alphas crashing together. Jonah put all his thoughts out of his mind, focusing only on the present. The magic of the three linked Arder Alphas flowed through him, and his senses were keen and sharp. Although Ryder may have been a stronger Alpha, Jonah was backed by magic and the fortitude of three minds. He knew that Jackson would be there soon. The signals he was sending were unmistakable. For now, Jonah just had to keep Ryder in place and make sure he didn’t have the chance to hurt anyone else.