Author: Stormy Glenn
Date: 2019-08-11T00:00:00+00:00
Keywords: Romance

￼

Bear Essentials 4

The Bear Necessities

Enforcer Jeb Taylor found his mate in bear shifter Erik Thomas. He couldn't be happier. The man was sexy, smart, and funny. He wasn't happy that someone seemed intent on taking Erik from him. Helping his alpha establish a new clan wasn't easy, but losing his mate would be impossible.

Erik Thomas's life was one big roller coaster ride. He went from traveling home from seeing friends to being kidnapped to being rescued by the sexiest bear he'd ever seen. He'd get off the wild ride except that might mean giving up the best thing that ever happened to him.

When trouble comes at them from every direction, they have to learn to rely on each other and those around them to survive what might be someone's bid to take over the clan.

Genres: Alternative (M/M, Gay), Paranormal, Shape-shifter

Length: 32,231

THE BEAR NECESSITIES

Bear Essentials 4

Stormy Glenn

￼

Siren Publishing, Inc.

www.SirenPublishing.com

A SIREN PUBLISHING BOOK

The Bear Necessities

Copyright © 2019 by Stormy Glenn

ISBN: 978-1-64243-979-3

First Publication: August 2019

Cover design by Jess Buffett

All art and logo copyright © 2019 by Siren Publishing, Inc.

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission.

All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.

WARNING: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000.

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PUBLISHER

Siren Publishing, Inc.

www.SirenPublishing.com

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Stormy believes the only thing sexier than a man in cowboy boots is two or three men in cowboy boots. She also believes in love at first sight, soul mates, true love, and happy endings.

You can usually find her cuddled in bed with a book in her hand and a puppy in her lap, or on her laptop, creating the next sexy man for one of her stories. Stormy welcomes comments from readers.

For all titles by Stormy Glenn, please visit
www.bookstrand.com/stormy-glenn
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TABLE OF CONTENTS

THE BEAR NECESSITIES

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

THE BEAR NECESSITIES

Bear Essentials 4

STORMY GLENN

Copyright © 2019

Chapter One

A scream ripped through the night air, sending chills down Jeb Taylor's spine. When his clan beta went tearing off toward the thick trees, Jeb went after him. He wasn't sure if he was running to protect Harvey or if it was the obsessive need to find whoever made that scream. He just knew he had to follow.

The sound of harsh whispers cut through the thick forest. It was coming from the same direction the scent of blood was coming from.

"It hurts," someone cried out. The voice was laced with pure agony.

"Quiet!" someone else whispered. "They'll hear you."

Anger unlike anything he'd ever felt in his life raged through Jeb when he broke through the trees and saw a young man caught in a bear trap. Tears streamed down his pale face. Jeb had been caught in a bear trap once, so he could sympathize. He knew it was beyond painful.

Jasper, the old alpha's son and the man they'd come here to rescue, seemed to be trying to help open the bear trap, but he was clearly not strong enough. Jeb and Harvey hurried over to help.

When Harvey positioned one foot on the edge of the trap then reached down with his hands, Jeb moved forward and placed his hands on the other side.

"On three," Harvey said.

Jeb nodded.

"One, two, three." Harvey pushed with all of his might, pressing the teeth of the trap down and away from the young man's ankle. "Pull him out, Jasper."

Harvey grit his teeth and growled as he waited for the man's ankle to be pulled free. Once it was, he glanced at Jeb. "Ready?"

"One, two, three."

Harvey jumped back, barely escaping the metal teeth as they snapped back together. "Can you shift?" Harvey asked the young man.

"No." The guy almost cried when he said that. "They gave me something that keeps me from shifting."

"What?" Harvey snapped.

Jeb growled as his anger renewed. Someone gave him something to keep him from shifting?

When Harvey slowly panned to look at him, Jeb shrugged. He couldn't explain his overwhelming anger. He didn't understand it himself. Yes, anyone would be angry in this situation, but Jeb wanted to kill someone for what they had done to this poor man.

Harvey frowned then looked back down at the injured man. "Have you transitioned yet?"

"Yes, a little over a month ago."

"I'm going to wrap your ankle for now. We'll talk to Alpha Kersey when we get back home and see if he knows what they might have given you. How's that sound?"

The nod was instant.

"What's your name? Mine's Harvey."

"Erik Thomas."

Harvey ripped off the bottom of his shirt and started tying it around the young man's ankle. "I know this hurts, Erik," he said when Erik whimpered, "but it's got to be done. We have to stop the bleeding."

Erik nodded rapidly, his lips pressed so tightly together, they were white. Once Erik was all wrapped up, Harvey went to lift him. Jeb growled and pushed him out of the way, picking Erik up himself.

Harvey lifted an eyebrow.

Jeb's jaw clenched. He tightened his grip on the man in his arms, refusing to let him go, even to his beta. "I've got him."

Harvey stared for a moment before turning to look at Jasper. "Jasper, did your brother kidnap you?"

"He sent some of his guys for me," Jasper said. "I didn't want to go, but they made me."

"Did your brother tell you why he kidnapped you?"

Tears sprang to Jasper's eyes as he nodded. "He knows I'm an omega. He was going to sell me to the highest bidder."

Jeb's jaw dropped. Jasper was getting sold? By his own brother? What kind of madman were they dealing with?

"He was going to sell you?" Harvey snarled.

Jeb understood his anger.

"That's what he does," Erik whispers. "He kidnaps and sells people, and he doesn't care if they are shifters or humans as long as he can make money off of them."

Harvey clenched his hands. "Where is he now?"

"I heard him tell one of his men that he had one more package to pick up before the next auction," Erik said. "The auction is tomorrow."

"How do you know all this?"

A tear slipped down Erik's cheek. "I was to be auctioned off."

Oh hell no!

Jeb's growl was loud and clear this time. "No one is auctioning you off!"

He didn't care how many people he had to kill. It simply wasn't going to happen.

"Come on," Harvey said. "Let's get these guys—"

Jeb lifted an eyebrow when Harvey just suddenly zoned out. "Harvey?"

"Hold on." A frown wrinkled the man's forehead before his jaw clenched and his nostrils flared. "We need to get back to the house. Dwayne says there's trouble."

Oh right. Jeb had forgotten that part. They could talk to each other telepathically. It was a very handy skill to have.

"What kind of trouble?" he asked.

"Jason trouble."

Erik shivered.

Jeb pressed his cheek against the top of the man's head. "I won't let him get you, Erik. I promise."

He had no idea why it was so important to his bear to make sure Erik was safe, but it was. It was all Jeb could do to keep from shifting. His bear was being very growly.

"I'm not sure you can promise that," Erik whispered. "Jason always gets what he wants."

"Jason hasn't met my alpha yet, but I suspect he's about to." Jeb chuckled as he envisioned that meeting. "He has no idea who he's up against."

Jeb might have grown up with Rob, and they'd been best friends since forever, but the man was still impressive even to him. Rob Colton stood a towering six foot five inches tall, and had the muscle to back that up.

Rob also had the heart and determination to be a great alpha someday. He had a little growing to do before then. He'd been an official alpha all of a day. He needed a little more experience, but Jeb and the others had his back no matter what. Jeb kept a firm hold of Erik as he carried him through the woods. He was concerned about Erik's injury. The scent of blood was overwhelming, and the man whimpered every few minutes. Jeb knew he had to be in a lot of pain. It tried to keep from jostling him too much, but each small cry tore at his soul.

"It's okay to cry, you know," he said. "I've had my leg caught in a bear trap before. I bawled like a baby."

He hadn't really, but he sure had wanted to.

"You can shift just as soon as whatever they shot you up with wears off and then your leg will heal and the pain will go away."

Eyes as blue as the summer sky peeked up at him through a fall of sunlight blond hair. "What's your name?"

Crap. His manners had gone to shit.

"Jebediah Taylor, but I prefer Jeb." Jeb swallowed tightly. "But you can call me Jebediah if you want." Erik could pretty much call him whatever he wanted. Jeb didn't mind.

He was surprised by the slight smile that curved up the corners of Erik's lips. "I like Jeb, too."

"Yeah?" Jeb whispered on a breath of air. "Well, I like Erik. It's a good, strong name."

"It's spelled with a K, not a C."

Jeb nodded. "Makes it mysterious, too."

The smile curved up even more. "Where are we going?"

"Back to the Silver Lake Clan territory."

"Is that Jasper's clan?"

Jeb's eyebrows lifted in surprise as he glanced down at Erik. "You're not from the Silver Lake Clan?"

Erik shook his head. "I'm from Chicago."

Huh.

"How did you get here? Besides being kidnapped by that asshat, I mean."

"I had been visiting some friends in California. I was on my way back when I made the mistake of stopping off to get something to eat in Alpha King's territory. They jumped me when I was headed to my car."

Jeb's jaw clenched as a low growl rumbled through him. "Did they hurt you?"

Erik's lips thinned as he pressed them together then nodded.

"Do you remember what they looked like?"

Erik drew in a stuttering breath. "I don't think I'll ever forget."

"Maybe you can point them out to me when this is all over." Jeb began thinking of ways he'd make them pay for laying a single finger on the sweet little bear. "I'll make sure they never hurt you again."

"Why do you care?" Erik tilted his head back and peered up at Jeb. "You don't know me. You don't owe me anything."

Jeb really wished he had a better answer for the little bear. He just didn't. "It's not right, Erik. People like that need to be stopped. Kidnapping and selling bears is bad enough, but when Jason started kidnapping humans, he put all of us at risk. He has to be stopped."

"Right." Erik glanced away. "Humans."

"Hey, look at me." Jeb stopped walking. "Erik."

Erik's lips were pinched when he finally glanced up.

"Yes, Jason needs to be stopped because of what he is doing to humans and how that affects bears, but I could really care less about that. I'm more concerned with making sure he never touches you again."

Jeb just had no idea why that was so important to him.

Some of the animosity slid off of Erik's face. "Really?"

Jeb grinned. "Yes, really."

Again, he had no idea why Erik's safety was so important to him, although a kernel of idea was starting to form in his mind. He just wasn't in a place to test it, and now was most certainly not the time.

When they reached the vehicles, Jeb carried Erik to the backseat of one of them. He set Erik down on the seat then climbed in after him. Billy Ray shot him a confused frown when he pulled Erik against his side, but didn't say anything. Jeb knew he'd be questioned later.

The ride back to the Silver Lake Clan territory went faster than Jeb expected. He kind of wished it took a little longer. There was something calming about having Erik pressed up against his side, which was reaffirming what he'd began to suspect about the sweet little man.

Jeb turned his head and pressed his face into the hair at the top of Erik's head. He drew in a deep breath, but all he could smell was blood. His bear was not happy about that. He wasn't too thrilled with it either. Until Erik got cleaned up, Jeb would be left to wonder if this was the bear meant for him.

When they drew close to Alpha Kersey's house, the car in front of them pulled off on a dirt road, drove down about two hundred yards, then stopped. Rob, Harvey, and the sheriff climbed out and walked back to them.

"We're going to leave the cars here and go in the back way," Rob said when he reached them. "I want to get Erik and Jasper inside Alpha Kersey's house and out of the line of fire before we confront Jason."

Jeb was in full support of that idea.

He gave Erik a little shake to wake the man. He'd been dozing, and Jeb hadn't had the heart to wake him. He leaned close to Erik's ear. "Wake up, osezno. Time to go."

"Huh?"

Jeb's heart clenched when Erik sat up and rubbed the sleep out of his eyes. Good god, he was adorable. Jeb's bear wanted to grab the man and hold him tight, maybe hide him in a cave in the woods where no one could get to him and hurt him again.

"I need you to hang on just a little longer, osezno. Can you do that for me?"

Erik frowned, but nodded.

"Good man." Jeb smiled at him before opening the door and sliding out of the vehicle. He reached back in and carefully lifted Erik up into his arms. "I know you're in a lot of pain, Erik, but I need you to be as quiet as possible. Okay?"

Erik's lips were pressed tight together, and Jeb knew he had to be hurting, but he still nodded. Once they started walking, Jeb pressed his lips against the top of Erik's head so he could whisper to him.

"I want you to do something for me, osezno. I want you to press your face against my neck and breathe me in." He was pretty sure that would settle Erik's bear. It would certainly settle his own bear if he could smell Erik.

His eyes almost crossed when he felt Erik's warm breath blow out across his skin. He shuddered as his body tightened. If what he suspected was true, he could tell already that Erik was going to have him wrapped around his little finger in no time.

"Better?"

"Yeah." Amazement laced Erik's voice, making it lighter. "How'd you know?"

"I'll explain it later, after we deal with the asshat who took you."

Erik let out a small laugh, but it was a boon to Jeb's high stress level. He felt as if he could draw in his first good breath since he'd heard the man scream.

"Now, be quiet, osezno. We're almost there, and we can't let anyone hear us."

Erik nodded and pressed his lips together.

It took a lot of effort to tear his gaze away from Erik and start looking around. He knew he needed to. He could smell the danger in the air. If he wasn't on top of his game, Erik could get hurt again, and that just wasn't allowed.

When they reached the house, the sheriff led them to the back door. They slipped inside the house, carefully closing the door behind them. Jeb stayed at the back of the house while the Rob, the sheriff, and Harvey moved through the house, checking to see who was inside.

When Harvey came back and gestured to him, Jeb carried Erik into the living room. He gently laid him down on the couch then grabbed a couple of pillows and propped them under his injured leg. He took the throw off the back of the couch and covered him then squatted down next to him.

Jeb smiled as he brushed some hair back from Erik's forehead. "Are you going to be all right here without me?"

Erik smiled back. "If I must."

"It won't be long, osezno. I promise."

"When you come back, you'll have to tell me what that means."

Jeb chuckled. "I'll think about it."

He pushed himself up then glanced around until his eyes landed on Mary, who had Jasper held tightly in her arms. "Erik hurt his leg. Do you think you could take a look at it?"

"Yes, of course." Surprise showed on Mary's face as she glanced at Erik. "Jasper, go get the first aid kit from under the bathroom sink."

Jeb turned his attention back at Erik. "I'll be back soon. You do whatever Mary tells you, okay?"

Erik glanced at Mary before nodding. "I will."

"Good man." Jeb patted Erik's arm then turned to look at Harvey and Rob. "You ready?"

"Oh yeah," Harvey replied. "Dwayne says it's getting real interesting out there."

That wasn't good.

Chapter Two

Erik felt his heart sink and his gut clench as he watched Jeb and the others walk out the back door. He didn't know what it was about the big bear shifter, but Erik wanted to climb inside of him and never come out.

He tried to smile when Mary sat down on the couch next to him and lifted the throw blanket off his legs, but he was pretty sure it fell weak when she patted his leg.

"It's going to be all right, Erik."

"He helped me escape, Mom," Jasper said as he walked over to stand next to the couch. "Once Jason had left, Erik distracted one of the guards until I could sneak out the window then hit the guard over the head with something."

Mary glanced up at her son. "I thought the others rescued you."

"Well, they did, sort of, but we'd already escaped Jason's house and were running through the woods when Erik stepped in a bear trap."

"Bear trap?" Mary cried out.

Jason nodded. "The woods over there are full of them."

"It's how he keeps people from trying to escape," Erik explained. "It's too dangerous to go running through the woods."

"Then why did you…"

"I was supposed to be auctioned off tomorrow. Bear traps or not, I wasn't going to stick around for that."

"No, I guess I can understand that."

Erik frowned when he saw a tear slide down Mary's face. "Are you okay?"

She smiled, but it was about as real as the one Erik had given her. "Jason is my son."

Erik sucked in a sharp breath as he tried to scoot back. "He's your son?"

"It's okay, Erik," Jasper said quickly. "Jason left the clan a few years ago. He doesn't live here anymore and hasn't for a while now."

Erik just wasn't sure that was good enough. Jason King was insane. He was insane and sadistic and out only for himself and what others could provide for him, either by giving it to him or by him taking it. He wasn't picky.

"The man you know as Alpha King is not my son." Sadness and heartache filled Mary's voice when she spoke. "He stopped being my son a very long time ago, but I'll always miss the boy he was and the man he should have been."

Some of the tension faded from Erik's shoulders, but not all of it. He couldn't believe he was sitting in Alpha King's family home, being treated for his injuries by the man's mother. She didn't seem like the mother of the spawn of Satan, but what did he know?

"This is going to hurt, Erik."

Yeah, he figured.

Erik grit his teeth when Mary pulled off the strip of cloth Harvey had wrapped around his ankle. He squeezed his eyes closed for a moment then opened them and looked down. Well, hell, no wonder he was in pain. Deep, bloody gouges had been ripped into his flesh.

"Oh man, I can't wait until I can shift." He was thrilled that he was able to shift. A month ago, that hadn't been the case, and he would have had to suffer through a slow recovery.

"Why haven't you shifted?" Mary asked.

"Um…" Erik bit his lip and shot Jasper a look. What was he supposed to say? He didn't want to hurt the nice lady any more than she already was.

"They shot Erik up with something to keep him from shifting, Mom," Jasper said. "It should wear off pretty soon, but until then…"

Mary pressed her lips together and continued treating Erik's wound without saying anything. That might have been worse than watching her cry.

Erik laid his hand on her arm. "I'm sorry."

Mary smiled, but once again, it didn't reach her eyes. "There's nothing for you to be sorry about, Erik. My son chose his path, and now he has to accept the consequences of that choice. No one is responsible for this mess except him."

Erik could see the pain of that in Mary's eyes. He wished he had the words to comfort her. He just didn't. How did you comfort someone who had lost their son, a son who was a monster?

He knew it wasn't Mary's fault Jason had turned out the way he had. Jasper was sweet and kind and someone Erik hoped would become a friend. How two men who'd been raised by the same parents turned out so differently, he would never know.

"There, that should do it until you can shift."

Erik glanced down at his leg. His ankle had been wrapped in white gauze. While it still ached, it wasn't the all-consuming agony he'd felt before.

"Thank you."

Mary smiled again, but this time, it seemed like a real smile. "You're more than welcome, Erik." She cleaned up the first aid kit and cleaning stuff then carried them out of the room.

Erik glanced at Jasper. "Is she going to be okay?"

Jasper nodded. "Yeah, my mom is a lot stronger than people give her credit for. She's had to be. She's been the alpha mate longer than I've been alive. This is just hard for her."

No doubt.

"You have to understand, until he transitioned, Jason was a good kid. My parents don't know what happened to him, but after he transitioned he became a monster. One day, he simply left the clan. Next thing we know, he's set up his clan and named himself Alpha King."

"No one knows what happened when he transitioned?"

"It wasn't like something actually happened to him. He wasn't attacked or anything. He just changed after he transitioned. He became very aggressive toward the weaker members of the clan, threatening them. He even tried to get my dad to step down so he could take over the clan."

"Yeah, I got the whole aggressive thing." And then some. "He beat the shit out of me after he kidnapped me."

Jasper snorted. "I've been there once or twice."

Erik's eyebrows lifted. "He beat you up, too?"

Jasper glanced down the hallway before nodding. "My parents don't know about it, so I'd appreciate it if you didn't say anything. There are just some things they don't need to know. They're going through enough with just what they do know."

