Bearing It All (Grizzly Affairs Book 1) Read online

  She was burning alive and she never wanted it to stop. Her moan of desire turned to a gasp as Doyle’s lips left hers to trail heated open kisses down the column of her neck. Her nails dug into the skin on the back of his neck as his teeth bit down over her pounding pulse. Though it should bother her that people were gawking at them as they passed by, Somehow she just couldn’t manage enough brain cells to care.

  Just as she felt she was about to rip Doyle’s clothes off and have him right there in the snow between two building, something caught her attention from the corner of her eye. Frozen with trepidation she watched as the stranger that had been watching her slowly was making his way to them. His eyes were locked on her as he drew closer, his stride was slow and with purpose. Like a cat advancing on a mouse that knew it had no place to run. Her eyes zoomed in on his hand as it slowly reached behind his back with a look of cold determination.

  At the scent of his mate’s fear, Doyle’s bear pushed further to the surface, causing his glowing eyes to lock on her startled ones. “What wrong?” His voice came out in a deep rumble that sounded more animal than man.

  Shoving at his chest, Aria desperately tried to push Doyle away from her, but he held her securely against his hard frame. Her eyes glazed with panic as she began pounding on his chest to get loose. “Let me go. Let me go now!” She hissed under her breath as the sound of her racing heart beat in his ear.

  Looking down at his panicking mate, his hand gently cupped her face, forcing her to look at him when she was franticly looking everywhere but. “What is it, Aria?”

  Looking over his shoulder she hissed out a rushed breath, “It’s him. The man I saw before. He’s coming this way and I think he has a gun.” Her words were like someone had hit him across the face with a steel pipe.

  Acting on primal instinct, lifting his mate off the ground he set her down behind him as he braced his body against the wall. He could smell the male that was approaching the alley they were presently hiding in. his scent wasn’t the same overly sweet scent overlapping the smell of decade. This scent was shifter, but at this distance he couldn’t discern what type. Flexing his lengthened claws, he prepared to strike as he waited for the man to round the corner.

  The man had no sooner passed the corner of the building Doyle was pressed against when a clawed hand whipped out. Gripping the man by the back of the neck, Doyle threw him into the adjacent building. The man’s head kissed the brick exterior so hard that if he’d been a simple human it would have crushed his skull, spinning around to return the attack. The man no sooner lifted an equally clawed hand when Doyle gripped him by the throat, holding him off the ground as his long black claws cut into the pale flesh.

  Aria watched with a mix of surprise and awe as Doyle’s solid frame seemed to swell and grow. The fabric of his shirt strained against his skin as his muscles grew larger. At the same time his facial bone seemed to reshape until Doyle’s became neither human nor bear, but a perfect blend of the two. Opening his powerful jaws, Doyle snarled in the face of his intended victim. The man struggled, but didn't seem to be afraid of him. Taking a breath, Aria discovered that in the excitement, she’d backed up nearly to the opposite end of the alley. She mentally shook her head; she knew Doyle wouldn’t harm her, but what about when his bear was close to breaking free? The thought made her approaching footsteps pause with fear.

  Struggling to free himself the man choked out, “Release me, bear, if you don’t want the wrath of the black claw pack descending upon you.” He threatened.

  * ~ * ~ *

  Slowly, Doyle’s face; along with the rest of him shrunk back to its original size. Reluctant to release the man that had unsettled his mate so much and whom his bear perceived as a threat, Doyle forced his now normal hand to open. The man collapsed onto the snow covered concrete with a painful thud. Without warning, the man scrambled after a gun that lay discarded amongst the snow. Striking at him in the chest, Doyle shoved him against the wall before bending down and picking up the discarded weapon.

  His hands clenched around the firearm with rage. Had he planned on killing Aria? He wasn’t the man from this morning but he wasn’t about to trust anyone when it came to the safety of his mate.

