9781631054747HerstoBearHoffa (8 page)

“What
did it say?”

“Mine.”

“Hmm,
that’s your bear. You’re a very advanced girl. It’s unusual to have your bear
talking to you already. Maybe you have a shifter in your family tree somewhere
and you have latent shifter genes so the conversion is happening faster than
normal.”

“You
mean my bear is really like a different person inside me? I thought it was just
a part of me. I know you talked about your bear wanting me and stuff, but I
didn’t get that it was a different person than you.”

“It’s
hard to explain, we are the same person, but different too. We share
everything, have the same thoughts and dreams, but he can talk to me, help me,
share his strength with me.”

“Wow,
that’s gonna take some getting used to.”

“It
will be an adjustment, but you will learn to love it. It is very comforting to
have your bear with you. I couldn’t imagine not having mine with me.”

“I
guess,” Jenna mumbled, not at all sure she was ready for this change in her
life. As soon as she was alone she was calling Alice, she needed some best
friend advice and reassurance.

Maria
came back to the table with the two steaming pizzas and all thoughts of
impending changes left Jenna’s mind. Garlic and tomato sauce, onion, bell
pepper, spicy sausage and pepperoni took center stage.

Maria
placed the pies in the center of the table and set small plates in front of
Jenna and Bern.

“Bon
appetite,” she said as she backed away.

Bern
served them each a piece and Jenna folded the slice to lift it to her mouth,
dripping with cheese and piping hot.
Oh
my God, what could be better?
She closed her eyes in bliss as she bit into
the delicious feast. The spices rolled around on her tongue, blending together
in a symphony of epicurean delight.

She was
savoring her single bite, chewing slowly and enjoying the flavor and texture. When
she opened her eyes, Bern had devoured three pieces already. “Did you even
taste it?” she asked.

“Of,
course I did. I told you I was hungry.”

Jenna
laughed. “Yes, you did.”

“Besides,
if I slowed down to watch you eat, I would have come in my pants like a horny
teenager. Good God woman, are you eating that pizza or making love to it?”

Jenna
shrugged her shoulders. “I like pizza.”

Bern
growled. “Next time we’re eating it at home, and I’ll be licking it off your
body,” he said with a leer.

Jenna
could feel herself
blush,
damn all she did was blush
since she met this man. She looked down at the table. He reached across the
table and lifted her chin. “Don’t hide from me, little one. I love you, and
there is nothing to be embarrassed about.”

Seriously?
All the times they’d made love
together and he picks the middle of a pizza parlor to tell her he loves her for
the first time? Did he really mean it? Maybe it was a good thing he was saying
it when they weren’t in the throes of passion. Maybe that meant he really did mean
it. Should she say it back? Did she love him? Yeah, she did. She would never
have agreed to the mating if she didn’t, but somehow she just didn’t feel right
about telling him here and now.

She
looked back at him and hoped the love she felt was conveyed in her eyes. She
wasn’t ready to voice it yet. It was too new, too fragile and she was scared.
She really needed to get her shit together and put her big girl panties on. She
wouldn’t hurt Bern for anything, but she needed time. All of this was just happening
so fast.

A brief
flash of disappointment seemed to cross Bern’s features, but it was gone so
quickly she couldn’t be sure she’d even seen it. Then he leaned across the
table and lightly brushed her lips with a kiss.

She
caressed his bearded cheek, God she loved his facial hair, he leaned into her
hand.

“Let’s
finish eating and head for home,” he said.

They
finished their meal quickly.
Chatting about the town, Bern’s
responsibilities to the clan and the students in Jenna’s class.
She told
him some funny stories about the happenings in kindergarten and he told her
about the inner circle of the clan, Martin, Guiles and Hans.

Maria
said her goodbyes, gifting Jenna with a kiss to both cheeks this time as well
as Bern and they sped off in the little sports car toward Jenna’s house.

