“I…I don’t know. This is just so much to take in. They’re following me, and whenever Liam gets close to his shift, it seems easier to find us.”
“I still put my money on human help. Did you find anything about the idiot from the other day?” Bo sharply asked Sam.
She rolled her eyes. “No, he hasn’t been back since I freaked him out and made him all buggy-eyed. I think he was a dick.”
Jane giggled. The vibrations against his chest made his cock surge to life. Now was not the right time for these kind of thoughts, so he tamped them back down.
“I mean, he seemed like one of those shady private investigators you always see in bad movies.”
“Could be. I’ll ask Zach to look into it,” Bo answered. That’s what had brought Zach—a shifter-private investigator on his own mission—into their lives and into Bo’s sister’s heart. They were now happily mated. After the lion attack. It was too much of a coincidence that lions had come into town not long after Jane moved to Bear Paw. Should he tell her about the attack? His bear rumbled at him. No. They’d killed both lions that had attacked Nissa and Zach. Besides, she and her cub were now under the protection of the Alpha of Bear Paw River. No one would touch a hair on her or Liam’s head. The power surged through him, demanding he mate the woman and take the full mantle of alpha. He pushed it back down. It was hard to do, but he did it. The poor woman had enough hardship in her life, and to add mating to his grizzly as a human? It was madness. She’d be even more scarred than after her lion attack—emotionally and physically. He shook his head at Ida, who had been giving him those cryptic looks for the past ten minutes—meaning she was thinking the same way he was.
“I vow to you as Alpha of Bear Paw, no one will harm you. You are both under our protection.”
Her eyes widened with fear, and he realized he had done more harm than good. Shit. he was so not good at talking to females.
“And while you’re here, you may as well keep taking the self-defense classes,” Ida inserted smoothly. “It won’t hurt anything.”
Jane nodded, her forehead furrowed as if deep in thought.
“And if you like the idea of bears and picnic baskets…” Ida grinned. “We’re having our annual Spring Bear Romp this Saturday.”
Bo shot straight up when Jane’s fear spiked.
“That is, if it’s okay with Alpha?”
“Yeah, of course. We don’t have very many bears. Um…” He ticked off the numbers from his head. “A dozen elderly—like your grandmother and grandfather sorts. About five females your age. Four more, Ida’s age. A couple dozen cubs. Oh, and some teenagers.”
“How many males your age?”
Bo scowled. They had lost too many when Stuart had been part of the pack. “Three counting myself.”
“Wow, you really are small in numbers.” Her gaze sharpened. She was replaying his words about protection and was coming to a much different conclusion based on the straight line of her mouth.
“We have plenty of friends to the pack.”
Sam laughed. “Yeah, a badger couple who screws often while running a restaurant.”
Bo continued, “A lion and tiger I met years ago during a pack swap; Zach, the wolf mated to my sister—”
“Wait, wait, wait,” Jane interrupted. “Rory and Amy are badgers?”
“Honey badgers. They’re crazy motherfuckers, but you can bet your life they’ll be there if you ever need them,” Sam said, shrugging at Bo’s glare. “What?”
“They might have wanted to come out themselves, instead of you doing it for them.”
“Oh, come on. Not like she couldn’t tell they’re cray cray. They screw like five times a day in that office, and they talk shit at each other for the rest of it.”
Jane laughed again. “They kind of reminded me of my parents.”
Sam had done it again. She and Ida had a way of relaxing his mate. Something he was failing miserably at. And she’s not our mate. He reminded himself and his bear bitterly. We can’t have her.
“J-Bomb, what do you think?” Ida asked with a smile. “You could bring Liam to the picnic, hang out with all the crazy, but safe shifters. Maybe let him try to shift.”
“If you want him to,” Bo cut in.
“If she wants to, it’s the safest place for him to try,” Ida reminded him. “He can let loose for once, stop getting in trouble for being different at the human school. Because he is different. He’s a shifter. And anyone can tell you, a cub’s got to be able to get dirty once in a while, or he will get into a mess of mischief, right, Bo?”
