“No, it doesn’t. If I was meant to come here, then why did he walk away? If I was meant to be his mate, why didn’t he want me?” Rebecca stared down into her cup.
Leona sighed. “Because he’s a man, darlin’, and he is as stubborn as they come. I’ve seen that boy walk past an aggravated hornet’s nest to stay on the sidewalk since his mama told him not to go on the street. We, that is, his parents and I, believe that he is afraid to claim you since he’s afraid to hurt you.”
“That is ridiculous!” Rebecca started.
Leona stood, Rebecca blinked, and she was gone. She felt an arm wrap around her throat, and she gasped.
“I apologize, baby girl, but you had to see that there is a difference.” Leona took her seat as Rebecca gasped and held a hand to her chest.
“You scared the hell outta me, Leona!” she said, frowning.
“I know, but you needed to be a bit scared. You see we are faster and stronger. Our bodies are heavier and bones denser. Even if Aleks were a human, a man his size would still need to be careful with you. As a shifter he is probably scared out of his mind. You are right to be upset, but please try and understand where he is coming from.” Leona smiled at the girl softly.
Rebecca looked at the older woman and sighed.
“I see your point.” She paused before continuing. “He’s special to you, isn’t he?” she asked.
Leona looked startled and then smiled.
“You are very perceptive, baby girl. Yes he is. I love all of those Arkadion boys dearly. Benedict is the playboy. Connor is the happy-go-lucky one. Duncan and Emmett, the twins, are bruisers with soft hearts. Finnian is the peacekeeper, and Gavin is a brilliant yet anti-social veterinarian. I am godmother to them all. But Aleks. Aleks was always the serious one. The responsible one. Maybe in his own way he knew he would be responsible for those who not only live here in Arkadia but in all of Arkadia’s sister towns.” She thought about it for a moment then shook her head.
“Well, in his quiet and serious way he always made sure to visit me and make sure I wasn’t lonely. He would walk over here every day after school and do his homework at this very table while his Ma worked the diner. The other boys went out to play. Only after he finished his homework would he wave good-bye and then join them. He has a gentle heart that one. I’m so glad he has found you. He deserves to be happy.” Leona smiled at Rebecca. “You’re taking this really well, Rebecca, almost too well.” She watched the girl closely.
Rebecca just shrugged.
“I have been reading nothing but paranormal books for over ten years. I love animals, and I felt the connection pulling me to him. I have no family and no home. I come here, and not only is he the most gorgeous man I have ever seen in my life, he is also my mate destined and created for me by Fate. He comes with a large and loving family and a shifter town as a home. The only possible problem is that he can turn into a huge apex predator that can defend and protect me. What exactly is the downside?” she asked.
Leona threw her head back and laughed.
“Well if you put it that way.” She was still laughing when she stood. She picked up the breakfast plates. Rebecca stood and grabbed the silverware.
“Hey, Leona, were you supposed to tell me all this?” Rebecca asked, following her hostess to the kitchen.
“Well, usually your mate would be the one to explain everything to you. But considering he has his head up his ass and you’re living in an all-shifter town, I thought it might be best to tell you up front. Why?” Leona rinsed off the plates placing them in the dishwasher.
“He’s the sheriff, right? I could have sworn he was in a uniform last night,” Rebecca asked, smiling.
“Baby girl, what are you up to?” Leona asked curiously.
“I’m going to go visit a bear,” she said with a grin.
* * * *
Aleks trudged back to the sheriff’s station from the diner. He was nursing one of the worst hangovers he had ever had. He didn’t know whether it was from the volume of alcohol he consumed or the lingering side effects from stopping the soul merge. Both Ma and Pa had laid into him the second he stepped into the diner for breakfast. His ears seemed to still be ringing. He knew walking away from Rebecca would be bad, but he hadn’t known what effects a partial soul merge would have on his mate. He battled with himself. He wanted to go to her and make sure she was okay. But he also wanted to keep his distance.
