I Married a Bear (14 page)

I headed for Baron's room instantly.

No time to knock. I threw the bear's anger a bone, sending my fist right through the wood. Splinters went everywhere in a violent shower.

The old man nearly tottered out of bed, eyes spinning with fear.

I stuck my head through the hole I'd created and smiled. A good scare didn't even begin to touch what this bastard truly deserved.

“Roark! You have the bile to threaten an old man, your superior?” he growled up at me.

I felt for the knob, gave it a good turn, and stepped inside, heading straight for him.

I stood over the ratty old bastard and folded my arms. Couldn't believe I'd been taking orders from him for so long. No more.

Footsteps clattered near the open door. My boys had caught up.

Outside, Jacob stood watching us. I listened to hushed voices, one louder than the rest, probably Forest tottering out of his room to see what was causing all the commotion.

“No. I've got the balls to threaten any man who isn't thinking about bloodshed between Denali and Tiger Tree, starting with the woman I love.”

“Woman you love?” he repeated the words back to me. “What? You mean that overgrown tigress?”

I threw myself at him as soon as the insult left his mouth. Ripped his blanket off. The old man was in his long johns, convenient for pulling him clean out of bed.

“Don't ever insult her again, asshole. You're done listening to Laura, Hannah, or anybody else.” I slammed his old bones up against the nearest wall, and he blinked uncomfortably. “From now on, you listen to me, citizen Baron. Your trio's made too many bullshit decisions around here to take a risk on you making another.”

I let go. He stumbled to get his footing and looked up, pointing an ancient finger my way.

“You're crazy! Do you really think the clan's gonna listen to a deranged bear married to a tiger? I mean, really married to her? This is a coup! You're too young to lead, too sick.”

Stomping to the door, I threw it all the way open, and waved my men inside. The Elder instantly crumpled when he saw the smiles on their faces.

“Anybody here eager to fight for these greedy old cave bears?”

My boys shook their heads, still smiling at the old man. They were glad to be free from the Elders'

corruption.

Baron turned away from me, humiliated and beaten.

Outside, Forest gawked in awe. He locked his eyes on me when I left the room. I stopped to give him a message.

“Better wake up Sherry and tell her the bad news. Elder council's been disbanded. This is my clan now, and I expect you all to be there when I sign the treaty with Tiger Bay.”

His old eyes were wide, empty, confused.

“Just like that?” Forest whispered. “This is how it ends?”

“For you. For our clan, it's only beginning.”

VII: Reunions (Laura)

The first thing I noticed when I woke up was the weakness. Nothing wanted to work. Rolling my head drained what little strength I had like running a marathon.

Where the hell am I?

Something prickly and soft was taped to my arm. I groaned, lifted it up, and saw the spot where someone had bandaged tape and gauze to my skin.

I remembered the lonely cabin, passing out as Hannah and that damned doctor drained the life from me. I jerked up and screamed when I saw his face.

Reed raised his arms, defensive and surprised. Then he was shoved aside with a growl by a bigger silhouette behind him.

“Laura! Thank the Gods. You're awake!”

James scooped me up in his powerful grip. I cooed softly, grateful for his strength. Having him move my body for me was way better than struggling myself.

My curves melded plush against his hard body. He put his chin on my head, inhaling the scent in my hair, rising thunder burbling in his throat.

He sounded relieved, angry, and wickedly intense. All at the same time.

“How long was I out?” I whispered.

“About a day. Good thing this asshole's calculations were right. He saved your life.” James pointed to Reed, who turned away, hiding his face. “If we hadn't gotten you the blood in time...”

I filled in the blank. Everything about the weakness in my body and the fierceness in his voice told me I was lucky to be alive.

“Blood? What blood?” I didn't understand.

I whimpered when I heard another growl at my side, this one unmistakably tiger. My father's lean fingers pinched my shoulder. He forced his way between James and I, taking my lover's place with his arms.

“Daddy? Now I'm really confused.”

“I was a match for you, Laura. We got to you just in time. You're going to be okay, my dear. Really and truly okay!”

I'd never heard such joy in his voice. For a second, I wondered if I'd really died, or if I was still deep in a coma stretched out in the dingy prison room.