Heat rose into his cheeks as he remembered all the trouble he and his brothers and friends had gotten into as cubs. But they were just being cubs, his mother always reminded his father. The ache pierced his chest. He missed them so much. He would make sure Liam never felt the loss like he did. He’d protect them both with his life. Which meant martial arts training with Aunt Ida for Jane, and, as much as it made him nervous, the spring romp. It would be perfect for them both. They could see the townsfolk as shifters and people, a good energy that would be there if they ever needed them.
“You have to come to the picnic.” He didn’t mean to growl. It just popped out, and Jane scooted away from him. “Sorry, that came out grumbly. I mean, we’d love for you to come. It would mean the world to us to show you what bears and other good shifters are like when together for fun.” It would mean so much more to have her back in his arms again. He didn’t say that part. “Would you come?”
“I’ll think about it. Let me see how this week goes, and I’ll let you know on Friday. Thanks.”
“All right. Any time you decide, you let me know. I’ll be around.” A lot. He wasn’t letting her out of his sight. Not only because of the lion threat he still wondered if he should tell her about, but also because his bear wouldn’t let her get away. He wasn’t taking any chances.
“Thank you all so much.” She gave each of them a quick hug. “I’m going to run to the restroom before we start our session. Is it okay if we still practice?”
“Of course. Come out when you’re ready.” Ida smiled and shooed Jane toward the bathroom before rounding on him. “You dreamscaped with her.”
Bo could only nod. Of course, Ida would be able to tell. She had been the one to teach him how to do it after Caleb had left and his parents died.
“You know she’s your mate. You only have that kind of power with your mate. And only if you’re alpha.”
“I’m only holding the position for Caleb, and she’s human.” He scowled. “The fates are wrong on this one, on both counts.”
Sam rolled her eyes and was about to say something snarky, but closed her mouth at the firm look he gave her. The only good thing about being alpha was the eye thing. Yeah. Call on it, and you’d freak people out and shut them up when they’re bugging you.
“I’m headed out. Tell Jane I’ll keep in touch.” Bo stormed out before he said anything else. He already felt enough guilt about being in this position and getting grouchy with his cousin who hadn’t meant any harm. And then there was the beautiful young human female who called to him with every aching muscle in his body. He needed to get his head on straight before he talked to anyone else. His bear needed some time in the woods. His body needed her. A cold shower was on tap for tonight, or he would never survive all the time around this female. He planned on seeing her safely to and from work, home, school; he’d watch over her like a…a grizzly bear on a mission. And every sway of her hips and every wafted scent of her would not deter him. He would not take her as his mate. He would not fully accept the position of Bear Paw’s alpha. But he would protect her with his life. Her and her cub.
Chapter Eight
Jane couldn’t believe Sam had talked her into this. A flash of brown rumbled past her feet, and she laughed at a bear cub frantically trying to kick off his pants. So far, no one had even batted an eyelash at her being the only human at their special fling. What was it called? The Bear Romp. This was the tim
e the bears welcomed all the other shifters from their community to come and celebrate on their private property.
A face painter sat on a hard-backed chair next to a man making weird noises while he tried unsuccessfully to make balloon animals. It was her bosses from the restaurant. Badgers, Sam had told her. It had all made so much more sense after everything came together. Jane laughed again when Amy yelled at her husband and told him to stop popping all the balloons. The way they were sniping at each other, they’d be at each other’s throats, or having sex—or both—within minutes. The last few kids thanked the couple and ran to the Slip ’N Slide, and the honey badger couple took that as their cue to close up shop.
They disappeared, hand in hand, into the woods.
Liam sprinted up to her, a huge grin on his face as he shook his wet head at her.
“How was the balloon fight?”
“Fantastic!” He was beaming from ear to ear. “Bo let me get on his shoulders, and we won, and then I got Jeremy in the head, and no one yelled at me for being too rough. And then we played tag, and I accidentally tripped a girl, but she just laughed. And then we wrestled. Nobody told me to calm down. I love it here!”
Jane loved seeing the bright shine on his face and the twinkle of hope back in his eyes. Her boy was happy, and, for today, that was all that mattered.
“Did you talk with your mama about shifting yet?” Bo smiled and ambled up to them, his firm, measured gait bringing a thrill to her heart. He had a way of always looking like he knew exactly where he was going, but wasn’t going to rush it.
She wondered if he was like that in everything he did. A small niggling tickled at the back of her mind, but she ignored it, focusing on Bo and Liam.
