There was a rumble as Elaina surfaced from beneath the platform. More werebears appeared from behind buildings and through the main gate, pitting bear against bear in a battle. Roars were followed by snapping jaws, and razor-sharp claws striking one another. Elaina raced up the platform, waving her arms frantically. “Stop this now!” she shouted as the executioner removed his hood, revealing a strong face.
The executioner then pulled out a horn and blew into the mouthpiece. The werebears stopped the fighting and all gazed up at the platform.
“Enough, there is enough fighting. I’m half bear and half wolf. The war began because the elders murdered two female werebears just because they refused to marry them, and I say enough of fighting and war. My parents died because of the elders, and if anyone is to be punished it’s them, but even that is too much. I say enough of war and bloodshed. Werebears and werewolves deserve to live in peace now and that’s what they shall do from this day forward,” Elaina insisted.
“Says who?” one man asked. “You’re not even of this fortress, you’re an outsider.”
The executioner said, “She’s right, and I am part of this place, as you know. I’m Atar the son of a werebear and werewolf, too. They both died at the hands of elders, and even came after me and my sister, Elaina, but we escaped.”
Elaina had to be held up by Liam who ran up to steady her as she gazed at Atar in shock. “You’re my brother?”
He smiled. “Yes, I am. I’ve been searching for you for many years now. It took some doing to find you, and Cullen and Damon almost didn’t believe me when I told them yesterday.”
“Stand behind us,” the elders said. “They lie.”
“We found the remains of my parents with part of the banner of the clan. It proves that they indeed murdered my parents,” Elaina went on to say.
Samson climbed the platform and said, “Elaina is prophesied to stop the war, and that’s what she’s here to do. She speaks the truth and is special. She will show you how special when she shifts into a bear and then a wolf.”
“That’s madness,” one man said. “No shifter can do that, but if she can, I’d be willing to listen.”
Elaina’s eyes widened. “But I can’t shift into a wolf,” she whispered to Samson.
“Yes, you can. You have to or nobody will ever believe in what you say, since most likely the clan has already destroyed or hidden the bones we found.”
Elaina shook her body and shifted into a bear. She roared, shaking the platform where they stood. She stared at the crowd, and for the life of her, she didn’t know what to do next. As she came down on all fours, a silver wolf walked toward her and howled out encouragement. She heard Liam howl, “Close your eyes and concentrate.”
Elaina closed her eyes and with the howls of Liam and Samson joined by many others, she shook her massive body. Her body bent and snapped, her bear paws and legs taking on a more slender form ... that of a wolf, a white wolf. She gazed next to where Atar stood, but he was not there any longer. Instead, there was a white wolf in his place.
When Elaina gazed at the crowd again, they were on their knees, except for the other platform where metal collars were placed around the necks of the elders and they were led away spewing vile words. Let them rant all they want; let them know that their way of life is over.
Instead of shifting back to human form, Elaina followed her brother from the fortress. They howled for the other werewolves to know it was now safe to stop fighting and that the war was over at last.
Chapter Seventeen
The bones were located in the same room Elaina, Samson, and Liam were first brought to the day before. Elaina gazed at her brother. Motioning to his bandaged arm, she asked, “What happened to you?”
Cullen stood not far off. “I’m responsible for his wound. When Damon and I caught up with the clan that was pursuing us, we fought.”
“He wouldn’t listen to reason. When I told him I was your brother, he thought I was lying.”
“You had a chance to tell me that at the village when you showed up searching for Elaina. I reacted like any werebear would that was protecting his mate.”
“I’ll admit that I probably should have told you, but I wasn’t sure how close you were to my sister. When I found out she had been in your village, I was angry. I know the ways of your village and how you share females. Elaina deserves better. Besides, I wasn’t ready to relay any information until I found my sister.”
“And you really had Shauna killed because…”
“She betrayed my sister, and I really believe that she would cause her harm in the future unless she wasn’t allowed to.”
Cullen’s brow shot up. “You do know that it makes you no better than the clan?”
“Of course, but time was of the essence, and I had to find Elaina, and fast. I was about to put my plan in action to take over the elders, and I needed her.”
