Crush on the Alpha Bear

by Emilia Hartley

  “We won’t let you down,” Adam replied immediately. “The safety of your pack and your home are our top priorities.”

  “I like the sound of that, Adam,” Nick said, smiling. “You’ll make a fine leader someday. Get going. Lunch will be ready about the time you should be returning to the shop, so don’t take too long.”

  “Got it.”

  Adam caught his father’s eye as he made his departure. He gave Adam a small nod of approval before lifting his hand in a light wave at Emily. She smiled excitedly back at him before both she and Adam exited the office and stepped out into the late spring sunlight.

  “Right, so the map says we should head into town first, towards the house we’re staying in,” Adam began, holding open the paper that Nick had given him.

  “I know that’s what it says,” Emily began with a small smile, “but could we maybe improvise a bit and patrol the circuit backwards or something?” she looked up at Adam. “We’ll still be productive, but this way we get to hit the woods first. I don’t know about you, but my bear has been itching for a run through this forest since before I knew it existed!”

  Adam narrowed his eyes at her. “But then what about our clothes?” He held up the map. “What about this?”

  Emily shrugged easily. “We’ll do a quicker, shorter loop around the forest area of the route, and then circle back to gather our things before making the trip on human foot.” She placed a hand on her hip, quirking an eyebrow at him with a playful smirk. “Or are you really that keen on sticking so hard-fast to the route that you’d deny your bear one of its most simple pleasures?”

  Words dried up in Adam’s throat as he opened his mouth to speak. Ever since Dan had hinted at a possible unseen side to Emily, Adam had been seeing glimpses of something new and exciting within her when he least expected it. It showed itself now in the way her hip jutted out and the teasing smile that she tossed his way. He wasn’t sure how he felt about it, but a part of him—and his bear—wasn’t entirely opposed to this new Emily sticking around for a while.

  He cleared his throat, nodding to cover up how speechless she’d made him. “Alright, you’re right. I’ve been itching for a run, myself. Such a small deviation shouldn’t hurt the circuit at all.”

  “Atta boy!” Emily celebrated as they fell into step together.

  As they made their way towards the woods, Adam couldn’t get the imprint of her smile out of his mind. It reminded him of the blush he noticed coloring her cheeks from time to time, or the way she’d turn away when he noticed her staring at him for too long. It seemed that, ever since they’d entered Woodhaven, Emily was distracted by something.

  He was starting to believe that something was… him.

  A shiver of some emotion he couldn’t place sizzled through him, warm and just a bit electrifying over his skin. Him? But why? Had it been because he acknowledged her strength and she was trying to prove herself? Or could it be something… more?

  He shook his head inconspicuously. This wasn’t the time to think about what his sister’s best friend thought of him. It didn’t matter, anyway. There was nothing to ponder. This was just another instance of Adam letting Dan’s words the day before influence his thoughts?

  But if he didn’t believe it, why did Dan’s mistake keep wafting to the forefront of his mind? Why couldn’t he sleep the night before? It was not because of pack obligations, but because of the faint chance that Dan might be…

  “That’s enough,” Adam chastised quietly to himself.

  “Hm?” Emily asked, glancing up at him with a perplexed look in her eye.

  “Nothing. Sorry,” he replied, and this time it was he who couldn’t meet Emily’s eyes. He watched her shrug innocently in his peripheral vision, turning back towards the path that led deep into the woods.

  He waited a moment before raising his eyes to watch her as she walked slightly ahead of him. Whatever his distractions were, they were secondary to the task at hand. He needed to focus on their top priority. The what ifs, could bes, and the maybes of him and Emily could wait until after he’d done his job as an alpha and an ally.

  But when that finally came, he wondered what he would do if he actually found something between them worth kindling?

  Chapter Six

  Emily laughed as she shoved Adam far away from the place she’d chosen to shift. “Come on,” she grinned. “I picked my spot; you need to stand somewhere way over there and pick yours, too.” Her bear was already growling in anticipation for the freedom it would have soon enough.

