by Fel Fern
“Once you leave town, it will create a tension in the mate bond. Without you around to ground Connor’s bear, it’ll go out of control.” Mac took a deep breath, his face troubled, as if he didn’t like what he’d say next. “Connor might turn rogue.”
Danny clenched his fists. He had a sneaking suspicion of what a rogue meant, but he had to confirm. “What does that mean?”
“Connor’s bear will take over, burying his human half completely. At that stage, he won’t be able to tell enemies from friends. He’d be a danger to everyone. Connor’s already warned me before and made me promise when that time comes,” Mac trailed off, not finishing.
“You’re going to kill your own brother?” he asked, furious.
“I hope it doesn’t come to that. A shifter who loses his human consciousness is no better than an animal.”
“What am I going to do?” Danny asked.
“That’s up to you to decide,” Mac said, beginning to head toward to car, leaving Danny in the silence.
Chilled to the bone, Danny returned to the cabin. After the heavy revelation from Mac, he needed to sit down, sort the roaring mess of confusion in his head. Danny slumped on the living room couch, occasionally glimpsing outside the window. He hoped to catch a glimpse of Connor’s brown fur, but all he saw was snow.
To distract himself, he peeled himself from the couch and padded to his bedroom. Danny hauled out his luggage, unzipped it and hesitated as he touched the colorful envelopes underneath his clothes.
He shut his eyes, recalling how tired he’d been after a photoshoot shoot weeks ago. All Danny wanted was a hot shower and some sleep. He got in his apartment in the city, unaware of the broken glass on the floor until the cops pointed it out later and a figure cloaked in shadow, grinning at him in the living room.
“Danny, I’ve waited a very long time to meet you. Did you read all my letters?”
Even now, goosebumps appeared on both his arms as he remembered the stranger’s words, the yellow teeth that formed a grin.
Danny opened his eyes and took deep breaths. He refused to let the past and his old fears resurface in the present. With trembling fingers, he took out the envelopes. Some of the letters the police had confiscated. Danny received plenty of fan letters in a week. He let his assistant sort them out, but Matt thought the letters from a guy who called himself Ronald seemed harmless. Until they turned threatening, anyway.
He pulled out the last letter he received and read it again.
You’ve disappointed me, Danny. Is this how you treat your fans, by ignoring them? I love you, adore you so much, I’d cut out my bleeding heart and lay it out on a platter for you. No one else can have you. I’ll spirit you away somewhere far, where no one will find us. If we can’t be together in this world, then there’s the afterlife.
Danny placed the letter down. After that paragraph, the rest of the letter had been written hastily in all caps, as if Ronald became angry, insistent. Thank God it wasn’t dark yet, because he could still remember Ronald standing in his apartment, the moonlight showing his bloodshot eyes and toothy grin. The look in Ronald’s eyes had creeped him out, still haunted his nightmares some nights.
Ronald looked at him the way an excited boy coveted a new toy, so different from the way Connor did—like he was a treasure beyond prize. Mate, Connor called him.
Even before Danny knew about Ronald, there were days he woke up, wondering if being a model was what he really wanted. He was still relatively young, still had a few years on him. Danny’s career was at its peak, but somedays, he wondered if he made the right career choice.
Danny recalled all those lonely nights he returned home, only to prepare his low-calorie dinner and stare at the TV, wondering why he felt so miserable. Old friends had married, raised kids, took vacations just like normal people.
He started envying them, told himself he wasn’t missing out when he had an opportunity of a lifetime. Plenty of people knew him all right, recognized his face plastered on numerous billboards and fashion magazines, but none of them truly knew him.
So, when Shaun came along, he leapt at the chance at romance, only to be disappointed. Hell, Shaun didn’t even come after he ran from the apartment and from Ronald to call the cops. Shaun only cared about status, bragging rights that his boyfriend was a relatively famous model.
