Bearing It All (Grizzly Affairs Book 1) Read online

  Urging his feet quicker along the path he couldn’t help but lick his lips in anticipation as Aria’s scent grew more potent as he drew closer. He rapidly slowed his pace as he approached the drop off. Concealed by the shadows amongst the trees, he smirked as he watched his mate kicked at the snow in frustration. He thanked his luck that she decided to take the wrong path.

  As Aria paced along the edge of the earthy cliff, he slowly inched closer. If he startled her, he risked losing her over the deadly ledge. Crouching down, he began knotting a section of the rope he’d brought along, around his waist. Tucking the extra length of the rope in the front pocket of his jeans, silently he watched her as she loudly fumed.

  “What a stupid forest!” she sniped out loudly, “Would it kill them to hang a few signs saying, ‘This way to town’ or ‘Don’t go this way—it goes nowhere’!” Groaning in annoyance, she kicked out at more snow before throwing herself down on a nearby rock, half crusted with snow.

  From the force of throwing herself onto her perch, she felt tenderness along her rips. Reaching up, her hand covered the area, silently willing the burning pain to recede. Shoving one side of the coat away, she lifted up her shirt to inspect the wound. To her surprise there was nothing there. Last night she remembered it steadily bleeding; now there was simply an area of pink flesh. How was that possible?

  Closing her eyes, Aria inhaled deeply as she looked up at the pale sky. Dropping her clothing back into place, she pulled the thick coat more firmly around her. Lowering her head, a flash of light glinted off her left wrist catching her attention. Lifting the hand to eye level she glared at the insulting metal on her wrist. Her skin underneath was red and blistered from repeatedly being zapped at the labs. The memories of how she had been treated no better than a mindless beast resurfaced.

  Waves of anger rushed to the surface before she could control it. As though the revolting cuffs were on fire, franticly she began trying to forcibly twist and pull them off. When they wouldn’t move more than an inch in each direction she slid off the cold slick rock to kneel in the snow. A few times she slammed her wrist against the hard exterior of the rock in hopes of smashing the thin metal.

  “I don’t think that’s going to work, kitten.” The deep reverberating voice startled Aria as she swung her hand once more towards the stone surface. Only this time it missed its mark, instead of striking the indestructible metal again, she slammed her hand into the hard rock. Crying out whether in surprise or in pain; she didn't know. Cradling her wrist against her shuddering chest, she struggled to conceal the pain in her hand while she covered it from sight with her free hand.

  “What do you want?” She gritted out in obvious pain as she glanced away from him.

  Doyle crouching down beside her, he reached a tender hand out toward her injured hand, only to grind his teeth in frustration when she jerked out of reach. Jumping to her feet, she backed away from Doyle, the sound of her crunching footsteps against the snow was the only sound echoed between them as she did her best to ignore his watchful gaze.

  Not about to take anymore, he rose to his full height and stalked over to his avoiding mate. Jerking her around, he ignored her gasp of surprise as he gripped her injured hand and pulled it out for his inspection. Shoving the thick sleeve up her arm, he could already see a dark bruise forming under the reddened skin across the top of her hand. Gently, he rubbed his fingers over the tops of hers, slowly checking each cherished digit for broken bones.

  For a moment, Aria could only stare as the tender giant before her that took vigilant steps to insure she wasn’t injured badly. Quickly she began to feel uneasy with the gentle attention she was receiving from her strong opponent. Jerking her hand away once his grip lessened, she crossed her arms over her chest. His very presence stirred a deeper hunger within her. She fought against the urge to throw herself into his dominating embrace. She elected for looking up at him with as much defiance as she could draw on.

  “I’m fine.”

  “You’re sure?” At her affirming nod, Doyle replied, “Good,” seizing both of her hands in one of his unbreakable ones, with his free hand he preceded to bind her wrists with the rope that he quickly unwound from his waist.

  After discovering his intention, she began to struggle against his hold. Only too quickly he finished his task before turning to wrap the remaining length of rope and tether it around one of his thick wrists. Jerking and tugging against the restraining line, Aria gritted in annoyance when she couldn’t even loosen the complex knot he’d tied.

