by Lily Cahill
"Laila, baby, the one thing I can tell you is that I love your father. And every bit of pain--every heartbreak and every worry--was made easier by sharing it with him. If you have someone who could be a true partner to you in life, then I hope you won't let one moment of darkness stop you from experiencing a lifetime of joy."
Laila felt something lock into place inside her heart. Elliott was a true partner. He was her true partner. Hadn't he bore the burden of her film with her? Hadn't he been by her side, even when things were tough? They had faced a lot in the short time they'd known each other. But they'd worked together side by side. They'd made each other's lives easier, not harder.
It spoke to his nature, to his character. And for the first time, it transcended the fact that he was a bear shifter. She could see now how the two were separate. The bear didn't dictate the man. The man dictated the bear.
"Give him a chance, baby," Sheila said.
Laila knew she would. She'd give him more than a chance.
#
The letter from Sundance had arrived that same afternoon. Her movie would premiere there in only a few short weeks, and she would be able to see Elliott. She spent the weeks celebrating Christmas with her family, then packing her things and making arrangements to have them moved to LA. She knew now it was where she wanted to be.
Unfortunately, Kay wasn't going to be able to make it to the premiere. In fact, Laila was a little worried about her. In their last conversation, Kay had been acting weird. She'd said she met someone, but wouldn't give her any details other than assuring her it wasn't her stupid ex. She'd been downright cagey, only saying that she couldn't make it but hoped everything went well. Laila would have to pay her a visit when all this was over.
Sundance had a very casual dress code, as far as film festivals went, but with the buzz around her movie, Laila had been sent dresses by all the top designers. It kind of made her laugh. The same designers would have been horrified to have anything more than a size 0 walk down their runways. But the minute the runway became a red carpet, they were practically breaking down her door. She didn't want to be an ass about it, but it was about time they got their heads out of theirs. Women were beautiful in all shapes and sizes, and she would proudly wear the clothes. She wouldn't just wear them, she'd rock them.
She picked her favorite--a soft, white sweater dress embellished with delicate silver beads that had been hand-sewn in a pattern that accentuated all her curves. The dress fit snugly and she liked it that way. She couldn't wait for Elliott to see her in it.
Soon enough, she was in Park City, Utah, and the night had come. She'd sent word asking Elliott to attend the event with her, and he arrived at her hotel moments after she'd put the finishing touches on her makeup. When she opened the door and saw him, her breath left her. Damn, the man could fill out a suit.
"Laila," he said, his eyes clouded, unsure. A pang of guilt hit her. If he'd been going through anything like what she had, the last couple of months had been torture. "You look absolutely breathtaking."
She could have told him that he looked amazing too--which he did. She could have told him that she'd missed him terribly. She could have told him that she never wanted to live in a world where the two of them weren't in the same city, the same house, the same room. But sometimes, words weren't enough.
Instead of saying anything at all, she draped her arms around his neck and kissed him. Their kiss was urgent, passionate. It was a kiss that held the sorrow of all the days they'd been apart. It was a kiss that held the hope for all the days ahead. It was a kiss that stitched them back together in a single instant.
"Oh, Laila," Elliott said, kissing her again. "I missed you so much."
"Wait," Laila said, suddenly nervous. "There's something important I need to tell you."
"What is it?" he asked.
"It's about me ... about my past."
She led him to the sitting area and began to tell him the real story.
"I have an older brother--had an older brother. He got the gene that I didn't. He was like you. But he wasn't--he wasn't good."
"I don't understand."
"We used to be close. Or at least I thought we were. But when he changed, all that power went to his head. He started abusing his gifts almost immediately. At first, it was just playing hooky from school. Soon he wasn't going to school at all. By the time he was seventeen, he was using his strength as a bear to break into shops--mostly jewelry stores--and steal things. It didn't matter what my parents did. They tried punishments, counseling, everything. But he wouldn't listen to them. He thought my dad and their entire clan were being stupid not to do things the way he did."
Laila straightened her posture, took a deep breath. She wanted to say this as clearly as possible. She didn't want to cry.
"One night, he tried to break into a bank after it closed. But there was a security guard on duty and he was armed. Of course, he shifted back immediately once he'd been shot. When the guard saw he was human, he thought he'd been hallucinating. He called 911, but Thomas died before ambulances arrived."
"I'm so sorry, Laila. That must have been really hard."
"He died when I was twelve, just before I hit puberty. And I was so scared. I thought if I became a shifter, that it might happen to me too. I thought I might change just like him. Once I realized I wasn't going to become a shifter, I promised myself I would never marry one either. What if we had children? The risk was too high."
"I had no idea."
"It's not something I like to talk about. I've never even told Kay. But I felt like I had to tell you. Because ... because you changed my mind."
"I did?"
"Yes, Elliott. Loving you made me realize that a person's character matters more than his abilities. And I admire you so much. You've been nothing but there for me even though I've been scared and secretive and hiding my heart from you. I'm so sorry."
"You have nothing to apologize for."
"Thank you for giving me the time I needed. I know what I want more certainly than I've ever known anything," she said. "I want you."
