Hidden, Clan of the Werebear (3 page)

“Where you going in such a hurry?” the drunken voice said. “Come back here. I want to—”

A silver wolf downed the man, and Elaina ran as fast as her human legs would take her from the scene. It had to have been Liam was all I could think, but just in case it wasn’t, she stayed in the shadows.
With shifters this close, any one of them would be a danger to me
, Elaina thought.

As she crossed the field, she spotted the forest directly ahead of her. She broke through the line of trees and as she inhaled the crisp Alaskan air, a memory nagged at her. When was the last time she had run to the safety of the forest? She shook her head to clear it, and only then did she slow her pace.

Elaina gazed back one final time at the lighted Bear Claw Pub, now in the distance. Would this be the last time she’d see it? Elaina just hoped that Samson would understand why she had to leave. She was sure that Marla would find a way to explain things to him.

Elaina kept walking until she reached a stream that was off to her left. She knew it was too engorged this time of year to cross. Elaina and Liam had played here often, as children, when Samson spent time with Marla. She just had to find a safe place to hole up for the night, but she didn’t feel all that safe unless she put more distance between her and Samson. He’d hunt her down, of that she was quite sure of. She tripped as the ground sloped down. Was it possible that she was near the valley? That bothered Elaina because that meant she was more to the south, and there wouldn’t be any shelter here until she crossed the valley to the wilderness on the other side. It also meant that she was too near to the wolf pack and their den. That’s the last thing anyone would want to do, especially a werebear. She couldn’t count on Liam being able to protect her from the entire pack.

Elaina froze when she heard a wolf howl. She was found out. She ran away from the sound, losing her footing, and fell hard to her knees with a bang. She scrambled back to her feet as she smelled the wolves in hot pursuit. She had no choice now. She’d have to shift. Elaina pulled her jacket from her body, but before she made it further, she tripped again, and this time fell headlong down a hill. She rolled over and over for fifty feet and smacked her head on the rocks and pebbles below. She breathed in sharply, tasting only dirt. Her head throbbed badly now and she stared ahead just as the wolf pack was on her, teeth bared and snarling. One lone white wolf snapped its jaws at her. Elaina couldn’t hold on any longer. She allowed herself to close her eyes, and she was out.

* * *

Elaina awoke with a start, gathering animal pelt blankets around her. She didn’t have a stitch on, and as she stared across the room, she spotted her clothing. She stared at the gray walls of the cave and from the aroma of the room, she knew she must be in the wolf den. When she tried to sit upright, her head pounded in response. She flopped back on the bed feeling weaker than she ever had, and defenseless. Everything told her to shift and get out of here, but in her current state, she wouldn’t be able to. It took more energy than she had now.

A woman walked in the room, her black hair flowing down her back. The beige frock she wore displayed her lithe body. She handed Elaina a plate filled with cooked meat, deer from the fragrance. She was helped to sit and encouraged to eat. “Please, eat. You need to regain your strength.”

Elaina lifted a piece of meat and tasted it with interest. It could have been more tender, but it was quite tasty. Samson did a much better job of preparing deer meat than they did. She was then handed a container of water, and she thirstily drank. She felt her head that was covered with a bandage. “How long have I been out?”

“A few days.” The woman reached over and refastened the bandages on Elaina’s shoulder. “What happened here?”

“I fought with another bear. I mean, a bear.”

“She was defending me,” Liam said from the door. He approached the bed and sat down at the foot. “Why were you wandering around by yourself, and at night?”

“I was escaping. I couldn’t stand being locked up anymore.”

“How did you manage to accomplish that?”

“Someone slid the key under the door. I thought it was you.”

Liam’s brow tightened. “No. Are you sure you weren’t followed?”

“I managed to get out of the Bear Claw Pub without anyone seeing me.”

“How can you be so sure?”

“Well, there wasn’t anyone in the hallway. I slipped out the back door.”

“And you’re sure you weren’t followed?”

“There was a man who called out to me, but a wolf downed him. You mean it wasn’t you?”

“No. What color was the wolf?”

“It was me,” the woman said.

“Adara, why would you go near the shifter’s pub? You know it’s dangerous.”

