Rough (The Bear Chronicles of Willow Creek Book 1) (10 page)

He must have seen the confusion in my eyes, because he answers my question without me asking.  “Shifters live a little longer than humans, so our females can have children longer.  Don’t worry though, since you and Ethan are mates, you will live as long as Ethan.  It’s the shifter way.”

My mind is whirling with the new information, when he says, “I’m Paul by the way, but feel free to call me dad. If that son of mine gives you any trouble, just let me know.”

With that he turns and walks away, leaving us alone.  I turn to my husband and ask, “How long do shifters live?”

He shrugs.  “Just like with humans, it depends on the person, but the average is somewhere around one hundred and twenty years.”

“Wow,” I mumble out before asking, “Why did he say give him a grandson, doesn’t he want any granddaughters?”

“Female bears are very rare.  It’s doubtful we’ll ever have a daughter

,” Ethan explains with another shrug.

Suddenly the enormity of my situation hits me. At some point in time, I will probably have a baby and that baby will be a bear, a mother fucking bear.  “No, no, no, no, no.”

I start to back away, fear filling me as I imagine my child’s claws ripping me apart from me inside.  “I won’t do it.  You can’t make me. It’s one thing to be married to a bear, but I won’t be giving birth to one.  It’ll kill me.”  

Ethan just laughs, pulling me in for a hug.  “Don’t worry, darlin’.  I’ll protect you from our cub.  Birthing a cub is no different than birthing a human baby anyways.”

With that, he leads me down the hall to the last door and opens it.  I draw in a deep breath when I see the large room filled with animals of every kind: bears, wolves, coyotes.  There’s even an eagle flying near the ceiling. 

I look to my husband and ask, “What’s going on?”

“This is shifter tribunal.  They’re all here to make sure my judgment is fair,” he explains, and then leads me into the room. 

He takes a seat near the front of the room and pulls me into his lap.  A second later a dishevelled looking Marissa is brought in by Paul and Eli.  Behind them is another man; he looks dangerous as a human, I can only guess his animal is just as ferocious.  He comes around the men holding Marissa and addresses Ethan.  “Marissa Bar has admitted her guilt and is prepared to accept her sentence.”

“Thank you, Mason.” Ethan nods then looks at Marissa.  “You realize the only option available is to label you an outcast or sentence you to death.”

“Yes, I do.” She says in a hoarse voice.  “I choose death over being separated from my family and friends.”

I draw in a deep breath, unable to believe what I’m hearing.  Ethan can’t possibly be planning on killing her, just because she crashed our wedding.  When he moves me from his lap and stands up, I realize he is.  He takes a step towards her and lets out a roar.  His body starts to vibrate, and I watch in awe as he starts to transition.

Watching my husband shift into a bear, takes my breath away.  I’ve seen it happen a few times, each time is frightening, but also absolutely breathtaking.  His bones pop and elongate, allowing him to grow over seven feet tall.  His teeth become razor sharp, and his fingernails become claws.  Only his beautiful, honey colored eyes remain the same. 

He stares at me a moment, before walking over to Marissa.  She is in total submission now, just waiting for him to deal out the deathblow.  As much as I hate the fact she ruined our wedding, I don’t want to see her die.  Pulling in a deep breath for courage, I walk over to Ethan’s bear and lay my hand on his back.  “Don’t kill her, please Ethan don’t do this.”

His huge body goes still under my hand, before he turns to look down at me.  I’m transfixed staring into the man I’ve quickly grown to love, as a bear.  “Please, Ethan.  She doesn’t deserve to die.”

Eli steps forward.  “Amelia, this is shifter business.  You have no damn place here.”

He starts to place a hand on my arm to pull me back, but Ethan lets out an ear shattering roar and he steps back.  Ignoring Eli’s words, I look back at my husband.  “I don’t want her death on my conscience.  It would kill me.”

Ethan looks from me to Marissa, tilting his head to the side.  Finally, his fur begins to retreat and the sounds of his bones popping back into place reaches my ears.  When the man I love is standing in front of me, he asks, “Are you sure about this darlin’?”

“Yes, I don’t want you to kill her,” I say, not quite believing this conversation is even happening. 

