Bear Necessities (7 page)

“Aunt
Laura and Uncle Steven are with Chloe and Ryan. Uncle Ray and Aunt Stacey
stayed behind with Eric to help run the business.” His mom pulled his face
around. “Ryan told us we owe Chloe’s life to Mr. Ducharme, and that we could
find you here with your mate.” She looked over at the man on the bed, her gaze
snagging on his sleeping mate. “
Green
hair?”

Will
chuckled. “You were expecting something else?”

Barbra
Bunsun gave her husband an astonished look. “I’m surprised he didn’t go for a
Japanese blonde with two pigtails on her head and an insane love of fried
rice.”

Bunny
rolled his eyes. He did
not
have a Sailor Moon fetish, no matter what
that therapist had said. “Mom.” He winced. He hadn’t sounded that whiny in
years. Leave it to his mother to have him feeling ten years old again.

His
mother patted his cheek. “That’s all right, dear. I’m sure she’ll fit right
in.”

God he
hoped so. And he hoped the rest of the family was as welcoming as he knew his
parents would be. Because so far Tabby was anything but ordinary.

Chapter
Three

Tabby
sipped the sucky hospital coffee and waited for Alex to step out of his
cousin’s room. Julian had insisted that she go check on her, but she didn’t
feel comfortable in there with everyone else. Chloe’s parents were hovering
over her and, despite how shitty Tabby felt about it, she found herself
jealous. Tabby’s parents had never cared that much for her. If they had cared
at all, they’d never have abandoned her to the streets when she was fifteen.

“Here,
this might make it a little better.”

Tabby
glanced at Alex’s mother, wondering again at the sight of the smaller woman.
The beautiful woman next to her looked nothing like a mom. She looked like a
model, her eyes a startling light hazel, her skin a creamy bronze. The only
imperfections were the laugh lines around her eyes and mouth and the light
smattering of freckles across her nose. It was those laugh lines that showed
her the resemblance between Bunny and his mother. “Thanks, Mrs. Bunsun.”

“Barb,
sweetie. And don’t thank me until you’ve tasted that.”

Tabby
looked down at the cherry danish in her hand. “Hospital cafeteria?”

“Yup.”
Barbra sighed and leaned against the wall. “So. You’re mated to my son.”

Tabby
winced. “Almost.”

Thin
dark brows rose, questioning her without saying a word.

“He
bit me before we followed the ambulance. Just pushed the jacket aside and bared
fang, right in public too.” She took a bite of the cherry danish. She then took
a nice, long sip of the coffee so she wouldn’t choke on the dry pastry. She
tried desperately not to make a face. It had been a nice gesture, but dear God.
“Um. Is there a convenience store around here?”

Barb’s
lips twitched. “Bared fang, huh?”

“Mm-hmm.
That’s as far as we’ve gotten, though.” Tabby froze, her gaze sliding away.
“You’re…all right with that?” Hadn’t Alex told her that Tabby was Outcast?

“Are
you
all right with it?”

Tabby
thought of her hotter-than-hell mate and nodded. “Oh, yeah. I’m fine with it.”

Barb
smiled, looking relieved. “I was worried. My parents freaked when they found
out my mate was white. They didn’t speak to me for weeks.”

Tabby
snorted. “My parents are the least of my worries.”

Barb’s
expression turned sharp. “Is there a problem I need to know about?”

Tabby
threw away the inedible danish. She’d eaten better food out of garbage bins.
Someone needed to smack the hospital nutritionist upside the head. “I’m
Outcast.”

Barb
blinked. “Hmm. What for?”

She
studied her mother-in-law, relieved to see no condemnation in the other woman’s
face. “For being a thief.”

Barb
waved her hand. “And? Details, hon.”

“Long
story short? I was dating the Alpha’s son. I snuck into his room to fool
around, got caught sneaking out. The Alpha assumed I was there to rob him and
wouldn’t listen to what I was saying. His son didn’t even try to explain things
to his father.” Her lips twisted in a smile. “The Alpha never heard anything he
didn’t want to anyway. No one bothered to speak up for me and the Alpha Outcast
me. I roamed for about eight years as a wolf and finally landed in Halle. I’ve
been here ever since.”

Barb
studied her for a moment, her whole body relaxing. “Then we’ll have to fix it.”

Tabby
blinked. How did you fix the unfixable? “How’s Chloe?”

Barb
sighed, the tension returning to her shoulders. “Not good.”