Elaina lifted a wine goblet, taking a drink. “So the clan was never searching for me; it was you the whole time? I just don’t understand. I was under the impression that you were killed by the clan when our parents were.”
“I know. I escaped as you did. When I wasn’t aware of where you were, I had to make it on my own. One of the werebears found me, but instead of killing me, he hid me and came back for me later, raising me as his own.”
Liam put an arm around Elaina’s waist, “And you never thought about your sister?”
“I did, but I was only a child at the time. I have searched the North Ridge area before, but I never saw a sign she was still there. I knew at some point that I’d find her again. When she came into her fever, I was able to find her, but we fought that day and she was with a werewolf. I’m sorry if I hurt you that day, Elaina, but I ran off when I realized that you wouldn’t give up the fight so easily. I had hoped to find you the next day, but by then you had left the area.”
Samson rubbed a hand over his head. “Yes. When she came home that day, I was afraid that, indeed, the clan was searching for her.”
“Yes, just not for the reasons you think. I needed her to stop the war.”
“I still don’t understand how I was to do that,” Elaina admitted. “Really it was the both of us. What I don’t understand is if the clan was never policing the area where Cullen and Damon lived, were you the one sending the inspectors?”
“Yes, but I had other motives for that. We needed to build up an army of werebears for the resistance. I knew that even if I were to find you that we also needed an army behind us for support in case we had to fight the clan.”
“You could have told me that,” Cullen said.
“Really? If I had, do you really think that you’d allow me to take the men from your village? I’m surprised that you allowed that anyway.”
“I just was trying to protect my village and I had children with a human that I was trying to protect.”
“I admire you, Cullen, for doing that. You’re of royal blood and your children have their place. In time, who knows what they’ll be doing. Since you took them to a human lodge, they’ll have more opportunities. Shifters need to find their place as humans push into our territories.”
“Yes, but I’ll have to assure myself that they’re doing fine still. What of Ethan? You took him and he escaped from you. Why would he do that?”
“We didn’t let on what our real plans were to any of the men we took. We let them believe it was to fight against the werewolves the whole time. I tried to keep everything quiet. Even Gerirr and Hectar didn’t know the truth. I only told them that we were searching for a female werebear that had violated our laws.”
“You did a good job of it, then,” Elaina said. “You sure made a believer of me. Don’t be too hard on Damon and Cullen for how they treated me, or how you thought they did. I was a very willing participant, but I’ve always wanted to find my true mate, and now I have.” Elaina gave Cullen a look with longing in her eyes. “I appreciate everything you’ve done, Cullen, and if you really tried to chase me away b
y treating me badly, I thank you. If not for that, I’d never have found what I’m looking for.”
Cullen took ahold of Elaina’s hand and put the back of it to his lips. “I wish I could have taken much of it back. I have love in my heart for you, and I’m willing to take you as my mate if you’ll have me.”
Elaina’s eyes brimmed with tears, and her heart skipped a beat. She didn’t have to turn and see Liam’s angry eyes. She knew how he must feel. How could she make him understand? But before she was able to answer Cullen, she had to be sure where Liam stood in regards to her.
Liam moved to leave and Elaina chased after him, catching him in the hallway. “Where are you going?”
“Leaving you with your mate. I can see he means something to you, and I can’t blame you.”
“Yes, I can’t deny that, but he’s not the mate I would choose, you fool. It’s you.” Elaina smiled when Liam stepped closer to her. “You marked me as your mate, did you not?”
“Yes, but it only means something if you want it to. I’ll have no mate with love in her heart for another.”
“The feelings I have for Cullen or Damon are not how I feel for you. I have loved you since we were teenagers. How could I not? If you’re willing to take a half-bear, half-wolf shifter as a mate, then I’m yours for the taking.”
Liam dragged his hands through Elaina’s hair, bringing her lips to his, and right before he took them with his, he muttered, “My heart has not beat until you came back to me. I would never have embarked on this journey with you unless I had love in my heart for you. To hell with what the werewolves have to say about our union. You’re my mate in body and soul. I’ll protect you and love you all the days of my life and can see you’ll be the female alpha of our pack.”