  “Is this how you do things in your town? Attacking people on the street without cause?” His voice snared in outrage. His hands dusted off the remaining chunks of snow that clung to his clothes.

  Growling, Doyle handed the gun off to Aria as she slowly approached. It was safer in her hands than his at this moment. He was less likely to shoot him, if he didn't have the gun at all. “Why were you following my mate?”

  “Let go of me unless you want the Black Claw pack starting another war with you bears and your ilk.”

  “Black Claw Pack” Aria scoffed, “That sounds like a bad name for an eighties rock band.”

  Moving back, Doyle continued to glare at the man before him. “Who are you?” He asked, crossing his arms over his chest while he sized up his adversary.

  “Mark Wilder. I was sent by Eric Daniels, Alpha of the Black Claw pack to deliver a treaty. Your elders were expecting me, Alpha. And I was under the impression you were too.”

  “That still doesn’t explain why were you following me.” Aria asked from behind them.

  Glancing over at Aria, Mark’s brown eyes softened. “I was asked by a third party to keep an eye on you. Give me my gun back.” His tone never changed from the calm way he spoke, but it was a command none the less. When neither of them moved to return his weapon, Mark growled in frustration. “Look. I’m a sheriff, not a killer. I was told that when you came to town I was to watch both of you closely.”

  “Did the elders put you up to this?” Doyle bit out under his breath. If the elders were sticking their wrinkly noses where they didn't belong and nearly got Aria murdered he was going to have some new bear pelts covering his walls.

  “They were concerned about who your mate was.” Mark explained.

  Clenching his fists, Doyle could feel his bear pacing back and forth with anger. Taking the gun from Aria’s loose hands, he tossed it back at Mark with a stiff expression. Intertwining his fingers with that of his mate’s, Doyle towed Aria along as he stepped out on the side walk. Pausing, he stopped to look back at disgruntled Mark once more.

  “Come near my mate again and the next time you will not walk away intact.” Tugging Aria along, despite her struggles, Doyle didn't stop until they reached the truck. “Get in.” He ordered as he got in on the driver’s side.

  Looking unsure, Aria looked around briefly before climbing up into her seat. No sooner as she’d shut the door, Doyle spun the truck around and down the road like a professional NASCAR driver. Thrown back against her seat, she struggled to put her seat belt on as he sped up the unpaved road to his cabin.

  “What was that all about? Do you know him?” She asked as her heart pounded while he drove like a lunatic over the unlevel, rocky path.

  He nodded his head sharply. “He wasn’t after you. The council of elders must have gotten wind of you and asked him to find out who you were.”

  “That’s it?” she asked, outraged that she’d nearly had the crap scared out of her all because someone was curious? “Then why did he have his gun out?”

  Rubbing at his face, Doyle glanced over at her. “He must have thought that in my present state that I was trying to turn you.” He admitted. “I am certain he intended to use the gun on me, not you.”

  While she still felt shaken from the avalanche of events from this morning, Aria struggled to push through the adrenaline that had flooded her system moments ago. Wrapping her arms around her knees as she drew them to her chest, she rested her head against the cool window as she attempted to sort through everything.

  “Why did you try to run again?” His deep voice startled her from her thoughts as she turned to look at him.

  What could she say? That she was afraid that Malca had found her? That Mark was one of her solders come to take her back? She hadn’t told him th
e whole truth for a reason. She had no doubt that Malca would kill Doyle if she felt him in the way. While he proclaimed she was his mate and he would protect her, she still felt a fierce desire to protect him instead. While he may be a big and overbearing were-grizzly, that would mean nothing if Malca found a way to put a bullet in his head.

  Why had she run? The answer was deep down, she knew that she was falling for him and that couldn’t happen if she was to get out of this alive. As much as she didn't want to, she needed to keep Doyle at bay until she could find a way to get as far from here and out of Malca’s reach forever.

