Bearing It All (Grizzly Affairs Book 1)

by Magenta Phoenix

  Nodding in understanding, she returned to her previous question. “What did Doyle tell you about me?”

  “That you are his mate and something about not to let you touch anyone?” Celia stated with a look of confusion. “I'm also supposed to keep you here at the compound with any means necessary.” Celia's eyes turned hard and unyielding in an instant. That look made it clear to Aria that she would find no collaborator with her at all.

  Shaking her head, she had to hand it to Doyle. He had covered all angles when planning to strand her here. Warning others not to let her touch them was an assurance that she couldn't force someone's will. Therefore she couldn't force someone to help her leave when they had orders to contain her here. Damn bear.

  Her breakfast suddenly turned tasteless and settled in her stomach like lead balls. She was a prisoner once again. Something that Doyle didn't consider was that she was resourceful when it came to escaping. This house wouldn't hold her for long. Pushing her plate and fork aside, she met Celia's hard stare with one of her own.

  “I'm a prisoner now?”

  “You are until Doyle returns. He's in charge around here and that means if he says you stay—you stay.”

  It was a struggle not to bare her teeth at the authority displayed in Celia's words. No one controlled her anymore. Not Doyle, not Malca and certainly not his mother. Sliding off the bar stool she carried her plate to the sink with her head held high and without saying a word to Celia. Walking toward the doorway, she was stopped when Celia called after her.

  “Don't even think you're going to run off. This compound is over a thousand acres of woods and there are guards along the borders of this land. You will not be able to get out of here without someone knowing about it. I know you want to fight this but its better if you don't.”

  Turning, she shrugged her shoulders uncaring. “So I am under house arrest?” she bit out, her blue eyes shimmered with her hidden gift and the ire that she was forced to suppress it.

  Stepping around the bar, Celia moved closer to Aria. A look of compassion floated across her expression until she adopted a stern look. “You are free to move through this house and the grounds all you wish. However if you attempt to leave, Doyle said that you are to be confined to this house until his return.”

  Refusing to accept these limitations she rolled her eyes and scoffed at Celia's terms. “We'll see about that. You and Doyle think you can hold me here? You're wrong. Thanks for the breakfast.”

  Without another word she turned and disappeared from the kitchen. She'd find a way out of her newly gilded prison and when she did, she would kick Doyle's ass three different ways until she got bored with it.

  * ~ * ~ *

  With a growl of frustration Aria threw herself down roughly onto the dark leather couch, landing on her back with a slight bounce. The creaking floor boards told her that she was no longer alone. Rising up to glance over the back of the couch what she saw had her scowl deepening. In the doorway of the main house's library was her stone faced guard. What was his name...Cement? No—it was Cedric. Choosing to ignore him for the time being, she reclined back against the length of the couch. It had been nearly two days since she'd woken up at the pack's compound and the heavy feeling of restlessness was beginning to consume her.

  As Celia; Doyle's mother had said, Aria was free to wonder around their immense acres of land. One would think that it would be a simple task to slip off the compound. However it was harder than she'd anticipated. While exploring the grounds after her first meeting with Celia and avoiding the countless other shifters, Aria had stolen away into the woods. Unfortunately, just when she had whetted her mouth for the delicious taste of victory she'd found herself physically escorted back to the main house by two uptight guards. Not one to give in easily, she tried once again to escape her gilded cage by attempting to force one of the border guards to take her off the compound. Sadly it hadn't worked out to her satisfaction. Not only had another guard caught them before they could clear the gate, Doyle's father and acting Alpha in his stead decreed that the same guard that she'd compelled would be her 24/7 guard. In other words; Mr. Cement- face wouldn't help her efforts to go after Doyle and Malca.

  Making one last effort to get on her guard's good side she sat up. Resting her head against her arm that lay stretched along the back of the couch, she turned to look directly at her scowling guard.

  “Cement, I just have to say you are one good looking bear.”

