Page 26 of Hunny and the Bear (Bearly Yours #1)

Twenty Six

J ason strolled in through the door like he owned the place, four wolves following after him. Three males, one female. The males had greasy hair, stains on their jeans, and cocky expressions on their faces, as if they were untouchable. The female’s eyes were hard and wary, like she’d grown up quick and had been dealt blow after emotional blow until she’d fully adjusted to pack life.

Tank knew most of them through a bit of digging. The taller male of the bunch was Ben, Jason’s Beta. The shortest was Kenneth, one of the more vile, perverse fucks of the pack. The female and the last male were unknown to him.

Were they newer additions to the Moon Rose pack?

Jason glanced around the room, studying each piece of furniture while studiously ignoring Murphy and Tank, like he didn’t have a care in the world. Like he wasn’t outmatched in every way that mattered. A wolf might be faster, but bears were stronger. Sturdier. It would take several wolves to successfully take down a bear, and that was if they could get close enough.

Jason’s indifference was a clear sign of dismissal, letting Murphy and the others know they didn’t intimidate him. Unfortunately for him, bears didn’t give a damn if another shifter found them threatening or not. Jason’s lack of fear wouldn’t stop Tank from ripping the wolf’s head from his shoulders while wearing a smile on his face.

In fact, that idea sounded perfect.

“Welcome to Nessa’s Teahouse,” the human female began, startling Tank out of his rampant homicidal thoughts. He turned toward the counter, keeping tabs on every person in the room as she continued with a polite smile, “I take it you’re here for the meeting …” Nessa trailed off as Jason’s eyes shifted to her and narrowed.

Her heart skipped a beat, the sound loud in Tank’s ears. The wolf heard it as well, and a predatory smile crossed his face. “You must be the owner of this fine establishment.” Jason inhaled, taking a step toward her. “And might I say, you smell divine.”

“Thanks, I think?” Nessa responded with a grimace, absent-mindedly straightening a few business cards on the counter between them. Her hands shook, belying her nerves.

She might not know shifters surrounded her, but she could sense the dominance in the room on a subconscious level. Her instincts were probably screaming at her that something was amiss, that she was in danger.

Jason noticed her unease as well, his smile taking on a sinister edge as he took another step toward her. Right before he could reach the counter, though, Murphy blocked his path, shielding Nessa from the wolf’s view.

“This town is under my protection.” Murphy growled, his eyes changing from brown to piercing gold. He was a few inches taller than Jason, and he used that to his advantage as he moved forward, stalking into the male’s space and herding him away from the human.

“No need to assert your dominance, Murphy. I can be friendly with the sweet, little thing.” Jason looked over Murphy’s shoulder, winking at Nessa. She made a comically disgusted face and turned away from them all, discreetly sniffing her shirt.

Murphy’s shoulders stiffened, and his frame rippled once, as if his bear was fighting him, trying to rip its way to the surface. “I suggest you keep your eyes away from that female before I pluck them out of your goddamn head.”

Jason stiffened. “Are you threatening me?”

“About fucking time someone did.” Tank stepped up beside his brother to stare the wolf down with nothing short of disdain. As soon as he neared, Jason’s attention shifted to him. The wolf’s nostrils flared, eyes widening before they locked onto his neck. Onto the delicate mating mark Hunny had given Tank last night.

He stared at the brand, dumbfounded.

Smirking, Tank couldn’t help but ask, “See something interesting?”

Jason’s jaw clenched. Before he could say anything that Tank could use as an excuse to knock the miserable fucker out, though, another wolf hissed, “We’re losing sight of this meeting.”

“Ben’s right,” the female wolf agreed, sending both Alphas assessing looks. “Let’s just get this shit over with.”

Murphy’s eyes flickered, shifting back to their normal brown color. “Let’s all sit down.”

“That’s a great idea,” Nessa murmured. Murphy and Tank turned toward her as the wolves moved further into the teahouse, sitting down in the back corner with the other bears. She sent Murphy an odd look. “Did you just say you were going to pluck that guy’s eyes out?”

“It’s rude to eavesdrop,” he bit out.

Nessa raised a brow. “I don’t think it’s technically eavesdropping if you’re saying all of this literally in front of me. Also, who the hell was growling?” She shook her head in confusion. “Sounded like a wild animal got in here.”

Murphy sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose in exasperation. “Just … Stay here. Don’t serve tea or sandwiches, or whatever the hell you were planning.”