Considering Jason had kidnapped his own brother with the intention of auctioning him off to the highest bidder, Erik knew he shouldn't have been surprised the man had beat Jasper up, too, but he was. Apparently, nothing was sacred with that monster.

"I won't say anything," Erik promised. Jasper was right. There were just some things a parent didn't need to know about their child, even one who'd become a monster.

"What are they doing out there?" Jasper glanced toward the blond-haired man standing by the window. "Do you see anything?"

The man had tears in his eyes when he glanced at Erik. "Rob is fighting Jason."

"What?" Jasper raced to the window. "He is."

"I want to see." Erik sat up then swung his legs over the side of the couch. It took him a little longer to stand than he would have liked, but once he was on his feet, he hobbled over to the window.

The fight looked fierce from where Erik stood. Both men were roughly the same size, although Rob seemed a bit bigger in his bear form. He winced when he saw Jason get in a good strike on Rob's flank. That was going to hurt.

He pressed his hands flat against the glass when he spotted Jeb standing next to Harvey. He could tell from the tenseness of the man's shoulders and the way his hands were clenched that it was all he could do to keep from shifting and joining the fight.

Erik prayed he didn't. He knew Jeb was some sort of enforcer for the clan. The man was huge. It would only make sense if he'd been chosen to protect the clan. But Erik still didn't like the idea of the man fighting. Just thinking about Jeb getting hurt made Erik's stomach twist into knots.

Jasper gasped when Rob wrestled Jason down onto the ground and bit into his neck. Erik's eyes rounded when he got a good look at the hatred in Jason's eyes. He grabbed Jasper and swung him away from the window. When the guy cried out and jerked back, they both fell to the floor in a jumble of arms and legs.

"What did you do that for?" Jasper snapped as he tried to get out from under Erik.

"No!" Casey shouted. "Stay where you are."

Erik's gaze snapped to Casey. He didn't know what the man was looking at through the window, but it couldn't be good. Casey's face had gone pasty white. "Casey?"

"It's over," Casey whispered.

"Over?" Jasper asked.

A tear slid down Casey's face as he nodded. "Rob pinned Jason. He tried to get him to submit. Even your father tried to get him to submit, but…"

Jasper swallowed tightly. "He's dead, isn't he?"

"Rob wasn't trying to kill him, Jasper. Your brother wrenched away from him before Rob could stop him."

Jasper's eyes closed, but not before tears slid out of them.

"I'm sorry, Jasper," Erik said.

"No, I knew it would end this way when Rob took over the clan. I'm just sorry my parents have to go through this."

"Uh oh," Casey said.

"What?" Erik asked as he glanced up at the man.

"Trouble."

Considering he'd just watched his mate kill someone, that was disturbing.

"What kind of trouble?" Erik asked.

"Some jackass is shouting at Rob."

"Could you be more specific?" Jasper asked. "There are a couple of jackasses in this clan."

"Uh…older guy, looks kind of like your father. He's got two other guys with him who are basically younger versions of him."

Jasper snorted. "That would be Uncle Ralph and his two boys, some of those assholes I just mentioned." Jasper pushed himself up then stood. He held out a hand.

Erik smiled as he took the hand and stood. "Thanks."

Jasper nodded before looking out the window. "Oh yeah, that's Uncle Ralph. He's actually my father's uncle, not mine, but I've always referred to him as Uncle Ralph."

"He's about to have his head handed to him," Casey said. "Rob won't take someone shouting at him like that.

"Uncle Ralph is an idiot," Jasper explained. "He always thought he should have inherited the alpha position instead of my grandfather. He resented him and passed that resentment down to his children."

"Doesn't he understand that the firstborn inherits?" Erik asked.

Jasper shrugged. "I don't think he cares."

Okay, Erik agreed. The man was an idiot.

"Oh crap!" Erik snorted out a laugh as he watched Ralph's eyes roll back in his head right before he fainted. "I would pay good money to know what they said to Ralph."

Casey snickered. "I'm pretty sure they just informed him of who the new alpha is."

"Those are his sons?" Erik asked when two men picked Ralph up and carried him away.

"Yeah, that's them," Jasper replied. "They aren't as bad as Uncle Ralph, but they're close."

"Why have they been allowed to stay in the clan if they are so much trouble?"

"Because," Jasper said, "while they have gotten awfully close to crossing the line, they never quite cross it. They just kind of skate along the edge. My father had to have a reason to banish them, or he would have been in trouble with the council."

"Man, I'm glad I'm not in charge of a clan," Erik mused. "It sounds like it's a nightmare."

"God, I hope not," Casey said. "Rob just became the new alpha of both clans."

That had to suck. Erik had been exposed to a lot of different people in his clan, and he'd seen all manner of bears, from alphas to omegas. He'd also seen what was required of everyone from alpha to omega. There wasn't enough money in the world to make him want to be an alpha. Their lives were insane, or they were. Either way, it sucked.

"Oh, they're coming in." Casey turned quickly to look at Erik. "You'd better get back on the couch."

Erik frowned, but did as Casey said, hopping across the floor to the couch. He'd just gotten sat down and the throw blanket spread over his legs when the front door opened and several men walked in. Some Erik knew. Some he did not.

Jeb walked right over to him and squatted down. "How are you feeling?"

Erik smiled at the worry he could see creasing the lines of Jeb's face. "Better. Mary rewrapped my leg and put something on it that made it not hurt quite so much."

"Good."

Erik shot a quick glance at the others before looking back at Jeb. "How are you?"

"I'm good, osezno."

"You said you'd tell me what that meant."

Jeb's chuckle increased the lines on his face, especially around his eyes, but they were laugh lines and they looked good on the man. "I said I'd think about it."

Erik rolled his eyes.

Jeb's chuckle deepened as he patted Erik's shoulder. "I'm going to see if there's someplace you can lie down."

"I'm okay," Erik replied quickly. "Really."

He didn't want to be forced to go to some room all by himself while everyone else stayed out here, especially if it meant leaving Jeb. The handsome enforcer made him feel safe, and he hadn't felt safe in a very long time.

"Are you sure?"

Erik nodded. "I'm sure."

"Okay, but if you change your mind, you just let me know. I'll make sure you have someplace quiet to lie down and rest."

Erik sent Jeb a smile. "Thank you."

"I have to go talk to the alpha. If you need anything, you let me know, okay?"

"I'm good, Jeb. Promise."

"I know. Just…if you need anything, anything at all…"

Erik laid his hand on Jeb's arm. "Jeb, I'm fine."

The man didn't look convinced, which made sense. Erik hadn't been able to convince himself.

Chapter Three

Jeb wasn't convinced Erik was fine. The man had had his leg caught in a bear trap. He had to be in pure agony, yet he was smiling up at Jeb as if it was only a minor inconvenience.

Jeb wanted to cuddle him and care for him and make his world safe. The feelings were overwhelming, almost consuming. He knew he needed to go talk with Rob and find out what was going to happen next, but pulling himself away from Erik's side was nearly impossible.

And yet, he knew he needed to. His duty was to his alpha and his clan. He hoped to add mate to that list here soon. He was almost one hundred percent sure Erik was his mate. He wouldn't be totally sure until he got the guy's scent. While Erik smelled less like he had when they first met, the scent of blood still hung heavy in the air. Jeb couldn't quite catch Erik's scent.

It was driving him crazy.

Jeb patted Erik's arm then made sure the throw blanket was covering him before walking over to stand between Rob and Harvey. Rob had Casey wrapped up tight in his arms as he talked to Harvey, Albert Kersey, and the sheriff.

It took him a moment of listening to figure out what they were talking about. Once he did, his nostrils flared as more anger was added to the anger he already felt over what Jason had done to Erik. The man really had been a menace.

"Just how many people are we talking here?" Jeb was reeling from the fact that they had discovered several other people being held captive. Considering what an asshat Jason had turned out to be, he shouldn't have been surprised, but he was.

"I didn't get that good of a look," the sheriff replied. "I have some of my men checking it out, though. I should have a better picture once they report back to me."

"Erik said Jason was taking humans, as well," Jeb said. "We need to see what they know before we can release them."

Rob rubbed his chin for a moment before glancing at the sheriff. "Is there some place we can put these people up, someplace where they'll be safe, but not feel like prisoners?"

"Depending on how many of them there are, we could book them rooms at the hotel where we're staying, Rob." Casey pulled a black credit card out of his back pocket. "We can use some of that money Alpha Barker gave me."

"The hotel would actually be a good place for them," Albert said, "but you don't have to worry about paying for it. Dennis and Sandy own the place. They're clan members."

"It's not fair to ask them to put people up in their hotel without receiving some kind of compensation," Casey insisted. "That's their livelihood."

Jeb narrowed his eyes when Albert smiled at Casey as if he was a few sandwiches short of a picnic. For Casey to actually speak like he had was a big thing, and the former alpha had no right to make Casey feel less than he was. What he'd said was important, and it showed how sweet the man was. Casey was always thinking of others.

"No, that's very true, Casey, but Dennis and Sandy will understand that this is a clan issue."

"Clan issue or not, that hotel is still their livelihood, and they deserve to be compensated for their time and inconvenience."

"Is there some reason you don't want us to compensate them?" Jeb asked. Albert seemed to be protesting just a little too much.

Albert sighed and there was a little slump to his shoulders. "I don't know how long you all plan on sticking around, and I don't want my clan members to become used to you if you're going to leave."

Jeb's jaw dropped.

"I challenged you for this clan and won," Rob said. "It was your idea. Did you think I was just going to hand it back once the trouble was over?"

"That's just it," Albert said quickly. "I don't think the trouble is over, and if it's not, you didn't sign up for any of this. I can't expect you to stay."

"We're not leaving, Albert. You need to wrap your head around that." Rob's voice was surprisingly firm. "The Silver Lake Clan belongs to me now and I'll protect it from whatever danger comes our way."

"My apologies, Alpha Colton," Albert said. "You're young, much younger than I was when I took over this clan. I wasn't sure if you were prepared for all that leading a clan entails."

Rob snorted. "I seriously doubt if I am prepared, but can you ever truly be prepared for something like this?"

"No, I suppose not," Albert admitted. "Again, Alpha Colton, my apologies for doubting you."

"Call me Rob." Rob pulled Casey in front of him and wrapped the little man in his arms. "We're not going to get anywhere if you keep addressing me so formally, Albert. If you want what's best for this clan, then we need to work together to make the transition of power as easy as possible."

"You're right, of course, Rob." Albert gave a small smile. "I do want what's best for this clan, and I truly believe that's you." His smile grew as he glanced at everyone standing there. "You and your friends."

Jeb wasn't positive of that, but time would tell if it was true or not. That was assuming Rob didn't strangle someone for touching his mate. He was a tad protective. Jeb glanced over his shoulder and sighed.

He could understand that.

He wanted to smack anyone who even thought about touching Erik. He couldn't imagine what it'd be like once he claimed the man, and he fully intended to claim Erik, just as soon as he was positive the man was his mate…and he got Erik's agreement, of course. He wouldn't touch Erik until he had the man's permission, at least not the way he wanted to.

"It's going to be a bit of an adjustment not being the alpha of this clan." Albert's smile grew bigger as he glanced across the room to where his mate stood. "But I think there are a few things I've been neglecting over the years. Maybe it's time to give them the appreciation they are due."

Jeb was surprised when Mary's cheeks flushed. The couple had obviously been together for a very long time. That Albert could still make his wife's cheeks flush was enlightening. It was something he hoped he could do with his own mate once they had that many years together.

But first, he had to claim him.

"So, what's the plan now?" he asked. He wanted to get back to Erik, not stand here and debate world peace.

"I'd like the sheriff to bring the ones we rescued to the hotel," Rob said. "They need a safe place to breathe, some food, and probably some medical care. I'd also like to talk to each of them individually and see what they need, but that can wait until they've had a good night's rest. We can leave some clan members there to guard them."

Jeb almost groaned. It was going to be a very long night.

"Do you think someone is going to come after them?" Harvey asked.

"If Jason really was selling these people, then they just lost a shitload of revenue." Rob's jaw clenched for a moment, and he hugged Casey just a little tighter. "Yes, I think someone is going to come after them. They either want their property or they want their money. Either way, we need to be ready for whatever is going to happen."

Jeb growled as he glanced over at Erik. He'd die before he let anyone take Erik again. Firm resolve blossomed in his heart as he turned back to Harvey and Rob. "What do you need me to do?"

"I need Harvey with me, so…" Rob glanced down at Casey. "I need you to keep the alpha mate safe."

Jeb chuckled when Casey tilted his head back and frowned up at Rob. "Guess you didn't think of that, huh?"

"I can take care of myself," Casey grumbled.

Jeb didn't roll his eyes at that untruth, but it was close. Casey had been handed his head more times than Jeb could count. It wasn't until Rob came along and mated him that the man was finally able to walk just about anywhere without getting beat up.

"I'd prefer if you had someone to back you up," Rob said. "Besides, I think Jeb is going to need some help with Erik."

Jeb didn't need anyone's help with Erik. He knew just what to do with the man.

"I'd also like you to talk to Mary about what it means to be an alpha's mate. Alpha Barker's wife is not the example you want to follow."

Casey snorted. "Only if I want to go to hell."

"I have a question," Jeb said as he leveled his gaze at the former alpha. "How in the hell are you all hiding your scents?"

Albert chuckled. "It's a clan secret."

"I think you can tell me," Rob said. "It is my clan, after all."

"Are you comfortable with these men knowing?" Albert glanced at Harvey, Jeb, Dwayne, Billy Ray, and Casey.

"These men are part of my inner circle," Rob replied. "I trust no one more than I trust them."

"Very well." Albert drew in a deep breath. "One of the reasons that we settled here is because my father discovered a berry that grows naturally in the woods. It's dried out, then ground down into a fine powder. When consumed, usually in food or a drink of some sort, it hides a shifter's natural scent and makes them smell like a normal human, even to other shifters."

"Damn," Jeb whispered.

"That's kind of a double-edged sword, isn't it?" Rob asked. "I think my bear would go insane if he couldn't scent Casey."

"It's not permanent," Albert replied. "It actually only lasts for a couple of hours. We only take it when we need to, although those who work in town tend to take it on a fairly regular basis just to be on the safe side."

"Why would you do that?" Rob asked. "It's not as if humans know what they're smelling. Why try and hide it?"

"Because not everyone who comes through town is human." Albert pointed to each of them. "You, for example."

Jeb chuckled. "Yeah, I can see that."

Rob frowned. "I just don't understand why you would need to hide from other shifters."

"We were a small clan when we moved here, just our family and a few others. If another clan had decided they wanted our territory, there's no way we could have stopped them from taking it. A bunch of humans, however…"

"They wouldn't have bothered because that would have brought the council down on their heads," Rob finished for him.

"Yes, exactly."

"Okay, I get that," Rob said, "but what about now? The clan is a lot bigger. Why do you still need to hide yourselves?"

Albert shrugged. "We just never stopped."

"How do you keep it a secret?" Casey asked. "I mean, kids aren't real good at keeping secrets. How do you get them to not tell everyone?"

"We don't tell the children until they officially transition. They think they're taking a vitamin."

"So, your son knows, then?"

Albert's brow furrowed. "No, there was never time to tell him before he left the clan. Once he did, it was forbidden to tell him."

"That might not be a bad thing," Rob said. "For now, I'd like to keep things as they were. Until we know more about what's going on around here, it's better to be safe than sorry."

Jeb so didn't like the way that sounded. He knew things weren't over, but it would be nice if they had a few days of peace and quiet to settle into being part of the Silver Lake Clan. He had a mate to get to know, after all.

"Harvey and I are going to go with Albert over to the hotel. Sheriff, I'd like you to redirect anyone who was rescued to the hotel. If you could do that, I'd appreciate it."

The sheriff gave a quick nod. "Of course."

"Jeb, I'm going to leave Dwayne and Billy Ray here with you and Casey. If there are any problems, anything at all, you have Dwayne contact Harvey, and we'll be back as fast as we can drive here."

"Do you think we're going to have more problems tonight?" Jeb asked. "Jason was taken care of, and you banished his men. Who's left?"

"I don't know, and that's what worries me." Rob clenched his jaw as if he was trying desperately to keep from shouting or growling or doing something to express his anger. "I don't know who all is involved in this and until I do, we're at DEFCON two."

Jeb grimaced as a knot began to form in his stomach. "Not DEFCON three?"

Please say three.

"No." Rob shook his head. "There's too many things we don't know, too many moving pieces in a territory we're unfamiliar with. It's in our best interest to be ready to fight at a moment's notice."

Damn.

"I understand," Jeb said, as much as he didn't want to, because he did understand. Things were precarious right now. Once they knew more about what they were up against, the better decisions they could make.

"Are you sure you've never done this before?" the sheriff asked. "You're pretty damn good at it."

"Not exactly." Rob chuckled. "We played a lot of hunting games growing up. We were always on the winning team. I plan to keep it that way."

Everyone paused and watched as the sheriff turned away when his phone rang. He nodded a couple of times as he listened to whoever was on the other end then said, "Okay, take them to the hotel. We'll meet you there."

There was a sadness in the older man's eyes when he turned back. "My men found five survivors in the basement of Jason's mansion. They're escorting them to the hotel."

Jeb stiffened at the choice of words the sheriff used. "How many didn't survive?"

The sheriff swallowed hard. "The survivors were being kept in cages. You know the ones, metal and usually used for large breed dogs?"

Jeb nodded.

"There were ten cages in all. Five survivors, three who didn't make it, and two empty cages. I suspect those cages were meant for Jasper and Erik."

Jeb growled and clenched his fists.

"We need to find out how Jasper and Erik escaped." Rob glanced across the room. "Albert, do you think your son is in any condition to talk to us?"

Albert nodded. "Jasper will answer any questions you have."

"After he's had a chance to rest a little bit, I'd like to talk to him."

"I'll talk to Erik and see what he knows," Jeb said. He didn't want anyone else talking to the man and making him uncomfortable. He didn't really want to do it either, but better him than someone else.

"Okay." Rob slapped a hand on his shoulder. "Let me know if you learn anything useful."

"Be careful out there, okay?" Jeb nodded his head toward Casey. "You don't want to have to deal with him if something happens to you."

Casey huffed. "I'll just tell your mother."

Jeb grinned when Rob growled and popped Casey on the butt.

"No tattling to my mother." Rob's eyes suddenly rounded. "Oh shit! I have to tell my parents I have a clan."

Yeah, Jeb was glad he wasn't going to be a part of that conversation. He adored Rob's parents. They had taken him under their wing when his mother died and his father turned into a workaholic. They had treated him like their own son, which was why he didn't want to do anything that might upset them.

Jeb gestured toward Erik. "I'm going to go see how Erik's doing and see about getting him settled down somewhere he can rest."

"I don't want to speak out of turn here," Albert said, "but it might be a better idea to move everyone to the hotel. It would make it easier to guard. We wouldn't have to divide up our forces."

Rob's eyebrows lifted. "You're comfortable leaving your mate here unattended?"

"I can have some of the clan come keep her safe. And to be honest, she'd be pissed if I tried to get her to leave her house, and you really don't want to get on that woman's bad side."

