Bearing It All (Grizzly Affairs Book 1) (5 page)

Walking to the window, she opened it. She couldn’t prevent her eyes rolling in aggravation when she saw an outer screen preventing her immediate escape. Glancing over her shoulder with apprehension, she turned back to the window with a look of determination. No matter how she gripped it, the screen wouldn’t budge.  Raising her right leg and she gave the stubborn screen a kick, sending it flying out into the side yard.

With a smile of accomplishment, she crawled out the window with little difficultly. The side yard led down an incline leading away from the cabin. She could only hope that it would lead her to the nearest town. Without thinking, she took off in a light jog through the thick icy powder.

* ~ * ~ *

“Your mother will want you to bring your mate to supper soon, maybe you could…”

His father’s words seemed to become muted in the back of his mind as Doyle gazed up at the snow sheathed trees. He’d begun half listening to his father as he’d lectured on the importance of preparing Aria for what her life would become now. His father had quickly switched to other important pack matters, never lingering on a certain topic once the information was imparted.

He wanted to get back inside so much that his bear was using his insides as a scratching post. He hungered for her in every way possible for him to want something. He longed to hold her close to him, to breathe in her scent and memorize it like a priest would all the Holy Scriptures. He wanted to be near her as she laughed at one of his brother’s awful jokes. In just a few short hours she’d become his own personal drug that he refused to quit.

Like a whipped puppy, his solemn eyes sought out the living room window to taken in another addictive sight of her. His body jerked to a halt when he only saw his brother’s wide shoulders. His bear groaned in trepidation at the lost sight of his mate. Where was she? Stalking past his still speaking father, he all but kicked the front door open in his rush to get inside.

Looming in the door way, his collection of senses searched out their mate. Her scent was present, but it was faint. Jerking his eyes to Robert, whom was browsing though a magazine with his shoeless feet propped on top of the coffee table, he quickly approached the couch.

“Where is Aria? I told you to watch my mate! Where is she?” His bear’s anger echoed in his voice. How could he have trusted his irresponsible twin with his most precious possession? This was a man that could not even keep a cactus alive.

Tossing the magazine aside, Robert lifted his propped feet off the table as he sat up. “Calm down, Gramps. She’s fine.” He stated as he stood up to stretch.

Doyle ignored the front door opening as his father stepped in from the cold with a look of annoyance. “If she is fine; where is she?” he asked through clenched teeth.

“She should still be in your room. Last I saw her was about ten minutes or so. She said she needed some air, so she borrowed my boots and went to your room for a jacket.” Doyle quickly spun on his heels and headed for his closed bedroom door.

Jerking it open, he was greeted by an empty room. A thin trail of cold air seeped into the barren room from an open window. Coming to a stop beside the open window, he spotted the discarded screen protector lying discarded among the snow.

Large boot prints were branded into the icy snow heading down the mountain towards Darkwood Springs. A small town on the edge of his territory, under his protection it was home to human and shifters alike. Fear suddenly gripped him. Why had she run? So many concerns raced through his mind at her absence. What if she got hurt? What if she made it to town and found a way to leave him? What if another shifter claimed her?

His bear growled viciously at the shear idea of another man, shifter or not lying any short of claim on her. No other would claim her but him! Turning back to his father and brother that stood in the hallway with matching looks of confusion, Doyle advanced on his brother. Coming to a stop in front of Robert, he circled his anger clenching hand around his throat. Squeezing,

Doyle lifted his younger brother off his feet as he glared up at him. Doyle’s eyes glowing with retribution at Robert’s part in Aria disappearance.

“What the hell, Bro?” Robert gasped out as Doyle’s tightening fingers suddenly sprouted claws. “What’s the problem?” He wheezed out.

“Why weren’t you watching her?” His growling voiced vibrating the walls with his ferocity.

“I didn't think that meant she couldn’t go outside.” Robert wheezed out breathlessly as his face was turning red rapidly. With a look of self disgust, Doyle abruptly let go of his twin. Abruptly free, Robert's body landed brutally in a heap on the floor while cupping at his offended throat.

