Bearly Ever: An Alpha Werebear Shifter Paranormal Romance (Arcadia Knights Book 1) (7 page)

There were times when one appreciated being in a beautiful half-naked man’s arms.

The middle of a gun fight was definitely
not
one of them.

Ever jumped as a blast hit the car, punching through the metal. She clung to Aidan’s naked torso, then felt a prickly sensation underneath her palms. Wiry brown hairs grew and receded in ripples across his arm, the muscles beneath bulging and flexing. He was Changing before her eyes, or at least partially. This was what she’d seen before at the car, only in reverse, and much more up close and personal.

Maybe it should have weirded her out, but Ever found it fascinating. Now probably wasn’t the right time to study it, but she was curious. Looking up, she saw that his eyes had gone the same amber color she’d seen that morning. The bear’s eyes hadn’t been that color; they’d been almost black, darker than the fur. So whatever it was only happened in human form.

Another shot rang out, slamming into the car door they hid behind. This one exited less than a foot from Ever’s shoulder, and both she and Aidan jumped.

Yeah.
Not
the time to think about this.

“This is Sheriff Aidan Tucker.” His voice carried well, as if he had a natural megaphone in his chest. It didn’t hurt her ears though, the words just seemed
stronger
somehow. “Put down the gun, we’re just here to talk.”

There was a short pause, then a muffled shout came from inside the building. Ever tried to make out the words, but could only make out the last part:
one of them.

Aidan looked down at Ever, frowning, then back toward the house. “We’re here about the demolished house on Strawberry Court. I promise, we’re not here to hurt you.”

Ever waited tensely for more shots, but they never came. Then the creak of old hinges swinging pierced the air. “This is silver buckshot, Sheriff.” The new voice sounded old, but determined. “Let’s talk.”

Aidan gave Ever a squeeze, as if to warn her to stay hidden, then slowly stood. This time Ever did as she was told, watching him intently as he squared off with the stranger, hands raised. “I just need some answers,” he said calmly.

“Me too. Like what the hell have your folk been doing all over my woods.”

“These lands are in Arcadia territory; everything on this mountain belongs to the Brahm. Shifters are allowed to come and go as they please.”

“No, not your townies. Someone else, something…” The other man made a disgusted sound. “Just ask your questions and leave.”

“You’re Carlton Avery, correct? Owner of 6223 Strawberry Court in Arcadia? We’re looking for the girl who lived there up until recently.”

“What?” Confusion laced the word. “That’s her at your feet, ain’t it?”

Ever never could listen to directions long. Gathering her feet under her, she peeked over the hood of the car to see who was speaking. An older black man held a large shotgun pointed straight at them. Aidan’s hand clapped down on her shoulder, obviously trying to keep her down, but she brushed it off and pulled herself upright. “That was my sister.”

The old man jumped, the barrel swinging to point at her. A growl that definitely couldn’t come out of a human throat flew from Aidan. He shoved himself in front of her, nearly unbalancing Ever. “She’s human, Mr. Avery,” he said, his voice almost an octave lower. “Just like you.”

So the man was human. Maybe that was why he looked old since, so far, all the shifters Ever had seen looked about the same age.

“No, she…” The old man trailed off, then squinted at Ever. “Sister, you say?”

“Yes,” Ever said, pushing herself up onto her feet. She tried to get around Aidan but he blocked her again, his eyes still on the old man. “My sister, Sonya,” she continued, glaring at Aidan.

Over-protective much?

The older man studied Ever, his gun not wavering. He was wearing a pair of jean overalls with no shirt, and cowboy boots that looked as if they’d seen more than their share of use. His short hair was almost completely white, his dark face weathered with age and sun. He looked between Ever and Aidan, frowning, then shook his head. “I just want to be left alone.”

“Mr. Avery, your name is on the deed to the house in question.”

“I know what properties I own, boy.” He lowered the gun, aiming it toward the dirt in front of him but looking ready to use it if anyone so much as twitched.

Aidan stood silently for a moment, thinking. Then, slowly, he lowered his hands. “Do you know what happened to her?”

“No, other than she showed up with that group who tried to take this place from me last month.”

His words definitely got Aidan’s interest. “What group?”