Liam had jumped back up into the large man’s arms and was now happily perched on his shoulders. “Can I try that, too, Mama? Will I look just like them? What will I look like?”
“Baby, I don’t know what you’ll look like. Your father was golden with streaks of dark brown, and I only saw him once fully shifted.” It had scared the living daylights out of her. “He was beautiful and strong and graceful.”
“But he was a bad man, and you hope I don’t look like him.”
Liam’s words almost broke her heart. He said it so matter-of-factly, not even as if it made him sad, but just the truth. She felt her lower lip tremble, and she bit it to stop herself from tearing up in front of him.
“Buddy.” Bo took her son down and placed him on the ground carefully then knelt in front of him. “No matter what type of animal you share with your human side, and no matter what you look like, you will always still have Liam inside of you. The strong little man who took on a bear to protect your mama. You are a good boy. Your mother loves you very much and will always love you no matter what form you take. She might be a little nervous because this is all new to her, but you’ll help her to see that it’s all going to be okay. And she will always love you. You hear me, son?”
Liam nodded his head then raised his chin with pride. “I’m ready to be a good shifter, too. Show me? Is it okay, Mama?”
She nodded.
“We’ll be right over here, and we’ll be careful. You have my word.” Bo stood and pulled her into a big hug. Liam squeezed in between, giggling.
“It’s a Liam sandwich, and I’m the cheese.”
She hugged them both and stepped back with a happy smile. “Okay, little cheese. Go have fun finding your animal. Be careful.”
The large man’s hand rested on her son’s shoulder as they marched to the tree line.
Sam had already explained the order of events, and it made sense. Bo and Liam would disrobe then call their other side forward. She was sure everyone in town had all seen each other naked a bunch of times, but she still appreciated Bo’s attempt at modesty by taking Liam to the tree line. Liam still wore the oversized T-shirt and shorts Bo had given him, so Jane would feel more comfortable with the first shifting. She appreciated his thoughtfulness so much and watched as her son nodded at Bo’s instructions.
She couldn’t see all of Bo, since he was half-hidden in the shadows of the large oak they stood under. But she could see his muscular legs and a glimpse of his firm buttocks as he turned to Liam and spoke in warm, quiet tones. They stepped behind the tree.
A shimmer of light came from behind the tree, and Bo’s legs disappeared. A moment later, a large grizzly bear padded out and into the open field, and she sucked in her scream. It was okay. It was just Bo, the gentle giant who had been mentoring her son and was protecting the rest of the pack as their alpha. She calmed her breathing and watched the big, dark bear with streaks of brown amble back and forth on all fours.
Bo the bear lay down on his tummy, and Liam squealed with laughter and jumped onto his back. Bear and boy frolicked through the trees—slowly, so he didn’t fall off. Jane’s apprehension dissipated as the two continued their trek into the woods then back out. Bo was making sure she could always see her son, and she loved him even more for that.
Wait. Love? No, no, no. It was too soon for that. You didn’t just fall in love with someone—especially someone from a different species—within days of meeting them. Unless you were in a Disney movie. And Jane was definitely not in a fairy tale. Unless it was a Grimm’s version. Her backstory sounded like a Grimm’s fairy tale.
Mate.
Jane turned around to see who was talking to her, but there was no one within hearing distance. A tingle crept up her spine, and she shivered. Just the wind, the animals, and the sounds of her son enjoying being himself. That was it. She tuned it out and watched her son laugh as he chased after a little black bear cub. Liam hadn’t been able to shift fully, though he had tried a number of times. His little fangs did sharpen, and she thought she saw a glimpse of gold fur behind his ears. Once again, she felt bad for giving him the medicine and denying the animal inside him. But she was just keeping them safe, she reminded herself, still not quite pushing down the acid taste of guilt. She finally shook it off, enjoying the moment, her giggling son romping through the woods and meadow with friends. Her heart soared. He’d made friends.
An hour later, Liam was back in full human form, his chubby little face flushed after all the exertion. “I gotta show Bo something. Be right back!” He sprinted over to Bo, who’d shifted back, dressed, and was helping a bear cub who’d gotten stuck half shifted up in a large oak.
Bo pulled the cub to the ground, scruffed him on the head, and knelt in front of Liam.