Jeb bit his lip to keep from laughing at the flash of fear he saw in the former alpha's eyes. He'd seen that same look in Rob's father's eyes when he'd pissed off his mate.

"He's right, Rob," Harvey said. "If we're all in one place, it would make it easier to keep everyone safe."

"Okay." Rob sighed. Heavily. "So, we move everyone to the hotel then."

Jeb grinned. "I'll get Erik."

Chapter Four

Erik didn't know what everyone was talking about as they huddled together on the other side of the room, but he liked the smile on Jeb's face when the bear began walking toward him. It made the man looked even hotter, something Erik hadn't thought possible.

"Hey, how are you feeling?"

"My leg aches a little bit, but it's nothing I can't handle."

"Well, we're going to be moving everyone to the hotel in town. The alpha is arranging for food and a place for everyone to rest."

"At a hotel?"

"We figure it's the easiest place to guard everyone and keep them safe."

Erik swallowed tightly. "Guard?"

Had he escaped from one prison only to find himself in another one?

Jeb seemed to know why Erik was anxious. He sat on the edge of the couch and patted his hand. "The guards are only there to keep you safe, Erik. I promise. While Jason is gone and Rob banished the rest of his men, we still don't know who all was involved or if any of them are still around. We don't want to take any chances."

Okay, Erik could see that.

"I'm going to lift you up," Jeb said. "I want you to hold on to me, okay?"

Before Erik could agree or disagree, Jeb slid his arms under Erik's legs and around his back then lifted him up off the couch. Erik quickly wrapped his arm around Jeb's neck and held on.

"If you start to hurt at all, you let me know."

Erik nodded. He doubted he'd actually do it, though. He didn't want to sound like a whiney baby, not in front of the handsome bear. He would have preferred meeting the guy when he could stand on his own two feet. He was not thrilled that he had to be carried everywhere, although being carried by Jeb wasn't too bad.

He wished he could get a better scent of the man. There was something there, something lingering just under the heavy scent of blood. Erik just couldn't quite catch it, and that was driving him crazy.

"Would it be possible for me to take a shower?"

"Of course, osezno." Jeb's eyebrows lowered swiftly over his eyes. "I should have thought of that. I'm sorry."

"I'm sure you have a lot on your mind."

Jeb's frown deepened. "Did you know about the others?"

"What others?"

"We found five other survivors in cages in the basement of Jason's house."

"Cages?" Erik shuddered in horror. "Jasper and I were kept in a room upstairs. We never went down to the basement."

"Good." A tic pulsed in Jeb's jaw as he clenched it. "Not everyone in those cages survived."

Erik sucked in a breath. "They killed them?"

"I'm not sure exactly how they died," Jeb replied. "We're still investigating that."

"These people were really sick, weren't they?"

"I'm not sure sick adequately describes these bastards. The things they did and were trying to do…" Jeb shook his head. "They are the worst of our kind, trying to live the high life at the expense of others. Their lack of empathy for anyone but themselves is sickening."

Erik agreed with that assessment, although he wanted a little more punishment for the guys who had assisted Jason than just getting banished. Jason might have been in charge, but those guys had been just as involved.

"Do you know if my car or any of my stuff was recovered?" He wanted his stuff. He also wanted the ability to leave when he chose to. His car would give him that ability.

"No, but I can ask once everything settles down."

"I'd appreciate it."

"The alpha is moving everyone to the hotel. I think some of the others are in need of medical care, and everyone needs some food and rest. He also wants to talk to everyone and find out what they know. He needs to know if we got all the rat bastards involved in this mess."

"I'm not sure how much I can tell you, but I'll answer any questions you have."

Jeb flashed him a smile. "That would be a big help."

Erik was pretty sure he'd answer any questions the guy had if he kept smiling like that. There was something magical about them, something Erik couldn't explain. All he knew was each time he got one, it made him feel better.

Jeb stopped at the small group of people he'd been talking to earlier and nodded to each of them. "Erik, this is the alpha of the Silver Lake Clan, Rob Colton, and his mate, Casey. Beta Harvey Colton and his mate, Dwayne, our gamma. Enforcer Billy Ray Jenson. Sheriff Riley and former alpha of the Silver Lake Clan, Albert Kersey. Everyone, this is Erik Thomas."

Erik swallowed tightly when all eyes turned to him. He could feel the power in the men before him, but he could only smell a few of them. He didn't know what to make of that. "Hello."

"How's your ankle, Erik?" Harvey asked.

Erik remembered him. He'd helped Jeb get him out of that damn bear trap. "It's a little sore, but nothing I can't deal with."

"Are you any closer to being able to shift?"

Erik pressed his lips together as he shook his head.

"Do you know what it was they gave you?" the young alpha asked him.

"No, sorry. It was blue and in a syringe. That's about all I know."

Rob glanced at the sheriff. "Can you have your men look for any type of blue liquid or a syringe? I'd like to see if we can identify whatever it was they gave Erik. Maybe it'll help us figure out how long it'll be before he can shift again."

The sheriff nodded as he pulled his cell phone out once again and turned away.

"I can feel my bear wanting to come out, but it's like he hits an invisible wall that he can't get through." It was driving his bear insane.

"We'll figure this out, osezno," Jeb whispered against the side of his head. "I don't want you to be frightened."

Kind of impossible. At the moment, Erik was pretty much terrified out of his mind, although not as terrified as he had been when Jeb first found him. His fear seemed to lessen every time he was around Jeb. Erik pretty much didn't want to leave the man's side.

"Let's get everyone loaded up and to the hotel," Harvey said. "The others should be arriving pretty soon."

Erik wasn't really sure what was going on, but he was too tired to argue. Jeb said they were going somewhere he could get some food, some rest, and a shower. Arguing was the last thing on his mind.

"Casey," Jeb asked, "could you grab those pillows off the couch so we can prop up Erik's ankle?"

"Yeah, sure." Casey ran over and grabbed the pillows then ran back.

Once Erik was loaded up in the backseat of a crew cab pickup truck, Jeb scooted in beside him and closed the door. Jeb lifted him then pulled him so he was leaning back against the bigger man.

Casey opened the opposite door and set the pillows down before carefully lifting Erik's leg and setting it on top of the stack. "Is that okay?" Casey asked.

Erik nodded.

Casey smiled and shut the door before walking around and climbing into the front passenger seat. Rob took the other seat. He glanced back at them. "Billy Ray is going to drive your truck, Jeb."

Jeb nodded. "He has a set of keys."

Erik was surprised the man wasn't more concerned with his truck. His brother would be losing his mind. "Oh, can I make a phone call?" He needed to let his family know he was okay. They'd be worried they hadn't heard from him.

"Of course." Jeb pulled a cell phone off his belt loop and handed it over. "Call whoever you want."

Erik flashed Jeb a smile before dialing home.

"Hello?"

"Mom?"

"Erik?"

Erik's heart lightened a little bit at the sweet sound of his mother's voice. "Hey, Mom."

"Where are you?" his mother asked, nearly shouting the words. "I've been worried sick about you."

Erik grinned. "I'm somewhere in the Bitterroot Mountain Range I think."

"You think? You don't know?"

"It's a long story, Mom. Just know that I'm safe."

"Why wouldn't you be safe? What's going on, Erik?"

Erik heard Jeb chuckle when he rolled his eyes. "I had a little bit of car trouble, and then I stepped in a bear trap."

"Bear trap!" his mother shouted. "You stepped in a bear trap? Have you seen a doctor? Is it bad enough that you need to see a doctor? Have you—"

"Mom, I'm fine. My ankle is a little sore, but nothing a doctor needs to see. I'm staying with the alpha and alpha mate of the Silver Lake Clan until my leg gets better. They were the ones who saved me from the bear trap." Erik's eyes went to Jeb. "Well, their beta and one of their enforcers saved me, but I'm okay."

"Why didn't you shift?" she asked. "That should have healed you right up."

"It's a long story," Erik replied. "Just let Dad know I'm fine and I'll call again in a few days."

"If you don't, I'm sending your brothers after you."

Erik winced. "No, don't do that. I swear I'll call." He adored his older brothers, but being the baby of the family, they tended to be a tad bit overbearing.

Jeb gestured for the phone.

Erik frowned before handing it over.

"Mrs. Thomas? This is Jeb Taylor. I'm an enforcer for the Silver Lake Clan. If you need to talk to Erik for any reason, you can call him at this number. I'll make sure he gets the phone." Jeb nodded a couple of times. "Yes, ma'am, we'll take very good care of him. Yes, ma'am."

Erik grinned when Jeb rolled his eyes and handed the phone back. "See, Mom. I'm fine."

"Why are you using an enforcer's phone to call me?"

"I told you, Jeb was one of the guys who got me out of that bear trap. They're taking me to a hotel so I can get something to eat and rest up right now."

"I'm not sure I like this, Erik. Maybe I'd better send your brothers to help you."

Erik groaned. "Mom, I'm fine."

"No, I'm sending your brothers."

"Mom! Damn it!" Erik growled when the phone went dead. He had an overwhelming urge to toss the phone. He handed it back to Jeb instead. "Fair warning. My brothers are on their way."

Jeb's eyebrows lifted. "Should I be worried?"

"There are three of them. Brom, Yuri, and Rurik. All of them are built like you and your friends, all of them are enforcers for our clan, and all of them are older than me. I'm the baby of the family."

Jeb chuckled. "Oh."

"Pretty much." Erik grimaced. "They mean well, but they drive me crazy. They still treat me like I'm still in diapers."

Jeb grinned down at him before giving him a little hug. "I'll protect you, osezno."

"Yeah, but who's going to protect you?"

Chapter Five

When they reached the hotel, Jeb lifted Erik out of the truck and carried him inside, then upstairs to his own room. He didn't plan on letting Erik stay anywhere else except with him.

He laid Erik down on the bed then pressed a kiss to his forehead. "I want you to rest for a few minutes. I need to check in with my alpha. Then I'm going to go get you some food, and after you eat, I'll help you get cleaned up."

"Why are you doing all of this for me?" Erik asked. "You could just leave me with the others."

Oh hell no.

"I'll explain when I get back." He was pretty sure he needed to tell Rob first.

"Promise?" Erik asked. "I'm still waiting to find out what osezno means."

God, he was adorable.

"It means bear cub."

The picture of Erik staring at him with his jaw dropped stayed with Jeb as he walked out of the room then down the hallway to where Rob and Casey were staying. Luckily, they were all on the same floor. The hotel really wasn't that big of a place.

He knocked on the door then let himself in when he heard Rob telling him to enter. "Hey, man, what's the plan?"

"Hey, man?"

Jeb stared. "Seriously?"

Rob grinned.

"Where's Casey?" He wasn't in the room.

"He's down in the kitchen making sure there's enough to feed everyone."

Jeb stared again.

"Harvey is with him," Rob said.

"You have to think of stuff like that now that you're the alpha. Casey is alpha mate, and that means he's the most vulnerable member of the clan. If people want to get back at you or want to challenge you, they are going to go after him first so they can use him as leverage. That doesn't even take into account those who are going to go after him because he's an omega."

Rob sighed. "I know. I've been thinking about assigning Billy Ray as his bodyguard. It'll piss Casey off, but he needs someone to keep him safe, whether he likes it or not."

"Billy Ray is a good choice."

"I thought about assigning you, but I suspect you'll have your hands busy for a while. Besides, I'd prefer Casey's bodyguard not be mated so their priorities aren't divided."

Jeb's jaw dropped. "How'd you know?"

Rob snickered. "Really? You can't keep your eyes off him."

He wasn't lying.

"He's cute," Jeb insisted.

"He's more than that, isn't he?"

Jeb grew serious. "I think so."

Rob's eyebrows lifted. "You think so?"

"There's a scent there, but it's saturated with the smell of blood. I want to make sure before I say anything to him."

"I see." Rob pursed his lips. "So, what's your plan?"

"My immediate plan is to get Erik some food then help him clean up. What happens after that depends on what's under all that blood."

"I'll have Billy Ray continue to watch Casey for now, and Harvey can help me question the ones who were found in the basement. I do still need to talk to Erik, but I can do that tomorrow. If he is your mate, I'd suggest you claim him as quickly as possible. Once he's yours, we have a better chance of protecting him."

Jeb nodded. "I won't force him to accept me." He wanted to make sure that was very clear. "But, if he is my mate, I'm going to do everything in my power to keep him."

"Go." Rob waved his hand toward the door. "See to your mate. You have the rest of the evening off, but I expect you to be bright-eyed and bushy-tailed come morning."

"I make no promises." Jeb chuckled as he headed for the door. He walked out, closing the door behind him. Jeb made a quick trip downstairs to grab some food, not stopping to talk to anyone, then headed back to his room.

He paused once he got inside and stared at the man stretched out on his bed. Even if Erik wasn't his mate, he wasn't sure he would be able to let him go. Even bruised and bloody, Erik was astonishingly gorgeous. Jeb had been looking at men since he knew what to do with his dick. He wasn't sure he'd ever looked at one that took his breath away like Erik did.

That had to mean something, right?

"Everything okay?"

Jeb smiled and walked over to sit on the edge of the bed. "Everything is fine, osezno."

"I'm not sure how I feel about you calling me cub."

Jeb snorted. "You love it and you know it."

At least, he hoped Erik loved it. The word felt right to him.

"I'll think about it," Erik said, but Jeb could see the delight in the man's deep blue eyes.

He did like it.

He held up the small tray he'd brought up from downstairs. "I got you some food."

"Food?" Erik sat up then scooted back against the headboard. "What sort of food?"

"Bear sort." Jeb smiled as he lifted the lid, revealing the carefully chosen food he'd picked for Erik. Smoked salmon, honey cakes, some fresh cut fruit, and twice baked potatoes. "Eat what you can. Just remember to eat slow. We don't know how your stomach will react to any of this."

"Oh, they didn't starve us," Erik said quickly, never taking his eyes off the food. "They didn't want to damage the merchandise. They just had us on a very strict diet."

Jeb growled. "You can eat whatever you want. Just name it and I'll get it for you."

Erik's eyes flickered up to him. "This looks good."

"I mean it, Erik. If there is something else that you want, I'll try and find it for you."

Jeb set the tray across Erik's legs. He pulled a fork and knife out of one pocket and set them on the tray. Next, he added individual packets of salt and pepper. Last, he pulled out a small plastic container of lemon slices.

Erik nibbled on his bottom lip for a minute—driving Jeb crazy—before asking, "I don't suppose you have a strawberry shake in one of those pockets of yours, do you?"

Jeb grinned. "Give me five minutes and I will." Jeb stood, but not before tapping the tray. "I expect to see a good portion of this gone by the time I get back."

He had no idea where he was going to find a strawberry milkshake, but he'd find one, even if he had to go all the way to the diner they'd stopped at when they first arrived in town. He hurried downstairs, hoping they had what he needed in the kitchen.

When he reached the kitchen, it was in complete chaos. Casey stood off to one side with Billy Ray, just watching everyone run around as if they were on speed. They were shouting and clanking dishes together as they prepared food.

It was kind of insane.

Jeb took one look and shook his head. He spun around and ran out of the hotel. The diner was just a few blocks down. He was pretty sure he'd have an easier time getting a shake there. He wasn't even sure the hotel made shakes.

When he reached diner, he hurried inside. He smiled when he spotted the waitress. "Franny, right?"

"You got it, sugar."

"I need a large strawberry milkshake to go."

"Coming right up."

Jeb glanced around the small diner as he waited for Franny to make the shake. There were a few other people in the place, and they were all looking at Jeb while trying to look as if they weren't looking at Jeb. He suspected more than one of them was a shifter, even if he couldn't smell them.

He wasn't sure how he felt about the whole "not being able to smell a shifter" thing. He understood that it was a security measure, but why wouldn't they want other shifters to know they were there? Jeb would think that would cut down on the bullshit. But what did he know? He didn't make the big decisions. He just carried them out.

"Here ya go, sugar."

"Thank you." Jeb smiled as he laid some money down on the counter, more than enough to pay for the shake. He grabbed the shake and started out of the diner as fast as his feet would carry him. He wanted to get back to the hotel as quickly as possible.

He heard Casey call out to him as he walked into the hotel lobby. Jeb waved, but kept on going. He was probably going to get into trouble for that at some point. Casey might be a friend and the mate of his best friend, but he was still the new alpha mate.

Jeb's hand was a bit chilled from holding the shake by the time he pushed open the door of his hotel room. He blew out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding when he found Erik still sitting on the bed eating.

"Got you a strawberry shake."

Erik's eyebrows lifted nearly to his hairline. "Really?"

"You asked for one." Jeb set it down on the tray as he sat down. He snagged a piece of fruit before sitting back. He popped it in his mouth and chewed until it was gone. Then he gestured to the tray. "Did you get enough to eat?"

Erik smiled as he rubbed his stomach. "I did. I'm stuffed."

Jeb's bear growled in approval. He had provided sustenance for his mate. Now he just needed to get Erik cleaned up so the man could rest…and he could discover if Erik smelled as good as Jeb thought he did.

"How about that bath?"

"Bath?" Erik echoed.

"I didn't think a shower was a good idea for you with that bum ankle. If you're in a bathtub, you can prop your leg up on the edge of the tub." Jeb smiled as he climbed off the bed. "I'll wash your hair for you."

"Really?"

"Really," Jeb called back as he headed into the bathroom. He started the water in the tub, waited until it heated up, then added some of the bubble bath that came with the hotel room. Considering they'd just met, he doubted Erik would get into the tub naked unless he had something to cover him.

Once the tub was filled, Jeb turned off the water then walked back into the main room. He scooped Erik up and carried him back into the bathroom, carefully setting him down on the toilet.

"I'm going to turn my back while you take off your clothes. Do not try and get into the tub by yourself."

"But…" Erik bit his bottom lip.

Just like he'd thought. Jeb grabbed a hand towel and held it out. "Cover yourself with this."

"This?" Erik stared at the hand towel. "You want me to cover myself with this?"

Jeb chuckled at the indignation on Erik's face. "I won't look."

Much.

Jeb turned around. When he realized he could see Erik's reflection in the bathroom mirror, he considered watching for about two seconds—maybe three—before glancing away. He'd said he wouldn't look, and he wanted Erik to know he kept his word. No matter how much he wanted to look.

"Do you feel like you're any closer to being able to shift?" he asked.

"I can feel my bear, but it's like he's waking up from a nap and not quite awake yet."

"Maybe after you get a good night's sleep, huh?"

"Yeah." There was so much sadness in that one word. "I'm ready."

Jeb nearly swallowed his tongue when he turned and looked at Erik. The man was right. The towel barely covered anything. Erik had it wrapped around the front of him as much as possible, but there really just wasn't enough towel.

When he spotted the firm set of Erik's face, he decided to go with his instincts. As much as it pained him, he ignored all the naked skin he wanted to feast on and simply lifted Erik up in his arms then slowly lowered him into the tub.

He made sure he kept Erik's injured leg on the rim of the tub. "Keep your leg up here, okay?"

Erik nodded.

"Okay." Jeb stood then pulled off his shirt, tossing it onto the counter.

Pure panic filled Erik's voice when he asked, "What are you doing?"