“Hell if I know, except they was all of ‘em shifters.” He grinned mirthlessly at the memory. “Probably thought they could roll a lonely old man, but I put the hurt on them. Learned a few tricks in my years living near you lot.”

“But what about my sister?” That was all she cared about. Sonya would never run with anyone dangerous, not willingly at least.

He snorted. “She came into town looking for a place. Contacted me about the house, gave me a bundle of cash, and I gave her the keys.”

“You didn’t report her presence to the Brahm?” Aidan said in a careful voice.

The word made the older man licks his lips and look at away nervously. “That man’s fucking scary,” he said morosely, looking everywhere but at Aidan. “She said she had approval so I took her for her word. Seemed like a nice kid, until she showed up on my property that night.”

“And the demolition of her house?”

“Wait, what do you mean
demolition
?” Gone was the uncertainty; the old man looked pissed. “That house was my retirement; I’d never tear it down. I’ve put in too much money renovating. What happened to it?”

Aidan pursed his lips but said nothing. “Did you recognize any of the shifters on your property?”

“No, I want to talk about my
house
for a…”

“Mr. Avery.” Again, that booming voice that didn’t seem to just be volume. Ever could almost feel it in her bones, as if the words flowed through her. Weird. “The shifters who came onto your property: did you recognize them or not?”

The old man looked like he wanted to tell Aidan where to stick it, but eventually answered. “No, but I don’t go to town much anymore. There was about ten of them if that’s your next question.” The shotgun came up again, not quite pointing at them but close. “Now, get the hell off my property.”

Aidan ignored the gun, giving the old man an almost formal nod. “Thank you for your time, sir.”

“Eh,” the old man grumbled, turning back into his house as Aidan and Ever got into the car.

*

“Well,” Aidan muttered as they drove away, “that was a bust.”

Ever found it hard to contain her disappointment. “He didn’t know anything about her except she gave him money, then showed up and tried to roust him from his property. Which I simply can’t believe.”

“He was telling the truth when he spoke.”

She snorted. “Let me guess, you smelled it?”

“Yes.”

Ever blew out a breath. “Is it bad that I felt like throttling the answers out of him?”

Her question surprised a laugh out of him. “There’s a reason I was made Sheriff and not either of my older brothers. I have patience and at least some skill at diplomacy.” He angled a look at Ever. “They’re like my father, more apt to tear your head off than try a peaceful approach.”

“Lovely imagery,” Ever deadpanned, and Aidan grinned.

“They’d call me a wuss behind my back but never to my face. I’d thrash them, even though they’re older than me by decades.”

“And your dad?”

Some of the smile left Aidan’s face. “No, I don’t think the three of us could take him down even together. Our mother used to be the only one who can calm him, but it’s different now that she found her mate.”

Ever’s belly clenched weirdly on the word
mate
. “Wait, your parents weren’t, uh, together?”

Saying “mated” just felt weird.

Aidan shook his head. “They were together for nearly a century on and off but no, they weren’t true mates. There’s one person for everyone, one person that completes them, is like their other half.”

“Ah, the old
Jerry McGuire
,” she said, punching his arm. “So, have you found yours yet?”

He looked at her, green eyes piercing for a moment, then back at the road. “There’s someone that may fit the bill, although I’m not sure yet if she knows it.”

Ever didn’t even know she was holding her breath until it came out with a whoosh. Something that had been tight in her belly loosened, and she laid a hand on his arm. “You’ll find them, don’t worry.”

His hand covered hers, calloused thumb caressing her wrist, and emotion inexplicably welled up inside Ever’s chest. She felt tears prick at her eyes and blinked rapidly, snatching her hand away. Everything in her cried out for his touch, to be loved by a man like this. Someone was going to be really lucky to get him, and Ever would probably hate her forever.

What the hell. Fucking PMS.

“So,” she said, trying to cover for her tiny outburst, “where to now?”

“Hopefully Mac’s finding something more useful than us, but I have one more idea to try.” He glanced her direction. “I hope you like dogs.”

“Hi, mom.”

Aidan’s mother looked up from her garden, shielding her eyes from the son. “Well, I’ll be,” she said, grinning up at Aidan. “Wonder upon wonders. My son actually comes to see me.”

The words were said without any rancor, and Aidan pulled the smaller woman up into a hug. It never ceased to amaze him just how tiny she felt in his arms, almost delicate. There was very little frail about Eleanor Landry, however, despite how she might look or act. Aidan had seen her fight; images like that stayed with a man.