Then he met Connor, who didn’t give a damn who he was. Connor, who truly saw the real him and liked Danny just the way he was. His werebear didn’t know what a precious gift he’d given Danny.
Where was his bear now? Danny didn’t know why he started calling Connor that, but it felt right. He brushed a hand over the mark on his neck.
A mate mark, Connor called it. The werebear looked so guilty when he told Connor what it meant. Steely determination filled him. Danny was sick of waiting indoors until Connor came back. He dressed warmly, pulling on his jacket, scarf, thick gloves, and his boots before heading outside.
Snow fell in thick clumps now, but that didn’t deter him. He looked at the woods and took a deep breath. Connor and he needed to talk, to sort this mess out. Danny still didn’t know what to do about his career, but hearing Connor out would help.
He strode toward the woods, determined to find his snarly werebear mate.
* * * *
For a brief moment, Connor sensed apprehension, then old fear through the mate mark connecting him to Danny. At first, he tried to block out Danny’s emotions, but with his bear unsettled, Connor had problems leashing the animal. He halted in the middle of his run and turned his head back to the direction of the cabins.
Connor had covered a huge distance. He panted, debated going back when the feeling faded, replaced by something else. Determination. What had come over Danny now?
Able to think clearly with the winter wind on his fur and the trees all around him, Connor decided he might have overreacted when Danny told him the truth about himself. Connor just didn’t deal well with liars, but Danny had hidden the truth for a good reason. Somewhere out there, some stalker bastard wanted his mate dead.
Impossible. Like hell Connor would let that happen. Couples talked shit out, right? Connor had been so used to living on his own, resigned to the fact no one would want a broken bear for a mate like him, that this relationship thing was new to him. Bears didn’t back out from a challenge, either. True, they hit one road block, but there would be plenty of others.
Connor turned tail and began padding back to the cabins when he caught Danny’s faint scent in the wind. Was he imagining things? No, the closer he drew to the source, the stronger it became. Longing surged through his entire body as he quickened his pace, finally entering a clearing. It wasn’t hard to track Danny, not when the human kept making frustrated noises.
“So stupid,” Danny mumbled, banging his head on a tree. “Why did I ever think I could find a goddamn grizzly in these woods? I hate the outdoors.”
Feeling mischievous, Connor silently crept up to his mate, his initial anger forgotten. Danny went looking for him, despite not being familiar with these woods. Oh, Connor had plenty to say to his mate about taking precautions when heading out to the forests in the dead of winter. He’d give that lecture later.
Danny still hadn’t noticed him. Connor nudged his furry head into Danny’s lower back. The human squealed, spun, then screamed, seeing him. Connor would have grinned if he had a human mouth. Danny narrowed his eyes at him.
“Connor, you ass!” Danny gave his shoulder a punch, which he hardly felt.
He let out a huff. Really, it felt like a fly swatted him.
“Are you laughing at me, Mister Bear?” Danny demanded, placing his hands on his hips.
Connor flashed him his fangs, hoping it would look like a toothy grin. Any sensible human would run screaming for the opposite direction when facing a grizzly. Scratch that, a big grizzly, but Danny stood his ground, had probably recognized Connor as his mate.
To his surprise, Danny went on his knees and wrapped his slender arms arou
nd his neck. Danny buried his face into his fur and started to laugh.
“Thank God, I found you, or you found me. I got lost and started to get thirsty. Then I realized how silly I’ve been, running out here without thinking about it clearly,” Danny babbled.
Connor nudged his head into Danny’s chest.
“You’ll lead us back, right?” Danny asked.
Connor only detached himself from his mate in answer and let out a rumble of approval. With Danny by his side, he guided his mate out of the woods. Connor took the quickest route possible. He remained in bear form, and Danny leaned in close, keeping himself warm. Connor didn’t mind. Even being apart momentarily, he’d already missed his mate.
What would happen once Danny left?
