Bearing It All (Grizzly Affairs Book 1) Read online

  Smirking down at his mate’s prick temper, Doyle nodded his head in agreement to his father as he followed him out onto the snow covered porch. Once they both were out the door, Colin reached out and closed the door behind him. Gazing out at the stillness of the snow covered terrain; Colin folded his hands behind his back.

  Casting a look of concern at his son, he murmured, “So. Your mate is human, eh?”

  “Don’t start, Dad. I already know what you’re going to say,”

  “Then you won’t mind hearing it anyway, will you?” Colin answered sternly. “It is forbidden for us to take humans as mates. Have you even considered what may happen if the council heard of this? And they will, eventually. As alpha you won’t be able to hide this from them.”

  Walking to lean against the side of the cabin, Doyle’s sharp eyes, focused on the living room window. There on the couch sat Aria, her eyes were dazed, as though she were in deep thought. He understood what his father was getting at. Long ago, shifters had decided it was safer to keep humans and shifters separate for the safety of both kinds. Ones that had mated with human had become hunted by both their kinds and human seldom just accepted anything different than themselves.

  If the council of elder shifters learned that his true mate was a human, they would demand the right of Revealment. Revealment meant he had to come clean with Aria about what he was and bite her there and now. Effectively changing what she was whether she agreed or not. Or the council would take the choice out of his hands and execute her to keep the secret of their kind safe.

  “I will deal with that when the time comes. Besides, those traditions are ludicrous; they were made thousands of years ago. I plan to court my mate in a more modern way, a more…”

  “Human way?” His father supplied while rubbing his face in frustration.

  Shaking his head, Colin let out a deep sigh. “You may not have that option. I came today to tell you the council is demanding a meeting in a few days. Apparently, Eric; that stubborn wolf from a few states over has finally sent someone to finalize the peace treaty between our packs. He’ll be here soon and the elders want to make a big deal out of a simple piece of paper.”

  “And they’ll know I’m mated by then.” Doyle acknowledged.

  “Yes. Her scent has already begun mixing with yours. I’m afraid your mating has become a ticking time bomb. If you drag your feet about this, it will blow up in your face.”

  * ~ * ~ *

  “So, you’re Doyle’s mate? He must have done something great in a past life to deserve someone as pretty as you.” Robert mused, his light voice startling Aria out of her deep thoughts of foreboding as he took a seat next to her.

  A deep scowl surfaced across her face at his teasing words. What was it with these guys? And what the hell did they mean by “mate”? A part of her wasn’t certain she wanted to know. Needing a less confusing topic, Aria changed the subject.

  “You are Doyle’s younger brother?”

  “Yeah, by five minutes,” He nodded, holding up five fingers. “Then there was our sister, Kari”

  Robert shook his head as his mouth morphed into a big grin, “I got to say, you’re acting very calm for being around one of our kind. Most would be running down the mountain, screaming their head off by now.”

  “Your kind...? You mean, enormous mountain men? No, wait; you’re giants, right?” her tone was light as she attempted to joke.

  Robert shook his head in denial as he smirked down at her, “Funny. But all kidding aside; there are perks to being grizzly shifters, as I’m sure you’ve figured out by now.”

  Aria felt frozen in place. She didn't think she could talk or move if her life depended on it. Upon meeting Doyle, she’d assumed he was nuts with all his talk of owning her after a minute of meeting her. But; grizzly shifters! What did that even mean? These people were crazy with a capital C. Had she stubble upon some fanatical animal cult? She was wrong to think this place would be a safe hiding place from Malca. These guys were more nuts than that sadistic doctor was!

  Taking a deep and steady breath, she slowly rose from the couch. Concealing her nervousness, she gazed down at Robert’s calm expression as he watched her like a hawk. She didn't want to have to injure him in effort to escape, she was certain she could be sneaky instead.