“So what brings you out my way?” she asked, pulling back from the hug but keeping her arm around his waist.

“I was hoping I could talk to Derek, is he home?”

“Yes he’s inside, I can go get…” She trailed off, either her nose or eyes catching hint of Ever’s presence by the car. While she didn’t stiffen up or get angry, her gaze was level as she looked back at Aidan. “Is there something I should know about?”

“I need your help finding her sister.” Aidan beckoned Ever over, and his mother watched her approach. “Mom, this is Ever Jackson. Ever, this is my mother Eleanor Landry.”

“Pleased to meet you, ma’am,” Ever said, the faintest hint of a Southern drawl on the words. They sounded rehearsed, as if she’d said that many times before in her life, and maybe she had. If she was nervous, it didn’t show, at least not outwardly.

Her smell, however, told a different story.

They shook hands, and Aidan saw his mother’s silent assessment of the human girl. She must have passed muster, because Eleanor nodded. “I’ll go find Derek and we can get to the bottom of this.” She looked sharply at Aidan. “And you and I have things to discuss.”

Ah, so she’d sensed the mating bond. He doubted it would get past her, but she’d want answers, most of which he didn’t know himself. But he nodded and watched her head towards the barn out back.

“So, now I’ve met both your parents. Must be getting serious between us.”

The words had been meant as a joke, but they rang with more than enough truth for Aidan. Ever’s cheeks colored under his gaze, and she made a point of staring at his mother’s garden and not Aidan himself. “Derek Landry is the best tracker I know,” he said instead, sidestepping her statement. “I doubt Carlton Avery will let us on his property again, but I’m hoping Derek can find something else on the land around the house.”

“Your mom seems different from the rest of you.”

Aidan looked back at Ever. “How do you mean?”

She chewed her lip, looking unsure, then blurted out, “She looks older is all. You and your dad both look like you’re in your twenties, while she…well…”

Aidan nodded. “That’s because she started life as human and was Changed when she was forty-two years old.”

Ever’s eyes widened. “So you
can
Change regular humans,” she murmured, more to herself than anyone in particular.

“We can, but prefer not to do so. It’s rough, really rough, and not everybody makes it.”

“Wait,” she said, squinting up at him, “it can
kill
people?”

“In the wrong situation, definitely.” Well, she’d have to find out sometime. “A simple scratch or small bite isn’t enough; not enough enzymes would be released and would be easily purged by the human body’s defense systems. It takes a real bite to get the enzymes into the system that starts rewriting DNA.”

“Wait, DNA? Enzymes?”

“Well, that’s the pseudo-scientific theory bandied about anyway. You ask most of the older shifters and they’re content to say it’s magic and leave it at that. I prefer a more modern approach.” He shrugged. “It’s not like we can give any geneticists samples to prove or disprove that theory. Anyway, Changing this way seems to work best when both parties are connected by a bond.”

“What kind?”

“Blood bonds ease the process, but the mating bond can ensure it as well. Whatever it is that links mates, that seems to help facilitate the Change.”

“But,” Ever said slowly, “you said your mom didn’t find her mate until well after she’d been changed.”

He nodded. “She was attacked by a rogue shifter and left for dead. In those cases, the Change isn’t as straightforward; it’s more like a disease that will either kill or heal you. Most attacks like that fall into the first category; they die pretty quickly, as if they’d been poisoned. Fortunately, my mother survived and was found by my father, who’d been hunting the rogue.”

Movement toward the back of the house caught his eye. His mother was beckoning him toward the barn, and he jerked his chin to let her know he saw her. “Come on, we’re being summoned.”

Questions swam in her eyes but she followed silently. Aidan wished he could answer all her questions but they were working to find her sister, and he had the feeling she’d want to focus on that. Besides, he’d given her a lot of information; she’d likely need time to absorb it all.

He just hoped it wouldn’t scare her off.

*

The previously quiet hounds started baying as soon as he and Ever stepped around the house. Aidan counted about twenty or so, lined up in dog runs about three to a pen. “For training?” he asked his mother, indicating the hounds with a jerk of his chin.

She nodded. “Some are here for breeding too. He’s becoming known across the country for producing great dogs.”