“You're here? In Denali?”

He nodded. “Business with the bears. It's almost all over, I hope. There's nothing left to do but etch out the details so I can get you home.”

James snorted angrily behind him. Sparks raced up my spine, angry and fearful.

“No!” I pushed my hand against my father as hard as I could. “I'm staying here.”

Daddy and James locked eyes. Two Alphas in a stark contest, fighting to decide my fate, neither really caring what I had to say.

“Gentleman, I need a moment alone with the lady,” Reed piped up behind them. “Need to check her vitals and brief her on what's happened from a medical point of view. Visiting hours can pick up later.”

My father rose, never taking his eyes off James. He licked his lips and I saw his fingers twitch, a frustrated tiger's mannerism's in a man's body.

“You too, Alpha.” Reed nodded at James.

“One minute alone with her, doc. I already know one of the things you're going to say. Let me be the one to tell her.”

Reed's face twisted reluctantly. Finally, he gave in, and stepped out the door behind Daddy.

“Laura, baby, the doctor told me something I can't get out of my fucking mind while you were out.

Big news.”

He had my attention. His arms were around me, pulling my ear close to his lips. He laid a warm kiss on my cheek, so warm and rosy the whole sensation swept through me like a gentle sunbeam.

“We're gonna have a baby together. Two cubs. They're in your pretty belly right now.” He laid his hand gently on my lower stomach.

I froze. In my heart, it was the happiest thing I'd ever heard. But finding out like this, after all I'd just been through...

I started to cry. James moved his hands to both cheeks, holding my head still to face him, brushing away each tear.

“What is it, baby? Don't tell me you aren't as happy as I am?”

“It's just that we're never going to be safe. Hannah almost killed me and our babies. I still don't know what the hell Daddy's doing here on your land. Doesn't sound too friendly. How can I bring cubs into a world where fear and violence are constantly hanging over us?”

“They're not!” he growled. “You're still weak and thinking in a fog, baby. I'm sorting out our fucking problems, one by one. All I've been doing since I got back from Tiger Bay.”

“No, no...” I refused to believe it, shaking my head.

“Laura, look at me. If Shane and I were really that close to war, we'd already be shooting at each other. The tiger troops outside he brought to Denali haven't hurt anybody. As for Hannah...” He paused, another growl rending his throat, sharper and angrier than the others. “I'll find the traitorous bitch.

She'll pay for what she's done to you.”

“It's more than just her. What about those men who dragged me away to prison? The ones who gave the orders? Gods! Can I even have a hybrid baby?”

James laid one strong finger across my lips. I sighed around it, shuddering in his embrace.

“Quiet, baby. I've got everything under control. Trust me. All the things you mentioned are neutralized and then some. That last thing...I'll hold Reed's fur to the fire if it's the last thing I do. We
will
have our cubs.”

He was so sure, so bold. I wished his confidence was transferable. I began trembling and the waterworks switched on all over again.

James held me sweetly, touching his lips to mine. I was too weak to throw the feeling into the kiss I wanted, but I savored his warmth on mine. In his lips, our fates conspired, but his energy just reassured me over and over.

Stop doubting. Heal. Live. I've got this, baby.

Another knock at the door. James tore himself away with a sour look on his face.

“Got to go, baby. I'll check up on you in a few hours.” He stopped at the door and looked at me.

“Soon as I find the idiot who did this to you, you'll be the first to know.”

A solid day made everything much better. I was barely conscious and aware when James returned, but I do remember him holding me. The rest of the time, there was a brief visit with Daddy, holding my hand the whole time.

Mostly, Reed came and did his job, efficiently and quietly.

I couldn't hold back the next morning. When I asked him about our cubs, he faced me, his lips like thin leaves pressed together.

“I'll be very honest with you, Laura. There's no biological reason a bear, a tiger, and most any other skinwalker can't produce healthy offspring. It's just that it's rare and complicated. The medical literature is so sparse I'll be winging it.”

My eyes narrowed. At least he was being honest, but everything coming out of his mouth wasn't what I wanted to hear. On the other hand, it was nice to feel something again at all, even if it was anger.

