Tempted by the Bear - Complete (50 page)

T
ori

L
ily
and I managed to keep Patricia talking until nine o’clock. She finally got rid of us by claiming it was her bedtime, and Lily and I left without any intention of going home. We drove a few houses away from Patricia’s cottage and sat facing out of the driveway of a vacant summer home, waiting for when she’ll drive by.

I ask, “Have you ever tailed someone before?”

“No, but how hard can it be?”

“I guess we’ll find out.” I communicate with Keith.
“Lily and I delayed Patricia as long as we could. Now we’re waiting to follow her when she leaves.”

“Good. We’re still tracking Lucy, and we’re close. I’ll let you know when we find them.”

“Got it.”

I say to Lily, “They still haven’t found them, but Keith says they’re close.”

We sit in silence for a while before I ask, “When you became a werebear, did you feel like more than your body changed?”

“Yes.” I make out her silhouette in the near darkness as she turns to me and says, “It was like I was injected with self-assurance.” She shrugs. “I don’t know, maybe I grew up too, but I went from being insecure and timid to someone that could command a presence. You know?”

“Totally. I feel like I drank power juice or something. I mean, the idea that we’re about to follow a dangerous woman to a place where hunters have kidnapped people is insane. Yet here I am.” I shake my head. “And the craziest part is that not only do I want to, I
need
to.”

Lights indicate someone’s driving toward us, and I think it’s Patricia. “There she is,” says Lily. Once the car passes, Lily pushes the start button on her dash, and we roll out behind it without turning on the headlights.

Unfortunately, the moon is barely visible, and my teeth practically rattle as we seem to hit every pothole while Lily works on staying between the trees that line the road. She says, “This is a little harder than I thought. But once we get near the main road, we can see which way she turns. Then we’ll give her space and turn our lights on again.”

“Good. My spine will thank you for it.”

Lily falls back farther when we see the streetlights on the main road. We watch Patricia turn right, and once she’s out of our line of vision, Lily turns on the headlights. “Wow, that’s so much better,” she says. “This road isn’t very well traveled, but there isn’t anywhere she can turn off until the end of it. A straightaway is coming up, so I’ll let her stay out of sight until we get there.”

The tires hum over the smooth asphalt as we stay quiet. I notice the red taillights of Patricia’s car where Lily said we would. I have a sudden urge to communicate with Keith, but his situation is more volatile than mine, so I don’t. My grandmother turns left at the end of the road toward a highway. Now we see other cars and can get a little closer, especially since one passes before we can turn and separates us from Patricia. We’re headed toward a business section populated by the typical interstate exit establishments.

When Patricia slows I say, “She’s stopping at the gas station.” I grip the door handle as Lily swerves quickly to turn onto the road just before the building and where there is another entrance. She flips off the lights and does a quick U-turn to stop on the shoulder, away from lights. It gives us a perfect view of what my grandmother is doing. I say, “Good idea.”

Lily lowers the windows before she cuts the engine, and we notice Patricia get out of the car. She parked by the convenience store, but she doesn’t go in. Instead she moves toward the back of the building as her car flashes, indicating she’s locking it by remote. A man steps out from the darkness. He has a thin build and is average human height, which tells me he probably isn’t a werebear. I’m shocked when Patricia rushes into his arms. Lily whispers, “Oh my god. She’s hugging a human?”

When they kiss, I whisper back, “Holy crap.”

Lily groans when their embrace becomes more passionate, and I do my best to block out their little noises of pleasure as she continues to speak in a voice Patricia can’t hear. “I can’t believe I’m watching this.”

“I know.” When they stop, the man puts his arm around Patricia’s shoulders and leads her to a large SUV. “Whoa.” I ask, “Is she having an affair?”

“I think so, but I bet that man is involved with the hunters.”

The man says, “I wish you weren’t so late and we had more time.”

Patricia sighs. “I know, I’m sorry I couldn’t get away sooner, but I must keep up appearances so I don’t blow my cover.”

He lowers his voice to what I guess he thinks is a sexy tone and says, “It’s so hard to be away from you, honey.”

Patricia dips her head and says, “We’ll have plenty of time later.” She clears her throat and is more serious when she adds, “Tonight we have an important job to do. People are counting on us.”