Ever drew close to the pens, looking intently at the dogs but not putting her hand out. Most of those in kennels were young, no more than a year old, all but tripping over their long ears. “They’re adorable,” she said, a smile lighting her face.

“My husband trains and breeds various types of hound dogs,” Eleanor said a bit proudly, “both for hunting as well as search and rescue operations.”

Ever’s back was to them so she missed the quizzical look his mother sent Aidan. He couldn’t tell whether his mother could sense the mating bond, but the way her eyes were darting between the human girl and the way Aidan stood watchfully close, she probably guessed it. She said nothing however, just turned and smiled as her mate walked up.

“Is he going to use the dogs to find Sonya?” Ever murmured to Aidan.

“Not exactly.”

Derek Landry was a quiet, unassuming man with dark hair and brown eyes. He was on the shorter side, only a few inches taller than Aidan’s mother. Unlike most shifters, he was average-looking, but it wasn’t his looks that had Aidan seeking him out.

“What can I do you for, Sheriff?”

“I need your help finding someone.”

Derek cocked his head to one side. “Human or were?”

Never one to mince words. “Were.”

Beside him, Ever jerked in surprise. “What? We’re talking about Sonya, right? No, she’s human.”

Aidan winced. He hadn’t told her yet about what exactly he and his father had seen on the recording.

Derek glanced at Ever, then back at Aidan. “You have something that smells like her?”

In reply, Aidan pulled a sock he’d stashed away from the demolished house and handed it to the other man. He could feel Ever’s eyes burning holes into his skull but kept his eyes on Derek, who brought the sock to his nose. “Definitely a familial resemblance with your girl here,” the other man murmured, taking another sniff. “It’s not fresh, at least a couple weeks old but I have the scent. You sure this is hers?”

“It came from the house where she lived, so I’m hopeful. She was kidnapped from Arcadia two weeks back.”

That got the other man’s attention. Derek’s eyebrows dropped into a frown. “From Arcadia? I thought the Brahm had that place locked down tight.”

“He thought so too.” While many in town didn’t mind the constant monitoring, many chose to live outside the confines of the city and away from the surveillance. Technically they were still on Arcadian soil and under Marshall’s rule, but away from the constant prying eyes.

Not that the Brahm couldn’t get his information by other means. He made sure to stay one step ahead of everyone else. Which is why this breach was such a shock.

Derek’s mouth twisted, then he turned to Ever. “I’ll find your sister,” he promised, voice gentle.

Ever didn’t answer, just nodded. Emotions Aidan could read easily spilled from her eyes however, and he knew Derek could read the gratitude there too. Aidan put his hand on the small of Ever’s back to steer her toward the truck, and felt her stiffen.

Looks like he’d pissed her off. He was pretty sure how he’d done it too.

They said their goodbyes and moved back toward the car. Ever stayed out of his reach, eyes forward and gait stiff. Aidan sighed. “Look, I…”

“Why didn’t you
tell
me my sister was one of you?”

She said the last part in a grumpy voice, and Aidan tried not to take offense. “I wasn’t sure until I saw that video, and at the time you didn’t even such a thing existed.”

Ever folded her arms, still not looking at him. “You should have let me know directly, not making me find out secondhand like that.”

Yes, he should have. Shit, another thing he’d screwed up with her. “I’m sorry,” he said, exhaling rapidly. “You only today found out we existed at all, I didn’t want to worry you.”

She harrumphed, then glanced back toward the kennels and his family. “So what does he turn into, a bloodhound?”

Aidan shook his head. “Derek is another bear shifter, like me.”

Ever screwed up her nose. “Is everyone in this town a bear?”

He shook his head. “Bears have one of the best noses in the animal kingdom. I could go looking for your sister too, but Derek knows these woods better than I ever will. Plus, he has more experience tracking in other ways. To answer your other question, no, we have many different shifters in Arcadia, not just bears. The Animal inside depends on the person, not genetics.”

The cellphone in Aidan’s pocket rang. He almost ignored it, wanting to make sure she understood his reasons for doing what he did, then figured it might be a lead. “Yeah?” he said, letting some of his frustration bleed through.

“You should probably get back to town, bossman.” It was Mac, and she wasn’t joking around this time. “Somebody torched your girl’s car.”