Nessa scoffed, propping her hands onto her hips. Her earlier fear toward him seemed to be forgotten as she glared at him. “Who’s being rude now? You can’t just tell me what to do in my shop. The sign out front doesn’t say ‘Grumpy’s Teahouse,’ does it?”

“I’ll tip you a grand,” he offered through gritted teeth.

Nessa pursed her lips, as if she had to think long and hard about her answer. In fact, the human waited so long to respond that Murphy looked like a vein would burst on his forehead. It was only when he opened his mouth to bitch about something that she cut in, smiling brightly. “Well, I can’t refuse an offer like that. I’ll add the charge to the credit card I have on file.”

“Great,” Murphy muttered, turning toward the group of people waiting.

“Hey, Murphy?” Nessa called quietly. Even though she wasn’t talking to Tank, he paid close attention as his brother turned back around, eyeing her warily. “Thank you,” she commented softly. She gestured subtly toward Jason, shuddering visibly. “For getting in his face like that. Guy gives me the creeps.”

Murphy nodded once, and then he and Tank left to join the others.

Placing himself between his brother and the wolves, Tank took a seat beside Colter, his senses on high alert as the meeting began.

“My mate is missing,” Jason announced without preamble. “She disappeared a few days ago, and one of my wolves tracked her trail to your territory.”

“None of my bears have picked up her scent while they’ve been out on patrol, otherwise they would have reported it,” Murphy answered. “Though we had a wolf enter our territory at around the same time you say your mate entered ours.”

“That had to be her,” Ben guessed, concern etched across his features. Tank eyed him warily. He seemed more worried about Natasha’s welfare than her own mate. Just who was this male to her?

“It wasn’t,” Tank responded, crossing his arms in front of his chest.

“And how the hell would you know that?” Jason asked sharply, sending Tank a cold, deadly look. In return, the bear shifter smiled, relaxing his stance.

“Because the night I met my mate, the stench of yours was all over her,” he replied, satisfaction creeping into his voice as Jason clenched his jaw. The Alpha was pissed that Hunny was a claimed female. Good. He wanted the fucker to know she was off limits forever. “The wolf that invaded our lands recently was someone else. Male, by the scent of it.”

Jason stared at the mating mark on Tank’s neck, a muscle jumping in his cheek. “Natasha told me about her fight with Hunny. I was sad to hear Hunny would attack my chosen mate out of jealousy.”

Tank scoffed. “Is that what your mate told you happened? We both know that’s not true. Hunny has more self-worth than to get into an altercation over some male.”

Unless that male was Tank. Then he was pretty confident his mate would wipe the floor with someone like Natasha—not that he’d ever put her into a position to find out.

“I’m not some male,” Jason snarled, slamming his hand down onto the table so hard the glass surface cracked. Murphy cursed under his breath as the wolf continued, “I’m Hunny’s fated—”

“You’re not Hunny’s anything.” Tank’s voice boomed around the room. His throat stung from the effort, but he didn’t give a damn. He’d shout those fucking words until his voice box gave out, if only to watch the look of rage crossing Jason’s face like it did right at that moment.

Jason pushed to his feet, his face turning a deep shade of red. “You think she gives a fuck about you? She’s pregnant with my fucking pup—”

Tank grinned, flashing sharp canines. He hoped the wolf never found out Hunny was carrying multiple kits. He’d never divulge the truth to this slimy dick. “Make no mistake, wolf, Hunny and that kit growing in her belly are mine. Not yours. Mine .” He stood as well, hoping like hell Jason would take a swing at him. This pathetic male needed to be put in his place, and if it wasn’t out of deference to Murphy, Tank would have made the first move by now. He would have beat him black and blue for the pain he had caused Hunny.

“You motherfuck—”

“My sister is gone!” Ben yelled roughly, snarling at each person in the room. “I don’t give a fuck about whatever bullshit this is. We know you’ve taken her, and we want her back!” When the female reached out to touch him, he jerked his arm away from her. “Fuck off, Angela.” She frowned, dropping her hand.

“Maybe she left your pack,” Colter added. “Wouldn’t be the first time a female tried to escape you all, I’m sure.” Angela flinched like she’d been struck, averting her gaze from everyone in the room, and Colter frowned.

“You’ll give me back my mate, or there will be hell to pay,” Jason spat, his words laced with venom. He glared hard at Tank. “I know you have her.”