"I don't want to get my shirt wet." Jeb hid his grin by turning away and grabbing the cup off the sink. He planned to use it to rinse Erik's hair. He got down on his knees and leaned over the edge of the tub. "Lean your head back so I can get your hair wet."

Erik had a death grip on the hand towel. He slowly lowered his head back, but at one point, he had to let go of the towel and grab onto the edge of the tub. Which didn't really matter at this point. While the towel still covered his bits and pieces, it was slowly sinking into the water as it got wet.

Jeb kept his eyes firmly on Erik's head as he poured water over his hair. Once it was wet enough, he set the cup on the edge of the tub and grabbed the soap. "Close your eyes, osezno. I don't want you to get soap in them."

Erik closed his eyes.

Jeb poured some shampoo out onto the palm of his hand then sank his fingers into Erik's hair. It was short on the sides and a bit longer on top. It didn't take long to wash and rinse it. Once he was done, Jeb grabbed a washcloth and poured some bodywash on it.

He started at Erik's shoulders then worked his way down his back to the crack of his ass. As much as he wanted to go further, he didn't. He just moved around to the front of Erik. "Lean back and relax, Erik."

Jeb was surprised when he did, but he wasn't about to waste the opportunity he'd been given. He poured more bodywash on the washcloth then started soaping up Erik's front. Erik had a smooth chest with just enough muscle definition to make Jeb's mouth water. It took every ounce of his control to stick to what he was supposed to be doing instead of what he wanted to be doing.

After he got done washing Erik's chest, Jeb ran his washcloth down each of the man's long legs. Erik was a few inches shorter than Jeb, but his legs seemed to go on forever. Jeb could just imagine them wrapped around his waist as he pounded into the man's ass.

God, he hoped that was going to happen soon. His cock was so hard, it pressed dangerously against his zipper. If it grew any harder, he was in danger of being castrated.

"You got your hand towel?"

Erik lifted his head and opened his eyes before nodding.

"Okay, I'm going to drain the water out of here so we can get you rinsed off." Jeb pulled the plug so the water would drain. He tried to not devour the skin that was exposed as the water level went down, but it wasn't easy. That was a lot of gorgeous skin.

Once the water had drained out of the tub, Jeb grabbed the detachable showerhead and sprayed Erik down then held the nozzle out to Erik. "I'm going to turn my back so you can rinse off under there." He nodded toward the hand towel.

He turned away after Erik took the showerhead. He could see the top of Erik's head in the mirror, but didn't try and look any lower. If things played out like he hoped they would, he'd get to look soon enough.

"I'm done, Jeb."

Jeb turned back around. He took the showerhead from Erik, turned the water off, then hung it up. He reached over and grabbed a towel from the sink counter. "Okay, let's stand you up."

As carefully as he could, Jeb lifted Erik up then quickly wrapped him in the towel. He used the other one to dry Erik's hair and then his arms and legs.

"Do you need to use the bathroom?"

Erik's cheeks flushed as he nodded.

Jeb easily lifted Erik, moved him over, then set him down in front of the toilet. "Call me when you're done."

He wanted to give Erik privacy, so instead of merely turning around, he walked out and shut the door behind him. While Erik was in the bathroom, Jeb hurried and straightened up the hotel room.

He placed the food tray outside the room for the staff to pick up, smoothed the blankets down, and pulled a clean cotton shirt out of his bag. It would be a little big on Erik, but Jeb knew the man would want something clean to put on. He'd see about getting him some real clothes in the morning.

"Jeb."

Jeb walked back over and opened the door, taking the shirt with him. He frowned when he saw Erik standing next to the sink. "Hey, you're not supposed to be on your leg."

Erik didn't say anything, so Jeb held up the shirt. "I have something clean here for you to wear. We'll get you something that fits tomorrow, but this should do for now."

He chuckled when he pulled the shirt down over Erik's head. He really was cute. Cute and adorable, and oh my god he was sexy. Jeb wanted to lick him from top to toe then work his way back up.

Erik fit his arms through the sleeves then let the towel drop. "Thank you. I feel so much better now."

"Yeah, I thought you might."

Erik nodded.

"Okay, hold on." He swung Erik up into his arms. He almost purred when Erik's arms went around his neck and the man snuggled in, laying his head on Jeb's shoulder. It felt so right holding him, so natural.

Oh man, he hoped he didn't fuck this up.

Jeb paused in the doorway and leaned his head down to take a good, long sniff. His lungs filled with the most alluring scent he'd ever smelled.

Oh god.

"Erik."

Chapter Six

Erik gasped as something mouthwatering wrapped around his senses and sank into his very being. He pressed his nose into the crease of Jeb's neck. He whimpered when the scent intensified. Had he ever smelled anything so luscious, so alluring.

"Ssshhh, I have you, osezno."

"Wha…"

Jeb sat on the edge of the bed. Instead of setting Erik down beside him, he settled Erik on his lap. Erik was glad of that. He was pretty sure he would have fought Jeb in order to keep smelling that delicious scent.

He couldn't quite put his finger on what it was, but it reminded him of the clear, crisp air of the mountains and the smoky taste of honey baked salmon. Two of the best things in the world in Erik's mind.

"Do you know what mates are, Erik?"

Erik frowned as he leaned back far enough to look Jeb in the face. "Of course I know what mates are. I was raised as a bear, just like you were. We're all required to attend an extra year of school for our bear training. Why would you ask—"

Erik sucked in a breath, his eyes rounding.

Jeb's grin answered his question without it even having to be asked.

"Are you sure?" Erik asked instead.

"I wasn't until we washed all that blood off of you," Jeb replied, "but now I am."

Erik shuddered when Jeb pressed his face into the crook of his neck and drew in a deep breath. That shouldn't turn him on so much, but his cock was as hard as a steel pipe.

"Jeb," he moaned.

"You smell so good, osezno."

"Yeah? What do I smell like?"

"Mine," Jeb growled. "You smell like mine."

Erik shuddered again, his body going into overdrive.

"I want to claim you, Erik," Jeb whispered against his skin. "Can I claim you?"

"Yesss," Erik hissed as he arched his head back, giving Jeb's lips more room to roam. He wasn't stupid enough to say no if this powerful bear wanted to claim him.

As Jeb laid him down on the mattress and followed him down, Erik wondered how he'd been so lucky to find his mate so early in life. Some shifters waited a lifetime and never found their mates.

When the man leaned down and claimed his lips in a hungry kiss that demanded a response, Erik thought he'd lose his damn mind. He felt a needy groan build up in his throat as he pushed into the kiss. The caress of Jeb's lips on his mouth and the longing in his body set Erik on fire.

He kissed Erik on the lips, the nose, the chin. Lifting his head, he looked deep into Erik's eyes. He watched in shock as Jeb's eyes closed, his jaw clenching. He could even feel the man's hard cock pressing against him through his pants.

Finally opening his eyes, Jeb looked at him, his gaze smoldering hot. Erik's whole body shook as he watched Jeb lean back on his legs. His eyes glittered with arousal as he looked down at Erik.

Jeb chuckled, as he jumped off the bed and unbuttoned his pants, dropping them to the floor before climbing back onto the bed between Erik's legs. He stroked his hard cock several times.

Jeb was sweating, his skin flushed as he stared at Erik with feral eyes. "Turn over." The man wasn’t joking around. His eyes were so sensually filled that Erik could almost feel the heat scorching his skin. Erik was all too eager to comply.

"You're so fucking beautiful."

What?

Erik turned his head more to see Jeb's face, but he was too late. Jeb was already bending down to swipe his tongue over the crease between Erik's cheeks. Jeb's hands traced over Erik's smooth skin. The gentle caress caused a surge of heat to rise within Erik. The man seemed to want to explore every inch of his body at his leisure. Erik wasn't going to argue.

"God, you even taste good," Jeb whispered as he swiped his tongue over Erik again. Several moan-filled moments later he finally lifted his head and looked down at Erik.

Erik could barely hold still when he heard the soft squirt of liquid Jeb was pouring onto his fingers. His legs began to tremble.

When a wet finger touched his hole, Erik couldn’t help but rise to his hands and knees, rocking against the finger. He was losing his mind. Placing one hand on Erik's back, Jeb slid his lubed finger inside Erik's tight ring of muscles.

Erik's eyes crossed. The man had nailed his sweet spot on the first try. Lowering his shoulders to the bed, he whimpered. Jeb zeroed right in on his sweet spot again, stroking it several times before adding a second finger.

"Jeb…not gonna last long if you keep that up," he groaned.

"I thought keeping it up was the whole idea." Jeb laughed as he added a third finger, carefully stretching him.

"Jeb…Jeb…please, Jeb…now," Erik begged. He didn't know how much more of this he could take before he blew. He was so close now that he wasn't sure he would last the next few seconds.

"Okay, baby." Jeb pulled his fingers free and replaced them with his cock, slowly pushing his way in, a long groan coming from his clenched teeth. "Oh hell, Erik, I knew you would be perfect."

Erik's body tightened, his heart thudded, and his mind grew frantic with a need so primitive and sensual, it threatened to make a slave out of him.

"Erik," a shattered whisper as Jeb seated himself fully inside Erik's body. “Fuck, Erik.”

Erik's cock hardened to steel at the needy sound. He grabbed the sheets under him in a tight grasp as Jeb began thrusting into him, each thrust harder and faster until he shook the entire bed. The only sounds in the room were their heavy breathing, the occasional groan, and the noise made from their hips slapping together.

Suddenly, Jeb stopped, slapping Erik on the ass. "Roll over, baby. I want to see you your eyes when I claim you."

Erik quickly rolled over, amazed that Jeb had stayed inside of him while he turned over. He arched his back, his eyes closing as Jeb lifted his legs and slid deeper inside. He grabbed a hold of Jeb's arms to keep himself from scooting up.

"Open your eyes, Erik. I need to see your beautiful blue eyes," Jeb demanded as he began thrusting into him again.

Erik opened his eyes, his gaze unfocused as he looked up at Jeb. He wiggled his hips to take the swollen shaft deeper inside of him.

"Are you mine, Erik?"

"Yes," he answered as his head rolled to the side of his shoulder, feeling Jeb’s cock sink in and out of his ass, stretching his skin to the limits. His body tingled with a need to come, but he fought against his release. He didn't want this to end…ever.

"Touch yourself, baby. I want you to come with me. And you'd better hurry. I'm almost there."

"No need," Erik groaned. His eyes rolled back into his head, his neck arching and his hands clenching on Jeb's arms. As he came, spurts of white cream shot from his cock to land between them.

Erik jerked, shuddered, and gasped for air as Jeb’s movements became uncoordinated. He cried out when Jeb's fangs sank into the soft skin between his throat and shoulder. Something inside of him felt as if it had ripped away and joined Jeb, leaving Erik feeling as if no other man besides Jeb would ever satisfy him.

"Oh damn!" Jeb roared as he thrust hard into Erik, filling him with his own release. Erik felt Jeb's cock pulsing inside of him, each massive shot of seed hitting his sensitive flesh, prolonging his orgasm until the world around him went dark.

* * * *

Jeb held Erik tightly in his arms, his mind reeling. He'd found his mate and claimed him. He'd never be alone again. Ever. That was mind-boggling. Jeb wanted to shout to from the highest mountain top, and then he wanted to hide Erik away so no one would ever take the sweet man from him.

He knew that wasn't logical, but it was how he felt. Someone had already tried to hurt Erik once. Hell, they'd tried to sell him. Jeb would gut anyone who tried it again. Erik Thomas was his now, and he wouldn't let anything happen to his mate.

Jeb leaned back and glanced down when Erik started to stir. He'd only been out a few minutes, not long enough for Jeb to grow too concerned. When Erik opened his eyes and looked up at him, Jeb smiled.

"Hey, osezno, you okay?"

"Yes."

Jeb brushed his hand over Erik's cheek. "You should sleep, Erik. It will be light soon."

Hell, it was almost morning now as it was. They'd be lucky to get a few hours of rest.

"I'm not sure I can sleep," Erik whispered as he dropped his eyes. "I'm afraid this will all be a dream when I wake up."

"It's not a dream, Erik. I promise." Jeb tightened his arms around the man. "Can you feel me holding you?"

"Yes."

"I'll hold you all night long so that you'll know this is real."

"You won't let go?"

"Never."

Jeb heard a small sniffle before Erik burrowed into him, getting as close as he could while still staying in his own skin. He hadn't realized how tense Erik was until he relaxed and the fight to stay awake was lost.

He reached down and grabbed the blanket and pulled it up over the both of them before tucking Erik into his chest. He closed his eyes and tried to relax. After a bit, he dozed, but he never quite fell all the way asleep. He couldn't lower his guard, not with Erik in his arms and considering he wasn't someplace familiar.

He really needed to get to work on finding a place to call home, someplace he could share with Erik. Once they had their own place and Jeb turned it into Ft. Knox, then he might be able to relax enough to truly get some sleep. Until that happened, he'd have to rely on his bear to see him through.

His bear understood the need to keep Erik safe just as much as Jeb did. They were in complete agreement. As of the moment he sank his teeth into sleeping beauty's neck, he'd become the most important thing in their life.

That was going to make being an enforcer for the Silver Lake Clan interesting, but if he was lucky, Erik and Casey would become friends and he could guard the two of them at the same time.

Jeb drew in a long, deep breath then let it out slowly. He gently rubbed his hand up and down Erik's back, his fingertips trailing over the man's warm skin. If losing his mind was what it took to hold this man in his arms, he'd happily go crazy.

Chapter Seven

Jeb smiled as he watched consciousness come to his mate. Erik yawned then rubbed his eyes before opening them up. "Good morning, osezno."

Erik jerked back as if startled then relaxed when he saw who was holding him. "Jeb."

"It's just me, Erik. I told you I would hold you until you woke up again."

"You did say that."

"I keep my promises, Erik."

A slight smile curved up the corners of Erik's mouth. "Good to know."

"Do you need to use the bathroom?"

Erik bit his bottom lip as he nodded rather frantically. Jeb chuckled as he kicked the covers off the rolled to the side of the bed. He leaned back and scooped Erik up in his arms then carried him into the bathroom.

He set him down on the toilet then started for the bathroom door. "I'll be right outside."

Erik nodded.

Jeb stepped outside then pulled the door closed. After a few minutes, he heard the toilet flush then the faucet came on.

"Okay, Jeb."

Jeb had a smile on his face as he stepped back inside the bathroom. "All done?"

Erik nodded again, only it didn't look quite so frantic this time.

Jeb scooped the man up into his arms again then carried him back to the bed. He gently laid Erik down in the middle of the mattress. "I'm going to visit the little boy's room. I'll be right back."

"I had that thing in my ass last night," Erik said. "There ain't anything little about it."

Nothing on earth could have kept Jeb from puffing his chest out at that statement. He realized he had the world's biggest grin on his face when he walked into the bathroom and saw his reflection in the bathroom mirror.

He quickly finished his business, washed his hands, and then headed out of the bathroom. He skidded to a stop two steps into the room. It was hard to breathe, to think. Erik was spread out in the middle of the bed, slowly stroking his very hard cock.

"Sweet mercy," Jeb whispered, "you're trying to kill me."

Erik giggled, holding up his hand and crooking his finger. "Going to join me, mate?"

Jeb started at the bottom of the bed and slowly climbed his way up the mattress until he was lying between Erik's legs, the man's thick cock right in front of his face. Jeb stared at it, licking his lips. It was a spectacular cock as cocks went. Top-notch.

"You going to suck my cock, Jeb?" Erik crooned, dropping his hand and spreading his legs as far as they would go.

Jeb winked at Erik as he leaned forward and licked the tip of his cock. He heard Erik groan as he ran his tongue down the length of his engorged cock. Erik was practically coming unglued. Jeb put more effort into his work, licking at Erik's cock with his tongue as he sucked him. Erik's cries and whimpers spurred him on.

"Jeb," Erik cried out as he grabbed Jeb's hair, "you have to stop. I'm going to come if you don't stop."

"So come already," Jeb said as he lifted his head to look into Erik's frantic blue eyes. He barely got his mouth around Erik's cock again before the man was erupting, filling Jeb's mouth. As he swallowed, he heard Erik crying out.

Erik sighed with satisfaction when Jeb moved up to lie down next to him. "I can't believe you gave me a blow job."

"Just wait until you see what else I want to do with you," Jeb said when he rolled over and Erik let out a moan of protest. "Hold on, baby. I need to get the lube." Jeb quickly grabbed the large bottle of lube then climbed back to keel between Erik's spread legs. "Roll over, baby."

While Erik rolled over onto his stomach and pulled his knees up under his body, Jeb squirted some lube out on his fingers. Dropping the bottle onto the bed, he looked back down at Erik, groaning as his cock took serious interest in the sight before him.

"Damn, you're beautiful," Jeb whispered, his eyes drinking in the softly rounded butt cheeks, the small puckered hole waiting eagerly for his fingers, and the hard cock throbbing between Erik's legs.

Reaching out with his hand, Jeb began slowly spreading the lube around Erik's tight entrance, then gently pressed his finger in. He stopped instantly when he heard Erik cry out. "Does that hurt?" he asked in concern.

"Jeb!"

Jeb chuckled again, pushing another finger into Erik, groaning at the feeling of his muscles clamping down around them. In just a moment he knew that those muscles would be gripping his aching cock.

The anticipation was pure torture.

A third finger had Erik moving his hips again, trying to impale himself on Jeb's fingers.

"Okay, okay, spread your legs a little more," he ordered, moving closer to Erik's body as he did. Jeb gently pulled his fingers free and lined his cock up with Erik's ass. "You ready for me, osezno?"

He quickly rubbed his cock over Erik's sensitive flesh a couple of times then ran his thumb down over his puckered hole. He trailed his hand down to squeeze Erik's balls. He moved further down to stroke Erik's cock a couple of times.

Moving his hands back up to spread Erik's ass cheeks and line his cock up with Erik's entrance, pushing just the tip in, Jeb thrust forward and sank to the root inside of Erik, groaning when Erik's muscles instantly clamped down on him. Jeb dropped forward to rest his head in the middle of Erik's back, overcome by the pleasure of being inside of Erik's tight little body.

"Jeb, please!" Erik begged as he clawed at Jeb's arms.

Jeb started slowly moving his hips faster until he could hear the little whimpers and moans coming out of Erik's mouth. "Is that what you wanted, Erik?"

"Harder!"

At this point, Jeb was all too happy to oblige. He grabbed Erik's hips in a tighter grasp and began pounding fiercely into him, over and over again.

When Erik's body began to shake, Jeb leaned over him, one hand going to the hair at the nape of his neck. He tilted Erik's head to one side, licking at the man's soft skin. "Mine!" he growled just before he sank his canines into the soft flesh.

"Jeb!" Erik screamed as he came, covering the sheet below him with spurt after spurt of seed. His hands clenched in the sheets next to his head as the inner muscles clenched Jeb in their tight grip, forcing his release from him.

Jeb pulled his teeth free just in time to roar out as he filled Erik with his release. Wrapping his arms around his mate, Jeb rolled over to his side, taking Erik with him. He buried his face in Erik's neck, resting his body on his arms. His body continued to spasm as the air in his lungs rushed in and out rapidly.

