Rescued by the Bear (Bear Creek Clan 1) (4 page)

"Would it matter to you? If I left."

"Yes." He looked at her, full of intensity. "If you have nowhere else to go. I want you to stay here, with me. You know that. You feel it. I know you do."

"I felt something. But guess that's just relief at not being on my own any more."

"It's more than that. It goes deeper than that."

"I can't think about that now. My life has been on hold since the tiger decided he wanted me. I don't understand it. I can't get my head around the fact that creatures like him exist."

He looked away, keeping his face hidden from hers. "I'll take care of this for you."

"Please. Don't put your life in danger for me."

He didn't answer, he simply left the room, and she was all alone again.

Her words hammered inside his head. 'Creatures like that', creatures like him. How was he ever supposed to tell her what he was, without her thinking he was the same as the tiger? He could just imagine it. 'Hey, you know that tiger who wanted to mate with you. Well how about a bear instead?'

She would run as far and as fast as she could. However, to keep it from her would make the life he wanted to share with her a lie. She had to have all the facts before she made her choice about her future.

Going downstairs, he put his truck keys back on the hook, and went to the kitchen. He checked all the windows and doors, making sure they were locked, before he went out of the front door. Locking that too, he took one last look at his home, and hoped it was the best place for her to be safe. Having her locked in a cell with two guards seemed a much more sensible idea. But sensible was not always the best way of dealing with things.

He had thought it over. There was no way she could be traced here. She was right about his scent masking hers. This territory was well and truly marked with his scent. She would be safe. Brushing his worries aside, he jogged off into the woods. He followed a well worn path before turning down an old trail, which led into a clearing. There, out of sight of his house, he allowed his bear to take over. He fell down onto all fours, before the bear appeared in his mind, and he let himself go. The air shimmered with static energy, and for a split second, he faded out of this world, before returning as a bear.

Energy swept through him, and he threw his head back and roared. This was who he needed to be to protect his mate. He would meet with other bears. Together they would drive the trespassers from their town. No one threatened a bear's mate. Not without there being severe consequences. And tonight those consequences were coming home to the men who hunted Abbi.

Taking off through the trees, he revelled in the feeling of freedom. This side of him was something he enjoyed. Something he celebrated every day of his life. Until now had he ever questioned that his mate, when he found her, would not love him for who he was. He was scared Abbi would never accept this part of him. It had never happened to any of those who had found their mate before him. Bear Creek had been here for centuries, their secret hidden amongst the tall trees and high mountains. He hated the idea of thinking he would be the first to have a mate who despised him.

Up ahead he scented another bear. He ran on, picking up speed. When they all came together like this, it was thrilling. Running with his fellow shifters was incredible. The first bear he met was Hal, an unexpected visitor. Hal was solitary, living high up in the mountains, only venturing into town when he needed supplies.

Tonight, however, Brad would take all the help he could get. He was grateful the bear Hal had come down the mountain to lend his strength. Brad didn't ask questions when Hal fell in behind him, only extending a muffled greeting. Then they carried on at a fast pace to join the others.

Sam and Daryl were waiting. Big bears, their thick coats of such a similar tawny colouring it was sometimes hard to tell them apart. It was Sam he had been speaking to on the phone, when Abbi overheard him. His brother, Daryl, had spotted the group of men they were looking for. He had been returning from a job outside of Bear Creek when he saw them sniffing around the outskirts of town. He had reported seeing a broken down car over that way too. They figured it was Abbi's car, and these guys were now on her trail. But they were on a cold trail. Brad still had no doubt they would be unable to track her. Especially once he had picked her up in his truck from the Francis place. His scent would mask hers.

He was confident they had time on their side. But even bears get things wrong.

She finally closed her eyes and slept. After Brad had gone, she had been unable to sleep. Instead, her brain had zeroed in on every single creak of the house. Noises in the woods outside also conjured up images of things lurking unseen.

