Loving the Bears: A Crimson Hollow Novella Read online

  Kaden began slicing the radishes. “Go ahead. I’ve got this.”

  “Please help yourself to a beer or whatever you’d like. Just make yourselves at home.” Sin glanced between the two men, finally settling her gaze on Kaden. “Thanks.”

  “Don’t worry about it. I enjoy cooking.” He tossed the radishes into the bowl and wiped his hands on a dishrag. “And for what it’s worth, I’m sorry about your family. Maybe some time away will give them a better outlook. It won’t hurt for you and Jase to have some time to rule the tribe without their interference.”

  As she left Ari moved to the refrigerator and grabbed two beers. After popping the caps, he handed one to Kaden. “See? We make a good team. You knew just what to say to her.”

  Kaden grinned. “Yeah, a great team.” He stepped toward the pantry, looking for the ingredients he’d need to make his signature salad dressing and considered Ari’s words. They were the perfect pair. Where Ari was a protector, fierce, and all business, Kaden was the emotional rock, and while they worked together on the occasional job, he preferred the numbers side of the business. Or being in the kitchen, which was good because Ari wouldn’t know a paring knife from a filet knife. They balanced each other out, making each other whole, and their mate would only connect them further. “I’ve never doubted that we’re good together. If I did, I wouldn’t be waiting for your bear to take control and demand a mate.”

  “I never said I didn’t want a mate. It’s disappointing never finding a woman that works for both of us.” Ari took a long drink from his beer. “But I haven’t given up that somewhere out there we’ll find our mate. I’m just not as impatient as you are.”

  Kaden leaned back against the counter, took a drink of his own beer, and watched his friend. “I say, if we don’t find her here, let’s do some traveling. The business is doing fine, and Jack can handle things for a while.”

  “We’ll see.” Ari sat the beer bottle on the counter with a thump. “We’re going to be here at least a couple of weeks. I don’t know about leaving again right away.”

  “Fine,” he said, adding the salad dressing ingredients together into a small mixing bowl. While he frowned at Ari, he stirred. “We’ll wait a little while, until you feel comfortable leaving him in charge again. But you’ve got to admit that we need this.” He paused stirring and tasted the mixture he’d created, and then added some red pepper flakes to heat it up some. “Your bear is clawing at you, demanding that she be found. It’s our time, and it can’t be put off much longer.”

  Ari’s eyebrows rose. “I’m going to walk around the outside of the house. Search for possible intruder entrances.” He grabbed his beer and headed for the door.

  “You know I’m right,” Kaden called after him as he left.

  Alone in the kitchen, he set the dressing aside, then quickly checked the casserole in the oven, determining that everything was ready whenever Garret and Sin returned. He turned off the oven and blew out a deep breath.

  Not knowing what else to do, he wondered over to the table with his beer and sat down. He pondered why Ari was so hesitant to venture outside of their comfort zone to find a mate. It wasn’t like they had a sleuth that they’d have to justify their decision to. They were lone bears, choosing this path because it fit their needs and wants better.

  Ari’s hesitation was putting Kaden in a tough spot. He wanted a mate, his bear growled in agreement, but he couldn’t do it without Ari being onboard. If only she’d find us and then Ari would have to accept her. His bear wouldn’t give him any choice.

  “Where’s Ari?” Garret strolled toward the table.

  “Checking the outside.” And avoiding our conversation. “He’s already thinking about the security measures he wants to put in place. How’s Zoe?”

  “She’s upset, but she’ll be okay. She has had a lot thrown at her lately. She’s still adjusting.” Garret grabbed a beer from the fridge and leaned against the counter. “There seems to be some kind of tension between you and Ari. On the verge of sounding unmanly, anything you want to share?”

  “What, mating make you soft?” Kaden smirked. “Naw, we’re fine. He’s got a bit of the grumpy bear syndrome that Jase has.”

  “You bears must need to be in hibernation. The rest of us don’t go through stages of irritability like you guys do.”

