Double Bear: BBW Paranormal Menage Shape Shifter Romance (Bear Mountain Book 3) (6 page)

“You believe them?” Sam asked.

“I’m one of them,” Gage said.

Without warning, he shifted into a bear before her eyes. Kate grabbed her uninjured hand and held on tight.

“Don’t be afraid. It’s Gage and he won’t hurt you. Would you like to touch him to make sure he’s real?”

“No, I believe you,” Sam laughed nervously. Kate’s assurance was the only reason she hadn’t screamed. Gage was even bigger in his bear form and the small room seemed to shrink when he’d turned furry.

Gage shifted back into his human form, fully clothed as if he hadn’t been a full grown grizzly bear a few seconds before.

“They were telling the truth?” Sam whispered the thought out loud. “But…,”

“It’s hard to believe until you see it with your own eyes, but yes, they were telling the truth,” Kate said.

“Do you have a mate mark? Is that part true?”

“Yes, but it’s only visible to other bears. It has to be given during unprotected intercourse to work, but the mark grants us immortality and allows other bears to scent that I’m mated, and who I belong to.”

“I called them liars and said I never wanted to see them again,” she admitted quietly.

“Don’t worry,” Gage said. “I doubt they’ll give up that easily.”

She wasn’t so sure, but she didn’t voice her opinion. Before she could ask any more questions, Dr. Whitmore returned. After a few brief instructions, he sent her home.

Gage and Kate dropped her off at home as the sun started its rise over the mountain.

***

“How are you feeling, darlin’?” her dad asked as he handed her a cup of warm milk.

Her dad had been up since Gage called and told him about her fall. The man had been prepared to meet her at the clinic, but after several words of caution from the sheriff, and a confirmation about her well-being from the doctor, he decided to heed the warnings and stay off the icy sidewalk.

“Okay, dad. Thanks for waiting up,” she said.

“I would have come down, but that sheriff can be persuasive,” he said.

“Yes, he can,” she agreed and thought about what happened in the patient’s room she’d been waiting in.

“Dad, can I ask you a question?”

“Sure. What’s on your mind?”

“Did it ever bother you that mom was overweight?”

“No, never. When I looked at your mom, I only saw sexy curves and endless sexual possibilities. I’m not trying to be crude, but I loved the way her body fit against mine. As if she was put on this earth just for me. Why do you ask?”

“I was just wondering.”

“It this about them boys?”

“Kind of,” she admitted.

“You love them,” he stated.

“You know?”

“Darlin’, from the moment them boys arrived in town, the three of you have been stuck like glue. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see what’s going on.”

“You’re not…,” she trailed off.

“Mad? Disgusted? Upset? Hell no! I’ve never seen you so happy and they seem to like making you smile. I know in my gut that they will protect you and care for you with everything they have. The only thing I question is when the grandkids are going to start arriving.”

Tears filled her eyes and her dad sat down next to her and put his arm around her shoulder.

“What’s wrong?”

“I think I might have ruined things,” she sobbed. “They trusted me with a secret, but I thought they were trying to drive me away so they could move on to an old flame of theirs we saw in the mall. I said some horrible things, dad, and I’m not sure they’ll forgive me.”

“Why would you think they wanted some mall woman when they were with you?”

“Because she was thin and beautiful, and could walk in heels. I’m nothing like her.”

“So? Your ex was a lying, cheating jerk. Does that mean you only date lying, cheating jerks?”

“Of course not.”

“Well?”

“You’re right. I know you are, but it’s so hard. They are gorgeous and sexy and everyone in the mall—including the men—stared at them the whole time we were there.”

“So what? They were there with
you
.”

“That’s true.”

“Best thing to do when you make a mistake, is make it right. Apologize. I have a feeling they’ll forgive you. There’s no denying those boys are in love.”

The loud banging on the door made her jump and her dad laughed.

“Looks like you’ll get your chance sooner than later,” he said and got up off the couch. “I’ll send them in and go back upstairs. I could use another hour or two.”

“Thanks dad.”

“You’re welcome, darlin’,” he said.

He kissed her on the forehead and walked into the foyer to let in her men.

Chapter Six

Collin’s heart tightened when he saw Sam sitting on the couch with her arm in a cast. Her tear stained face couldn’t hide the black circles under her eyes and he hated that he and Cade were the cause of her distress.

Logically he knew they couldn’t have stopped her from running, but everything inside screamed that he was the source of her pain. A glance at Cade confirmed he felt the same. She was their mate, their responsibility, and they’d let her down.

They’d stayed in the woods another hour after he met Cade at the boulder. The time in their bear forms had done them good and they returned with clear heads, ready to rest and confront their mate later that afternoon.

When they saw they note on the door handle, they didn’t have to read it to know something terrible lurked inside. They’d run off, become unreachable, and their mate had needed them.