His shoulders hunched dangerously as he stalked away, Doyle entered the kitchen and began searching through drawers for what he needed. Behind him, his father and solemn looking brother followed.

“Why would she run from you?” His father asked, absently scratching at his chin.

“She didn't run from me.” Doyle argued, his eyes snapping at his father’s calm ones. “She’s just running from something else.”

“What are you going to do?” Robert asked, curiously. Pulling open another drawer, Doyle smiled with success as his hands closed around the object he needed to bring back his stubborn and strong-willed mate.

Coiling the long length of a rope around his arm and elbow, not taking attention off his task, he answered. “I am going to go after her and bring her back. Then I plan on getting to the bottom of whatever she is so scared of. After that, I plan on binding her so tightly to me that she’ll never remember a time when she wasn’t.”  Tying the rope off to prevent it from unraveling, Doyle returned to his room. Quickly donning a sweater and his boots, he returned to the living room doing all he could to pay no attention to his smirking father and brother.

“That doesn’t sound very
modern
, son.” His father chuckled throwing Doyle’s words back at him. Without another word, Doyle shoved past the two of them and out the front door, leaving the door flung wide open.

Both came to stand in the open doorway, watching Doyle take off after his mate’s trail. Nodding his head in satisfaction, Colin idly looked over at his other son as he stepped over the threshold. “Now that is how a man should take a mate. Forget all this modern twaddle you young ones are always going on about. There’s nothing simpler than capturing your mate and taking her back for some good, old fashion loving.”

Lingering in the doorway, Robert shrugged his shoulders at his father’s outdated wisdom. “If she hasn’t killed him, you mean?”

Colin’s eyes took on a far off look, as though an old memory was resurfacing before his eyes, “That’s part of the fun, my boy.”

Crossing his arms over his chest, Robert’s eyes lingering down the path Doyle had taken to catch up to his mate. Having a mate seemed so…exhausting. He could only hope when the Creator decided to bless him with a mate, his would be much simpler to catch.

* ~ * ~ *

Pulling the zipper up to her chin, Aria took a look around her. She’d followed the snowy slope leading down away from Doyle’s cabin, but all she could see was endless forest land. The slope had flattened out and for the past few minutes she wandered through the thick snow, praying she wasn’t lost, again.

Stepping out from behind a towering tree, she paused as the trail branched off into two different directions. As she started to take the left one, she suddenly stopped and turned to look hesitantly at the right one. Ugh! Was it too much to ask for a road or a simple ‘
Welcome to…
’ sign? She’d kill for a map right about now!

Folding her arms around herself she turned back to the left trail and began putting one foot in front of the other. While she walked, her thoughts turned back to her strange rescuer, Doyle. If he never opened his mouth he would be every woman’s dream come true. With a regretful sigh, she couldn’t help but wish she had stayed.

No!
  Shaking her head at her absurd thought, she forced herself to see the big picture. Malca was hunting her and a handsome stranger would just slow her down and get them both killed. It was better this way, whether he was delusional or not. Her only hope was to get as far away from Malca as she could and disappear forever.

Her first instinct was to confide in Doyle with everything or at least call the authorities, but the truth was, Malca was government funded. One phone call from the police, Malca would have her location in five seconds; she may as well gift-wrap herself for Malca. Who knew how many politicians or law officials were in on the sick doctor’s operation? Plus Malca wasn’t about to let her expose her operation and walk away unscathed.

Stepping over a log half sticking out of the glittering snow, she was forced to raise her hand against the blinding sunlight ahead. A few feet from the tree line was a large empty space of snow covered ground until it vanished over a sharp ledge. Carefully she walked toward the edge, her stomach clenched as she gazed down at the precarious chasm below. At this height, if she were to go over the edge her body would be found in demolished bits. In the distance she could see more never-ending forest terrain.