“I know, b-but,” she began as she gazed in Elaina’s direction. “I thought if the werebear left the pub that you’d be free of her spell.”

“You slipped the key under her door?” Liam asked with his hands balled up into fists.

“No, but I told someone else to do it for me.”

“You fool. What if you were discovered?”

“I wasn’t, but I did protect Elaina from a drunken shifter. Surely that must count for something.”

“And why did you do that?” Elaina asked.

“I wanted you gone, not dead. If you died, you’d forever be between Liam and me. He’d never be free of your memory.”

Elaina glared at Adara. “That’s silly. There’s nothing between Liam and me. Werewolves and werebears are forbidden to mate. We’re just friends.”

“I know what the rules say, but he has an emotional attachment to you.” She sighed. “The simple fact that you’re here now is against the rules. If the alpha, Damian, finds out, she’s as good as dead,” Adara pointed out.

“Silence, woman,” Liam snapped. “I’m not the fool you take me for. Damien knows all about it. I’d never would have brought her here without his permission. I’m in line to be the next alpha, as you know, Adara. Damien has given me permission to make decisions since he’s been ill.”

“You brought her here before you had the chance to ask him.”

Liam took ahold of Adara’s frock. “How dare you challenge me like this. I’m going to be the next alpha. It’s not like she’ll be staying forever.”

She whimpered until he let her go and she ran from the room.

Elaina couldn’t help but be curious and a little surprised at his harshness with Adara. “Is she your mate?”

Liam whisked a palm through his hair. “Not on your life. She’s too mouthy, for one. She’d do well to learn her place.”

“So, you’re just rutting with her, is that it?”

“Why do you even care? We’re just friends, remember?”

Elaina shifted, uncomfortable now. “That’s all we can be. How long will I be allowed to stay here?”

Liam didn’t immediately answer. He gazed into Elaina’s eyes and finally said, “I’m giving you a few days, but if you haven’t recuperated by then, I’ll be putting you out of the den.”

Elaina’s eyes widened. “But I thought you were my friend?”

“Yes, and that’s why I brought you back here so that your injuries could be attended to, but I had never planned to allow you to stay here more than a few days. I have an obligation to the pack to abide by their rules.”

“I see. Well, how safe is it for me to be here now? Adara seems to hold a grudge against me. I won’t feel safe being here now.”

Liam moved to check Elaina’s forehead. “I won’t allow anyone to harm you.” He then made an observation. “You seem much cooler. Perhaps the fever has passed.”

Elaina nodded, but she knew better. The fever had moved to another part of her body and sitting so close to Liam wasn’t helping it a bit.

He made way for the door. “Please, rest. You need your strength for your journey in a few days. I just hope you know where you’re going.”

When he left, Elaina was faced with the truth. It didn’t matter that she was forbidden to mate with Liam, she felt an attraction that she just couldn’t deny.
It’s the fever, that’s all
, Elaina told herself. It was also clear to her that her childhood friend had changed and he was already assuming the role of a dominant alpha.

Elaina was now faced with the seriousness of her situation. She had to form a plan. Where would she go that Samson wouldn’t find her? She could travel to the west. Most of the wolf pack must be traveling back here since the weather had broken, but that was still too deep in werewolf territory. If only she could go to the cabin in the mountains, but that would be the first place Samson would search for her.

It saddened her heart that she had to leave the protection of Samson’s watchful eye. Her childhood had been a happy one. They spent most of those days in the old cabin since Samson first found her that fateful winter, except for the winters when they had traveled to the south.

He taught her how to stay hidden, and she needed to use those same skills to survive now. She had to move into another territory, an uncharted one.

* * *

Elaina rubbed her eyes when she woke some time later and swung her legs off the edge of the bed, intent on gathering her clothing. Halfway there, she froze, hearing a male voice from the doorway say, “It’s no wonder Liam offered you shelter here. You’re quite attractive, for a werebear. Why is it that most of you are so curvy?”

Elaina ignored the man, not even turning to look, until he grabbed her arm and whirled her around. “Look at me when I’m speaking to you, bear.”