The thought made his insides churn, unsettling his bear immensely. No. Connor refused to think about that now. They still had plenty of time, and Danny came looking for him, which meant the human wanted to talk things out, too. Neither of them were running. Any other man, be it human or shifter, would be horrified to know a monster like Connor had mated them.
Not Danny. Danny didn’t seem to be afraid of his bear. More importantly, Danny didn’t think anything was wrong with him. That meant plenty. Danny’s acceptance meant the world to him. A decent man would let Danny go when the time came.
Danny had a hell of a career waiting for him back in the city, but was it too selfish to want Danny all for himself?
His bear wouldn’t settle. Danny was theirs to keep, but keeping his mate in the Red Mountains would only make Danny resent him for the rest of their lives.
Chapter Eleven
They talked into the night. Danny heated up mac and cheese, along with some hotdogs for dinner. Connor seemed amused when Danny handed him the plate, but he didn’t complain. They settled in the living room. Connor taught him how to build a fire earlier. A neat little flame steadily burned in the fireplace, warming up the space.
When they returned from the walk, Danny had been freezing, but after a hot shower and dressed in warm clothes, he felt completely warm. He snuggled next to Connor on the couch, munching on his mac and cheese.
“I don’t know what’s going to happen in two months,” he finally said, after finishing his meal and setting it on the coffee table.
Connor finished his dinner in a few bites, too, yellow gaze on him, reminding him of a patient predator. Mac’s words still lingered in his mind. Danny would make sure it would never come to that, to Connor’s bear going crazy and his brothers needing to put him down.
“But,” Danny continued, “I want to make the best of it. Let’s spend every waking moment together. I want to know you, all of you.”
“I can’t follow you,” Connor said.
“I know. Your brother told me what might happen, but lately, I’ve been thinking about my career more and more.” Danny told Connor about those lonely and sad nights when all he looked forward to was an empty apartment and a tasteless dinner.
“What are you saying?” Connor finally asked.
“That there’s a chance I might not want to go back to my old life.”
There. Danny laid his decision in the open.
Connor looked shocked. “Are you saying that for my benefit?”
He shook his head. “No. I’m telling you the truth. No more lies between us.”
Danny rose to his feet, only to straddle Connor’s lap, because his bear looked so uncertain and needed his reassurance. He placed his hands around Connor’s neck, brushed his lips against his mate only for Connor to take control. Good. He liked submitting to his mate. Connor kissed him, hard, wet, and rough.
Danny responded in turn, parting his lips so Connor could slip his tongue down his throat. He sucked down on Connor’s tongue, aware of his own prick thickening in his jeans, and Connor’s erection digging against him.
Connor pulled away and said, wicked look in his golden eyes, “Your clothes are in the way.”
“Exactly what I’m thinking,” Danny said.
He climbed off Connor’s lap. Without needing words, they undressed quickly. Danny pushed their tangled clothes aside. He made a quick stop to his room to get the lube and returned to his mate. Setting the lube next to corner, he straddled his mate again so they could resume where they left off. He groaned at the contact of skin-on-skin of Connor’s prick curving up against his belly. Connor grabbed his dick and began to stroke him until he moaned.
He gripped Connor’s shoulders as the werebear used his other hand to finger his asshole.
“Lube yourself up for me,” Connor ordered. “Show me how much you want my dick in you.”
Danny blushed, incredibly turned on, but nonetheless swiped the lube and uncapped it. After slicking his fingers, he applied a generous amount into his hole, all too aware of Connor watching him with a predatory look in his eyes. He hardened as Connor took over, pushing a finger inside him, then another, widening him for access.
Connor took his mouth again, all demand and heat. Connor pulled his fingers out, replacing them with his cock.
“Yes,” he uttered, heart beating insanely against his chest.
His roaring need to connect with his mate on an intimate level scared him a little, but seeing the tenderness in Connor’s gaze made all those fears disappear. Connor would catch him if he fell, would never leave his heart in tatters, not when their mate bond shone true and strong.
