Page 1 of Hunny and the Bear (Bearly Yours #1)

One

P ressing a hand to her belly, Hunny Russo stared at her reflection in the vanity, eyes wide with shock. The droning of the small TV behind her nearly blocked out the frantic beating of her heart, but she was too anxious to understand any of the words blaring from the device. Too freaked out to do anything but stare at her stomach.

Pregnant.

She was pregnant .

“I can’t believe it,” Hunny murmured to herself, lifting her shirt up a few inches to inspect her flat belly. She couldn’t be more than a few weeks along—that’s when she’d met Jason, Alpha of the Moon Rose pack, and he was the only one she’d had sex with in recent months.

Her vehicle had gotten a flat tire as she’d driven through Montana and, as fate would have it, Jason had stopped by her rickety old truck pulled over on the side of the road, offering to help. All it had taken was one look into his steel-blue eyes and she’d felt the true mate bond flare with recognition between them. A powerful flood of emotions poured into her very psyche.

And the most prominent emotion? Lust .

Hunny shivered, recalling that night so vividly. Jason had nearly ripped her truck door off its hinges in his haste to sink inside her, his eyes glowing a bright blue as his wolf pressed close to the surface. As soon as he’d invaded her space, their animalistic urges had consumed them, flooding them with need. They tugged each other’s clothes off right before he’d rutted her, his thick, muscular body pressing her slender form into the cracked leather cushions, both desperately clawing at each other for more.

Afterward, he’d taken her to a little cabin deep in the woods within his pack’s territory, promising she’d be safe while he sorted out some issues with his pack mates. He hadn’t gone into detail and she hadn’t asked, too nervous to overstep. As a lone rabbit shifter, she didn’t have a nest and she didn’t want to start off in a wolf pack by displeasing her Alpha.

Hunny’s brow pinched. Well, he wasn’t her Alpha yet , as he hadn’t formally invited her into his pack. But he would.

He had to. They were true mates.

An uneasy feeling, mostly one of wariness, settled in her belly, the sour emotion growing stronger with every passing day she remained alone in this cabin. She couldn’t help wondering, was she being locked away like a dirty little secret?

Life hadn’t been the greatest for Hunny. Not so far, anyway. Both of her parents had passed away when she’d been only seventeen years old, and shortly after that, her old Buck, a rabbit shifter equivalent to an Alpha, had attempted to force her into mating him, insisting she needed his protection from the outside world to survive. What he’d really wanted was to prey on her. Disgusted, she’d left her nest, determined to explore the world on her own.

Too bad that at seventeen she hadn’t truly understood the harshness of living on her own. She’d struggled to make ends meet over the past five years, moving from one place to the next in the search of something better. Something more .

Truth be told, Hunny had almost given up until she’d neared the mountains in Montana, her beat-up truck on its last leg as she’d turned down a road around a cliffside. She’d stared in awe at the surrounding landscape. Mountains as far as the eye could see were enveloped by lush green forests. It was so different to the plain states she’d spent her life in. That day, with the sun’s rays poured in through the windshield as if welcoming her home, something inside her had settled.

Now that she knew her true mate was here, it all made sense, though she wished things between the two of them would progress a bit differently.

Jason had come back a few times over the last three weeks, always at night, and always too eager to bed her to do anything else, like discuss their future. She enjoyed his visits, but she longed for him to hold her after sex or tell her something about himself. Anything. She yearned for an emotional connection to form between them, not just a physical one.

Would it be so bad to just relax in each other’s company and enjoy some pillow talk? Apparently so, because every time she started to converse with him, he hastily pulled his clothes back on as he hurried from the bed, saying he had to go before promising to return soon. Sometimes he came back the next night. But sometimes three to four days passed before he returned to her.

That’s okay , Hunny told herself, ignoring the uneasy feeling that grew as she thought of how little she actually knew about Jason. There will be plenty of years to get to know him . He’s your mate .

Her eyes flicked up the length of the mirror to her bare, unmarked neck.

