Crush on the Alpha Bear

by Emilia Hartley

  Leaning in behind her, he looked at the array of books, hoping he could find something he knew. “Yeah, it is,” he agreed.

  Emily flinched, turning around in a rush to look up at him with slightly widened eyes. His sudden closeness must have startled her.

  Something in the air crackled between them, and suddenly it felt much too hot to be so close to one another. Adam stepped back, almost too quickly.

  “So,” he tried continuing casually, “I guess I’ll load dad’s things into a room down here. I’m guessing you’re picking one of the bigger rooms upstairs?”

  Emily nodded. “I thought that you and David might want the bigger rooms though.”

  Adam shook his head. “It’d be really hard for the pack leader to protect everyone from the top floor. Dad will likely get the room over here, closest to the door leading outside. I’ll take the room across from you upstairs to evenly distribute alpha power.”

  A look crossed Emily’s face that Adam couldn’t quite read. “Oh.”

  Oh? “What’s up? Did you want to room next to Kelly or something?”

  “Oh, no!” Emily corrected quickly. “I mean, that would be nice, but that’s not why I…” Her voice trailed off and she averted her gaze for a moment. “No, this is all fine. It makes perfect sense.”

  “Alright,” Adam replied, though he wasn’t entirely sure he understood her reaction. “I’ll grab your bag from downstairs. Just let me know which room is yours and I’ll drop it off.”

  “Will do,” she replied, slipping around him quickly. “I’ll be in the room on the left, face down on that unbelievably soft bed. Don’t keep me waiting too long.” She flashed him a smile before bolting upstairs, but not before he saw that blush of pink on her cheeks that was becoming all too familiar to him.

  Chapter Four

  Emily was pulling on her socks as a sharp knock at the door startled her.

  “Good morning!” Adam’s voice called from the other side of the door.

  She knew she was fully clothed, but patted herself down frantically just in case before opening the door. “Morning,” she greeted back with a shy smile.

  Adam grinned openly down at her. “Did you sleep well?”

  Emily nodded, fully aware that she was lying. “Did you?”

  His smile turned rueful. “Not exactly.”

  “Oh?”

  He shrugged. “Just thinking a lot about… things.”

  “Mmmm,” she agreed noncommittally. She supposed it made sense. Adam was heir to the pack, and what he did in Woodhaven would be a pretty good indication of whether or not he was ready to take on that burden. Compared to the weight on his shoulders, Emily couldn’t help but think her own reason for losing sleep last night was a fair bit more trivial.

  The simple explanation was, she’d just been far too aware of Adam in the next room, so close to her and with no one between them. She couldn’t stop her mind from wandering to what could be, what could happen, if only she had the courage to take the next step. The possibilities played unceasingly through her mind, both terrifying and exciting her.

  “Morning, guys,” Kelly greeted, as Emily and Adam descended the stairs together. She’d returned to the house the night before, food in hand and scowl on her face, the trip obviously not having gone as planned. This morning she seemed a lot more cordial, though she was sitting pretty far from her father at the dining table.

  Emily smiled at her. Kelly was her best friend and she knew pretty much everything that there was to know about Emily except her growing attraction for Adam. She liked to believe she could say the same, that she knew everything about Kelly, too. Emily knew that it wouldn’t be long before they were lying across her bed and lamenting about the unjust restrictions her father had yet again placed upon Kelly.

  “Hope everyone slept alright,” David spoke, setting out leftover Chinese in lieu of a real breakfast. “Yesterday was child’s play. The real work begins today.”

  “What do you think the meeting will be about today?” Emily asked between bites of cold Chow Mein. “Just defense strategies? Or do you think they’ll want to strike first?”

  “Whatever they do, I’ll be ready,” Adam replied, his gaze growing hard with resolve.

  “Now, now, let’s not get too fired up here,” David said. “I won’t pretend to know the full history of this current pack, but I do know that those alpha boys’ old man was never really the confrontational type. They seemed to have inherited that, for the most part.” He paused to shovel another forkful of fried rice in his mouth. “For now I think their biggest concern is protecting the humans as much as possible without losing any of their own in the process. So basically be prepared for anything.”