  Kaden arched an eyebrow. “Oh yeah, wolves are so even tempered. I remember the time you nearly broke a guy’s spine for barking at you.”

  “I’m not a dog,” he growled.

  “Did I miss something?” Sin came up to her mate’s side.

  Garret wrapped his arm around her, and she snuggled in closer.

  That was what Kaden wanted for him and Ari. A woman to hold tight in the coming cold months. Someone who would love them despite their cranky asses. But more importantly, someone who could bear their cubs. Family had always been important to him, but since his sister had her first set of cubs, he found himself wanting a dozen of his own. His bear roared within him, demanding that Ari and he find their mate. Soon…

  3

  Chapter Three

  Shifting from foot to foot, Camellia Clarkson tried to ease the tension that settled into her shoulders. There was a scent in the air, unlike anything she smelled before. Honeyed and woodsy, mixing together to create an undeniable smell. She wanted to find it. Unable to place its source, the unease increased as the aroma heated her blood and set her lioness on edge. She was supposed to be there as a teacher, giving the daily lesson to the Deputy’s ward, Zoe, and she couldn’t keep her mind from wondering away from the task at hand.

  “I’ve finished.” Zoe dropped her pen and slid the paper across the kitchen table.

  “Very well.” She slid the paper inside her folder and pulled out the worksheets she had stapled together earlier. “I’ll look it over tonight. In the meantime, I want you to complete these worksheets and have them ready to turn in tomorrow when I arrive.” She pushed back from the table and rose, grabbing her sweater from the back of the chair as she did.

  Zoe scrunched her nose in disgust. “This stuff is too easy.”

  “The package you just finished will allow me to see where you stand on all your subjects. Once I know what concepts you already know, we can go from there. From what I can see so far, you are beyond what the ninth graders are doing now. I just need to know how far beyond you are. Everyone has subjects they are better at, I expect you are more advanced in some than others. Once I’ve gone over the worksheets, I’ll have a better understanding and will bring you your schoolbooks.” The front door opened, but from where she was standing she couldn’t see whether it was Sin returning or someone else. “In the meantime do those new sheets. The further you get in the package, the more advanced they are. Look through and skip over what’s too easy. Don’t be afraid to challenge yourself.”

  “Yes, Miss Camellia.”

  Two men strolled into the kitchen, stealing her attention. Their tight shirts contoured to their toned stomachs, while faded jeans and work boots completed the picture. Her gaze traveled over each of them, and her breath caught. Just standing a few feet away they made her legs weak. Both were roughly the same height and build, and for a moment, she thought they might be brothers. But when she looked up at their faces that idea was blown out of the water. They looked nothing alike. Where one had his hair cut short, almost military-style, the other’s was long and shaggy, coming to just below his ear. The one with the longer hair had more pronounced cheekbones, his brown gaze seemed to devour her. Her gaze left him and traveled over to the one with shorter hair. His eyes where harder, his body a little wider and more muscular, overall he appeared the more dangerous of the two.

  He smiled at her, and there was a twinkle in his eyes. “We didn’t mean to interrupt.”

  “It’s okay Kaden,” Zoe said. “This is my teacher, Miss Camellia Clarkson.”

  Kaden. Her lioness purred at the way his name rolled off her tongue. With the hopes of pushing her lioness aside, she too
k a deep breath, but that only brought her animal closer to the surface, growling as it leapt forward. Oh shit!

  She grabbed her bag from the chair, scooping up her folder as she did so. “I’ve got to go. Do your work, Zoe. I’ll see you tomorrow.” Needing to get away, she practically ran from the kitchen, slipping past the two men and out the door before anyone could stop her.

  Outside, she jogged toward her house, ignoring the comments from those who were out in the common area. Bears…new bears. Fear sped her heartbeat until she thought it would beat right out of her chest. This can’t be happening.

  Inside, she slammed the door and quickly clicked the lock home. It was rare for anyone in Crimson Hollow to lock their doors, but she couldn’t help it. She needed the idea of a barricade between her and the unknown bears. What were they doing here? Were they here for her? From the look in their eyes, they didn’t seem to recognize her. Their look reflected desire, not hatred.

