Authors: Cassandra Cole
CHAPTER THREE
The next week went by in a blur, and Hailey tried to keep herself distracted with her art and studying. She forgot to ask about the studio space last week, so she vowed to get to the bar early for her second shift to ask Patrick about it. She hoped the drama from last week was resolved. It was awkward standing there in the middle of a fight. She thought a lot about Elias since that night, especially when she was lying in bed trying to drift off to sleep.
When she woke up Saturday she made a trip into the nearby town to the mall so she could buy a new outfit, complete with a stylish leather jacket from the local charity shop. One good thing about being a full figured girl was that it usually wasn't hard to find clothes at second hand stores in her size.
She got dressed and made the drive to the bar. She was there about 20 minutes early, , and while driving in she noticed the parking lot was as full as last week. Hailey felt a little more confident this time as she strode to the door; she even got a few greetings from familiar faces as she entered the bar. At least some of the guys remembered her.
Claudette wasn't behind the bar tonight. It was a young girl who was icy with Hailey. She barely said two words and then, after Hailey placed her apron on and served her first customer, the girl said she was done and left in a huff.
After about an hour Hailey saw Elias through the crowd. He was sitting with a group of guys at the back. He met her eyes and waved with a smile. She smiled back, hoping that he would come over and say hello. After a few minutes, as if reading her, he begin to walk her direction. She watched as he sauntered easily through the crowd, slapping some of the guys on the back and joking as he did.
"Hi," he said as he stepped up to the bar.
"Hi. How are you?" Hailey asked. She suddenly felt a little shy.
"Good. I've been looking forward to seeing you again. I want to apologize for last weekend."
Hailey shook her head. "Don't worry about it…it's none of my business."
"No, we shouldn't have involved you in that. Your presence here has stirred up a little drama," he laughed.
"Mine? Did I do something wrong?" she asked, she felt embarrassed and wondered what it could be.
"No, not at all. It's just Patrick and Claudette have been a thing for a long time. And you seem to have caught Patrick's eye a little..." he trailed off.
Hailey couldn't believe what she was hearing. "What do you mean?" she asked.
Elias took a deep breath, like he was wrestling with telling her something that he probably shouldn't tell.
"It's nothing, don't worry about it. If you have a thing for him then it’s none of my business," he said.
"Of course I don't!" Hailey cried.
Elias laughed. "I’m glad to hear that. Just let him down gently. And let me know if he tries anything you don't approve of…okay?" Elias's eyes were suddenly serious.
"He wouldn't..." Hailey trailed off. She felt a little worried all of a sudden. Patrick was a big man, and she had been here all by herself with him at the interview.
Elias placed a hand on Hailey's. "Don't worry." He pulled a pen out of his pocket and wrote his phone number down on a napkin. "If you need anything, anything, just call me. Okay?" he said, pushing the napkin toward her. She folded it and slipped it into her pocket.
"Thanks," she said and smiled. When she turned around Patrick was standing in the doorway behind the bar. His face was set in a serious expression. Elias met his eyes, and Hailey wasn't sure because the bar was loud, but she thought she heard him growl.
After her shift Hailey went out to her car. Elias disappeared shortly before she had to leave. She wished she could have said goodbye, and decided to text him when she got back to her room. A thrill of excitement twisted through her stomach at the idea of late-night phone calls with Elias. Maybe she could convince him to come over.
When she left the bar it was completely empty. She didn't have keys, so she just left the door unlocked, hoping that Patrick was still in the back so he could lock up. As she walked to her car she could feel a presence behind her. She turned to see Patrick slowly walking through the parking lot behind her. She felt uneasy, and pushed the unlock button on her key fob so she could quickly get into her car if Patrick tried anything.
"Hey Hailey," he said, "did you have a good night?"
"Hi Patrick. Yeah, it was fun. Thanks," Hailey replied. "I couldn't lock up," she said, pointing toward the door. Patrick waved it away.
"Don't worry," he said. He was walking closer, and Hailey found that her back was now pressed against her car. She felt like she should get in and get away from here, but she wanted to ask about the studio space. She began to wonder if that was even a good idea at this point..
"Patrick, the job ad said there was a small room included in the position..." she began. Patrick smiled. His expression was suggestive and he was walking closer. There was only a few feet left between them.
"I can show you now, if you want?" he said. His voice was low. He took one hand and brushed Hailey's hair from her cheek with the back of his hand. His touch was cold and rough, and Hailey wanted to shrug him away. Instead she straightened her back and stepped to the left, away from him slightly.
