ROMANCE: BIKER ROMANCE: Valentine Biker (MC Alpha Male Pregnancy Romance) (New Adult Valentine Romance Short Stories) (107 page)

“You’ll understand in time, darling.”

Darling. She liked the way he called her that. She simply nodded and turned her attention to the window again, deciding that she liked the way the trees were painted bright orange and reds thanks to the cool autumn air. She didn’t say much after that. It wasn’t that she was jealous or angry but the cogs in her head were definitely turning.

When they finally pulled into the long, gravel driveway, Irina was starting to feel tired. It had been a long day, after all. Her head rested against the cool glass of the window and her eyes had begun to feel heavy. The car finally stopped and Michael helped sit Irina up, smiling at her.

“We’re here, Irina.”

Irina rubbed her eyes and sat up, looking out at the large cabin that would be her new home. Her sapphire eyes widened and she gasped softly. It was so much bigger than any home she’d ever seen in her life and certainly put her little hut back in Russia to shame. She stepped out of the car and looked up at the log home. There was smoke billowing from the chimney but all the lights in the house were off.

It was two stories tall and looked to have five or six bedrooms, maybe more. A huge porch wrapped around the front of the house and extended into an impressive deck in the back. A large field stretched out into the woods and when she looked up she couldn’t help but smile when she saw the stars.

Michael led her up the front porch and into the house, holding the door open so that she could walk inside. The inside of the house smelled like the woods. The scent of smoldering logs and pine filled the house and it made her feel...welcomed. Michael showed her the stairs and pointed to a door on the far left.

“That’s your room, Irina.”

She turned to him, her eyes big as silver dollars. “I won’t be sleeping with you?”

He paused and cupped her pale cheek, shaking his head slowly. “Not tonight, Irina.” He said softly, leaning forward and pressing a kiss to her forehead.

Irina accepted the kiss and followed Michael up the stairs to the room that would be hers. He went in first and set her suitcase on the bed. The room was a beautiful mix of soft purples, blues and pinks and it made Irina feel calm, even though her heart was beating out of her chest. The entire time she’d grown up, she had been taught and prepared that men would want something from her. Something very intimate. Now, she was being told to sleep in an entirely different room from her husband.

Michael turned to leave, pausing at the door and looking over his shoulder at Irina, his smile lighting up his grey eyes.

“You’ll meet everyone in the morning.” He assured.

Once he closed the door, Irina settled in the soft sheets, brows furrowed as she ran her hand over the bed. She decided to not think on it too much and instead decided to take a bath in the connected bathroom.

She sank into the warm water, eyes closed and head still spinning. Irina didn’t know what to do. This wasn’t what she had been expecting but she couldn’t argue with her husband. She knew that much. Maybe talking it over with him would clear her mind.

When she finished her bath she drained the water and wrapped herself in a towel, hoping that her state of undress might pique his interest. She tiptoed down the hall to the room she was sure was his. It was at the very end and had the largest door. She pressed her ear to the oak and heard grunting and soft, feminine moaning. Slowly, she pushed the door open and her eyes widened.

Irina had found Michael’s bedroom, alright, and he was currently in bed with who she could only guess was Reina. They were both naked, their bodies glistening with sweat. They were clearly in the throes of passion and it made Irina’s cheeks go red. She shut the door slowly and backed away, eyes wide.

She all but ran back to her room and buried herself in her blankets, trying to forget the beautiful redhead that had her arms around Irina’s husband. She knew that she was supposed to listen to her husband and trust what he said, but she was starting to question that philosophy.

*****

It was a rough night for Irina. She couldn’t get the image of nails running down Michael’s back out of her head. She finally managed to fall asleep at some point, however, welcoming her slumber with open arms.

The sun that peaked in through the window the next morning was what woke Irina up. She pushed herself up from the bed and sighed, the memories from the night before suddenly flooding back to her. She sighed and closed her eyes, deciding she would talk to Michael about it later.

Irina walked over to the closet and peered inside of it curiously. It was filled with clothes that were just her size. She wasn’t too surprised by it. She figured that Michael had been told her clothing size so that he could have clothes ready for her. She hadn’t brought anything other than what she had worn on the plane. Irina had been allowed to bring one suitcase with her and she’d opted to pack it full of personal items and books.

She slid into one of the many sundresses and sat at the little white vanity to put her makeup on. As she was brushing her hair, the smell of waffles and bacon wafted into the room, making her mouth water. She hadn’t realized how hungry she was. 

When she was finished she wandered down stairs, following the smell of the food to the kitchen. The redhead she’d seen the night before was standing at a stove with a baby on her hip. She was flipping waffles in a pan and watching the bacon closely to make sure it didn’t burn. There was already a pile of food on the counter big enough for ten to twelve people. It shocked Irina since there were supposedly only five people in the house.

She moved across the room silently and settled in one of the seats, looking over at the cooking woman. When Reina turned around she stared at Irina for a long moment before curling her nose up a little. She set a plate in front of Irina but didn’t say anything to her. The tension was palpable and Irina didn’t like it.

Irina picked up a fork and started to eat, looking out onto the deck. The tree line was in sight and she could see the trees moving, swaying back and forth as if something very large was ambling through the woods.

Reina wasn’t even paying it any mind and continued to cook. Irina considered saying something but simply stood and went to the sliding glass door, pushing it open and wandering onto the deck. What she saw emerging from the woods made her scream.

A huge bear that was twice the size of any she’d seen back home, broke the tree line and started towards the house. Irina’s eyes widened as the bear came closer and closer, it’s movements intentional. The small boy that had been in Reina’s hip just a few minutes before ran past Irina and towards the bear.

