chapter 45

David and Reese had engorged on their kill. There was still plenty to bring back to the others, although nothing compared to the hunt itself.

“We should head back,” he said.

“No rush.”

“I don’t like leaving Heather alone with that freak on the loose,” David said. They were deep in the forest, far from home and another source of civilization.

“You heard Caleb. He’s keeping an eye on everything. He’s the alpha, so chill.”

He continued to eat but felt unsettled with so many miles between him and his mate.

“Did you see that bear shifter at all?” David asked. There were some topics he’d been meaning to touch on with Reese.

“No, why?”

“You were there so fast after I got hurt. I thought maybe you saw something.”

His pack mate had a blank expression. “Nothing.”

He was lying, but David had also been keeping secrets himself. Not only was it embarrassing being ripped apart by a female bear shifter, but he should have told his alpha every detail. Yet, it shouldn’t really matter if the maneater was male or female. A bear was a threat no matter what. Guilt still haunted him. Who was she? Why was she so fucking feral?

“You lost a fight. Stop making such a big deal about it. The bear’s probably moved on by now. If it had wanted you dead, you’d be dead.”

“Why do you care?”

“Because Caleb’s on high alert now and he’ll make our lives miserable. You can’t put ideas into that guy’s head, especially now that he’s mated to Bethany.”

“If you had your own mate, you’d understand.”

“What’s that supposed to mean? We waited how fucking long for Caleb to claim a mate so we could follow. You’re the first, so of course you’re on cloud nine. Brian and me, do you think we suddenly stopped caring, stopped craving our own mates?” He scoffed. “Think again. You have a mate to go home to at night. We have nothing.”

“Then do something about it. Now that our alpha has a mate, you’re free to claim your own. We can shift on will. Everything is different now.”

“Yeah, I got that part,” Reese said. “Easier said than done when I have to wait for some great fucking sign or fate or the gods to bestow me with the mating call.”

“It’ll come, Reese. Trust me.”

They were quiet for a while. An awkward silence between them. David felt for his friends. They’d had so many conversations about finding women and starting families. Now they felt left behind.

“How did you know? I mean, how did you know it was the mating call and not just blue balls talking?”

“It was like instinct, something bigger than me. Bigger than my wolf. It was impossible to ignore the pull, the lure of her scent, her presence. For over six months, I bottled up those feelings when she moved to our pack. I never knew I had such willpower. It was torture holding back all this time.”

“I just … I’m not sure if I felt it yet.”

“What do you mean? There aren’t exactly great pickings of women around here. Are you talking about the new woman at the diner?”

“She’s old enough to be my mother, David.”

“What? It’s happened.”

“Well, it’s not her. It’s not anyone. Just a feeling I got the other day when I was doing patrols.” He shrugged. “Probably just wishful thinking. Maybe I need to get laid. I don’t know.”

“Sorry. I didn’t mean to be a downer. Thanks for coming out with me.” David stood up and ran a hand through his hair. It had been a strenuous run but the burn in his muscles felt good. Their wolves needed the hunt now and then. It was important to find balance as shifters, nurturing their human and wolf sides.

“Let’s head back. Maybe we’ll make it by dinner,” Reese said.

“How can you think about food?”

“I’m a growing boy.” His friend shifted into his black wolf and darted off into the brush. It would probably take them over an hour to get home if they kept up a punishing pace. Tonight, it would take longer as they’d already spent a lot of energy during the trip and hunt. Reese was right, of course, Heather was being taken care of back home. He had nothing to worry about.

They weren’t even halfway into their trek when he came across a familiar scent. He came to an abrupt standstill, testing the air and ground, pawing at the leaf litter. It was the maneater, he’d know that scent anywhere. Where was it?

“Don’t tell me I’m the only one who noticed that,” Reese said. His pack mate was nearby but unseen.

“It’s the bear. The same one.”

“Is it stalking you?”

“Why me?” David didn’t like the fact he didn’t know where the source of the scent was coming from. It was close. Too close.

“You’re the one who pissed it off.”

He knew there was no chance his friend would leave him to fight by himself. David trusted every member of his pack with his life. But what happened when they discovered the bear was a female? He’d never live it down.

“It likes the taste of wolf. If you don’t want to be dinner, let’s just get the fuck out of here.”

Reese wasn’t budging.

David saw him standing in the near distance. “Reese!”

It took quite a while to get his attention as if he were in some kind of trance. “Okay. Okay.”

They continued off toward home, keeping on high alert.

As soon as the property around their home came in sight, he exhaled in relief. They slowed their pace, walking the rest of the way to bring down their heartrates.

“Well, that was interesting,” Reese said.

“What, that you forgot the extra meat?”

“Shit.”

They split up, David heading to the house to find Heather. Just thinking her name warmed him from the inside out in the most delectable way. He searched the rooms, not finding his mate in all her usual places. Then he spotted her on the swing out back. She looked absolutely gutted.

“What’s wrong, baby?”

She looked over at him and tried to smile. “It’s nothing.”

“You think I’m going to settle for that answer? Come on, tell me what’s wrong. You were fine when I left this morning.”

“It’s just … I think I upset my uncle. I didn’t mean to but that doesn’t help me now,” she said.

“I’m sure he’ll get over it. What happened?”

“We went to town to talk with Joe about the bear attack.”

He braced himself, his muscles tensing. Caleb was supposed to keep an eye on her, but she’d gone to visit the bears with only her uncle? He didn’t like where this was going one little bit. But he bit his tongue as the last thing he wanted to do was chase away his mate after winning her back. He didn’t want to appear overbearing.

“And?”

“Joe said he had no clue about any problem bears. Benjamin didn’t believe a word he said. David, the last thing we need is another pack war. I still haven’t recovered from the last one.”

“You’re right. I’ll talk to Caleb.”

She slipped off the swing and came close, circling her arms around his waist. He held her head to his chest and stroked her hair. “I was scared, David. Of everything. The first thing I wanted was you. You always make everything better.”

“You should stay away from town until we figure out what’s going on. Please, Heather. I can’t lose you.” His protective instincts were firing hot. He kept envisioning his mate alone, afraid, in need of him. And he was miles away, unable to help if she needed him.

“I didn’t think anything of it. And nothing happened.”

“Okay.” He kissed her atop the head. “I can’t wait to claim you as mine. It’s so close I can feel it.”

“Me too. Thank you for not giving up on me.”

He took her hand, and they interlocked fingers as they strolled back to the house. That was when they heard it. A great roar coming from the forest near their home. It was unmistakably from a bear.

“David?”

He pulled her close to his body. “It’s okay. I’m here.”

Was it the bear? Any shifter on their territory knew damn well they were trespassing and asking for retaliation. The entire pack would be on them within minutes. Unless the bears were out for all-out war, which he doubted, it had to be her—the crazy bitch with a death wish.

Reese and Brian were outside within a minute of the roar. “Is it the one who kicked your ass?” asked Brian.

“Fuck off,” he said. “Get Caleb. We need to find out exactly what’s going on. If Joe can’t help, we’ll deal with it ourselves. He had his chance.”

Brian rushed off, but Reese stayed in place, listening for the next roar. They needed numbers, so David waited until they were all ready to head out. The females would stay behind in the safety of the house.

“I don’t want anything to happen to you, David. Promise me. Promise me you won’t do anything stupid,” Heather said.

“Things are different now. I have something to live for.” He kissed her hard on the mouth. It wouldn’t be the last time. David wanted to live, to claim his mate, to start a family. Nothing was going to get in his way of it either—not even a bear.