Page 7 of The Right to Bear Claws (Hollow Oak Mates #6)

ELIAS

T he Council archives smelled like dust, old leather, and secrets that had been buried for good reason.

Elias followed Lucien through the narrow corridors beneath the public library, their footsteps echoing off stone walls that predated Hollow Oak's official founding by at least two centuries.

The panther shifter navigated the maze-like passages with familiar ease, leading them deeper into the underground repository where the town's most sensitive supernatural knowledge was stored.

"Here," Lucien said, stopping beside a shelf lined with volumes that looked older than civilization. "Dream magic, consciousness manipulation, and related phenomena. Most of it's theoretical, but there are a few case studies that might be relevant."

Elias pulled down a leather-bound tome, wincing as the binding cracked under his fingers. The pages were yellowed with age, covered in cramped handwriting that seemed to shift and blur when he tried to focus on it directly.

"Protective enchantments on the text," Lucien explained, settling cross-legged on the floor with his own stack of books. "Keeps casual readers from accessing information that could drive them insane. Your mate bond should provide enough supernatural connection to bypass the worst of it."

The words on the page gradually sharpened into legibility, revealing accounts of dreamwalkers throughout history.

Most of the stories ended badly. Madness, possession, or simply vanishing into the dream realm never to return.

The few who learned to control their abilities became powerful allies or dangerous enemies, depending on their intentions.

"Jesus," Elias muttered, reading about a dreamwalker in 1847 who'd accidentally trapped an entire village in a shared nightmare for three days. "No wonder they're so rare. Most don't survive long enough to reproduce."

"The ones who do survive tend to be incredibly powerful," Lucien said, not looking up from his own research.

"There's an account here of a dreamwalker who single-handedly ended a supernatural war by giving the opposing army's leaders prophetic dreams about their inevitable defeat.

They surrendered rather than face the futures she showed them. "

Elias's bear paced restlessly as he absorbed the information.

Every page reinforced what he'd already suspected: Kaia was extraordinary, but that same gift made her a target for things that fed on power and fear.

Worse, most of the protective measures described in the texts required cooperation from the dreamwalker herself, and Kaia barely understood what she was capable of.

"Found something," Lucien said, his voice tight with concern.

"Listen to this: 'The greatest danger to untrained dreamwalkers comes not from external threats, but from entities that exist within the collective unconscious.

These shadow beings, sometimes called Nightmare Feeders, are drawn to powerful dreamwalkers like moths to flame.

They cannot exist in the waking world without an anchor, but once they claim a dreamwalker as host.. .'"

"What?" Elias demanded when his friend trailed off.

"'They gain the ability to manifest physical form during sleep cycles, feeding on the fears and nightmares of everyone within a significant radius. In extreme cases, entire communities have been consumed by shared terror, their population driven to madness or death.'"

The book suddenly felt heavy in Elias's hands. "How do you stop something like that?"

"According to this, you don't. Once a Nightmare Feeder claims a host, the only solution is..." Lucien's jaw tightened. "Destroying the dreamwalker before the entity can fully manifest."

"Like hell." The growl that escaped Elias's throat was pure bear, reverberating off the stone walls. "There has to be another way."

"Maybe." Lucien flipped through several more pages. "Some texts mention binding rituals, ways to anchor a dreamwalker to the physical world so strongly that shadow entities can't claim them. But the details are vague, and most require..." He paused, reading more carefully.

"What?"

"A supernatural mate bond. Apparently, the emotional and spiritual connection provides enough anchor to the waking world that dream entities can't fully possess the dreamwalker." Lucien looked up with something that might have been relief. "Your timing might be better than you know."

“Why is it always a mate bond?” Elias asked with a heavy sigh.

“Becasue, they are the most powerful bonds in supernatural elements. In the world I would think, for any being. Having the other half of your soul is something nothing can withstand if they go against you.”

Elias took a breath and focused on the positive, feeling some of the tension ease from his shoulders. "So the mate bond can protect her?"

"If she accepts it. And if you complete the claiming ritual before whatever's hunting her makes its move.

" Lucien's expression grew serious again.

"But there's a catch. Incomplete bonds can actually make things worse, giving the entity partial access to both dreamwalker and mate. You'd both be at risk."

Of course there was a catch. There always was when it came to supernatural solutions.

"I need to talk to the Tansley brothers," Elias said, closing his book with more force than necessary. "If there are protective measures we can take in the meantime..."

"Already ahead of you." Lucien stood, brushing dust from his jeans. "I spoke with them this morning after the reports of increased supernatural activity. They're working on some specialized protections."

An hour later, Elias found himself in the cluttered back room of the Hollow Mercantile, surrounded by crystals, herbs, and enough arcane paraphernalia to stock a small museum.

The Tansley brothers moved around the space with practiced efficiency, Edgar consulting ancient texts while Rufus worked over a small forge, crafting what looked like jewelry from silver wire and unusual stones.

"Dream catchers won't be enough," Edgar said without preamble, his weathered face creased with concentration. "Traditional protective amulets are designed to keep nightmares out, but what this is is trying to get in from the inside. We need something more sophisticated."

"How sophisticated?" Elias asked, watching Rufus shape a delicate pendant that seemed to glow with internal light.

"Anchor stones," Rufus grunted, holding up his handiwork for inspection. "Specially attuned to dreamwalker frequencies. Should help keep her consciousness tethered to the physical plane."

"Should?"

"Nothing's guaranteed when you're dealing with unknown entities," Edgar admitted.