Groaning in frustration; she kicked her foot at a mound of snow, sending soft powder shimmering in the air. Just great! The only way around the drop off was to either scale down or to circle back. Both were neither an option for her. Glancing around, she searched for an alternate option. With all her attention focused on the issue at hand, she never heard the sound of a snapping twig coming from behind her.

Doyle couldn’t help but shake his head at how easy his mate was making it for him to track her. Hell; even if he’d not been born a shifter with keen senses, he still would be able to find her. In her hurry to put distance between them, she’d broken plenty of branches and had made no move to conceal her foot prints.

Maybe if he wasn’t so irritated at the situation, he would have found this amusing. Tracking his mate in his human form was slower; if he were in his bear form he’d be able to track her within seconds. But terrifying his mate with the sight of a grizzly bear chasing her down would not help catch her.

His footsteps slowed as the trail split off in two directions. He’d half expected her to take the path turning to the right; he was surprised to see her footsteps following the path to the left. If she’d taken the path to the right, it would have led her strait down the mountain and into town. Thank goodness his mate had a terrible sense of direction.

Urging his feet quicker along the path he couldn’t help but lick his lips in anticipation as Aria’s scent grew more potent as he drew closer. He rapidly slowed his pace as he approached the drop off. Concealed by the shadows amongst the trees, he smirked as he watched his mate kicked at the snow in frustration. He thanked his luck that she decided to take the wrong path.

As Aria paced along the edge of the earthy cliff, he slowly inched closer. If he startled her, he risked losing her over the deadly ledge. Crouching down, he began knotting a section of the rope he’d brought along, around his waist. Tucking the extra length of the rope in the front pocket of his jeans, silently he watched her as she loudly fumed.

“What a stupid forest!” she sniped out loudly, “Would it kill them to hang a few signs saying, ‘
This way to town’
or
‘Don’t go this way—it goes nowhere’!
” Groaning in annoyance, she kicked out at more snow before throwing herself down on a nearby rock, half crusted with snow.

From the force of throwing herself onto her perch, she felt tenderness along her rips. Reaching up, her hand covered the area, silently willing the burning pain to recede. Shoving one side of the coat away, she lifted up her shirt to inspect the wound. To her surprise there was nothing there. Last night she remembered it steadily bleeding; now there was simply an area of pink flesh. How was that possible?

Closing her eyes, Aria inhaled deeply as she looked up at the pale sky. Dropping her clothing back into place, she pulled the thick coat more firmly around her. Lowering her head, a flash of light glinted off her left wrist catching her attention. Lifting the hand to eye level she glared at the insulting metal on her wrist. Her skin underneath was red and blistered from repeatedly being zapped at the labs. The memories of how she had been treated no better than a mindless beast resurfaced.

Waves of anger rushed to the surface before she could control it. As though the revolting cuffs were on fire, franticly she began trying to forcibly twist and pull them off. When they wouldn’t move more than an inch in each direction she slid off the cold slick rock to kneel in the snow. A few times she slammed her wrist against the hard exterior of the rock in hopes of smashing the thin metal.

“I don’t think that’s going to work, kitten.” The deep reverberating voice startled Aria as she swung her hand once more towards the stone surface. Only this time it missed its mark, instead of striking the indestructible metal again, she slammed her hand into the hard rock. Crying out whether in surprise or in pain; she didn't know. Cradling her wrist against her shuddering chest, she struggled to conceal the pain in her hand while she covered it from sight with her free hand.

“What do you want?” She gritted out in obvious pain as she glanced away from him.

Doyle crouching down beside her, he reached a tender hand out toward her injured hand, only to grind his teeth in frustration when she jerked out of reach. Jumping to her feet, she backed away from Doyle, the sound of her crunching footsteps against the snow was the only sound echoed between them as she did her best to ignore his watchful gaze.

