Page 15 of Accidentally All Inclusive (Beartastic Summer of Love #5)

Westley

I couldn’t wait to get home to my mate, so when I realized that most of the work I had could easily be done within the comfort of my own home with my mate by my side, I packed up my laptop and left the office.

The nice thing about my location to the office was that I could easily walk to and from work.

I had left the car at home after dropping Jules off, so I made my way there on foot, walking quickly, wanting to get to him faster.

It may have only been a few hours since I last saw him, but I hated having him out of sight.

Especially today. Had I been thinking, I would have just taken the whole day off so I could spend it with him after seeing out baby on the screen for the first time.

I’d know better for the next appointment.

My conversation with the Alpha had gone well.

I hadn’t wanted to wait, so I opted to call him rather than schedule a meeting.

Perhaps that was short-sighted of me, considering the Alpha was busy, but he answered my call, and I was able to give him the rundown of the situation over the phone.

He was more than happy to help. He offered to pay the debt in its entirety, but I only needed half.

I could make up the rest on my own. He was fine with that and tasked me with making a payment plan that would work for us.

With the debt behind us, Jules and I could focus on our future. And our baby.

I whistled as I walked, my laptop bag slung over my shoulder. Perhaps I’d stop at the bakery on the way home and pick up the scones that Jules enjoyed.

Before I could grab the door handle to open it, my brother came around the corner, sprinting quickly to me. “Westley!”

The look on his face gave me pause, and the speed he was running. Kip was tall—all legs, and he was using every inch of his stride to get to me quickly. Kip was the excitable sort, but he wasn’t one to worry needlessly, and he was worrying now. “What is it? Is something wrong?”

He stopped in front of me, breathing heavily. “I was going to your house, and I saw a guy there. A human.”

“Did you know them? Recognize them?”

He shook his head. “I think I smelled guns, though. I should have gone in, but I came to find you. Jules looked scared. I didn’t know what to do.”

I put a hand on his shoulder. “You did fine. Get the Alpha or one of the enforcers. Send them to my place. I’m going there now.”

His eyes widened in panic. “Shouldn’t you wait?”

“There’s no time, Kip. I have to go.”

He nodded. “Be careful.”

I took off on a dead sprint, thankful that I had all the stamina I needed to get there quickly.

There was nothing around to indicate that anyone was there, except for my car in the driveway.

Though there was the faint scent of human on the front porch, they hadn’t lingered there long.

Had they forced their way inside, or did Jules let them in?

Jules had no friends in his past life except for Isaac, and we would know if Isaac was coming to visit. Plus, Isaac wasn’t a human.

No. This was someone else. Someone we didn’t want here.

I pushed the door open. “Jules, I’m home.” I made sure my voice was loud and echoed through the house.

Whether or not walking right in was the best idea, I didn’t know. All I cared about was getting to my mate quickly. I came around into the living room. On the sofa sat my mate. Next to him, a man in a black outfit, a handgun resting on his thigh, pointing at my mate.

The man’s eyes narrowed when he saw me. “I was hoping you’d be gone for the day. I suspected this one ran off with someone. Unfortunately, Jules simply can’t stay with you. I was just telling Jules how he could help us.”

“Get away from my mate,” I said.

The man cocked his head at the use of the word mate. “Possessive fucker, aren’t you?” he said. “I don’t know what your little boyfriend has told you about his past, but—”

I growled, fur erupting on my arms. The man’s eyes went wide.

He tried to take back control of the conversation.

He pointed the gun at me, but I was too fast. I leaped at him, shifting into my bear form at the same time.

Jules rolled away from him as I landed on top of him, snarling.

I roared loudly in his face and grabbed him around the throat with my paw.

His eyes went wide with fear. His screams brought me great pleasure.

Faintly, I heard shouting around me. Then there were hands on me, trying to pull me off. I hadn’t yet drawn any blood, but I wanted to.

“That’s enough, Westley!”

