Devoted to the Bear (11 page)

“You told me first?”

Jenny’s hair tickled her cheek as she nodded.

“Are you okay?” Riker asked. He stood inches away, his eyebrows drawn down like two sobbing women were
cause for panic.

“Yes, yes,” Hannah said, laughing thickly. She pressed the palms of her hands against her cheeks like it would encourage her tears to stay put. “I’m just happy.”

Relief pooled in the gray waters of his eyes and Jenny lurched into him, hugged him. When the surprise wore off his face, he wrapped his arm around his sister’s shoulder and beckoned Hannah to them, then drew her in and embraced them both.

How could everything feel so right after so
much sadness? Maybe the fates had pushed her into struggle so she could appreciate this moment completely. How could she have known such love if such loss hadn’t consumed her?

Her life started now,
devoid of fear and hesitation. She would let herself love with abandon again because she’d been given a second chance. Riker, Blaine, Jenny and her baby, and all of the shifters in Bear Valley who had welcomed her into their clan…she had everything that meant anything.

Riker’s lips pressed against
the top of her head and he pulled her closer.

She was safe.

She was part of a family again.

She was his.

Bear Valley Shifters Series

The Witness and the Bear (Book 1)

Amazon

Return to the Bear (Book 3)

Amazon

RETURN TO THE BEAR

(Bear Valley Shifters, Book 3)

Read on for a sneak peek of the thrilling third book in the Bear Valley Shifters series.

Prologue

Hannah Michaels pulled on her hiking boots, tied them tightly, then rolled her jeans over the laces. The healing wounds that stretched from her sternum to her right shoulder burned with the movement. Three long cuts announced she was Riker’s. They told the story of how she was the mate of the alpha, and a private smile ghosted her lips. The pain only reminded her of their commitment. It wouldn’t hurt forever, but she’d always remember the day he claimed her. Their road hadn’t been an easy one, but as she stood and pulled the neck of her green cotton shirt aside to reveal Riker’s claim on her in the hallway mirror, she thought maybe it hadn’t been easy because nothing important ever was.

Snatching the twin cups of steaming coffee, she loped down the porch stairs of Riker’s sprawling Victorian home. It was the alpha’s house, though someday, when he stepped down or lost an alpha challenge, they’d pick a smaller cabin on the outskirts of Bear Valley. Still, this place was special. They’d started their lives here and a piece of her would always see it as home, no matter who lived in it after her.

The sun was barely peeking over the horizon, illuminating the Big Horn Mountains behind the rows of cabins in deep gray color. The morning was cool, but not enough to wear a sweater. The coffee warmed her hands as she found the trail that led to the cattle fences. After almost being killed by Stone, the man she’d testified against, she wasn’t taking any of these beautiful clear mornings for granted. She was alive, despite all of the men he’d sent to snuff her out. She’d lived in seclusion in witness protection for a year, and now she vowed not to squander the special moments.

Even if she wanted to, Riker wouldn’t let her. She hopped over a fallen log and bit her lip against the smile that threatened to take her face when she thought about the things he’d done to her this morning. The man was insatiable. Jenny said all dominant bear shifters were like that, and Riker was about as dominant as they came. He’d stepped into the shower behind her this morning and slid into her without a word. No
good morning
or
did you sleep well
from her mate. Riker spoke with his body. He’d gripped her hair and spilled into her, uttered her name like he couldn’t help it, and she still glowed with the after effects of a good morning bedding. Or showering? Whatever the reason for Riker’s physical needs, she was glad she was the one who got to catch him when he needed her.

A twig snapped behind her and she spun, sloshing one of the coffees. “Shit,” she muttered, steadying her shaking hands. She’d probably never get over the hunted feeling that had come from a year of running for her life. One of the cups was now half empty and she grimaced. She’d be a good friend and give Jenny the full one.

“You got me banished,” Merit said from twenty yards up the trail. Clad in dark wash jeans and a see-through white blouse that complimented a lacey bra and hugged her curves, her hair was pulled back into a pony tail that curled perfectly on the end. Her lips, glossed in red, were turned down. The woman was pretty now, but someday she was going to have some serious frown lines.

“I didn’t do anything to get you banished, Merit. If you get booted out of here, it’s probably because the council is tired of your manipulative—”

“I came to apologize,” she interrupted blandly.

“Oh.” Hannah shuffled her feet and shifted her weight. “For what, exactly, are you apologizing?” There was a plethora of reasons she was queen of the naughty list, but Merit, to Hannah’s knowledge, had never been held accountable for any of her actions.

“I just came back from a meeting with Riker and the council, and they said if I apologize to you publically, I can stay.”

Hannah twisted and looked longingly down the trail that led to work. She really just wanted to see Jenny and hand off one of these coffees, and get to her chores that seemed never-ending. If she didn’t start work soon, she’d be at the barns late tonight, which meant longer before she could see Riker.

