Bear-ly Human (Bear Claw Security Book 4) (12 page)

H
ercules gaped
at the man in front of him. How the hell would he have info even the dragons hadn’t been able to give him?

“I’m afraid I can’t say it here,” Dean said. “The level of information I’m giving could be dangerous. If anything, the only person you’ll ever be able to share it with is a mate. The people this involves have a vested interest in nobody knowing.”

“This is my mate and her family,” Hercules said. “I’m tired of secrets. Anything I can know, they can know.”

Rob put his hands up. “If we can’t know, we can’t know,” he said. “Honestly, I don’t care if you were born in a test tube. I don’t care if you’re descended from a snail. Anyone willing to go that far for my daughter, anyone who can fight that hard for her, is fine in my book.” He put a hand on Hercules’s shoulder and looked him hard in the eye. “Now don’t go and screw it up.”

He put an arm around May. “We’re going inside to make some calls. When you’re ready, we can talk.” He gave Hercules an apologetic look. “And I’m sorry for misjudging you. After yesterday, seeing Valerie in the pond… I overreacted. I hope I can make it up to you.”

Hercules shrugged. “Forgive me for destroying your house and we’re square.”

“Done,” Rob said. “Nothing matters compared to Valerie.”

Hera, for her part, looked happy. Her parents disappeared into the house, leaving the three of them alone

The night was quiet around them, and Dean put his hands in his pockets. “You want to talk out here?” he asked.

Hercules shook his head. “Let’s go up to my room.”

He pulled the robe Rob had given him fully on and tied the belt, then took Hera by the hand to follow Dean into the house. She raised an eyebrow at the dent in the marble and then the broken bannister and then the door that had nearly come off the hinges on Hercules’s guest room.

Dean sighed. “That’s all going to make a lot more sense in a moment.”

Hera shook her head. “These doors were made extra strong and reinforced for shifters so we couldn’t carelessly yank them off hinges.” She raised an eyebrow at Hercules. “You
are
abnormal.” When he ruffled at that, she grinned. “Perfectly so.”

He just shrugged and gently pushed her into the room ahead of him. His heart was pounding just wondering what Dean was going to say. He’d long given up on finding anything out about himself. The dragons had said if they couldn’t identify it, no one could. That it was something he shouldn’t even try to mess in.

“I’m just a bear shifter, like you,” Dean said, sitting on the windowsill to face them as Hercules sat on the bed with his mate. “But I was hired by a family to find you. A family I know through my mother, who was involved with them at one point.” He handed Hercules a photo of a woman with gorgeous, thick brown hair, somewhat like Hercules’s. Hercules felt his throat tighten.

“You do have two types of blood in you,” Dean said. “But you weren’t an experiment. You were used in experiments, but you were born in a normal way.”

Hercules just stared at him. How was that possible? If that was true, why had he grown up in a dark cell in some scientist’s basement?

“My mother was never supposed to be involved with the man she was involved with. Shifters like him, they stay to their own. She was never supposed to get pregnant. When she did, she feared what would happen and ran from him.” Dean handed him a picture of the same woman, glowing and pregnant. “You’re part of a mystery I’ve been trying to solve all my life. Where my missing half-brother went.”

“Then what is my other half?” Hercules asked. “Do you know my father?”

Dean shook his head. “But I know your other half-brothers now. You do as well, though you may not know it. But I’m not allowed to disclose their identities yet.”

“So what happened to me, then?” he asked.

“Your dad eventually tracked down your mother. When he found out she was pregnant, he was worried about the implications of what would happen when you were born. As I said, they were never meant to be together. They sought out scientists who could help at the birth. But because they had to hide it from those in charge, they sought out shady ones.”

Hercules put a hand to his head. He didn’t like where this was going.

“The scientists insisted on being at the birth, just in case. Even though everything went fine and the birth was easy. But they convinced your mom and dad to give you up for adoption. They said you’d put both of them in danger and eventually, the wrong people would come for you. Both of them were naive and young, and they truly didn’t believe anything would happen to you. I know my mother always believed you’d been adopted by a caring family.” Dean frowned. “I’m glad she died without knowing what really happened. The scientists had found a fake family that they never used. As you know, you ended up in a lab.”

“So they didn’t stay together?” Hercules asked.

“No,” Dean said. “Your father went back to his world so they would never find out he’d broken a rule.”

“So what am I?” Hercules asked impatiently.

“I’m getting there,” Dean said.

“I don’t see why I couldn’t just have been told this when you got here.”