He thought he could see it, the golden link connecting him with his bear. Danny curved his lips to a smile. Most people searched desperately for that one individual to complete them, but here was his man, his soul mate. Danny was one lucky man.
Connor entered him without warning, but Danny was ready. It burned, but he knew Connor would soon replace pain with pleasure. He held on, nails digging into Connor’s powerful back muscles until his mate was fully seated inside him.
He groaned as Connor began to move, thrusting in and out of him, faster and deeper with each turn. It felt like tiny fireworks were going off inside his body. He met Connor for every push, aware of his thickening cock. Danny wouldn’t last long, and judging by how steel-hard Connor was, neither would his bear.
Connor shifted angles, slammed into his prostate. He gasped, containing his cry by biting down on Connor’s left pectoral. If possible, Connor seemed more riled up by the gesture.
“Fuck, baby,” Connor said, pupils like molten gold. “That’s so hot.”
“Yeah?” he asked, slightly breathless.
Then Connor hit his sweet spot again, eliminating any logical thought from his mind. He gasped at Connor’s next thrust, back arching. Connor pulled out his dick, only to hammer it home. The pressure building inside him broke and he came, spilling strings of his cum all over Connor’s abs and ribs.
Connor gripped his hips hard and pistoned in and out of him a few more times, before filling his ass with warmth. Languid but feeling completely happy, he rested his head against Connor’s chest.
“Wow. I think I’m going to look forward to make-up sex,” he said.
Connor let out a laugh. “It’s only going to get better from this point onward.”
“You sure about that, cocky bear?” Danny teased.
The confidence in Connor’s face took his breath away. “Yes,” his werebear said, then brushed his lips gently against his, nipping at it playfully, telling Danny his mate was capable of both roughness and gentleness. A potent mix, but then again, Connor might not realize it yet, but he already had Danny’s heart in his pocket.
* * * *
Connor walked over the new floorboards of the cabin next to Danny’s and, much to his satisfaction, the wood didn’t make any creaking noises. He set his tools down. A month passed since meeting Danny. Plenty had happened since then. He took Danny’s suggestion to heart and lived each day to the fullest with his mate.
“You’ve been in a damn good mood lately,” Mac said from the other end of the cabin. His brother came up to him, holding two beers in his hands. “Time for a break.”
They put off fixing the other cabins for so long, but after Danny rented out the place, Rick, Mac, and he figured they’d make something out of their mom’s old business.
He accepted the beer Mac handed him as they both looked at the newly renovated space. Both Mac and he had some renovation and construction experience. Growing up without parents, they’d taken up part time jobs to help Rick out.
“Looking good if I say so myself,” Mac commented.
“Yeah.” He took another look around. The cabin was slowly shaping up. After this, they’d work on the next.
They’d thrown out all of the old furniture and took out the warped wood, stripping the cabin bare. A fresh start, just like him. Before Danny, Connor barely held on. Each day felt like a struggle between him and his bear. He helped his brothers with the family business, pretending he was fine, but Mac knew about his broken bear anyway.
After mating Danny though, his bear had grown rock-steady. Still a terrifying force inside him, but a lot easier to get along with.
“What do you say we call it a day? Get more free beers at the bar?” Mac asked.
“Can’t. Dinner plans with Danny,” he explained.
“Should have expected that. Your little human’s got you tied around his little finger.”
Connor snarled softly at that, but he knew Mac was only kidding around. “You’ll understand once you find your mate.”
That got a laugh out of his brother.
“No man’s going to tie me down. I prefer being a free spirit, so does Rick,” Mac said.
Connor wasn’t too sure his brother would be completely satisfied with that kind of life. He tried it, too, but casual sex was only a temporary fix, leaving one empty afterward. He hoped his brothers would find their mates someday, but he had his own problems to deal with. These past four weeks with Danny had been nothing but amazing, but it still felt like they were living on borrowed time.