  Looking down at his feet, she barely could hold her triumphant smile in as she took in the sight of his boots. They were near the same size of Doyle’s, but slightly smaller. They would defiantly fit her feet with some modifications. She could practically feel the gears in her head twirling as a plan formed in the shadows of her mind.

  “I think I could us some air.” She remarked. “Could I barrow your boots?” Robert’s eyes narrowed in confusion as he looked up at her.

  “My boots...? Don’t you have any of your own?” He asked in confusion as his face began to look incensed.

  “No, I don’t have any shoes to speak of. The ones I did have…are lost.” Looking uncertain for a moment, she put on her most pleading expression that she could muster. She had to get out of here while Doyle was distracted. He had already declared that he would not let her go without a fight. This was her only chance. At Robert’s confused expression, she half expected him to press her for details. She breathed a sigh of relief once the heavy weight of Robert’s gaze was moved from her.

  Bending over his knees, his large hands jerked the laces of his boots free before pulling them off. Standing now on his shoeless feet, he held out his boots to her with a grim look. Taking a precarious step forward, she slowly reached out to take the offered boots. As her fingered bit into the unyielding brown leather, she jumped when Robert’s hand gripped her extended wrist tightly.

  For a moment he just held on to her while looking sternly down at her. Aria suddenly felt starved for air as his suddenly hard eyes bore into her. His russet eyes mutely challenged her, making the dread that had settled at the back of her mind expand. Had he seen through her ploy? Stepping closer to her, Robert bent his neck down over her, until his nose was nearly kissing hers.

  “Don’t be too long. Doyle will have my head if he comes back and you are nowhere to be seen.” He whispered with a boyish grin. Releasing a pent up breath as she laughed softly, looking away she nodded.

  “I’ll just go grab a jacket.” She murmured, pointing her small thumb over her shoulder at Doyle’s room. Fighting against the urge not to run into the adjacent room, she listened as Robert abruptly lowered himself back onto the couch with a manly groan.

  Entering the bedroom, she quietly closed the door behind her. No sooner than the door slid shut, she rushed to the dresser. Throwing the top drawer open, she snagged three pairs of socks. Sitting down on the bed she shoved her cold feet into them as quickly as she could, taking the extra socks, she stuffed them deep down into each boot. Pulling on each boot and tightening the laces as much as her nimble fingers could manage she was able to make the shoes a much better fit than earlier.

  Standing, she searched the room for anything she could lift for later use. On the dresser she discovered a sheathed six inch hunting knife that she quickly tucked down the side of one of her boots. Beside the knife was a simple man’s black leather wallet, jerking it open she found a small wad of cash and one credit card. Shoving that in the opposite boot, her eyes caught a flash of green from behind her. Walking around the side of the bed, she discovered a jacket lying in a heap on the floor, knowing that at some point she’d need it she quickly shrugged it on. The material was thick and warm, while carrying Doyle’s spicy scent.

  Walking to the window, she opened it. She couldn’t prevent her eyes rolling in aggravation when she saw an outer screen preventing her immediate escape. Glancing over her shoulder with apprehension, she turned back to the window with a look of determination. No matter how she gripped it, the screen wouldn’t budge. Raising her right leg and she gave the stubborn screen a kick, sending it flying out into the side yard.

  With a smile of accomplishment, she crawled out the w
indow with little difficultly. The side yard led down an incline leading away from the cabin. She could only hope that it would lead her to the nearest town. Without thinking, she took off in a light jog through the thick icy powder.

  * ~ * ~ *

  “Your mother will want you to bring your mate to supper soon, maybe you could…”

  His father’s words seemed to become muted in the back of his mind as Doyle gazed up at the snow sheathed trees. He’d begun half listening to his father as he’d lectured on the importance of preparing Aria for what her life would become now. His father had quickly switched to other important pack matters, never lingering on a certain topic once the information was imparted.