Finally, when he felt he could breathe normally again, Jeb lifted his head to look down at his mate. Erik's eyes were closed, his chest moving just as quickly as Jeb's. But he had a very satisfied smile on his beautiful lips.

"That's some wakeup call you have there, Mr. Taylor."

Jeb chuckled as he slowly lifted his head. "I'd be happy to be your alarm clock from now on."

Erik grinned back at him. "Oh yeah?"

"Yeah." Jeb leaned down to nuzzle at Erik's throat when someone pounded on the hotel door. Jeb growled as he rolled out of bed and grabbed his pants. He quickly yanked them on then started for the door. "Cover up."

Jeb waited until Erik had the covers pulled up to his chin before opening the door. He wanted to growl again, but he knew he couldn't. "Alpha." He glanced toward the shorter man at his side. "Alpha mate."

That was going to take some getting used to.

Rob smirked, obviously knowing he'd interrupted something and amused by it. "We thought we'd invite you to breakfast."

Jeb rolled his eyes. Alpha or not, the man was still his best friend. He was lucky Jeb didn't punch him straight in the mouth. "Give us twenty minutes to get cleaned up, and we'll meet you downstairs."

Rob's eyebrow arched. "Cleaned up?"

Jeb slammed the door in his face.

Chapter Eight

"Jeb!" Erik still had the blanket pulled up to his chin, but the expression of astonishment on his face was easy to see. "You can't slam the door in the alpha's face. He could see that as a challenge."

He sounded frantic.

"Erik, two days ago, that man was merely Rob Colton, my best friend since kindergarten. He didn't become alpha of the Silver Lake Clan until last night. I can bet you anything that right now, his mate is having to hold him up because Rob is laughing his damn ass off. He is not going to think I challenged him."

Erik's face quickly paled. "He's only been alpha for a few hours?"

"Relax, baby. Rob is going to be a good alpha. I have all the confidence in the world in him. If I didn't, I wouldn't have accepted the position of enforcer of his clan."

"So, if he's only been the alpha since yesterday, is that how long you've been an enforcer?"

Erik's face totally drained of color when Jeb nodded. He looked as if he was about to keel over. "We're all gonna die."

Jeb chuckled. "We are not going to die, osezno. Have a little faith." He walked over to sit on the side of the bed, reaching for Erik's hand. "I want to tell you a little story."

"What kind of story?"

Jeb just grinned. "Once, a long, long time ago." Two weeks. "There was a young man who'd just graduated from bear school. He was very excited to begin work in his father's construction business, but before he could, he met his mate. Now, usually, that is a time of great celebration, but there was a problem."

Erik had a frown on his face when he asked, "What sort of problem?"

"Someone was abusing his mate, and had been for a very long time. So, this young man claimed his mate, promising that everything would be okay. But the mate was kidnapped by the man who was abusing him. The young man became enraged, and in his bid to protect his mate, he attacked the son of the alpha."

Erik gasped.

"He won the fight, but he'd still committed the crime of attacking the alpha's heir."

"Did he die?"

"No."

Erik's eyes rounded. "No?"

Jeb shook his head. "It would seem that the young man's mate was a special kind of bear. He was an omega bear, which instantly made this young man an alpha bear the second he claimed his mate. But that too created a problem for them. Two alphas cannot be in the same clan, so they were banished."

Erik gasped again. "Banished?"

"When they left their clan, they did not leave alone. Several people left with them, refusing to stay somewhere that their friends could not stay. They drove and drove and drove looking for a new place to set down roots, until one day they found this little town way up in the mountains. There was a bear clan there in need of a new alpha, so, after a bit of discussion and one simple challenge, they settled down in their new clan."

Jeb watched an array of expressions move across Erik's face, everything from shock to curiosity. He waited, letting the man think things over in his own time.

"The alpha mate is an omega?"

Jeb smiled. "I knew you'd connect the dots. Yes, Casey is an omega bear, making Rob an alpha bear."

"And you guys are the ones who left when they did?"

"Yes, although Rob's parents will be joining us soon. They had some things to wrap up back in King City."

"So, a couple of weeks ago, you were living in a different clan?"

"Yep. We arrived in Silver Lake yesterday. We stopped at the diner to get some food when the sheriff stopped to talk to us, then called in the former alpha. Alpha Kersey offered Rob a proposition he couldn't refuse. So, Rob challenged Alpha Kersey, the man yielded, and Rob became alpha. About an hour later, we went and found you."

"Wow." Erik's eyes widened even more. "That's insane."

"So." Jeb pressed a kiss to Erik's knuckles. "How do you feel about helping us with our new clan?"

"Well, I kind of have to, right? I mean, it's not like you're going to move to Chicago, not after leaving your clan to follow the alpha."

"I would, Erik, if that's what you really wanted." He'd hate to leave his friends, but mate trumped friends. "I'd do anything for you."

"Yeah?" Erik whispered.

"Yeah."

"Can you get me some pants?" Erik asked. "I'd really like some pants."

Jeb chuckled. "I'll get right on that."

He pulled his cell phone out and called the only person he knew that was roughly Erik's size. "Casey, do you have some clothes Erik can borrow until he can get his own?"

"Yeah, sure," Casey replied. "I'll grab something out of the room and bring it over."

"I'd appreciate that."

"Be right there."

Jeb hung up then smiled at Erik. "Casey will be right here with something for you to wear."

"He's the alpha mate?"

"As of last night, yes."

"And he's the one who was getting beat up?"

Jeb nodded. "Raymond was obsessed with him. We didn't know he was an omega bear at the time, no one did, not even Casey. He thought he was human."

Erik squinted. "How could he not know?"

"Until they are claimed, omegas don't smell like bears. They smell like humans. They also don't shift. Casey was raised in foster homes, not around other bears. He never even went to bear training."

"Wow." Erik huffed. "Glad I'm not an omega. I love shifting into my bear form."

"I'm glad you're not an omega, as well." He was pretty sure Erik had omega tendencies, but he wasn't an omega. "I kind of like you the way you are."

Erik's cheeks flushed before his eyes dropped, another reason Jeb thought he had omega tendencies. Alpha personalities would have just trudged ahead, grumbling and maybe punching someone. Omega tendencies blushed and diverted their eyes.

There was a knock at the door. When Jeb answered, Casey stood there with stack of clothes in his hands. Billy Ray hovered behind him.

"I hope these will fit," Casey said.

"They should," Jeb replied. "Thank you, Casey."

Jeb waited until the two men walked away before closing the door. He headed back over to Erik and held the clothes out. "Casey thinks these might fit." Erik was a little bit bigger than Casey, a few inches taller at least. "Do you feel like shifting yet?"

Erik shook his head. "Not yet, but I don't think it will be long. I can feel my bear waking up more and more."

"Okay," Jeb replied. "After you change, I'd like to take a look at your foot."

"I'd like to clean up in the bathroom real quick."

That was easy enough. Jeb scooped Erik up in his arms and carried him into the bathroom. He gently lowered him to the floor in front of the sink. "Are you going to be okay on your own, or do you need help?"

Erik smiled. "I'm good."

"Okay, call me if you need me. I'm going to go dress and straighten up the room." Jeb didn't want to leave Erik all alone in the bathroom, but at least no one could get to him there. They'd have to go through Jeb first.

He had just enough time to get dressed and straighten up just a bit before Erik called him. Jeb walked over to the bathroom and pulled the door open. Erik was leaning against the counter.

Jeb's lips twitched.

"Not a word," Erik warned.

"You look adorable."

Erik's eyes narrowed.

Jeb chuckled as he stepped closer. He wrapped his arms around Erik and pulled him closer. "Didn't I tell you, babe? I have a kink for jogging pants and baggy T-shirts."

"Liar," Erik said, but some of the indignation faded from his eyes.

"I do have a kink for you wearing my clothes." In fact, if he had anything to say about it, Erik would always wear his clothes. He liked covering the man in his scent.

"I seem to have the same kink." Erik held up the shirt Casey had provided. "You can give this back to the alpha mate."

Jeb tossed it on the counter then grabbed Erik again and swung him up into his arms. "Hungry?"

"Starving."

Jeb's bear bristled. He hadn't been taking good enough care of his mate. He needed to fix that. He'd been given a gift yesterday when fate placed Erik in front of him. If he abused that gift, fate would take it away. He needed to do better.

They got a few odd looks as Jeb carried Erik out of their hotel room and down to the restaurant on the first floor, but no one outright said anything. Jeb was pretty sure the deep glower on his face kept them silent.

He wasn't pissed off or unhappy. He was determined. His mate was hungry, and he had failed to provide sustenance to him. He was going to rectify that immediately.

Jeb paused in the entrance of the restaurant and looked around until he spotted his friends. They were all gathered around a very long table toward the back of the room. Jeb carried Erik over to one of the empty seats and set him down then took the chair next to him.

"I don't know how many of you had a chance to meet Erik last night," he began, "so, let me introduce you. This is Erik Thomas, my mate."

There were a couple of gasps, a chuckle, and several shouts of congratulations. Rob just smirked, the bastard. He acted as if the whole thing was his idea.

Jeb went around the table and introduced everyone, even though Erik had already met a few of them. He wanted to make sure Erik knew who the good guys were. "If you're ever in trouble and you can't find me, any one of these guys will help you. I trust them with my life."

Erik nodded his understanding, but didn't say anything. Jeb suspected he was a little intimidated. He could understand that. With the exception of Casey, the rest of them were pretty big. Considering the rank they held in the clan, that made sense.

"Do we have menus?" He wanted to get food ordered and quickly. Erik was going to wilt away if he didn't get some food soon.

Rob handed him a menu. Jeb took it then held it for Erik. "What would you like to eat, baby?"

"I'm so hungry, I'd eat a shoe."

Jeb glanced at the menu, making a show of checking it over from top to bottom. "They don't seem to have shoe. How about French toast?"

Erik laughed as he nodded. "French toast sounds good."

When the waitress came over, everyone gave her their order. He didn't know if she was a shifter or not, so he didn't say anything. But once she was gone, he glanced at Rob. "I'm not sure how I feel about not being able to smell anyone. I can't tell who is a shifter and who isn't."

"I have some concerns, as well," Rob said. "Harvey and I've been talking about it, and while I understand the need for it when the clan first moved here, I'm not sure that need is still there."

"Are you going to tell people to stop using the berries?"

"No, not until I know more about it and have time to think about it. I don't want to make any snap decisions. Besides, I figure I'll get to meet everyone at the pack gathering this weekend. It's mandatory for every member of the clan. If someone doesn't show up, I'm going to assume they no longer wish to be part of the Silver Lake Clan."

Jeb whistled quietly. He knew Rob was winging it when it came to being the alpha because he had like two days’ experience, but he truly had balls of steel. He was going to make Silver Lake Clan his clan if he had to growl at every single member.

"You know we'll be here for whatever you need." He needed to make sure Rob knew that, not only as his alpha, but as his friend.

"I do know that, Jeb," Rob replied. "And I appreciate it. I know none of you signed on for something like this when we left King City."

"We knew we were going to find a clan at some point," Harvey pointed out. "It was either that or start a new one, and the council kind of frowns on that."

"Why?" Casey asked. "Why would they care?"

"The more clans out there, the bigger possibility of our secret being found out." Harvey glanced around, meeting everyone's eyes. "And we all know the world would go to shit if that happened."

"Oh." Casey actually looked a little crushed. "Is that the only reason?"

"Pretty much," Harvey admitted. "As long as we follow council law, they pretty much leave clans on their own. I think keeping the lid on our world takes up most of their time."

"Does that mean we're going to be getting a visit from them because of the Jason fiasco?" Jeb asked.

"More than likely," Rob admitted. "Not only did Jason break clan law and council law, but he exposed us to humans. As it stands right now, we can't just simply release those men without knowing whether they are going to say anything or not."

"They don't know about us," Erik said.

Jeb turned to look at his mate. "How could they not know?"

"Well, I'm not sure if you paid attention or not, but Jason's men carried guns. They didn't tend to spend a lot of time in their shifted form, and they never shifted around any of the people they'd kidnapped. The only reason I knew they were shifters was because I could smell them."

Rob leaned forward. "So, none of them know about shifters?"

"No."

"Who do they think kidnapped them?"

Erik snorted. "An idiot."

Well, that much was true.

"Jason and his goons knew I was a shifter because they could smell me. They shot me up with something to keep me from shifting. Now, I don't know if they gave me something to keep me from shifting in front of the others or if they gave me something to keep me from shifting in front of whoever they intended to sell me to. What I do know is that not a damn one of them gave any clue that they were shifters. They were idiots with guns."

Jeb wrapped an arm around Erik and tucked him into his side. He wasn't sure if he was doing it because Erik needed comfort or because he did. He just knew he wanted to rip the heads off of each moron who'd hurt his mate.

"So, we could essentially have the sheriff deal with this in his law enforcement capacity?" Rob asked.

"The council will want to talk to them no matter what," Harvey said, "but that might actually work in our favor."

No one liked dealing with the council, so Jeb couldn't understand how that would work in their favor. "How so, Harvey?"

"Every single one of these guys who were kidnapped is going to want justice for what was done to them except we can't give it to them, not the way they want it. This is a shifter matter. Guns or not, shifters did this, and they will face shifter justice. If the council comes in like one of the government alphabet agencies and explains to them that this is an ongoing federal investigation, not only can they be sworn to secrecy, but they would understand that the investigation isn't over so there will be no trial right away."

"They won't forget what was done to them, Beta Harvey," Erik said. "They won't just go away because you want them to."

"Just call me Harvey, but I understand what you're saying. We can probably get the council to either send someone now to tell them that the culprits took a plea deal and are going directly to prison or tell them in a couple of months. These guys need to know the boogeyman isn't roaming around anymore, and an official visit from the council can do that. Those assholes don't joke around."

"Wouldn't it just be easier to tell them that the idiots who harmed them were killed while they were being apprehended? Then there would never be any question of a trial." Seemed simple enough to Jeb. "They'd know the bad guys were gone, and no one would have to explain it to them."

"That might work," Rob said. "Whatever is decided, I'm sure the council will have something to say about it."

Jeb had no doubt about that.

"Do you know when they're going to be here?" he asked. Maybe he could arrange to be out of town that day.

"Yep," Rob replied. "Just as soon as I call them."

Well, damn.

Chapter Nine

"Do you feel any closer to being able to shift, Erik?"

"I can feel my bear, Alpha, but it feels as if he's waking up from a long sleep."

Rob smiled. "First, call me Rob, unless we're in a formal situation. You're mated to one of my best friends. We were friends a long time before we became the inner circle. Second, I'm pretty sure everyone else at the table feels the same way. Call us by our names, not our ranks."

"Yes, Alp—I mean Rob. Yes, Rob." That was not going to be easy to get used to. "My clan back in Chicago is very big. My alpha is very big on his inner circle being addressed by their rank."

Rob glanced between Erik and Jeb. "Not to butt in, but have you decided if you're going to settle in this clan or your home clan?"

"Oh, uh…" Erik glanced at Jeb. They really hadn't discussed much. They'd been too busy claiming each other. "Jeb holds the higher rank, so it makes sense for us to settle here."

"If living in your home clan is important to you," Jeb said, "I can resign my rank and just be a bear."

Erik smiled as he leaned his head again Jeb's thick arm. "No, I don't really have any strong connections to the Chicago clan. I'm fine with us settling here, although I'd like to get my apartment packed up and shipped here."

"It would probably help if you have a place to ship it to," Rob said. "We need to talk to Albert about setting up housing for all of us."

"There's something else that hasn't been discussed," Harvey said. "You're now alpha of King's clan, as well. That mess needs to be dealt with, too."

Rob rolled his eyes. "Can I eat my breakfast first?"

Harvey snickered. "Mom and Dad are going to flip."

Rob sighed, but a smile played across his lips. "I can't wait until they get here."

"Why couldn't we stay in King's old place while we decide what we're going to do?" Jeb asked. "It's not like the former owner is going to kick us out."

Rob nailed him with a hard stare. "You really want to make your mate go back to that place?"

Erik felt Jeb's muscles bunch under his cheeks as the man went stiff. He smiled before pressing a kiss to his arm then raised his head and looked across to the alpha. "While I thank you for considering my feelings in this matter, as long as those involved were dealt with, it wouldn't bother me."

"Baby—"

"No, really," Erik said as he glanced up to Jeb. "It's okay. It's just a house, a building. It didn't harm me."

"Erik," Rob started, "we don't want to bring back any bad memories for you."

"They only had me for a few days. The worst thing that happened to me was getting my leg caught in that damn bear trap and Jason knocking me around a bit. As long as there are no more traps and the people who held me are dealt with, I'm good."

"Are you sure, Erik?" Casey asked. "We can find another house to stay in."

"Well, I'm not saying I'd want to live there permanently, but a hotel is going to get expensive after a while. Until we figure something else out"—Erik shrugged—"why not use what we have on hand?"

"Okay then," Rob said. "I guess, after breakfast, we have the sheriff take us out to the King mansion."

Dwayne shook his head. "We have so got to find another name for that damn place. I refuse to refer to it as the King mansion." He sounded totally disgusted.

Harvey chuckled as he leaned over and pressed a kiss to Dwayne's temple. "We can call it the West Clan since it's west of Silver Lake. Or the West Clan base or some such shit like that."

Dwayne snorted, but leaned into Harvey. "Anything is better than the King mansion."

Erik smiled as he bent his head forward. He enjoyed how easy going these men were. It wasn't like that back home. Except for clan functions or if he got into trouble, he never dealt with the alpha. He always dealt with one of his enforcers or the beta. He never, ever hung out with the inner circle. It just wasn't done.

Erik heard his stomach growl just about the time their food arrived. He waited until everyone had been served then glanced toward the alpha and alpha mate. He sucked in his bottom lip and chewed on it as he watched them chat as they doctored their food. They were taking forever.

He was so hungry.

"Is something wrong with your food, Erik?" Jeb asked.

Erik shook his head. "No."

Jeb frowned. "Then why aren't you eating?"

Erik leaned closer so he could whisper. "The alpha and alpha mate haven't started eating yet."

He had no idea why Jeb was staring at him.

"Erik, we don't stand on ceremony," Jeb finally said. "If you're hungry, eat."

"But—"

"Unless someone says something to you beforehand, or there's a visiting alpha, we're not big on protocol. You don't have to wait for anyone to eat before you do."

Erik blinked up at Jeb. "Are you sure?" He didn't want to get into trouble with the alpha for not following the rules.

"I'm positive, osezno." Jeb gestured to Erik's plate. "Now, eat before your food gets cold."

Erik waited until he saw Jeb take a bite of his food before digging into his own. He ate slowly, peeking up at the others only to find them all eating. No one seemed to stand on ceremony. That made him feel a little better even if he didn't fully understand it.

"Things aren't like this back home," he told Jeb. "I've never eaten at the same table as the alpha or alpha mate, but we were taught from a very early age that they always ate first, then the betas, deltas, gammas, and on down. In my clan, there's a pecking order for everything."

"I imagine that's true in a lot of clans," Jeb replied. "Just not in ours."

"Is it because you were all friends first?"

"Well, while some of it might be because of that, I really don't believe Rob wants a clan afraid to eat before he does. Besides, it should be the children eating first. They need it more than we do." Jeb shrugged. "If there were children at the table, I mean."