Well, he was technically her mate, although they hadn’t made it official with a mating bite. Just like he hadn’t officially invited her into his pack …

When she’d asked him about it yesterday, Jason had assured her that their mating was coming. And then he’d retreated once more, disappearing through the cabin door and into the woods.

Tugging her shirt down over her belly, Hunny ran her hands through her long, wavy lilac-colored hair.

Although she couldn’t be happier at the idea of welcoming a kit into this world, and she was eager to share the news with her mate, she couldn’t help but feel … distressed .

Nerves had set in days ago—a lurking suspicion that Jason was just using her for sex before inevitably rejecting her. It was rare, but rejections could happen among true mates. Jason was an Alpha to a wolf pack, and Hunny …? She shifted into their prey. She wasn’t dominant where it mattered most, and a fluffy woodland creature wasn’t exactly an ideal selection for a pack’s Luna.

But if Jason planned on rejecting her, why bring her to his cabin? Why visit her at all? It would be in both of their best interests to cut ties to one another before they bonded; a natural occurrence between mated pairs, where their minds linked and they could feel each other’s emotions, though no one knew exactly how the bond formed. It could be because of close proximity or maybe mutual affection, like love. While a bond always happened between true mates, it could also occur with chosen mates, though it often took longer to form.

Suddenly, the knob on the front door rattled, breaking through Hunny’s thoughts. She jumped, head snapping up to the front of the cabin. Faintly, she heard a key slide into the lock and the door pushed open, revealing Jason standing on the front porch.

He was tall, with powerful muscles, shaggy blond hair and a clean-shaven face that showed off his rugged jawline. His fists were clenched at his side, his blue eyes colder than she’d ever seen. She brushed off a sudden onslaught of unease, focusing on her excitement to see him.

“Hi, Jason. I’ve missed you.” Smiling, Hunny moved toward her mate, only to pause when his scent drifted into the cabin. She inhaled, stiffening as she caught the offensive odor of another female’s perfume intertwined with his—like some bitch had rubbed herself against him only minutes prior.

Instinctively, her eyes shot to his neck, widening in horror as she gasped.

There, peeking out halfway from the neck of his t-shirt, was a bite mark. A mating mark.

“What is that?” Hunny asked faintly, cringing at how distraught she sounded. If she wasn’t in such shock, she would have rolled her eyes at her own question. Instead, she uttered forlornly, “Jason, w-what have you done?”

But she knew what he’d done, didn’t she? He’d mated someone else. The truth was clear to see. The proof right there in plain sight. He’d kept Hunny here in his cabin like a dirty little secret because that’s exactly what she’d been. Not a revered mate, but a lustful shame. A guilty pleasure.

Her breath hitched and her heart hurt , a physical ache that had her pressing her palm to her chest, rubbing hard over her wounded organ as if it would help ease her pain. But it didn’t help, and she suspected nothing would.

“You know what I’ve done.” Quietly, Jason stepped into the cabin, his powerful frame filling the doorway. Hunny retreated a step, her legs like jelly as she fought to keep from sinking to the floor in misery. He took a deep breath. “I’ve mated an Alpha female from my pack. Someone I’ve had my eye on for a few years. She’s the perfect Luna.”

Tears pricked Hunny’s eyes as she looked up at Jason, her nose stinging as she fought to keep them from falling. “But I’m your true mate. Fate decides who is perfect for you, and it’s me .”

Why can’t he see that?

Jason snarled, taking a menacing step toward her. His words laced with venom, he spat, “Fate gave me a weak female. A rabbit shifter, and a submissive one at that.”

She flinched as if he’d struck her, her gaze dropping to the bite mark on his neck once more. It taunted her, and nausea rolled through her stomach. “Submissive doesn’t mean weak,” she replied softly, but her voice wavered, all but proving him right. She felt weak. Useless. Used .

Broken.

Jason scoffed, the sound grating on her soul. “You can’t even look me in the eye as you say that, Hunny. How could you ever discipline a member of my pack if you can’t even stand up for yourself?” He shook his head. “Natasha was the perfect choice for my Luna and my mate. Consider this my formal rejection.”