"I think next Saturday would be better," she replied. "I'll get here a few minutes early. I really have to go now..." she turned and opened her car door and then slipped inside.
She was breathing heavily. She started her car and as she was placing the key into the ignition Patrick punched through her driver side window, leaving Hailey wondering if she would make it out of this alive.
She looked up hurriedly to back out of the parking lot and in her rear view mirror she saw Elias in the shadows.
He stepped out of the darkness and strode toward Patrick. Hailey watched in horror as he leapt toward Patrick, knocking him to the ground.
He held Patrick down and punched him several times in the face before Patrick pushed Elias off and struggled to his feet. For a few seconds the two stood facing each other, Patrick bleeding from the corner of his mouth. Elias looked at Hailey through the car windshield and pointed. He mouthed the word "go". Hailey was frozen, she knew she should leave, that she wouldn't want to see this, but she couldn't move.
Patrick strode toward Elias and kicked him in the stomach. Elias dropped to the ground and Hailey screamed.
She made a move to get out of the car but what she saw in front of her made her hand pause on the door handle. Patrick was bent over, and his shirt was split down the back.
Black hair was sprouting from his skin. Hailey covered her mouth as she watched him transform into a bear in front of her eyes. He more than tripled in size, and he screamed in pain.
The scream turned into a tremendous roar from a powerful bear's muzzle. Patrick, now an enormous angry looking black bear, dropped to all fours and lumbered toward Elias. Hailey screamed again, and contemplated running Patrick down to save Elias. But as she watched Elias started his own transformation. He rolled to all fours and leapt at Patrick. The strength and length of his leap seemed to defy gravity and midair his form shifted from a strong human, to a large reddish brown bear. He snarled and attacked Patrick with a ferocity Hailey had only ever seen on the Discovery Channel. Finally she snapped to her senses, slammed her car into drive and sped out of the parking lot, not daring to look behind her.
She ran through the dorm parking lot to her building and up to her room. Her roommate was sleeping, so she came in quietly, but laid in bed shivering and crying for a few hours before finally drifting off into a fretful dreamless sleep.
CHAPTER FOUR
The next morning Hailey woke to the sound of light knocking on her door. She rolled over and looked at her phone. It was almost noon. Her roommate was gone for the day, her bed as neat as a pin.
Hailey got out of bed and stumbled to the door, still shaky from the night before. She was expecting the police, or maybe the custodian of the building. But when she opened the door Elias was standing there. He had a cut above his eye, and some scratches on his hand, but otherwise he looked unscathed.
"Hi," he said sheepishly.
"I think you need to leave. I don’t know what the hell that was last night but I want no part of it!" Hailey tried to close the door but Elias reached up and held it open with incredible strength. Hailey's heart started to race, she was both apprehensive and excited. Despite what she saw, or thought she saw, the night before, she was still attracted to Elias.
"Can I come in?" he asked. Hailey looked back at her room and thought of Beatrice. She could come back at any moment.
"That's not a good idea," Hailey said, and she saw Elias's eyes cloud with disappointment. "My roommate will be here any minute," she continued hurriedly.
"Ah, right," Elias replied. He ran his hand through his hair and Hailey couldn't help but stare. He really was gorgeous.
She couldn’t believe what she was about to say but she blurted it out anyway. "Do you want to wait outside for me? I can shower and meet you in 20 minutes. Elias smiled with look that indicated he was both very pleased and surprised.
"I would love that Hailey". The sound of her name coming from his lips left Hailey breathless. He walked down the hall and turned halfway to look back at her. She felt that familiar twisting of excitement in her stomach.
"What are you doing Hailey," she whispered to herself before closing the door.
After she was showered, dressed and examined herself up and down in her dorm full length mirror, she walked out of the building to meet Elias. He was parked in front up front and leaning casually on his bike. A few of the girls who passed studied him as they walked by. He obviously didn't belong at this school and they wished they knew where he was from
"Do you want to go for a ride?" he asked as she approached him. He was holding a spare helmet out to her.
"I'm not sure," she answered hesitantly.
"Don't you trust me?" he asked. His smile made her melt and she gave in, taking the helmet from his hands.
"Hold on tight," he said after she had climbed on the bike behind him. It started with a roar, and he pulled out of the parking lot. The feeling was exquisite, Hailey imagined this was what it felt like to fly.