Elaina didn’t even bat an eyelash. She just shifted. And as she gazed down at the insignificant man, she roared her dislike of him. He obviously was so shocked that he never shifted. She swiped at him and pinned him beneath her mighty paw.

Men darted into the room with a pounding of feet, and as the men shifted to wolves, only growls could be heard. Elaina wasn’t about to take them on, but neither was she going to back down. She stretched her mighty head toward the ceiling, letting go of the man under her paw. She motioned with her head for them to clear the doorway, and when they did, she lumbered out the door. Women screamed as Elaina ran down the corridors, becoming quite lost in the twists and turns. When she entered the room of the pups, she backed away. Three women shifted and attacked her. She shook her massive body to shake the wolves off, as one leapt on her back.

Liam came running onto the scene. “Stop!” he commanded.

The wolves slunk back and Elaina shifted back to human form, collapsing on the ground. “I’m s-sorry. I meant no harm, but a man came in my room and grabbed me. I was so angry that I couldn’t stop myself from shifting.” Elaina was naked and on her hands and knees now, bleeding from numerous places where the wolves’ teeth had found their mark. “I hope I didn’t scare the pups. I was just looking for a way out.”

A woman smiled at Elaina, and said. “It’s confusing in here, even I get lost sometimes. We meant you no harm, but we were just protecting our offspring.”

The woman then helped Elaina back to her bed, nursing her wounds. Elaina lay on her stomach and couldn’t stop the tears from falling. Is this her destiny, to fight for survival? If not in the wolf den, then somewhere else? Werewolves and werebears were not the only shifters in this area. Perhaps she should have just stayed behind under Samson’s protection.

The kind woman introduced herself. “I’m Nala. I’m the protector of the pups. I’m barren and was chosen to help raise the offspring.”

Elaina dried her tears on the blanket. “I-I’m sorry to hear that.”

“Thanks. It’s not all that bad. I so enjoy the children and sometimes some of the wolves still want to rut with me. I come into season like the rest of the females, but I have yet to produce any offspring.”

“How sad for you.”

“Thanks. I should get back to the children now. They’ll be full of questions, I’m sure.”

Elaina nodded. Her back ached horribly. If she was only allowed to stay here two days, surely one was gone now. She half expected them to put her out much sooner, after the events of today. She knew now she had no other choice than to go back to Samson, either that or she needed to find a mate, and fast, for protection. Where she’d find one, exactly, Elaina didn’t know.

Chapter Five

The aging alpha Damien visited Elaina at the beginning of day three. He was quite old and had to sit down when he entered the room that Elaina had called home the last few days.

“I’ve allowed you to stay a little longer than planned, but I wanted to assure myself that you were on the mend. Jessup admitted that he goaded you that day you shifted. It’s a wonder anyone wasn’t hurt. If you had truly wanted to hurt them, you could have.”

“It wasn’t my intention to shift. I just couldn’t control it. I haven’t been in the situation that I was tempted before. My protector, Samson, discouraged me from shifting.”

“Samson is a fool. It’s bad enough that he took in a werebear cub. If we had found you as a cub, you would have been killed by the pack. There has to be some reason he found you near the north ridge.”

Elaina swallowed hard. “I can’t remember anything from that day.”

“It doesn’t matter now. Liam has made his feelings known. That’s the reason you were spared the night we found you. He’ll make a good alpha one day if he loses that soft heart of his. Right now, he’s so easily led by a pretty face. One day, when he finds his mate, that will change.”

Elaina nodded. “If only we were of the same kind. But I was glad to call him friend for a time. I know when I leave this den, I’ll never see him again.”

“Those are the rules he needs to live by. He’s not mated with you, has he?”

“No. It’s forbidden.”

“I know, but I can see that staying away from you was hard for him, especially since the fever is upon you.”

“How can you tell?” Elaina asked shyly.

“I have a nose, don’t I? And were I not all wolf, I’d have tried to mount you myself.” He laughed. “I’m old, not dead.”

Elaina stood and was shown the way outside by Nala. The children waited outside and ran around in excitement. One boy stopped and said, “I’ve never met a bear before.”

“I’ve never met a wolf your age before, either,” Elaina said.