Chief Bear (Bear Shifter Paranormal Romance) (Rescue Bears Book 1) (9 page)

L
evi leaned
against one of the poles to the canopy at Alpha Station. Corey’s keyboard clicked behind him as he waited for updates from his crew. Night had fallen and the chances of a successful rescue had plummeted. It was Harry’s second night in the forest and prospects for his survival were not good.

Corey’s software had analyzed the data and suggested Shane go around the southern perimeter of the mountain to join Duke. Corey’s data analysis had never been wrong before, but Levi was beginning to have his doubts.

Shane couldn’t give updates in bear form. Angus and Zach were closing in on Duke’s location and none of them had picked up Harry’s trail. With so much on the line, failure was not an option. If his rescue crew couldn’t find the groom, it would not be good for business. Levi rubbed his forehead and looked at Corey.

“Does your magical computer have anything new to add?” Levi asked.

“It isn’t magic. It’s rudimentary artificial intelligence using probability generation algorithms.”

Levi had no idea what that meant but smirked and nodded his head as if he did. Shane had been out on the mountain for several hours now. If he was going to help the crew, it was about time he did something.

The walkie-talkie buzzed awake with Angus’s voice. “Big Bear to Alpha Station. I am now at Brew Bear’s location.”

“Ski Bear. What is your location?”

“Closing in on Brew Bear and Big Bear,” Zach said over the walkie-talkie. “Nothing new to report.”

“Dammit,” Levi said to Corey.

“How are things going with the girl you met on Mate.com?” Corey said, changing the subject.

“They were going fine. But I think I messed it up by moving too fast.”

“So you think she’s the one? Your fated mate?”

“I do. I don’t know how she feels about it, though. She’s a human, so her instincts are different from mine. I can’t just present her with a diamond ring two days after meeting her. That wouldn’t go off very well.”

“Do you want to marry this woman?” Corey asked.

“I do. She’s my mate. She’s perfect for me in every way. You should know that, since you invented the matching system,” Levi said.

“It wasn’t a question of whether or not my matching system works. It still astonishes me that people want to pair up like that.”

“This coming from a guy who’s making money off of a dating website,” Levi muttered.

“It was more about the experimentation that the money.”

“Don’t you ever want to find your mate?” Levi asked.

Corey rubbed his chin and looked away, contemplating the question.

“Not really. I’ve seen what relationships do to people. Shifters in particular. It isn’t always hearts and flowers. People get hurt. People have expectations and obligations. It doesn’t always lead to a happily ever after.”

“I’ve never seen a shifter who was with his fated mate who didn’t live happily ever after,” Levi said defensively.

“Doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen.”

“I thought you are all about analyzing variables.”

“Yes, I’m about analyzing variables. If you do not mate with anyone, there is a zero percent chance of having your heart broken. In my opinion, those are excellent odds.”

“But you also have a zero percent chance of having all of the good stuff that goes along with being in love.”

“A small price to pay,” Corey said. “I don’t have time to mess around with emotions like love.”

“Suit yourself. But I’m not the only one who signed up for your dating website. I know Duke went off with one of the bridesmaids from the wedding last night.”

“We’ll see how that goes for him,” Corey said, turning back to his computer. “If you want to claim your mate, I’m not going to try to discourage you. It’s just not my thing.”

“Fair enough.”

The darkness was enveloping the camp now that the sun had set. Levi checked in with his crew every fifteen minutes, hoping each time that they would have something new to report.

It wasn’t until several hours later that Shane’s voice came over the walkie-talkie, sounding excited. “Wild Bear to Alpha Station. I think I found him.”

“How did you get a walkie-talkie, Wild Bear?”

“I snatched it in my mouth before I left. Boy, you guys are boring to listen to. Even muffled by my bear’s tongue.”

“What is your location, Wild Bear?”

Shane reported his location to Levi. Corey started inputting the information into his computer, and Levi told the rest of the crew to converge at Shane’s position.

“Chief Bear, I found strange tracks in the snow, like makeshift snowshoes leading toward the caves along the southern edge of the mountain.”

“Do you scent anything?”

“That’s what made me follow these tracks in the first place. I’m going to inspect the first cave.”

“Be careful you don’t wake up any angry bears,” Levi said, his mood lightening for the first time in hours.