Not about to take anymore, he rose to his full height and stalked over to his avoiding mate. Jerking her around, he ignored her gasp of surprise as he gripped her injured hand and pulled it out for his inspection. Shoving the thick sleeve up her arm, he could already see a dark bruise forming under the reddened skin across the top of her hand. Gently, he rubbed his fingers over the tops of hers, slowly checking each cherished digit for broken bones.

For a moment, Aria could only stare as the tender giant before her that took vigilant steps to insure she wasn’t injured badly. Quickly she began to feel uneasy with the gentle attention she was receiving from her strong opponent. Jerking her hand away once his grip lessened, she crossed her arms over her chest. His very presence stirred a deeper hunger within her. She fought against the urge to throw herself into his dominating embrace. She elected for looking up at him with as much defiance as she could draw on.

“I’m fine.”

“You’re sure?” At her affirming nod, Doyle replied, “Good,” seizing both of her hands in one of his unbreakable ones, with his free hand he preceded to bind her wrists with the rope that he quickly unwound from his waist.

After discovering his intention, she began to struggle against his hold. Only too quickly he finished his task before turning to wrap the remaining length of rope and tether it around one of his thick wrists. Jerking and tugging against the restraining line, Aria gritted in annoyance when she couldn’t even loosen the complex knot he’d tied.

“Let’s go,” He commanded with a serious voice, turning he began leading her back the way he’d come. The sooner they got back to the cabin the sooner he would lay down the rules of their mating.

When struggling against his leading hand did her no good but to be dragged along the snow behind him, she did the only thing she could. Going limp, she allowed her legs to fold underneath her and sat unmoving in the snow. Jerking his eyes over his shoulders, Doyle couldn’t deny how adorable she looked refusing to follow behind him. Yanking on the rope in effort to force her back onto her feet, he was surprised when she yanked it back in a silent refusal.

“Get up. I need to get you back before you get sick from being out here.”

When her only response to him was a disagreeable look, a frustrated growl surfaced from deep down within him. Why couldn’t the Creator gift him with a more agreeable mate? Stomping over to her, he tightly gripped the front of jacket she wore and lifted her onto her feet, despite her hard look. His eyes bore down into her unflinching ones, as his voice echoed with an unbreakable supremacy.

“You will walk back or I will make you.”

“Fat chance of that happening,” She sniped, yanking once more on the bonds around her joined wrists. “You can’t make me do anything. I’m leaving, so untie me now.”

“No, we’re going back and when we get to the cabin we’re going to settle the rules of this relationship. One of which being; you will not leave that cabin again unless I say so.” He replied, pointing an accusing finger at her scowling face.

“
Relationship?
You must be more delusional than I first thought, first I find out all you guys think you are bear shifters—whatever that is! And now you think we’re in a relationship? You really are crazy!” She mocked.

Comprehension suddenly hit Doyle like a runaway train. Ice poured into his veins at the knowledge that she knew the truth. “Who told you that? Is that why you ran? And for your information we are in a relationship, you just don’t know it yet.” He finished, confusing her all the more.

“Robert said your family and you were grizzly shifters. You weirdo’s have been living in the woods too long, if you ask me. Now let me go and point me in the direction of town.” She demanded with an intolerant look.

Shaking his head at the mess his little brother had started, he squared his shoulders with determination. “We’ll talk when we get home, now let’s go.” His tone brooked no argument.

Aria was forced to slowly follow behind him; all the while she formed a plan in the back of her mind. Doyle slowed his pace, more than likely he was lost deep in his own thoughts, than paying attention to his captive behind him. Lucky for her, there was enough slack on the rope for her to reach her bound hands into the side of one of her borrowed boots.  Allowing her to pull out the knife she’d lifted before leaving the cabin.

Clutching it between her bound hands with the blade pointing directly at her, with a few flicks of her hands, her bonds were quickly sliced through. As they had arrived at the forked path, she bent to pick up a thick, fallen branch. Swing it; she struck it against the back of Doyle’s head. It didn't knock him out, however it did catch him by surprise causing him to stumble while clutching at his head.

