Dana Bell - Bear Necessities

Alex had the weirdest look on his face. He looked almost apologetic. But why?

“Harry and his friends harassed one of our cousins years ago. Bunny taught them not to do that anymore.”

“Taught them how?”

“He nearly ripped their leader’s arms off.”

Tabby blinked. He did not just say what I thought he said. “He what?”

Alex turned on his heel and walked right back out the door.

“Alex?” She got up and ran after him, ignoring Ryan’s voice calling after her.

“Alex!”

He stopped. “I know you think you understand what’s going on.”

“In what universe?”

He turned. He looked harsh, drawn. “Fine. What do you think you know?”

“Other than the fact that you seem to be turning into an idiot? Not much.”

He took a deep breath, rotating his neck. “A long time ago, I had anger management issues.”

She waved her hand for him to keep going. The fact her mate seemed to have a temper hadn’t been lost on her.

“Some Bears went after my cousin, Heather, who’s a Fox like Chloe. She was only ten years old. They thought it would be fun to see if they could force her to shift.”

Tabby winced. That was bad, very bad. Most shifters couldn’t make the change until puberty started. “Why would they do that?”

“They were drunk, and…stupid.” He raised an eyebrow at her, his expression turning even harsher.

“Ew!” Tabby shuddered. “A ten-year-old?”

“They tried to force her into puberty. They thought it was a fucking joke. Of course the idiots didn’t realize that puberty isn’t something you can force.

Heather was terrified.”

“I bet. What happened?”

“I found them.” He sat on the front step and leaned against the porch rail. He looked lost. “I almost killed them. All seven of them.”

“Seven?”

He nodded. “Seven.” He patted the step and she sat next to him. “I maimed one of them.”

She snarled. “Good.”

He stared at her, stunned. “Good?”

“They traumatized a child. I’d have maimed them too. Did you go for the balls?

Please tell me they aren’t going to procreate.”

His eyebrows shot up. “Um. No. I tried to rip the leader’s arms off. Then I forced all of them to their knees and made them beg for forgiveness. When the first one said no, I snapped his arm like a twig. The rest fell into line after that.”

“I bet.” She grinned savagely and wriggled with excitement. “Did they whimper like little babies?”

His laugh sounded shocked. “Bloodthirsty little thing.”

She cuddled up against him. “You protected your family, your Pack. There’s nothing wrong with that. I’d have done exactly that if given the chance.”

“Then you understand why I need to protect you.”

She froze. Damn it, he would turn this around on her. “Pain in my ass.”

He stuck his hand down the back of her jeans. “Yup. And you loved every minute of it.” He pinched, making her squeal. “Now stop changing the subject.”

“Okay, fine. You could probably take on Gary and his idiot friends without too much trouble.”

“That’s putting it mildly. Tabby, if Gary so much as gives you a papercut, he’ll be eating his own ass.”

“Can I watch?”

He snorted. “You just don’t get it, do you?”

“Alex.”

“Hmm?”

“I’m not afraid of you.”

He sighed. “You will be.”

“Right, Yoda. Sure I will.” She kicked his shin when he pinched her again. “You’d sooner chew off your own paw than hurt me.”

“True.” He pushed until her head was resting against his shoulder. “After lunch I want some ink.”

She cuddled close, loving the way he seemed to surround her. “Done.”

“Food’s getting cold.” Emma stepped out onto the front porch. “And for the record? I’m not afraid of you either.”

Alex stood slowly and pulled Tabby up alongside him. His hand nearly crushed hers. Her big Bear was nervous.

“Neither am I.” Max took up position next to his mate. “I heard all about what you did. You protected your own. There’s nothing to be ashamed of in that.”

“Ditto.” Adrian nodded respectfully to Alex. “Now come inside. Julian should be here any minute and rumor has it he loves cantaloupe.”

Alex chuffed out a laugh. “You’re all nuts.”

“Nope. I trust my people, and they tell me you’re worth it.” Max waved them into his home. “Alex?”

Alex stopped. He looked startled at the sound of his name on Max’s lips. “Yeah?”

“Welcome to Halle.”

Tabby felt Alex tense beside her. “Thank you, Alpha.”

Tabby nearly collapsed in relief. They weren’t going to be turned away.

They were finally home.

“There’s no change.”

Tabby collapsed against the door, watching Alex visit his cousin. Chloe still hadn’t moved.

He sat by Chloe’s side and picked up her hand. He watched his cousin, his expression so full of sorrow Tabby’s eyes filled with tears. The shades in the room were drawn, hiding them from the night. They’d stayed longer than planned at the Cannon’s house, and visiting hours were almost over.

“Where is her supposed mate?”

“No clue. Last I heard, he wasn’t in town yet. Gabe told me his plane got delayed.”

She watched him run his hand over his bald head. “The longer she’s in a coma, the worse off she’s going to be.”

Chloe’s mother stifled a sob. “She’s going to be all right.”

“I know she will, Aunt Laura.”

A hand landed on Tabby’s shoulder. She turned to find Julian standing behind her. His eyes showed the strain of being in the hospital, even though his lips smiled. “Hey, girlfriend. Long time no see.”

She poked him in the side, knowing how ticklish he was. She’d left him twenty minutes ago sitting on the Cannon’s couch, arguing with Emma about which reality TV show was better, America’s Next Top Model or American Idol. She wasn’t certain which one he’d been for, only that he and Emma seemed to be having a really good time. He’d refused to discuss Cyn, giving the Pumas that weird, secretive smile of his and changing the topic. Not even Max had been able to get him to talk about his would-be mate.