  “Let’s go,” He commanded with a serious voice, turning he began leading her back the way he’d come. The sooner they got back to the cabin the sooner he would lay down the rules of their mating.

  When struggling against his leading hand did her no good but to be dragged along the snow behind him, she did the only thing she could. Going limp, she allowed her legs to fold underneath her and sat unmoving in the snow. Jerking his eyes over his shoulders, Doyle couldn’t deny how adorable she looked refusing to follow behind him. Yanking on the rope in effort to force her back onto her feet, he was surprised when she yanked it back in a silent refusal.

  “Get up. I need to get you back before you get sick from being out here.”

  When her only response to him was a disagreeable look, a frustrated growl surfaced from deep down within him. Why couldn’t the Creator gift him with a more agreeable mate? Stomping over to her, he tightly gripped the front of jacket she wore and lifted her onto her feet, despite her hard look. His eyes bore down into her unflinching ones, as his voice echoed with an unbreakable supremacy.

  “You will walk back or I will make you.”

  “Fat chance of that happening,” She sniped, yanking once more on the bonds around her joined wrists. “You can’t make me do anything. I’m leaving, so untie me now.”

  “No, we’re going back and when we get to the cabin we’re going to settle the rules of this relationship. One of which being; you will not leave that cabin again unless I say so.” He replied, pointing an accusing finger at her scowling face.

  “Relationship? You must be more delusional than I first thought, first I find out all you guys think you are bear shifters—whatever that is! And now you think we’re in a relationship? You really are crazy!” She mocked.

  Comprehension suddenly hit Doyle like a runaway train. Ice poured into his veins at the knowledge that she knew the truth. “Who told you that? Is that why you ran? And for your information we are in a relationship, you just don’t know it yet.” He finished, confusing her all the more.

  “Robert said your family and you were grizzly shifters. You weirdo’s have been living in the woods too long, if you ask me. Now let me go and point me in the direction of town.” She demanded with an intolerant look.

  Shaking his head at the mess his little brother had started, he squared his shoulders with determination. “We’ll talk when we get home, now let’s go.” His tone brooked no argument.

  Aria was forced to slowly follow behind him; all the while she formed a plan in the back of her mind. Doyle slowed his pace, more than likely he was lost deep in his own thoughts, than paying attention to his captive behind him. Lucky for her, there was enough slack on the rope for her to reach her bound hands into the side of one of her borrowed boots. Allowing her to pull out the knife she’d lifted before leaving the cabin.

  Clutching it between her bound hands with the blade pointing directly at her, with a few flicks of her hands, her bonds were quickly sliced through. As they had arrived at the forked path, she bent to pick up a thick, fallen branch. Swing it; she struck it against the back of Doyle’s head. It didn't knock him out, however it did catch him by surprise causing him to stumble while clutching at his head.

  Taking her chance, with the deadly knife in her grip, she dashed around her stunned opponent and down the opposite path. The path led down a long steep incline, the snow made it difficult to run down, causing her to fall forwards and backwards several times. Her hear
t lifted with excitement as she saw the welcoming sight of a town in the distance. But the distance would be greater than a short run. Her pursuer would catch up with her before she even reached the bottom of the giant gradient she seemed to be sliding down.

  Her breath escaped out in heavy pants as she picked up her speed, like the night before a burst of energy flooded her system and she moved through the wind as though she were part of it. As she neared the bottom of the slope she felt her heart clench in panic as a thunderous roar echoed through the trees behind her. The thunderous echo caused birds to take flight from their shelter among the trees. Pausing to turn and look at the top of the impressive rise, her mouth went dry as she saw a monstrous grizzly bear racing down after her.

  There was no way she could out run a mauling and most likely, killing machine like that. Looking around in horror she saw there were no nearby trees to climb or any hiding place in sight. Closer and closer the growling fury charged straight at her, with no sign it would stop until it was upon her. Struggling to quell the shaking of her hands, she held the knife out in front of her and waited for the inevitable.