“Why?” Hunny snapped, spinning away from him before she did something pathetic, like fall at his feet and beg him to reconsider. She wanted to run from the cabin, to jump into her truck and drive the hell out of this state. To get as far away as possible. But fleeing the cabin meant brushing past Jason, and she didn’t want to be anywhere near him right now.

God, why had she ever felt like Montana was home? This place was nothing to her. She didn’t have a home; she hadn’t since her parents had died. And now, all she’d have of this place were memories of how completely her heart had shattered here. She regretted ever stepping foot in these mountains.

No, that wasn’t exactly true. Her hand slid to her belly protectively. She’d have a kit, someone to love and cherish; even if its father couldn’t do the same for her. That was enough to make this last month worthwhile. It had to be.

Jason sighed in resignation. “I’ve told you why.”

“No, I mean, why did you bring me here? Why did you lead me on for weeks? Just to use me for sex?” She bit out the last question through her teeth, some of her sorrow fading as indignant fury replaced it.

“Of course not.”

Reaching the bed, Hunny spun back around to face him, content with the distance she’d created. “Then why lead me on? Why do any of this if you never planned to mate me?”

“Because I couldn’t just let you go,” Jason bellowed suddenly, his features twisting with rage. A second later, he schooled his expression, leaving Hunny to wonder if she’d noticed anything amiss at all. “I’d already made promises to Natasha that I couldn’t back out of,” he continued softly, the scent of his regret filling the air. “From the moment we met, it was already too late.”

“Oh, bullshit,” Hunny scoffed, running a hand through her hair. “You talk about me being weak, but it’s you who’s weak,“ she declared vehemently. “You might have made promises to that female, but when you invited me here, when you fucked me within minutes of us meeting, you made promises to me, too. You were just too much of a coward to act on them. Don’t blame the submissive for your shortcomings.”

Jason’s nostrils flared with anger. Inhaling, he stiffened, gaping at her in shock. “You’re pregnant.”

Hunny swallowed past the lump in her throat. “Yes. I just found out tonight.” Not that it mattered. He’d made his choice already.

“Pregnant,” Jason whispered with a shake of his head. “I don’t believe it.”

Welcome to the club, jackass .

He took another step toward her, and then another. She straightened her spine as he pushed into her space, refusing to cower. Dropping his head to her neck, he inhaled, his nose lightly roaming over her skin. He shuddered then, wrapping an arm around her waist and pulling her flush against him. “You always smell so good,” he groaned. “I can’t get enough.”

“Well, you won’t need to think about my scent anymore. I’m leaving here as soon as possible.” She was already planning her next steps, calculating how long it would take her to leave the state. Luckily, she’d moved so much in the last few years that it was more or less second nature at this point.

She just needed to walk out—to push him away; she wanted to more than anything. But her body betrayed her, and she dropped her forehead onto his chest, sinking into his embrace. Every time he held her, it always felt right . Magnetic, almost.

Only now, his scent was wrong, and his touch didn’t bring her any comfort. It just hurt.

“You could stay,” he began softly, his breath tickling her flesh. “I’ve marked Natasha, but I don’t love her, Hunny. I don’t want her like I want you, and she doesn’t need to know about us. Stay here in this cabin, and we can raise our pup together.”

“Excuse me?” Hunny asked in dismay. He expected her to live like this for the rest of her life? To take the scraps he offered and be content as the other woman? That would never happen. She flattened her palms onto his chest and shoved, but he didn’t budge an inch. “Let go.” She pushed at his chest again. Jason ignored her, his arm tightening around her waist. His lips landed on her neck, delicately skating over her flesh.

“I need you, Hunny.”

“Stop. Jason !”

“You’re carrying my pup,” he murmured reverently, and she almost scoffed at his audacity. Because they were both different animal shifters, their child would either be a wolf or a rabbit. And based on how he’d treated her for being a rabbit shifter, she knew he’d discard her and their child if it took after her.