  Maybe they desired to bathe in her blood. Turning, she let her stuff fall to the ground and let her body slide down the wall. “Damn it, Camellia. You need to get hold of yourself.”

  Her living room faded from view, and she was back in Boston. The stench of the alley filled her nostrils and her lioness trotted forward, warning her something was wrong. She scanned the alley, looking for whatever had her beast on edge. Not seeing anything, she forced herself to take a deep breath and smell beyond the rotting food in the trash and the piss from the homeless who used this alley as a bathroom. She had almost convinced herself she was overreacting when the scent hit her full force. A bear shifter on the other side of the…

  He peaked around the boxes, his gaze landing directly on her, and blood oozed from between his lips as he chewed whatever he had in his mouth. Fuck! She backed away slowly, her heels clicking on the cement, but it was too late. He’d already seen her. With the heels and the slick cement from the earlier rainfall she’d never reach the door or the street before he was on top of her. She’d have to make a stand and hope to scare him off.

  Scurrying backwards, she reached into her purse, trying to feel for the hidden compartment for her gun. A shifter with a gun—that was irony. Her lioness was deadlier, but the risk of exposure was too great this close to work, and if her boss found out, she’d be out of a job. If only she had gone out the front door of her office building instead of using the back staircase. She had wanted to get home quicker and this cut five minutes off her walk to her apartment, but the cost might have been her death.

  “Come here, bitch.” He had shifted back to human form while she was searching for her gun. He glided toward her like he had something on his mind besides murder, not the least bit concerned that he was naked.

  Her fingers wrapped around the gun, and she tugged it out of the pocket, ready to shoot. “I’m armed. Stay away!”

  “Stupid bitch, your bullets won’t hurt me.” He pounced on her, pushing her to the ground, with him landing on top of her.

  She pulled the trigger…

  A fist pounded against her door, and the memory faded like the end of a movie, leaving her raw. She wiped a hand down her pants and forced herself off the floor. She debated pretending that she wasn’t home. Maybe they’d go away.

  It was the bears, she could smell them. The sweet honey and woodsy scents that she’d smelled earlier teased in the air—both tempting and terrifying.

  “We know you’re there.” A deep voice called from the other side of the door. Kaden. “Just open up.”

  “I’m busy.” She couldn’t breathe. Her heart pounded against her chest until it ached.

  “We’re staying here until you open this door,” a second voice called. It had to be the other big bear.

  “What the hell is going on?” Jase’s voice came from outside, mixed with the bears.

  “Stay out of this,” one of them growled.

  “You’re a guest here,” Jase said, his voice deepening in warning. “This is my tribe and my business.”

  Shit. She tugged open the door to find Jase and the two bears faced off. “It’s…” She took a deep breath and forced the words out. “It’s fine, Jase.”

  “What the hell are they doing pounding on your door?” he asked without looking away from the other two men.

  “Jase—” Her words were cut off as the bear whose name she didn’t know advanced on Jase and growled.

  “She’s our mate.”

  Oh, hell, no! Darkness closed in around her, and she felt herself falling with no way to stop herself.

  4

  Chapter Four

  Camellia’s eyes fluttered open to find three faces leaning over her, watching her. Not ready to face them yet, she let her eyelids drift shut again. Surprisingly, her body didn’t feel bruised from her fall. Had she hit the ground? She couldn’t remember. All she knew was that she woke up on the sofa. Mate…that one word sent fresh anxiety through her.

  “Camellia?” Someone called but she couldn’t make out who said it.

  Panic rushed through her, setting her blood on fire, burning her from the inside out. While her lioness charged forward, wanting to smell them more deeply to confirm that what they had said was true, she wasn’t ready to know. She tried to shove her beast down, but it was too powerful. She hadn’t regained full strength after passing out.

  Please, let them be wrong.

  Her lioness took a deep breath, filling her lungs with the sweet undeniable smell and purred, begging her to be set free so she could rub her fur all over her mates.