I never would have thought that I would be begging for someone’s life. A month ago, this would have all seemed like a scary movie and now it’s now my life.   A part of me wants to run as far away as I can, but a larger part knows that I’m right where I’m supposed to be.  Ethan is my life now, and I’ll never leave him. 

“She made a mistake, but she doesn’t deserve to die.  Can’t you just put her in jail or something?” I ask, chewing on my bottom lip. 

His eyes go soft as he answers.  “For a shifter, being locked up would be worse than death.”

Well shit!  My mind works quick, trying to come up with a plan.  “How about community service?”

A few of shifters standing around chuckle, or at least as close to a chuckle as their animal forms will allow. Even, Ethan smiles.  “What do you have in mind?”

“Ummm..” I mumble then say the first thing that comes to mind. “She can be in charge of making sure the rest of the unmated shifters find a human wife.”

“Or husband,” someone shouts from behind us, and I turn around to see a beautiful and completely naked woman standing where the coyote was just a second ago. 

I nod and quickly add, “Or husband.”

Ethan stares at me for a moment, before turning back to Marissa.  “Do you agree to this punishment?”

Marissa looks at me and blinks back tears.  “Yes, I will gladly help.”

“Good. I expect to see another human living in Willow Creek before the month ends,” Ethan says, before turning back to me smiling.  “From this point on, you are my assistant.”

“What?” I ask, wondering what the hell is talking about.

“You were able to look at the situation and come up with a punishment that will allow Marissa to keep her place in our community, without bloodshed.  That’s something a shifter wouldn’t be able to do.  We are typically too overcome with our animalistic tendencies to look at it in any other way.  It’s also something that I think we need, so from here on out you’re my assistant, he says with a nod.  “Now, come on, darlin’.  I wanna take you home and back to bed.”

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Ethan

“YOU’RE GOING
to have to get over your problems with humans.  Amelia knows you don’t like her and it hurts her feelings.  I can’t allow that to keep happening,” I say to Eli, as I pull into the town hall parking lot.  

“I don’t mind Amelia.  It’s the rest of the humans that bother me,” my cousin says, as he opens the truck door and climbs out. 

Getting out of the truck, I call out to him before he can walk away.  “She’s human.  When you say shit like that, it hurts her.”

“When did you start worrying about a woman’s feelings? Last time I saw you dealing with a woman before Amelia came into the picture, you were about to tear Marissa’s throat out.”

Feeling my bear get agitated, I let out a nearly silent roar.  “She’s my wife, my mate.  I care about everything that affects her.”

Eli shakes his head, as he turns to walk into the Town Council building.  “She’s not your mate, cousin.”

Grabbing his arm, I toss him across the parking lot.  His body lands on the hard ground.  I’m standing over him, before he can sit up.  “She is my mate.  My destined mate and you will damn well respect her as such.”

“Well, your mate is talking to the fucking reporter right now,” he says, pushing himself up to his knees. 

Looking back to the Town Council building, I see Amelia and Mr. Weaver standing together, near one of the windows. I knew he’d show up, as soon as I brought Amelia on and my new assistant.  If he couldn’t get to her at our home, he’d get to her here.   He’s talking to her, but she isn’t saying anything back.  Instead, she nods her head from time to time.  “He’s the one talking to her.”

Leaving Eli on the ground, I rush inside and go right to my mate.  Wrapping my arm around her, I can’t stop myself from stealing a quick taste of her lips before looking at the man I’ve grown to hate.  “Is there anything I can help you with Mr. Weaver?”

He smiles that sleazy smile that always gets my bear agitated and says, “I was just discussing how important an interview would be with Mrs. Artair.  I think my readers would love to get to know your wife and hear a bit more about what it’s like to move from Chicago to a town like this.”

As much as I’d like to send my fist flying into his face, I take a deep breath and nod my head.  “That sounds like a good idea.”

This is what I wanted, right?  I brought Amelia here to get the reporters off our backs, but now that she’s mine, I don’t like the idea of her having to deal with this shit.  “You can talk to her, but I’ll be by her side the entire time.”

His smile grows impossibly bigger.  “When would you like to schedule the interview?”

“Let’s get it over with now.” I say, pulling Amelia flush with my body.  “Just give us five minutes, then come on up to my office.”

Turning away from him, I lead her to the elevator and wait for the doors to shut.  “I hate that you’re gonna have to deal with that asshole.  I’m sorry babe.”

