Southern Shifters: Bearing the Ink (Kindle Worlds Novella) (Black & White Book 3) (4 page)

Of course, she wasn’t quite sure how to shift back either.

She dropped her front paws into the water, letting them sink into the mud.

Colors were sharper, as she glanced at the surrounding area. She could still discern the various shades of greens and browns of the trees, the blue of the sky, the brown in Gus’s coat. Her own was slightly darker than his, closer to a brown/black, but really, did color matter that much? She was a fucking BEAR!

Gus lumbered out of the pond and Bex followed him, slowly putting one paw in front of the other. This was weird, walking on all fours, but the weight felt balanced out now, more so than it had when she was standing upright.

The grass was soft beneath her paws and the sensation mimicked those times when she would walk barefoot in the grass back home. It was one of her favorite things as she was growing up. She’d been so anxious for winter to be over and spring to take hold so she could walk around without shoes on.

This, while different, was also similar and it made her happy.

She had no idea what she was doing or hell, who she even was anymore. Realizing mentally that she was part bear was one thing. Actually shifting into a bear and seeing it in her reflection was quite another.

There was no way to put any kind of spin on it. No way to talk herself out of it. No way to deny it. She was a bear. She could shift from human to animal in a matter of minutes, though Gus could do so in a matter of seconds.

She’d had to be totally relaxed for it to happen, a near clearing of her mind. How did Gus master that on a regular basis? And the pain when his muscles and tendons popped? Just thinking about it made her shudder inside. But it would have to happen again, wouldn’t it? For her to become human again.

Gus walked in front of her and when the sunlight caught him just right, Bex could make out even more shades of fur than she’d initially thought. It was odd watching the colors move with his body. Was his skin, beneath the fur, tattooed just as his human skin was? She had so much she wanted to ask him, so much she wanted to know, and it frustrated her that she couldn’t ask any of it right then.

She could think of things to say, but nothing came out of her mouth.

But the silence? That was… Yeah. She’d needed it. She’d asked Gus to take her away, and he did. No matter what she needed or wanted at any given moment since they met, Gus was there to see she got it.

Solid. Capable. Fierce. Gorgeous as hell.

That’s the man she’d hooked up with in Bryson City. She’d had him pegged as a shifter right from the start. A human man just wasn’t that perfect to look at, just wasn’t that spot on with instincts.

Knowing shifters existed was one thing. Coming in contact with them, face to face, and choosing to be with them, was another thing entirely.

And to find out she was one when all her life, the idea had never even crossed her mind? And… Had her mother known? Is that why…?

On clumsy legs, she charged for Gus and nudged him with her head. He stopped walking and turned to face her, his head tilted. How the hell was she supposed to tell him what she was thinking? How was she supposed to communicate with him this way?

She stood on her back legs and after a second, Gus stood too, towering over here as a bear much the same as he did when human. She also saw his cock. Damn…

She lifted her head to his face and there was concern in his dark, round eyes as he looked down. He dropped to his front paws again, and gave himself a good hard shake. He got as low to the ground as possible, and Bex watched, again, fascinated as Gus transformed into a human. Would her shift happen the same way?

Gus walked toward her and she dropped to her paws. “You want to shift back, Bex?”

How was she supposed to nod? She thought it and inside she nodded. Her bear head moved and she hoped it looked as though she were nodding. Gus smiled and reached to pet her.

Pet. Her.

This was all so fucking weird.

“You need to lower yourself to the ground, as close as you can. I don’t know why it works that way, but it does. Find that place, that frame of mind you were in just before you shifted from human to bear.”

She didn’t know how to do that, but the petting he was doing to her was really nice.

She awkwardly lowered herself as he instructed and hung her head, doing her best to just enjoy his touch, the simplicity of it, of knowing she wasn’t alone in this, in any of it. He was there and as long as she wanted him, she knew he’d stay.

The tingling and stinging started again. It traveled from her toes up through her four limbs. The fur began to itch and in one single moment, it all fell from her pores. It was painful for a fleeting second, as it was when someone yanked a strand of hair from your head. It wasn’t a pleasant feeling, but it was over in a flash.

Her teeth retracted and her face contorted in what couldn’t have been a pretty expression, and then she was human again. Naked, and so aroused she could barely breathe.

Gus was erect and she licked her lips. He didn’t seem to need words. He simply stepped into her space and knelt on the ground in front of her. He helped her climb up onto his thighs and settled her onto his cock. She slid down with ease and wrapped her arms around his broad shoulders. It wasn’t fast and furious, but it wasn’t slow and steady, either.

He held her close, letting her set the pace. She rode him hard, sliding up and down, reveling in the feel of him stretching her, filling her.

Tears flowed down her face and she didn’t even know why. Gus buried his lips in her neck, licked and nibbled his way to her mouth, then slid his tongue home.