Closing her eyes and burying herself under the blankets didn't help. Her loneliness was magnified by the sounds of the forest. At one point just after Brad left, she was sure she heard a bear not far away in the woods. It made the hairs on her neck stand on end. It also made her certain she would have no trouble keeping her promise about not leaving the house.

Slowly a sense of peace took her. She relaxed, telling herself she was safe. The sounds of the forest began to soothe her, instead of scaring her. The scrape of the trees was an old couple. Having lived side by side for so long, they had grown entwined, and when the wind blew, they danced. The forest animals were there to tell her there was no big bad tiger lurking outside. If he were here, they would be long gone, burying themselves in their dens out of the way of tigers.

Her eyes grew heavier, and without knowing it, she slipped into a deep sleep. There she dreamed of Brad. His big strong arms holding her tight, fending off any creature who came near her. She was safe, secure in his arms and in his love. And then something dragged her awake. Her heart beat rapidly; she lay with her eyes open, listening. Nothing.

All the sounds of the forest had gone. A deathly silence settled over it. They had found her.

She stopped herself right there, her voice sounding irrational even to her. How could they? She had come here in Brad's truck; they couldn't have followed her scent that way. Could they?

Then she remembered her screaming for Brad to let her go. Was that how they found her? She had been stupid, and now, all alone, she was going to pay the price. They would take her to the tiger and Brad would simply think she had run out on him. Better that than he end up hurt or dead by going up against them.

All this flashed by as she listened for any noise to give her pursuers away. Nothing. Confused, she sat up in bed, and closed her eyes. She let the silence envelope her, be one with her. The slightest sound magnified as her ears filled with her own heartbeat. Perhaps there was another reason for the first being so quiet. Maybe the animals went off to their respective homes as the night wore on. Yes, that was probably it.

Slipping out of the warm bed, she put her feet down on the soft rug by the side of it. Again, she halted and listened. Was it her imagination, or was that the sound of the front door rattling. As far as she knew the house was in darkness, he had left it so it looked as though no one was home. Maybe he should have done what her mom always did. If he left a light on people would think there was someone at home. It always seemed a good deterrent.

The sound had gone. If it was there at all. Inquisitive to know if there was anyone out there, she headed to the window. Staying back out of sight, she managed to peer out through the small gap. All was darkness. All was shadow. No moon to light the forest floor, the trees too thick for starlight to penetrate. If there was anything out there, she couldn't see it. Resisting the temptation to pull the curtain back and look properly, she simply stood, and watched.

Gradually her eyes became more accustomed to the lack of light, and silhouettes emerged. Trees and bushes a faint outline in the gathering gloom. And then movement.

She blinked, and it was gone. A small animal, perhaps a fox. She released the breath she had been holding. A fox. Nothing more than a small predator out hunting in the night. Time to stop imagining things. If a fox was out there hunting, then there couldn't be anything out there hunting her.

A shiver of cold passed through her, she longed to be asleep in the nice warm bed. Taking one last look outside, she turned and walked on her tiptoes back to the bed. Slipping back into the still warm sheets, she pulled the covers up under her chin. Downstairs, a door rattled.

Abbi sat up. There was no mistaking that sound. Someone was testing the house to see if they could break in. An opportune burglar? What were the chances of someone trying to break into the local sheriff's house on a night he was out, and she was in. Damn. They had found her. One way or another they had tracked her, and she had to decide what to do.

Sitting on the side of the bed, ears trained on any movement downstairs, she started to think. Trying to remember anything she could use as a weapon. Either upstairs or in the kitchen, there must be something. Knives of course. However, she wanted something bigger, a weapon she could use from a distance. Some kind of club.

She couldn't remember anything. Brad was not the kind of guy who played golf, so there were no clubs casually discarded in the corner. No lumps of wood. Or was there? She remembered the fire burning brightly, recently stoked by Brad to keep her warm. Next to it was a small alcove filled with wood ready to be put on the fire. That was it.

