Bound to the Bear

by Kathy Lyons

  “What?” He didn’t sound angry, just really confused. “Cecilia, when was the last time you slept?”

  “About two seconds ago. I was asleep when you called.”

  “So this is a dream? Or because of a dream? You know you don’t think clearly on a case. And this Flu is a nasty one. You’ve been going nonstop—”

  “Do you remember our last kiss? Have we ever held hands?” She looked down at where her fingers were entwined with his.

  Yu’s answer came out slow. “We’re intellectuals. We don’t need that kind of display.”

  “Well,” she said with a smile, “I guess I’m not as intellectual as we thought. I’m sorry Yu, but we’re done. Good-bye.”

  She thumbed off her phone and set it down. Then she looked straight into Hank’s eyes, touching his face with a slow caress that he felt in every cell in his body. “I never put it together before now. With Yu, it’s just…thinking. With you, I feel so much. More than I ever thought possible.”

  He felt his center warm at that. She was coming around to him. Or maybe he was starting to believe she could love him. But it wasn’t enough. “We need to get to know each other better.”

  She squared off with him, her expression shifting into challenge. “Okay. Let’s start with what we do know. What do you know and like about me?”

  He couldn’t begin to name them all, but he started rattling off generalities. “You don’t freeze in a crisis, you think and think well. You make me laugh when I feel at my worst. And you have this way of talking doctor that gets me hard.”

  “What?”

  He tried to mimic her. He lifted his chin and stared down his nose at her. “This is Hank. He’s here to help. If you question me, I’ll cut off your balls.”

  She laughed. “I did not say that.”

  This time he was the one who touched her. “Of course, you did. With your body and your tone. And I loved it.” He pressed a quick kiss to her lips. “It’s part of being an alpha female.”

  She blinked. “I’m not an—I mean, I…” She frowned. “Am I?”

  He grinned. “Oh yeah.”

  “Huh. Go figure.” Then she wrapped her arms around him and dropped a kiss on his nose. “Want to hear what I like about you?” she asked.

  More than he wanted his next breath.

  “The guys I know are all really smart, but give them a hangnail and they fall apart. Brilliant in their own field of study, but anything outside of their expertise, and they’re a mess. They’re so threatened whenever they don’t know the answer, but you just roll with it. You let others have the answers if you don’t, and you pitch in without ego when you do. It’s wonderful.”

  He lowered his forehead to hers. “I have an ego.”

  “But it doesn’t get in the way.” She wrinkled her nose. “And by the way, I’m talking about myself, too. If I don’t solve this Flu, I’m going to fall apart. Fair warning.”

  He smiled. “I know. Don’t worry. I’ll be there to pick you up.”

  She pulled back. “You’re supposed to say that I will figure out it. That you have faith in me, and I’ll get a promotion because of my brilliance. All the normal boyfriend bullshit.”

  He shrugged. “This is a shifter poison. Even if you do figure it out, you won’t be able to tell. At least not the normal people.” He tried to put an apology in his tone, but she had to know the truth. Even if she got a magic formula that solved all their problems, she wouldn’t be able to share it with anyone but the shifter community. That would be very hard for her. For anyone in her position.

  Her mouth opened in shock and stayed that way for at least three breaths. He could see her mind working the angles, trying for a solution that would satisfy everybody. “But this is important research. It’s a medical problem. People are dying!”

  He nodded. He knew. “Tell the shifters. We’ll tell our kind.”

  “But it’s not just your kind who are dying. And what about Brittany? She didn’t even know she was part shifter. What about all those hybrids out there?”

  “We have people in every part of the world. We’ll get the information out to those who need it.”

  She shook her head. “That’s bullshit, and you know it. Brittany’s one in a hundred. That means for every Brittany, there are ninety-nine people who start to become hybrids but don’t make it. Their higher cortex dies, and they turn aggressive and angry.”

  He winced. He hadn’t realized stable hybrids were that rare.

  “If I find a solution, we can’t keep this secret.”

