chapter 44

This was good. She could do this. Embracing her heart’s desire had been a process, but now that they’d fully committed to each other, she couldn’t be happier with her choice. Heather was a mated female … well, almost.

It would be official with the next full moon. Just thinking of David sinking his fangs into her neck during sex made her pussy tingle.

She had to keep her thoughts out of the gutter in case anyone could sense her desires. She’d been the center of attention for too long already.

“Where are you going?” she asked her uncle Benjamin. He was getting into one of the pack’s trucks on his own. It wasn’t something he usually did.

“The alpha has a task for me, so who am I to say no?”

She shrugged. “Can I come along for the drive?”

“Sure. Why not?”

Heather climbed into the passenger seat. David and Reese had gone off to hunt. She was bored since she couldn’t participate.

It wasn’t something she ever took part in, but clearly understood her mate’s need for meat. She encouraged him, just as he catered to her special dietary needs.

They drove along the rough trails, which felt even worse with her uncle driving. She grabbed the handbar above her for a bit of stability.

“You know what, I don’t think I’ve ever seen you drive. Do you even have a license?”

“A license? What’s that?” He turned to her and winked, but she knew right then he didn’t have one. He was an old-school shifter, more wolf than man.

Although he was one of her only blood family members left alive, she realized there wasn’t much she even knew about her uncle Benjamin. He was a loner, eccentric, and never really partook in any festivities. They’d always referred to him as their crazy uncle, but she started to wonder what his story was. She didn’t dare ask.

Heather wasn’t afraid of him, but there was always an edge of darkness surrounding him that she didn’t want to disturb. He was an older, weathered wolf. Strong. Capable. It was odd how he’d never mated. She’d assumed he hated everyone and everything, barely tolerating his nieces now that he was the only male left in their gene pool.

“So, what’s your mission today? Caleb doesn’t usually send you out for store runs.”

“It’s a sensitive topic. I’m playing peace-keeper.”

“You?” She couldn’t hide her snort.

“Apparently your wolf stepped on the wrong toes. He picked a fight with a deranged bear and now I need to find out if it’s going to be a problem for our pack.”

“The one he just had a fight with?”

“That’s the bear,” he said.

She thought back to that day, his injuries, and all the blood. He’d healed quickly, but maybe the bear had been merciful? What if it had revenge in its heart now? Thinking about dangerous bears triggered her anxiety.

She remembered the rogue bear set on death and destruction. The blood. The gore. The feeling of helplessness. She’d almost been killed along with her family. What if this was another rogue? She couldn’t lose her mate, not after losing everything already.

They pulled into town, the truck jostling as it emerged from the forest trail to the roughly paved highway. There wasn’t much to see—one grocery store, a hardware store, a rooming house, a couple of restaurants, and a drug store. Not too much else. Shifters tended to gravitate to these blips on the map to maintain their anonymity and be close to nature.

Benjamin parked right at the local diner. She knew the owner was a bear. Every shifter knew. He’d been helpful last time they had a problem, but she still felt uncomfortable associating with bears in general. They were too big, too powerful, and capable of horrific crimes.

“You can wait here if you want. I just need to put out some feelers. Ask questions. See if anyone’s heard anything about this fucking cannibal bear.”

“Cannibal bear?” She hopped out of the truck right after him, rushing around to his side. “You never said anything about a cannibal bear.”

“Well, he almost ate your mate for dinner.”

She followed along behind him, trying to process this news. It was disgusting and terrifying. This most definitely sounded like another crazed rogue bear. Just when she thought she was safe and her life was becoming somewhat normal, something horrible had to ruin it. No wonder she had anxiety.

The bells against the door of the diner chimed as her uncle pushed his way in. He was a no-apology kind of man. She was surprised he’d accepted a new alpha after losing his brother as he was next in line, but glad for it. Their new combined pack was working well and she didn’t want to lose her uncle or her new mate.

“Where’s Joe?” he asked the nearest waitress. Her uncle was an imposing sight and lacked any social graces.

“In the back. I can get him for you.”

He nodded.

When Joe finally came out front, the huge shifter stopped in his tracks, then waved for them to follow him down the long hallway. She didn’t like being here. It felt like she was in the proverbial lion’s den. At least there were two of them, and Heather was very capable in her fur. They entered his office behind him.

“You’re from Caleb’s pack.”

“Yes,” Benjamin said.

“What can I do for you?”

“We’ve heard there may be more issues with bears around town. Unpleasantries. You know anything about that?”

“Caleb sent you to ask me this?” He raised a brow. The tension in the room made her uneasy. “He’s too busy to leave the wolf’s den?”

“He thought a middleman would be the better way to go.”

“He’s a smart alpha. But, as to any bear problems, I wouldn’t know anything about that. As far as I’m concerned, it’s finally business as usual, and that’s the way I want it to stay. I’m a businessman. I have no time for shifter drama.”

“There’ve been bear attacks,” Benjamin said.

Joe crossed his arms over his chest. “If there were any attacks, I’d be the first to hear about it. Nothing in the bear shifter community goes on without passing through me. I’ve heard nothing. What’s Caleb up to, anyway? Sounds like he’s trying to frame our sleuth for some bullshit again.”

“Nothing like that.”

Heather needed to douse the rising flames. “If you don’t know, you don’t know. Let’s go, Benjamin.” She grabbed his arm, but it was like trying to move a brick wall. The men faced off, and panic welled up inside her.

“A man-eating bear on the loose, but you’ve heard nothing. Okay.” Her uncle turned to leave.

“You’ve all lost your minds. The forest is infested with native bears this far north. You’re obviously unable to decipher a bear from a shifter. It’s not always easy to tell,” Joe said.

“Of course. Whatever you say.”

Her uncle left the office and headed to the front. She felt his rage teetering dangerously on the edge. She tagged along behind him, watching her back while trying to keep up. This had not gone well. If Caleb had wanted a peacemaker, her uncle had more than likely seeded another war.

Once the diner door closed behind them, she raised both hands in the air as they walked back to the truck. “What the hell was that?”

“I was just sending a message. Letting him know I’m on to him.”

“He said he didn’t know anything.”

“Like he said himself, nothing goes by him. David was attacked by a bear shifter. You’re too naïve, Heather. Good thing you’re going to be mated. Hopefully David’s instincts are more sound.”

“More sound?” She felt her hackles rise. “If you have a problem, spit it out and stop being an asshole.”

He turned to her, glaring. “I’ve made a lot of sacrifices being here in this wayward pack—just for you two girls. I’ve bitten my tongue and minded my own fucking business. But my wolf is unsettled, agitated beyond recognition. I’m tired of playing house with your little crew of wolf shifters. There’s only so much I can tolerate.”

She began to panic, feeling him pull away emotionally. Why did she have to lash out on him? He’d only ever been good to her, stood by her all her life.

“I’m sorry, Uncle Benjamin. Please forget everything I said, okay? I totally understand your point, I’m just scared of more clashes after what happened to Mom and Dad.”

“Come on, Heather. Let’s go home.”