Page 8 of Hunny and the Bear (Bearly Yours #1)

Eight

H unny dug through the bag of clothes sitting on the bed, her cheeks burning from Tabitha’s constant staring. She knew what the other woman was thinking; Jasper had almost stated it outright until Tank had threatened to kill him. They both assumed something sexual was going on between her and Tank.

But it wasn’t—of course not.

Hunny was barely out of a failed mating, and … and Tank was … Well, she didn’t know what he was, exactly, but he hadn’t made a move on her at all. He probably wasn’t even interested in her like that.

She grimaced at the ball of anxiety that had formed in the pit of her stomach, plucking up a random shirt as she fought herself internally. She didn’t even know why she felt upset by the thought of his lack of interest. She was pregnant with another male’s baby. She couldn’t dive headlong into a fling right now anyway, especially with someone she barely knew.

Except … Aside from the startling way she’d woken up this morning, she couldn’t remember a time when she’d slept better. She’d felt warm and safe all night, wrapped up in Tank’s arms. It had felt like she belonged there. She’d even fallen asleep with her face buried in his neck, his beard tickling her skin. But she didn’t care, too consumed with inhaling his scent with every breath she’d taken.

She couldn’t get enough of it.

His scent clung to her even now, and every inhale felt intimate. Stupid of her to think like that, but it was true. And now that she was upstairs, she couldn’t escape his natural cologne. This entire upper floor smelled like him—woodsy and strong, with a hint of berries. It was so intoxicating, and the rabbit in her just wanted to roll around in his bed, burrow under his sheets, and never come out.

She’d just bet that if she peeled back those covers, she’d find heaven—

Snap out of it . Hunny shook her head as she grabbed a pair of jeans from the bag.

“Did you hear me, dear?” Tabitha asked, pulling Hunny from her thoughts.

Her head shot up, and she winced in embarrassment. “I’m sorry. I was a little distracted.” Thinking about your son and how delicious he smells .

God, what was wrong with her? She was like an addict when it came to Tank.

Tabitha smiled politely. “I asked if you intend to stay here long?”

Hunny’s eyes widened. “Oh! I, um, I haven’t really thought about it.”

Mostly because she knew being a lone shifter was a touchy subject. If she had her talk with Murphy, and told him she was alone, pregnant with another Alpha’s baby, and rejected, he’d think she was defective—that Jason had sensed something broken within her and kicked her to the curb. That she’d been tossed out by her previous nest. He probably wouldn’t even believe her if she explained everything. He would assume she was trouble, too much of a problem to keep around.

Could she really blame Murphy for that?

He wasn’t her Alpha. His purpose was to protect his clan from threats—even a lone bunny shifter. When that inevitably happened, she’d have to leave Montana with her tail tucked between her legs.

She’d never see Tank again. Her heart clenched painfully in her chest at the thought.

The last few days with Tank had been amazing, some of the easiest days she’d had in years. She wasn’t ready for them to end. But how long could she avoid this talk with his older brother? A few more days? A week?

Maybe she should lie about her circumstances, but she was terrible at that, and it would be easy for another shifter to sense her unease and call her out on it.

The older woman’s gaze softened. “Do you have a family to get back to? A mate, perhaps? I don’t see a mark on you—”

“No mate,” Hunny cut in abruptly. She cleared her throat. Suddenly ashamed, she glanced down at the clothes in her hand. “Not anymore, at least.”

“Oh.” Tabitha sent her a small, sad smile. “No wonder you and Tank get along. His own mate passed away when he was younger, before they could claim each other, but even still; a loss like that changes a person.”

Hunny’s eyes went wide with shock, and her heart physically ached at the news.

Poor Henry.

Shaking her head, Hunny blurted out, “My mate isn’t dead. He just …” She paused, unsure if she wanted to say anything else. But knowing that Tank’s mate got lumped into the same category as Jason didn’t sit right with her. Tank’s mate had probably been a lovely female. There wasn’t a lovely thing about Jason. Not in the slightest. She felt she had to explain.

Her throat clogged with emotion, and she clenched her jaw, swallowing thickly as she tried to calm down. “He led me to believe he wanted to mate with me, got me pregnant, and then he rejected me in favor of a dominant shifter. He said I was too weak to stand beside him.”

It kind of felt cathartic to say it out loud.

Tabitha gasped, and Hunny’s eyes shot to her face, just in time to watch a flurry of emotions cross over it. Shock, outrage, and then, oddly enough, a bitter fury that morphed the sweet-looking lady into some kind of avenging angel. “What kind of low-life piece of shit would do that? To their mate ? Abandon you at such a crucial time, and for another female?” Her voice rose with each word until she was practically shouting.

“Please keep your voice down,” Hunny hissed, moving to the railing and looking over the side. No one was below in the living room or the kitchen. And she didn’t hear anyone moving around on the first floor either. Had the guys gone outside? She turned back to Tank’s mom. “I haven’t told your son anything yet. It’s kind of embarrassing, and honestly, I’m ashamed that I was so blind to my mate’s schemes.”