They’d failed her.

A short time later, Gage renewed their hope. He gave them the facts about Sam’s injury, and told how he’d shifted in front of her and she’d kept her cool. They couldn’t rest until they saw her condition with their own eyes, and hopefully convinced her to accept their love.

“Thank you for coming,” she said. “Please, sit down.”

Collin sat next to her on the couch and Cade sat in the matching lounge chair beside them.

“I’m sorry. I should have believed you when you said you loved me and told me about your bears. I thought…,” she took a deep breath. “From our first date, I thought you were just using me to have some fun while you were in town helping Gage. I know I’m not perfect, and when we saw the woman in the mall, I was convinced you’d settled for me because I was the only one available. I’m sorry I didn’t trust you.”

“We never planned on leaving Bear Mountain, love,” Collin said. “One of the reasons we returned is because of Kate and the cubs she’s carrying. The energies of a pregnant bear, or mate of a bear, call to us and drive us to congregate.”

“As soon as we saw you,” Cade added, “we knew we’d made the right decision. The only place we want to go is to our new home. As soon as were done with Seth’s, were starting on ours. It’s going to be further down the hill from Gage’s, but we’ll still have plenty of privacy. You need to help us decide on the plans, but a large front porch, bigger than your dad’s, is a must.”

“Why?” she asked.

“We want our bear forms to fit on it comfortably,” Collin said matter-of-factly.

Cade touched the fingers on her casted arm with a softness she’d learned to expect from Collin. It didn’t fool her though; the underlying power in his caress gave him away.

“You shouldn’t have run,” Cade said.

“I know,” she replied.

“You’ll pay for this later,” he said and tapped her cast lightly.

“I can’t wait.”

“Be our mate?” Collin asked. “Let us mark you and live with us for eternity?”

“Yes,” she said. “I love you.”

Collin leaned forward and kissed her soft lips. He didn’t mean to force her, but he thrust his tongue inside her mouth, demanding her submission, and she complied. She met him stroke for stroke and didn’t back down from his assault.

When they broke apart, Cade kneeled down in front of her, slid his hand under her hair and pulled her mouth to his. She accepted his equally possessive claim and when they separated, Cade rested his forehead to hers.

“I love you, too, Cade. So much. I’m sorry said those nasty things and ran off.”

“Don’t ever leave us again,” he whispered.

“Never.”

Cade sat back in his chair, but kept one hand on her knee.

“Let’s go back to the cottage and get some—” Cade stood abruptly, pushing his chair across the floor. “Do you smell that?”

“Gas. Sam, go wake your dad and get out of the house,” Collin said and they both raced outside.

They ran around the house in opposite directions and met in the back. Jack stood with a gas can at his feet, and a lit match in the other.

“Burn in hell you sick fucks,” Jack said and threw the match at the house. The wall had been doused in gasoline and flames instantly spread and climbed up the wall.

Collin ran around the side of the house and grabbed the hose. He turned it on and sprayed the spreading flames while Cade ran back inside the home and dialed the fire department and the police.

The neighbors on either side grabbed their hoses and worked together to save the house until the fire department came. Cade stood with Sam and Mr. Hastings as the others tried to save their home.

When the fire department arrived, the professionals took over and put out the fire in minutes. If not for the help of the community, they probably would have lost the house. The back wall had been charred and would need repair, but the structure still stood and the damage hadn’t reached the inside.

Sam cried and she and her father thanked everyone profusely.

Gage showed as the fire truck pulled away.

“We need to talk,” he said to Collin. “I need the three of you to meet me at the sheriff’s office in ten minutes.”

A few minutes later, after the commotion died down, the trio walked into the sheriff’s office.

“Dave was out on patrol and saw Jack running from the Hastings’ yard. I got your call a few minutes later. He crossed into the National Park. Dave has him on surveillance in the old ranger cabin on the north trail,” Gage said.

“We’re going,” Cade said and turned to leave.

“Me, too,” Sam said.

“No way!” Cade roared.

“Yes, way,” she yelled back. “I deserve to see him brought to justice.”

“Sam—” Collin started, but Cade interrupted.

“Are you prepared to watch us destroy him, love? Because if he doesn’t give up and admit to the vandalism and the arson, we’re going to kill him,” Cade said.

“I’m prepared to watch you do what needs to be done,” she said. “We’re in this together.”

“Fine,” Cade agreed.

“I’ll drive her in my cruiser,” Gage said. “You guys run and we’ll meet you there.”

Collin and Cade walked out of the building, confident of Gage’s ability to take care of their mate. They ran north into the tree line, and used the dense vegetation to shield them from onlookers. 

They shifted into their bear forms and hunted down their prey.