  The mighty grizzly kept up its pace as it descended upon level ground. She took a deep breath as she swung the knife at the snarling mouth of the beast within reach. Missing her mark, the beast’s head slammed into her and knocked her off her feet. Landing on her stomach, she felt sick with panic as she felt the ground shutter under the thundering steps of the livid creature. Her hand gripped at empty air as she realized the knife had been knocked out of her hand. Spotting it just out of reach, she franticly began crawling toward it.

  Her heart nearly burst in her chest as she felt the bear’s hot breath against the back of her neck. Fearing it would instantly chomp down on her vulnerable neck, she was surprised when it instead gripped the neck line of her coat and began half lifting, half dragging her back towards the precipitous hill. Stretching out her hand, she snagged the knife in her seeking hand. Swinging her hand up behind her, she slashed along one of the creature’s gigantic front legs.

  Roaring in pain, the bear dropped his prize and leap away. Much to her displeasure the animal didn't lose interest in her; instead it slowly circled her as she climbed to her unsteady feet. With teeth bared, the predator’s eyes flashed dangerously at the sight of the blood smeared knife tightly clutched in her hand. Where the hell was that annoying troglodyte; Doyle when she needed him?

  Slowly, the bear stopped its strategic circling and began carefully approaching her head on. Its dark lips peeled over its deadly teeth in a low snarl. Still she kept her only weapon pointed threatening at the approaching marauder, waiting to see what would happen next. As it nearly was within touching distance, she slashed the crimsoned stained steel through the air, inches from the bear’s snout.

  In surprise; the grizzly groaned and took a step back before it simply sat on its furry backside, quietly watching her like a curious puppy. When she’d heard of bears mauling helpless victims and ripping them to bloody bits this wasn’t how she envisioned it. In alarmed confusion she watched the bear’s form became as thin as mist, slowly drifting on the wind then to be replaced with a very sweaty naked man. Looking up at her with a familiar crooked grin, Aria gasped is shock as she stared down at Doyle.

  She quickly jumped back as he stood precariously onto his feet, still holding the knife pointing at him, she couldn’t help but admire his sweat glistening form. His powerful muscles bunched and flowed like a powerful predator beneath his dark skin. Her eyes suddenly fell on his thick, straining manhood that pulsed with a dark, primitive need. Heat flooded her cheeks as she forced her eyes to look up at his face and sweat slicked locks.

  “I don’t…think you will need that, little warrior.” He gasped out, still trying to catch his breath as he pointed at the knife.

  She didn't lower it as he’d expected, instead she tightened her grip on it as he took a shaken step forward. Her eyes flashed with fear and confusion as he approached. She feared him now, and it tore deep down into his soul. His bear moaned mournfully at their mate’s forthcoming rejection. He would now have to battle through her fear of his bear to get to her guarded heart.

  “Don’t be afraid…” He whispered softly, taking another step forward his hands reaching out for her cautiously.

  “Don’t tell me not to be afraid!” She snapped, not sure whether she should slap him for scaring her or run away screaming her head off in hysteria. “Did that really just happen? Did you really just turn into a big bear and attack me?” Her voice rose higher with emotion.

  “Big? I don’t know whether to be insulted or proud.” He stated with a teasing grin before replying seriously, “And I didn't attack you, my bear just got frantic when you ran away. We feared we’d lost you. Bear shifters are very protective of their mates. Please understand that we can’t lose you now that we’ve found you.”

  Shaking her head, she couldn’t bring herself to deal with his tender words about her; it made everything all the more confusing. And yet why did she feel so calm? Over and over in her head, she saw him change from bear to man, as she tried to wrap her head around what her eyes had just seen. But where she should be scared out of her mind, she found that she was only mildly confused.

  “It’s true; you can change into a bear.” She stated in astonishment, the knife falling from her suddenly numb fingers. With careful movements, Doyle bent to pick up the discarded blade just as Aria lost the battle with her quaking legs and sunk down onto the snow covered ground.