“Oh, dear.” Tabitha blew out a breath, some of the red draining from her face. “You shouldn’t feel embarrassed. You believed your true mate held your best interest at heart, and it’s his loss that he didn’t. Be grateful that he showed you the type of male he was before he claimed you.” She frowned. “I’m sure you don’t feel that way currently. But in time, you will.”

Tears pricked Hunny’s eyes, and she let out a trembling breath. “Thank you for saying that. I feel so weird about everything.”

“How so?”

Hunny shrugged, biting her lower lip when her chin wobbled. Great, first she cried in front of Tank, and now she was word vomiting all over his mother. This poor family was going to be more than ready to send her packing when the time came.

“I-I don’t miss him. Not at all. And I should, right?” Hunny ran a hand through her disheveled hair, grateful her fingers didn’t snag on a tangle. She took a deep breath before continuing, “I mean, he was my mate. When we were together, every thought I had revolved around him. What he was up to, if he missed me, when could I see him again … But since I came here, I haven’t really thought about him. He didn’t even cross my mind all day yesterday, not until last night. And even then, I didn’t feel sad … just worried that he’d find another way to ruin my life.”

“Ruin your life how, Hunny? Are you in danger?”

“No,” Hunny replied immediately. “At least, I don’t think so.” Not unless Natasha resurfaced, the nasty bitch. “I’m just being dramatic,” she added.

Tabitha snorted, placing a comforting hand on Hunny’s shoulder. “After what you’ve been through, and that awful attack in the woods that Murphy mentioned, I think you’re more than entitled to a little theatrics. And for the record, I think it’s remarkable you’ve gotten over your mate so easily,” Tabitha finished, a twinkle in her eye Hunny couldn’t make sense of.

“You do? I feel like there’s something wrong with me.”

Though getting rejected, propositioned to be a whore, and then nearly killed in the woods all in one night had probably sped up her mourning process far more than her cry in Jason’s cabin ever could have.

“There’s nothing wrong with you at all, Hunny.” Tabitha smiled happily. “Sometimes fate has other plans for us. Maybe this true mate of yours wasn’t supposed to be your endgame, but your stepping stone to something better.”

Hunny furrowed her brow. “Well, that’s a hell of a way to look at it.” Knocked up and rejected, just to find ‘something better.’

“Oh, I’m always optimistic.” Tabitha laughed, shooing Hunny toward the open bathroom door. “Go, get cleaned up. There’s a spare toothbrush under the sink!”

With that, Hunny did as instructed, taking a quick shower before brushing her teeth and dressing. Her clothes might not have smelled like Tank anymore, but her body did from his soap, and she sighed contentedly before making her way back to the bedroom.

She’d barely stepped through the door when Tabitha jumped up from her seat on the bed, sending Hunny another happy smile. “Oh dear, you really are a beauty. I see why my Tank kept you to himself.”

Hunny blushed, waving her hand in denial. “Oh! Oh, no. That’s not—Henry and I—we’re not like that … We’re just friends,” she finished lamely, feeling like she’d just gotten caught lying. But she wasn’t. Her and Tank’s relationship was strictly platonic.

Isn’t it?

Tabitha raised a brow. “Henry, is it?”

Hunny’s entire face turned beet red. “I meant Tank.”

“If my son prefers you to call him Henry, go for it.”

“He didn’t actually tell me if he preferred it or not.”

Tabitha laughed loudly, like Hunny had just told her one hell of a joke. “Hunny, if my son told you his name, that means he wants you to call him by it. He never tells strangers anything personal about himself. You must make him feel very comfortable.”

Hunny shrugged nonchalantly, but she couldn’t help the fluttering in her stomach at Tabitha’s words. “He makes me feel comfortable, too,” she admitted softly.

“Even more reason for you to stay with our clan,” Tabitha stated, bringing their original conversation back full circle. “I’ll have a word with Murphy on your behalf, if you’d like. Not about your mate, that is private and for you to discuss when you’re ready, but just that I think you’d be a good fit for us.”

Hunny’s shoulders relaxed. “You’d do that for me? You don’t even know me.”

“Nonsense.” Tabitha pulled Hunny in for a sudden hug before letting go. “I feel as if we’re family already. That’s what a bear clan is: family.”

Family . God, the word brought up so many old memories of her parents, of how happy she’d been growing up. How loved she’d felt. For the last five years, she’d missed that aspect of being part of a nest; the companionship, the friendship, the affection.

And now Tank’s family was offering a semblance of that, even if it was just for a little while, until she got back onto her feet. Hope blossomed in her chest, the sensation so sudden, so foreign, that it took her a second to process the feeling. When it did, a tear spilled down Hunny’s cheek, her emotions too strong to push back.

“Ah, I’m sorry,” she mumbled, wiping at her face with the back of her hand. “I’m so emotional nowadays.”