  Adam tipped his head slightly, a gleam in his eye. “Afraid I’ll come looking for you too early?”

  The heat that rushed onto her face was immediate and apparent, but she struggled to keep her voice neutral as she gave him another shove. “No,” she mumbled. “I just value my privacy, that’s all.”

  He glanced a bit longer at her before turning away. “Here’s more than far enough from your nook, then.”

  She hadn’t noticed how much she’d pushed him into the forest until he’d mentioned it. “Oh. Right. Okay then, this should be fine,” she agreed. “Signal me when you finish!” she said before bounding back to the place she designated for herself.

  When she was finally behind the cover of trees, she let her head fall into her hands in abject embarrassment. Could she really not resist reacting to Adam’s flirting?

  Wait. “Flirting?” She whispered quietly to herself. Had Adam been flirting with her? That wasn’t like him at all. The Adam she knew was kind and protective to her, but he never flirted… did he?

  She tried to think back through five years of interactions with the alpha heir. Never once could she recall him showing her anything but kindness; at least, not until… “This morning,” she murmured. She remembered that knowing grin that she may or may not have seen him flash at her as he washed his dish. It had started then, she was sure of it.

  What had changed? What did this mean? She tried really hard to not feel hopeful, but in its absence, she only felt confused and more than a little nervous about the future as her heart began to quicken.

  A grunt form somewhere behind Emily snapped her out of her reverie, reminding her that she was behind these trees for a reason. She stripped down quickly and hurried to finish the change before Adam came rooting around for her.

  Her bear came out slowly and carefully, not in its usually painful manner. It was as if it knew Emily had too much on her mind to endure the pain right now, and it was offering her some time to finish contemplating. Rarely was the bear so considerate, but she’d take the leniency without argument any day.

  Despite the threat of complications in her and Adam’s relationship, Emily was happily able to put it all on hold and truly appreciate being back in her bear skin after what felt like an eternity since her last shift. Shaking her fur, she allowed herself a few moments to take in all the new sights, sounds, and aromas that this strange forest had to offer. The sheer depth that she could sense in the darkness was enough to make her dizzy with delight. There was no way she could explore it all in a single shift. Already, she couldn’t wait until she had enough time to sightsee in depth. But for now, duty called.

  She found Adam easily enough. He was a ways off, scratching his thick claws down the trunk of a tree to assure they were sharpened. He looked as powerful and solid in his bear form as he did in his human skin. Emily’s growl of appreciation spilled from her lips before she could stop it.

  “Ready to go?” he asked, not bothering to question her growl.

  She sniffed once before bobbing her head in a nod and turning towards the quick circuit they’d decided on for their short run. Something about being in her bear form made it a little bit harder to be rational around him. She’d have to be careful.

  They fell into step easily together, but when Adam trotted a bit faster to get ahead, Emily felt compelled to quicken her pace. Memories of the night before flashed in her mind, of the incredulity in his voice when he questioned her motives on being abl
e to fight. Savannah had said to prove there was more to her than Adam so, so that’s what she’d try to do.

  Adam may be an alpha and an heir, but he wasn’t her leader yet. She wanted him to finally see her as the equal she was.

  Their challenge of speed grew steadily until, unsurprisingly, Adam increased his lope to a full lolloping run, tearing effortlessly through branches and bushes as they raced.

  Emily knew that if it became an all-out sprint, she wouldn’t be able to keep up. Instinct took over, and when she saw an opening, she lunged at Adam. The surprise attack caught him off guard, and she was easily able to knock the larger bear to the ground.

  “What the hell, Emily!” Adam roared, recovering almost immediately from her tackle.

  Emily stared into his angry eyes, her mouth lolling open as her breath came in gasps.