“For the last time, my clan has done nothing to Natasha,” Murphy responded calmly. “My answer hasn’t changed since we spoke over the phone. If she tried to enter our territory then whatever other wolf intruded was likely responsible for what happened to her. I’m sorry, but that’s the truth.”

“Why was she even around our territory to begin with?” Tank asked gruffly. “The only reason she’d have to come near would be to finish what she’d started with Hunny.”

And for that alone, if he found her, he’d kill her.

Jason rolled his eyes. “Natasha knows better.”

“She didn’t before,” Murphy pointed out, remaining cool-headed despite how heated this meeting had gotten. “And if we find her on our land, attempting to harm a member of our clan, you won’t need to make vague threats of war to get a rise out of me, wolf. I’ll come after you myself.”

With that, Jason rose abruptly, storming from the room, his group of wolves trailing after him. Kenneth was the last one to leave, but he stopped by the counter before he did so, leaning over and saying something to Nessa. The words were so low Tank couldn’t hear, but Nessa didn’t look too worried as she sent him a shy smile.

Regardless, Murphy’s calm demeanor melted away as he watched them talk, anger radiating from him in waves as he practically charged up to the counter. Kenneth left through the front door before the Alpha arrived, chuckling lightly as he went.

“What did he say to you?” Murphy asked aggressively, rounding on Nessa and planting his hands on the countertop. His fingers smudged the glass, and she scowled.

“That he’d love to take me out for coffee.”

“He asked you out on a date?” Murphy asked, brows snapping down into a hard line of aggravation. “And what did you say?”

Nessa looked around the room dramatically. “Not that it’s any of your business, but I told him no, Murphy. If I liked coffee, I’d have opened a knock-off Starbucks. And do you honestly think an offer to go out for some coffee by one of the creepy guys sounds enticing?”

“Well, I …” Murphy huffed, looking like he’d tasted something foul.

Deciding to intervene, Tank grabbed his brother by the arm, steering him toward the front door. “Thanks for putting up with all of our bullshit,” Tank muttered. Before the door closed behind them, he called over his shoulder, “A glass tabletop got ruined. Tack it onto Murphy’s tab.”

“Thanks for that,” Murphy grumbled sourly, wrestling his arm free and walking toward his car. “I’ve racked up a small fortune in less than two hours.”

“Who gives a shit? What’s gotten into you?” Tank whispered angrily into his brother’s ear. “I know you hate humans, but you acted like a complete dickhead to Hunny’s friend.”

Murphy glowered. “It’s nothing I want to talk about right now.”

“Fine. I’ve had enough of today, anyway.” Despite rubbing his new relationship with Hunny into Jason’s face, the day had been long and drawn-out. All he wanted was to return home to his mate and to hold her close.

It wasn’t until the males had all piled into Murphy’s SUV that anyone spoke up.

“Well, that entire meeting was a clusterfuck,” Marcus said with a shake of his head.

Zeke snorted. “Which part? Where Jason couldn’t decide if he gave more of a shit about the fact that his mate is missing or that Tank stole his true mate?”

“I didn’t steal Hunny,” Tank argued. “And you’re right; he didn’t give a shit about Natasha at all. Her brother showed more concern for her welfare than he did.” Though, was that really surprising?

“I think Colter’s theory back there was right,” Murphy added, sending the bear an appreciative nod in the rear-view mirror. “If Jason made it that apparent to us he still considers Hunny’s child as his,” he stated, ignoring Tank’s warning growl, “then Natasha likely sensed his interest in her was waning and wanted out. My bet is that she ran away and led a trail to our border to throw him off.”

“It would buy her time to get a good distance away,” Marcus mused.

“Let’s hope that’s it.” Tank leaned back in his seat, staring at the clock on the dashboard. It would be another hour before he arrived home. He hated being away from Hunny for any length of time, and after hearing Jason speak about her in any capacity, he was eager to reassert his claim on her, if only to appease his bear. “Regardless, we’ll need to remain alert for any danger. If Jason and Ben are positive we’ve got Natasha, they might attack us in the hopes of finding her.”

“Part of me hopes they do,” Murphy admitted quietly.

Tank couldn’t help but agree.

“ H ow much longer do you think they’ll be gone?” Hunny asked, earning an exaggerated sigh from Jasper. The male was relaxing on the other side of the couch from her, his feet kicked up on the coffee table as he watched football on Tank’s TV. For someone who should be guarding her, he looked like he didn’t have a care in the world.