“I’ve been there several times,” Tabitha joked. She moved to the desk, grabbing a Kleenex from a box and handing it to Hunny. “Speaking of babies, I’m the clan doctor, so if you’re needing a checkup, I’d love to help with that, when you have time.”

“That would be really great.” Hunny had barely even thought about her next steps regarding her pregnancy. “I’m only a few weeks along at most, so I wasn’t sure when I’d need to make an appointment with anyone.”

“Well, with a shifter pregnancy, it’s imperative to be seen sooner rather than later as our offspring develop faster than a human’s. Aside from that, rabbit shifters are prone to carrying multiple kits. And if the one who impregnated you is a different shifter breed than yours, those pregnancies almost always result in multiple offspring.”

Hunny blanched, her breath stilling in her lungs. More than one kit? Multiple babies?! She didn’t even know what she’d do with one, let alone a swarm of them!

No, Tabitha had to be mistaken. There was no fucking way. “I’m sorry? I think I misheard you.”

“You didn’t mishear, and I’m a bit surprised you weren’t aware of this beforehand. Did you grow up in a nest?” the older woman asked casually.

“I left before I was eighteen,” Hunny mumbled numbly. “I guess I never really questioned why there were so many twins and triplets running around.”

Hunny’s parents had never had ‘the talk’ with her, and she was an only child, so she’d never even thought to question how many kits she’d produce.

Oh god.

“Henry’s going to kick me out if I’m pregnant with twins,” she whispered faintly, anxiety crashing through her. He wouldn’t want anything to do with her after this newest shock. And then she’d never see him again, never feel that safety, or his scent—

Tabitha snorted, and then immediately rubbed Hunny’s arms in comfort. She barely felt the touch, too focused on the pulse now frantically beating in her ears. The walls seemed to close in on her. “Now, now. I can’t imagine he’d do that at all.”

“I can’t stay here with a hoard of children. This place is so small. Henry will want his space back,” Hunny argued, her heart rate skyrocketing the more she thought about it. “Is it hot in here? I feel too hot.” She blinked quickly as she fanned her face, looking around the bedroom frantically. She could already imagine the cribs stacked on top of each other, ready to topple over and crush her at any second. “I-I think the air conditioner is broken.”

“Hunny?” Tabitha inquired, her voice filled with concern. “Are you alright?”

“N-no. I-it’s too hot. It’s too hot and H-Henry won’t w-want me here,” Hunny stuttered, her lungs on fire. She couldn’t breathe.

He was going to toss her out, just like Jason had. He’d decide she wasn’t worth the trouble. Just like—

“You’re having a bit of a panic attack,” Tabitha murmured soothingly, but it did nothing to calm Hunny down. “Take a deep breath for me,” Tabitha instructed, but the words sounded muffled, far away, like the other woman was talking under water.

Besides, she couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t the other woman see that she was trying?

I can’t breathe—

“I need to get out of here!” Hunny exclaimed, rushing to the stairs. With every step she took down, she felt like she was being chased, forced out of the only place she’d felt safe in years. It was all going to end. It always did. It was over. Her feet hit the living room floor, and she raced to the front door.

She needed to get out. She couldn’t breathe, she couldn’t—

Hunny burst out of the cabin and onto the porch. The feeling of cool wood on her bare feet barely registered as she stormed down the small steps and into the front yard. She tried sucking in a ragged breath, but her lungs felt too tight, her airway constricted.

“Tank!” Tabitha shouted from somewhere behind her. Footsteps pounded on the ground in the distance. Or maybe it was her heart threatening to give out.

“Can’t breathe,” Hunny gasped, her hands shaking as she clutched at her chest, her eyes wild. She stared at the world around her, not comprehending anything as her pulse roared in her ears. Was she having a heart attack? “I can’t, I can’t—”

Strong arms wrapped around her waist; clovers, musk, and berries invading her senses. Instinctively, Hunny whipped around, throwing herself into Tank’s chest with a small cry.

“What’s wrong, darlin’?” he asked darkly, his gruff voice ripping through the harsh pounding in her ears until the feeling eased enough that she didn’t feel like something foul had swallowed her whole. He ran a big hand down her damp hair, petting her tenderly. She didn’t even realize she was shaking in his arms until he murmured, “It’s alright, Hunny. You’re okay.”

“This is my fault,” Tabitha muttered softly from somewhere behind Hunny.

“What did you say to her?” Tank snapped, his voice growing harsh.

“Don’t take that tone with me, Henry Sinclair,” Tabitha replied quickly. She exhaled a moment later. “I didn’t realize she was unaware she’d likely have multiple kits. I mentioned it, and …” Her voice trailed off.

Great, now that he knew, he was going to want her gone.

Hunny burrowed closer to Tank’s body, burying her face in the warmth of his bare chest, wanting to soak up this last moment between them before everything went tits up.

“Huh.” Tank’s arm tightened around her waist reassuringly, and he cupped the back of her neck, holding her securely to him like he didn’t plan on letting her go. Then he said the strangest possible thing. “Jasper, we’re definitely going to need more wood.”