  He didn’t argue with her. They weren’t going to agree. Sure, it would be wonderful if they could spread the information to the World Health Organization or whatever national and international scientific body needed to know, but that’s not how the shifter world worked. It sucked, but it was a fact.

  She swallowed and looked away. “See? That’s what I like about you, even when I hate it.”

  He frowned. “Come again?”

  “You respect me enough to tell me what you see as the truth. And you let me disagree with you.” She leaned forward. “And for the record, I do disagree. If I figure out a cure, I’m publicizing it. I’ll try to keep the magic out of it.” She rolled her eyes. “I’ll have to if I want anyone to read it, but I’m giving it to whomever will take it.”

  He took a deep breath. “We’ll find a compromise. When you figure this out—and for the record, I do think you will solve it—then we’ll work out a solution together.”

  She tilted her head. “You believe that? Really?”

  He wasn’t sure what she referred to. Did he believe she would solve the medical problem? If anyone could, it would be her. Did he think they’d reach a compromise? He hoped so. He really did.

  She snorted. “I also like that you don’t lie to me. You think this is going to be a problem.”

  He shrugged. “I think that this is a future fight. Right now, we need all your energy on solving the problem.”

  She nodded her head. “Agreed.” She brought her hands up to his shoulders and used her thumb to tease the hair at the base of his neck. “You talked about seeing the Randolphs in the hospital room. About the love they shared.”

  He nodded, the memory still having the power to make his gut clench in yearning.

  “I remember the moment a little differently. I saw the happy family pulling together…”

  “Yes—”

  “Because of you.”

  He pulled back. “No—”

  “Yes. All day, you stood there. You never even sat down. You stood there watching, helping where you could, and most of all…you listened. I never felt threatened in that room. Not even when Abby went all big and bear.”

  “You should have been frightened. That situation could have gone bad any number of ways.”

  “I know, but that’s the thing. You were there and you’re so solid…” She slid her hand down his shoulder then across his chest. “You don’t fall apart ever. You’re not hampered by ego. You don’t falter when we’re attacked by rabid wolves. You listen with respect to whatever anyone says. And you care.” She spread her fingers open, her eyes going down to where she pressed against his heart. “You know who you are, you listen, and you care. That’s what I saw in that room. That because you were so solid, the rest of us could find our strength. You gave us space to be as we wanted because none of it threatened you, and that kept everybody calm. Even in the midst of chaos, you gave us all strength.”

  So many words, such precision in phrasing. God, he loved this woman. What she said may or may not be bullshit. He honestly didn’t know. He felt the resonance in his core, though. And he loved that she saw his strength. But as for quiet…He shook his head.

  “I’m terrified all the time now,” he said softly. “Since the moment I met you, I’m terrified you’ll get hurt. That you’ll run from me. That I won’t be able to protect you, help you…” Love you.

  She grinned. “Well, I’m not running now, am I? And you’re right h
ere with me.”

  Yes, he was. And that meant that right now, he was content. More than content, he was blissfully happy. He was about to kiss her. She was angling her head for just that, and he was leaning in for a taste. Or a lot more than a taste.

  But then her stomach rumbled, loud and empty. A sure sound to any shifter that he had neglected his mate. She was hungry. He pulled back and asked a very serious question.

  “Will you let me feed you? Cook for you?”

  She blinked, obviously startled. Then she burst out in laughter. “That’s like asking me if I want a Nobel prize. Of course, I want that!”

  He grinned. “How much food do you have here?”

  She blinked. “Um, tap water?”

  “Poisoned.”

  “Right. So I think I have…um…let me think. Absolutely nothing.”

  “Let’s go to the grocery store. There are a few that still have something on the shelves. And then I will make you a feast.”

  She laughed. “I don’t care if it’s an expired hot dog. I’m starving.”