"No, I know what you mean." He was just surprised. "This new clan is going to take a bit to get used to."

Jeb wrapped an arm around his shoulder then rested it along the back of Erik's chair. "You'll get used to it. I can't vouch for the rest of the clan because I don't know them yet, but the guys sitting around this table, they're our friends and they have our backs, no matter what."

"Even me?" Erik asked. "They barely know me."

"Baby, you're my mate. That means even you."

Erik smiled as he settled back, leaning toward Jeb. If he scooted a little closer, no one said anything. While he had friends at home, and a family he loved, it wasn't often he felt so included in a group. He didn't know what that said about him, but he had no plans to go anywhere. He liked it right where he was.

He had problems keeping the smile off his face as he ate his food. While he hadn't been depressed or sad back in Chicago, he now knew he hadn't been really happy either. He'd felt restless, which was one of the reasons he'd driven out to California to see some friends.

Now, he was surrounded by people who wanted to be his friend, a sexy bear at his side, and a chance at a happiness he'd only dreamed about. That made him feel pretty damn good.

Erik sucked in a quick breath, wishing he'd been able to stay in his little bubble of happiness, but the man who just walked through the front doors with several other men sucked the happiness right out of him.

He wanted to slide under the table and hide.

Erik gripped Jeb's thigh, digging his fingernails in. "Jeb."

Jeb's frown was immediate. "What's wrong?"

"I need to get out of here."

Like now.

"Why?" Jeb's arms wrapped around him, giving him some semblance of protection. "What's wrong?"

"That man," Erik whispered without taking his eyes off his nightmare.

"What man?"

"The one walking toward us, the one with the black hair."

Jeb glanced up. "What about him?"

"He's one of them."

Jeb stiffened beside him. "One of them?"

"One of the ones who took me."

Jeb's growl rumbled through his chest, alerting the others that something was wrong.

Rob's eyes pinned on him. "Jeb?"

"Erik says that man with Albert is one of the men who took him," Jeb said.

As if choreographed, everyone turned to look toward the doors.

"Dwayne, get Erik out of here," Rob ordered as he stood. "Casey, I want you to go with them. Billy Ray, you guard Casey. Harvey, Jeb, I want you to get in behind this guy in case he tries to run." Rob's knuckles cracked as he fisted his hands. "I want this asshole."

Jeb pressed a quick kiss to Erik's temple. "Go with Dwayne, baby. I'll come get you when it's safe."

"I don't want to." He had an almost desperate need to stay with Jeb. He knew he was safe with Jeb. He didn't know Dwayne.

"Erik," Rob said, "this is one of those times when you have to listen to your alpha."

Erik gulped as his heart sank. "Yes, Alpha."

He shot Jeb a quick look then got up and followed Dwayne and Casey out of the room. He was glad they went through a side entrance and he didn't have to face his nightmare. He shuddered just thinking of running into the bastard again.

Erik just didn't understand how he could be standing there with the others if all of the men involved in the kidnapping scheme had been dealt with. That man was proof that they hadn't. Maybe staying here wasn't the best idea.

It certainly wasn't the safest.

Chapter Ten

Jeb clenched his hands as he fought to keep his claws from extending. He jaw clenched, his teeth grinding together. He had thought they'd gotten everyone involved in Jason's auction mess. How could they have missed this guy?

Harvey leaned closer to Rob, but Jeb heard what he whispered. "Isn't that the guy who told us Jasper had been kidnapped? What was his name?"

"Sean," Jeb growled. "His name was Sean."

"Yeah," Harvey said. "That's him."

"Go make sure he can't get away," Rob directed. "I'll find out why he's here."

Jeb grimaced as he glanced at Harvey. He didn't like the idea of leaving Rob alone. He knew the guy could take care of himself, but he was the alpha. He needed someone to watch his back. "I'll go. You stay."

Harvey gave him a quick nod, obviously understanding Jeb's dilemma. Jeb didn't wait for Rob to contradict them. Harvey could deal with that. Jeb just walked away from the table as if he was heading for the bathroom.

Before he got there, he took a hard left and walked out the double patio doors then around to the front of the hotel. He came in the front doors and walked toward the restaurant entrance. He paused when he got there and scanned the room, looking for any signs of danger.

Well, beyond the men currently talking to Rob.

Jeb puffed up his chest as he crossed the room slowly, but with purpose, coming up behind Albert and the others. He recognized the sheriff, and Sean, of course, but the other two men with them were a mystery.

Since Erik hadn't said anything about them, Jeb concentrated his attention on the man he wanted to rip to pieces. He stepped up behind Sean, digging his claws into the palms of his hand instead of digging them into the bastard's neck.

"I questioned the ones we rescued," the sheriff said. "None of them knew anything beyond the fact that they had been kidnapped. They didn't know who had them or why."

Rob's eyes were narrowed slits. The alpha was pissed. Jeb was shocked he could hide it so well. He could feel the waves of the man's anger from where he stood.

"You questioned them already?" Rob's words were clipped, his voice harsh.

The sheriff frowned as he glanced at Albert for a moment then quickly back to Rob. "I thought that was what you wanted me to do. I apologize if I've overstepped, Alpha."

"Did you all question them?" Rob waved a hand toward all five men. "Every single one of you?"

Jeb knew why he was being sure.

"I was with Mary and Jasper," Albert replied. "The sheriff and his boys questioned them."

Rob's gaze pinned on the former alpha. "Did you question Jasper?"

Jeb's jaw dropped when Albert huffed.

"No, I haven't had a chance to question Jasper. His mother lost her damn mind. She's treating him like he's two, coddling him and not letting him do a damn thing for himself." Albert shook his head. "I give it until noon before he rebels and sneaks out a window."

Jeb started to smile until Sean turned and saw him. The guy gave him a nervous nod of acknowledgment. Jeb plastered his "going to see the alpha" smile on his face. It was the same one he used when Alpha Barker wanted to reprimand one of them for doing something stupid.

"So, you just questioned the others then?" Rob asked.

"Yes," the sheriff replied.

"Even him?" Rob pointed right at Sean.

Jeb braced himself. When Sean turned and tried to run, Jeb grabbed him by his arm and shirt collar. In one solid move, he swung Sean around then slammed him down onto the floor. He was over the top of him with his knee in Sean's back a moment later.

The man struggled under him, desperately trying to get away. "Let me go!" Sean cried out. "I haven't done anything. Alpha Kersey! Make him let me go."

Jeb felt a measure of satisfaction course through him as he leaned in real close to Sean's ear. "Erik recognized you, dirtbag," he whispered, "and my alpha is not happy. I doubt you'll live long enough to see the sun set tonight. The question is, do you die slowly or do you die quickly? The choice is yours."

"I didn't do anything!"

"You're lying." Jeb took great joy in slamming Sean's face into the floor. "Try again."

"It wasn't me!" Sean insisted.

Jeb grabbed a handful of Sean's hair, intent on slamming him into the floor even harder, but Rob's voice overrode his action.

"Let him up, Jeb. I want to talk to him."

Jeb growled, but did as his alpha ordered. He stood then yanked Sean up, swinging him around to face Rob. He made sure he had a tight hold of Sean's neck. If the man tried to get away, he'd break it.

"I'm very disappointed in you, Sean," Rob started. "You not only betrayed your clan, you betrayed everything it means to be a bear. We don't stab each other in the back, and we certainly don't kidnap people to sell them to the highest bidder. What you did could endanger all of us."

"But I didn't do anything." Sean looked at Albert. "Alpha, you know I would never—"

"Albert is no longer alpha of the Silver Lake Clan," Rob stated firmly. "I am, so you answer to me, and I don't know anything about what you wouldn't do."

Jeb snickered when Sean shuddered.

"You're alpha now?"

"I am," Rob said. "I am also alpha of Jason King's clan."

Sean took such a hard step back, Jeb had trouble holding on to him. "Where in the hell do you think you're going?" he snapped as he tightened his grip on Sean's neck and pushed him forward again. "I don't think my alpha is done with you quite yet."

"I haven't done anything!"

"We have someone who says differently," Rob said.

"He's lying." Sean turned toward Albert again. "He's lying, Alpha Kersey. You know me. You know I wouldn't do anything to hurt the clan."

"Rob," Albert began, "Sean was born into the clan. I doubt he'd do anything to put it in jeopardy."

Rob raised one eyebrow. "Are you so sure of that?"

"Well…" Albert frowned as he looked at Sean.

"How about it, Sean? Why don't you tell your former alpha how you didn't tell him Jasper had been kidnapped so he'd go running to the rescue, leaving those back at his house unprotected. Why don't you tell him that you didn't know we were walking into a trap when you told him? Why don't you tell him how you had nothing to do with the kidnapping of his son or others, or Jason's plan to sell them?" Rob crossed his arms over his massive chest "Go ahead, tell him, then see if he believes you."

"You did this, Sean?" Albert asked in the saddest voice Jeb had ever heard. The man's hurt at Sean's betrayal was written all over his pale face. "You tried to sell my son?"

"It wasn't like that, Alpha. I swear." Pure desperation laced Sean's voice. "Jason just asked me to get you to go to his clan. He said he wanted to talk to you. That's all. I swear."

"You're lying," Jeb said in a singsong voice.

He knew damn well Sean was involved in this up to his neck. Erik never would have been so terrified if that wasn't true. He'd taken one look at Sean and turned white as a ghost. He wouldn't have been that scared if Sean was just delivering a message.

Albert shook his head. "This is going to destroy your parents."

"Harvey, would you be so kind as to call the council?" Rob asked. "I think they need to be informed we have one of the people responsible for this mess in custody. They can decide what they want to do with Sean once they take him off our hands."

"You can't do this!" Sean screamed. "I didn't do anything wrong!"

"You kidnapped my mate," Jeb snarled as he tightened his grip on Sean's neck until the man's face turned red. "You kidnapped him and others, including humans, intent on selling them to the highest bidder. You conspired with Jason to kidnap my alpha's mate. What part of this aren't you getting?"

"He was my alpha. I had to."

"Jason was never your alpha, Sean," Albert said. "I never turned the clan over to him."

The fight seemed to drain out of Sean as he slumped in Jeb's hold. "I joined his clan a couple of months ago. He said he'd make me an enforcer because he knew he could trust me since we grew up together."

Jeb snorted. There was no way Sean would ever be an enforcer. Not only didn't he have the body size for a position like that, but he hadn't been able to break even the simplest of holds. He had no experience or heart for the rank of enforcer.

"That didn't work out so well for you, did it?"

Albert's eyes narrowed. "You joined another clan then continued to live in my clan?"

Wow! Huge breach of protocol right there. Just one more thing he could be charged with. At this rate, they wouldn't even need to have a trial. The man was going to sink himself.

"Alpha Rob, do you mind?" Albert asked, gesturing to Sean.

Rob waved a hand at him. "Please."

"Sheriff," Albert said, "please take Sean to one of your jail cells until the council can get here to retrieve him. I want a guard placed on him, someone you know you can trust. I don't want Sean to mysteriously walk out of your jail." The man heaved a heavy breath. "It seems I don't know my clan as well as I thought I did. I don't know who I can trust."

Rob patted the man's shoulder after the sheriff and the two men with him walked away with Sean. "Lucky for you, that's no longer your job. It's mine."

Albert grimaced as he glanced at Sean again. "I'm thinking that might not be a bad thing. I don't think I have the heart for the battle ahead of you."

"I have no preconceived ideas about the clan. I'm not connected to them like you are. I won't have a problem rooting out every bad bear in the forest."

"This is a good clan, Rob," Albert said earnestly. "Most of the members would never dream of betraying their clan or breaking shifter law. I'm just sorry I'm turning it over to you damaged like it is."

"It's not damaged, Albert," Rob assured the former alpha. "Just slightly bruised."

Jeb wasn't sure he agreed with that assessment, but it wasn't his place to figure that out. He was just there to take orders and carry them out while protecting said clan. Of course, people like Sean would get a fist in the face before he protected them.

Jeb couldn't understand what would make someone betray their clan. It just didn't make sense to him. Sure, he wasn't thrilled with the clan he'd left, but he never would have dreamed of betraying either the King Clan or Alpha Barker.

A bear just didn't do that.

"Rob," Harvey said. "The council is sending two of its investigators down to take custody of Sean and question the others about what they might know. They'll be here tomorrow. They expect to meet with you first."

"Damn," Rob grumbled.

Albert patted his shoulder just as Rob had done to him. Pure amusement laced his voice when he repeated Rob's words back to him. "Lucky for me, that's no longer my job. It's yours."

"Gee, thanks."

Albert chuckled.

"Holy fuck," Jeb whispered when three men walked into the restaurant. He'd never seen them before, but two of them were bears. Jeb could smell it from where he stood. "Have you ever seen a man that damn big?"

"No," Rob replied, "and that concerns me."

Jeb couldn't blame him. The bear was huge!

When Rob moved a step forward, Jeb took up position on his right. Harvey took his left. He was really glad he'd sent Erik out of the room considering one of the bears walking toward him was bigger than Rob.

Strangely enough, even though the man's size was massive and he was as intimidating as hell, Jeb wasn't getting any aggressive feelings from the man. In fact, if he was to go by the wince on the man's pale face, the bear was more afraid of them than they were of him.

"Rob Colton?" the human asked.

"I am." Rob's voice wasn't hard, but it was close. It was clear to anyone who heard him that he meant business.

"I'm León de Oro," the human replied, "and this is my mate, George Carver, and George's cousin, Ford Carver."

"We're not supposed to meet until tomorrow."

"Yes, sir," George said. "We arrived in town a little while ago. We were just going to get something to eat when…" The man swallowed hard. "I didn't know you were here, sir. I would have reported to you immediately if I'd known."

"I see." Rob uncrossed his arms and waved back to the table they'd been sitting at. "We might as well meet now since you're here."

"Oh, we don't want to interrupt, Alpha Colton." There was near panic in George's voice. "We can meet tomorrow, or whenever."

"Baby." León grabbed George's arm and pulled him around until they were face to face. "It'll be okay. He just wants to sit and talk with us."

Shock rolled through Jeb as realization dawned on him. The acidic scent was impossible to ignore. George was afraid. It didn't make sense. He was quite possibly the biggest man Jeb had ever seen. He could no doubt take them all out if he chose to. And yet, he was afraid.

George's eyes flickered to Rob. "He could get angry," he whispered, but they all heard him. "I don't want you hurt."

Jeb's jaw dropped.

"I would never hurt a human, George," Rob said. "Not unless he meant harm to me or mine."

"He doesn't," George said. "León is a good man, a brave man. He's the best the human species has to offer. He would never hurt anyone who didn't deserve it."

"We should all feel like that about our mates." Rob smiled as he waved toward the table again. "Please, come sit and talk with me."

Once Rob walked to the table and sat down, Jeb took up a position standing just to the right of him, folding his hands together in front of him. Harvey did the same on the other side. It was the standard positions for an enforcer. It allowed him to survey the room while protecting his alpha's back.

As his gaze trailed over the big bear, Jeb knew this was going to be one very interesting meeting. How could it not? He was watching the meeting of two bear shifting titans.

Chapter Eleven

Erik waited until Dwayne's back was turned before slipping away. He knew he was supposed to be following the alpha's orders, but he just couldn't stand not knowing if Jeb was safe. The mere idea of Jeb being in the same room with the man who'd kidnapped made him sick to his stomach.

He quickly snuck back down the hallway to the first floor then through a hallway leading to the dining room. When he reached the end of the hallway, he drew in a deep breath then peered around the corner.

It took Erik a moment to figure out what he was seeing. Jeb stood at attention just to the right of Alpha Rob. Harvey stood on the other side of the imposing alpha. Across from them were two men. One was without a doubt the biggest man he'd ever seen, yet something told Erik that the smaller one was more dangerous.

There was no sign of the man who'd kidnapped him or the sheriff, which was a huge relief. Erik wasn't sure he could face him. The man hadn't been any meaner than the rest, but he had still kidnapped Erik with plans to sell him. As far as Erik was concerned, the guy could rot in hell.

Erik pressed his hands flat against the wall, wishing he had something to hold on to to keep him where he was. It was taking all of his control not to move. He desperately wanted to run across the floor and join Jeb and the others, but that would be in direct violation of the alpha's orders and he'd be in enough trouble once it was discovered he'd slipped away. He didn't need to add to it.

Erik tried to scream, but the hand suddenly covering his mouth muffled any sound. He jerked and struggled to escape whoever was trying to drag him away. He knew he got in at least one good hit when the person behind him grunted, but he paid for it a moment later when a fist slammed into him.

Pain exploded in Erik's head. Something pricked him in thigh, making the world tilt and grow foggy. The hallway swirled around him. He tried to push away whoever had grabbed him, but his hands were caught and tied together.

A cloth was wrapped around his head, preventing him from yelling when he was picked up and tossed over a shoulder. Well, he could yell, but no one would hear him. He didn't even have the luxury of shifting. His bear wasn't back yet. His bear was pissed, but useless.

Erik blinked when he was carried outside into the sunshine. As much as the sudden bright light hurt his eyes, he wanted to scream for it to come back when he was tossed into the trunk of a car and the lid slammed down, plunging him into darkness.

He was in so much trouble.

Erik's head finally began to clear just about the time he heard a vehicle start up. Then he was tossed around the trunk. He grunted as his body slammed into the cold hard metal. When the car went around a corner, he tried to brace himself as much as possible. Nothing worked.

By the time the car finally came to a stop, every inch of Erik's body ached. He felt as if he'd been tossed around inside of a giant bag of potatoes. This was worse than getting his foot caught in a bear trap.

Erik knew he had no place to escape when the trunk opened, but he tried to scoot back anyway. The large man who leaned into the trunk and grabbed him was nothing but a blur of motion and darkness.

Erik found himself tossed over a shoulder once again. Things were kind of hazy. He assumed that was from whatever they had injected him with. This wasn't like the drug Jason's henchmen had given him. That had kept him from shifting. This drug was making him loopy as hell.

Not even the gag in Erik's mouth could quiet his cry as he was tossed onto a thin mattress in the corner of a room. He blinked several times when tears gathered in his eyes, unwilling to let them fall.

He lay where he'd been tossed and tried to assess the situation as best as he could considering he was drugged to the gills. He'd been kidnapped—again—and taken somewhere he'd never been before. He was restrained, gagged, and drugged.

His day was not going good.

He still couldn't see straight. His head was swimming. He knew at some point he'd start to panic. He wasn't sure why not, but the fear hadn't hit yet. Maybe it was the drugs. He closed his eyes, wishing everything would just stop spinning. If the world stopped spinning, maybe he could figure out what was going on or why he'd been kidnapped again.

When he heard a vehicle stop outside, Erik cracked his eyes open just a bit and looked around. From what he could tell, there was one man in the room. He was pretty sure he was a man, anyway. He seemed too big to be a woman unless she was seriously hopped up on steroids. This guy was huge.

The door opened, and an older man in a suit came in with a younger guy that looked a lot like him. He walked to the middle of the room then stopped and stared down at Erik. "Is this him?"

The guy who'd been in the room with Erik nodded. "He was the only one there."

The man's head swung around. "You didn't make sure?"