Elaina wrapped her arms around Liam as their lips meshed together and they were both lost in the kiss.
Epilogue
Elaina never answered Cullen’s question. It was quite apparent when she left, chasing after Liam, whom she had chosen, or that’s what Elaina thought since both Damon and Cullen were gone when they had returned to the great room.
The elders were secured in the dungeons well below ground. Elaina insisted that they not be put to death since it would make them no better than the elders. They were responsible for causing the war and murdering their parents, but time is a healer.
Elaina and Liam headed out early the following day with a good number of the men to help them completely clear the entranceways of the werewolves’ den, but Damon and Cullen were also on hand when they arrived, already on task.
The werewolves’ pups jumped around excitedly when they found out that Elaina was Liam’s mate and female alpha of the pack. Cullen remained distant. It was to be expected, although it did bother Elaina. She would never forget how the werebears had offered her shelter or helped her find a way out of her mating fever. Liam never asked her for any details of her time at the werebears’ village, and it was for the best for all of them. It was still unbelievable that Liam was indeed her mate, and that most of the werewolves accepted her, or seemed to.
Outside of Elaina and Liam’s happiness, Damon was attentive to Nala, who rebuffed his advances. Not even Elaina could convince her that Damon wasn’t all that bad and had changed his ways.
After the den was cleared of debris, Cullen left and while on a hunting trip, never returned to the area. Damon continued to live in the werebears’ village, and told Elaina that the children were flourishing at the human lodge, but he spent most of his time continuing to try and woo Nala.
The true relationship between Marla and Samson has never been established. Instead of moving back to his cabin, he now resides in the wolf den with the werewolves, which made Elaina happy since he was the only father figure she really had.
As for the Clan of the Werebear, it still remains strong, with Atar as the leader. The war is over and the violence is now at an end. The clan’s laws no longer bar mating with other shifters or humans, but as with all shifters of the area, they continue to live in seclusion and well away from the humans.
Elaina has never regretted her early beginnings. Although her journey was difficult, she has now found a perfect mate in Liam who she enjoys howling with on a full moon night. After all, being half werewolf has its perks.
Other Books By Madison Johns
An Agnes Barton Senior Sleuth Mystery Series
Agnes Barton Senior Sleuths Box Set (Books 1-3)
Agnes Barton In Tawas Box Set (Books 4-6)
Armed and Outrageous
Grannies, Guns and Ghosts
Senior Snoops
Trouble in Tawas
Treasure in Tawas
Bigfoot in Tawas
Agnes Barton/Kimberly Steele Cozy Mystery
Pretty, Hip & Dead
Kimberly Steele Romance Novella (Sweet Romance)
Pretty and Pregnant
Kelly Gray (Stand alone Sweet Romance
Redneck Romance
Clan of the Werebear Serial
Hidden
Discovered
About the Author
At forty-four, sleep deprived from a third shift job but certain her years of caring for senior citizens could result in something quite unique, Madison Johns made the decision to write. Little did she realize how her decision was soon to change her life.
Her Agnes Barton Senior Sleuths mystery series not only opened the door to an amazing writing career but also quickly made their way onto Amazon's bestsellers list for cozy mystery and humor. But Agnes and her fellow sleuths didn't stop there. Madison's charming cast of senior characters also went on to three times seize coveted spots on the bestsellers’ list of USA Today.
With her stories accomplishing feats she had never quite imagined, Madison is now able to live the life she loves—as a full-time writer. When not writing, she spends her days with her two children, a black lab named Sparky, and Jackson, a hilarious Jackson Chameleon who keeps her company while she plots her next series.
Madison is an active participant on Facebook. She loves to hear from readers and fans. Visit her on the web at: http://MadisonJohns.com and be sure to follow her on Facebook at www.facebook.com/madisonjohns and www.facebook.com/madisonjohnsparanormalromance to keep up with her exciting new Clan of the Werebear paranormal romance series.
Sign up for Madison Johns’ Paranormal Romances newsletter https://www.facebook.com/MadisonJohnsParanormalRomance/app_113349772082971
Table of Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Epilogue
Betrayed (Werebear Shifter Romance) Book 3 (Clan of the Werebear) Page 10