They stopped once, and Hailey tensed when she realized they were pulling in to the bar. He stopped the bike and when the roar faded Hailey immediately told Elias she wanted to leave.
"I just have to explain something," he replied. He stood in front of her. "Do you believe what you saw last night?" he asked.
"I don't know what I saw last night," she replied.
"Yes you do," he answered. "You saw me, and Patrick, turn into bears."
Hailey didn't reply. She felt scared, and wanted to leave.
"I think I should go home," she said.
"I just wanted you to know that Patrick won't be bothering you anymore."
Hailey felt sick. "Did you kill him?!" she asked in horror.
Elias smiled, "No. I beat him. So now the bar is mine."
"I don't understand..." Hailey couldn't believe what she was hearing.
"We're what you call shifters. Most of the time we're human, but sometimes we're bears," Elias replied.
"We?" she was starting to understand, but not quite believe, what he was saying. She had apparently been working in a bar full of bears.
"Patrick was the Alpha, and usually the Alpha gets whatever mate he wants..." Elias said. "And that works within the confines of the group because we all have an... understanding," he continued. "But when the Alpha wants someone from outside the group..." he gestured to Hailey.
"Things get complicated," Hailey answered for him.
"Exactly," Elias replied. "And Hailey," he continued, stepping toward her. "I haven't been able to stop thinking about you since you first walked into this bar," he bent and kissed her, gently and tenderly. As if he knew how afraid she was of him. Hailey was tense for a moment, and then gave in and returned the kiss.
"So you couldn't let Patrick... do whatever he was going to do..." Hailey asked.
"That's right," Elias answered. "I can take you home, if you want. I understand if you never want to see me again."
"What did you risk when you fought with Patrick?" Hailey asked.
"Everything. My home. My position within the group. My life," he replied.
"Why would you do that?" she asked.
"Because I can’t get you out of my mind. I know this sounds crazy to you but I feel like I’m falling in love with you," he answered.
Hailey laughed. "How is that possible? You barely know me!"
Elias shrugged. "Call it a sixth sense," he replied. They were silent for a few minutes as Hailey processed what he had said. Finally, she turned on the bike and put her helmet back on. Elias looked at her, his expression was defeated, and he almost looked as if he was in physical pain, likely a result from the events that took place last night.
"Let's keep riding," Hailey said, and patted the seat in front of her.
"You don't want to go home?" he asked, unbelieving.
"Why would I want that, it's a beautiful day. Just don't hurt me," she replied with a grin.
"I would never," Elias said, and he hopped on the bike in front of her.
After about an hour of weaving through forest roads and climbing higher and higher into the mountains they pulled in at a small cabin. It was perched on the edge of a cliff and overlooked a valley. The trees were like paint spots of bright color against a pine green backdrop. It was gorgeous.
"This is amazing," Hailey said.
"This is my house," Elias answered, opening the front door and stepping inside.
"You live here?" she asked, unbelieving. It was a rustic log cabin, but obviously fairly new. It smelled like freshly hewn wood.
"It's beautiful Elias," she said, stepping inside. It was quite modern in design, with soaring ceilings and one wall made entirely of windows that looked out onto the valley. There was a loft and Hailey could see a large bed at the apex of the roof.
"Do you want some lunch?" Elias asked.
"Yes, absolutely," she replied. She sat down on a high bar stool at the kitchen island and he poured both of them some wine.
"You won't be able to drive me home if you're drunk," she joked.
"Who says you're going home tonight?" he replied as he took a sip. His eyes twinkled over the glass and Hailey felt familiar warmth spread between her legs. She pressed her thighs together as if to extinguish it, but it only made the sensation spread and throb.
Elias set his wine glass down and came around the island toward her.
"You're very beautiful, you know," he said. He ran his hand into her hair and cupped the side of her face. She shivered with his touch and her mouth fell open slightly as her breathing sped up.
"Your lips are delicious," Elias whispered, his voice was husky with need. She tipped her face up toward him and he bent and kissed her gently at first, and then harder and with ferocity. She moaned and spread her legs to bring him closer. He stepped in toward her, and pressed himself between her thighs. She could feel his hardness pressed between her thighs and she brought her legs around him. Even through the layers of clothing the feeling of him ignited a fire inside her. He reached down and lifted her, his large hands cupping the back of her thighs and pressing her body against him even harder. She was surprised how easily he carried her. She clung to him as he lifted her up the stairs to the bed. When they got to the top they undressed hurriedly, their kissing becoming harder and more insistent with every second.