He kissed her neck again, his teeth grazing over her sensitive skin as if he intended to sink them into her. Like he planned on biting her, giving her a perversion of a mating mark. It was all too much! She felt like she was drowning.

“Get your hands off of me!” Hunny shouted, blindly reaching for his face. The sound of her palm connecting with his cheek sounded so loud in the room, startling her almost as much as it did him. She doubted it hurt. She wasn’t at a proper angle to smack him like he deserved, but he broke away from her anyway, snarling angrily as he shot her a glare.

His chest rose and fell rapidly, his eyes glowing brightly as he curled his lip in disgust. “You hit me, you ungrateful bitch. Do that again and you’ll regret it.”

She flinched from the venom in his voice, but she didn’t back down. “You’re revolting, Jason. Like I would ever want to stay here with you after you’ve mated someone else! Like I’d ever want you to touch me again!”

He has to be out of his mind!

He smirked coldly, pressing a hand to his red cheek. “Fine. Raise that fucking brat by yourself. No one’s going to want a shifter whore and her bastard, so I hope you enjoy a life of loneliness. After all, isn’t that what you were running from when I met you?”

“Fuck you,” she seethed, a fresh wave of tears filling her eyes. What had she ever seen in this male? How was he supposed to be her perfect match?

“I’ll give you an hour to pack your shit and leave my territory,” Jason spat, backing toward the door. He kept his eyes firmly on her, like a predator stalking its prey. “When I come back, you better be long gone from here.”

With that, he turned and left, slamming the door behind him.

Hunny waited several seconds before she sank to her knees, all her strength leaving her as she sagged against the bed. A small sob left her throat, the tears she’d been holding back finally falling down her cheeks.

She’d been such an idiot. How could she have thought that finding her true mate would turn her life around? That the one person specifically designed by fate to be hers wouldn’t destroy her trust, her heart? If she’d learned anything over the last five years, it was that she could only rely on herself.

Wiping at her cheeks with the back of her hand, Hunny took a deep, shuddering breath.

“You’re okay,” she whispered to herself, repeating it over and over until she almost believed it. Another minute passed before she pushed to her feet, ignoring the way her legs shook as she began moving around the cabin, numbly gathering her things.

She didn’t have a lot, just what she could fit into her truck at a moment’s notice. It only took about five minutes before Hunny was ready, gathering her suitcase and leaving the cabin, stepping into the crisp night air. She didn’t even bother closing the door because honestly …? She was petty and Jason could go fuck himself.

Maybe she’d get lucky and a bear would wander in there, ready to eat him when he came back.

Her lips twitched as she neared her truck, the image of him screaming in fear and running away from a grizzly flitting through her head.

A twig snapped to the left. Hunny tensed, whipping toward the noise, her senses on high alert.

There, standing less than ten feet away, on the edge of the woods, was a naked woman with a mating mark proudly displayed on her neck. When Hunny’s eyes met hers, they glowed an ominous blue, signaling the woman was a wolf shifter. The wind kicked up, carrying a now familiar scent to Hunny’s lungs.

Of course, Jason’s chosen mate would show up to watch Hunny slink off into the night.

Just perfect, she thought sarcastically.

“Natasha, right?” Hunny guessed, running a hand down her face in exhaustion. “How long have you been lurking out here?”

The female narrowed her eyes. “Long enough to hear Jason’s offer.”

“Then you’ll know I rejected it. And you’ll also know that I’m leaving.”

Natasha tilted her head, studying Hunny with a calculating look. It made her nervous, and her grip on the suitcase handle tightened until her knuckles went white. “I know that you’re carrying his pup, the future of this pack, if it’s born a wolf.”

“My child won’t be the future of any wolf pack, so don’t worry,” Hunny bit out.

Natasha smiled then, flashing a set of wickedly sharp canines. “Oh, I’m not worried. In fact, I’m here to guarantee it.” The wolf held up her hand, and within a second, it shifted, her nails lengthening into deadly claws.