He sat down and laid his head back on his chair. Maybe he should just take the day off, go back to bed, and pretend he dreamt the past twenty-four hours. With his eyes closed, he remembered how she smelt. Like honeysuckle and vanilla. His dick hardened and his mouth began to water. He remembered her soft dark curls and bright violet eyes. He had never seen eyes like hers before. She was small but her mouth had felt like heaven. He could imagine her warm soft lips wrapped around his cock. He shifted in his chair trying to adjust his rapidly shrinking pants. He imagined her on her knees looking up at him, saying his name.
“Aleks.”
“Yeah, baby,” he replied.
“I’d like to report a hit and run,” a soft feminine voice said. Aleks’s eyes flew open and there standing before him, her head tilted to one side, was his mate. She looked down at his crotch, and her eyes widened and a red blush worked its way up her neck to her cheeks and then to the tips of her ears.
He scooted so that his legs were under his desk obscuring his lower half. Then her words sunk in and he stood up and flew around the desk. He lifted her up and sat her down in his chair.
“God, are you okay! Where were you hit? Why aren’t you at the clinic? You need to go to the clinic!” He stood unsure whether he should pick her up. What if she had a neck injury? Why in the hell was she up and walking around?
“Yes, you see, last night I was minding my business at the diner, trying to eat dinner. When this man came in, kissed me until I was unconscious then left. That has to be at least a felony, right?” she asked, looking up at him, her eyes blinking up at him innocently.
Aleks felt relief pour through him at her words. She was okay. She hadn’t been hit by a car. He sat down in the chair across from her and leaned forward his elbows on his knees and his eyes on the floor.
“I’m extremely sorry about that. It wasn’t like me at all. I was hoping we could forget about it,” he said.
“Did you mistake me for someone else?” she asked, frowning.
“Uh…no,” he said, looking at his hands.
“It was an amazing kiss. It seems a shame to forget it. No. I don’t think I will. In fact, I think I want another one,” she said shyly.
His head snapped up and she was standing in front of him. She smiled. With him seated in the chair and her standing he was almost taller than she was. She stepped between his knees, leaned down, and pressed her lips to his.
Her scent filled his nostrils, and his hands automatically came up as if with a mind of their own to cup her firm ass. She moaned and leaned into him. He stood and easily pulled her up into his arms and wrapped her legs around his waist. He could smell her arousal and knew if he dipped his hands into her jeans that her panties would be soaked through. He needed her. He needed her more than he needed his next breath.
Easily holding her up with one hand, he wiped his desk clear with the other then laid her down on the dark walnut desktop. Without taking his lips from hers, he cupped her mound through her jeans. She moaned loudly and ground her hips against him, needing more friction. He made quick work of her jean buttons and pulled the denim past her rounded hips and down her thighs where they pooled at her knees. He ran his fingers through her folds to find them dripping wet. He pulled back from their kiss and sucked his fingers into his mouth.
“Your pussy tastes like the sweetest honey. I can’t wait to have more,” he said, smiling.
She groaned and tried to open her legs wider for him but was trapped by her jeans. He smiled wickedly.
He pulled her sweater and tee shirt up, exposing a simple white
lace bra. He smiled and lowered his lips to the hint of pink he saw flashing at him through the lace. When his hot mouth found his prize, she screamed out and bucked against his hand. He ran his fingers over her clit before plunging one finger into her silken channel. She cried out as her body began to shake. He continued to pull on her breast and grind his hand between her legs until she stopped her hips from moving against him and her breathing slowed. He felt his bear calm down as he breathed in her scent. Unable to control it, their souls had come closer together.
“Wow,” she said simply, smiling up at him drowsily.
“Ohhh Aleks. I come with coffee and pastries to help your hangover.” A voice called from the door. Connor appeared at the doorway. “Shit! Sorry! I didn’t see anything!” He dropped the bag of pastries on the floor and took off at a run.