My Alpha’s voice rang in my ears, forcing my bear to listen. I backed off, still keeping my eye on the man in front of me. He shook with fear, and the scent of piss floated through the air. I had scared the living piss out of him. Good. He deserved it.

“Jules, are these the people who think you owe them money?” Alpha Dylan asked. Behind him stood Kip and an enforcer named Braxton.

Jules nodded. He came to my side, putting a hand in my fur. I calmed slightly, knowing that my mate was safe.

“That was a stupid choice you made, breaking into an alpha bear’s home and threatening his mate.” He tsked, all the while a slow smile spread across his face. I knew my Alpha to be a kind, gentle giant of man who encouraged talking over violence, but right now, he looked simply murderous.

“I don’t want any trouble,” the man sputtered. He was still on the ground, scrambling backwards to get further away from me. The wall stopped him.

I growled and bared my teeth. Jules clutched at my neck.

“You brought trouble here, sir. We’re the ones who don’t want any trouble. How about you leave, forgive that debt. Pretend like it doesn’t even exist.”

The man nodded. “It’s forgiven. Please. Don’t kill me and get that bear away from me.”

I roared and lunged forward. I wasn’t going to attack him. Jules was safe, and Dylan had things well in hand. He told me to stand down and I would. As soon as I scared the man just a little more.

“And you are never to come near this place or this omega again. Do you understand?” When the Alpha spoke, we were compelled to listen. The same shouldn’t have applied to humans that weren’t part of the den, yet this man nodded furiously as if he couldn’t disobey.

“Get out.”

He scrambled up. His feet were barely under him before he was running toward the front door. Then he was gone, and I sat back on my haunches. I shifted back to my human form, and Jules launched himself into my arms.

“I’m sorry, Alpha. I didn’t mean to—”

“You’re fine. I don’t think that man is going to cause any more trouble. They clearly didn’t know what they were dealing with. And what is he going to do? Tell the world that he saw a man shift into a bear? He can’t exactly go to the police.” Dylan laughed.

“What if they bring their other friends?” Jules asked.

I held him tightly. He had his arms wrapped around my waist, his chest plastered against mine.

Braxton shook his head. “I don’t think he’ll be back.”

“Your debt isn’t big enough for him to come after a group of people who could shift into bears. We won’t see him again,” Dylan agreed.

“Sorry to have caused this trouble,” Jules said.

“Don’t be. We don’t get much excitement around here, so we’re happy to help.” Braxton clapped a hand on Kip’s shoulder. “What do you say you let me take you out to lunch, Kippers? I worked up an appetite.”

Kip’s cheeks reddened. “I can’t, I have to get to work.”

For a moment, it seemed like the light in Braxton’s eyes dimmed, but he turned away quickly. “I’ll give you a ride then.”

The three of them left, leaving me alone with my mate resting in my arms.

“I didn’t know what to do when they came here. I figured I could shift, but the baby—”

“You did great, love. I’m sorry I wasn’t here.”

“We’re fine. Everything’s fine. How did you get here so fast?”

“I left work early. I figured I would work from home the rest of the day. Kip saw the guy arrive and came to find me. Now I’m thinking we’re just going to relax for the rest of the day.”

“I was working on how we’re going to decorate the nursery and what projects we need to finish before the baby arrives.”

I chuckled. “So what you’re saying is, we’re not going to rest, we’re going to work on those things instead?”

“It wouldn’t hurt.”

I kissed his temple. “Whatever you need, sweetheart. Anything to get our minds off what just happened.”

Jules slumped against me, and I swept him into my arms.

“Where are you taking me?”

“Upstairs. That man was too close to you, and I need to make sure you’re okay.”

Jules buried his face in my neck. “Thank you, Westley. Thank you for coming to my rescue, for bringing me here, for everything.”

I breathed in his scent. My mate was safe. In my arms exactly where he belonged. “Thank you, mate.”

“For what?”

“For being mine.”