Oh, shit .

Hunny dropped the hold on her suitcase, frantically searching her jeans pockets for her keys. Shit, shit, shit! Where were her freaking keys?! She must have left them back in the cabin. Hastily, she glanced back at the opened cabin door, her eyes locking on a set of keys sitting on the table in the entryway.

You’ve got to be kidding —

Wrenching her hands from her pockets, she grabbed the truck’s door handle, hoping like hell she’d left it unlocked so she could at least get inside. There was a spare key in the glove compartment. She tugged hard, but the door didn’t budge.

Fuck!

The wolf stepped from the treeline, calmly stalking toward her. Hunny’s mouth dried, fear slamming into her like a battering ram.

She was dead if she didn’t do something!

Natasha spoke as she prowled closer, her voice taking on a distorted edge that sent terror skating down Hunny’s spine. “I heard rabbits are fond of running. You should try it.”

And then Natasha hunched over, fur sprouting over her skin, bones cracking as she began to shift into a wolf.

New plan , Hunny thought desperately. Kicking off her shoes as she quickly backed away from Natasha, she ripped her shirt over her head and unbuttoned her jeans.

And then Hunny shifted, shaking free of her clothes right as the she-wolf lunged for her, jaws opened wide.

Luckily for Hunny, in her rabbit form, she was quick and agile. She bolted to the right, barely dodging Natasha’s fangs as she snapped her mouth closed. And then Hunny took off, rushing into the woods like her life literally depended on it.

Terror dogged her heels as she heard Natasha give chase from behind, plowing through bushes that Hunny weaved seamlessly through. She wouldn’t last long in an outright chase though; wolves were objectively faster than rabbits, and although Hunny had the advantage of panic and adrenaline on her side, it wouldn’t help her keep this grueling pace for long.

Maybe she could find a burrow and use that tunnel system to escape. Nose twitching as she ran, she tried to scent for other creatures, but she was moving too fast and was honestly far too panicked to detect much of anything aside from the foul odor of her own fear.

It filled her lungs, clogging her throat as she kept up her intense pace. She ran hard for several minutes, Natasha’s growls echoing in her ears as she bobbed and weaved through any underbrushes she could find, hoping to lose the shifter or at least slow her down. It didn’t work, and she had the distinct impression the wolf was toying with her.

Suddenly, Natasha charged her from the side, sharp teeth biting into her front leg, breaking through skin and bone. Hunny screamed, the sound loud and high-pitched, echoing through the woods as blinding agony flared through her leg.

Natasha jerked Hunny backward, the movement too quick to counter. She felt a moment of panic as the wolf released her leg, wind whipping through her fur as she was launched through the air. She slammed into a tree a second later, her side and head smacking against the thick wood with a sickening crack.

With a small whine, the fight went out of her, and Hunny collapsed, landing in a heap on the ground. She tried to stand, but her legs barely twitched, and a pitiful, desperate cry poured from her throat.

Jason really was right. She was weak. And now she was going to die here. Alone. And no one would even remember her or care.

Natasha chuffed, the wolf’s version of laughter ringing in Hunny’s ears as her vision doubled, black spots flitting in front of her as she struggled to blink. Her head hurt and her body was killing her. As she wheezed, laying there, the scent of her own blood filled her nose.

No, not just blood.

She tried to inhale once more through the pain and smelled musk, clovers and berries invaded her senses. What on earth was that smell? It was so distracting, so soothing, that she didn’t even notice Natasha approaching, drool dripping from her muzzle as she reached Hunny’s side.

The wolf opened her maw wide, lunging for Hunny.

A blur of brown fur filled her vision—was that a giant paw? It slammed into Natasha, batting her body away before she could strike. The wolf yelped and went flying, right as a bear’s ominous roar tore through the night.

Great, she’d traded getting eaten by a wolf shifter for getting eaten by a bear. The throbbing in her head increased tenfold, and before she had a chance to feel an ounce of fear for this new predicament she’d fallen into, Hunny fell unconscious.