He waited several minutes until Shane reported back.

“Wild Bear to Alpha Station. I have eyes on target. He’s cold. Probably has minor hypothermia and some frostbite. Requesting assistance.”

“Alpha Station to Wild Bear. The rest of the crew is on its way. Do what you can to warm him up until they get there.”

“That was a close one,” Levi said to Corey.

The rest of the crew found Shane and Harry, updating Levi every few minutes. They strapped the shivering groom to a rescue sled and began the arduous journey of pulling him out of the mountain. Shane shifted back to bear form to pull the sled back down the mountain.

The other men wrapped the groom in thermal blankets, strapped him to the sled, and helped attach it to Shane. Having Shane be responsible for the rescue of a man who was in that bad of shape gave Levi pause. At this point, however, there was no real reason not to let Shane take the reins.

Levi saw Shane’s grizzly emerge from the inky darkness at the edge of Alpha Station with Harry’s sled in tow. The EMTs, who had arrived several minutes before, hurried to take Harry and put him into the ambulance.

The rest of the crew arrived about an hour later, and they worked together to break down Alpha Station. Corey was the first to leave with his computers in the back of his SUV. Duke and Angus drove back into town together, and Shane took his motorcycle back down the mountain. That left Levi alone in the darkness where Alpha Station had once been.

He wasn’t quite sure why he hesitated to leave. Corey’s words about fated mate relationships not always working out had gotten inside him and were messing with his mind. He knew that Juliet was the one. He could sense that beyond a shadow of a doubt. Every fated mate relationship he had ever known, be it with a shifter or a human, had worked out in the end. Levi was from a wealthy family and traveled in prosperous social circles. Perhaps it had insulated him in privilege.

Even the best relationships could be rocked to the core by prejudice and poverty, two things many shifters had to deal on a daily basis growing up. Levi got into his car before driving down the road to the highway. When he arrived back at the lodge, he noticed a text message on his phone from Juliet.

Harry will be fine. Wedding is still on for tomorrow.

What a relief. Harry certainly was a brave man to go from being lost in the mountains to the groom at a wedding the next day. Levi had a feeling he knew what love could do for a man. He wanted that for himself. He texted Juliet back, letting her know he had arrived at the lodged.

Just made it back. Good to know everything will be all right with the happy couple.

He had hoped that she would text him back by the time he arrived at his apartment, but his cell phone stayed quiet. Levi took a shower and climbed into bed, more grateful than ever for his comfortable home in his comfortable life.

As confused as he felt, he would have to sort it out in the morning. No matter what Corey said, Levi could not argue with his bear’s need for a mate. The man in him needed exactly the same thing. He wanted Juliet. She belonged to him. He wanted cubs to leave his legacy to. No amount of pain could make him stop wanting any of those things.

J
uliet woke
up the next morning to find Levi’s text on her phone. She had been fast asleep when he’d arrived the night before and regretted not being awake to greet him. After Quinn’s speedy departure, Juliet knew what she needed to do.

Maybe Quinn could run from commitment, from love, but Juliet was exactly the opposite. She was hesitant to simply fall head over heels for a guy she just met, but she could tell that she was doing just that. She had liked Levi when they were exchanging text messages. When she met him, she liked him even more. But it wasn’t until they’d made love that Juliet knew this was the real deal.

Levi’s kiss had swept Juliet up into something unexplainably big. Her body vibrated with need at the very thought of him. When she remembered the scent of his skin and the subtle look of desire in his eyes, her entire being called out for him. She craved a connection with him. She craved his touch, his kiss, his embrace. She wanted to be a part of him and to allow the bear inside him to take care of her.

She knew that Levi wanted the same thing. He had told her as much on their first date. That day out at the gazebo had been the most beautiful experience of her life. Making love to him in his bed had been mind-blowing. If those things were any indication of what it would be like to be Levi’s mate, then all Juliet could say was “bring it on.”

Quinn ran away from her mate, but Juliet intended to run straight toward him. She was tired of waiting, tired of reluctance. Maybe they had just met each other a few days ago, but she no longer cared. All she could think about as she slipped into her bridesmaid dress was being Levi’s mate.