***

Sam opened the car door as the vehicle rolled to a stop next to the deputy’s cruiser. Two large grizzly bears sat outside the old dilapidated cabin and she ran up and stood between them. She smoothed her free hand down one furry back and the bear she touched gently nuzzled her casted fingers. His eyes were fierce, reminding her of the predator he was, but he was gentle and patient with her.

She turned toward the other bear and felt his fur in the same way. He watched her with an intensity she didn’t expect and she felt the love from his gaze surround her. The comfortable feeling assured her she’d be safe whatever happened when Jack emerged from the building.

She’d never seen her men in their bear forms, but she easily recognized their differences.

Gage spoke into a bullhorn and urged Jack out of the building. She glanced back and saw both the sheriff and Dave, the deputy, had their weapons drawn. They were ready for the worst.

“Jack, come on out now,” Gage urged into the bullhorn.

“I’m not coming out,” the man yelled from inside. “Send in Sam or someone dies.”

Cade let out a huge roar and Collin growled and pulled his lips back to reveal his teeth.

“Jack, I’m not going in there. Come out and talk to us. Why did you set my house on fire?”

“Because, you’re damned,” he yelled. “First two men at the same time, and now animals. You’re going to hell unless you stop this behavior. I was trying to save you.”

“It’s not your job to save me,” she reminded him. “You gave up that right when you dumped me. You only need to worry about saving yourself now, so come on out.”

“Never!” he yelled.

Sam saw the nose of the shotgun peek out through the broken window, but they guys were already in motion. Cade charged the window and Collin tore around the side of the cabin to the front door. She saw Jack step back to fire the weapon and see the bears coming for him.

Gage yelled into the bullhorn for her to get down, but his words didn’t register until the shotgun fired. She saw the moment it hit Cade, at close range, and she screamed his name as someone tackled her to the ground.

Cade roared out in pain, but the bullet didn’t stop him from charging through the window. Collin split the wood on the front door to race inside and for a few seconds, the only things that could be heard where Jack’s screams and her bears roaring as they dealt out their vengeance.

Soon, her two men emerged from the building in their human forms and Cade collapsed on the ground.

“Cade,” she yelled and pushed Gage off of her.

She ran over and dropped to her knees by his side. His shoulder looked chewed and mangled, as if it had survived a bear attack, and blood seeped out at an alarming rate. Collin ripped off his shirt and wrapped it around the wound, and soon the material was soaked.

“You shouldn’t have done that,” she cried as she held his hand. “Don’t leave me.”

“Never,” he whispered before he passed out.

“We have to get him to a doctor,” she screamed. She looked around at the other men who surrounded Cade’s lifeless body. “Do something,” she yelled.

“He’s going to be okay, Sam,” Collin said. “Remember what we told you? We can’t die. We just need to get him to the cottage so he can rest. He’ll be fine in a few hours.”

They did tell her, but a wound like that didn’t heal itself. Did it? She looked up and saw Collin nodding as if he’d read her mind.

“Back up now,” he said. “We’re going to lift him into Gage’s squad car.”

An hour later, she lay next to an unmoving Cade on the bed and wrapped both of her arms around his one good one. Collin slid up behind her and tightened his arm around her waist. His strong, warm body comforted her as she worried over his brother.

As soon as the men brought Cade into the cabin, Collin ordered her into the shower. He cleaned and rewrapped Cade’s wound, and got rid of the bloody shirts they’d used to stop the bleeding. By the time she emerged from the steamy bathroom, Cade lay resting on the bed as if nothing were amiss. She could almost believe him napping instead of recovering from an ugly gunshot wound.

“Are you sure he’s going to be okay?” she asked.

“I’m sure. He’ll be back to normal in a few hours. Until then, let’s get some sleep. It’s been a long night and a crazy morning, and you need your rest. I can’t have you passing out on us later.”

She heard the smile in his voice, a promise of things to come, but she still worried over Cade.

The events of the afternoon replayed over and over in her mind. So many things from the day had shocked her; she knew she’d been running on adrenaline since she ran out of the cottage in the middle of the night.

Cade and Collin had told her the truth when they admitted to being bear shifters, and they hadn’t lied when they said they would kill Jack if they had to. Jack turned out to be a whole lot of crazy she didn’t even know existed, and she was thankful her bears were there to protect her.

Dave, the deputy, was the only full-human in town who knew about the bears, but Gage trusted him with his life. He’d been loyal to the town, even when they’d elected Gage instead of him to replace the old sheriff. The whole clan, Gage, his brother Seth, and the twins, trusted him to help when things got complicated.

“Sleep. The sooner you rest, the sooner you can see his progress for yourself.”

“But…,” a yawn interrupted her protest.

“Rest now, love,” he whispered. “Trust me.”

She did trust him, and fell asleep holding onto Cade, anchored by Collin.