"But these are based on historical designs that showed some success.

The stones are charged with protective intent and bound to Hollow Oak's ley lines.

As long as she's wearing one within the town limits, any attempt to drag her consciousness into the dream realm will encounter significant resistance. "

Elias accepted the pendant, surprised by its warmth against his palm. The stone in the center was unlike anything he'd seen before, shifting between deep purple and silver depending on the angle of light.

"There's more," Rufus said, pulling a larger item from his workbench.

"Dream catcher, but not the tourist version.

This one's woven with silver wire and blessed salt, inscribed with protective runes that have been in my family for six generations.

Hang it over her bed, and anything trying to influence her dreams will have to get through the equivalent of a supernatural minefield. "

The piece was beautiful in its complexity, far more intricate than the simple hoops and feathers sold in gift shops. Power radiated from every carefully placed knot and bead.

"How much do I owe you?" Elias asked, already reaching for his wallet.

"Nothing," Edgar said firmly. "Kaia's part of the community now, whether she knows it or not."

He'd known intellectually that Hollow Oak would accept his mate, but seeing the proof of their protection offered so freely made his bear rumble with satisfaction.

"Thank you," he said, meaning it more than the words could convey. "Both of you."

"Just make sure she understands how to use them properly," Rufus said, returning to his forge. "The anchor stone needs to be in direct contact with her skin, and the dream catcher has to be positioned where she can see it from her bed. Symbolism matters with this kind of magic."

Elias nodded, carefully tucking the items into his jacket pockets. "Anything else I should know?"

"Yes," Edgar said, his expression growing grave. "These protections will help, but they're not permanent solutions. Whatever's hunting her will adapt, find new ways to reach her. Your best bet is still completing the mate bond as soon as she's ready."

"And if she's not ready?"

"Then you'd better hope we're all wrong about what's coming."

The walk back to the inn gave Elias time to process everything he'd learned, but instead of clarity, he felt the weight of impossible choices.

Push Kaia toward a claiming bond she might not want, or risk losing her to something that fed on dreams and fear.

Protect her independence, or protect her life.

His bear had no patience for such dilemmas. Claim her. Keep her safe. Everything else is secondary.

But Elias had seen what happened when alphas let their protective instincts override their mates' autonomy. Broken bonds, resentment, relationships that turned toxic because one partner felt trapped rather than chosen. He wouldn't do that to Kaia, no matter how desperate his bear became.

The inn's common room was warm with afternoon sunlight when he arrived, and the sight that greeted him made his steps slow in appreciation.

Kaia sat curled in her favorite chair by the window, but she wasn't alone.

Miriam occupied the opposite chair, a basket of yarn at her feet as she taught Kaia the basics of knitting.

Twyla had claimed the sofa, sorting through what looked like a collection of crystals while keeping up a steady stream of commentary.

"No, no, dear," Miriam was saying patiently. "Loop the yarn over first, then pull through. There you go."

"I think I'm hopeless at this," Kaia laughed, holding up a lopsided square that bore only passing resemblance to the scarf she was attempting. "My grandmother tried to teach me when I was little, but I never had the patience."

"Patience can be learned," Twyla said, selecting a rose quartz from her collection. "Like most worthwhile skills. And speaking of patience, this little beauty is supposed to help with emotional healing. Might be useful given recent circumstances."

Kaia accepted the crystal with the same genuine gratitude she'd shown everyone who'd offered help since her arrival. No false protests about not deserving kindness, no attempts to minimize her needs. Just honest appreciation for the care being offered.

Watching her integrate so naturally into the small domestic scene, Elias felt something shift inside him. This was what he'd been protecting without fully realizing it. Not just Kaia's safety, but her chance to belong somewhere. Her opportunity to be part of something larger than her own struggles.

"Elias!" Kaia looked up as he entered, her face lighting with genuine pleasure. "Look what Miriam's teaching me. I'm terrible at it, but it's actually kind of relaxing."

"You're not terrible," Miriam corrected with maternal firmness. "You're learning. There's a difference."

"How did the research go?" Twyla asked, her fae-sharp eyes noting the careful way he moved, the protective tension in his shoulders.

"Productive," he said simply. "I brought some things that might help."

He pulled out the anchor stone first, offering it to Kaia with careful explanation of its purpose. Her fingers traced the pendant's delicate silver work with reverent attention.

"It's beautiful," she said softly. "You really didn't have to..."

"Yes, I did." The words came out weighted with all the fears he couldn't voice. "Your safety matters, Kaia. To all of us."

The look she gave him was warm and wondering, like she still couldn't quite believe that people cared about her wellbeing without expecting something in return. It made him want to spend the rest of his life proving that some kindness came without conditions.

"Help me put it on?" she asked, lifting her hair away from her neck.

Elias moved behind her chair, hyperaware of the trust implied in the gesture as he fastened the pendant's clasp.

His fingers brushed the soft skin at her nape, and the contact sent warmth racing through his bear's consciousness.

The anchor stone settled against her throat like it belonged there, pulsing gently with protective energy.

"How does it feel?" he asked, stepping back with reluctance.

"Warm. Safe." She touched the stone lightly moving her moon pendant to the side so it touched her skin, then turned to smile at him. "Thank you. For everything."

"Don't thank me yet," he said quietly. "We're not out of the woods."

But looking at her surrounded by the women who'd already claimed her as family, protected by magic crafted with genuine care, Elias allowed himself a moment of hope. Whatever was hunting his mate would find Hollow Oak ready for a fight.

And they wouldn't be fighting alone.