“I had to confirm who you were,” Dean said. “Not only that, but you had to show evidence of being a descendent of this race before I was authorized to say anything. You see, I was at a dead end originally, unable to figure out what had happened. But then I was contacted one day by a noted celebrity. He said his dad had known my mom, and they were looking for a possible adopted half-sibling. And asked if I knew where he was.”

“But you didn’t,” Hera said, as wrapped up in the mystery as Herc was.

“No, but once I knew what the other side of your DNA was, I simply had to search records for someone like you. Someone incredible.”

“And what am I?” Hercules asked.

Dean reached out to point at Hercules’s hair. “It’s all in the mane.”

“The hell?” Hercules said, looking at it.

“But you should know, if dragons are the enforcers of the shifter world, then lions are basically the gods. And if you tell anyone about this outside of your mate and her family, there are dire repercussions.”

“Lions?” he scoffed. “There aren’t any lions. Trust me; if there were any cats like that, I’d have met them in the military.”

Dean shook his head. “They aren’t in the military. They’re in politics, or Hollywood, or anywhere high up where no one would expect a shifter. They are the ones who got me into the circles where I could meet Valerie’s dad, since I knew you two were involved. When I came here, I expected to be able to interview her. I didn’t expect you to come.”

“Lucky,” Hercules said.

“Yeah,” Dean said. “But anyway. Lions. They’re stronger than other shifters. And they’re hidden from other shifters. Even the dragons aren’t aware of them. They get orders through unseen channels that they assume are other dragons.”

“What makes a lion so different from a cougar or any other shifter cat?”

“All shifter cats are strong,” Dean said. “That’s why they can hide their scent, unlike any other shifter. But lions are in a class all their own. Extremely hidden, extremely powerful. As you just proved when you tore down half this building.”

“That’s an exaggeration,” Hercules said. But even now, it was all making sense. How easy things had been physically. How he’d always been able to do what was needed in any situation. “So am I going to meet my brothers?”

Dean nodded. “Eventually. I’ll need to get back and report to them. I should amend what I said earlier. Lions are godlike in their power, but some of them are pure assholes. Even if they are your half-brothers, you may not want to meet them.” He stood and walked in front of Hercules and extended a hand to him. “But I’m always here if you want some family.”

Hercules pulled Dean in for a quick hug. It was odd knowing he wasn’t alone. That he was connected to something.

“I’ll have more questions for you,” he told Dean as the other man pulled back.

Dean nodded, handing him another card. “Here’s my number. I’m here to talk whenever. Is it okay if I tell your family I found you?”

Hercules nodded and then thought about it. “If it’s okay, can you wait until I’m back in New York?” He looked softly at Hera. “I have other things to take care of while I’m here.”

Dean nodded.

Hera just seemed stunned into silence. She nodded mutely as Dean dismissed himself, leaving them alone in his room.

“So… you weren’t grown in a tube, then,” she said.

“No,” he said, feeling blank with shock. He was pleased, but it almost felt like a dream he was about to wake up from.

But everything made sense. How sometimes he had felt this power inside him that scared him in its unfamiliarity. How Dean had acted like he knew him.

How he’d always been strong.

“Given the lion connection, I guess it makes your name all the more ironic,” Hera said weakly, her hand lightly covering his knee.

“Yeah,” Hercules said. “Damn.” He ran his hand through his hair. “I don’t even know what to say. Wait, I have one more question.”

He ran out of the bedroom and yelled for Dean, who was just going out the front door. “Wait!”

Dean turned back.

“So my mother, she was fine after the birth?”

Dean nodded. “She said you were perfect.” Then he lifted a hand and waved. “See you later.”

Hercules put a hand up weakly and then let it drop. Then he walked back in with Hera, who was sitting thoughtfully on the bed with her arms around her knees.

“I’m going to want to go back to New York,” he said, looking over at her. “I’m going to want to get into work and meet my family there.”

She nodded at him.

“And then, if you want, we can come back and run your father’s business. If you can be patient with me for a few years first.”

“Of course,” she said, jumping into his arms. “Of course I can. So does this mean…”

“Be my mate?” he asked with a grin. “I was ready to ask you from the minute I burst down that door. But now that I know there’s no danger in making it real… now that I know there’s no monster inside me…”

“Oh, there’s a monster,” she said, drawing a finger down his chest. “My monster.”

He grinned and kissed the top of her head. “Want to make that official?”

“Of course,” she said, reaching up to entwine her arms around his neck for a kiss. “As soon as possible, please.”

Hercules didn’t think anyone should be allowed to be as happy as he was in that moment.

He bent down to kiss his mate.

H
era looked
up into her mate’s face, seeing such a difference in his expression.