Taking her chance, with the deadly knife in her grip, she dashed around her stunned opponent and down the opposite path. The path led down a long steep incline, the snow made it difficult to run down, causing her to fall forwards and backwards several times. Her heart lifted with excitement as she saw the welcoming sight of a town in the distance. But the distance would be greater than a short run. Her pursuer would catch up with her before she even reached the bottom of the giant gradient she seemed to be sliding down.

Her breath escaped out in heavy pants as she picked up her speed, like the night before a burst of energy flooded her system and she moved through the wind as though she were part of it. As she neared the bottom of the slope she felt her heart clench in panic as a thunderous roar echoed through the trees behind her. The thunderous echo caused birds to take flight from their shelter among the trees. Pausing to turn and look at the top of the impressive rise, her mouth went dry as she saw a monstrous grizzly bear racing down after her.

There was no way she could out run a mauling and most likely, killing machine like that. Looking around in horror she saw there were no nearby trees to climb or any hiding place in sight. Closer and closer the growling fury charged straight at her, with no sign it would stop until it was upon her. Struggling to quell the shaking of her hands, she held the knife out in front of her and waited for the inevitable.

The mighty grizzly kept up its pace as it descended upon level ground. She took a deep breath as she swung the knife at the snarling mouth of the beast within reach. Missing her mark, the beast’s head slammed into her and knocked her off her feet. Landing on her stomach, she felt sick with panic as she felt the ground shutter under the thundering steps of the livid creature. Her hand gripped at empty air as she realized the knife had been knocked out of her hand. Spotting it just out of reach, she franticly began crawling toward it.

Her heart nearly burst in her chest as she felt the bear’s hot breath against the back of her neck. Fearing it would instantly chomp down on her vulnerable neck, she was surprised when it instead gripped the neck line of her coat and began half lifting, half dragging her back towards the precipitous hill. Stretching out her hand, she snagged the knife in her seeking hand. Swinging her hand up behind her, she slashed along one of the creature’s gigantic front legs.

Roaring in pain, the bear dropped his prize and leap away. Much to her displeasure the animal didn't lose interest in her; instead it slowly circled her as she climbed to her unsteady feet. With teeth bared, the predator’s eyes flashed dangerously at the sight of the blood smeared knife tightly clutched in her hand. Where the hell was that annoying troglodyte; Doyle when she needed him?

Slowly, the bear stopped its strategic circling and began carefully approaching her head on. Its dark lips peeled over its deadly teeth in a low snarl. Still she kept her only weapon pointed threatening at the approaching marauder, waiting to see what would happen next. As it nearly was within touching distance, she slashed the crimsoned stained steel through the air, inches from the bear’s snout.

In surprise; the grizzly groaned and took a step back before it simply sat on its furry backside, quietly watching her like a curious puppy. When she’d heard of bears mauling helpless victims and ripping them to bloody bits this wasn’t how she envisioned it. In alarmed confusion she watched the bear’s form became as thin as mist, slowly drifting on the wind then to be replaced with a very sweaty naked man. Looking up at her with a familiar crooked grin, Aria gasped is shock as she stared down at Doyle.

She quickly jumped back as he stood precariously onto his feet, still holding the knife pointing at him, she couldn’t help but admire his sweat glistening form. His powerful muscles bunched and flowed like a powerful predator beneath his dark skin. Her eyes suddenly fell on his thick, straining manhood that pulsed with a dark, primitive need. Heat flooded her cheeks as she forced her eyes to look up at his face and sweat slicked locks.

“I don’t…think you will need that, little warrior.” He gasped out, still trying to catch his breath as he pointed at the knife.

She didn't lower it as he’d expected, instead she tightened her grip on it as he took a shaken step forward. Her eyes flashed with fear and confusion as he approached. She feared him now, and it tore deep down into his soul. His bear moaned mournfully at their mate’s forthcoming rejection. He would now have to battle through her fear of his bear to get to her guarded heart.

“Don’t be afraid…” He whispered softly, taking another step forward his hands reaching out for her cautiously.