  Tapping the sharp blade against his bare thigh, Doyle nodded solemnly. “Yes. It’s true. Man, this wasn’t the way I wanted to break the news to you. I had it all planned out and then my stupid family had to stick their noses where it didn't belong.” He fumed softly.

  Looking down at the soft icy flakes, she ignored the bone deep chill that threatened to consume her body. How was this possible? How could were-bears exist? Not raising her eyes to his, she focused on his hovering shadow that fell across the sheet of frozen white. “How is this possible?” She asked in astonishment.

  “How did you come to be as you are, Aria? I was born a shifter. I can’t tell you how shifters came into being, because I don’t know.”

  Slowly standing to her feet, Aria walked a few steps ahead. Looking down at the second steep hill, she saw it led directly behind a tall red brick building in town. Quietly she simply stared down at it. The one place she’d been fighting to get to and now she was torn in between running there and staying to learn more about this exciting discovery.

  “That’s Darkwood Springs.” Doyle’s voice admitted softly from behind her. “It’s a bit of a forgotten town, many people drive through here without really seeing it. Eighty percent of the people that live around here are shifters. We’re really not all that different from humans, you know.”

  What she could see from her vantage point of it looked like a quiet town like any other. The streets were only filled with an occasional vehicle. On the sidewalks were a few people walking from store to store. The soft sound of children laughing floated on the breeze. Slowly his words registered in her mind as a mixture of curiosity and fear filled her brain.

  “There are others? More shifters like you and your family?” She asked curiously, turning around to face him, determined to keep her eye on his face and not roaming his delicious body.

  Maybe I could just get one more look? She shook her head as if she could shake the lust filled thoughts out of her head.

  “Of course, there are wolves, pumas, tigers, more bears, and a bunch others.” Seeing his mate furiously shaking her head as she scrunched up her face, he rushed to insure her that she was in no danger.

  “This is insane.” She mumbled, shaking her head. Slowly she felt her fear easing, but only to be replaced with curiosity.

  Doyle stared down at his mate. He could barely taste her fear anymore in the air; though it had lessened it was still there.

  “If you really want to go to town, there it is.” He p
ointed. “But don’t go because you fear me; because I would rather you stab me right now than run from us in fear.” Though he was an overly intimidating male, she could almost glimpse a flicker of uncertainty in the depths of his liquid chocolate eyes.

  Before she could even begin to think of a response to his sincere words, a flash of red on his arm caught her attention. On his right forearm was a six inch cut ending at his elbow. A few drops of liquid garnet fell onto the soft snow from the divided flesh.

  “You’re hurt.” She reached out to his injured arm, but withdrew her seeking hand at the last instant. It was nearly the same spot she had sliced at the bear with the knife moments ago. A sick feeling settled in her stomach at seeing the harm she’d caused him.

  “This is nothing,” He assured with a dismissive wave of his hand. “You should be proud. I don’t know many that would have fared as well with a grizzly as you did.”

  “But I wasn’t in any real danger.” She stated realistically, as she tenderly reached out to his injured arm, inspecting the cut.

  Doyle felt his bear groan with happiness at her reply. One more step in the right direction. Maybe there was hope for winning his mate after all. Stepping away from him, Aria glanced away from him nervously. “Besides; if you had been a real bear, you probably would be chewing on me right about now.”

  Laughing out loud, he reached out, circling a bright lock of her hair around his finger teasingly. “It would depend on what part of you. I could think of a few places I wouldn’t mind chewing on.” He whispered, his suddenly dark eyes slowly roaming over her body as though she were a four course meal.

  Slapping his hand away, she fixed her reprimanding eyes on him as she cleared her throat loudly. “We should get you bandaged up before your arm falls off. I don’t know about you, but it’s getting too cold for me out here, Smokey.” Walking past him she headed back up the incline they’d just raced down. It had seemed a difficult task to get his mate back to his cabin and lay down the rules. And here she was leading him back home as though she hadn’t just discovered how different he really was. He only wished he wasn’t shin deep in snow without a stitch on.