He’d always been strong, but she was amazed by how he kept growing at every moment, first by being brave enough to tell her about his past, then brave enough to save her, and then brave enough to stay.

It validated what she’d always felt in her heart. That he’d never truly be able to leave her.

She watched as he walked to the doorframe and fixed the door as best he could so it at least gave them full privacy and was
in
the frame. She doubted anyone but him could move it if they wanted to.

Then he walked over to her, shedding his robe as he approached.

His nakedness didn’t shock her. She’d seen him that way so many times before. She shed her robe as well. She looked over his body for scratches and was surprised by how little he was hurt from the fight. Bentley hadn’t been some easy pushover. She was a strong bear, but she wouldn’t have been able to take him.

Hercules had taken him
and
Adam and made them look like a bunch of wusses.

She was so proud of him she could barely stand. She walked to him and wrapped her arms around him and just enjoyed the feel of them being together, totally naked. Her human was in love with his human. Her bear only wanted his bear. And this time, there was no reason to keep anything between them.

She felt wild just at the thought of it. She ran her fingers over his back and jumped when he winced. She ran around and gasped at the angry red stripes there.

Where Adam had been.

Hercules scowled. “It’s nothing.”

She shook her head. “We should wash you off,” she said, trying to head past him into the bathroom. But he caught her around the waist and easily brought her back in against him. Then he hefted her into the air and tossed her onto the bed like she weighed three pounds.

She blinked up at him.

“I don’t have to be afraid of hurting you, so I’m not waiting another second to make you mine,” he said, spreading her legs in front of him. She was instantly wet at the thought of it and closed her eyes and leaned into the pillow as his mouth came down at her center.

“I thought you couldn’t wait a second,” she gasped out.

“There’s always time for foreplay,” he said, licking deliciously over her. “Besides, this is a part of making you mine.” His hand took the place of his mouth as he kissed his way over her thigh, up along her hip, let his tongue play along the rim of her belly button and then come up to suck on her breast. When he was done there, he moved up to her shoulder, nipping and kissing his way up her neck. Making her his
everywhere
.

“You don’t have to kiss everything.” She gasped as he kissed his way over her forehead, down to her mouth, then the back of her neck, setting off little sparks all over her. He came down the other side, kissing her shoulder, her arm down to her fingertips, her side, her belly button again. Leaving nothing unmarked.

He turned her over in his hands and kissed down her spine, making her arch, alive with his touch.

Then his hands trailed over her legs, and he kissed his way down to one knee and then one ankle. She was already close to going as he made his way up the other leg, starting back gently kissing her toes.

By the time he was back up to her wet, aching apex, she was wound tight as a spring, ready to come at any moment, hard.

He held her hips in his hands as he bent to place a long, passionate kiss over her center, and she broke apart in his arms, burying her hands in his soft hair as she held on for dear life while her orgasm ripped through her.

She opened her eyes to see him staring at her with heated, satisfied eyes. Lion eyes. She blinked again, and it was the Hercules she’d always known. Her gentle yet ferocious bear.

It didn’t really matter what he was. She’d take every aspect of him as long as he was inside her.

She put both hands in his hair and forced him to look up at her. Her whole body was trembling with need for him, her face flushed and sweaty, her skin tingling all over from his attention.

“I need you now,” she said. “Inside me.”

He was stunned for a moment, and then a grin spread over his face. He took her hands in his, carefully intertwining their fingers and resting them next to her head, bringing them face to face, him straddling her. His thick thighs encased her.

“Now I know why you were always so careful with protection,” she said.

He nodded. “But I know what I am now. I won’t hurt you.” He let out a pent-up breath. “I think I’ve always known that, in my heart. But it’s nice for my brain to catch up.”

She nodded. “It’s nice.” Then she wriggled against him, because if he put this off any longer, she was going to explode, go all alpha and just do it
for
him. Tie him to the bed and take him on her own. She grinned. Actually, that sounded like a fun thing to do sometime anyway.

“What are you thinking?” he asked. “Trouble?”

She nodded. “Later.” She squeezed her hands around his. “For now, just this.”

He nodded and gently moved back to spread her legs with his knees. Then her legs were over his, and she was propped up against him with him poised at her entrance.

In a minute, they’d be together, wholly one with nothing between them for the first time.

She gasped as he moved toward her, the soft feel of his tip sliding against her before he went all the way in, filling her completely.

For a moment, they just stared at each other in wonder. As well as they’d always fit before, there was something so much stronger about this. Powerful and cosmic and right. Like they were always meant to be together like this.

She let out her breath and felt the tension already building inside her. With his girth, just being in her was already stroking the right spots.