"Oh, Laila," Elliott said, taking her in his arms as the two of them fought back tears. "Hearing you say that means the world to me."
He smothered her in kisses. Laila would have to redo her makeup, but it didn't matter. She was in Elliott's arms again. And she never, ever wanted him to let go.
Chapter Thriteen
Elliott
Elliott walked down the red carpet with Laila by his side. He couldn't believe it. She was his again. She was his partner, and his mate, and he would do everything in his power to make sure it was for the rest of their lives. He was the luckiest man alive, and every step past the line of press--every shout for her attention and demand for a photo--only made him puff out his chest more.
They made it inside just in time. It had taken them a bit to pull themselves together after celebrating. They'd been apart too long, and he was pretty sure neither of them would have been able to make it through the screening unless certain needs were taken care of before. Already, the need to have her again was rising inside him. He couldn't wait to start making babies with her. He wanted a house full of little cubs.
Laila said a few words and then they were in their seats, and her movie was playing, and he couldn't have been prouder of every second she'd created up on that big screen. He watched out of the corner of his eye as Bruce Coche sat lower and lower in his seat. After this, there would be talk of promotions for Elliott--of more projects and bigger budgets--not ousting him. In fact, he'd heard a bit of buzz that the board was considering going in a new direction with the leadership.
But those were all questions for tomorrow. Tonight, he would enjoy Laila's big moment. He loved having a front row seat to watch the culmination of her dreams. She deserved every moment of glory that was coming her way, and he was certain there would be plenty of it.
The credits ended in a standing ovation. He'd never heard a thunder so loud as the audience hooted and wolf-
whistled their appreciation. Tears were running down Laila's cheeks and he held her face in his as he kissed her. He didn't mind tasting her tears as long as they were tears of joy.
Soon they were at the after party, and she was in his arms on the dance floor. It had taken over an hour to get her there because so many people had wanted to speak to her and offer their congratulations. Box office was one thing, but when the sharks started swimming around--suggesting collaboration or requesting lunches--he always knew a picture would be a hit. There were so many sharks circling he had the momentary instinct that Laila would drown. But she was strong. She could handle herself.
He pulled her closer and swayed to the music. There was nothing better than the feel of her in his arms.
"Thank you," she whispered.
"For what?"
"For making this movie happen. I couldn't have made the film I wanted to make without your support."
"I'm always going to be there to support you, Laila. For the rest of my life."
She kissed him this time, and he would have been the one drowning if he hadn't spotted something at the door that made his blood run cold.
Bears. Three of them.
Chapter Fourteen
Laila
Laila heard the screams before she felt the pounding of feet. People were running--racing--out of the ballroom at full speed.
She turned to look, and her heart nearly stopped. Three enormous polar bears growled near the largest entrance. Music stopped as the mayhem around her grew to a frenzy.
Then she felt Elliott's arms around her--Elliott lifting her into his arms and racing away with her. She wanted to scream at him to put her down. She wanted to scream that they could run faster together, but somehow, her words had disappeared. She was frozen in shock. Elliott lifted her up toward the ladder of the DJ booth--a place elevated on a high platform a full thirty feet above the crowd.
"You have to climb, Laila. Now."
"No! We have to go."
"It's Zara," he said. "I don't know the other two, but one of them is Zara. She's here for me."
"Please say you're not going to fight them?" Laila begged. Fear ran like electricity through her body. He couldn't do this. She couldn't lose him. "Please, Elliott. Please don't do this."
"I'm sorry. I have to," Elliott said. "Climb. Then call the police with your cell."
Laila saw the determination in his eyes. As much as she hated letting him fight, she knew there was no convincing him. He felt responsible, and he wouldn't be swayed.
"Climb, Laila. I can't risk you getting mixed up in this." The desperation in his voice finally convinced her. She looked at him one last time, then climbed.
The moment her back was turned, she heard him roar. First, the sound was human. But it soon morphed until it was deeper, louder, and far more terrifying. From her position on the ladder, she chanced a glance down and saw him as his bear for only the second time. And she remembered his oddly large size.
He was jet black and huge, but he was unlike any of the black bears she'd ever seen. Her people were grizzlies. But whatever Elliott was, he was bigger. Nearly twice as big. She watched for a split second as he tore toward the polar bears, then she continued to climb.
The perch was thirty feet off the ground, but it made her feel no safer. The most vulnerable part of her was down on the ground floor, hurtling into a pack of angry polar bears.
She lifted her cell phone out of her clutch with shaky hands. She had little hope that it would work, though. Park City's streets were practically shut down for the festival. Getting here through all that traffic would be a nightmare. Elliott might not last long enough for the police to intervene.
But she had to try.
"Yes, I need help. There's an emergency at the Stonehaven Ballroom. Please come as fast as you can."
Chapter Fifteen
Elliott
Elliott charged toward Zara and her two companions. They were both males, and huge. He could have easily handled Zara on her own--scared her until she backed down and ran away. But with the other two, he wasn't so sure. But damned if he wasn't going to try.
