“And we have loved you as if you were another mother to us,” he replied and took her hands as they both stood. She felt tears prick at the back of her eyes as the large male took her into his arms. “We will be okay.”
“You should talk to the alpha,” she whispered as he released her.
Drake thought for a moment as the sheriff stood at the other end of the table, watching their interactions. She’d never told Garrett the entire story of why she was here, and her pride wouldn’t let her. Gaia was a bit selfish and wanted someone to love and befriend because sitting around watching the world tear itself apart made her feel unwanted. It was fate she’d come upon Drake’s mother and befriended her all those years ago. She would forever cherish the memories she’d gathered over the last thirty-eight years of being in her human form.
“Call Talon and tell him I’d like a meeting,” Drake ordered. “And it needs to be done as soon as possible.”
Anna Claire took a deep breath and wiped her eyes one last time. She’d cried so much, she didn’t have any tears left to shed. “I can’t believe he is gone.”
“We will give him a warrior’s pyre,” Gunnar promised as he kissed the top of her head.
“That’s what he deserves,” she whispered and pushed away from her mate. The absence of his warmth caused a shiver to roll up her spine. Her hand automatically went to her stomach in a protective manner to cover her cub, and her mate noticed, covering her hand with his own.
“Everything is going to be okay,” he promised. “I won’t let anything happen to you or our cub.”
“I’m more worried about you,” she replied, feeling the ache in her eyes. She needed to cry again, but the tears wouldn’t come. “What is going to happen now?”
“We will guard the clan tomorrow,” he vowed. “No one will come for us. I’m going to ask that the elders come here before daybreak and stay inside where we can keep them safe.”
“Please do,” she gasped. “I cannot lose another person I care for.”
“You’ve been through so much,” he stated, taking her back into his arms. “Let me hold you and our cub for just a little while longer. I need to have a talk with my brother to make a plan before the day breaks.”
“Kiss me, Gunnar,” she pleaded. Needing his warmth and touch was essential to her mental state. Getting lost in her mate right then probably wasn’t the best course of action during this new war brewing outside their door, but she needed him with a passion she couldn’t describe.
Chapter 16
Gunnar and Drake left the clan late that night after their mates were settled. The sheriff followed their truck to the panther’s land for protection. Even though the lawman hadn’t seen any visions of another attack that night, they weren’t taking any chances.
“I think it’s a good thing we are asking for their help,” Gunnar announced. “They’ve offered their assistance without request of payback before, and they’ve always had our backs.”
“They’re putting themselves in harm’s way for us,” Drake reminded him. His brother’s eyes were already golden as his beast was on edge. Gunnar had advised him to push his bear away before they arrived at the Shaw’s land.
“We need allies," Gunnar stated.
“I know,” Drake sighed and blinked a few times until his eyes returned to their natural brown color.
It was just after midnight when they pulled up to a security gate at the driveway but didn’t have to talk to the male waiting in a small shack by the fence. He pressed a button to open the large iron gate and waved them through. The sheriff followed closely behind.
The drive up to the main house was covered with large trees with their limbs hanging over the gravel road. Upon a clearing, the red brick home stood in the middle of a large meadow. To the left of the house, quite like their own, a road lead to several cabins. Each one was lit by a porch light and had their own unique design to the outside.
Gunnar didn’t feel uneasy with the cats, but that didn’t mean that his brother felt the same. A rumble came from his chest when he opened the door and the scent of the pride reached his nose.
“It’s going to take some getting used to, Drake,” Gunnar reminded him. “They are not our enemy.”
“I know,” his brother grunted. “Let’s do this.”
The front door opened and Talon Shaw, the pride’s leader, stepped out along with Savage and Booth, two of the older Guardians. The Guardians were an elite group of males who had vowed to protect the alpha and the pride. They were lethal, and they’d proven that to the Morgan clan several times over the last few years.
