Bear Shifters: Hunt Collection #2 (15 page)

Chapter Nine:
The Return

Mercy headed back, feeling like she had been gone long enough and had calmed down since her storming out of the house. Truth was, she missed Morgan and knew she loved him. She deserved to give him time to explain his actions.  She sighed, feeling bad for having left for so long and pulled onto Third Street where she lived with Morgan. She had been gone for weeks and, although she hoped not, she worried that Morgan may have moved on. Her heart started pounding as she pulled up into Morgan’s driveway so she took a moment to catch her breath and calm her nerves. Mercy got out of her car and walked into Morgan’s house without even knocking, she had lived there before and still felt like she still lived there. She had just been gone.

“Morgan, I’m home…” Mercy said as she walked in, finding the living room lights and television on, “Morgan?”

Mercy thought that maybe Morgan was in the bathroom or something and waited a moment there in the living room.  The lights were on though, but she knew he wouldn’t have left them on unless he wasn’t planning on being gone for very long. Or perhaps he left in a rush. She tried to convince herself that Morgan was fine but didn’t like the fact that he hadn’t come back yet. She pulled out her phone and decided to call him, knowing that he was never very far away from his cell phone. She scrolled down her list of contacts to
Master
and pressed call. Ringing came from the coffee table just before her and Mercy’s eyes widened. Morgan never left his phone. Something was wrong, very wrong.

“Morgan?” Mercy asked a bit louder, sitting up on the couch, “Are you here?”

Mercy got more worried the longer Morgan didn’t respond to her and she got up to fully check out his house. His room was dark and so was the guest room. She tried to check out the special dungeon he had built, but it was locked and the only one with the key was Morgan. Mercy picked up his phone and noticed a text message he hadn’t read so she clicked on it.

“Hey Morgan, Jay was just around asking Lori-Anne some really weird questions. What the hell did you two
do?!
” The text message read.

Lori-Anne. She'll know where he is.
Mercy scrolled through his contacts and sent a text to her.

“Where is Morgan?” Mercy texted with Morgan’s phone, replying to the text. He hadn't spoken much about his past, but she at least recognized Lori-Anne's name as a former girlfriend. She sighed and started watching television, waiting impatiently for a reply and felt her heart race when she heard Morgan’s phone go off.

“He’s in jail.” The message read.

"Jail?" she texted back.

“Cops were asking about abuse. Got him down at California County." Came the reply.

Shit
, she thought,
what abuse? What the fuck is going on?

"I'm worried, is there anyway I can fly there and talk?" she tapped on the phone, anxiously waiting for the answer.

“We need to talk, you're right. Come to my house tomorrow.” Lori-Anne replied through text.

Mercy sighed, grabbed her credit card and packed an overnight bag. It was time to go to Morgan's hometown and find out what was going on. She booked the quickest flight out and bit her nails to the quick waiting to board.

****

Back at the jail, Morgan was receiving an unfriendly welcoming from one of the larger, more intimidating cell mates. He had been asleep when Morgan showed up but as soon as he woke up the man whispered over at another cell mate, who replied back with whispers and the larger man’s gaze turned angry. Morgan didn’t like the look of things but did his best to stay casual.

“So you did what now little man? You beat on women?” The larger guy asked, glaring over at Morgan from the other bench.

“You sick bastard.” The bigger guy said, standing up in as he puffed his chest up.

“What? What the fuck?" Morgan replied, backing away from the man. He really didn't want to have to keep explaining the same things over and over again and for a moment briefly thought about shifting just to scare the guys into leaving him alone.

“Ya know… there
is
a scientific explanation to…” A nerdy looking inmate said before he got cut off by the larger inmate just glaring at him. He had the classic black rimmed glasses with white tape holding them together in the center, “I was just sayin…”

“Well I’ll be ‘
just sayin’
across your damn head if you spout out your science garbage again. Y’all just lyin’ ‘n makin’ shit up.” The larger inmate finally said before he glared back over at Morgan, “You seriously fucked up boy. If I see you on the outside… you’re
real
fucked then.”

With a deep exhale, Morgan turned and looked out of the cell, thinking of Montana and Mercy. He hoped he'd have the opportunity to tell her, aloud, that he loved her. The way he should have done before things had spun so out of control. He hoped also that he could keep his blood pressure calm and keep his bear under the surface. The last thing he needed was to have to explain
that
as well.

Chapter
Ten: Morgan Unchained

The flight had been long and little sleep was had on the plane. A toddler in the front row made sure everyone on board listened to its plight instead of getting a few blissful moments of slumber. Mercy was barely cognitive when Morgan's phone went off.

“When are you coming over? I’ve gotta go to my parents’ house today.” The text read, obviously coming from Lori-Anne. Lori-Anne was a bit younger and, well, simplier than Morgan's other girlfriends.

“I’ll be over in a few, text me the address.” Mercy replied before quickly getting ready to go.

She couldn’t wait to get over to talk to Lori-Anne and find out what was going on with Morgan. Mercy sped half the way there in her rental, thanking God for buying the insurance, but slowed down when she entered the school zone Lori-Anne’s boyfriend lived by. She pulled up in the driveway finding Lori-Anne waiting on the porch with a cup of coffee in her hands.

“Why is Morgan in jail?” Mercy asked as soon as she got out of the car.

“Right to business, eh?” Lori-Anne replied before she took a sip of her coffee. As Mercy walked up the porch, she put a cigarette in her mouth and lit it.

“Yeah, I want to know why my boyfriend is in jail. I’m going to go down there after this so I’ll find out.” Mercy said.