The ceremony would be held in the massive atrium at the other end of the lodge. It was a greenhouse full of tropical plants and was ideal for a wedding. Juliet knew it would be beautiful and perfect for Charlotte and Harry. But they wouldn’t be the only ones professing their commitment to each other today.

Juliet wasn’t going to let love slip through her fingers the way Quinn had. Quinn’s departure had been the thing that woke Juliet up to what she really wanted. She wanted Levi and everything he had to offer. So what if she was being stupid? She had thought she was being smart all along and look at where that had gotten her. She’d spent years with an abusive boyfriend. And when she finally broke up with him, he turned out to be her new boss. She was still stuck in that relationship because she was being “smart.” She wasn’t making rash decisions by leaving her secure job.

Juliet was done with being smart and stable and steady. None of those things had ever served her. They had just been excuses to allow herself to be overlooked and hurt by people who didn’t give a shit about her. No more. If Levi wanted her, he could have her.

She didn’t know what she was going to do for money or how she would advance her career living in Fate Mountain Village, but she didn’t care. Those details could be sorted out later. The only thing that did really matter was getting her cat, Snuggles.

She finished dressing and doing her hair and makeup then joined the rest of the bridesmaids with Charlotte and her bridal suite.

“I can’t believe Quinn just left,” one of the other bridesmaid said.

“She was sick,” Charlotte said. “Her health insurance wouldn’t work at the hospital here.”

“She was fine the last time I saw her,” the same bridesmaid said.

“I think she was just upset about something that happened on her date with that shifter the other night,” the second bridesmaid said.

“Is that true?” Charlotte asked.

“Guys, Charlotte doesn’t need this right now,” Juliet pleaded.

“Just tell me the truth,” Charlotte said.

Juliet didn’t want to have to lie anymore, but she also didn’t want Charlotte to be angry with Quinn. Now that Harry was back and Charlotte’s wedding was actually going to happen, Juliet decided that Charlotte deserved the truth.

“She was really upset about something that happened with the shifter. It’s not for me to say. And no, he didn’t do anything she didn’t want him to do. I didn’t tell you, Charlotte, because Harry was missing. I didn’t want you to freak out. Please don’t be angry at Quinn. She was really messed up when she left.”

“I understand why you told me that, Juliet. I probably would’ve done the same thing if I were you. I just hope Quinn is all right. Are you sure that shifter didn’t do something to hurt her?”

“As far as I know, the shifter is innocent. But the rest of it, you’re going to have to ask Quinn about yourself. It’s her business. It’s not for me to spread the story,” Juliet said.

Juliet helped Charlotte finish getting ready as they all sipped champagne. Charlotte’s mother arrived, and Juliet bowed out of the room, promising to be back in just a few minutes.

She went to her room and found Quinn’s note still folded up in the back of the jeans she’d been wearing the day before. The idea of facing Duke and handing him this note made her sick to her stomach. She didn’t want to be the bearer of bad news. Quinn was Duke’s fated mate and she had left him, leaving him alone forever. Juliet knew it wasn’t fair or kind, and she couldn’t make any excuses for it.

Juliet decided to do all she could think of and sent a text to Levi, asking him where he was. A text came back a few moments later informing Juliet that Levi was in his office on the first floor. She hurried down in the elevator and skirted around the lobby to the employee hallway along the kitchen where Levi’s office was located.

She came to his closed door and softly knocked on the wood. She heard his voice from within, inviting her to enter. She gripped the handle and pushed the door open, finding Levi behind his desk. His eyes widened upon seeing her, and he stood, moving around the desk to come stand in front of her.

“You look absolutely gorgeous,” he said in a reverent tone.

“Thank you. I have something to ask you. Can you give this note to Duke from Quinn?”

“Duke mentioned he hadn’t heard from her.”

Juliet handed Levi the note, and Levi shoved it in his pocket.

“What happened?” he asked.

“This really isn’t any of my business but since they are both our friends, and I trust you, I’ll tell you what she told me. I guess they went out to his brewery, had too many beers, and he told her that she was his fated mate. Then they had sex. And then she asked him to mark her.”

“He marked her? Where is she?”

“She left. She didn’t want to see him again. I guess she regretted it in the morning. She didn’t want to be his wife forever after knowing him for one day. She told me that she thought she was under some kind of shifter spell that made her want to do those things with him. I know it’s really shitty of her to do that. But she’s my friend; I have to be on her side.”