“Look, I don’t give a two soggy waffles whether you’re banished or not. You tried to take Riker from me, and you manipulated him into your bed. Hurt him, and me, in the process and you’ve called no less than three council meetings trying to have me kicked out of Bear Valley and have my mating to Riker overturned. Apology not accepted Merit. I don’t owe you any favors.”

Merit sniffled. The little weasel really sniffled and her blue eyes filled with tears. “I don’t want to leave my home,” she said thickly. “I like it here and I swear I’ll leave you and Riker alone. I know it was wrong of me to act like such a spoiled brat, but surely I don’t deserve to be put out in the streets. I don’t have anywhere else to go.” Her lip quivered. “Please.”

Hannah wanted to kick a pinecone right into her crying face for making her feel bad after everything the psycho had done. But banishment was awful. Riker and Jenny had explained that it was hard for bear shifters to survive outside of a clan. “Fine,” she gritted through clenched teeth. “When do you have to apologize?”

“Today. Could you come with me now? Riker and the council are still in meetings this morning and I could gather enough people for a public apology while everyone is on their way to work. We could put this entire mess behind us right now.”

Goody. “All right.” Hannah frowned at her coffee. If she’d have known she’d be traipsing through the woods with Merit this morning, she would’ve liquored up her cup of joe.

“Thank you, Hannah. I mean it. You’re really saving my skin here.”

Merit turned but not before Hannah caught her smirk. She didn’t believe a word she was saying and each syllable rang with such a false note. Maybe this was a bad idea. How would Merit ever learn unless she was punished for her actions? Was she just enabling her more by allowing her to stay? But then, Hannah was the alpha’s mate and should be setting a good example. Holding grudges and being petty just didn’t sit well with her.

Merit held out her hand gallantly and gestured for Hannah to go first. Something about having Merit at her back made her skin crawl but she dutifully marched through the woods toward Riker’s office. At least she’d get to see him again before tonight.

Hannah frowned at the late model black sedan that sat at the mouth of the trail. Who in their right mind would’ve driven all the way through the brush and parked it—

A prick stung her neck, like a wasp’s stinger, and she jerked, swatting at the bug as she moved to escape. Merit pulled a needle from her skin and a triumphant smile stretched her face.

“What the hell? What are you doing?” Panic laced Hannah’s words as the edges of her vision blurred. She pressed her hand over the tiny prick in her neck like that would slow the numbness washing through her.

Merit grabbed her hair and Hannah slapped her face, nails clawed.

Gasping, Merit shoved her to the ground and ran the palm of her hand over her bleeding cheek. “You stupid bitch,” she breathed.

Hannah struggled to sit up, but her body seemed detached and nothing worked right. Every second, her limbs grew heavier. “What did you give me?” she slurred.

“Horse tranquilizers. Seemed fitting.” Merit grabbed the base of her pony tail again and dragged her to the back seat of her car. The door screeched as she pulled it open and Hannah struggled to escape, but her arms and legs were useless. Her breath shook and her heart hammered her desire to flee. Merit was crazy. She hadn’t seen how far gone she was before now, but the woman was certifiable. “Riker!” she called, only the word came out a mumble and a quiet one at that.

Roughly, Merit shoved her onto the back seat and shut the door. Hannah scrabbled for the door handle, but she didn’t have the strength or coordination to pull it. The last thing she saw before Merit threw a heavy blanket over her was a suitcase shoved in the front seat and Merit’s feral smile.

The driver’s side door opened and the car rocked under Merit’s weight. The corner of the blanket lifted and the woman leaned over the back of her seat, her expensive perfume assaulting Hannah’s senses. “I’m taking you to the Long Claw Clan, Hannah. Just think about that on the way. If you aren’t terrified, you should be. They don’t mate for life there. It isn’t civilized like here. There aren’t rules or councils. There is one alpha and he’s a blood thirsty brute who fucks every woman in the clan as he pleases. You’ll be no different and Riker will never find you. And if, by some miracle, your mate eventually tracks you down, you’ll already be ruined and he won’t be able to take you back without starting a war between Bear Valley and the Long Claws. Trust me when I say, you aren’t worth that kind of blood spillage.”

Hannah couldn’t move and her breath came shallow as she panted in fear. Her eyelids grew heavier, and everything blurred except for the smug expression on Merit’s face.

“Hannah.” Merit’s crimson smile stretched wider. “I. Win.”

RETURN TO THE BEAR

Available now

Amazon

T. S. Joyce

T.S. Joyce is devoted to bringing hot shifter romances to readers. Hungry alpha males are her calling card, and the wilder the men, the more she'll m
ake them pour their hearts out.
Experienced at handling an alpha male of her own, she lives in a tiny town, outside of a tiny city, and devotes her life to writing big stories. Foodie, bear whisperer, ninja, thief of tiny bottles of awesome smelling hotel shampoo, nap connoisseur, movie fanatic, and zombie slayer, and most of this bio is true.

Bear Shifters? Check

Smoldering Alpha Hotness? Double Check

Sexy Scenes? Fasten up your girdles, ladies and gents, it's
gonna to be a wild ride.

For more information about T. S. Joyce and her work, visit her website
here
.