“Alright…” Lori-Anne said as Mercy sat down on the chair across from the small metal table Lori-Anne sat by, “Mercy… has Morgan ever… hit you?”

“God no. I mean, well he's spanked me, and
other
stuff. Why?” Mercy asked, “Did he do those things when he was with you?”

“He did, but he… he went too far.” Lori-Anne replied, looking over at Mercy coldly, “Let me just tell you not to let him tie you up. He won’t stop.”

Mercy knew how it was when Morgan tied her. She didn't want him to stop. The passion that came between them was endless.

“I was too ashamed to talk about it before but I heard that he did it to other girls too. I felt used and he shouldn't have done it. Officer Jay spoke with them and told me what they said and it was exactly what happened to me.” Lori-Anne said, “He tied us up and caned us.”

“You’re making him out to be a monster.” Mercy said angrily, “You act like you didn’t want that? If you weren't into it, why did you allow it
?
”

“Look, I get the whole defend your abusive boyfriend thing. I’ve been there with him. I used to tell people the bruises were from the sex, I wasn’t ashamed of that part. I was ashamed that I was so helpless and had gotten taken advantage of. Just never let yourself be tied up girl,
never
.” Lori-Anne replied, “I never said no and now I regret it.  You may regret it too."

“What others
?
How many other girls did he supposedly beat? I think this misunderstanding is getting way out of hand. It’s time we stopped it.” Mercy said, looking over at Lori-Anne before she headed off towards her car, “C’mon, we can’t let Jay do this to Morgan out of a misunderstanding.”

“Jay didn’t say how many others or who they were but when I was with Morgan he mentioned he had started with a girl named Britney before.” Lori-Anne said.

“Let’s just go down to the jail and see if just us two can stop this.” Mercy said as they got into her car. She back out into the street and drove off, listening to a song on the radio about a woman getting revenge on her cheating boyfriend and thought to herself how they were in almost the opposite situation, at least the way she saw it, “You do realize that Morgan is a gentle guy right and that this sexual desire he’s into, well, it may not be for everyone. Didn't he give you a safe word? A word to stop it?"

Lori-Anne's eyes got wide, "Yes, but I didn't understand that. I could have stopped it by saying that?"

Simple Lori-Anne
, Mercy thought. "Yes, he explained that in great detail before starting I'm sure."

“I guess I just got scared. Being handcuffed and powerless to stop whatever he wanted to do just kinda scared me I guess.”

“We’re going to get this stopped." Mercy asked as they drove down the street towards the police precinct. They both got out of the car as soon as they parked and walked as fast as they could towards the front desk.

“Can I help you ladies?” The desk sergeant asked as they approached. He was an older man just casually sitting behind his desk, sipping on his cup of coffee.

“Yeah, you’re holding my boyfriend on false charges. I want to talk to Officer Jay right now.” Mercy said angrily with a scowl on her face.

“Officer Jay just got in for the day, you’re just in time. I’ll send him up, but let me just say that this is very typical of battered women to come in and defend their boyfriend, happens all the time.” The desk sergeant replied before he picked up a corded phone and dialed some numbers; he spoke too quietly for Mercy to heart but he did glance up at them so she knew he was talking about them, “He’ll be up here in a moment. You two can go wait over there if you’d like.”

“I’m fine here thanks.” Mercy said, looking towards the back in hopes of spotting Officer Jay. She finally saw him as he headed up towards the lobby and her frustration started to build up, getting to be too much for her to contain and she glared at Jay as he walked into the lobby, “How dare you get into our business? You have no fucking clue what you’re doing. You
think
you know but you don’t.”

“Miss, I’ve seen the bruises…” Jay started to say but Mercy cut him off.

“For one, don’t fucking call me Miss, my name is Mercy."

“She’s got you convinced now too huh?” Jay asked, looking over at Lori-Anne.

“She’s right. Morgan isn’t a violent person. I didn't understand what a safe word was, it is as just as much my fault as it is his.”

“You need to drop the charges Jay. You have nothing to go on, just rumor and a hardon against him, and we’re here to say you’re wrong.” Mercy said, still glaring at Jay, “Let him go. This bullshit you’re pulling has to end now.”

“I don’t have to do
shit
Mercy.” Jay replied.

“Actually, if what I hear is right…” The desk sergeant said, getting Jay’s attention, “the ladies are right. If what you’ve got to go on is just someone’s words and they’ve changed those words then you really
don’t
have anything. I’m sorry Jay but we do have to let the man go.”

“Chuck!” Jay exclaimed like he was pleading with a parent.

“Let him go, Jay.” The desk sergeant replied in a stern tone of voice, “We can’t hold him on nothing.”

Jay looked over at Mercy and Lori-Anne before he walked back into the jail. Mercy and Lori-Anne looked at each other with a smile on their face. Lori-Anne nodded at her and headed out, having things to do and a cab to catch. Mercy stood there impatiently in the lobby and started pacing back and forth before the doors opened. Her face lit up as she saw Morgan and so did his. They hugged each other, pressing their bodies together as tight as they could go.

“I love you Mercy, please don’t ever leave me. We gotta work on our communication.” Morgan said, fighting back tears, “I can explain everything about this Jackson thing, I swear."

“It was so messed up hearing that. That was just… I don’t know.” Mercy said, trying to explain the argument again but gave up and just hugged him tightly before giving him a big kiss, “I'll listen to what you have to say, but  I want to be with you for the rest of my life Morgan. I love you.”

“Don’t worry about it pet, I understand.” Morgan said as the smile returned to his face as they started walking off, “I flat out vow to stay by your side forever, through thick and thin my little one. I love you so much.”