“Drake,” Talon greeted as they approached the home. “Gunnar.”
“Talon,” he and his brother said in unison. The males exchanged handshakes and walked inside, following the alpha to his office.
“I’ve been advised by Garrett as to what he’s seen,” Talon admitted. The sheriff stood against the far wall, keeping himself in a neutral position in the room. “We are fighting our own war, but I have extra men who have volunteered to assist you tomorrow.”
“As much as it pains me to ask,” Drake began, sitting up straighter in his seat. Gunnar knew it was hard for his brother to ask for help, but the oldest Morgan brother wasn’t going to take any chances with his mate and cub. Gunnar felt the same way. “We need help. If what the sheriff says is true, we are looking at the possible destruction of our clan.”
“That won’t happen,” Talon replied with a flash of his glowing amber eyes. The male’s beast was as agitated as his own. Gunnar knew Talon Shaw was an amazing leader and had compassion. That wasn’t seen very often. “I will send a team to you mid-afternoon. They have been advised to follow your instructions and to protect the mates and cubs at all costs.”
“That’s a lot to ask of you,” Gunnar replied. His Guardians were willing to sacrifice themselves for a grizzly mate and cub. It was shocking to say the least.
“We may not be of the same species, but we are from the same gods,” Talon reminded them. His eyes calmed as he stood from his seat. “It’s best if we stick together when an enemy comes our way.”
Drake stood, but he remained silent. Gunnar watched as his brother thought over the alpha’s words. Talon was extending his friendship, but it was up to Drake and Gunnar to accept it.
“I agree with you,” Drake finally replied, holding out his hand to seal the deal on a new friendship with the panthers.
“And I agree, as well,” Gunnar stood and took the alpha’s hand. “I appreciate all you have done for us over the past few years. My mate’s health and safety are my top concern. Your healer should be held in highest regard for the things he has done for our clan.”
“We are very lucky to have him,” Talon nodded in agreement, but a wave of sadness crossed his features, reminding Gunnar of the recent news. “On behalf of the entire Shaw pride, I want to extend my condolences for the loss of your mate’s blood family.”
“Thank you,” Gunnar said with a nod. He could still hear his mate’s cries in his mind, and it caused a shiver to roll down his spine. “There was nothing that could be done for him, and we will plan his funeral pyre upon the end of this current war with the human hunters.”
“Storm, Lucky, Diesel, and Axel are in the main living room,” Talon advised. “If you need more males, let me know now.”
“Those four will suffice,” Drake agreed. “I can’t thank you enough for your support in this.”
“In these times, we must stick together,” Talon preached. “I remember a time not long ago that we asked you to help us.” That was true. Drake had helped keep an eye on one of the panther mates during a time where they’d been targeted.
“I think we have a deal,” Drake replied, standing a little taller. Gunnar saw the change in his brother the moment he connected hands with the alpha. Their alliance would be a good thing for the future of the clan and pride.
“My men will arrive at your place by four tomorrow evening,” Talon replied. “They’ll
be coming in as panthers with no vehicles. I’ve instructed Storm to be your point of contact. He will shift and approach your home through the rear. Is that agreeable?”
“Yes,” Drake nodded. “I have clothes they can borrow should they need to shift, or I can take them home with me now to keep at the main house.”
“We will sort all of that out with them,” Talon replied and nodded toward the sheriff, who opened the door so the four males could enter.
They got down to business, discussing a plan. Gunnar and Drake left with a duffle bag of clothes and a plan to keep their clan safe. He felt a lot more at ease knowing they had doubled their numbers with the panthers on their side.
The pain of losing Ransom would never fade. Anna Claire vowed to honor him for the rest of her life. She didn’t know when they’d be able to give him his final sendoff back to the gods, but she prayed it would be soon.
“Anna Claire?” Luca called out as he knocked twice on the main door to her quarters.
She dropped the blanket she’d covered up with and hurried to the door, removing the bar and throwing the locks to get to her other cousin. Gods, they looked so much alike.