Then, with a tender look, he began to move, and lightning flashed inside her.

The sensation was so strong, so intense, she could barely breathe. She heard him let out a hoarse gasp and knew it was affecting him as well. It wasn’t just the physical sensation. It was everything it meant to them. Everything they’d wanted for so long. Everything they’d been denied. All of that wrapped up in the feelings that had been held inside for years and years.

She wrapped her legs around him and urged him in every time he began to pull out. It was a tight, slick fit, but every inch was heaven. Ecstasy. She felt his hands trembling against her, could tell it was moving him closer to the edge just like it was her.

“I just… Let’s go quickly, together,” she said.

“I wanted it longer,” he said, stroking again. “This is our mating. I wanted…” He gritted his teeth. “You’re so incredible, Hera.” He paused in his movement. “I love you. You know that?”

“I know that,” she gasped out. “Of course I do.” She bit down on her lip as more lightning shot through her. She felt her legs clamp down, so close to the edge. She held her breath, trying to keep it back, to wait for him.

They stayed there, perched on the edge of the precipice, each unwilling to go on without the other.

“Together, then,” he said, reaching between them to gently tweak her as he slid fully in, bringing them wholly together. Her whole body kicked over, waves of unbelievable pleasure rushing through her, making it hard to do anything but breathe.

She could feel him above her, hear him gasping out his own release. And beyond that, she could feel the forest. Moonlight. Their animals. And something else. Something special. Maybe it was that part of him they hadn’t known about until now.

She opened her eyes and looked at him as pleasure continued to fill her and overflow. She saw him looking right back, hair streaming over his shoulders, brown eyes warm and loving. And she reached up and pulled him down flat against her.

She felt the last of the convulsions between them, heard their heartbeats in sync, quickly beating.

“You’re mine now,” she said. “Mine.”

“That’s my line.” He gasped, holding her tight, covering her with his body while keeping most of his weight off of her. She was amazed at his strength. He’d managed to fight off two bears, make incredible love to her, and even now was just worried about letting his weight bother her in any way.

She pulled him harder onto her, taking more of his weight. “Come on, big guy. I can take it.”

He shook his head. “No.” He buried his face in her shoulder and placed a kiss there. “And I’d rather do this anyway.” He rolled over and brought her on top of him, trapping her there with both hands.

He placed a kiss on her lips and then pulled back with a grin. She’d never seen him so happy.

“So you won’t regret anything?” she asked.

He let out a breath. “Are you kidding?” he said. “It’s all I’ve ever wanted. You’re all I’ve ever wanted.”

“Wait,” she said. “I’ve got something for you.”

He raised an eyebrow. “Something that can’t wait?”

She flushed. Her body felt so warm and lazy on top of him, but if she didn’t remember the ring now, how would she be able to later? “You’re going to laugh at me…”

“Never,” he said. “Not unless you’re telling a joke.”

She bit her lip. “I sort of… bought you a ring.”

He sat up, letting her fall back onto his lap. “Woman. That’s my job.”

She giggled. “It didn’t look like you were going to get around to it.”

He put a hand over his face. “I’ve been such an idiot.” He stared into her eyes. “Though it might interest you to know I did buy one. When we were together before.”

“You did?” she asked.

He nodded. “Just a small gold one, in a foreign market. I guess I just had an idealistic moment. I still have it, in a desk at home.”

She frowned. “So you didn’t bring it.”

He shook his head. “I’m sorry. I never thought I’d be good enough.”

She rested her head against his chest. “You were always good enough.”

“I get that now,” he said. “I’m sorry you have the stubbornest man in the universe.”

“I’m just glad you fought for us,” she said.

“I think I would have found you, at some point,” he said, brushing her hair back. “But I’m glad you found me first. I guess I’m lucky to have such a strong woman. But then, I always knew you were strong.”

She nodded.

“Strong enough to have tiny Hercules minis running around?”

She grinned. “Of course. Or tiny Heras.”

He smiled. “I like the thought of it.” He sighed. “I like the thought of
all
of it. You. Me. A home.”

She nodded and lay down next to him, curled into his side. He pulled a sheet over them and looked out of the bedroom window, half covered by curtains.

His eyes were calm and peaceful, full of hope. It made her smile and relax as she leaned in against him.

She knew it couldn’t always be happy, warm moments. Even now that he was facing his past, things would sometimes be hard. The ghosts would come out of the darkness.

But from now on, she’d be here to fight back with him. Most importantly, he’d never be alone.

They were bonded together forever. As long as they had that, they could get through anything.

She closed her eyes and fell asleep in his arms.