The kiss teased her, the possessive way he claimed her through it. His arms tightened, and one dropped lower, to cup her ass and pulled her higher on his body.

Everything about Gus got to her on levels she hadn’t known existed within her. She fell more in love with him as each day passed and her hunger for him only increased.

He pressed one finger against her hole when she rose up, and when she sank down again, he entered her ass with it.

She gasped and her eyes widened in the midst of their kiss. He lifted his mouth from her and smiled, slow and wicked. “Shifting brings out more of an animal in us when we return to being human again. It’s a darker, more primal need.”

“It’s…weird.”

“But good, right?” He emphasized good by pressing his finger deeper when she lifted. As she lowered herself, his finger slid out.

“Oh so good.” They worked her body in tandem, his finger and his cock. Pleasure built inside her, tension coiling in her belly. She’d never been more full and she wouldn’t deny that she wanted more, to feel it even more.

What would his cock feel like in the hole his finger was in? The thought made her shiver in Gus’s arms. Her clit twitched and her nipples pebbled against his chest. She was more acutely aware of everything having to do with her body and his. She could feel the throbbing of his cock inside her, the pulsing of blood where her walls gripped him.

The beat of his heart against her chest, his pulse pounding steady along the side of his neck. His eyes, when she stared into them, dilated.

Everything about him, about them in that moment was more than anything they’d done before. Even the times she attacked him after the first few visits from Luke Blackwood.

This was different, but no less intense. She’d been a bear less than ten minutes ago. Now she was a human woman again, riding the cock and finger of her lover.

God… His finger in her ass. It turned her on more than she’d ever thought it would. And she couldn’t remember ever thinking about it before. Had he asked if he could, she’d probably have said no and screwed her face up at the idea. But that he just did it, took ownership of that place in her body… It was a fire she hadn’t known she possessed.

The more he pushed, the more he pulled, the more acute the intensity. An orgasm barreled toward her and she couldn’t stop it, couldn’t slow it down. Gus felt it the second it hit her. He smiled, feral and dirty, removed his thumb from her ass and flipped her backward.

He pressed deeper into her, pistoned and pushed her legs toward her shoulders. He held her wide and open as he plunged into her again, and again.

He never allowed her to catch her breath, never allowed her to get her bearings, just continued to fuck her, to relentlessly take her body, until…

“That’s it, pretty girl… Come for me.”

Bex shook her head. “I-I can’t,” she panted, but knew it for a lie the second the words were out of her mouth. There was another one. Another orgasm tripping wires inside her.

“Gus…”

“Right now, baby… Right. Now.” She shook her head again, but he lowered her legs enough to wrap them around his waist and he bent low, to take a nipple between his teeth. Bex squealed and bucked up against his body, riding his cock, straining against it until her muscles quivered inside her.

He pushed hard, lifted his head to slide his tongue into her mouth, and came, trembling on top of her.

When she opened her eyes, moments later, the sky was still blue, the leaves were still rustling, the water of the pond was still gently lapping at the edge. She still heard everything, felt everything.

She was still the same her, but she was different. She was a bear shifter.

And she could breathe easier knowing it.

Chapter Four

Tension knotted his shoulders as soon as he pulled the bike into the drive. Something was wrong. A low hum of growling met his ears followed by the loud roar of yelling. Bex’s arms tightened around his waist.

“What’s that sound? And why is it coming from inside my house?” Her voice carried with it an anxious edge and he couldn’t say he blamed her. His bear wanted out, wanted to join in with whatever was happening.

“I’m not sure.”

“This was a much quieter town before I showed up,” she said, taking his help getting off the bike. “It was supposed to be a place for me to start building a life of my own.”

“I know, pretty girl.”

“It kind of feels like an unintended pet rescue of wild animals.”

Gus laughed, despite the unease settling in his gut. Something was very wrong. “It’ll calm down soon.” He hoped his tone reassured her. He didn’t want her to fear anything or anyone. He would protect her at all costs, even if it cost him his own life.

Lacing his fingers through hers, he led her through the back gate and up the steps. Blood dotted the way and the uneasy feeling stirred to life.

“Gus?” Her steps faltered and he waited until she was on sure footing again.

“You don’t have anything to be afraid of, baby. I’m right here with you.” But with the increased volume in yelling, the coldness of argument, and the coppery tang in the air, Gus wasn’t sure confident in either of them having nothing to fear.

“Where the fuck have you been?” Luke Blackwood groused, stalking toward them when they entered the kitchen.

“Out.” It was all he was willing to give away about why they’d been gone. “What happened?”