Must be nice , she thought with a little snarl. Meanwhile, Tank had been gone for just over two hours and she felt like she was going stir-crazy. She knew he’d be fine, but that didn’t make her feel any better. It also didn’t help that she’d been nauseous for the last few hours. Was it from her kits or nerves? Knowing her luck, probably a combination of the two.

When Jasper didn’t answer right away, she grabbed a throw pillow, tossing it at the side of his head. It connected with a small thud before dropping uselessly to the floor. He shot her a disgruntled look. “Why are you being so mean to me?”

“Because you’re not answering the question,” Hunny replied, mockingly whining back at him. He scowled, crossing his arms in front of his chest.

“I already answered you twice. They’ll get here when they get here.”

“That’s a terrible answer.” And considering how anxious she felt as each minute ticked by, she really didn’t think she could handle not at least knowing how close they were to being done. “Can’t you just do your little mind meld with Murphy and find out how long they’ll be?”

Jasper rolled his eyes. “Clearly, you don’t know how Murphy operates. He isn’t going to respond unless it’s important. He needs to keep his wits about him while he’s near any potential threats. Didn’t Tank give you a cellphone? Why don’t you just text your mate and find out?”

Hunny couldn’t help the small smile that tugged on her lips at the mention of Tank being her mate. “The phone Henry gave me is his. He said he never used it, so I could have it to talk with Nessa.”

Well, technically , he’d told Hunny she could have it because he didn’t want to talk to any ‘damned humans anyway,’ or something like that.

Jasper snorted. “I wish I’d thought of pawning my phone off on someone else. Murphy insists we keep them around in case there’s a national weather emergency or some human catastrophe happening, so we’re in the loop.”

“Oh, that’s smart. I’ve lived among humans so long I think it kind of slipped my mind how secluded shifter communities generally prefer to be from the rest of the world.” Though, she had to admit, she really enjoyed the freedom of being able to shift whenever she wanted without fear of being spotted. This far up in the mountains, the bears had their own little slice of shifter heaven.

“Well, this is your life now, little sister. Tank’s going to keep you locked in his cabin so you don’t wise up and run away from him.” When she rolled her eyes, he continued, “He even mentioned something about picking a few chains and locks up while he was in town. Didn’t say what he needed them for, though.”

Hunny grinned. “You’re so full of shit.”

“I know.” Jasper winked playfully before his eyes slid to the fresh mating mark on her neck. His expression softened. “Still can’t believe you mated with my brother.”

Her hand slid up to her neck, cupping the mark tenderly. “I know. I feel like it happened so fast and took forever at the same time. I don’t know if that makes sense,” Hunny finished with a small laugh.

“It doesn’t, but I’ve always known it would take a delusional female to mate with any of my brothers,” Jasper joked. “If you were smart, you’d have known I was the best choice all along. I’m handsome, funny, and my mom loves me the best.”

Hunny wrinkled her nose. “A momma’s boy? Gross. I prefer my males broody and independent.”

Jasper clutched his hand to his chest as he gasped loudly. “Hey! There’s nothing wrong with loving my m—” His words died in his throat as his eyes shifted from piercing green to gold. His head snapped toward the front door, tension lining his body. Immediately, the anxiety Hunny had been feeling returned to the forefront, and she placed a hand on her stomach as it roiled. He stood quickly to his feet, standing between her and the door.

“Jasper, what’s—”

“You need to go upstairs, Hunny,” he instructed from over his shoulder, his voice holding a furious, deadly note she’d never heard before. “ Now .”

She pushed up to her feet, doing exactly as he’d asked. She’d just made it to the base of the stairs when something slammed hard against the front door. Hunny flinched, whipping back around to watch as Jasper ripped open the front door. He roared in warning; the sound vibrating through the house and out into the woods.

A few seconds passed and he looked at the ground right as Hunny smelled it.

Blood .

“Oh, what the fuck?” Jasper bent down, snatching something off the front porch. He turned back around, stomping into the house and slamming the door closed. “I’m telling Murphy our territory has been breached right now,” he assured her as he held up his arm, something dangling from his hand.

Hunny didn’t understand what he was holding at first, her brain taking forever to process it. A second passed, and then another, before she realized he was holding hair. Human hair. No, not just hair; a severed head.

Natasha’s vacant, dull eyes were half-lidded, her jaw hanging at an awkward angle.

Hunny leaned over the railing and vomited.