  “Sounds like a bunch of nothing for someone who you won’t let fight,” Kelly grumbled quietly.

  Adam stood, grabbing his now empty plate off the table. He appeared to be finished eating already. Emily watched him a bit too closely as he rinsed his dish, the muscles of his arms working in earnest as thoughts she couldn’t read flitted shadows across his eyes. Something warm and not entirely uninviting unfurled inside of her, as if it were rising from a long slumber. It sent thrilling sparks over her body, tingling at the tips of her fingers and toes.

  As if some invisible signal had pinged him, Adam’s eyes snapped up to meet her own. A blush burned at Emily’s cheeks as she quickly tore her gaze away.

  “Emily! Please tell him he’s being totally irrational!” Kelly called, snapping Emily’s attention back to the conversation at the table.

  “Hm? What?” Emily stammered, looked back at what appeared to be Kelly waiting expectantly for her answer.

  “I’m sorry,” Emily spoke meekly. “My mind began to wander, I didn’t hear a word you said.” She watched in her peripheral vision as Adam went back to washing his dish, and though she couldn’t be entirely certain, she was pretty sure she saw a grin tilt his lips before he turned completely away. “What did you need?”

  Kelly waved her question away with a groan. “It doesn’t matter. Timing’s all off now. Let’s just get going.”

  With a nod, Emily stood. She filed in behind David and Kelly as they passed their dishes to Adam for him to rinse. As his eyes met Emily’s, she definitely saw something knowing in them, though his expression remained neutral. Fighting to keep her embarrassment from showing, she thrust the dirty plate and silverware towards him and averted her gaze. When the weight of the dishes was no longer in her hands, she walked away without looking back.

  She really needed to get back on task, or she wouldn’t be of much use to anyone.

  ******

  “What did you all think of the house?” Savannah asked as they all settled in with their first mugs of coffee.

  “It’s amazing,” Emily replied with a long whiff of her coffee.

  “I’m glad you guys like it,” Savannah said, relieved. “That place started off in a pretty abysmal state. At first, we were afraid that two weeks wasn’t going to be enough, but it all turned out okay.”

  Nodding in appreciation for their effort, Emily took the first sip from her mug. It was hot, and fresh, and strong—just the way she liked it. Looking over at Kelly, who sipped her coffee in solitude in the back corner of the office, a question began to niggle at the back of Emily’s mind. She figured now would be the best time to just come out and ask Savannah, since they’d likely not have much free time after today.

  “Say, Savannah?” she began.

  “Hmm?” Savannah replied in the middle of a long, slow sip of coffee.

  “Yesterday you said you fight in the battles, right?” she asked. “Like, not just as a last resort, but on the front lines?”

  Savannah nodded. “Yep. We all do our part here, anything we can. Why do you ask?”

  Emily chewed the inside of her cheek, not really sure how to respond. It wasn’t just how suddenly protective David had become of her and Kelly yesterday that bothered her. It was also that Adam had been so unbelieving of her resolve desp
ite fighting David about keeping her on the sidelines merely hours after saying she was the strongest shifter he knew. What good were those words if he didn’t truly mean them?

  “It’s just… I don’t think someone truly believes that I have what it takes,” she said. “To fight, I mean.”

  Savannah’s eyes filled with understanding. “Ah. Has this person ever seen you fight before?”

  Emily shook her head, frowning. “Never, though they are right in that I have no fighting experience. Confirming that observation might not be the best move for me.” She sighed. “It’s more that he… they think I lack the resolve to do what it takes. To learn. To grow and protect my pack and yours in any way that I can.”

  “I see. Well, then that’s a side you’re just going to have to show them more often,” Savannah replied with a smile. “Show him that there’s more to you than he’s ever known before, parts of you that you didn’t even know were possible to bring out until now.”

  A rush of embarrassment crept up Emily’s neck as she took in Savannah’s knowing look. “You know it’s Adam, huh?”