"It wasn't like I could ask for his ID before I kidnapped him."

"Damn it, Randal. This whole thing hinges on you getting the right guy."

"It's not like you gave me a good description. The small guy with the alpha. That's what you told me. Take the small guy hanging out with the alpha." The man's hand waved toward Erik. "Well, he was the only little guy I saw hanging around."

The older man turned back to look at Erik again. "Then that must be him."

Erik was pretty sure they weren't talking about him, but he wasn't going to mention that fact. It wasn't like he could anyway. He had a fucking gag in his mouth.

The older man glanced at one of the younger ones, the one he'd come in with. "Raymond, you come with me. Randal, I want you to make sure our prize doesn't get away then come join us. The clan should be gathered soon. You both need to be there."

"Do you really think this is going to work, Father?" Raymond asked.

"Of course it's going to work," the man snapped. "Once the alpha realizes we have his mate, he'll do whatever we want."

Oh damn.

Erik wasn't sure he was happy or not that they didn't know they had the wrong guy. If he admitted he wasn't the alpha's mate, they'd probably kill him. On the other hand, if they thought he was the alpha's mate, they might kill him anyway.

He was kind of screwed either way.

"Make sure he's secure, Randal. I don't want him getting away before we're done with him."

"He passed out after I shot him up with those drugs you gave me. I doubt he'll move for a few hours at least."

Erik's jaw almost dropped when Randal lied. He'd been fighting the guy the entire way. He might not have been doing a very good job of it, but he hadn't gone easily. The guy was outright lying to his father.

"Just make sure he stays put. If he escapes, we're all screwed."

The younger man didn't reply, but he sure looked as if he wanted to. His lips were clamped tightly together, and for a brief moment, his hands clenched. The man was clearly upset about something. Erik just didn't have a clue as to what. If anything, Erik should be the one upset. He was the one who had been kidnapped and drugged.

Erik's eyes widened just a bit when the door slammed behind the older man and Raymond. He snapped them closed when Randal looked in his direction.

"I know you're awake."

Crap!

"I know you can hear me." The man's voice was low, almost a whisper.

There was no point in pretending, so Erik opened his eyes and glared.

Randal glanced toward the front door again. "Just stay still a little bit longer."

What the hell?

Erik's heart pounded as he watched and waited. He wished he knew what he was waiting for. Fear began to slide up his spine as he started imagining every worst-case scenario, all of them ending up with him dead.

He didn't want to die. He'd just found his mate. He wanted time to really get to know Jeb, to find out if he was as wonderful as Erik thought he was. Erik clenched his jaw as a new resolve flooded him. He wasn't going to give up without a fight because he had something worth fighting for.

When Randal finally walked toward him, Erik tensed, readying himself to fight however he could. He wasn't going to go easy. When Randal pulled out a knife, Erik jerked back. He might want to fight, but he wasn't stupid.

Randal cut the rope tying his hands together then reached down and slid the blade through the ropes around his ankles. He stood then put the knife into his pocket before holding his hand out. "Come with me if you want to live."

Arnold Schwarzenegger he was not.

Erik still took the guy's hand. Once he was pulled to his feet, he yanked the gag out of his mouth and threw it on the floor. He took a step back from Randal, wincing when he put eight on his injured ankle. He'd give just about anything if he could shift right now. He felt way too vulnerable.

"Why did you kidnap me?" he demanded.

"Because I had to," Randal replied.

"Bullshit!" Erik was positive of it. "There is never a good reason to kidnap someone."

"If I hadn't, you would be dead right now."

Okay, maybe that was a good reason.

"Explain."

"I'll explain on the way, but we need to go before my brother comes back."

"Tell me where we're going first." Again, he was not going to go easy. It would be just his luck to walk right to his death. "I'm not moving a step until you tell me what's going on."

Randal's eyes rolled right before he reached for Erik and picked him up. Erik started kicking and screaming as he was tossed over Randal's shoulder. He heard the man grunt right before a large hand came down on his ass.

"Hey!" No one got to spank him…well, except maybe Jeb, but only in the bedroom.

Erik let out a squeak when he was lowered to his feet then given a hard shake.

"Look, you need to knock it off," Randal snapped. "I'm trying to save your life, you dumb shit."

Erik blinked up at Randal. Jeez, he was a big man. Not as big as Jeb, but a whole hell of a lot bigger than Erik. "You kidnapped me." Erik didn't know how much clearer he could be. Being kidnapped meant you didn't have to cooperate. It was kind of an unwritten rule. "I want to go home."

"What the fuck do you think I'm trying to do?"

Erik's eyebrows lifted. "You're taking me back?"

"I didn't want to kidnap you in the first place."

"Then why did you?"

"Because my father ordered it, and I learned very early on in life to do exactly what he says."

Erik's eye began to twitch. "Wait, if you have to do what he says, then why are you taking me back? I thought he told you to make sure I was secured then meet up with him and that other guy."

He knew he should have kept his mouth shut, but he was confused.

"That other guy in my brother, and he's just as bad as my father."

Erik still didn't get it.

"I'll explain on the way."

Erik had no other choice but to follow Randal. The guy had a death grip on his wrist. He was mildly surprised when they went out the back of the building instead of the front. It shouldn't have surprised him. He knew that, but still…he was.

He had no idea where they were. Nothing looked familiar. Just a bunch of buildings and a thick grove of trees down the street, which they seemed to be heading for. Considering he wasn't from this area, that kind of made sense.

Still, it would have been nice if he had a clue as to where he was. How else was he supposed to run when he had the chance if he didn't know where to run to?

"Where are we going?"

"I'm taking you back to the hotel."

That was a plus.

"Thank you."

Randal's lips pressed thin. He shot Erik a strange look.

"What?" Erik asked.

"Is it true?" Randal asked. "Is the new alpha going to accept humans into the clan?"

Erik shrugged. "I have no idea."

Randal frowned at him.

"Look, I just met the man yesterday," Erik explained. "I have no idea what he's going to accept into the clan or not."

Randal's eyebrows lifted. "You didn't come with him?"

"No." Erik shook his head. "I was kidnapped."

"Hey, I told you—"

"You're not the first bear to kidnap me." Erik heaved a breath. "I was kidnapped by someone else and brought here."

"Oh." Randal's frown deepened. "Does this happen to you a lot?"

"Just recently." Erik would kind of like it to stop. "My mate is going to be so pissed."

Randal skidded to a stop. His face turned pasty white. "You have a mate?"

"Yeah."

Randal's eyes rounded, filling with fear. "Who?"

Erik wasn't sure he should say anything. Randal was saying all the right things, but Erik didn't know if he could trust the man.

"Fuck!" Randal grabbed his hair before spinning to start pacing. "I purposely took you because I didn't think you had a mate."

"I thought I was supposed to be the alpha's mate."

Randal shot him a cold look. "Not even my father can convince me to kidnap the alpha mate. I like breathing."

Erik lifted an eyebrow.

Randal huffed as he settled his hands on his hips then tilted his head back to stare up at the sky. "Shit."

Erik didn't chuckle, but it was close. "My mate is one of Alpha Colton's enforcers."

Randal glanced at him with a pained look. "Really?"

Erik nodded.

"Fuck." Randal laughed, but it didn't sound like a happy sound. "My father has finally gone and done it. He's killed us all."

"What exactly is your father trying to do?" Erik felt he had a right to know considering he was smack dab in the middle of the man's chaos.

"He wants the clan," Randal said as he started walking again.

Erik hurried to keep up. It wasn't easy when he was just limping along. God, his ankle ached.

"And?" There had to be an and. There was always an and. "How do I figure into this?"

"He thinks if he has the alpha mate, he can get the alpha to do what he wants."

"Which is?"

Jeez, it was like pulling teeth.

"Like I said, he wants the clan. If the alpha willingly steps down after appointing my father as the new alpha, he won't have to fight for the position. Which is good, because he'd never win."

"Is that why the clan is gathering?"

"Yes and no." Randal's shoulders slumped. "My father is gathering together those in the clan who he believes can be swayed to his way of thinking. He doesn't like the fact that a stranger has taken over the clan. He believes others will feel the same way."

Erik frowned. He couldn't say one way or another if the clan could be swayed. He only knew a few members. The ones he had met fell into two categories. Those who supported Jason and were bat shit crazy, and those who had rescued him and supported Rob.

He knew who he was rooting for.

Erik sucked in a breath when the shadows surrounding them came alive. He really wished he'd stayed with those guarding him back at the hotel. Since he couldn't shift, he brought up his fists, ready to defend himself.

This was going to hurt.

Chapter Twelve

Jeb stiffened when Billy Ray came running into the restaurant. The man was supposed to be helping Dwayne guard Casey and Erik. The look of pure panic on Billy Ray's face didn't make him feel any better.

"Have you seen Erik?" the man asked as he skidded to a stop.

"What?" Jeb roared as his chest squeezed so tight, he could barely breathe. The fear was debilitating, but the rage kept him standing on his own two feet. "Where is my mate?"

"I don't know," Billy Ray replied. "We were getting on the elevator and I turned to make sure Erik got on okay, but he was gone. I've searched everywhere between here and there. I thought he might have come back here."

"Where's Casey?" Rob demanded.

"He's safe, Rob," Harvey replied before tapping his temple. "Dwayne took him up to your room."

Rob turned his attention back to Billy Ray. "Did you smell any other shifters?"

Jeb rolled his eyes. "They take that stuff that hides their scent. He wouldn't smell anyone else."

"That's assuming it was someone from the Silver Lake Clan," Rob replied. "I need to make sure it wasn't an outsider before I start suspecting my clan."

As much as Jeb hated to admit it, Rob was right.

"Gentlemen," Rob said as he stood, "I'm afraid we need to postpone our meeting until our lost clan member is found."

"Of course." George and León stood. "Can we help in any way?"

Rob's eyes narrowed. "Maybe."

Jeb would have liked to know what Rob meant by that, but he was too worried about finding his mate. "I'm going to start searching." He had to. He couldn't just stand there while his mate was missing.

"Take Billy Ray with you," Rob directed. "I'll see about calling in more people to help with the search."

Jeb didn't wait around to listen to anymore. He stalked across the room and went out the entrance he'd seen Erik leave through. He was lucky in the fact that his mate hadn't taken any of the berries that would mask his scent. His scent lingered in the hallway.

Jeb followed the sweet scent to the lobby area between two elevators. It stopped there. Jeb walked around in a circle, inhaling deeply, trying to pick up more of Erik's smell. He caught a faint trace leading down another hallway and started following it. The scent grew stronger at the end of the hallway where it led back into the dining room area.

He smelled another bear.

Jeb drew the scent into his lungs. He growled as his nostrils flared. Erik's scent had mingled with the unknown bear, which told Jeb they were together. He just didn't know why. His twisted gut told him it couldn't be anything good.

"Go get Albert," Jeb told Billy Ray. "I want him to see if he recognizes the scent of this bear." Considering Jeb could smell the bear, he doubted it. As far as he knew, every member of the Silver Lake Clan took those stupid berries so they'd have no scent.

While Billy Ray went to get the former alpha, Jeb walked in slow circles as he moved back down the hallway. He was hoping to get an idea of which direction Erik and the mysterious stranger had gone.

The scents seemed to be pretty even until he reached the swinging door that led into the kitchen. Jeb had no compunction about stepping into the bustling space. He glanced around, taking in all of the activity.

People were moving around from place to place, carrying dishes or cooking at the large industrial stove. Others were washing dishes near the back of the room. One man with a ponytail was directing it all, shouting out orders as they came in. It was a busy place, and while it smelled fantastic, it didn't hold the scent Jeb needed.

No one was paying him any attention. It was almost as if he was invisible. Jeb grabbed a waiter as he hurried by. "Hey, did two people come through here not long ago? One about five foot ten inches tall with sunlight blonde hair and deep blue eyes?"

The man smiled. "I would have remembered someone like that."

"So, you didn't see anyone?" Jeb wasn't sure from what the guy said.

"Sorry, man, I just got to work. I haven't seen anyone that isn't supposed to be here."

"Thanks." Jeb let the man go then turned to survey the kitchen again.

With a low growl, he spun and walked back the way he'd come. He paused in the hallway, gritting his teeth as he looked both directions. If Erik hadn't gone through the kitchen—and Jeb wasn't sure he hadn't—then which way had he gone?

"Did you find him?"

Jeb turned to see Billy Ray, Albert, Rob, Harvey, and their two new guests walking toward him. He shook his head. "No, and I can't figure out which direction he went. I can smell him and another bear, but their scents are faint."

"We need Dwayne," Harvey said. "He's the best tracker around."

"I'll go up and sit with Casey so Dwayne can help in the search," Billy Ray said.

Rob nodded. "I'm going to send up a couple of the sheriff's men to help you out. Until we know who did this, I'm not taking any chances with Casey."

Billy Ray hurried to the elevator.

"Alpha Kersey," Jeb asked as he looked at the man, "I wondered if you recognize the scent of the bear who was with Erik?"

Albert frowned as he sniffed the air. He took a few steps, well away from everyone else, and sniffed again. He took a few more steps then sniffed again. He repeated this pattern several times until he'd walked the full length of the hallway and all the way back to the dining room.

Jeb swallowed hard when the former alpha's eyebrows snapped low over his eyes. The knot in his stomach tightened. His heart climbed into his throat. "Do you recognize the scent?"

"Yes, I think, but it makes no sense."

"What doesn't make sense?" Rob asked.

"I could swear I smell my cousin Randal."

"Cousin?" Rob asked. "One of Ralph's boys?"

"Yes, but like I said, that makes no sense. Randal takes the berries just like everyone else in the clan. Ralph is almost fanatical about it, and his boys do exactly what he says. I've never known my cousins not to take it, which means I shouldn't be smelling his bear."

"Could he just have missed a dose or something?" Harvey asked. "I mean, there could be a million reasons for him to not take it. Maybe he didn't get home in time."

Albert dug into his pocket then came out with a small vile of purple liquid. "We all carry these around just for occasions like that."

Harvey shrugged. "So, maybe he ran out."

"You don't understand. When I said my uncle was fanatical about it, I wasn't kidding. I've seen him lay Randal out for forgetting to take the serum. Randal wouldn't forget."

"So," Rob said, "if we eliminate the idea that he forgot it, then we're left with him purposely not taking it. Why would he do that?"

"I'm more concerned with why his scent is mixed with Erik's," Jeb said. "Especially since Erik now seems to be missing."

"Yes," Albert replied. "That is concerning."

Concerning? Was he serious? Jeb wanted to shout at the man. It was more than concerning. It was gut-wrenching. "Where would he take Erik?"

"The only place I can think of is his father's house, but Uncle Ralph would never allow that. The man might be a thorn in my side, but he's never outright broken any clan laws. He'd never allow Randal to take Erik there."

"What if he didn't know Erik had been taken?" Harvey asked. "What if he thought Erik was there willingly?"

"That's possible," Albert replied. "But I thought Erik had been kidnapped? Isn't that why we're searching for him?"

"We're assuming he was, but there is always the possibility he wasn't."

"No." Jeb shook his head vehemently. "Erik wouldn't go off with someone without telling me first." Even if it had just been a handful of hours, he had to believe their mate bond was that strong or he'd go insane. "Someone took him."

Jeb's heart slammed in his chest when the man he was aching to find came running into the dining room. "Erik!"

He grabbed his mate's arms and pulled the man against his chest, hugging him so tightly, Erik grunted. After his heart stopped racing, he pushed Erik an arm's length away. "Where have you been?"

Erik grabbed his arm and started pulling back toward the door. "You have to come. Hurry." Erik's voice sounded frantic. "They're going to kill him."

"Who?"

"Randal."

Jeb dug his feet in, refusing to budge. "Wait a minute. Were you kidnapped or not?"

"Yes, but that's not what is important." Erik tugged harder. "We have to go save Randal."

"Is he the one who kidnapped you?"

"Yes, but—"

"Erik!"

"Please." Erik's vivid blue eyes pleaded with Jeb the same as his voice did.

It ate at Jeb's soul.

"Okay, show me where this Randal is." Jeb was going to rescue him then plant his foot up the guy's ass.

He could hear the others following as they ran out of the hotel and down the street. He tried to keep his strides short so he didn't outrun Erik, especially considering he had no idea where they were headed.

When they reached the end of the block, Erik veered off to the left and started running toward a grove of trees at the end of the street. As they drew closer, Jeb could hear shouting. A lot of shouting.

Jeb twisted his hand so Erik was no longer holding his wrist. He was holding Erik's wrist, and then he pulled him to a stop. He pointed a finger at Erik. "You stay here."

"No," Erik said. "I have to—"

"Erik." There was no way in hell that he'd let Erik walk into danger. "Please, I need you to stay here where you're safe."

Erik's eyes watered. He glanced toward the glade of trees. "Just…be careful. Okay? They're really pissed."

"Who, Erik?" Jeb asked. "Who's doing this?"

Erik's eyes rounded. "Randal's father and brother. They want to kill him because they found out he kidnapped me instead of Casey."

Jeb heard Albert gasp.

Rob growled.

Well, crap.

Chapter Thirteen

"Stay here!" Jeb took off running toward the trees. The sound of pounding feet followed behind him. Jeb knew this was what it meant to belong to a clan. He had people he trusted to watch his back.

When he reached the trees, the sounds of fighting reached his ears. He heard the very distinctive sound of flesh hitting flesh. Then someone cried out in obvious pain. Jeb wasn't sure what was going on, but he was damn well going to stop it.

"Jeb."

Jeb growled as he stopped. He turned to glare at Rob. "What?"

"Let me go first."

"Seriously?" Did his best friend think he couldn't fight his own battles?

Rob rolled his eyes. "I'm the alpha, Jeb. I have to go first."

Whatever.

Jeb waved his hand, gesturing for his alpha to go before him. Rob walked past him. When Harvey followed, he gave Jeb a respectful nod. Jeb turned and followed behind him. He hoped one of these days he got used to the new ranking system. It was weird.

When they broke through the trees, Jeb's eyes widened at what he saw. There was a small group of men, but they were shouting loud enough to wake the dead. Which kind of made sense as they were beating the crap out of some guy.

Jeb assumed it was Randal.

"Enough!" Rob shouted.

Jeb winced. Jeez, his alpha was loud, but it worked. Everyone stopped pummeling Randal with their fists and feet and turned toward Rob. Jeb stood a little taller as he took up a position at Rob's right shoulder. Harvey took the left.

It seemed a little weird to Jeb that they naturally fell into those positions without even having discussed it. He didn't know if it came from being raised in a clan or because they believed in their alpha. It didn't really matter. Jeb knew they would both support and protect Rob until their dying breaths.

"What is going on here?" Rob snapped.

"It's just a disagreement between brothers," a man said as he stepped forward. "Nothing to worry about. Really. It's just boys being boys."

Jeb recognized him as Alpha Kersey's uncle. From everything he'd heard about the bear, he wasn't going to like him. Ralph seemed like a pompous asshole. His nose was raised just a little too high in the air for a man being confronted by his alpha.

"Unless you suddenly discovered a bunch of children you knew nothing about," Rob said as he crossed his arms over his chest, "I seriously doubt that."