“I know you’re right. What we’re doing matters to all of mankind,” says the man. The passenger door to his vehicle groans open, and he adds, “The animals are secure. But I don’t feel good about this.”

“I agree,” Patricia says. “The ones that delayed me make me think they’re on to us.”

I whisper to Lily, “She’s got that right.”

I don’t buy that my grandmother would consider a relationship with a human unless there was an ulterior motive, but I must admit she’s pretty convincing. Especially when she leans over to kiss the man before they drive off.

When Lily turns on the car, the engine rumbles, and I communicate with Keith.
“Patricia and a human are on their way. We’ll follow at a safe distance.”

Keith replies,
“Stay back when you get here. We’ve got it under control.”

My instinct is to object, but I let it go and reply,
“We will.”

I relay the message to Lily, and we fall silent. Determination to be a capable warrior sets in. Stepping away and waiting feels so wrong, but I’m not ready to fight like a werebear. I glance over at Lily and think about how she started off just like me. She managed to become a capable leader. As the alpha I’ll be stronger, especially with Keith by my side. I realize Lily makes a competent sidekick too.

I say, “Lily, I know I’ve mentioned how much I’d like you to be part of the Veilleux leadership, but I’ve decided I want more from you. What would you think about being my right-hand woman?”

Lily bows her head slightly before she speaks. “I’d be honored.”

I touch her shoulder, and she raises her gaze up to mine. “Me too. I think along with Keith we’re just what the Veilleux clan needs.”

The rear lights of the SUV we’re following flicker as the driver taps on the brakes as if they’re unsure of their speed. A year ago I was having dreams that made me question everything, but now, I’ve realized those dreams and am excited about what’s to come.

I
sabelle

A
large SUV
that makes me think “soccer mom” pulls into the driveway of the farmhouse. The doors click open, and a human-sized man exits the driver’s side while a thin, tall woman steps out of the passenger door. I inhale slowly and identify from her scent that she’s a werebear. As the couple moves to the porch to greet the guard, light illuminates them, and Tristan’s communication confirms the woman is Patricia.

The moment the front door shuts behind Patricia and her companion, Tristan orders us to get in place. Tristan will disable the guard and instruct the men to work on the trailer. As soon as they’re in and opening the cages, my brother will count down for our ambush on the farmhouse. The commotion will allow the hostage rescue to happen undetected, because if all goes as planned, this group of hunters won’t be able to harm another werebear ever again.

I listen as Jean Luc and I make our way toward the back of the house. A woman speaks, and her voice is harsh. I assume it is Patricia speaking. She says, “There’s been a change of plans. We need to transport the animals tonight.” If that’s Patricia, her choice of words is odd considering we call ourselves werebear.

A man says, “But we’re not due at the lab until the morning. Is it safe to wait in the parking lot with the trailer, or should we take a long route?”

Lab?
Do they plan on studying Lucy and the triplets like mice?

“I think killing time on the road is best,” says the woman. “The animals are searching for the hostages, so let’s make it as difficult as possible.”

Another man scoffs, “Like they’re smart enough.”

They think we’re stupid?

The woman snaps back, “Underestimating them is what got men killed in Canada. You’d be wise to remember that.”

Tristan’s countdown begins in my head, and I tap it out on Jean Luc’s arm. After the second beat, we move. The back door splinters under my foot with my kick. The impact radiates up my leg as glass shatters from Brady and the others crashing through the windows. Jean Luc and I thud over the broken door when we enter. Gun safeties click as the hunters scramble to protect themselves, but they’re now surrounded by eight werebear holding them at gunpoint. Tristan’s loud voice calls attention his way as he says, “Yes. You would be wise to remember that.”

He nods toward Patricia. “You. Are you in charge of this?” I do a quick head count and discover we’re up against six male hunters beyond Patricia. The scent of their fear is disgusting, and I crinkle my nose.

Patricia glares at my brother, and her bear flashes in her vivid green eyes as she says, “Go ahead and shoot, but there’re millions of humans like us waiting to rid the world of your kind.”

“Tell me why, Patricia,” says Tristan.