  Against her will, her mind went back to that kiss in the alley like an addict with a drug. Her skin still burned with the memory of his hands gripping her ass with desperate hunger. A hunger that was getting harder and harder for her to deny existed. She still could remember the feel of his hard length between them as it caused her quivering body to clench with unfulfilled delight. Desperately she wanted to feel him; she wanted to be consumed by the dark hunger that he had awoken within her.

  “We’re not done taking about this, not by a long shot.” He declared as she realized they were back at the cabin.

  As she moved to open the door, Doyle reached out and stopped her. Pulling her across the bench seat, he clenched her golden braid within his commanding hands. As his lips lowered to greet hers for the second time today, calling upon all her strength, she turned her face away from his tempting kiss.

  “Don’t,” she murmured. Gripping his thick wrists, she pushed his hands away. “Whatever happened between us was a mistake and I don’t want to repeat it.” she stated, not meeting his eyes. Not waiting for him to rebut her words, she quickly climbed from the truck and slammed the door behind her retreating form.

  * ~ * ~ *

  For once in his life both him and his bear felt completely confused. Had he read the situation wrong? Both he and his bear had smelled her scent ripening with desire moments ago. The whole cab of his truck was saturated in the smell! No, her body was crying out for her mate--him! And she called it a mistake!

  There was no such thing! Growling low in his throat, he was just about to charge after her when a scent conquered his attention. It was the same scent from this morning, overpowering sweetness with the smell of rotting flesh. Only this time a second scent was mixed with it… death.

  Just as she stepped onto the wooden planks of the porch, he called out to her, staying her from moving. “Stop,” Rushing through the snow, his fingers circled around her elbow. “Don’t move. Something isn’t right.” Slowly walking to the front door, he pulled his bear to the surface. Inside there was neither a sound of movement nor a heartbeat. Whoever left their scent behind in his home weren’t there now. However he didn't feel comfortable allowing his mate to enter before him when someone had broken inside.

  “What is it?” She asked, as she watched Doyle tilt his head back sniffing at the air surrounding the front door.

  The prickly feeling at the back of her neck was back, the heavy weight of unknown eyes watching her made her skin crawl. Looking around she knew she wouldn’t see anyone, unless they wanted her to. Feeling too exposed at that moment, she couldn’t fight off the panic of being out in the open. She needed to get inside.

  “Wait here.”As he unlocked the door, Doyle was just about to enter when Aria charged past him before he could stop her.

  As she rushed into the living room, her feet went out from under her as she slipped across the wet floor. Landing on her side, Aria lifted her eyes to find herself looking into the two brown eyes that only held death. Gasping in horror, she back peddled in the large crimson puddle that she was laying in.

  The vacant dead eyes of a girl stared back at her with a gaping mouth, as though she’d died screaming. Both her hands were stretched out from her sides and been nailed to the floor. The back of her hand reached up to cover her mouth as she saw the girl’s naked chest had been slashed open. Her scalp was bloody, sliced in sickening patterns that seemed to never end. Long strands of blond hair lay swimming in the dark pools of blood surrounding Aria, The once perfect the color now was utterly diminished. Aria cried out as strong hands lifted her from the ocean of blood around her.

  When she’d rushed past him, Doyle had followed to stop her, but the damage was done before he could. Despite her struggles, Doyle pulled her to his chest. Wrapping his arms around her he spoke softly to her as he guided her gently away from the carnage before them.

  Unwillingly Aria lifted her eyes back to the body that lay dissected on the bloody floor. Her stomach clenched in pain as she took in the evidence of what she’d brought down on Doyle’s home. It was then that she saw the message on the multicolored stones of the fireplace. Long trails of blood flowed and dripped down onto the floor from the haunting words smeared against the uneven stones.

  You are next!

  9

  “You’re sure?” the police detective asked once again. With his arms crossed over his chest, Doyle resisted the urge to maul the wolf shifter that wouldn’t cease nagging him about his statement.

  “Yes, again; I am sure I locked the door before we left this morning and no; I do not know what the specific time was.”