All she had to do was summon the courage to make it downstairs.

One step at a time. That was all she could force herself to take as she shuffled out of the bedroom. Each one of those steps was harder than she ever imagined. The house creaked and settled around her with each foot she placed on the wooden boards. Her ears strained for any sound, but none came. Again, she questioned whether what she had heard was real. Or simply the sound of the forest outside. Whatever the answer, she still intended to get a weapon of some kind.

Standing at the top of the stairs, she had to summon all her courage to take the first step down to danger. For all she knew they might already be down there waiting for her. In her head, she conjured up all the ways this could work out. None of them were good.

Neither was waiting here for them to come and find her. She didn't want to feel helpless any more. One step at a time, she went down the stairs. Halfway she paused, and ducked her head down to see if she could catch any movement in the house. Nothing, it all looked deserted, and the sounds she could hear were all muffled. Outside, rather than in the sheriff’s house. Stealing herself for the next part, she took the steps quicker, trying to keep quiet. Once at the bottom she took two quick steps and dived into his sitting room. There she lay low behind a chair, looking around to get her bearings. Cursing at the open curtains, she ducked back down.

Anyone looking in through the window would be able to see her. Her only hope was to stay hidden in the dark. If she used the furniture to shield herself from prying eyes, she might stand a chance. One last look to check there was no one there; she crawled along the floor to the fireplace. Her knees rubbed on the carpet. At this moment did she remembered how unsuitably dressed, or undressed, she was. But that was the least of her problems.

Staying behind an old chair that was pushed close to the fireplace, she reached out for a log. Her fingers missed the wood the first time. She inched further forward, managing to grasp a large log in her hand. Too short. She tried again, lifting one and then another to work out which one would be best. Eventually, she settled on a piece that was about two feet long, but not nearly as thick as she had hoped. Hefting it in her hand, she tried to work out how best to hold it; she had to be ready to swing it at any moment. Satisfied, she crept back behind the chair nearest the door.

Now she listened again. Perhaps they had moved away, given up on his house, and gone on to another. For a moment, she couldn’t hear anything. Then voices in the distance, made her fear return. Were they getting closer?

She listened, every part of her straining to pick up their movements. Again, she heard them. Two voices at least. One calling to another. Talking about her.

"I'm telling you I can smell her here."

"All I can smell is the bear."

Her plan had worked, and she was glad she had heard the bear in the forest earlier. It meant he had disguised her scent. But these two might not be so easily tricked.

"Even if she has been here, the house is locked up. No sign of anyone. Maybe he took her into town?"

"His truck is still here, idiot."

"Have you checked it?"

"Yes. I'm sure that's where the scent is strongest. But we'll wait for Wag, he'll know for sure. Can't beat a wolf for scenting our prey."

"Wag." He laughed. "I guess that's the only use that old wolf has."

"That and ripping the throat out of a bear."

"A long time ago. I don't think he could rip the throat out of a man, or a woman any more."

"I hope he doesn't try. After all the effort we've put in, I would hate to go back to Tarnac and tell him his pretty little piece of pure human flesh has met with a grizzly end."

"He should be on a leash."

They both laughed. While Abbi pressed herself back against the chair, wanting to dissolve into a million pieces and float away. If this wolf came, they would find her. He would know she had been here, and no doubt, they would break in to check the house. There they'd find her cowering behind a chair. No way. She had to think this through, and get out of the house before Wag came.

What a stupid name. Normally, it would have made her laugh. But that was something she hadn't done for a long time. Not since the tiger, Tarnac, as she now knew he was called, had claimed her innocence.

Well, neither Wag nor Tarnac, were going to get what they wanted. Looking through the window, she couldn't see any sign of the two men. Keeping low, she headed back out of the sitting room and into the hallway. There were two things she needed to check. First if there was a key to the front door. She stood looking at the keys hanging up, relieved to see his truck keys were still there.