  It wasn't her best attempt at flirting she'd admit, but it was worth a shot. Her guard narrowed his eyes impossibly further at her statement. She supposed her guard was attractive in a brooding way. Like many of the male shifters he was made of rippling muscles. With short dark hair and a deep scar cutting across his lip up to his right cheekbone, he looked every bit dangerous.

  “It's Cedric.” He bit out between clenched teeth, his hands fisted at his sides in restrained frustration. “Also, I'm not a bear. I'm a wolf.” he added with an insulted huff.

  How was she supposed to know the difference? It's not as if they labeled each other. Rolling her eyes at his man-trum her eyes roamed over his body—in a non-apprising way. Instead she looked for something that would work in her favor.

  In the labs the only thing that had helped her escape and outsmart Malca was observing. One could tell a lot about their opponent by just the simple things that one person does. Restlessness, suspicion, pride, and even compassion were the easiest things to spot and to exploit. From his strong physic, she knew there was no way she could over power him or out run him. On his right hip was a holstered hand gun while strapped to his left ankle just above his combat boot was a sheathed blade. Either one she could use to threaten him with in effort to get off this land. Sadly, after she'd already compelled him once today she doubted that he'd let her close enough to him without suspicion.

  “How far is it to Darkwood Springs?” she asked with genuine curiosity. Cedric rolled his eyes as he let out a low growl of irritation.

  “You do not need to know.” His thick arms folded across his black shirt. His eyes bore into hers with mistrust.

  Ouch. Just because I made him my own personal marionette, he doesn't trust me?

  “Just get any notion of running away out of your head. If you even try anything I'm under orders to cuff you and stick you in the cell next to the prisoner that arrived before you. You need to wait for your mate to return.” Aria found herself rolling her eyes at his threat. Wait for her mate...bah! Hell with that.

  Did he ready think that he could—wait! Prisoner? Of course! Raoul. She remembered his evident hatred for Malca and need for revenge as well. She would need his help in finding Malca —if she could only escape from the glued eyes of her guard.

  A sudden increase of voices raised in anxiety drew her attention to the rear window. Sliding to her feet she walked around the couch to the window. Outside many rushed from their work and homes toward the ten foot tall, metal gate of the compound. She could feel his presence when Cedric came up behind her at the window. Moving past him with no doubt that he'd follow; Aria came into the living room. Jerking the front door open just in time to see Celia and Colin breaking through the crowd.

  She shrugged off Cedric's restraining hand as she stepped across the archway. The crowd slowly parted to reveal injured Robert and Mark. Colin and Celia made their way toward her behind the injured two. Other than a large bruise on his face, Mark was fine. However, Robert held his ribs with a pain filled grimace while fighting to conceal a limp. Focusing her eyes over the approaching four she struggled to spot Doyle. No matter how hard she looked she didn't see him following behind them. Where was he? As the others neared the door she rushed forward.

  “Robert, where's Doyle?” She asked with concern. Reaching between them Colin laid a firm hand on her shoulder, but not before she caught Robert's look of guilt.

  “Not here.” Colin whispered against her ear.

  Ushering the other four into the main house he loudly closed the do
ors behind them, concealing them from prying eyes. Mark and Robert took a seat on the living room couch with heavy sighs. Both looked like they'd lost the biggest battle of their lives as both wore weary expressions and slummed postures.

  “What happened?” She was the first to speak as Celia was busy checking the two over for wounds despite the fact that most of their wounds had already begun to heal. Robert's weak eyes met hers; failure was laid heavy in his brown eyes.

  “We were ambushed. They shot Doyle and took him then tried to kill us.” Robert answered before leaning back against the cushions with an anguished sigh.

  “Robert and I were able to get away but they were expecting us. It was a trap from the beginning, Aria. They must have anticipated that Doyle wouldn't allow them to take you.” Mark added as Celia and Colin gave a worried look.

  “What do we do now?” Celia asked pushing away from the injured two to come and stand next to her mate.

  Colin's brow furrowed in rage. “We go after them and get Doyle back before they discover what he is.”