“You suddenly care?” the wolf challenged. Gus slipped his hand from Bex’s and crossed his arms over his chest. He knew his size was intimidating to most, but knew it wouldn’t work with Luke. He did it anyway. It made him feel better. He waited until the other shifter answered the original question. He didn’t have to wait long. “Two of my wolves were attacked. One with a shotgun. The other with an arrow.”

“An arrow?” Concern laced Gus’s voice and he pushed past Luke. In the front room, he found the injured shifters, still in animal form. His mother and brother along with others were trying to stem the blood loss before it all soaked into the floorboards.

Bex gasped from behind him and before he could stop her, she pushed into the room and knelt beside one of the wolves. “What can we do?” she asked anxiously.

“We need to remove the bullet from his leg.”

“Can we do that?”

“We don’t have a choice.”

Bex stroked the fur of the wolf with the gunshot wound. He whined in pain, then pressed his muzzle into the palm of her other hand. “How can I help?” Gus asked. “What do you need me to do?”

“You’re going to try to save them?” Luke asked, surprise clear in his tone.

Gus’s mother looked up. “Of course we’re going to save them. What did you think we’d do?

“They’re wolves,” he said, as though that should answer everything.

“They’re living creatures. They don’t deserve this. They did nothing wrong.” Her gaze shifted to Gus. “You need to go to the drug store. I couldn’t find a first aid kit.”

“Just tell me what to get.”

“And take him with you.” She nodded at Luke. “I don’t need him growling and prowling the room like a caged animal. These boys here don’t need that, either.”

Gus nodded and grabbed Luke by the shirt. He tugged the shifter from the room. “Stay in the kitchen until we leave.”

“They’re my pack mates,” Luke argued.

“I know. But stay here anyway.”

“You’re an ass.”

“Yes. Stay.”

“Shall I bark, too?”

Gus shrugged before exiting to retrieve the list of supplies. “If you feel you must.” Michael met him halfway. “Do they need a vet?” Gus asked, staring over Michael’s shoulder at the two injured wolves. Bex still knelt between them, stroking their fur, murmuring to them.

They were strangers in her home, severely wounded, yet she was comforting them.

“Yes. They need a doctor. Ma doesn’t think we can risk it, though. She’s afraid a vet would ask too many questions.”

“Do the wolves have a doctor?”

Michael nodded. “They do, but Luke said Simon wasn’t available. He’s afraid of risking more shifters.”

Gus nodded in understanding. “I agree. You got the list?” Michael handed over a small piece of paper. “I’ll get it taken care of. Let me know if something happens before we get back.”

“Gus? I’m afraid we’ve opened a hornet’s nest.”

“Yeah.” He turned from his brother and walked back through the kitchen. “C’mon,” he said to Luke.

“I can behave myself.”

“You’re going with me.”

“I don’t want to leave them behind.”

“They’re in good hands. Were they tracked back?”

“I don’t know. I wasn’t with them.”

“Where did it happen?”

“About twenty miles outside Bryson City. They were in the woods on the outskirts of town and were headed back this way when they were spotted.”

“How many altogether?”

“There were four. The other two were able to back track and keep from being seen until it was safe for them to retrieve the injured ones. If it weren’t for the fact they had their bikes hidden, they’d have never made it. I’m still not convinced they’ll pull through.”

“They will.”

“You seem sure of that.”

Sure was the last thing Gus was… “My mother won’t let them die on her watch. Trust me on that.”

“I don’t understand why y’all are helping.”

“We’re all in this together, Blackwood. Whether you or I want to believe that, we each need the other to survive this. Besides, it wouldn’t be good for Bex to have two wolves die on her floor. How is she supposed to operate a business in that house one day knowing that?”

“She didn’t try to attack me when she saw me.”

“Nope.” Silence fell between the two as they walked down the drive. Gus waved at the neighbor across the street who watched them with wariness in his gaze. The man didn’t wave back. Gus didn’t blame him. They were larger than the average man and Gus knew his tattoos frightened most people.

“She shifted, didn’t she?” Luke asked. Gus saw no reason to lie.

“Yep.”

“That’s good.”

It would be if she could defend herself. Gus kept the thought to himself and tried not to think about what he would need to do in order to help her. She was unsteady on her hind legs, especially when she tried to do anything like swat with her paw or walk. He wasn’t even sure she’d be able to shift under duress and in a way, he hoped she couldn’t. She wasn’t as big a target when she wasn’t in shifted form. “I suppose it is,” he said.

“Suppose?”

Gus shrugged. “Like you said, she didn’t try to attack you.”

“Ass.”

“What? I was agreeing with you.”

“Still an ass.”

“Never claimed different.”

“Ever noticed how people around here look at us?”

“I have.”

“We’re a little out of place, aren’t we?”

“Just a little. Bex has noticed too. I think she’s afraid they’ll take her inn away.”

“They can’t do that, can they?”