  “Camellia.” Jase’s voice pulled her from her thoughts.

  “Huh?” She tried to focus on hearing him over the purring within her. Could they hear it?

  “Are you okay?”

  Okay? The lioness within wanted to scream she was better than okay, but her brain knew that she was far from it. If they found out what she’d done before she came here, they’d kill her. A bear. Just like the three of them standing above her. Even Jase didn’t know. She had come here seeking a new start, and because they’d needed a second teacher, they’d gladly welcomed her into their tribe. But she’d never admitted to anyone other than Granddad why she needed that fresh start.

  “I’m calling the doctor.” Jase tugged his cell phone out of his pants pocket.

  “No…” She forced herself to focus on him. “I’m fine. Really, Jase.”

  “She said she’s fine. Now, leave us alone.” The short-haired man glared at Jase.

  “Drink this.” Kaden held out a mug to her. “It’s tea. If you don’t trust me, ask Jase. He saw me make it.”

  Jase nodded. “It will be good for you, and I made sure he didn’t sweeten it with too much honey.”

  She took the mug, but didn’t bring it to her lips. “Bears and their taste for honey,” she muttered.

  “It’s like kittens and milk.” She looked at her other mate, unsure what to say to that, when Jase interrupted.

  “You are a member of my tribe, and if you need me to stay, I will. But I feel this might be something the three of you need to work out. Mating…well it has little to do with me.”

  “We’ll be fine.” The same man spoke, while Kaden nodded toward the tea.

  “Camellia?” Jase pressed.

  She drew a calming breath and forced a small smile. “Go ahead. I’ll be fine.” She wasn’t sure that she would be, but she didn’t want to have to explain to him why not, either. She’d let him leave, and then she’d face the two bears left in front of her. It didn’t matter what her lioness wanted; she couldn’t be their mate.

  As Jase left, she brought the mug to her lips and inhaled the aroma, trying to focus on that instead of their scents. But the hint of honey only reminded her of them. Purrs vibrated through her body until her hand shook, nearly spilling the tea. Her lioness wanted them.

  “Camellia…” The other bear leaned in closer. “Why did you run from us when you knew you are ours?”

  “I’m no one’s mate.” Unable to drink the tea she set it aside and pulled he
rself up into a sitting position. “I don’t know who you think you are, but you cannot come into my home with some claim of ownership over me. Get out!”

  “Let’s wait a moment here.” Kaden, who still knelt by the sofa, eyed the other man. “He’s being an ass. I get it, but we do need to talk about this.”

  She shook her head, trying her best to hide the fear trembling through her. “I don’t think we do. I won’t have anyone expecting that just because I’m their mate, that I’m theirs. I’m my own person, and I won’t be anyone’s property, especially not some bears’.”

  “Ari’s being an ass, but he’s not normally like this. I’ll admit he can be a grumpy bear…hell more times than not he’s a pain in the ass, but he’s a good man.” He eyed Ari as if waiting for an objection before turning back to her. “We’ve searched for our mate for years, and now that we’ve finally found you, he’s unable to control his beast.”

  She looked from one to the other, trying to take them both in. Now that she knew the other man’s name, she realized they were friends of Garret’s. Ari was the security expert he’d brought in to keep the tribe safe. If he’d only known about her past, he might have thought twice before bringing unknown bears into their land. Bears…why do I have to be mated to bears?

  Without letting her fear gain control of her again, she frowned as she eyed the men. Both were handsome. Just looking at them stoked a fire within her. Their wide chests were toned, making images of them shirtless pop into her thoughts. There was no doubting that they were fine specimens of manhood. Yet there was more to them than what met her eyes. Kaden seemed to have a caring side to him, and Ari seemed to have a solid steel core, a quiet strength that that was more than just the surly attitude she had seen so far. “Why would the two of you want to share a mate?”

  “It’s not about what we want,” Ari rumbled.

  “Damn it Ari,” Kaden said, his voice clipped. “Keep your mouth shut. Every time you say something you push her further from our grasp.”