  “I want to come too.” Aria spoke up. At Colin's dubious look she quickly added, “He's my mate as you guys say. I have every right to go too.”

  “You can't.” Robert stated with reason. “You're who they are after. Once they have you—there will be no reason for them not to kill Doyle. Plus Doyle would skin us alive if you were taken as well.” nodding at Robert's reasoning, Colin turned to Aria with a firm look.

  “No.” he shook his head. “I refuse to risk the life of the Alpha's mate.”

  “Screw that!” she yelled in anger. She was sick to death of people telling her what she could and could not do! “I can fight. I have ways of helping, plus as Robert pointed out—I'm the one they want.”

  Walking closer to her, Colin reached out and brushed her long hair away and exposed her mating mark. “I respect your courage. But because of this—” He said touching her making mark. “—I can't.”

  “Because he bit me and claimed me?” she asked incensed.

  “No, because it means you will soon change. You're not strong enough yet and I can't risk you going through the change while we need to be focused on getting Doyle back.” turning to the others in the room, he said. “We'll leave at dawn. Get the others prepared and call the elders, they will need to know what's going on.” Turning back to Aria's rebellious face, he looked over her shoulder to Cedric while uttering words that chilled her to the bone. “Take the Alpha's mate to her room and make sure she stays there under lock and key."

  Outraged when Cedric gripped her arm and began forcibly dragging her toward the hallway leading to the stairs, she fought. Kicking and punching, she refused to make his job easy. Letting go of his hold on her, Cedric restrained her by gripping both of her arms twisted behind her back effectively cutting off any attempts of struggling. Her rage filled eyes met her father-in-law's softening ones.

  “This is for your own safety, my daughter. Don't make it harder." With those parting words he turned away as Cedric forced her along toward the direction of her room. As they arrived in front of her closed door, Cedric let go of one of her arms to reach past her and open the door. None too gently she was shoved into her room with the door slamming behind her directly afterwards. She wasn't surprised when she heard the lock engage behind her. Kicking her boot covered foot at the door, she yelled in rage.

  Anger boiled within her like an overflowing pot. Malca's plan was clear to her. Doyle was meant to be the bait while she was the prize Malca was after. And until she got her prize Malca would surely torture and kill Doyle if she didn't act fast. These shifters were about to see how stubborn and resourceful a pissed off human female could be.

  17

  Huffing out in impatience, Aria turned to gaze out the large windows of her room. It had been hours since her shifter-in-laws had her forcibly dispatched to her room. Celia had come by a short time ago. She’d only stayed long enough to set down a tray of food before leaving without a word. The mocking sound of her guard relocking the door again made Aria's teeth grind together.

  Her supper still sat on the dresser, untouched. She wouldn't put it past the rest of Doyle's family not to follow his example and drug her. Darkness had fallen across the sky just a few hours ago, reminding Aria that her window of opportunity was quickly approaching. The most important thing she'd learned over the past few days about these shifters was that they were predictable. Every night at eleven, the guards shift change was delayed by fifteen minutes. Silently she prayed that it would give her just enough time to escape without notice.

  Patting at the pockets of her black cargo pants she double checked the few items she'd stowed away. Satisfied that she had what she needed, her eyes glanced back at the alarm clock on the bedside table. The flashing digits read 10:55 across the thin screen. Quickly tying her hair back and pulling the black hood of her sweater up, Aria rose from the padded bench seat against the windows. With care, she lifted the latch on the wide window. Being sure to not make any noise, she pulled the window pane up. A light cold breeze floated into the room.

  Cautiously, she glanced over her shoulder to make sure she was alone before she slowly eased her legs; one at a time, over the windowsill. Gripping the edge of the window for balance, she lowered herself full out onto the roof. Sliding along the slope of the snow covered roof with her feet braced against the gutter, she slowly eased her way along while moving toward the side of the house. Below her, she heard the snow crunching as the mid-day guards were making their last sweep. As two shifters past beneath her, Aria paused until they passed by the main house before she made her move.