Julian jumped and shimmied away, batting at her hand. “I have an idea, but I need to talk it over with Chloe’s family before I try.”

Tabby stopped poking. Julian had his serious face on.

Alex stood. “What have you got?”

Julian tugged his braid. It was a nervous habit and told her just how much he really didn’t want to be doing whatever it was he was about to propose. “I might know a way to wake her up, but if it works, it will change her profoundly.”

“Do it.” Chloe’s father, Steven, didn’t even blink.

“She’ll still be Chloe, but might also be something more. Are you willing to risk that?”

Steven’s mouth opened, but he stopped at a touch from his wife. “Changed how?”

Julian shook his head. “I don’t know. What I do know is she and I will be connected in some very strange ways.” He stepped into the room, lowering his voice. “What I’m discussing is not done lightly, and can only be done by the Kermode. Are you willing to risk having your daughter’s life tied to mine?”

Alex frowned. “She has a mate.”

“This won’t be a mate bond. This will be something a great deal more…spiritual.

I’m not sure I can adequately explain it.” Julian looked frustrated. “There’s so much that you can’t see or feel. It’s like trying to explain red to a blind man.”

“It’s hot.” Tabby shrugged her shoulders when everyone turned to her. “What?”

Julian rolled his eyes. “You watch way too much TV, Tabby. What movie was that from?”

“Does it matter? Is she going to wake up all Freddy Krueger?”

Julian snorted. “Hardly.”

“Is she going to become a Stepford Wife, all cheerful and homicidally creepy?”

“Nope.”

“Will she still be Chloe?”

“Of course!”

Tabby didn’t understand. “Then what’s the problem?”

Julian tilted his head. “She could become more in tune with the spirit world than other shifters. I’ve heard of ones who were awakened this way who could talk to the dead, or see into other people’s dreams.”

Tabby waited. “That’s it?”

Julian growled.

“No, she’s right. I’d rather have a psychic daughter than no daughter.” Steven held out his hand. “Please. Wake my girl.”

Julian smiled grimly. “I’ll do everything in my power.”

Tabby pulled out her phone. “Should I call Cyn and let her know what’s going on?”

The look Julian shot Tabby was lethal. “Do it and you’ll regret it.” His grin showed way too many teeth. “You’d look really cute with brown hair.”

“Don’t you dare.” Tabby glared at him. She hated her brown hair, always had. “I’d rather be b—” she glanced at Alex “—blonde.”

“Nice save.” Alex winked at her and the others chuckled, easing the tension somewhat. “Julian, what do you need to wake Chloe up?”

“Privacy, and lots of it.” He headed for the door. “I’ll start tonight.”

“How will we know it worked?” Laura Williams stood, her gaze anxious as she watched Julian leave her daughter’s room.

“Trust me, you’ll know.” Julian left, leaving behind a group of very confused, very hopeful shifters.

“We need to get going too.” Alex hugged both his uncle and his aunt before taking hold of her arm. “We’ll stop by again tomorrow after we go house hunting. Let us know if you need anything.”

House hunting?

“Sure thing, Bunny.” His uncle pounded his back. “We’ll call you if anything changes before then.”

“With luck, her mate will be here when she wakes up.” His aunt gave him a peck on the cheek. Almost immediately, her eyes went back to her daughter. “Love you, Bunny.”

“Love you too, Aunt Laura. Uncle Steven.”

“Bye, Tabby.” Tabby flinched as Bunny’s uncle gave her a hug.

“Um. Bye.” She wasn’t used to this family stuff. She had no idea what had happened to her own family and, frankly, she really didn’t care. But watching Chloe’s parents watch over their child had her longing for something she’d never had. She wondered how she would she feel if it were her daughter lying on that bed?

Alex’s hand landed on her stomach, his fingers caressing her through her shirt. A sudden thought hit her.

Holy shit! They hadn’t used condoms at least once that she remembered. What if she was pregnant? She gulped, suddenly terrified. What the fuck had they been thinking? Her hand moved to rest over Alex’s. She looked up at him and saw the way he was watching her, his gaze full of affection. She knew how he’d react if they were pregnant.

She blinked. If they were pregnant. She had a sudden vision of Alex sitting in a chair, their child resting in his arms. And the vision didn’t scare her at all. He’d be an amazing father. Alex would never kick his child out of his home. He’d be more likely to kick the ass of anyone who tried to hurt his baby.

“Take care.” Laura offered her a hug as well. “Bunny, your parents said they’d sit with Chloe for a little while tonight while Steven and I get some rest, so if you need them, call here.”

“Will do. We’ll see you tomorrow.”

Alex took hold of her arm and led her out the door. “Ready to do my ink, baby?”

Tabby smiled. She might not know families, but she knew her art. “Sure thing.”

They headed for her Jeep. “Shop’s closed, but I’m pretty sure Cyn won’t mind me working on you after hours. Do you have any idea what Julian’s planning on doing?”

Alex shook his head and drove for the shop. “Not a clue. Think we should tell Cyn anyway?”

“And risk that sneaky bastard figuring out a way to dye my hair brown again? No way.”

They passed Frank’s diner, drove through the nicer shopping district that contained Emma’s shop, Wallflowers, and finally arrived at the little cluster of shops and convenience stores nearer the campus. Alex pulled around back and got out of the car. She settled back down when he waved to her, letting him check the area out with eyes and nose. He came around to the passenger side and helped her out, ignoring her grin. “You have someone watching the shop during the day, don’t you?”

He shrugged, not even bothering to deny it. She bet he’d had Gabe recruit some Pumas for the job. She hadn’t scented any Bears and the scent of Puma was much more common than any other shifter.