Jenna
wasn’t quite sure what to do when they reached her house. She’d never been in a
relationship before, what was the protocol? They’d already had sex, twice
today, should she invite him in to stay the night? She stifled a yawn as they
pulled into the driveway.

Bern
made the decision for her. He walked her to the door and asked for her keys,
checked the house as he’d done on the previous occasion and came back to the
front door. Handing her the keys he embraced her tenderly and kissed her like
she was the most cherished thing on earth.

“Good
night, little one. Sleep well and dream of me,” he said and then he kissed her
forehead and vaulted down the porch steps, waving goodbye as he sped away in
the little sports car. Jenna touched her lips as she stood on the porch and
watched him drive away. “Mine,” the voice in her head said again. “Yes, ours,”
Jenna said out loud, with a smile and turned to go inside the house.

Jenna
went to the bedroom and changed into her most comfortable sleep shirt and big
fuzzy slippers. She went to the kitchen and made herself a cup of instant
cocoa, with marshmallows, of course, and then she pulled the cordless phone
from the wall and curled up in the corner of the sofa to dial Alice.

Her
friend picked up on the second ring, as per usual no salutation for the Chicago
girl, she just jumped right in. “Okay, so what’s the update? Are you boinking
like bunnies?”

“God, I
needed to hear your voice.”

“Why?
What’s the matter?” Alice was all business now.

“Nothing
is the matter.” Jenna sighed. “Everything is wonderful. It’s just all happening
so fast.”

“Ooh,
wonderful? I like wonderful.
Dish.
What’s wonderful?
Did you do the down and dirty?”

“You
are such a slut. Yes, we had sex.”

“And it
was wonderful?”

“I
fucking fainted!”

“You’re
shitting me?
The first time?”

“No…
When he marked me.”

“Holy
crap on a cracker.
You’re marked already? That means you’re mated, right? Like forever and
always?”

“Yep,
forever and always,” Jenna squeaked.

“You’re
freaking out.”

“Yeah,
kinda.”

“What’s
wrong?”

“Nothing,
everything.
I don’t know. I’m just scared. I’ve never even had a boyfriend and it’s all
happening so fast. He told me he loves me tonight.”

“Well,
that’s good isn’t it? Wait, you didn’t say it back did you?”

“No,”
Jenna said miserably.

“But,
you do don’t you? Love him I mean.”

“Yes,
of course I do.”

“So why
didn’t you tell him?”

“I
don’t know,” Jenna whined.
“Because I’m a stupid idiot.”

“Hey!
Only I’m allowed to call you a stupid idiot, you quit that.”

“I need
you.”

“I
figured.”

“You
did?”

“Yeah,
I knew you’d be calling. I already put in for vacation. I’ll be there on
Saturday morning.”

Jenna
jumped off the couch and screamed. “You are
the bestest
best friend ever!”

“You
better not let Beverly hear you say that.”

“Oh my
God, Bev, I haven’t even called her.”

“I called
and let her know what’s going on. She’s tied up at some big convention, but she
said she’d be there for the wedding.”

“Wedding?
Oh my God, I hadn’t even
thought about a wedding.”

“Well,
I know a mating is forever and all, but I assume your parents are going to want
the traditional white wedding and all.”

“Crap,
you’re right. How do I bring that up to Bern? It’s not like I can just ask him
to marry me.”

“Leave
that up to ole Alice, here. If he doesn’t bring it up while I’m there I’ll
subtly bring it into the conversation.”

“Subtly?
You haven’t been subtle about
anything in your life.”

“Well,
there’s a first time for everything.” Alice laughed.

“Hey,
bring a fancy dress with you. Bern and I have been invited to dinner with the
alpha of the neighboring wolf clan on Saturday. It’s a big friggin’ deal.”

“Are
you sure it’s okay for you to just bring someone with you?”

“I
don’t think it will be a problem, Bern is bringing several guards with us,
you
can be one of the guard’s dates or something.”

“Okay,
if you’re sure.”