  He took her to a grocery store. He didn’t let her eat any hot dogs, expired or otherwise. The place was indeed stripped of all the easy foods, but they had Spam left and soups that had been canned outside of Detroit. Bottled water, too, mostly because no one outside of the shifter community believed that the water was tainted. He grabbed a couple jars of spices and some fresh fruit while she snatched up the last granola bars left on the shelf.

  They talked the whole time. At the grocery store, while he cooked, and while they ate. He rubbed her feet while she read the data Dennis had sent via email. And then he rubbed her all over, spending extra time on the breasts he had so ignored earlier.

  They had intended to watch a movie together, but she was the only thing that interested him. And it turned out that sixty-nine wasn’t the only fun way to experience oral. There were advantages to having a doctor as a lover.

  All in all, it was the best night of his life. She was with him, she saw him, and she listened. Not just to his funny stories, but to his tales of the army and of his dead brother. He hadn’t spoken about these things to anyone, but they came out with her. And it felt so good to share them, even as she spoke of her life in school and of being overshadowed by a brilliant father and a domineering mother.

  They would have talked all night, but he knew she needed to rest. She needed to tackle the Detroit Flu with fresh eyes tomorrow. So well after midnight, he tucked her against his side and held her quiet until she slept. He drifted off, too, dropping into a deeply relaxed state, one that nourished him far beyond what he was used to. It was because of her. Because she held him as she rested and that made him content at his core.

  Bliss.

  Which is why he was caught off guard when the werewolves woke them at dawn.

  Chapter 20

  Cecilia knew something was wrong the moment she was covered by a heavy blanket while Hank leapt from the bed. She’d barely gasped when she heard the door open and him growl, “Step one foot inside and you’re dead.”

  She pushed her head out from under the cover to see Hank fully naked facing off with three men in loose sweats. She recognized two of them from the werewolf contingent who’d come to Mother’s house.

  “We’ve come to speak with Dr. Lu,” the one she didn’t recognize said. His hands were held up in placating gesture and he appeared to be the leader.

  “Polite people knock. They don’t pick the lock,” Hank said.

  Meanwhile, one of the men behind the leader sniffed loudly and his lips curled in disgust. “He’s going to be a problem.”

  Then the leader turned to her. “Dr. Lu, I’m Derek Sims, beta of the Detroit Wolves. We need to have a civil conversation. I apologize for how abrupt this seems, but we feel you’re in danger. There is urgency and it’s best if you come with us now.”

  “She’s safe with me,” Hank growled.

  “Dr. Lu—”

  Cecilia sat up, holding the covers to her chest. “Dr. Lu needs to get dressed.”

  “I’m afraid there’s too much danger—”

  “Bullshit. Step outside, guard the door.” She held up her phone. “I’ve got police and bears on speed dial.” Then she rubbed her eyes. “And if you want a civil conversation, you can get me a large mocha at the Starbucks next door.”

  Hank stiffened. “They use water—”

  “I’ve been drinking it every day since I got here. I’m pretty sure I lack any shifter DNA, so I’m not at risk.” She turned back to the wolves. “Grab a couple water bottles, too. Thanks.”

  The cranky werewolf bared his teeth. “We are not lapdogs, little girl. We do not—”

  “You said civil conversation, right?” Cecilia interrupted. Her gaze hard on the leader. “Or was that a lie?”

  “No lie,” he said with a slight dip to his head, though she could tell he was forcing himself to say it. “We will get the coffee—”

  Hank interrupted. “Get Frappuccinos instead. The bottled ones with the seals intact.”

  Cecilia looked at him. “You think they’d drug me?”

  “They picked the lock here to surprise you.”

  The leader growled. “Bears are overly suspicious. And we’re wasting time.”

  Cecilia gestured them back. “Then go get the Fappuccinos and let me get dressed!”

  The three werewolves backed away, their expressions showing varying degrees of anger. But they did as she ordered probably because Hank was there looking like he was about to go grizzly on them. Hank shut the door in their faces, then stood there vibrating tension while she scrambled out of bed.