He leapt onto the biggest one with a mighty growl. The force of his leap sent them rolling across the floor--taking out chairs and tables as they brawled. Glass shattered around them. Flower arrangements went flying. But all Elliott could see were sharp teeth set inside a menacing jaw. This bear didn't just want a fight. He was aiming for a kill.
The realization prickled the hairs on his back--he'd been mentally preparing for a stand-off, not a battle for his life. Why were they so pissed at him? He had no enemies in the shifter world as far as he knew. Maybe he'd hurt Zara's feelings, but this was way out of character, even for her.
Elliott shoved the bear with all his might, and the two separated in a clatter of plates and vases crashing to the ground.
Only inches apart, Elliott swiped at the monster with paws bared and got in a strong hit. The mighty beast had a five-clawed gash across his chest that spread red against his white fur. A pained, angry howl echoed through the now-empty room as the bear whimpered back.
Elliott knew he wouldn't get a better chance. He loathed the idea of killing anyone, especially a shifter like himself. All life was precious, but shifters especially so. They were rare. He'd have to try to scare the bear off.
He raised up to his full, commanding height and roared. The bear scuttled back, and Elliott moved to chase him back toward the door.
But as soon as Elliott reared forward, he felt claws digging into him from behind.
Zara.
It was Zara.
But she wasn't trying to hurt him. She was trying to pull him away.
He loosed himself from her grip and whirled on her. He thought he saw fear in her eyes--perhaps as much fear as there was rage--and he was utterly confused.
If she wanted to hurt him, she could have. But she was just standing there, staring at him. When he'd first seen her, he'd thought Zara was angry--seeking revenge on Laila and on him. But now he wasn't so sure.
The third bear hovered in Elliott's periphery, howling at her. Whatever it was this bear wanted to happen, Zara wasn't doing it. And he was pissed.
That's when Elliott felt claws digging into his shoulders yet again, and heard Laila's scream from her tower. The bear he'd wounded had apparently recovered enough to attack.
Elliott turned away from Zara, feeling the tear of his own flesh as he whirled around to face his foe. The jaws of the beast curled into a smile, then Elliott felt the pounce of another bear on his back.
Now he wasn't fighting just one bear, but two.
Who were these animals and what did they have against him? Why did they want to kill him? It made absolutely no sense.
Elliott called upon every molecule of strength inside of himself. He clawed and roared and snapped. But even as big as he was, the two bears combined were bigger and stronger.
He felt a swipe break skin on his cheek.
He felt another tear into his shoulder.
And as he cringed against the pain, he felt himself fall. The smaller one pinned him to the floor as the first, bigger polar bear came in for the kill.
He was going to die. He was actually going to die.
In that moment, he thought of Laila--how much he loved her and how sorry he was that he would have to leave her like this, so brutally and so fast. It was cruel. He wished, more than anything, that she didn't have to be here to see this. He wished, more than anything, that he could taste her lips one last time, that he could have made her his wife.
Then he saw a flash of white.
Zara. It was Zara.
Chapter Sixteen
Elliott
Elliott watched as Zara knocked the larger polar bear away just in time. He hadn't been paying attention to her. None of them had.
The momentary distraction gave him just enough time to rear up and wrap his jaws around the smaller one's throat. But he still wasn't ready to take another shifter's life.
Instead of tearing, he tossed--hurling the bear across the ballroom with a loud clatter of tables and chairs.
The bear landed hard and shifted back into human form. Elliott was taken-aback by what he saw.
The man was pale and blond, with a nose and chin that bore a strong resemblance to Zara. They seemed near the same age, too. Could they be related? Could this be one of Zara's brother's? He'd known she had a large family, but she rarely talked about it. All she'd ever said was that they lived in the boonies. But looking at this man made him certain that he and Zara were brother and sister. Which meant the other one was probably a brother too.
The man stood, and Elliott backed away. It was a signal: leave now, and you get to keep your life.
The man didn't hesitate. He clutched his wounds and limped quickly toward the door.
Elliott heard a growl and turned around just in time to see the larger bear take a mighty swipe at Zara's neck. She fell to the ground, her body shifting back into her human form as she gripped her through to stem the blood flow.
And as she lay there--weakened and bleeding and dying--the bear who Elliott was more and more sure was one of her brothers hovered over her, ready to move in for the final kill.
Elliott was on the brute in a second. The element of surprise gave Elliott the upper hand as he pounced.
They were both tired--he could see it in the other bear's eyes, could see it in the trail of blood the bear had left from the wound Elliott had inflicted earlier.
But Elliot mastered his exhaustion. He wouldn't risk leaving Laila unprotected against such a feral beast.
Elliott roared as he fought the animal--rearing onto his hind legs and swiping with precision. Elliott landed one devastating blow, then another, and another.
The other bear retreated as Elliott advanced, and soon Elliott had him pinned against a wall. He roared as he bared his teeth at the bear's throat, then pulled back.
One more chance. He was giving the guy one more chance. The bear didn't deserve it, not after what he'd done to Zara, but Elliott was giving it to him.