“I’m
sure. I can’t wait for you to get here. I’m so excited. God, I miss you girl. I
wish I could hug you through the phone.”

“It’s
only a few days until Saturday, and then I’ll hug the stuffing out of you. Can
you hold out until then?”

“I’ll
have to, won’t I?”

“Yes,
you will. I gotta go. Love you, girl!”

“Love
you too, see you Saturday.”

Jenna
danced around in a circle before she hung up the phone. Alice was coming!

Chapter Eight

Bern
was knocking at her door at seven o’clock the next morning. Jenna couldn’t wait
to tell him her news, she threw open the door and jumped into his arms. She
hooked her legs around his waist and he supported her butt with his arms.

“Well
good morning. Someone’s in a good mood today.”

“Guess
what?”

“What?”

“I
called Alice last night and she’s coming to visit! She’ll be here Saturday.”

“Wonderful.”

“Is it
okay if she comes to Von Drake’s with us, because I kind of already told her it
was,” she said all in one breath.

Bern
laughed, “Yes, it should be
fine,
I’ll send Bastian a
note to inform him your friend will be in town and joining us.”

“He
won’t be mad will he?” Jenna asked.

“No, it
will actually be a nice ice breaker. Help lessen the tension.”

“Oh
good, I can’t wait for you to meet Alice.” Jenna gave him a big squeeze and
dropped her legs. Bern let her slowly slide down the front of his body.
Somebody was very happy to see her too.

Hans
stepped up to the front gate and cleared his throat.

Bern
stepped back. “Good morning, Hans. Would you like to walk with us today?”

“
Ja, Sippe
.”

“Do you
mind, Jenna? Hans was on a reconnaissance mission last night and I need his
report.”

“No,
that’s fine. If you need to work, I’m more than capable of walking to school
alone.”

Bern
gave her a stern look. “No, you are not. You are to go nowhere alone. Do you
understand me?”

Jenna
clicked her heels together and saluted.
“Yes, sir.”

Bern
slapped her butt. “Impertinent cub, I may have to punish you later,” he teased
with a waggle of his eyebrows.

Bern
linked their hands and Hans fell into step beside them as they struck out for
the school.

“So,
what did you discover, my friend?” Bern asked.

“Nothing
decisive, I’m afraid,
Sippe
. As Boyd
said, five men are camped about ten miles outside town. They have fishing
equipment with them and there were fresh fish at the camp, but I also saw
several rifles and tranquilizer guns.

It’s
possible they are just cautious and prepared in case they run into an animal in
the wild. I listened around the camp, but they weren’t talking about anything
but fishing. Sorry.”

“Nothing
to be sorry about.
That’s what reconnaissance is about. Learning what we can. Let’s add the camp
to our nightly patrols. Keep an eye on
it,
make sure
these men aren’t up to no good.”

“
Ja
,
Sippe
.”

“What’s
going on?” Jenna asked.

“Nothing
to worry about.
Just making sure that some campers are just campers and not agents from HUNTS.”

Jenna
shivered. “God, I hate even hearing about that group. They’re worse than the
KKK. The news has reported some terrible things they’ve done. I don’t understand
why the government hasn’t shut them down.”

“There’s
always been hate groups against people who are different. The government can’t
shut them down unless they catch them in the act, and even then they can only
arrest the people that are involved at the time.”

“I
don’t understand it, why do they hate shifters?”

“I
don’t know, little one. Why
do
the KKK hate black
people? Who can understand hate?”

Jenna
rested her head on his shoulder and they walked in silence for the rest of the
way to the school. When they reached the entrance Bern kissed her goodbye and
Jenna went inside. Hans took up his post, hidden from view, but guarding Jenna
from outside the school.

* * * *

At the
end of the day Jenna’s cell phone rang. “Hello,” she answered.

“Hello,
beautiful,” Bern said. “I’m running a few minutes late, please wait for me at
the school, okay?”