She grabs my hands, lacing her small fingers through mine.  “I don’t mind.  I’ll do anything to help you and our town out.”

I look down at her and smile, loving how quickly she has accepted Willow Creek as her home.  “Just make sure to keep your answers vague.”

“I know.” She says, with a nod.  “We met online, fell in love, and now we’re married and have hot monkey sex all the time.”

Cocking a brow, my smile grows.  “Hot monkey sex?”

She leans into my body, running a hand over my hardening cock.  “Let me rephrase that.  Hot as hell, bear sex.”

My bear lets out a sigh of contentment, as I lean down and kiss her thoroughly.  “Have I told you today how much I love you?”

“Yeah, but I never get tired of hearing it.” She says, as the elevator doors open. 

Pulling her with me, I walk to my office.  Once we’re inside, I slam the door shut and crash my lips down on hers.  My hands grab her ass and pick her up, causing her skirt to ride up around her waist.  She wraps her legs around me, as I grind my cock against her heat.  I’m just about to push her panties to the side, when a knock sounds on the door.  “Fuck”

She giggles, pulling out of my arms and straightening her clothes.  “Guess he doesn’t know what five minutes means.”

I shake my head and walk to the door, not bothering to try to hide my raging hard-on.  Opening the door, I motion for him to come in then grab Amelia and take a seat at my desk, pulling her into my lap.  Mr. Weaver looks at me strangely, obviously wondering why the hell my wife is perched on top of me, but I don’t care.  I’m on the edge now, and I need her touch to keep me calm. 

Taking in a deep breath, I blow it out and lift my chin to Mr. Weaver.  “Ask your questions.”

The little man pulls out a mini tape-recorder and lays it on his lap.  “Thank you for taking the time to take to me, Mrs. Artair.”

My woman simply nods, not saying a word.  After a second's’ hesitation, he asks his first question.  “Your marriage was unexpected.  Would you mind telling my readers how you met?”

Amelia clears her throat before she responds.  “We met online.  It didn’t take me long to fall in love with Ethan.  After that, I just couldn’t wait to marry him.  I guess you could say I pressured him into putting a ring on my finger.”

I know she’s trying to sugar coat things for this bastard’s benefit, but I don’t like it.  “She didn’t have to pressure me.  As soon as I saw her beautiful face, I knew I had to make her mine.” Yep, I sound like a pussy, but why do I care.  It’s true I knew she was mine as soon as her scent hit me. 

“So, you met online?” he asks, digging for more information. 

“Yes, I applied to be a bride and was lucky enough to be picked by Ethan,” she explains, knowing that if she were to lie the truth may be discovered. 

I’m not at all ashamed of the way we met, but she seems to be.  She says all women dream of falling in love with a man, then being asked to marry him, not the other way around.  As far as I’m concerned, the way we did it was perfect.  Hell, it got me her, so how could it be wrong.

“Yes, I discovered you met on the website, Brides Incorporated,” he says, proving he had done his research before coming here.  Also, proving that Amelia was right about coming clean about the way we found each other. 

My wife stays quiet, until Mr. Weaver asks another question.  “Are you happy living in Willow Creek?”

“Of course, I am. It’s a beautiful town and the people that live here are simply amazing,” she replies, laying her head against my chest.  “I cannot imagine living in a more wonderful place.”

“Don’t you find it odd that you are the only person living in Willow Creek that is not related to the original settlers?” He sits forward, staring straight at Amelia, watching for her reaction.  

“No, not at all.  Why would I?  This has been a close-knit community since Ethan’s ancestors settled here. Their children, children’s children and so forth were lucky enough to keep it that way.  I’m honored that Ethan thought I was worthy enough to be a part of it,” she says not missing a beat.

His smile grows, showing his obviously whitened teeth.  “So, you’re saying that you must be worthy to be part of the Willow Creek community?”

I can feel Amelia’s body tense and open my mouth to tell him to get the hell out, but she stops me with her response.  “Of course.  As with anything in life, you have to earn your spot.  If I just moved here and did nothing but go to work and go home, I wouldn’t be a true citizen of Willow Creek. I would just be living here. I hope that my behavior will show the people of this town that I am worthy to be a well-liked citizen.”