She
took hold of Barb’s hand and squeezed. “I’m so sorry. Is there anything I can
do to help?”

“Yeah.”
Barb’s smile was weary. “Take good care of my son.”

Tabby
nodded, her eyes following Barb all the way back to the hospital room door.

“Tabby?”

Tabby
grinned as her friend’s sweet voice flowed over her. Glory was standing there
in one of her colorful peasant skirts and glittery tops, her pale blue hair
done up in a sweet-looking ponytail. She looked like a pixie gypsy. “Hey, girl.
What are you doing here?”

Glory
held up Tabby’s gym bag. The bangles on her wrist jangled and her grin was wide
and sparkling. “Not quite the way we’d envisioned you spending last night.” She
giggled. “Okay, bringing you work clothes after your night of debauchery, yes.
Bringing you work clothes after a night in the hospital, no. And hey, no walk
of shame, right?”

“Thanks
a lot.” Tabby rolled her eyes, but just the presence of her bubbly friend
soothed her. It was hard to be upset when Glory was around. “Is Cyn all alone?”
The store had opened over an hour ago.

“She
posted that we were closed for a family emergency and moved the appointments we
had to later in the week.” She handed Tabby the bag. “I’m sorry to hear about
your boyfriend’s cousin.”

“Thanks.”
Tabby headed toward Julian’s room. She’d rather change in his bathroom than in
the public restroom. And there was no way she was going into Chloe’s room, not
with all those people in there. Julian would guard the door for her while she
changed. He was one of the few people she truly trusted to keep her safe.

“Where
is
your new man, anyway?”

Tabby
shrugged. “Alex is getting some sleep finally.” And hadn’t that been a battle
and a half? He’d argued with everyone but his mother until the woman had
pinched his ear and literally dragged him off for some rest. He was due back
any minute now. “Oh, I almost forgot. Julian’s here.”

“What
for?”

She
thought about trying to explain, but decided she wanted a nice tall pitcher of
margaritas next to her when she did. She still hadn’t figured out how he’d
saved Chloe, or what was up with the funky white hair. “I’ll tell you later,
but he’s fine now. He’s waiting on his discharge paperwork in his room, so I’ll
change there.”

“Well,
Cyn says to take your—
oomph
!” Tabby spun around. Glory was sprawled on
the floor. Ryan stood over her, the strangest look on his face.

Glory
blew her pale blue bangs out of her face. “And hello to you too.”

Tabby
had to stifle her own giggles at the disgruntled look on her face.

Ryan
blinked. His expression was stunned. Tabby had seen Glory have that effect on
more than one man. “Hello.” Tabby shivered. Ryan had practically purred the
salutation. “Who are you?”

Glory
smiled up at Ryan. “Glory.” She held up her hand, every inch a dainty princess.
“Help me up, please?”

Ryan
jumped. “Oh! Right.” He took Glory’s hand and easily pulled her to her feet.
“I’m Ryan, Ryan Williams.”

Glory’s
expression turned much more genuine. “Chloe’s brother?”

Ryan
smiled. “Yeah. She was admitted last night. You know her?”

Glory’s
mouth dropped open. “You mean…?” She turned to Tabby. “You didn’t tell me it
was
Chloe
in the hospital.” She tugged on her hand, frowning absently
when Ryan didn’t let go. “Chloe’s a friend. I need to go get her some flowers
or something.”

“She’d
like that once she’s out of ICU.” Ryan took Glory’s hand and tucked it into the
crook of his arm. “Maybe I can help you find some?”

Glory
tapped her foot. “Your sister is in the hospital and you’re flirting with me?”

Ryan’s
answer was a heated grin.

Tabby
coughed. From the look on Ryan’s face, things were about to get interesting for
her friend. “I need to borrow Glory for a little bit.” Ryan frowned at her.
“Seriously. She’s my coworker, my roommate and one of my best friends.”

The
frown left his face. “And?”

Tabby
sighed. “Glory?”

“Yeah?”

“Grr-grr.”

Glory
tilted her head toward Ryan, her mouth hanging open. “Him?”

“Yup.”

“Oh!”
Glory yanked her hand free. “Shouldn’t you be, I dunno, with your mate?” She
hissed. Glory had a real hate-on for cheaters. Tabby still didn’t know why,
though she could guess. Glory’s parents were divorced, and she knew Glory would
have nothing to do with her mother.

“He
doesn’t have one, Glory.”

Ryan
threw his head back and laughed. “Not yet, anyway.” He loomed over Glory, his
expression intense. He towered over her petite friend. The move screamed
possession.