  He wanted to get back inside so much that his bear was using his insides as a scratching post. He hungered for her in every way possible for him to want something. He longed to hold her close to him, to breathe in her scent and memorize it like a priest would all the Holy Scriptures. He wanted to be near her as she laughed at one of his brother’s awful jokes. In just a few short hours she’d become his own personal drug that he refused to quit.

  Like a whipped puppy, his solemn eyes sought out the living room window to taken in another addictive sight of her. His body jerked to a halt when he only saw his brother’s wide shoulders. His bear groaned in trepidation at the lost sight of his mate. Where was she? Stalking past his still speaking father, he all but kicked the front door open in his rush to get inside.

  Looming in the door way, his collection of senses searched out their mate. Her scent was present, but it was faint. Jerking his eyes to Robert, whom was browsing though a magazine with his shoeless feet propped on top of the coffee table, he quickly approached the couch.

  “Where is Aria? I told you to watch my mate! Where is she?” His bear’s anger echoed in his voice. How could he have trusted his irresponsible twin with his most precious possession? This was a man that could not even keep a cactus alive.

  Tossing the magazine aside, Robert lifted his propped feet off the table as he sat up. “Calm down, Gramps. She’s fine.” He stated as he stood up to stretch.

  Doyle ignored the front door opening as his father stepped in from the cold with a look of annoyance. “If she is fine; where is she?” he asked through clenched teeth.

  “She should still be in your room. Last I saw her was about ten minutes or so. She said she needed some air, so she borrowed my boots and went to your room for a jacket.” Doyle quickly spun on his heels and headed for his closed bedroom door.

  Jerking it open, he was greeted by an empty room. A thin trail of cold air seeped into the barren room from an open window. Coming to a stop beside the open window, he spotted the discarded screen protector lying discarded among the snow.

  Large boot prints were branded into the icy snow heading down the mountain towards Darkwood Springs. A small town on the edge of his territory, under his protection it was home to human and shifters alike. Fear suddenly gripped him. Why had she run? So many concerns raced through his mind at her absence. What if she got hurt? What if she made it to town and found a way to leave him? What if another shifter claimed her?

  His bear growled viciously at the shear idea of another man, shifter or not lying any short of claim on her. No other would claim her but him! Turning back to his father and brother that stood in the hallway with matching looks of confusion, Doyle advanced on his brother. Coming to a stop in front of Robert, he circled his anger clenching hand around his throat. Squeezing,

  Doyle lifted his younger brother off his feet as he glared up at him. Doyle’s eyes glowing with retribution at Robert’s part in Aria disappearance.

  “What the hell, Bro?” Robert gasped out as Doyle’s tightening fingers suddenly sprouted claws. “What’s the problem?” He wheezed out.

  “Why weren’t you watching her?” His growling voiced vibrating the walls with his ferocity.

  “I didn't think that meant she couldn’t go outside.” Robert wheezed out breathlessly as his face was turning red rapidly. With a look of self disgust, Doyle abruptly let go of his twin. Abruptly free, Robert's body landed brutally in a heap on the floor while cupping at his offended throat.

  His shoulders hunched dangerously as he stalked away, Doyle entered the kitchen and began searching through drawers for what he needed. Behind him, his father and solemn looking brother followed.

  “Why would she run from you?” His father asked, absently scratching at his chin.

  “She didn't run from me.” Doyle argued, his eyes snapping at his father’s calm ones. “She’s just running from something else.”

  “What are you going to do?” Robert asked, curiously. Pulling open another drawer, Doyle smiled with success as his hands closed around the object he needed to bring back his stubborn and strong-willed mate.

  Coiling the long length of a rope around his arm and elbow, not taking attention off his task, he answered. “I am going to go after her and bring her back. Then I plan on getting to the bottom of whatever she is so scared of. After that, I plan on binding her so tightly to me that she’ll never remember a time when she wasn’t.” Tying the rope off to prevent it from unraveling, Doyle returned to his room. Quickly donning a sweater and his boots, he returned to the living room doing all he could to pay no attention to his smirking father and brother.

