His to Bear (7 page)

surprise when he not only walked over to join her but picked her up and set her on his

lap once he was settled. One hand wrapped around her waist, palm flat over her

stomach as he held her locked against him. She tried to peek up at him from under her

eyelashes, but his face was turned toward Laramie.

She tensed when Koby walked in to join them. The hunger in his eyes terrified

her. She still didn’t understand why he wanted her. Her one guess was for the children

she could provide. Especially since as far as they were concerned, she was the only

female left. She’d dissuade them of that soon despite her promise. There was no way

she was lying to Laramie. Still, if Koby’s challenge was based on the assumption of

her being the only female then why him? Why not Laramie? He was the oldest and the

last Kodiak among them. Koby’s interest made no sense.

She had her gaze on the door, watching the Holloways file in, when Jensen

entered. She saw his gaze connect with Laramie’s and took note of the quick shake of

his head. She knew what that meant. There hadn’t been anything left of her Uncle

Emmett for Jensen to bring back. She swallowed the bile that tried to rise in her

throat. She’d thought as much. After all, she’d heard what they’d done to her uncle.

Koby took the chair Jaeda had sat in last time, sprawling out with his arms

hanging over the sides. His gaze centered on her and Holt, the glare leaving no

question to how he felt. She wanted to curl into her mate and had to force herself not

to. Holt had made his view of their mating obvious when he’d left her earlier. She’d

accepted that once her tears had dried up. Which was why his current behavior made

little sense, especially the way his thumb was stroking back and forth where it rested

on her belly. She was doing her best to ignore it…and him.

“Jensen.” Laramie called his brother’s name as soon as everyone was seated.

“We cleaned up as best we could,” Jensen said, throwing a look toward her.

“There, uh… Well…” He looked decidedly uncomfortable.

“I know what happened to him,” Jaeda stated quietly. “Did you forget I was

there most of the night listening?”

Jensen nodded at her and slid his gaze back to Laramie. Laramie said nothing,

but his attention turned toward her. He kept his focus on her and Holt while Jensen

finished.

“The hunters didn’t leave anything behind. Tore the place apart. Burned the

house and everything in it. Brock checked the den. Plenty of supplies but nothing

else.”

Laramie’s intent stare was starting to unnerve her. Holt was the only thing

keeping her from wiggling in her seat. She didn’t want to lean on his strength but

soaked it up, anyway. Soon, it wouldn’t be available to her anymore. Not when she

followed through on the decision she’d made earlier, when her mate had left instead

of consummating their bond.

“What about the other matter?” Laramie continued to watch her while he

questioned his brother.

The look in his eyes made her catch her breath as it hit her. He knew. Or if he

didn’t, he suspected. She didn’t want to be in the shoes of those who would have to

face his wrath. A shiver coursed through her, and Holt tugged her closer toward his

chest. She tried to stay sitting up but found herself giving in again. It was going to

hurt either way in the end.

“Donovan was the only one who answered. He seemed pretty shaken and upset

when I told him about Emmett. Even more so when I said we were thinking of making

the rounds, checking to make sure everyone was okay. Did his best to assure me he

was fine and not to worry. I told him it would be another week before we could get

out, anyway, and that one of us would be in touch.”

Laramie nodded. “Any idea why he’d be upset, Jaeda?”

“He and Uncle Emmett were friends.” Not a lie, but not the whole truth, either.

“I’m willing to bet that wasn’t the only reason. I’m willing to bet the elders in

our pack have some big secrets they’re trying to keep. What I can’t understand is why

they’d feel the need to?”

Jaeda took a deep breath. She knew the answer, though she wasn’t supposed to.

She’d overheard Uncle Emmett talking to a few of the other elders.

“The attacks were planned,” she whispered then cleared her throat and forced

herself to repeat her words louder. “The attacks by the hunters were strategically

planned. They knew where and when to strike. They knew the future of our race is

linked with our females, something no one outside of our pack should know. It was no

mistake they lured your father out and killed him before the attacks. They hit while we

were all still reeling from his death. With him gone and you and your brothers still

grieving, there was less chance someone would put the pieces together.”

The room was deathly quiet for a long minute while they all stared at her. She

saw the way they were processing her words and knew the moment they understood

what she was alluding to.

Koby sat forward. “Son of a bitch!”

“We were betrayed,” Laramie announced, and Jaeda nodded, though he wasn’t

seeking confirmation. “Do the elders suspect anyone?”

She shook her head. “I don’t know. It was never mentioned around me again.

That’s why…” She caught herself in the nick of time and continued on smoothly. “I

was hidden. To protect me from the enemy without and the one within.”

“I’ll rip the bastard apart when we find him,” Koby said while several of the

other brothers began grumbling and yelling.

Laramie held his hand up and silence descended again. “How many of you

remain? How many did they hide?”

Every gaze in the room was zeroed on her again.

“I don’t—”

“Remember my warning about lying, Jaeda,” Laramie said softly. “I won’t tell

you again. How many?”

She opened and closed her mouth several times before she was able to spit the

answer out. “Six that I know of. There could be more.”

The Holloways exploded to their feet. All except Laramie. He sat and stared.

“There are at least six females still among us?” he said, looking to her for

verification.

“That I’m aware of,” she said. “If there are more, I don’t know. The elders were

very careful of what was said in front of us.”

“When was the last time you saw any of them?” Holt asked.

“The attacks,” Jaeda said, recalling that time with a shudder. “The elders kept us

together until they decided what to do. We were hidden in a den. We spent the week

after together while they searched for more of us. One by one, we were taken away. I

never saw the others again.”

“Do you know who among the elders were there?” Jensen asked. “Donovan had

to be. We find them. We find the remaining females.”

“And then what?” Holt put the question forward. “What happens to them then?”