Irina screamed and started going after the boy, fearing for his life. Her screams were soon caught in her throat as she watched the bear transform right before her eyes. The jet black fur receded into tanned skin and the long snout eventually flattened out to reveal a familiar face and beautiful stormy eyes. The sounds of bones cracking and shifting into place echoed in the empty field and the animal’s giant paws morphed into something for more human looking.

The bear took the form of a man and that man was Michael. He was grinning when the young boy ran over to him and scooped him up as if nothing had happened. The little boy didn’t seem concerned at all that the man holding him had been a huge black bear not thirty seconds earlier.

When Michael raised a hand to wave at Irina, her eyes rolled back and her body went limp, clearly in shock from what she’d just seen. When she’d been told she would be going to America to be married, she hadn’t known what to expect but it wasn’t this.

The second Irina hit the ground, Michael cursed and ran over to her, scooping the woman up in his arms and stroking her cheek gently. She didn’t respond and when Reina came out to the deck she didn’t look concerned. Michael glared at Reina and frowned.

“You didn’t even try to warn her or stop her?”

Reina shrugged leaning against the door frame.              

“She was going to find out sooner or later,” She pointed out. “Probably better that it be sooner.”

He frowned at her and narrowed his eyes. “I will not tolerate your jealousy, Reina.” He growled.

She set her lips and bowed her head a little. “I’m sorry, Sir. I did not think she’d have that dramatic of a reaction.” She said simply.

Michael stood up and stared Reina down, Irina hanging limp in his arms.

“It will be your responsibility to prepare her for this evening.”

Reina’s face fell but she didn’t argue. She knew she was in enough trouble already.

*****

Irina didn’t wake up for several hours following the encounter. When she did wake up, it was early evening and someone was pressing a warm, wet cloth to her forehead. She groaned and opened her eyes, looking up into a pair of emerald eyes as bright as precious stone. The gaze was unfamiliar to her.

              She had to blink a few times to realize that it was Reina who was wiping her forehead with the damp towel. She hadn’t really gotten very close to the other woman and so her confusion was understandable. Irina sat up a little, holding herself up on her elbows as Reina wrung the towel out into a bowl on the nightstand.

              “What...What happened to...Michael?”

              “You mean after he turned back into his human form?” Reina asked.

              Irina nodded, still a little shocked. Reina sighed and set the bowl of water to the side, putting her hands in her lap.

              “He went to prepare the room for the mating this evening.”

              “Mating?”

              “You have no idea why you’re here, do you?” Reina asked, shaking her head, seeming disappointed.

              Irina shook her head and Reina stood up, going over to the dresser and starting to open drawers, obviously looking for something.

              “Well, I suppose we should start with the fact that we are bear shifters. All of us. Meaning we can turn into bears at will. We’re supernatural creatures.” Reina explained, pulling pieces of silk out of the drawers she’d been searching through.

              All of the color left Irina’s face and Reina glanced back, sighing a little and shaking her head. “Stop freaking out. If anyone wanted to hurt you, we would have done it already.”

              “If you don’t want to hurt me then why am I here?!” Irina demanded.

              “Because...I can’t have children.”

The pain in her voice made Irina’s chest tighten with sadness. Reina had said it in such a matter of fact way and yet there was an indescribable pain just beneath the apathy. Reina walked over to Irina and laid the silks out on the bed.

“I can’t have his cubs, but you can.” Reina clarified.

“But I am...I am human...Why doesn’t he find another...bear shifter?”

Reina rolled her eyes. “Because there are no more!” She snapped. “Our race is dying out and the only way to save us is if you come here and have babies!” She sounded angry and it made Irina sink back into the bed a little.

Reina’s gaze softened and she sighed, falling onto the edge of the bed, running her hands through her wild, curly locks.

“It’s not  your fault. I shouldn’t be…” She sighed and stood back up. “We need to get you ready.”

“I...Hold on. How can I have his babies?” She insisted, not ready to let the subject drop.

Reina grunted, retrieving some makeup and settling close enough to Irina that she could start brushing out the girl’s black hair.

“The people in your village mated with the bear shifters long ago. Like hundreds of years ago and eventually, a hybrid breed came into existence. Your people have managed to keep that hybrid blood intact and that is why all the women in your village get sent away.”

A look of realization came across Irina’s face and she fell back against the headboard, wide eyed. “My sister...was sent off to have cubs…” She whispered painfully.

“Yes.”

Maybe Reina was being a bit callous, but what concern did she have for this woman? As far as she was concerned Irina was coming in here and ruining any chances she had to have a happy life with Michael. They had been so happy once and now that was all gone because cubs were more important than the years they had spent together. Reina couldn’t help but feel a bit cheated and jaded. She felt her anger was justified.

Irina fell silent as Reina brushed her hair. The anger in the woman radiated off of her and her touch wasn’t gentle. She started to braid Irina’s hair and Irina looked back at her for a moment, sadness clear on her face.

“I’m sorry.”

“What are you sorry for?” She grunted.

“I’m sorry that I’m here...But...I didn’t know...I didn’t know any of that.” She whispered. “I came here to...make my husband happy and maybe fall in love. Michael is such a kind...Gentle soul and I thought that maybe I could fall in love with him...I didn’t realize he only wanted me for babies.”

“Stop being so over dramatic. That isn’t the case. He cares for you. I can tell.” She murmured, brightening up the girl’s cheek with blush.

“How can you tell?”

“Because...I see the way he looks at you. Bears know who their mates are going to be before they ever fall in love. Once they know they’ve found the right person they just know...They can smell it.” She said with a sad sigh. “They know that they’ve found their mate and then it’s just a matter of falling in love.”