The man next to her scowls as he asks, “How does he know your name?”

She ignores him and says to Tristan, “Don’t act like we don’t know what you have planned for the human race. You’ve already taken young women and forced them to be animals in order to keep your species alive.”

Species?
The pieces of the puzzle snap into place.
Patricia’s pretending to be a human.
But I don’t have time to process the information, because a blast rings out, and one of our men jolts from the impact of a gunshot. I yell as he staggers back. “No!”

Earlier I instructed everyone to stop shooting the moment they saw a flash of purple. Our ace in the hole is my shield, because it will bounce the bullets back at the hunters, making it look as if they shot themselves when the police arrive on the scene. I throw my hands out as magic bursts from my fingertips. I create a tube-like tunnel that runs around the perimeter of the room to enclose the team of werebear. It’s more complex than a simple dome, but it happens quickly. The hunters don’t get another shot off until we’re protected from their bullets. And as we planned, all hell breaks loose when they open fire. The bullets from their guns ricochet back, and we watch as they drop like flies.

Sweat slicks my skin as I tremble with the power exiting my body to maintain our shelter. I catch a glimpse of Patricia. She somehow managed to shift. Our bear form can handle a stray bullet much better than our human body can, and I think she’s had to have taken a hit but is pushing past the pain. She launches herself up and over my barrier to land on the other side in a somersault move that takes her out the door. Because we’re trapped by my protective wall, nobody can go after her right away. Panic makes me dart my eyes around as I try to decide if I should drop it and take a chance one of the hunters is still able to kill.

Tristan decides for me. “Hold the barrier, Isabelle.”

Now my whole body is quaking as I hang on with all I’ve got. Tristan glances around as warriors train their guns on the slain hunters, and when he determines we’re safe, he says, “Drop it.”

I release the wall as Brady growls. My relief makes me crumble to my knees in exhaustion. Brady says, “Keith.” The two shift immediately to go after Patricia. Carly is so pregnant she’d struggle to protect herself, and I’m sure Brady can’t think of anything else.

Bones crack, and I turn as a hunter falls from Ryan’s hands to thud to the floor. He must have snapped the man’s neck to finish him off. My energy is sapped from my use of magic, and Jean Luc tilts his head at me in concern.

I say, “I’m fine.” I gaze at the death before me. Blood pools around the bodies of men whose lives I just ended. A needless loss based on the fear of the unknown. Patricia’s words ring in my head.
There’re millions of humans like us waiting to rid the world of your kind.
I wonder if this is just the beginning.

Ashton leads the warriors to clean up the carnage as Jean Luc takes my arm to help me up to my feet. “You’re not fine, ma chérie. Come.” He walks me outside, and I watch as men carry an unconscious Lucy and the triplets to our vehicles. A car’s wheels crunch over the dirt as it approaches the scene, and when it stops, Lily and Tori get out.

Tristan heads over to them to talk. When he’s done, he turns to me and waves me over to say, “Lily will drive you and Jean Luc back.”

I frown, because I expected to help transport Lucy and the girls. Tristan adds, “What you did was amazing, Izzy. You had to have used up most of your energy.”

Jean Luc says, “She’s weak. She needs food and rest.”

Tristan touches my arm in a familiar gesture as he says, “You protected us, and I’d feel better if you were the one being protected right now.”

I nod. The idea of a hot meal and sleep is appealing. Lily says, “I know a place around here with the best poutine you’ve ever tasted.”

The thought of French fries smothered in cheese and gravy makes my mouth water. Jean Luc grins. “No, that will not do.” His thick Canadian accent makes Lily and Tori grin back as he adds, “Perhaps I make you mine, no?”

Lily says, “Sounds like a plan. Let’s go.” She pulls the door open to her backseat, and I climb in. Even my bones ache as if I’d had a killer workout, and I lean my head back to close my eyes.

Jean Luc slides in next to me and places an arm around my shoulders to pull me close. His chest is warm under my cheek as I nestle into the crook of his arm. He whispers, “Once again, you’ve saved me. Sleep, ma chérie, and let me save you.”

I let out a small moan and respond telepathically.
“You save me every day, mon cher. Every day.”