  Shifting onto her stomach, she slowly allowed her body to slide toward the precarious edge of the roof. Her body flew quickly down to the edge of the roof causing her heart to race with exhilaration. Just as she felt herself free falling through the empty air her hands shot out and gripped the gutter, stopping her rapid descent. Slowly releasing her hazardous grip she landed on a soft mound of snow on crouched legs. Pain shot through her legs at her harsh landing. Wincing, she shook it off and moved quickly. Standing, concealed by the shadows she moved along the collection of cabins until she reached the only one she'd been warned to stay away from. The last cabin, where they’d imprisoned Raoul.

  The last cabin sat at the end of the lane, a good distance from the others and much to her displeasure; was still guarded. Two large shifters armed with M4A rifles hadn't moved from their position to make their last rounds yet. Pressing her back against the rear of the cabin, a heavy shield of darkness cloaked her presence from them for the time being. She couldn't afford to waste time. Luck smiled upon her as one of the guards spoke to the other.

  “Circle around the perimeter one last time, our replacements will be here soon.” a dark voice rumbled.

  “I hope so,” The second guard replied evidently tired.

  While she watched the first guard walk around the far side of the cabin toward the dark woods; the other walked near her hiding place. His eyes moved slowly and assessed everything in his surroundings. When he headed further up toward the main house, Aria knew this was her only chance. She needed to move quickly. Darting across the open, moonlit ground, she quickly moved toward her target. Nearing the front door her eyes darted around. Seeing that the way was clear she moved forward. Stepping onto the raised platform before the door her hand reached out to grip the doorknob only to find it locked. Gritting her teeth at her misfortune she was in the process of deciding whether to break the door down or find another route when a dark voice came from behind her.

  “What do you think doing?” The low clicking sound of the safety on his weapon being disengaged had her heart thundering in her ears. “Turn around.” a low voice ordered, making it too clear at how much of a disadvantage that she was at.

  Slowly she turned around with her hands raised. Looking at her face the guard's eyes narrowed as he recognized her. Lowering his weapon and switching the safety back on, he glared back at her. It was with
that glare that Aria remembered him as one of the guards that had caught her during her first escape attempt.

  “If you weren't the Alpha's mate I'd shoot you on principle alone.”

  Shooting her a look of annoyance, his free hand reached for his walkie-talkie secured to his hip. Before he could grip the hard plastic Aria rushed forward. Her hands gripped the sides of his face before he could react. With her glowing blue eyes drilling into his startled ones, she whispered; “You're tired. Go to sleep.” with drooping eyes the guard nodded a moment before his knees buckled beneath him and brought him to the ground.

  Kneeling beside the sleeping guard she lifted a ring of keys from his belt. Before rising to her feet, she quickly grabbed the small hand gun on his hip and the sheathed blade from his ankle. Moving quickly back to the door, unlocking it the door opened with ease. Quickly moving inside she closed the door softly behind her. Inside the cabin it was evident that it was used for one purpose; holding prisoners. The interior of the cabin was one large containment cell. The steel bars emitted a low hum as Aria moved closer. The lack of lights made it easy for her to study her target while going unnoticed.

  Within the large cell, Raoul laid on his back on the floor with his hands handcuffed in front of him as he slept. Stepping up to the cell, careful not to touch the electrical bars she whispered his name. Not even an eye twitched. His chest rose and fell with even, slow breaths. Her heart was lodged in her throat as she realized she was quickly running out of time. When she'd interrogated Raoul almost two days ago she remembered what she'd told him, “Sleep until I wake you...”

  With nothing left to loose and her only chance at saving Doyle slipping away, she gave it a shot. “Wake up, Raoul.”

  No sooner than the words touched her lips, his eyes jerked open with a startled gasp. Jerking up, Raoul winced as his head spun with the quick movement. Rubbing a hand against his pounding temples, his eyes turned to hers. “You,” He hissed out in obvious displeasure at the sight of her.