chapter 17

“Damn, if I was her, I’d be so pissed that you were leaving right after the slam-bam part,” Brian said.

“Don’t. I’m holding on by a thread.” Although Bethany had suddenly appeared to be normal, he wanted to take her again. He’d pulled on his sweatpants but his cock was still harder than rock.

Now he had to deal with whatever shit was going on out here.

“We’ve hidden Joe, and he doesn’t like the fact we’ve got him bedded down with the dogs. Their scent is all over him, and thankfully the dogs took a dump, so it should distract, but the rogue bear is near,” Reese said.

“How dare any of them come on our land,” David said. Caleb was in agreement.

With his men at his back, he headed in the direction of the horrible scent. The rogue bear gave off something nasty and wretched. His wolf growled inside his head in warning.

He needed to go back to his woman, but while he had the bear in his senses, there was no way she would be in danger.

“David, stay back there. Call if you feel we’re being tricked.” Without question, David was gone.

“Do you boys feel that?” Brian asked as they walked along. “I feel lighter. Like I can find the woman meant for me. Damn, it feels good.”

A shot of guilt rushed through him. He’d put off finding Bethany as he didn’t believe he’d needed a mate, but clearly, his boys needed him to get his shit together. Now that they were finally free, they had a bear problem to deal with.

“I don’t suppose we can cut Joe up and feed him to the birds?” Reese asked. “It would make our life easier.”

“Not happening. The rogue bear is our problem. You know that, and we’ve got to help him. Helping Joe with this is also helping ourselves.” Even saying the words felt odd on the tongue.

Bears and wolves didn’t mix, and now he was protecting one.

Coming to a stop deep in the forest, he sensed the rogue. The smell was horrible, taunting his senses.

He tensed up and waited.

His men knew not to make a sound. Now it was up to the rogue bear to come at them. He wouldn’t come to this neck of the woods unless he wanted a confrontation.

They waited.

“You have one of my men.” The voice was unusual, somewhat high- pitched. Almost on level of a hyena with hysteria.

Caleb looked toward the stranger still in his skin. His eyes glowed in the dark. His body was larger than what he expected, but this was also the plague of going rogue, of killing your own kind. You become more animal than man.

This man was no longer human. His bear was leaking in even in human form, soaking up every part of his soul. Caleb had heard tales of this happening but never saw it in person. Shifters, especially bears, could go mad every decade or so. Something in the genes.

They’d thirst to kill their own and go feral. It was uncommon but always a possibility. The hairs on the back of his neck stood on end, his wolf at the ready. This man, whoever he once was, killed unnecessarily. It was what started the process and with each death, he’d lost more of himself. There was no going back once you took out some of your own people.

“You have no men,” Caleb said.

The bear hissed. Again, another odd trait.

He didn’t flinch. Didn’t even move. Caleb stood his ground, watching, waiting to see what would happen.

“You’re making a mistake. Give me my man.”

“So you can kill him on my land? Not happening. You have no rights here. I suggest you get the hell off wolf territory,” Caleb said.

The rogue rushed forward, but Caleb reached out, taking hold of his neck and squeezing. Caleb had always been a freak of nature for his huge size, even for an alpha. On occasion, it came in handy. Like today.

“Do not even attempt to threaten me on my land.” His hand turned into a wolf’s, and his fangs lengthened.

He was the biggest, baddest wolf in his pack as he was also the alpha.

Protect our mate. Protect our pack.

That was exactly what he was going to do. He growled. The low rumble spilled from his lips, echoing around the forest. Birds left. The trees rustled.

Their king was here and this rogue was nothing.

He couldn’t believe this piece of shit had taken out so many in his sleuth and terrified the big bear hiding in his dog kennel.

“Leave! Now!” He shoved the rogue to the ground and saw the shock on his face. Clearly, he wasn’t used to being challenged. Joe had it in him to become alpha but was scared of becoming one of these things.

Killing to protect the pack wouldn’t turn a man or woman rogue. What this man had done, he’d killed for the sake of it. He’d been afflicted with the mutant gene that drove a shifter crazy. Rogue bears were dangerous and couldn’t be left free to wander the forests. They had to be culled for the sake of everyone.

“You’ll remember me. I’ll be back,” the rogue said. “Next time, I’ll break your fucking neck.”

The rogue was gone, disappearing into the night, the putrid scent fading.

Caleb wrinkled his nose.

“Why did you let him get away? We could have taken care of him here and now, and we wouldn’t have to deal with him later. You and Bethany would be safe,” said Brian.

“Because I need to know if there are others. What if more bears have turned rogue? The man is strong. Not as strong as my wolf, but there are others he could easily take down. We’ve got to find out if any other bears from their sleuth were affected the same way.

They usually band together. The last time I heard of this happening was about fifteen years ago. I hope this time isn’t as bad.” He started to leave the forest, heading back to their home.

He wanted to go inside, but David was standing by the entrance, complete with a gun.

Caleb cocked a brow. They’d never needed to use guns.

“Just in case,” David said. “I don’t think your woman would feel too comforted with me pacing in wolf form.”

Caleb smiled. “I guess we will see one day. I’ll have to introduce the pack sooner or later.”

He went to where their dogs were kept. The moment he was near, the dogs ran toward him. He petted them and Joe crawled out, brushing the grass from his pants.

The dogs never strayed far even though their kennels were open. The shelter was helpful in the colder winter months.

“You saw him?” “I saw him.” “And?”

“He’s too far gone,” Caleb said.

“I told you that. You could have killed him?” Joe asked.

“I could have, but I need to know if he’s the only one. Have you heard of others going rogue?”

Joe opened his mouth and closed it. “I don’t.” “You were forced out by him. Others too.”

“A lot happened. It was so fast. I didn’t even think about others turning rogue, but I guess it’s possible.”

“It would make sense. Last time this happened, six bears went mad.

That was a long time ago.”

“No, it can’t be possible, can it?”

“It depends. Not everyone gets pulled in to kill. Some are able to fight it.” Caleb ran a hand down his face. “Taking a life isn’t easy. We can kill without mercy, but it doesn’t mean we don’t chip away at our soul. Rogues do it for pleasure. I don’t know what could be left of your sleuth.” He shook his head. “Fuck.”

“I’m sorry.”

Caleb’s brow rose. “You’re sorry?”

“I know this isn’t your problem. It’s a bear thing. I shouldn’t be here, putting you and your pack in danger.”

“Look, this rogue is everyone’s problem.”

Joe stepped forward as if he were going to leave.

“He won’t stop at bears. He’ll ravage the forest, including wolves.” Caleb caught hold of him, stopping him. “No, you don’t get to leave.”