  “You were… I thought… I don’t…” She didn’t know. She couldn’t explain what she’d been trying to do without coming off as completely careless. She mentally kicked herself for getting caught up in the chase.

  “In case you didn’t already know, we’re on a stealth patrol,” Adam reprimanded, shaking his fur vigorously as he stood. He gave her a hard, silent glare before turning off into the woods and continuing their short circuit without another word.

  They rounded the trail to Tom and Savannah’s home before he snuffed once.

  “There’s nothing here,” he said neutrally. “We should head back and get started with the real patrol.”

  “Of course,” Emily replied, a bit terser than she’s planned. She turned and began the walk back down the track without any promoting from him.

  Frustration could only begin to explain what she felt right now. Trying to showcase her equality didn’t work as planned, and remaining the meek little girl of five years ago that avoided confrontation at all costs was getting her nowhere just as quickly. Adam said he saw her strength, but when things like what just transpired happened, Emily couldn’t help but wonder if that was true at all.

  Once they made it back to their garments at the edge of the forest. Emily shifted back to her human form and pulled on her clothes as quickly as possible. She had enough time to sit with her head in her hands, more confused about her relationship with Adam than ever before. Between the way she reacted to him on an attractiveness level, and her desire for him to see her as strong, her chaotic thoughts were beginning to muddy her bear instinct, and it was making her act carelessly.

  Relationship aside, she couldn’t let her personal troubles get in the way of the patrol. Above all, her primary motive was to keep the unsuspecting humans safe. She couldn’t do that if she kept wallowing in her glorified boy problems. For now, she just had to stick to the things she could fix.

  “Emily?” Adam spoke, clearing the brush between them to where she sat. “You okay?”

  Hopping to her feet, Emily brushed some old leaves and dirt off her clothes. “Yep. Peachy. Just fine,” she responded. “Ready to go?”

  Adam frowned quizzically at her. “Sure,” he replied after a small beat. He looked like he wanted to say more, but she hurried past him and back to the trail before he could speak.

  Emily knew that walking in terse silence would only urge him to continue questioning her, so she tried for a bit of small talk as they re-righted their path. “So maybe after this, we can break for lunch and then do another circuit before dinner?” she asked, trying for a lighter tone than how she actually felt.

  “Sounds fine,” Adam replied, though he didn’t sound too convinced.

  For a few moments, they walked in an uncomfortable silence before Adam spoke again. “Look, Emily, I wasn’t trying to… you know, like leave you behind or anything.”

  Emily sighed, coming to a stop. So much for avoiding the elephant in the forest. Setting her shoulders, she decided to remain honest, hoping they could put all of this awkwardness behind them afterwards.

  “I’m sure you weren’t, Adam, and maybe this is more my problem than yours, but I just…” She threw her hands up helplessly. “I feel like I have something to prove when I’m around you.” Adam opened his mouth in what was sure to be an assurance. “I know you’re going to say I don’t, but that doesn’t matter.”

  She looked out into the sunlight that shone just past the tree line. It was easier to speak this way. “I look at you, and I feel like you still see me as that seventeen year old girl that wouldn’t stop crying behind your father’s legs. I don’t need protecting when I’m trying to protect. I don’t need to hide behind anyone anymore, Adam. I’m not afraid of seeing the world for what it is and protecting those who can’t. I’m only afraid of the people this world will hurt if shifters like me don’t step forward.”

  She finally looked back at him and hoped that he understood what she was trying to say. “You may be an alpha, and you may be our future leader, but I’m just as much a shifter as you are. Please don’t get in my way of trying to prove that. Not just to you, but to David, and Kelly, and myself, too. I know that what happened back there in the forest wasn’t the best way to show what I’m saying to you right now, but just know… I’m trying, okay?”

  There was a brief silence as she let the words sink in. She was back to looking out towards the sunlight, a part of her wishing she could just curl up deep in the forest and leave this feeling of confusion and stress behind.