“Luca, what’s going on?” she asked, seeing his eyes were golden and his canines extended.
“Drake and Gunnar are on their way back from the pride,” he announced, and she felt her heart soar. They’d asked for help, and she was certain the Shaw pride wouldn’t leave them alone in this war. “Talon Shaw will send some of his Guardians to help us, but the sheriff has seen things.”
“What did he see in his vision?”
“There will be more coming,” he admitted, taking her into his arms for a tight, brotherly hug. “The angel’s vision stops after their arrival, but he feels some sense of doom. It all depends on the path we choose.”
“I understand,” she replied. The sheriff was different, but the gods gave him the visions to protect the panthers, and she assumed them as well. “What’s the plan?”
“The plan is,” he began, taking her by the shoulders so he could look deep into her eyes, “for you to stay put. There will be no gathering of the females, either. We want you spread out.”
“What about the elders?” she reminded him.
“They’ve chosen to stay in their shelters,” he replied. “I’ve given Alfred and Doug extra weapons and ammunition should it be needed.”
“Where’s Gunnar?” she asked, feeling on edge.
“He should be here soon,” Luca promised, but gave her a little shake. “Do you understand me, cousin? We want the mates protected, and to do that, you have to stay inside this room until one of us comes for you.”
“I get it,” she huffed, feeling the weight of the impending doom on her shoulders.
Anna Claire walked back over to the couch and sat down after Luca had left. She didn’t bar the door again because she knew Gunnar would be arriving at any moment.
It wasn’t a few minutes before her mate walked through the door. It might’ve been only a few hours since she’d seen him, but it felt like days…weeks even. He stopped in the threshold and stared at her. His head tilted to the side in question, but he didn’t speak.
Anna Claire, once again, climbed to her feet, but this time, she ran toward her mate and climbed into his arms. His deep inhale of her scent calmed her as much as hers did for him. Together they were stronger, happier. Knowing the hunters were coming soon scared her to death.
“I’m scared, Gunnar,” she admitted against his neck. She placed a kiss to the mating mark she’d left on him the night they officially mated, and he shivered.
“I’m not,” he replied, his voice deep and secure. “We have made friends with the Shaw pride, and the panthers are going to assist us when these hunters arrive. I promise you, it will all be over in a matter of minutes.”
“Then we can live in peace?”
“Yes, honey,” he promised, using the nickname he’d given her so long ago. “We will be safe, and you and our cub can live without fear.”
The stood there in their living quarters for the longest time just holding onto each other. She knew she needed to rest for the sake of her unborn cub, but she just couldn’t bring herself to close her eyes for fear of waking up to news of her mate being hurt by the hunters. The last thing she wanted to do was imagine him being in Ransom’s shoes.
“When are they coming?”
“Tomorrow at dusk,” he answered, which was technically that night. He was thankful the alpha had agreed to the meeting after midnight, because without the help of the pride, the clan would be destroyed in less than twenty-four hours. “We need to rest before then. I’m going to need to be alert.”
“Let’s sleep,” she offered and took his hand. Gunnar was right. He needed to rest, and so did she, but Anna Claire knew she wasn’t going to get any sleep.
No sooner than his head hit the pillow, Gunnar was fast asleep. Anna Claire waited another ten minutes before sliding quietly out of the bed, then the room. Once the door was closed, she looked at the clock and groaned that it was only a couple of hours before sunrise. Her worry wouldn’t let her sleep.
The phone they’d been using was hidden in the upper cabinet over the fridge. Anna Claire quietly pulled a chair from the small dining table over and climbed up to reach for the phone. She returned the chair and powered up the phone.
Wanting to know what was going on, she found the message boards and got to work, scanning all of the comments in a post that had been made at midnight.
D-Day – Post photos and results with locations here.