  Savannah laughed. “It was pretty obvious.”

  Emily sighed, chuckling inwardly. “Well thank you, regardless. I needed to hear that.”

  “I’ve been where you are right now. I know how confusing it can be,” Savannah assured, as Nick called for the meeting to begin. “If you ever need anyone to talk to, I’m all ears.”

  Feeling a little more secure with her emotions, Emily moved to sit closer to Kelly and see how she was feeling before the meeting began.

  “How are things between you and David?” she asked.

  Kelly’s mild scowl deepened. “He won’t budge. I ended up caving first. I’m just tired of arguing about it, to be honest. You know how he gets.”

  Emily nodded her understanding. “I do. Frankly I’m surprised he agreed letting me join the fight like that.”

  Kelly groaned. “That’s how it should always be. We’re all adults! Why can he just let me do what I want?”

  Emily patted her friend’s hand. “Just try to understand that you’re his only daughter. He’s just trying to look out for you.”

  Kelly’s frown only deepened, but she didn’t speak. As Emily settled back in her seat, her eyes wandered inadvertently back to Adam. He was still standing near the entrance, speaking lowly with his father. The way he leaned nonchalantly against the wall as he nodded intently at David’s words basked him in a certain allure that Emily couldn’t quite explain.

  She didn’t fully understand. This wasn’t the first time she’d felt some form of attraction to Adam, but the time when she had problems hiding it had long since passed. Why was it suddenly becoming so difficult to keep her feelings secret around him again? Was it the determination and resolve she saw on the hard lines of his face every time he wanted to prove himself as a worthy heir? Was it that which she saw? Adam’s alpha capacity for protection and it made her feel safe? Or did the change lie in her; was she just tired of keeping her feelings a secret and wanted to finally let him know how she felt?

  Maybe Savannah was right? Maybe there was a side to Emily that even she couldn’t see in herself. Maybe she and Adam could discover this new side of her together.

  A shiver of little electric sparks raised the hairs on her arms as Adam looked up, directly at her. Unlike during breakfast, she didn’t look away this time. They stared at once another for a fretful beat before his lopsided grin set her heart on its ear. She shifted her gaze hastily, but not before shooting him a return smile. In her hurried aversion, Emily caught Savannah smiling knowingly at her from across the room and groaned inwardly - So much for keeping her emotions secret.

  “Alright, it looks like we’re all finally settled in,” Nick began, waiting for everyone to be seated before he sat down at the head of the table. “Welcome back, guys. Hope you all slept well.”

  The room filled with a chorus of ‘Good mornings’ and ‘Yeses’.

  “Good to hear. So I figured we can just get right down to it, then?” Everyone nodded. “Perfect. First order of business is role assignment.”

  “As far as we know,” Tom interjected, “the Northern Wind, at the very least, plans to attack us here, in town, as they have many times in the past. What’s changed is that it may not be confined to the forest, as they might actually try targeting humans if we don’t keep them out of town limits.”

  “That means our very first, and likely our most important non-combat role is sentry duty,” Nick finished.

  “I can do that.” Adam and Emily locked gazes yet again, mild confusion marring their features, as they finished the sentence in unison.

  Nick laughed in the silence. “Perfect,” he replied. “You both can patrol during the day. Tom and I will take care of night patrol.”

  Mind reeling, Emily barely heard the rest of the assignments. She’d spent the morning lamenting her overall lack of control when it came to Adam, and now she’d be alone with him for most of the day for the foreseeable future. Her stomach began to churn uneasily as she looked up at Adam. He tossed her an easy smile that she couldn’t return, and it only made her feel worse.

  This was not going to end well.

  Chapter Five

  “If you hear us sound the alarm, it means the Northern Wind is nearby,” Nick explained. “Immediately convene where the alarm was sounded and we’ll move into attack formation. Of course, this is only a last resort, so don’t signal unless you’re absolutely sure.”

