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Chapter One
Neo
“Brother, this is getting ridiculous. Just claim her already.”
I looked over at Ranger, my eldest brother and the alpha of our clan of black bear shifters, before I lifted my glass to swallow the last of my whiskey, enjoying the burn. “It ain’t that simple and you know it. She’s been hurt, badly. Me taking a bite out of her is going to scare the shit out of her.”And possibly send her running. Again.
“Well, the current routine of her coming to you for a fuck when she can’t stand the mating burn any longer, then pushing you away again after, ain’t working either. It’s killing you, and I’m not going to stand by and watch you fade away.”
Noticing my raised my hand, the bar tender came over and replaced my drink. Beauty of living in a small town where everyone knew everyone, Dirk knew what I wanted and didn’t ask questions about running a tab for me.
I took a mouthful of my fresh drink before responding to Ranger. I knew he was right. Being so close yet not bonded to my mate would slowly drive me insane. Eventually, I’d need to be put out of everyone’s misery before I turned into a completely feral animal. “And what do you suggest I do? Shift and drag her off into the mountains? Not exactly realistic when she doesn’t even know what I am.”
“Hey, don’t knock it till you try it. Chelle loves it when I go cave-bear on her.”
That had me shaking my head. Ranger and Chelle had been mated for five years now, and they still went at it like teenagers whenever they could. Which considering they had two cubs in the house, meant they sometimes had to get creative. I had three brothers and all four of us lived close to each other on the edge of the forest. I think we’d all caught sight of Ranger striding off into the trees with a giggling Chelle over his shoulder or in his arms on more than one occasion.
“Still, I don’t think it’s a great way to introduce her to my other side.”
Before he could respond, I felt her. A rush of cold night air brought her scent to my nose, and I was instantly hard and wanting. The mating burn raced through my veins now that she was close.
Ranger groaned. “Guess I know how your night’s gonna end. I’ll see you in the morning. Just remember what I said. Slow and steady ain’t gonna win you this race, brother.”
I knew he was right, I knew this cycle Jolie and I were in wasn’t healthy for either of us. But what else could I do? She was my mate. I couldn’t deny her a damn thing. It was just a pity she had no trouble denying me. When she wasn’t under the influence of the mating burn, she barely allowed me to speak to her. Let alone sit down with me long enough for me to explain what I was and who she was to me. That I could keep her safe from whatever had her watching over her shoulder all the time. Maybe shifting in front of her was the only way I was going to get through her walls. It was a risky move that could backfire in a big way. I needed to think on it some more before I went with that idea.
Her scent grew stronger and I slammed the rest of my whiskey down my throat before I turned around to look for her. Fuck she was beautiful. Tall and lean, she had the most mouth-watering curves. They were subtle and under the loose clothing she so often wore I could barely make them out, but get her naked and I just about drooled over the gentle curve of her hips and her small firm breasts. She was all woman and fucking perfect. Well, she would be if she’d just stop running scared. If she’d just confide in me what had her so afraid, I’d fucking handle it for her.
She’d changed out of her work uniform and was in a pair of fitted jeans and an oversized knit jumper. Her gaze was locked onto me as she strode directly toward me. It was always this way. Outside of work, she’d ignore my every advance, until her need grew too much. She was still only human so didn’t understand that it was because we were mates that she needed my touch to feel whole. In the three months since she’d moved to Serenity, Colorado, I’d tried a few times to talk to her about my other side, to ease her into things but outside of sex, she didn’t want to know me at all. The only reason she’d give me was that she’d learned her lesson well and she didn’t want or need a man in her life. Whatever the hell that meant. I guessed it was an ex-boyfriend that had hurt her, but I wasn’t one hundred percent sure on it. Unfortunately, I wasn’t skilled at investigating people’s pasts either. Otherwise I’d have checked into her history myself.
And her spiel about not needing me was nothing but bullshit. She did need me. And I could plainly see she wanted me. Thankfully, she’d accepted the job at our adventure tour company, so I at least got to see her every day, be near her and breathe in her scent. I could make sure nothing would be able to hurt her at least for those daylight hours that I was close to her. It was enough to keep my bear level, but only just.
As she got closer, her steps slowed and she started to chew on her lower lip. It was always this dance. The mating burn pulled her to me, but she didn’t want to give in to it, nor did she understand it. When she got within reach, I spread my legs open and leaned forward to grab her and pull her in against me. She came willingly, her soft hands sliding up my chest and over my shoulders until they were wrapped around my neck.
“Hey, Jolie, you need something, baby?”
She shivered beneath my hands that I now had resting on her hips. Her ice blue gaze was glued to my mouth as she licked her lips and nodded. A low growl rumbled up my throat as my bear put his opinion in on what we should be doing with our mate. Lifting a hand, I ran my fingers through her long ash-blonde hair.
“So fucking pretty. You gonna let me kiss you tonight?”
We both knew how the night was going end, but how we got there wasn’t such a sure thing. Some nights she’d battle me every step of the way. Not that I’d ever force anything on her, she was just stubborn enough that she pushed back against her own needs as much as she did me. Then, other nights she’d come to me sweetly and it was those nights that gave me hope she’d accept my claim on her one day.
“I’m hungry, Neo. It won’t go away.”
I stroked my fingers down her cheek and along her jaw, loving how she leaned into my touch.
“I know, baby. I know it hurts. You need to come to me more often, let me help you. Say you’ll be mine, and you’ll never again be left wanting, I promise.”
Her eyes filled with moisture for a moment before she blinked it away. “I can’t. I can’t be who you need.”
“You areexactlywho I need, Jolie. Just you. All you need to do is let me in, tell me what I need to do so you’ll stop pushing me away and I’ll do it in a heartbeat.”
Shaking her head, she tried to back away from me and panic took hold. My bear wasn’t too happy with me either. He slammed against the inside of my head, cursing me for pushing her and risking our chance to have her.
“Shit. I’m sorry, babe. I promise I won’t push you again. Come back here, let me help you.”
She was still holding herself rigid, but she did allow me to hold her in close against me again.
I buried my face in against her neck, inhaling her sweet scent, calming my bear as it filled my senses. Her jumper was loose enough it nearly hung off her shoulder. Making the most of the flesh it exposed, I pressed kisses along her shoulder and up her neck.