She paused before she clicked on the comments. There would be things in there she probably didn’t want to see. The hunters were on a mission to kill the werebears, and she knew they’d be posting their images like a chartered trophy hunt. Could she really look at the photos?
Shaking her head, Anna Claire told herself that being informed was more important, because not having information could be deadly. She hoped she could find out where the new batch of hunters coming for them were staying or any clues as to when exactly they’d arrive. The sheriff said dusk, but she wanted to be sure.
Covering her mouth to hold in a cry of shock, she scanned the first image. A family of grizzlies lay in a row. A large male bear was lifeless next to a woman and two teenage cubs. All of them had been shot.
Tears poured out of her eyes as she read the location.
Price, Utah – Family of 4
The next comment stopped her. There wasn’t an image. The hunter had posted there had been a tornado come through and destroyed their trucks. The location pinned them outside of Tulsa, Oklahoma.
The next comment was more of the same. Terrible destruction due to the weather in Rolla, Missouri; Lincoln, Illinois; Janesville, Wisconsin…and the list continued. Storm after storm hit every one of them. So much so, the human hunters started arguing about the reasoning behind it. Some said it was a coincidence, others said it was the hand of God.
Anna Claire knew it was the work of Gaia.
They were running. Gaia’s plan of destruction was working.
With her tears drying, she scanned more and more posts of wind, tornados, hail, and severe thunderstorms preventing the hunters from achieving what they’d set out to do. One post stood out from the rest.
We are set to attack in northern Mississippi. The others have gone radio silent, and I am uneasy about the information we may find. We will wait out the day and go in at dusk.
She knew the ones who’d come before were dead. Gunnar and his brothers had taken out the human males before they could kill another member of her clan. She pressed her hand to her chest to still the panic at the loss of her cousin. The last thing she needed to do was to mourn him during this next round of attacks coming for them.
With that piece of information, Anna Claire returned the phone to its hiding spot, tiptoeing to the bedroom and sliding beneath the covers before her mate knew she was ever gone.
Chapter 17
Gunnar awok
e to his alarm. He and Anna Claire had been up into the early morning hours, and he wanted to make sure he made the scheduled meeting with the panthers at four. They’d be in place soon, and then they would wait for the human males to arrive.
Gaia was already at the counter, making a cup of coffee when he left his sleeping mate to head into the main house. She’d stayed overnight, taking the couch despite the male’s insistence she have a bed.
“Morning, Gunnar,” she began after abandoning her cup and coming over greet him. She reached down and took his hands into hers and sighed heavily. “Know that if something bad happens tonight, I will extend my promise to watch over your family.”
“I don’t know why you stayed,” he replied, relaxing a little as she dropped her hold and looked at the floor. “You promised our mother you would watch over us, but you didn’t have to.”
“I wanted to,” she blurted, looking up at the ceiling for a second before leveling her emerald green eyes on him. “A vow is a vow, and integrity is important to me.”
“Integrity is important, but staying here in human form is dangerous,” he reminded her. “You are needed everywhere. Remember that.”
“I’m trying,” she sighed and returned to the counter for her cup. “Doesn’t change anything. I’m staying here for a long time. I have no desire to return to the earth.”
“Why?” he inquired, honestly curious as to why she wanted to stay here to watch over the planet and not return to the place where she ruled nature.
“It gets lonely there,” she admitted. “I’ve found a family, finally. Something called to me all those years ago, telling me to come here. After I met your mother, I thought that was the reasoning behind it, but I’m not so sure now.”
“Whatever it is, I’m glad you’re here,” he said with a smile. “Plus, there’s no need to vow protection for the mates and cubs. We are going to beat this.”
They were interrupted when Drake and Rex entered from their quarters. His two brothers hit the coffee pot for their cup and took a seat at the table. Luca came in not long after, and it was obvious from the look on his face, the male hadn’t slept well the night before.
Mating Fever (Morgan Clan Bears, Book 3) Page 13