Uh-oh.
“Um. Ryan? Why don’t you go
check on Chloe?”

He
looked over at her, and for a moment the predator he was peeked out of his
suddenly deep brown eyes. She could tell he was debating whether or not to do
what she’d asked. “Where are you two headed?”

Tabby
held up her bag. “She brought me clothes. We’re headed to Julian’s room so I
can get changed in peace.”

Ryan
studied her, his fingers absently toying with a lock of Glory’s hair. “Keep her
safe.”

She
gulped, the quiet warning in the Bear’s voice clear. If Ryan had decided not to
let Glory out of his sight, there wasn’t much Tabby could have done to stop
him. A lone Bear could whip the ass of a lone Wolf. “Yup. Will do.”

Ryan
took Glory’s hand to his lips. “I will see
you
later.” He tipped Glory’s
chin up and smiled down at her, his expression filled with wonder and a touch
of satisfaction. “Glory.”

Glory
didn’t take a breath until Ryan’s form disappeared around the corner. “What the
hell was that all about?”

Tabby
took Glory’s arm and steered her back to Julian’s room. “I’ll explain it on the
way.” She pushed the button for the elevator. “How do you feel about bears?”

Glory
looked stunned. She stumbled along, pulled by Tabby, her expression one of
horrified fascination. She’d never dealt well with aggressive men, and a man on
the hunt for his mate was about as aggressive as they came. “Please tell me
we’re discussing the teddy kind.”

Tabby
shook her head and escorted her friend into Julian’s room.

Bunny
pushed on the door to Julian’s room. Ryan had told him that his mate could be
found there. He’d also told Bunny that she was getting naked. He needed to find
out if Julian was a dead man or not. Clenched in one hand was the stupid
stuffed bear he’d had made for Julian at Tabby’s insistence.

If
Julian had gotten one glimpse of his mate’s creamy flesh, Bunny was going to
feed the toy to him one fuzzy piece at a time.

“I was
wondering when you’d show up.”

Bunny
blinked. Julian sat on the edge of his bed, a smirk on his face. His Native
American heritage was obvious in his dusky skin color, deep black eyes and high
cheekbones. His long, dark hair was loose, falling to pool in his lap. Now that
he got a good look at him, Bunny nearly growled. Julian was one of the
handsomest men he’d ever seen. And Tabby was naked in this man’s bathroom?

Hell
to the no.

“Where’s
Tabby?” Bunny smiled, his fangs peeking out.
Mine.

Julian
rolled his eyes and snorted. “She’s getting dressed.” He pointed toward the
bathroom. “She even waited until she shut the door to start with the
nakedness.”

Bunny’s
hands clenched. He owed the man, but still. That was
his
mate getting
naked in another man’s room. “Tabby?”

“Yeah?”
Her muffled reply sounded amused.

He
ground his teeth. “Are you done yet?”

Julian
covered his mouth, no doubt hiding his laughter from the way his shoulders were
shaking. “Your mate thinks I’m going to sneak in there and ravish your lily-white
ass.”

Bunny
relaxed a bit. The other man had just acknowledged Bunny’s right to Tabby. He
bowed his head in thanks, smiling back when Julian winked at him. The last
thing he wanted to do was rip into the man who not only was one of his mate’s
closest friends, but his cousin’s savior. Besides, Bunny hated fighting, but
he’d do it for Tabby. It was nice to know there wasn’t a need where Julian was
concerned.

The
sounds behind the door had stopped. “He thinks what again?”

“Face
it, hon.” Julian struck a dramatic pose. “You want me even more than you want
Legolas.”

The
door opened. Tabby stepped out and Bunny’s tongue nearly hit the floor. Those
jeans looked painted on. “Of course. Legolas can’t do that thing you do with
your tongue and a cherry stem.”

Bunny
sighed. He’d explore those jeans later. He turned his attention back to Julian.
“You need to die now.”

Julian
laughed. “Nice to meet you, by the way.”

Bunny
stepped forward and shook the hand Julian was holding out. He tried not to
frown. The man looked like hammered shit despite the front he was putting on.
“Alexander Bunsun. Call me Bunny.”

The
Bear blinked, but didn’t say a word. “Julian Ducharme. Tabby and I are good
friends.”

“I owe
you for what you did for my cousin.”

Julian
grimaced. “I couldn’t leave her like that.” He shrugged. “Her pain pulled me
from three blocks away.”