  The officer nodded his head in acknowledgment as he went back to writing in his notepad. When Henry; the officer in charge, walked away Doyle leaned against the kitchen sink with a tired sigh. The police had been here for hours and there seemed to be no end to their questioning. They seemed to try all they could to trip him up on his statement and get him to admit to something he didn't do.

  Though the grizzly shifters of this area had always held the “Alpha” position it had never stopped the wolves from growling out their displeasure. He’d dealt with their underhanded ways of striking back at him before, today would be no different. But the wolves were the least of his worries. It was his mate that concerned him or rather, her absence.

  Since they’d come back to discovering the mutilated corpse in his living room, he confessed to not seeing much of his mate since the moment he first opened the door. Once the police had been called, it was like Aria had closed herself up inside her head. He’d watched from across the room as they had been questioned separately. Aria had done everything she could not to show how uncomfortable the situation made her, but she couldn’t hide it from him.

  He was all too aware of how she avoided questions about herself. More importantly; he hadn’t missed the way her eyes had drifted to the blood stained floor. The body and all evidence since had been removed, but still her eyes went to the same spot. As if she could still see the empty eyes of the mutilated woman staring back at her.

  Then without warning she just stormed away from the questioning officer and out the door. From his position he could see her huddled from out the kitchen window. She sat on the edge of the porch steps, her arms wrapped securely around her folded knees. For the last hour she hadn’t moved from that spot and it had begun to worry him.

  Moving into the living room, he nearly ran over someone in his effort to get to the door. Stopping before he could collide with the said person, his eyes narrowed in realization at who was blocking his path. Mark smirked at him before throwing a knowing look over his shoulder at the front door.

  “She’s fine. I just checked on her, not that she’d say anything to me.” Mark replied. Rolling his eyes he shrugged his shoulders helplessly.

  Doyle released a tired sigh, praying that soon he could be alone with his mate. “How much longer is this going to take, Mark?”

  “Well; as you know I have no jurisdiction here, so there’s not a whole lot I can do. But what I do know is their going to document everything and hopefully pack it all up soon.”

  He couldn’t help but notice the way Mark studied everything around himself, including Aria. The thought made him tense that another man and a shifter at that, was watching her so carefully. “Are you spying on me for the council, Mark?” He asked, glaring at the cougar shifter that only was a few inches short
er than him.

  Rolling his eyes, Mark tucked his hands into the pockets of his faded blue jeans. “Is that why you are suddenly hostel with me? Yes, several high ranking individuals of your pack asked me to keep an eye out. But not on you.” He admitted with a knowing look.

  “Is that what your Alpha wanted you to do down here? Spy on my choice of a mate?”

  “First off; Eric isn’t my Alpha, he’s my friend. Secondly; he has no need to send me spying on you or your mate, Doyle. You already have many shifters in Darkwood Springs that are loyal to Eric Daniels. You think they haven’t been feeding him information on your actions as Alpha? I was sent here to advise the signing and acceptance of the peace treaty between our packs. That was all I was informed to do until someone made it known that you had taken a human as a mate.”

  Doyle didn't fight the fractional shift of his face and claws that the comment concerning his mate. His bear demanded that he rip this cocky cougar’s heart out and present it as a gift to his mate for his insult. Nevertheless making war against the pack he desperately was attempting to make peace with wouldn’t be wise.

  “That is my business!” He growled out, clenching his hands into tight fists.

  Pushing into Doyle’s personal space the cougar’s eyes flashed with restrained anger. “It is everyone’s business. In case you have forgotten, Alpha; it is forbidden to take a human for a mate and now that your elders know about it they are concerned that a challenge may need to be issued if you refuse to abide by the act of Revealment.” Taking a slow inhale, Mark took a step back. His calculating eyes never left Doyle anger filled ones. “I understand your anger; in fact I respect it. But it doesn’t change the fact that you intend to mate with a human and a corrupted one at that.”