“What’s up, little man?”
Liam leaned in closer. “I have a secret. It’s special.”
“I love special secrets.”
Liam pressed his nose against Bo’s, and Bo held very still. Liam wiggled his nose back and forth against Bo’s. “Nose kisses, nose kisses. I love you.” He tapped his nose against the tip of Bo’s nose. “Bonk. You also do cheeks and boops, but I’m not sure you’re ready for the extra boops.”
Jane’s breath stopped in her chest. Please let the big man not screw this up, or her son would be devastated.
Bo nodded. “Can I try it and make sure I get it right?”
Liam held very still while Bo ran the tip of his nose back and forth against Liam’s. “Nose kisses, nose kisses. I love you.” He tapped Liam on the nose. “Bonk. But no boops or cheeks, yet. Right?”
“You got it. Thanks for all the fun. See you tomorrow!” Liam hugged him tightly around his neck and came running back to her, his eyes full of light.
Tears blurred her vision, and she mouthed thank-you to the man who had just stolen her kid’s heart. And hers.
Bo grinned at her, and she couldn’t stop the flush that crept over her body. She had it bad for this bear. Real bad.
Chapter Nine
Bo lounged at his kitchen table, gazing at the beautiful, curvy woman who stirred a pot of something that smelled delicious. As soon as they had left Liam at her place with the sitter—after nose kisses and hugs, of course—Bo had brought her home with him for a quiet night. Jane had im
mediately commandeered his kitchen, telling him she wanted to try out her favorite recipe for him.
“You like to cook, huh?” He loved how her hips swayed back and forth as she stirred the large pot he hadn’t even known he owned.
She bent down to take a spoonful of the brothy mixture into her mouth, giving him a great look at her round ass. After a quick swallow, she stood straight and beamed at him. “I love cooking stews and soups, but Liam doesn’t like his food to be touching, so I rarely make them.”
“You can cook for me anytime.”
“Want a taste?”
He was on his feet and across the kitchen before she could hold out the spoon. “Yeah. I want a taste.” His voice dropped a few octaves, and his bear rumbled for more than soup in his mouth. He was dying to take her firm breasts into the palms of his hands, her pert nipples into his mouth, and suck them until she begged him to stop. Then he wanted to kneel before her and worship her body, lick her honey, and claim her as his own. A low rumble rocketed from his throat. “Sit down while I dish up the food.”
She settled at the table and sipped red wine while he held a ladle of savory stew over one of the bowls she’d already placed on the counter. They were utilitarian white, heavy deep bowls made for eating out of. Not for looking pretty. He wondered what she saw when she looked at his place. A bland male environment with no froofy stuff a female and kid would need. Maybe he should add some colorful curtains. Or some of those bowls with the animal prints and flowers on them from the superstore. Would she prefer to eat out of something nicer? Maybe she hated his sturdy wood chairs. Damn, he should have taken her out to a fancy restaurant. One of those places with cushioned seats and music and waiters who poured your wine for you.
“Hey, big guy, you okay?” The warm caress of her hand settled his agitation and worry. Her skin was so soft, her touch so wonderful as she helped him ladle the soup into the bowl, never taking her gaze away from his. One more spoonful then it sloshed heartily into the second bowl. Her gaze was warm and inviting, like sunshine after a cold winter night. Just like waking up from the most amazing sleep and dragging yourself out of bed, flinching as your bare toes hit the cold floor. Then opening the curtains to feel the heat of the radiant sun as you turn your cheek to it. Then grabbing a blanket and snuggling on the floor in front of the window. The memories of the combined warmth of both the sun’s new rays and the old heater below the window reminded him of his early mornings as a cub. His brothers had laughed at him—reminding Bo that bears don’t get cold. But it wasn’t the cold that had bothered him. It was the lack of sunshine. Every morning, his mother would bring him a cup of hot cocoa, calling him her sweet boy. The radiance in her smile and gaze were as gentle and pure as the woman standing in front of him. Jane’s kind eyes and soft heart reminded him of the days when he was young...free of burdens and the responsibilities of clan life. When he was truly happy.
Bear With Me: BBW Paranormal Shapeshifter Romance (Mates of Bear Paw River Book 2) Page 7