Finally, when she was fully undressed Elias stepped back and studied her. She fought the urge to cover herself, and her bravery started to wane. She looked down, unable to meet his eyes. He lifted her chin with his hands.
"What's wrong?" he asked. His eyes were genuinely confused. "We don't have to..." he started.
"It's not that," she whispered. "I don't feel good enough for you. Look at you," she laughed. She was fighting back tears.
Elias's expression was pained.
"Hailey," he said, his voice throaty, "you are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen," he stepped toward her and took her into his arms, kissing her with a passionate intensity she had never experienced in her life. It took her breath away, the eager way his lips ravished hers, and how his hands roamed her body. His thumb grazed across her nipple and she moaned, arching her back toward him. She heard him growl in response, and felt his thumb flick across her breast again and again, until she was gasping with pleasure.
"Oh Elias," she moaned, "that feels amazing."
"Mmm..." he replied, "what about this?" he lowered his head and brought her nipple into his mouth and sucked it gently before flicking his tongue across it. She gasped, and her knees buckled from the pleasure. He caught her and lowered her to the bed. Hailey opened her eyes and watched as he guided her thighs open, his hands roaming up and down her legs. He was drinking her in with his eyes, and they were blazing with a passionate intensity.
He lowered his head to between her thighs and devoured her until she screamed in pleasure, her fingers pulling and gripping his hair. All inhibition gone, she held him between her thighs and rocked against his mouth as his tongue flicked her clit deliciously and relentlessly until she shook with the most intense orgasm she had ever experienced.
Before she had even recovered he stood and pulled her toward him roughly. Hailey could see the need in his eyes, and he held her thighs open and pushed himself inside her. He filled her completely, the feeling borderline pleasure and pain. As he pushed in and out, slowly at first, and then with more intensity, his thumb stroked her clit and brought on wave after wave of pleasure. She came again, and he kept stroking her, prolonging the orgasm. She met his eyes and he watched her writhe in pleasure beneath him, both unable to take the sensation and desperate for more. She gripped the sheets in her fists and arched against his expert fingers teasing her. The movement only caused him to push inside her even deeper, filling her until she thought she would burst. Finally, when she could barely stand the burning pleasure any longer he lowered his whole body on top of her and shook with the pleasure of his own orgasm.
They lay entwined in the blankets for a few minutes, their breath slowing and heartbeats returning to normal. Elias rolled on top of her again and kissed her, deeply and passionately.
"That was incredible," he whispered in her ear.
"You can say that again," she laughed.
"I'll do it again," he growled as he nipped her ear. "But later. I'm going to cook you dinner." He stood and walked downstairs.
Hailey showered and dressed in one of Elias's shirts, which were surprisingly large on her. They ate and sat on the back deck, watching the sun dip lower in the sky.
Hailey fell asleep in one of the reclining chairs, and when she woke she found Elias had covered her with a blanket. She was thirsty when she woke, and her stomach felt a little unsettled. She chalked it up to the wine. She stood up to go back inside, but felt a little unsteady on her feet.
"Are you okay?" Elias asked, coming out on the deck to her.
"I think so. I just feel a little nauseous," she replied, putting the back of her hand to her forehead.
"Stand up, I'll help you inside," he said, holding out his hand. As she grabbed his hand and stood, his expression changed.
"What's wrong?" she asked.
He moved the blanked she had wrapped around herself aside, and Hailey looked down to see her stomach had swollen to a gentile rise. She looked six months pregnant.
"What's wrong with me?" she asked fearfully. "We need to call an ambulance, something's wrong..." she was cut short when she felt something move inside her. She gasped.
Elias's expression was serious. "You're pregnant," he whispered.
"What?!" Hailey cried. "How is that possible?"
He ran his fingers through his hair and sat down. He looked pale.
"It's what happens when an Alpha finds his mate..." he whispered. "That's what Patrick was going to do to you..."
"So you knew this was going to happen?" Hailey asked enraged.
Elias looked up, aghast. "No!" he cried. "I mean, I knew I liked you. A lot. But..." he trailed off.
"But what?!" she cried.
"It's never happened like this before. I've been attracted to women... and, you know..." he said. "But this has never happened."
Hailey made an exasperated sound and sat down.
"What do we do?"
"You'll have to have it here," he answered.
"Here?! I can't! I need a hospital," Hailey cried.