“Sure,
no problem.
Your sister is running late again too. I’m going to take Sarah out to play on
the playground while we wait.”

“Okay,
I’ll meet you there.”

Jenna took
Sarah by the hand and led her to the playground. She set her purse and tote bag
on a bench, along with Sarah’s backpack and took Sarah over to the swing set.
Hans sat on the bench in the shade and watched Jenna push Sarah on the swings.

Jenna’s
heightened senses weren’t enough for her to notice the scent of the humans that
lurked in the shadows of the woods adjacent to the playground. Three men
watched the human push the bear cub on the swings with covetous eyes.

Arms
reached around Jenna’s middle and she shrieked, elbowing the body behind her.
Bern grunted. “Hey, that’s not very nice.”

“You
scared the crap out of me!
Sneaky bear!”

“Unca
Bern,” Sarah screamed and launched herself at her uncle’s legs.

“Hello,
munchkin,” he said tossing her in the air and giving her Eskimo kisses. “How’s
my girl today?”

“Okay,”
she said with a sigh, “’cept, Mommy’s late again.”

“Mommy
got tied up, so uncle Bern’s gonna take you home. Is that okay?”

Sarah
smiled like she’d won the prize at the county fair.
“Really?
Yeah! Are we going to your house?”

“No,
we’re going home to your house, but I thought maybe we’d stop for ice cream
first,” Bern said.

“Yippee!”
Sarah hollered.

“Now I
see why you’re her favorite Unca,” Jenna said and bumped shoulders with Bern.

“You
bet, little one. I gotta earn points where I can. You up for some ice cream?”

“Always,”
Jenna said.

The
three of them walked hand in hand to the ice cream parlor and got double
scoops. Jenna got triple chocolate fudge, Sarah got cookies and cream and Bern
got maple walnut crunch. They sat at the cute little wrought iron tables
outside the ice cream parlor devouring their confections.

Sarah
seemed to have more on her face than she managed to get in her mouth.
Thankfully, Bern had grabbed a stack of napkins from the counter. “Come here,
sweetie,” Jenna said as she grabbed a napkin and tried to halt the flow of ice cream
before it dripped onto Sarah’s T-shirt.

“I can
see you doing that with a child of ours one day soon,” Bern said.

Jenna
laughed. “That’s
funny,
I was thinking the same thing
the other day when you were holding Jimmy.”

Bern
raised a brow. “Oh, it’s something we haven’t talked about, but I’m glad to
hear you say that. I want children.
Our children.”

Jenna
swallowed,
he looked at her with such love in his eyes. “I
do too. I want a little boy with your big brown eyes.”

Bern
reached forward and cupped her chin. “I want a little girl with your beautiful
blonde curls.” He leaned in and kissed her over Sarah’s head.

Sarah
put a hand on each of their chests and pushed them apart. “Quit it, you’re
squishing me.”

They
both laughed, the moment broken. Bern tousled her hair. “Okay, munchkin, are
you finished with your ice cream?” A soggy piece of cone was all that remained
of Sarah’s treat.

“Yes,
I’m done.”

Bern
wrapped the mess in another napkin and tossed it in a nearby trash can. “I
think we should go inside and wash up before we head to Sarah’s house,” Jenna
said.

“Good
idea,” Bern said. Jenna took Sarah inside to wash up, while Bern took out his
cell phone and placed a call. Jenna assumed he was calling Julia to let her
know they were on their way.

Bern
was off the phone when Jenna and Sarah returned to his side. Sarah took up a
position between them skipping and swinging her hands as the three made their
way across town. Sarah talked non-stop, telling Jenna all about the family.

She
learned the names of all Bern’s sisters, Julia, Andrea, Dagmar, Sofie and
Hannah. Sarah also recited the names of all eleven of her cousins, but Jenna
wasn’t about to try and memorize all those names. She did manage to catch the
three in Sarah’s family, she already knew about Jimmy and then there was an older
boy named Nicholas.