"Alpha—"

Rob raised his hand. "Save it." He glanced over his shoulder. "Get Randal and take him back to the hotel. Get him cleaned up. If he needs to shift, have him do it in the hotel room, but he stays there until I talk to him."

"Yes, Alpha." Jeb gave a curt nod before moving toward the circle of men. He had to push past several of them to get to Randal. He hoped Rob and Harvey handed them their heads for ignoring him. They all heard what the alpha said. They knew what he wanted. They still stood in Jeb's way.

He winced when he reached Randal and saw the state the man was in. One side of his face was bruised and swollen, and blood trickled from the corner of his mouth. His clothes were dirty and torn, giving Jeb a glimpse of some of the bruises and scratches covering his skin.

In a word, he looked like crap.

"Can you stand?"

Randal nodded.

Jeb held out his hand when the man groaned as he tried to stand. He pulled him to his feet then kept a firm grip on the man's arm as he led him back through the throng of guys surrounding them.

When one of the men stepped in front of them, Jeb gave him a hard glare. "Do you really want to go there?" Because Jeb would if he had to. He'd been given a direct order by his alpha, and he had every intention following it.

The man must have seen the intent in Jeb's eyes. He stepped back out of the way, allowing Jeb and Randal to pass by him. When they reached Rob, the alpha nodded his head back toward the hotel.

"Tell Casey I'll be along soon."

Despite the firmness of Rob's words, Jeb could see the fear in his eyes. He knew Rob was worried about his mate. Dwayne was supposed to be on his way here, leaving Billy Ray as the only one back at the hotel watching over Casey.

"Yes, Alpha."

They hadn't taken more than a few steps when he heard someone call out.

"Alpha Colton," Ralph said, "I challenge your fitness to run this clan."

Holy shit!

Jeb stopped and turned. "Is he insane? He can't win against Rob."

The man was older than dirt.

"My father would never fight someone himself," Randal stated with conviction. "He'll find someone else to do it."

Jeb wasn't sure that was possible. Once a challenge had been given, there were rules that had to be followed. One of them was that the bear giving the challenge had to fight the battle. He couldn't pass it off to someone else.

The air was saturated with tension and aggression, making it almost impossible to breathe. Jeb's skin began to prickle, the hairs on his arms standing on end. He had an overwhelming need to shift. It warred with his need to follow through on his alpha's orders.

"You want to fight me for my position as alpha?" Rob asked. He sounded far calmer than Jeb felt. Rob didn't even look as if he was worried about being challenged. "Bring it on."

Ralph laughed. "Oh, I'm not going to fight you." He gestured to the small group of men standing beside him. "They are."

Rob cocked his head to one side as if curious or confused. Jeb wasn't sure which. "That's not how challenges are done, Ralph. You know that. There are rules that must be followed."

Ralph's face mottled with rage. "Like you know anything about rules," he shouted. "You're still wet behind the ears. You have no idea what you're doing. You have no right to come into this clan and take it over."

"That isn't up to you."

"It damn well is up to me!" Ralph snarled. "This is my clan!"

"Actually," Rob said, "it's my clan."

The enraged sound of Ralph's roar seemed to be the spark that set the fire under the men standing with him. Most of them rushed Rob, attacking him, but a few stayed back and started to shift. Harvey shifted and jumped between them and Rob.

Fury wrapped around Jeb like a cloak as he watched the three men attack his alpha, his best friend. He let go of Randal, but pointed at him. "Don't move."

Randal held up his hands. "Not moving."

Jeb felt his muscles contract then stretch as he shifted into his bear form. He shifted easily, but not nearly as quickly as Rob or Harvey did. He'd never been as fast as them. He doubted anyone was as fast as them.

The fight was well underway by the time Jeb waded in. He swiped out a paw at the first man he reached, dragging his claws across the man's stomach. The man's screams accompanied his roar as he moved on to the next guy.

"Enough!" When Rob's loud bellow shattered the air, Jeb turned.

His eyes widened. George Carver had a bear pinned to the ground by a hand at its throat. He was still in human form, but even then, he was subduing a large brown bear.

Jeb was impressed.

He quickly looked around when everything went quiet. All of the men who'd attacked Rob were down on the ground, unmoving.

The few who'd shifted were also on the ground, but they had shifted back to their human form. Every single one of them was groaning. Considering the battle scars they now carried, that made sense. Harvey stood guard over the top of them. His arms crossed over his chest. His eyes narrowed with anger.

"Shift!" Rob growled.

The bear under George's hand struggled to get free. His claws raked at the skin around George's wrist. Jeb winced at the blood that trickled down his skin to his hand. That had to hurt.

"Shift!" Rob growled again. "Now!"

George stood back, releasing the bear. The bear's shift was slow, agonizing. Jeb wasn't surprised, when he finally finished his shift, that it was Ralph. What did surprise him was the defiance in Ralph's face as he glared up at Rob. Did he realize what he was doing? What he'd done? Did he know how much trouble he was in?

Did the man have a death wish?

"Harvey," Rob said, "call the council and inform them that I am banishing Ralph Kersey and his sons from the Silver Lake Clan. I'm giving them twenty-four hours to be out of my territory. If asked, I will inform whoever calls that Ralph lost a challenge. I will also inform them that he broke the rules of that challenge, which is the reason I am banishing him."

"Alpha." Jeb glanced behind him to where Randal stood. The poor man looked scared to death. "Alpha," Jeb said as he looked back at Rob. "I'd like you to reconsider banishing Randal under the circumstances."

Rob's eyebrow arched. "He kidnapped your mate."

"Yes, sir." Jeb knew what he was asking was nuts, but he just couldn't get past the feeling that Randal wouldn't live out the day if he was forced to go with his father and brother. "I'll take full responsibility for him."

Rob stared far longer than Jeb was comfortable with before giving a nod. "Very well. I'm placing Randal in your care until I say otherwise. Take him back to the hotel and get him cleaned up like I said before."

Jeb nodded. He was a little stunned that Rob had given in so easily, but he was grateful that he had. He wasn't real sure what Randal's story was, but Erik had been in a pure panic when he'd run for help. There had to be a reason. He wouldn't want someone he was afraid of to be rescued.

He walked over and grabbed Randal's arm again. "Do you need to say good-bye to your father and brother? I doubt you'll see them again." He glanced at Randal. "Unless you want to go with them."

"Is it true that your alpha is going to accept humans into the clan?"

"Yes, it's true."

Randal shook his head. "Then I have nothing to say to them."

Okay then.

Jeb started walking with Randal back toward the hotel, staying to the shadows and the alleyways. It was slow going. Jeb knew Randal needed to shift so his wounds would heal, but he couldn't do that until they got back to the hotel. He couldn't exactly shift right there in the middle of the street.

"We're almost there," he said when he felt Randal shiver under his touch. "Just a little longer."

"Why did you save me?" Randal asked. "I kidnapped your mate."

"Yes, and you and I will be having a discussion about that once you're healed." Jeb planned to hand him his head. "But, to answer your question, I saved you because that's what my mate would have wanted."

He just hoped that decision didn't come back to bite him in the ass.

Chapter Fourteen

Erik chewed on his thumbnail as he paced back and forth across the hotel room. When he reached the window, he pulled the curtain back and looked outside. He gasped and pressed his hands against the glass when he spotted two men walking toward the hotel.

"It's Jeb." He spun and raced for the door.

Billy Ray stepped in front of him before he could reach it. "Just where do you think you're going?"

"It's Jeb."

"I don't care. You're not leaving this room."

"But—"

Billy Ray crossed his arms. "No."

Erik smiled sweetly then kneed Billy Ray right in the nuts. Billy Ray's eyes crossed as he grabbed himself and slowly dropped to his knees.

"Sorry," Erik whispered as he pushed past the man and went out the door. He really hoped he didn't injure the guy too badly. Billy Ray was just trying to do his duty, and Erik got that, but he needed to get to his mate. He could think of only one reason why his mate would be running through the streets naked. He'd needed to shift.

Erik raced down the hallway to the elevator. He hit the down button several times, glancing up to the floor display above the door. When the door slid open, Erik raced inside then started jamming the button on the panel.

The door slid open just as Billy Ray ran out of the hotel room and shouted at him. Erik waved. The rage he saw on Billy Ray's face right before the doors closed was probably going to haunt him for a while. The man was seriously pissed.

When the doors slid open a couple of minutes later, Erik walked out. He tried to not look like he was running as he hurried across the lobby and out the front door. His heart pounded in his chest probably a little harder than it needed to. Erik didn't know if it was fear or excitement or anticipation.

He did a fast clip toward the end of the street then took off running. His need to get to Jeb grew with each step he took. He was almost out of breath by the time he rounded a corner and spotted Jeb.

"Jeb!" Erik ran faster.

Jeb's head snapped up. "Erik?"

Erik ran until he reached the pair then barreled right into Jeb, wrapping his arms tightly around him. "I was so scared."

"What are you doing out here by yourself?" Jeb asked as he hugged him with one arm. "Where's Dwayne and Billy Ray?"

"Uh…yeah." Erik winced as he leaned back. "About that…"

Jeb's eyes narrowed. "What did you do?"

"I don't know where Dwayne is," Erik said. "Billy Ray came back and Dwayne took off."

Jeb glanced behind Erik. "So, where's Billy Ray now?"

"I kind of sorta kneedhiminthenuts."

Jeb's eyebrows lifted. "Excuse me?"

Erik sighed. "I kneed him the nuts."

Jeb's jaw dropped.

"He wouldn't let me leave the hotel room."

"He wasn't supposed to," Jeb insisted.

"I saw you heading back to the hotel and I just…" Erik shrugged before dropping his eyes. "I just needed to make sure you were okay."

Jeb drew him back in. "I'm okay, osezno. I promise."

Erik closed his eyes as he sank into Jeb's embrace. It felt like a hundred years had passed since Jeb had called him that. "I was so worried," he whispered. "I don't know what I'd do if anything happened to you."

"I'm fine, Erik."

Erik smiled and opened his arms. "Well, I know that now."

"You know, I've heard that there is a way for us to stay in contact when I'm off doing my enforcer duties."

Erik frowned. "Like a cell phone?"

Jeb chuckled. "Sort of, but not exactly." He glanced at Randal for a brief moment. "I'll talk to you about it later."

Erik blinked. "Okay."

"Right now, we need to get Randal back to the hotel so he can get cleaned up and shift. He has some injuries from the fight that I'm a little worried about."

Erik glanced at Randal. "Oh man, they worked you over good."

Randal grimaced. "Yeah, well…"

"I'm so sorry," Erik said. "I tried to get help as quickly as I could."

"You saved my life, Erik." Randal sent him a wobbly smile. "I can't thank you enough."

It really looked like he hadn't done enough. While Randal was standing on his own two feet, he was swaying. Erik hurried around to his other side and fit himself under Randal's arm. "I'll help Randal to the hotel. You get there as fast as you can. If someone sees your naked ass streaking through town, we're going to have bigger problems than we have now."

Jeb flushed after glancing down at himself, his very naked self. "I guess that would be a good idea."

"Just hurry," Erik said. "We'll be there as quickly as we can."

Jeb stepped around Randal then leaned down to press a kiss to Erik's forehead. "If you have any problems, you scream bloody murder. You hear me?"

"We'll be fine. The hotel is just down the street."

Erik hated to see Jeb run off because he was a little scared without the big bear considering all that had happened lately. But he damn sure loved watching him leave. Damn, his mate had a fantastic ass.

"He's pretty crazy about you," Randal said. "He was really worried."

Erik smiled. "I'm pretty crazy about him, too." He wasn't sure it was love yet simply because he wasn't sure what love was. Granted, his parents adored each other, so he had a good example there, but he'd never felt the emotion himself.

He did know that Jeb drove him crazy. He didn't like being away from the handsome bear, which was odd for him since they'd just met, but he couldn't deny the feelings that welled up inside of him every time he laid eyes on Jeb.

"At your mate's request, the alpha is allowing me to stay in the clan even though he banished my father and brother." Randal's brow was furrowed with confusion. "Jeb knows I kidnapped you. Why would he do that?"

Erik grinned as a warmth filled his center. "Because he knows I would have wanted that." He didn't know how Jeb would know. Just that he did, and it showed him what an amazing bear he was mated to.

"Why?" Randal's eyes narrowed a little as he frowned. "I kidnapped you. Why would you care?"

"Did you want to kidnap me?"

"No."

Erik shrugged. "Well, there you go."

Randal's frown deepened before he shook his head. "You're weird."

Erik chuckled. "Yeah." He'd been called that before. He no longer felt insulted when someone said he was weird. He kind of took it as a compliment. "But who wants to be normal?"

Randal stared at him for a moment before snickering. "Yeah, I can see that."

Erik turned to smile at Randal when he saw a blur of movement out of the corner of his eye. Before he could figure out what it was, something slammed into him, sending him crashing to the ground.

He cried out as his knees hit the ground and the palms of his hand scraped along the hard concrete. Before he could check on his injuries or even climb to his feet, he was grabbed from behind by arms that felt like steel bands.

He heard Randal yell, but had no idea what the man said. He was being whipped around like a tablecloth in a windstorm. All he could really hear was heavy breathing of the man behind him.

Erik slammed his elbows back. The man grunted before his arms loosened. He wiggled free then pushed away. As soon as Erik felt the arms holding him fall away, he jumped forward and spun around.

He sucked in a painful breath when he saw the man who'd grabbed him. "You're supposed to be in jail."

Sean laughed.

Erik shuddered. That was a sound he never wanted to hear again. It was worse than claws down a chalkboard. He pointed his finger at Sean and repeated, "You're supposed to be in jail."

"And you're supposed to be on your way to your new master," Sean replied.

Erik reared back. "The hell I am!"

"Money has already exchanged hands, and I don't intend to give it back."

Erik scampered backward when Sean came closer. "I am not going anywhere with you. I don't care how much money you got for me. If you want to keep it so badly, you can peddle your own ass. Mine isn't for sale."

"That isn't up to you." Sean lunged forward, grabbing onto Erik's shirt.

Erik jerked back, his shirt ripping. He stumbled and fell back on his butt, landing hard on the ground. When Sean took another step toward him, Erik's bear roared up, breaking through whatever had been keeping him from shifting.

He cried out at the swiftness of his transformation, unused to shifting so quickly. It felt as if his bear burst out of him, forcing the human side of him back as muscles and tissue stretched and bones reformed themselves. By the time Sean went to grab him again, Erik was in fur.

He roared as red-hot anger enveloped him. This man had taken him, kidnapped him. This man had hurt him. He was trying to hurt him again. This man was trying to take Erik from his mate, to sell him to some perverted stranger.

This man needed to die.

Erik lifted up on his hind legs and began fighting with Sean. He swiped out at him, sinking his paws into his flesh. Sean had shifted at some point and was fighting back, but Erik barely noticed through the haze of his rage. Sean hadn't acted alone in what he'd done to Erik, but he'd sure been in on it.

"Erik! Erik!" someone shouted. "That's enough. He's dead."

Erik paused, his hand raised in the air, ready to strike again.

"He's dead, osezno."

Erik glanced down. If a bear could have winced, he would have. It was so gross. Sean was dead all right. He was also pretty much in pieces.

Erik backed up then shifted. "I killed him." God, he was going to jail. He turned his stricken eyes on Jeb. "The sheriff is going to arrest me and send me to jail."

"No, baby." Despite the blood covering Erik, Jeb walked right up to him and gave him a big hug. "The sheriff and his men were out looking for Sean. They saw him attack you, Erik. It was self-defense."

Erik glanced down at the body again. How could that mess be self-defense?

"He's right, Erik."

Erik turned to find the sheriff and few of his men standing behind him. He moved closer to Jeb. "He's one of them who kidnapped me. He said he'd already accepted money for me. I wasn't going to allow him to take me again."

"We know, Erik," the sheriff said. There was a bit of anger in his eyes when he glanced toward one of his deputies. "He should have been behind bars, but someone didn't see him as a threat since he was clan. That will not be happening again, will it, deputy?"

The deputy blanched. "No, sir."

"So, I'm not going to be arrested?" Erik asked.

"Only for indecent exposure if you don't go put some clothes on."

Erik could do that. He grabbed Jeb's hand and started pulling him toward the hotel. He wanted a shower and some clean clothes and some snuggle time, and in that order. Maybe snuggle time in the shower.

"How do we get into the hotel like this?" He was naked and covered in blood.

"There's a back entrance and a service elevator we can use," Jeb said. "It'll get us up to our room without anyone seeing us."

Erik was all for that. There was only one person on this planet he wanted to hang his ass out for, and he was walking right next to Erik.

* * * *

Jeb smiled and lifted the covers when Erik came out of the bathroom. He waited until Erik crawled up onto the bed and snuggled down beside him before pulling the covers over both of them.

"How was your shower?" he asked.

"Lonely."

Jeb chuckled. "Sorry about that. Rob needed to talk to me and fill me in on everything that happened after I left." He'd been on his way to the bathroom when Rob had called, and it wasn't like he could ignore a phone call from his alpha.

Erik peered up at him. "So, what happened?"

"Rob had Harvey and Dwayne escort Ralph and his son to their house. They'll be overseeing the man's removal from clan territory in the next twenty-four hours. He challenged the alpha because he believes Rob is unfit to rule the clan, except he broke the rules of the challenge."

"Wow."

"Right?" It was unheard of for a bear not to follow the rules of a challenge. It just wasn't done. The rules set down by the council had to be upheld in order to keep their species safe.

Erik laid his head down on Jeb's chest. His fingers slid slowly across Jeb's skin. "Thank goodness for Randal."

Jeb grunted. "Randal and I will still be having a little talk about what he did, but he gets to stay in the clan." For now at least.

"I think his mate is human."

Jeb glanced down at Erik. "Randal has a mate?"

Erik shrugged. "I think so. He keeps asking if it's true that the alpha is going to allow humans into the clan. He seems really interested in the answer."

"So, you think Randal has a human mate somewhere?"

"I think that he found his mate, but didn't claim him because he didn't think a human would be accepted by the clan."

"But that makes no sense. Alpha Kersey doesn't have anything against humans." Jeb very distinctly remembered Kersey telling Rob he should let everyone in the clan know humans were accepted in the clan.

"No, but I'll bet his father does."

Okay, Jeb couldn't argue with that. "His father is an ass. I'm surprised Rob didn't wipe the floor with him. It looks like we also might have some new clan members."

"That big guy I saw the alpha talking to in the restaurant?"

"That's George. His mate is a human named León. I think they impressed Rob when he was challenged." Jeb had certainly been impressed. "Both men stepped in without hesitation."

Jeb stroked his fingers leisurely through Erik's hair. The silky strands were soft, soothing. He could do it for a hundred million years and never get tired of the simple gesture.

He raised an eyebrow when Erik rolled over on top of him. The man had a mischievous smile on his face. "Did you want something?"

"Well, I was wondering about the thing you mentioned before so we could talk to each other without using a cell phone." Erik stroked a finger across Jeb's chest, swirling it around one of Jeb's nipples. "What was it?"

Jeb grinned as he rolled Erik beneath him. "I call it the bear necessities."

THE END

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Table of Contents

THE BEAR NECESSITIES

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen