Authors: Allie Ritch
"Koll, I'm fine. You need me to track."
"I need you safe.” As gently as possible, he gathered her into his arms. “Do you know what it does to me to see you bruised?"
He felt her draw a deep breath to speak. Afraid she'd argue with him, he beat her to it.
"Stay here in bed. Once I've gathered the men, I'll come back for you, and you can change into a bear in here.” Where no other male could see her naked. “You can do the tracking, but you'll get some rest first."
Although she let out a huff, she wrapped her arms around him. “All right."
Her surly tone made him smile. He swept her into his arms and carried her back to bed, and then he tucked her in to make sure she obeyed. Once he was certain she'd stay put, he gathered his clothes and got dressed. He let Greyfell out of his kennel before heading toward the door.
"I'll be back soon."
"You'd better,” she told him.
Koll left before he was tempted to climb back in bed with her and start the morning all over again.
It was mostly dark out, though the dawning sun coated the open ground in a hazy glow. He headed toward Gilby's house first. The crunch of his feet through the snow was the only sound besides the lighter tread of Greyfell's paws behind him.
When the hound trotted closer to his side, Koll reached out to scratch the back of Greyfell's head. Unlike some masters, he didn't lavish his hound with lots of praise. That didn't mean Koll didn't let the canine know when he was a good boy. They were adept at reading each other.
So when Greyfell's lip curled up to flash his fangs, Koll knew his hound wasn't being testy. He had his knife out in an instant, just in time to stab a wall of white before it crashed right into him. Had the snow been any more hard-packed, he was sure he would have been knocked senseless. As it was, the ground had just enough give to keep him from losing consciousness. The frost bear was already on top of him.
Enormous jaws shot toward his face, ready to crush his skull. Some disconnected part of Koll's brain identified Tartok from his mangled left eye even as he struck upward with his knife to defend himself. Koll deflected the killing blow with a jab to the bear's jugular, but he couldn't break free. The side of his chest felt as if it had caught fire as the frost bear raked his side. He wasn't even sure it was a deliberate swipe.
Gray fur met white above him, and the bear roared with enough concussive force to shatter ice. Greyfell looked very small where he'd latched on to Tartok's neck with his fangs. There was no way his hound was a match for the enormous frost bear, but he proved a useful distraction. Koll jabbed his knife into the other side of his enemy's neck and managed to roll free. He heard a sharp yelp and looked back in time to see Greyfell being flung from the bear's mouth.
No time to check on his hound. Koll wheezed in pain as he forced himself to his feet and felt the blood seeping down his side. Where was the other brother? There was no sign of him and no chance to look. Koll went in low and mean, piercing and stabbing Tartok as quickly as he could before the bear caught him with his paw. It felt like being hit by an avalanche. His coat and flesh ripped down the back of his shoulder, and he landed face first in the snow. The hit stunned him, leaving him vulnerable for precious seconds.
When Koll heard another bellow, he braced himself, expecting to be mauled. The bite didn't come. He drew on the last reserves of his strength to force his way to his feet again. The ground was dyed red with blood, a great portion of it probably his. A violent clash was being waged in front of him.
Though half Tartok's size even in bear form, Shila was on top of the male, and she was obviously trying to rip him apart. She had a crushing grip on Tartok's neck and used her massive arms and claws to hold on to him. If she could keep the male in place, maybe Koll could land a killing blow.
He stumbled forward, looking for an opening, but he didn't get the chance. Still limping from the spear wound, Cikuq finally made his appearance. The brothers must have expected Shila to fight again, so they'd separated and left one to lie in wait for her. Cikuq went directly for her. The male frost bear caught her by the back of the neck and hauled her backward with his incredible strength.
Shila made a choking sound, but fought to hold on. Though Cikuq could have crushed her spine, the male evidently still wanted her intact. He gave her a brutal shake and yanked harder until she lost her grip. Koll could see she tried to turn on Cikuq then, but the larger male overpowered her and pinned her to the ground.
Lurching forward, Koll tried to get to her. Tartok immediately blocked his path. The male glared at him out of his one good eye, and there was no doubt about the intelligence behind his gaze. Tartok stalked toward Koll, bringing the promise of death closer.
Koll tightened his hold on his knife. Although the odds were against him, he would not go down easily. Not with Shila watching him with her clear brown eyes, struggling in vain to free herself from Cikuq's hold. He didn't give way as Tartok drew closer, but he slowly sidestepped.
The frost bear was fast. Koll never had a chance to leap clear, and he barely had time to slice forward with his blade. Tartok flinched and let out a terrible wail when Koll caught him across the cheek. The sound echoed as the bear reared up on his hind legs—except, no, that wasn't an echo. There were other shouts now. Dozens of them.
Tartok crashed back to the ground with several spears in his side. More came, driven deep by the people wielding them. Every male in the village was there, swarming around the bears and attacking with the full fury of the community.
Koll worried they might not recognize Shila, but he heard Gilby directing the fight against Cikuq. His little friend was the one to deliver the killing blow to the bear holding her down. In front of him, Tartok put up a last desperate battle before his legs gave out. He wound up sprawled on the snow, panting and weak.
The bright flash of light sent the other villagers stumbling back, but Koll walked closer. He looked down at the man who'd stalked Shila for so long, who'd tried to kill him. Tartok lay naked and bleeding from a hundred different wounds.
Koll kneeled to look his enemy right in the eye and said the only thing that mattered. “She's mine."
The man's nod was nearly imperceptible. It was the last move Tartok made before his eyes glazed over in death.
A large nose pressed against Koll's cheek, immediately drawing his attention. He turned to find Shila inspecting him and recognized the worried sound she made in her throat.
"I'm okay."
"Are you kidding?” Gilby said. “You're bleeding all over the place. You almost got yourself killed!"
Once again, no filter. Leave it to Gilby to open his mouth—the only part of him that was big.
Gilby helped Koll to his feet and steadied him when he swayed. “We've got to get you home and patch you up."
Koll heard a whimper and turned toward the sound. Hunkered low to the ground, Greyfell limped toward him and collapsed at his feet. Although Koll almost pitched forward, he leaned down to pet his hound's head. Greyfell thumped his tail weakly.
"He's in worse shape than I am,” Koll said.
"I'd say you're about equal.” Gilby struggled to control Koll's teetering weight. “I'll get Elli to look after him. You're the one I'm worried about. You can't even walk."
"I can.” A lie, but Koll hated feeling so weak. It was not a state he was used to.
Shila gently licked Greyfell's muzzle before turning to look at him. Her narrowed eyes told Koll she didn't believe him. Before he had time to protest, she circled around behind him and got her head between his legs. He nearly toppled off her back when she rose with him straddling her shoulders.
The blood loss must have been getting to him because the thought raced through his mind that he might be the first man to ride a frost bear. Of course he'd already ridden her, but that was—
"Careful there.” Gilby pressed close to her side to hold Koll in place until he got his balance. “Need me to steady you on the ride back?"
"No."
His friend actually looked disappointed, but he immediately bent to see to Greyfell.
"Thank you,” Koll told him. “Thank you for protecting Shila."
"Of course,” Gilby said. “You'd do the same."
He would, but that didn't make it any less meaningful. Koll would never forget. Something occurred to him, though.
"How did you know not to attack her? With three bears, how did you recognize her?"
"Idiot.” Gilby returned a broad grin. “First of all, she was the smallest of the three, which is saying something. And second of all, she's wearing your stupid pink ribbon."
Yes, she was. Because no matter what skin she wore, Shila was his. Koll would hold on to her for all the winters to come.
Koll stood alone, looking at the high mountains in the distance. Well, not quite alone. Greyfell, now fully healed and grateful for the long trek, was gamboling about behind him. It was late, but the full moon bathed the landscape in icy silver.
He'd come here for a woman. When he turned to face homeward, she snuck up on him despite his alertness. Had she been any other frost bear, she could have killed him in that instant, but he never had to fear this one. With a brilliant flash, she changed into the most breathtaking woman he'd ever met. She was a big woman, not dainty in the least, and she fit him perfectly.
"Hello, wife.” Koll pulled her close and wrapped a blanket around her, though it was warmer now and she never noticed the cold.
Shila brushed her lips against his and nuzzled him. “My mate."
"Did you have a good roam?"
"Oh yes.” Her smile was as white as her hair. “It felt good to stretch."
They'd both spent so much time as loners they understood when to give each other freedom and space. Of course they'd already known they were well-suited before they'd gotten married. Koll respected her natural instincts, and she respected his. Lately, though, his protective urges required special care.
Sliding his hand down between them, he rested his palm on the small swell of her lower belly. “You didn't overdo it, did you?"
She nipped his chin. “I told you already. This was my last change until our baby is born. I'm strong, and I'd sense any health problems."
So she'd told him, but he couldn't stop worrying. It was a good thing they weren't having twins or triplets. If their child turned out anything like his mother, Koll would have his hands full. He'd have to hone his skills with the first one before they added to their family. Of course, at the rate he and Shila were going, she'd be pregnant again next spring. Koll couldn't keep his hands off her incredible body, not that she was any more restrained.
"Want to go to the tavern?” she asked.
The question distracted him from his lascivious thoughts. He should have known she'd ask that. Although she liked the privacy of their house, Shila enjoyed talking to their neighbors. That wasn't why she frequented the tavern, though. He wasn't sure whether it was her bear half or the woman who took such savage pleasure in the tavern's new rug—the new bearskin rug.
While Tartok had changed to a man before his death, Cikuq had remained a frost bear. The villagers had made a trophy of him where they could all enjoy it. Every time they went into the tavern, Shila made sure to wipe her feet on what was left of him.
"Such a mean streak."
She rubbed her nose against his. “Bears aren't known for their sweet dispositions. Especially pregnant bears. I don't forgive anyone who hurts my mate."
Koll grunted. Her protectiveness pleased him, but that's not what he wanted from her right now. He knew a sure way to improve her mood.
With a quick jerk, he pulled the blanket from her shoulders and tossed it to the ground. She was once more exposed to the open air.
"I'd rather keep you all to myself,” he said with a growl.
Unashamed by her nudity, she stared back at him without flinching. “Then strip. I'll have to inspect you before I agree."
Koll didn't say a word. He just tore his clothes off at record speed. Then he set about showing her he was the perfect mate for her, for this season and all the rest of their lives.
Allie Ritch spends her time wandering around in her own little world in the Southeastern United States. She has an active imagination and loves fantastical elements, including those found in sci-fi, paranormal, and fantasy works. Allie enjoys entertaining others through storytelling and has fun spicing things up in erotic romance. When she's not working, she's appreciating the ocean and sunshine and keeping the company of a toy poodle who tries to French kiss everyone he meets.