Sarah’s
prattle left Jenna free to
think,
her mind kept
drifting back to Bern and the soft loving look he had given her at the
restaurant. The big bear was nothing but a softie at heart. They turned onto
the walkway of a cute little ranch style home and were just nearing the door
when a hellacious roar sounded from behind the closed door.

Jenna
stopped in her tracks and Sarah smirked. “Uh oh, Mommy’s mad,” Sarah said in a
singsong voice.

Bern
stopped and looked down at Jenna and Sarah. “You’d better stay here and let me
see what’s going on,” he said, he pushed her toward some chairs on the front
porch and cautiously approached the front door.

“Better
watch out, Unca Bern, Mommy throws things when she’s mad,” Sarah warned a bit
late, as a vase sailed past Bern’s head through the open doorway.

“Yes, I
remember,” Bern muttered. “Julia!” he called. A roar answered his call and
Bern’s eyes shifted from brown to gold, his teeth elongated in his mouth and
Jenna was shocked by the roar that emanated from his mouth. Silence followed.

No more
projectiles came toward the door and Bern entered the now quiet interior. Jenna
heard some scuffling and what sounded like moving of furniture and then low
harsh voices. Finally Bern reappeared on the porch followed by a red-faced
Julia.

“I’m so
sorry, Jenna. I was having a…moment.” Julia said self-consciously.

“You
were mad,” Sarah said.

“Um,
yes,” Julia said.
“Again, sorry.”
Julia blushed
furiously. “You shouldn’t get between a bear and her chocolate when she’s
PMSing.”

Jenna
laughed. “Well, it’s a good thing to know some things are the same whether bear
or human. I may not be able to roar that loud, but I sure have wanted to in the
past.”

Julia
laughed and just like that they bonded in the way of women. PMS was the
universal bond.

“Please
come in, I promise not to bite you. I’ll even make some coffee. Just don’t eat
my chocolate.”

“I
promise, Scout’s honor. We just had ice cream anyway and I had triple chocolate
fudge.”

“And
you didn’t bring me any? Strike that, I may have to kill you now.”

Julia
led them into a large country kitchen, Jimmy sat in a high chair at the table,
Cheerios
sprinkled across the tray, a huge man in a blue
work shirt and khaki pants sat at the table reading the newspaper.

“Jenna,
this is my husband James,” Julia said. James stood and extended a large paw to
shake with her.

“Um,
hi,” he said. “Sorry, about the noise when you arrived. Jules was feeling a
little grumbly.”

Jenna
laughed. “So we heard.”

“Have a
seat,” James said, indicating a chair at the table. Bern held a chair out and
seated her and then straddled one for
himself
. Sarah
climbed into her daddy’s lap and kissed his cheek.

“Hi,
Daddy.
I got
to swing and have ice cream,” she said.

“That’s
great, pumpkin. Were you a good girl for Uncle Bern?”

“Course
I was, I’s always a good girl,” Sarah said, and Jenna swore she could almost
see the little girl twisting her father around her little fingers. Sarah was
definitely Daddy’s girl.

James
kissed her nose and patted her behind setting her down on the floor. “Why don’t
you go up to your room and get washed up for dinner?”

“Okay,
Daddy,” she said with another kiss to his cheek, she skipped off to the other
room. James’ gaze followed her out of the room before it turned to Bern and
Jenna.

“I hear
congratulations are in order. ‘Bout time you finally mated old man,” James
said.

“Don’t
you start now too,” Bern said.

“Oh,
come on, what’s the fun of being the
Sippe
’s
brother-in-law if I can’t give you a hard time?”

“I get
enough of that from my infernal sisters.”

“That’s
the truth. Meddling bunch of sows,” James muttered, only to be smacked in the
back of the head by his wife, who growled menacingly.

“Children,”
Bern rumbled.

“Don’t
you children me, Bern
Allen,
I’m older than you are.”

“Doesn’t
matter,
schwester
mine, I am your
Sippe
.”