“Nah, I don’t think so. We need to wrap this shit up soon though. I promised I would take care of it. I don’t know what the Mayor has been playing at. I get the killing on some level. I get the revenge. It’s not right and I’ll defend us all against it, but I get it, you know? I don’t get him hiding his son all this time.”

“Michael says there’s a wolf.”

“There is. She’s the nurse.”

“Should we wait for her before we do anything about the injuries?”

“I don’t think we can.”

Luke nodded. “Michael also said she’s trying to find her brother.”

“Yeah.”

“What if they follow her?”

“What if they followed your wolves? I don’t know who to trust. The shadows are too thick, but I know something is brewing, something is going to go down soon and I hope to hell we’re all ready for it when it does.”

Inside the pharmacy, they stood out even more than on the street. Everything was bright and welcoming and looking at Luke, at the menacing image the shifter projected outward, Gus figured he didn’t paint a calm and open appearance himself.

Gus put all that from his mind and tore the list in half, shoving one piece over to Luke. “You go get these and I’ll get the rest. The quicker we get back, the quicker we can put a plan into place.”

Luke nodded and wandered off in the opposite direction as Gus, muttering about being sent on errands like a child. Gus smirked. It wasn’t the first time he’d been sent off to a store for things at the behest of his mother and it wouldn’t be the last time, either.

Growing up, half human-half bear, wasn’t exactly ideal for fitting into the fully human world. There were so many who didn’t know of the existence of shifters, but there were also some who did, who should’ve never known. Danger lurked everywhere now. So much so that Gus hated leaving Bex alone.

She wasn’t exactly alone. His mother, brother, and several of Luke’s pack were there. They’d keep her safe. They could control their animals.

He didn’t know how difficult it would be for Bex, learning to shift regularly as an adult. Most shifters began shifting near puberty. Some before, some within a year or so after, but he’d never known one who didn’t learn to shift until adulthood set in.

What if she never learned to control it? What if her shifting was erratic?

The thought ate at his gut as he gathered gauze, medical tape, medical scissors, and alcohol into his arms. Luke met him a few minutes later with pain killers, antibiotic ointment, cotton balls, and three bags of chips that had Gus lifting an eyebrow in question.

“What? I’m hungry.”

“Right. Hungry. You got everything she asked for?”

“Yep. Oh wait. Needles. Do they sell those here?”

“A mini-sewing kit. I’ve had them before.”

“You can sew?”

“I can sew skin back together when necessary.”

“I don’t think I wanted to know that.”

“Then next time think before you ask questions.”

“Noted. Fuck. You’re strange.”

“Uh huh. Feel free to look in a mirror any time.”

The store clerk barely glanced at them when they set everything on the counter and looked at them even less when Gus handed over four twenties. Cash was the way to go. Always. He didn’t do credit cards and he certainly didn’t want them doing him. He didn’t need that kind of scrutiny from anyone.

Yet, if he planned to stick around…

And Bex owned a house.

And she was a shifter.

This could get interesting. Being half human, half animal was tough enough, but to live among the normal humans, the full humans, the ones who had no idea the creatures that lived right beside them, in their neighborhoods, in their cities? It was draining, but Gus didn’t think that shifters isolating themselves was the right way to go, not when hunters and poachers and urban sprawl continued to invade deeper and deeper into the forests and mountains.

There were precious few places left that were truly safe and in a matter of years, those places wouldn’t exist at all.

He’d moved among them for years, but he’d never stayed among them. He’d never wanted to stay until he met Bex. He wanted the life she’d had planned. He wanted to be part of it. He wanted to be part of her, but he couldn’t stop thinking that if he’d left well enough alone that she wouldn’t be in the middle of wolves and poachers and death. If he’d left well enough alone, she would be living the life she’d planned.

“Gus?”

“Yeah.” Luke’s voice dragged him out of his head. “Sorry. Got everything?”

“What’s going on?”

Could he admit such weakness to Luke? Could he admit to a werewolf that he was… “A selfish bastard. That’s what’s going on. I’m a selfish bastard.”

“And?”

“Bex. She shouldn’t be in the middle of all this shit. She shouldn’t be petting injured wolves in her living room. She shouldn’t be sitting among bears. She should be left alone. She should be fixing up her inn and opening for business and finding happiness. She shouldn’t be with me, around us with a target on her back.”

He stomped off, first aid supplies in bags clutched in his hands. He could see the roof of the house as they quickly covered the distance from the store.

“Do you honestly thinking she would be safe if you weren’t in her life? At some point she’d have shifted on her own. All of this happening may have forced it on her sooner, but she’d have shifted and she’d have been alone. She would still have a target on her back. It’s better that she has you. Now, I don’t like you,” Luke added for levity. “But she does and before all is said and done, she’s going to need your protection.”