Despite the awkward position she found herself in, Rebecca started to giggle. Aleks looked down at her dancing eyes and he smiled. He helped her sit up and right her clothes.
“What about you? Your, um, you know?” she said, pointing at his crotch. His cock looked like it was about to rip through his pants.
“Honey, if my pants come off, you’ll find yourself in a more compromising position than the one my brother found you in.” He smiled at her.
Her eyes widened and her mouth formed a small O. Then in a flash the look of innocence turned to one of pure mischievousness.
“Really?” she asked.
Aleks just shook his head. Maybe he wouldn’t hurt her after all, because she was well on her way to trying to kill him.
She sat down and watched him pick up his desk items, putting them back in certain positions on his desk. She smiled. Leona wasn’t kidding when she said he was the over-organized serious one.
“Now what? I don’t really go around having orgasms on men’s desks,” she said.
He growled low and swung around.
“No man gets to do that but me,” he growled out. Her eyes met his squarely.
“So we’re dating?” she asked.
“No,” he said shortly. He ran a hand through his hair. His best intentions were shot to hell. He immediately felt guilty for what had just happened.
“So we’re not dating?” she asked hesitantly.
“No,” he said again. He may have slipped up, but he needed to keep the bigger picture in mind. He needed to keep her safe even if it was from himself.
She wrapped her arms around her body. He hated to see what was clearly a defensive position.
“Okay then, um, goodbye I guess.” She stood and walked toward the door. This had not turned out the way she imagined. She thought as her mate he would realize how much they belonged together and he would get down on his knees and pledge his love. She shook her head. Okay, maybe not that, but she thought they would at least get together. She hadn’t expected his out-and-out rejection.
When she turned back, he still stood beside his desk, not moving his back to her. She walked out of the building and was wiping at her eyes when she ran into Connor, who was waiting outside the front door. His eyes were kind, and she knew he had heard what Aleks had said.
He nodded and went into the station. She waited, knowing it was wrong to eavesdrop, but she wanted to hear what Aleks would say.
“Dude, what the fuck?” she heard Connor ask, only slightly muffled by the cracked door.
“I don’t need her. I need a shifter female who can give me cubs. I can’t be mated to a human,” Aleks said harshly.
“If you don’t grab her, someone else will, someone like Liam, who can appreciate a good-looking, sweet, and adorable woman like Rebecca,” Connor yelled.
She covered her mouth with her hand and ran back to the bed-and-breakfast. Being alone was a thousand times better than meeting your soul mate and having him rip your heart out.
* * * *
Leona just ran her hand over Rebecca’s hair.
“Give him time, baby girl. He didn’t mean that he didn’t want you. He has always thought that his mate would be a shifter,” she said softly.
“What about me? I had to adapt to knowing shifters existed and then finding out I was mated to one. I think I’m doing really well.” She sniffled into her sleeve.
Leona reached over to the nightstand and grabbed a Kleenex and handed it to Rebecca.
“I think there is more to his story than any of us knows. But I have a feeling before all is said and done you will know why. Now, instead of moping around here, why don’t you head to the diner? Everyone will still be there for their breakfast, their second breakfast, or early lunch. You can meet some more of the townspeople.” She patted Rebecca’s shoulder.
“Okay, though I don’t feel like being social,” she said, sitting up.
“Go have fun, baby girl. Remember you aren’t mated yet, and there are some fine looking men in this town. There is nothing wrong with looking and flirting. Ask me how I know,” Leona said with a wink.
Rebecca smiled slowly.
“You’re right. Be back later.” She got up, headed toward the door before turning back to give Leona a hug.
“Thanks,” she said simply.
“Anytime, baby girl. Now go have fun,” she said.
Chapter 3
Aleks paced his office. How did she know that flea-bitten no-good alley cat? She had only been in town overnight. Liam wouldn’t say no to his sweet Rebecca. That man couldn’t keep his dick in his pants. Rebecca wouldn’t know what he was like. He growled and paced some more.