  She dressed quickly and cleaned up. She waited for Hank to do the same, but he remained at the door, standing tall in all his naked glory.

  “You really think they’re the danger.”

  He shrugged. “Wolves and bears in this city haven’t gotten along for generations. I don’t trust them.”

  “I got that. But…um…don’t you want to get dressed?”

  He shook his head. “Wolves are faster than bears, but in close quarters like this, I can do some pretty major damage.”

  “I don’t want any damage to anyone.”

  “I don’t want to either. But—”

  “You don’t trust them. Great.” She sighed and pulled out her phone. “Give me five minutes to check my email and then…” Her voice trailed away as she thumbed into the data that she’d received last night. “Wow,” she breathed.

  “What?” Anxiety burst through the word, but she waved at him to show that it was okay.

  She kept reading. There was too much to process in five minutes, but the summary was pretty succinct.

  “Cecilia—” he began, and she waved at him again, answering without looking up.

  “The data that you guys sent earlier? A bunch of it came from a lab in Ann Arbor run by Dr. Sherilyn.”

  “Yeah. Shifter lab at the University of Michigan. She’s an ocelot.”

  “I sent her our data yesterday while we were waiting on Abby to…” Cecilia looked up. “An ocelot? Seriously?”

  He shrugged. “We aren’t all dogs and bears.”

  “Right.” Damn, there was so much to learn. The excitement of that nearly buried her annoyance at being woken up too damn early by rude werewolves. Then she was back in the data Dr. Sherilyn had sent. “She’s done some great work. Pretty clear how the body is effected by this Flu.”

  Hank shifted, his body relaxing slightly in hope. “Can you stop it?”

  “Too early to say—”

  Heavy pounding on the door interrupted her words. She had to force herself to close up her phone and pay attention to the situation at hand. Hank looked at her, and she nodded. He pulled open the door, then jumped back quickly as he took up a protective stance in front of her.

  The wolves sauntered in, their leader empty-handed but the other two carried hot coffee, Frappuccinos, and an assortment of muffins. Impressive. She hadn’t thought Starbucks had any bakery
items left.

  “How’d you get those?” she asked as her nose twitched. She might not be a shifter, but she sure as hell could smell baked goods.

  “We have a wolf who bakes. These are hers.”

  Wonderful! Except she now realized that Hank wouldn’t want her to eat them. Possible poison or whatever. So with a sigh, she gestured to the table. Everyone gathered and sat, except for Hank. He stood beside her bristling and naked. It was actually pretty sexy, but she didn’t let herself focus on that.

  Instead, she grabbed a bottled Frappuccino and twisted it open, feeling for the pop to prove it hadn’t been tampered with. It popped, she drank, and it tasted wonderful. She leaned back in her chair.

  “Okay. Civilized conversation. What’s going on?”

  “Good morning, Dr. Lu. Our alpha promised that we would answer your questions. We are here to do that.”

  She frowned. “I thought the meeting was tonight.”

  “It is. We are here to take you to where we gather so you can—”

  She held up her hand. “Stop. I’m not going anywhere with you right now. There’s too much going on.”

  The werewolf arched a brow. “You are in significant danger.”

  That phrase ought to terrify her, but honestly, she’d been too amped up from adrenaline these last days to get worked up. “Really? From what?”

  “Hybrids are everywhere, the water is tainted, and as a scientist who knows about shifters, you are a valuable person.”

  She nodded and looked at each of the werewolves in turn. “Sounds really scary,” she deadpanned. “That’s why I’ve got a guard with me here.” She glanced at Hank. “And I spend the rest of my time at the hospital.” She took another sip of her drink. Damn it was good. “But you’re here now, I’ve got some questions—”

  “We want to offer you a job, Dr. Lu.”

  She blinked and stared at her drink. Had they drugged her? They couldn’t possibly be offering her a job. “I work for the CDC.”

  “But you’re aware of shifters now. Surely, you realize that there is a limit to the type of research you can do—and report—to the ignorant.”