  Adam nodded intently as Nick spoke, pleased that he’d been included in the frontline of the battle formation. To his surprise, Emily had been assigned to the second line of attack, directly behind him. Originally, Kelly was supposed to stand beside her, but some quick words exchanged in semi privacy between his father and Nick saw to it that she was reassigned to some secretary and decoration work here in the office that Jo and Lucy would be too busy to keep up with.

  He didn’t take issue with having Emily at his back though. Lately he’d seen something in her that he wished he’d acknowledged properly the night before. He’d told her in the woods just yesterday that she was strong, and he’d meant it then, but the strength he’d acknowledged in her was born of tragedy and loss and the willingness to move past it.

  But now there was new strength blossoming in her. He saw it in the way she implored his father to let her fight, the way she passionately explained her will to fight, while they walked to the house, and even in the way she’d eagerly stepped up to patrol without missing a beat. When Nick had additionally assigned her to the second line of attack, there wasn’t a trace of fear or doubt in her eye. Only certainty for the task at hand. He didn’t know who this new Emily was, but as she met his gaze with a fierce smile of determination, he was eager to see what she could do.

  His gaze wafted then to his sister, who unsurprisingly sat glowering in her seat as Lucy and Jo went over some things with her on the computer. Though he wished she’d handle her plight with a little more grace, he couldn’t help but feel sorry for her. He didn’t agree with her lust for freedom, to leave pack and family behind, but he understood wanting to take a more active role in one’s own life. He’d been struggling with that very thing since childhood.

  But that’s where the similarities ended. His struggle to learn about independence stemmed from his budding alphadom and subsequent promotion to future leader of their small pack. Kelly’s stemmed from living an easy life as a sheltered farm girl with little strife. It was always Adam’s job to lead someday, and he’d been groomed for things like this ever since. It was David’s job to lead right now, and his number one priority was making sure his pack—his children—made it back home in one piece.

  Emily was beginning to show signs that she could maybe hold her own in battle, but her past had given her a fortitude that Kelly never had to endure. His disgruntled sister’s feelings aside, he couldn’t deny that his father had made the right call, for both of the girls.

  “Now if you’l
l come with me, I’ll show you the patrol circuit Tom and I worked out,” Nick continued, bringing Adam back to reality. “It’s a map to take with you, but I’ll need for you guys to memorize it quickly. It’s hard to be a good look out when your eyes are glued to a paper the entire time.”

  He took the map from Nick’s proffered hand, and held it out so that he and Emily could study it accordingly. It looped around to cover all of the houses they were staying in, wrapping around the entire town as a whole before dipping into the woods as the route ended back at the mechanic shop. It was pretty straight forward, and Adam didn’t think he’d have any problems sticking to it.

  “I don’t want to say that it won’t get dangerous,” Nick explained. “There’s always that potential, especially near my cabin and maybe coming back around past Tom’s place towards the shop, since the surrounding forestry makes for good cover. Just know that if you sense anything at all, get to safety and then alert us as soon as possible. If you don’t think you can do that, sound the alarm right then and there and we’ll come running.”

  Adam nodded affirmatively. “Got it. When do we start?”

  Nick grinned. “Right now.” He tapped the map in Adam’s hands. “Make no mistake, this is an exhausting circuit. You’ll likely feel fine when you pass your place, but if you feel like you need to take a break, feel free to stop by the cabin on your route to rest up a bit. Spare key’s under the first step, you just have to lift it up.”

  “What about our bears?” Emily asked, frowning slightly.

  “Anywhere outside of town is fine,” Nick answered. “In fact, I encourage you to shift while in the woods. Those times are riskiest points of the circuit. Having full use of your bear senses can help stay as safe as possible.”

  “The alarm is only possible in bear form, too, right?” Adam asked, though he already knew the answer.

  “Correct,” Nick confirmed. “Another good reason to shift. Good catch.” Adam noticed something stern in Nick’s eye. “We’re all counting on you both to be our first eyes and ears should trouble strike. Though I’m eternally grateful for the help you’re offering my pack, I do expect you guys to do your best out there. That means no distractions. Keep your eyes peeled for the slightest trouble.”