  “Emily, “Adam finally spoke. “You’ve got nothing to prove. Really.” To her shock, he closed the distance between them, tipping her chin up with a finger so that she had to look into his eyes. “I’ve said it to you before, but I can tell now that I wasn’t nearly convincing enough. So I’ll swear it to you now,” he continued. “If anyone has something to prove, it’s me. There’s no explaining how you lived a past of so much pain and loss and still came out it this as a sweet, kind, and caring woman. You’re… incredible. Don’t let someone as inexperienced at life as I am take that away from you.”

  Emily swallowed hard, feeling the ground shift beneath her as she wallowed in near dizzying incoherence under the full weight of Adam’s bright smile. It was like staring into direct sunlight, and she couldn’t look away. “Okay,” was all she said at first, her voice coming out breathy and uneven. “I guess I should promise not to knock you to the ground again, huh?” she continued a little goofily. Fortunately for her sanity, Adam laughed.

  “Just let me know when you’re up for a tussle, then you can tackle me anytime you want.” He tapped the bottom of her chin lightly before stepping away, allowing her jaw to fall back to resting position.

  Her heart was in her throat as he walked ahead, and she smacked a hand over her mouth to keep the sound of her labored breathing form reaching his ears. She wasn’t entirely sure how to take his last statement, but given the way her bear positively purred within her, she wasn’t sure if now was the best time to dwell on it.

  Finally following behind him, Emily’s hands played lightly on the softness of her chin, the skin still tingling from his touch.

  Chapter Seven

  Over the next few days, Adam and Emily fell into a sort of routine. Everyone woke up for an early breakfast before going to the mechanic shop for combat lessons. Nick would run them through the day’s drills before their first patrol, and then everyone would separate and continue on with whatever they’d been assigned to do during the first meeting.

  Adam and Emily would then begin their patrol route on foot towards the cabin before shifting into bear form and finishing the route near the shop.

  It was fine, and comfortable, and it felt nice to be productive here in a way that didn’t involve harvesting grain or calling cows home, but Adam couldn’t help but feel that trouble was on the horizon, and it had nothing to do with the Northern Wind.

  The more time he spent together with Emily, the more he couldn’t quit thinking about her when they were apart. It was as if that time in the forest on their first patrol had triggered something within him. The way she’d bared her soul to him without holding back
resonated unceasingly in his mind, and he found himself replaying the exchange over and over again, as he fought to stop thinking about her long enough to sleep.

  What was more, he was almost certain that Emily felt the same way. He saw it in the way she stole glances at him when she thought he wasn’t looking, the goofiness of her grin whenever he smiled at her, and the way she reacted whenever their arms brushed during their patrols. And the blush….

  Always that blush.

  He wasn’t too proud to admit that he thought about attempting to take things further with her. He thought of how she might react if he tapped on her door late one night while everyone else was sleeping and if she’d show him anymore of that adorable blush he’d come to anticipate from her. He wondered if he leaned in for a kiss whether she would she do the same? Would she push him away? Would she be disgusted? He didn’t think so, but there was always a chance.

  The problem wasn’t whether or not they could be together. There were no laws, rules, or morals preventing them from taking things further. The issue was whether or not they could hold out long enough to finish their business with Forest Haven before diving into what could possibly be a fruitful relationship.

  He’d tossed the word ‘mate’ around in his head a few times over the past few days, the same way Dan had nearly a week ago, but it didn’t feel right yet. He promised himself he’d wait until he could finally talk about things openly with Emily before trying again. For now, what they had was a promise of something—something good, hopefully—but it wasn’t important enough to bear much more thought than what he’d already put into it. For now, he had to worry about protecting everyone from a pack of bloodthirsty bear shifters.

  “Want to explore the cabin today?” Emily asked as they finished up yet another morning patrol. “I mean, we’ve been really efficient these past few days, not even stopping for breaks! I think we deserve a bit of a breather before we head back around to do the whole thing over again.”