  “That doesn’t sound very modern, son.” His father chuckled throwing Doyle’s words back at him. Without another word, Doyle shoved past the two of them and out the front door, leaving the door flung wide open.

  Both came to stand in the open doorway, watching Doyle take off after his mate’s trail. Nodding his head in satisfaction, Colin idly looked over at his other son as he stepped over the threshold. “Now that is how a man should take a mate. Forget all this modern twaddle you young ones are always going on about. There’s nothing simpler than capturing your mate and taking her back for some good, old fashion loving.”

  Lingering in the doorway, Robert shrugged his shoulders at his father’s outdated wisdom. “If she hasn’t killed him, you mean?”

  Colin’s eyes took on a far off look, as though an old memory was resurfacing before his eyes, “That’s part of the fun, my boy.”

  Crossing his arms over his chest, Robert’s eyes lingering down the path Doyle had taken to catch up to his mate. Having a mate seemed so…exhausting. He could only hope when the Creator decided to bless him with a mate, his would be much simpler to catch.

  * ~ * ~ *

  Pulling the zipper up to her chin, Aria took a look around her. She’d followed the snowy slope leading down away from Doyle’s cabin, but all she could see was endless forest land. The slope had flattened out and for the past few minutes she wandered through the thick snow, praying she wasn’t lost, again.

  Stepping out from behind a towering tree, she paused as the trail branched off into two different directions. As she started to take the left one, she suddenly stopped and turned to look hesitantly at the right one. Ugh! Was it too much to ask for a road or a simple ‘Welcome to…’ sign? She’d kill for a map right about now!

  Folding her arms around herself she turned back to the left trail and began putting one foot in front of the other. While she walked, her thoughts turned back to her strange rescuer, Doyle. If he never opened his mouth he would be every woman’s dream come true. With a regretful sigh, she couldn’t help but wish she had stayed.

  No! Shaking her head at her absurd thought, she forced herself to see the big picture. Malca was hunting her and a handsome stranger would just slow her down and get them both killed. It was better this way, whether he was delusional or not. Her only hope was to get as far away from Malca as she could and disappear forever.

  Her first instinct was to confide in Doyle with everything or at least call the authorities, but the truth was, Malca was government funded. One phone call from the police, Malca would have her location in five seconds; she may as well gift-wrap herself for Malca. Who knew how many politicians or law officials were in on the si
ck doctor’s operation? Plus Malca wasn’t about to let her expose her operation and walk away unscathed.

  Stepping over a log half sticking out of the glittering snow, she was forced to raise her hand against the blinding sunlight ahead. A few feet from the tree line was a large empty space of snow covered ground until it vanished over a sharp ledge. Carefully she walked toward the edge, her stomach clenched as she gazed down at the precarious chasm below. At this height, if she were to go over the edge her body would be found in demolished bits. In the distance she could see more never-ending forest terrain.

  Groaning in frustration; she kicked her foot at a mound of snow, sending soft powder shimmering in the air. Just great! The only way around the drop off was to either scale down or to circle back. Both were neither an option for her. Glancing around, she searched for an alternate option. With all her attention focused on the issue at hand, she never heard the sound of a snapping twig coming from behind her.

  5

  Doyle couldn’t help but shake his head at how easy his mate was making it for him to track her. Hell; even if he’d not been born a shifter with keen senses, he still would be able to find her. In her hurry to put distance between them, she’d broken plenty of branches and had made no move to conceal her foot prints.

  Maybe if he wasn’t so irritated at the situation, he would have found this amusing. Tracking his mate in his human form was slower; if he were in his bear form he’d be able to track her within seconds. But terrifying his mate with the sight of a grizzly bear chasing her down would not help catch her.

  His footsteps slowed as the trail split off in two directions. He’d half expected her to take the path turning to the right; he was surprised to see her footsteps following the path to the left. If she’d taken the path to the right, it would have led her strait down the mountain and into town. Thank goodness his mate had a terrible sense of direction.