“If the growling is because of me, I’m sorry for bursting in on you earlier, but in my defense the door was unlocked,” Connor said from the doorway.
“How does Rebecca know Liam?” Aleks asked, still pacing his small office. Connor frowned and said.
“They met last night at the diner. He said something about putting a bell around her neck like a kitten.” Connor jumped as his brother released rage filled roar. He turned white when he saw that Aleks’s canines had descended and his hands were now claws. When Aleks moved toward the door, Connor intercepted him, wrapping his arms around his brother’s waist.
“Aleks, control yourself! You are losing your shit here. If Ma sees you walking around town like this, she will skin you alive.” Connor was hanging on, and even at six foot five inches and 275 pounds he felt himself being dragged toward the door.
“She’s mine! Mine!” Aleks growled.
“I thought you decided to let her go,” Connor reminded him, still wrapped around his waist.
“I did!” Aleks said, his breathing slowing down. Connor waited until his claws had retracted before letting go.
“Then what’s the problem?” Connor asked as they both sat down.
“My bear wants her bad. I can feel him clawing at me to go to her, to put my mark on her and claim her,” Aleks said, his hands in tight fists.
“Then I ask again, what’s the problem?” Connor asked.
“The fucking problem is I have seen firsthand what one of our kind can do to a human. Derek and I…” He swallowed hard.
“Your partner from when you were living in Raleigh?” Connor asked.
Aleks nodded.
“He and I were called in for a reported domestic violence call. It was routed to us since the residence belonged to a shifter. We were working in the shifter-only unit. He was a wolf. When we got there the male opened the door and just walked us to the back room. She…she…” Aleks’s face was pale. “She was broken. Her right arm had been dislocated and nearly torn from the socket. Her pelvis had been crushed, and she had obviously torn during sex. Her legs were a bloody mess. He just stood there so completely out of it. My partner cuffed him and got him in the car. I waited for forensics then we left. He’s in jail, but she’s dead. I can’t get her out of my mind. She was bigger and taller than Rebecca. If that could happen to her with a wolf, what damage could I do to tiny Rebecca as a bear?” Aleks stared down at his desk.
“Did you tell Ma or Pa about this?” Connor asked.
“N
o, I couldn’t think about it anymore,” Aleks said.
“That’s why you left Raleigh and came home, isn’t it?” Connor asked even though he knew the answer.
Aleks nodded.
“I figured there were no humans here to get hurt like that,” Aleks said.
“I only have one question. Were they mates?” Connor stared into his brother’s face when it snapped up to look at him.
“What the hell difference does that make?” Aleks demanded. “She didn’t deserve to die that way whether they were mates or not,” he said.
“Were they mates?” Connor repeated.
“I don’t think so,” Aleks said.
“I can tell you that they weren’t based on what you said. What male looks down at his mate and sees that kind of damage and has the cognitive ability to call the cops? If they had been mates you would have been called in due to the sound of a gunshot from him blowing his head off. No male could live with the knowledge that he brutalized his female and killed her. He would be chasing her soul into the hereafter begging for forgiveness,” Connor said heatedly.
“What’s your point?” Aleks asked.
“My point is this. Picture Rebecca. She’s smiling at you, right. She grabs your arm to pull you along then she trips and you reach out to right her.” Connor paused. Aleks nodded.
“Now picture her arm bruised at your hand.” Connor said this flatly. Aleks’s head snapped up.
“How do you feel?” Connor asked.
“Like someone has kicked me in the balls, like I’m going to be sick, and I want to cry like a baby,” Aleks told his brother, knowing he would never admit this to anyone outside his family.
“Aleks, don’t you see? That’s from thinking of a bruise. You are her mate. You were designed and born to love and care for this one female. It’s in you, right down to your DNA to keep her safe. Do you really think that Fate would put you with a female that in being together caused you both pain?” Connor asked softly.