“We’ll bring them here,” Laramie said. “Whoever betrayed us will be informed

of Jaeda’s existence. It won’t take them long to wonder if there are more. The only

way we can protect her and the others is to have them here.”

“Will they be safe?” Holt asked. “Or will they only be in a different type of

danger?”

“What the hell does that mean?” Koby demanded.

“There are six of them, seven including Jaeda. And seven Holloway brothers.

Anyone can do the math, and Koby has already made his desire for Jaeda obvious.”

“She’s my mate!” Koby yelled, exploding from his chair.

Holt eased Jaeda off his lap and stood to face the other man. “Funny. I thought

Jaeda chose me as her mate. Was I mistaken in that?”

“No,” Jaeda said since he was glancing at her.

He continued before she could say anything else. “Does she not have a choice? I

know the mating process is different for all of you than what I’ve witnessed within the

pride. Still, I can’t believe your animals don’t have a say in who they select as mates.”

“They do,” Laramie agreed with Holt. “But there is much at stake right now.”

“Such as?” Holt asked.

“It’s a woman’s right to choose,” Jaeda stated, interrupting. “We’re allowed to

pick who we accept as mate. We’re the ones who initiate the bond. It’s the one

decision that lies solely with us.”

“Then if the other women are found, they’ll be brought here and protected until

they find the mate of their choosing?” Holt crossed his arms over his chest when

Laramie shook his head in denial.

“I can’t make that promise,” Laramie said.

“You can’t mean to force a mating?” Jaeda gasped.

“There are too few left,” Laramie stated. “You understand the importance of

your role in our pack. We no longer have the luxury of allowing choice. We’ll invoke

animal law.”

“Animal law?” Holt questioned.

“No!” Jaeda cried at the same time.

“Survival of the fittest,” Laramie said. “Each woman will be given a choice, but

only from the fiercest among us. It’s the only way to ensure the future of our species.

Our males deserve the right to see their blood in future generations. For some of us,

we’re the last of our kind and, without a mate capable of bearing shifter children, our

lines will cease to exist once we’re gone.”

“So they’ll only be allowed to mate with other bears?”

Laramie nodded at Holt’s question.

“And what of Jaeda and I?”

“I gave my word that you would be given forty-eight hours before I allowed

Koby’s request. It’s more than I’d allow any other human,” Laramie stated.

“And if I choose not to?” Holt’s gaze was hard, and Jaeda felt a chill go through

her at the warrior look he wore.

“Then the challenge will stand,” Laramie said. “And she’ll become Koby’s.”

Jaeda growled at the way Laramie dismissed her Holt as if he wouldn’t stand a

chance against the Holloway brother who wanted her. Could Laramie not see the

warrior standing before her? Did he not see the power shielded within Holt’s firm

body? She shook her head. He wasn’t hers any longer. He didn’t want her. He’d just

confirmed it again to her by basically admitting he wasn’t going to complete their

bond. This was the time to make her choice known. She pushed to her feet beside

Holt, moving a step away so she wasn’t touching him.

“I’d like to invoke—”

“Sit down!” Holt’s roar took her completely by surprise and had her jumping to

do his bidding before she even realized it.

She opened her mouth and snapped it shut as he turned to yell at her. God! He

was gorgeous. She probably shouldn’t tell him she found his anger so exciting. His

muscles seemed to bulge. His blue eyes were even brighter, heightened by the red

tinge to his cheeks. It was all she could do to keep from jumping on him.

“I swear to God the only thing you’re invoking is my temper. Not another word

from you until we’re back upstairs or so help me I’m going to lose my control!”

Her heartbeat escalated. She wanted him to lose control. Wanted him to give in

to the passion she saw rising in him. She wanted him to grab her, take her, claim her.

Rough wouldn’t bother her, at least, she didn’t think so. She might seem small

compared to him, but she was bear. There was no species as tough as hers.

“Do you understand me, Jaeda?”

She licked her lips and tried to reply. She wanted to please him, but first she

needed to know if this meant he planned to keep her. Still, she wouldn’t confront him

here in front of the Holloways. She’d wait as he’d asked, but the moment they were

alone again, she’d demand his decision. She met his gaze and nodded.

* * * *

Holt waited for her agreement then turned back to Laramie and the rest of the

Holloways once he had her agreement. What they were suggesting went against

everything he stood for. These women were in need of protection not coercion, and

right now that was what it seemed the Holloways had in mind.

“There will be no challenge for right of mate.” Holt’s voice was soft but still

crackled with a power that held everyone in check. “Jaeda made her choice. It’s not

her fault that I’m human and react differently than another shifter might. There will be no forty-eight hour deadline. Jaeda and I will take the time we need to get to know

one another. When we’re ready, we’ll complete our bond. I won’t have my sex life

dictated. Are we clear on that?”

“You don’t get to make that decision,” Koby argued. “Challenge has been

issued.”

“Are you that ready to die?”

“As if you would stand a chance against me,” Koby sneered.

Holt was beyond pissed. “If it comes to a fight, I’ll win. I’ll rip you apart limb

from limb if needed, but when the dust settles, I’ll be the one walking away. I don’t

need to have a bear inside me to be your equal. I’m a fucking Marine, which means

you’re the one who doesn’t stack up.”

He dismissed Koby then and focused on Laramie. Laramie was the alpha of the

Holloways. What he decided, the others would accept. “We can be a part of your pack

or not. I have a pride that will welcome her with open arms.”

Laramie raised an eyebrow. His gaze narrowed as he stared at Holt. “Everyone

leave.”

“You can’t be seriously listening to him,” Koby growled. “They won’t care

about one human, and if they do, why would we care?”

“I wouldn’t be so sure about that,” Holt murmured. “I’d be happy to make the

call and find out for you.”