“I can't lose them. Please, you have to help.”

He came to my side, looking down at me very seriously. “You won't. I promise you this. I'll be on call to help you through everything, and not just because I'm a doctor or because I'm following the Alpha's orders. I need to do this to make up for what I did. I'm not a bad man...”

I wasn't ready to accept it. I looked away, doubly sickened by the uncertainty in Reed's voice. It sounded like he was trying to convince himself, rather than me.

“Just keep my cubs safe,” I said coldly.

Reed nodded. If he'd been looking for sympathy, I wasn't giving him any.

True, he'd taken good care of me when I needed it most. But he'd helped Hannah with her scheme in the first place, and only protested when it went too far.

What had he said? Something about blackmail? If he was willing to hold me down and help her take my blood, he must have a seriously fucked up secret.

Daddy came into the room not long after Reed left. For the first time I noticed the tiny imprints of scratches fading on his cheeks and forehead.

“Who'd you get into a fight with?” I asked.

“It isn't important.” He pulled up the chair next to me and took my hand. “Listen, Laura...the treaty's coming soon. As soon as it's signed, my men and I are heading out.”

I looked at him, tilting my head. “No tricks? No surprises?”

He shook his head. Very sincerely too.

“Not this time. With the hunting and logging rights the bears are offering, there's no need for us to waste lives taking Denali land. I've got what I wanted, even if it means putting up with these damned brutes.” He smiled, clutching at the table's edge the same way a tiger flexes his claws. “Only thing left to decide is what's happening to you.”

“I wish you'd see it my way.” I sighed, dreading the conversation beginning just now. “James isn't a bad man. Bear or not, I really love him. I really want to be his wife and make him happy. I can't go with you. Denali's where I belong.”

He frowned. The kind, understanding warmth in his eyes went out like a candle sputtering into icy darkness.

“It's a very rare thing to admit when I'm wrong, but I'll tell you this: the invasion was ill conceived. If it hadn't been for you getting so involved here and sending him to talk to me, we would've gotten ourselves into a real bloody mess.” Daddy paused, as if gathering the strength to muster up his next words.

“In light of that, it's only fair you have a choice. You're a grown woman. No matter what happens, you'll still be in line to take over Tiger Bay once I'm gone. Your performance and your wisdom here means you'll...”

“What?” I poked one finger into his palm.

“You deserve to make your own decision. I won't force you to return home with me. Though I hope you'll do it anyway of your own accord.”

Fat chance. He knows it too.

I laughed. He'd never, ever admitted he was wrong Now, the unthinkable had happened, but he did it with the distinction of a gentleman apologizing for stepping on someone's shoe.

“My mind's made up. I'm staying with James in Denali. There's nothing that'll bring me back to Tiger Bay for good.”

He looked away with a shudder. I reached out, grasping his hand, pulling at the fingers that used to stroke my hair to sleep when I was a little girl.

“Doesn't mean you can't visit.” I watched as he rolled his eyes. “There's something else you should know – a reason for you to return to Denali and let us come to Tiger Bay. James is giving me cubs. I want you to be a grandfather to these children. Can't you look past the bears?”

He stared at me very intently. Daddy's lips twitched, his dark eyes fuming. But I didn't see the outright revulsion I'd expected.

“We'll work on it, Laura. Your children will be family, Hisch blood as legitimate as any other. I don't give a damn if they're half-bear.”

I flew up and hugged him. It shouldn't have been this easy, but it was. He pecked me on the cheek and then I laid flat again, a pleasant sleepiness sweeping through my brain.

“Why, Daddy?” I asked. “I can't believe you're suddenly okay with this.”

Gods. Please don't let it be a ruse. Just for once in his life, I want my father to be honest and open,
without any ulterior motives.

“Because he's a good man, and he loves you. Even if he'll always be a stinking brutal bear.” His last words melted in a frustrated purr.

“Careful.” I smiled. “The more time you spend around him, the more you might start to see him just like I do.”

In all his years ruling Tiger Bay, my father had a lot of blood and sins to answer for. This wouldn't fix that, but for once, I was happy to see him acting like a decent being and a loving parent.