“Damn. That’s terrible. Fuck. Poor Duke. Did you read this note?”

“I haven’t read it. That’s for Duke to read, not for me.”

“I’ll give him the note. Can I tell him what you told me?”

“I don’t see why not. He has a right to know.”

“And what about us?” Levi asked, running his hand up along her bare arm.

His touch sent an electric thrill through her body, making her want so much more.

“What about us?” she breathed, tilting her face up to him.

“You know that you are my fated mate. Do you want to run away?”

“I want to do the opposite,” Juliet admitted, moving closer to Levi.

She could smell the scent of his skin mixed with his cologne. She could feel the heat radiating from his hard body. She reached up and pressed her hand to his chest. He pulled her closer, pressing his hand to the small of her back. He ran his other hand along her jawline and cupped her cheek, tilting her face up towards him. He leaned down and brushed his lips over hers, drawing a reverent breath through his mouth.

“Juliet,” he breathed before pressing his lips hard against hers.

She moaned softly and melted into his embrace. She wanted more. So much more. They kissed for long moments, exploring each other, feeling each other’s bodies and souls. The desire rising in her core was overwhelmingly hot and needy. It took every ounce of self-control in her not to push him back against his desk and climb on top of his lap. She was beginning to understand how Quinn must have felt when she’d asked Duke to mark her.

The difference between Juliet and Quinn was that when Juliet let Levi mark her, it would be the most erotic, most passionate commitment she had ever made in her life. She would never leave Levi if he marked her. She would remain with him and be his faithful mate until the end of time. Those emotions reeled inside of her, building to a crescendo of desire that resonated throughout her entire being. It was the biggest, most profound feeling she had ever had. For someone like Quinn, who wasn’t ready for it, Juliet could understand how it would make her want to run away.

Levi pulled away from their kiss and planted his lips on her forehead before pulling her head against his chest and holding her close.

“I want you right here, next to my heart, forever,” Levi whispered.

“I want that too. But I have a wedding to attend,” she said, giggling as she pulled away.

Leaving him was like trying to pull apart two magnets. When she got to the door, she turned to him and asked him if he would be at the ceremony.

“I’ll be there, watching from the back of the room,” he said. “But my eyes will only be for you.”

Juliet blushed and closed the door behind her. She let out a long sigh as she walked through the lobby to the hall that lead out to the atrium. The bridesmaids and bride stood in an alcove at the end of the atrium, waiting for their queue. As the maid of honor, Juliet would walk first. The wedding planner handed Juliet her bouquet and directed her to the groomsman she would be walking with. She smiled at Harry’s friend, who she’d met a couple of times, and slid her arm around his elbow.

The wedding planner pushed open the double doors into the atrium, and Juliet marched down the aisle with her groomsman. She hadn’t been in the atrium before, having only seen pictures of it, but as soon as she entered the towering room, she was blown away.

Full-size palm trees jutted up towards the glass ceiling. Orchids dripped from the walls and the palm trunks. Birds of paradise filled the room with bright red flowers. The guests were seated in rows of chairs lined up to face a waterfall that landed in a crystal-clear pool behind the minister.

Harry stood at the altar in front of the minister, his fingers wrapped in bandages from the frostbite. Juliet had to hand it to Harry, he really had come through a difficult journey to make it to his wedding day.

Juliet and her groomsman came to the end of the aisle and stood at either side of the minister as the other bridesmaids and groomsmen began to walk down the aisle. When “Here Comes the Bride” began to play, and Charlotte stepped out into the atrium, all eyes turned to her. She was beautiful in her flowing white dress and delicate veil. Her bouquet dripped with orchids from the atrium and her eyes focused on Harry.

The look that Charlotte and Harry shared when she finally met him at the altar made Juliet’s heart burst. She glanced to the back of the room and found Levi’s green eyes staring at her. In that moment, it was as if she and Levi were the only people in the room. A shiver ran through her, and her mind expanded as if to encompass the entire universe. She could feel him. She could feel Levi’s connection to her. It was the most enlivening and expanding experience she could imagine. It was beyond imagining. It was something completely new. It felt as if she were evolving, awakening to the truth of who she really was.

With Levi as her mate, Juliet felt anything would be possible.