Waking the Bear (Shifter Wars) (12 page)

“Maybe. I don’t know, Griff. All this talk is pretty heavy stuff for an afternoon, don’t you think? You’re injured so I can’t help but wonder if you hit your head when you fell.”

“I don’t have a head injury. I’m okay.” He laughed and immediately regretted it. His head pounded harder and he held it. “So what do you want to talk about?”

“You sure you’re okay?” He noted the concern in her voice.

“Yeah, though I may need some ibuprofen for this headache. And some sleep.”

“I’ll get you some medicine, but no sleeping till I’m sure you don’t have a concussion.”

“I don’t. I promise I’m okay.”

“I’ll get your medicine. Be right back.”

She got up off the couch and headed to the kitchen. He closed his eyes and held his head. If the stupid headache would go away, he could talk to her without sounding too much like an idiot. Or maybe he should just go home.

“Here you go.”

He opened his eyes and took the glass of water from her. She dropped two pills into his other hand.

“Thank you.” He popped the pills in his mouth and drank the water.

“No problem. Now we need to talk for about half an hour so I can make sure you don’t have a concussion.”

“What shall we talk about?” He leaned back and put his arm over his eyes to shield the light.

“Tell me more about the forest around the cabin.”

“So do you believe me now?” He lifted his head and looked at her, realizing he wore the biggest grin his injury would allow. “After I told you at least twenty times.”

“It wasn’t that I didn’t believe that there were wild animals.” She stared at him with wide eyes. “I truly never expected to see a bear and a lion fighting. One of them might be dead. I didn’t know what to do, so I picked up a stick.”

“A stick won’t do much against a bear and mountain lion.”

“I’ve heard that making a loud noise and throwing things can make bears and lions run away, but I was too scared to make noise.”

Griff leaned close. “Yes, that’s a problem. Never run from a bear or lion. They will chase you down as prey. Never turn your back.”

“It’s a little scary.”

“It’s much easier to simply avoid the forest.” His head still throbbed and he longed to lie down. Preferably with Amy naked at his side.

She nodded then looked up at him. “I know, but I want to go out there to draw and paint.”

“I have an idea.” He rubbed his face, careful not to touch the bandage she’d put on him so carefully. “Maybe it will work.”

“What? Are you going to tell me that there’s a bear-and lion-free area in the woods that is perfect for painting?” She reached up and pushed his hair out of his eyes. No hesitation, like she’d done it a million times.

He smiled, a warmth growing inside him and spreading throughout his body. “I wish. No, what I was going to suggest is a picnic with me. Soon. I need to look at my work calendar, but how about you let me take you on a picnic.” A picnic couldn’t hurt. The Sen Pal would be unlikely to see them.

She sat back, mouth partly open. “Are you serious? A picnic?”

“Yes, what’s wrong with a picnic?” He leaned toward her. “I can even pack it.”

“Nothing’s wrong.” She looked away, blinking slowly. “I haven’t ever been on a picnic.”

“Then say yes. I know of a beautiful spot, kinda off the beaten path, but not too far from the road.”

She smiled and looked up at him. “What makes you think that spot is safe? I’ll admit, I’m nervous about running into another large animal—bear or lion.”

He looked away and held his smile back. Maybe there was a chance to have his mate and keep her, too. “I think there’s always a risk of running into a big bear.”

Chapter Eleven

Griff poked his head into the cave. Murmurs echoed through the half light like the buzz of a hive of bees. He was late for the meeting and the other bears were all already here.

Dammit.

He didn’t want to use the sleepy excuse again, though that was exactly what happened. He had lain down to rest and crashed hard. Must’ve shut off his alarm without even realizing it. When he woke, he dressed and headed for the cave as quickly as he could.

He crept into the small entrance room and moved into the next larger room, where all the torches had been removed except one that had been lit and placed in a sconce. He shivered. Even with clothes on, the cave was chilly.

He heard Elijah’s voice. They’d started the full-moon meeting. He slipped into the next room, ducked his head and slid into the nearest chair.

“Glad you could join us, Griff.” Elijah paused while everyone looked to Griff.

So much for stealthy bear.

“Sorry,” he said. No excuses.

Elijah continued, speaking to the entire group of bears in the room. There must have been fifty. Griff didn’t realize there were so many close by. And probably not all were in attendance.

“After researching the maps, we found one peculiar thing. All the footprints and the times lions were sighted—it all leads back to you, Griff.”

“Me?”

The crowd muttered.

“That’s right.” Elijah took a large gulp of the soda sitting near the podium. “Most of the lion tracks are Evers, but I can’t be one hundred percent sure. Whether he’s team leader or just vindictive loner, remains to be seen.”

“No one tried to stop him because there aren’t other prints with his. He’s truly been given free rein.” The golden glow of the lantern lit Preston’s face from below. “Why is that? It’s very unusual behavior for a lion. We’ve never seen them hunt in formations of less than two.”

“I think he’s just after me.” Griff stood. “My guess is that he has gone rogue from Maximillian at this point.”

“I think it’s time to find out.”

“The sooner the better.”

“I don’t know how we’re going to find out for sure unless he tells us.” Griff paced to the front of the room. “I’m sure Elijah told you of the attack at the creek near my family cabin.”

The crowd murmured acknowledgement.

“What’s this about a mate?” Elijah leaned forward in his seat. “You aren’t leaving here until you tell me.”

Griff should’ve known Elijah would want to know all the details. He wasn’t a bear to wait around for things to work out before he was in the loop.

“Her name is Amy.” He paused his pacing. “She’s renting my family cabin for two months. That’s all I need to share right now.”

Elijah harrumphed. “Two months? That’s barely enough time to get to know each other.” He leaned on his elbow.

“It’s fine, sir.” Griff stood in front of him. “She won’t keep me from my duties, though now I know the strong pull of the mating bond. I will protect her and the clan.”

Elijah’s head shot up. “Amy is human?”

Griff tried to contain his smile. “She is.”

The laugh that echoed through the cave would’ve made anyone think Elijah was crazy. Griff knew the meaning.

He’d accepted Amy.

* * *

“Son!” Max stomped through the recreation center, sending lions scurrying. “You let him go?”

Marco cringed. When his father was angry, there was no getting through to him. Riding it out like a wave was all a person could do. Sometimes the wave was a half pipe and sometimes it was a tsunami. This one, hard to tell yet.

Mason wrung his hands behind his father. “You know Evers. What could I really do?”

“He’s right, Dad—” Marco began.

“Silence!” Max bellowed. His white hair fuzzed out around his golden face like a dying star.

Mason and Marco were quiet and the rest of the lions headed for the door, getting out of the recreation center as fast as they could.

Max turned on the boys, his face now the color of a radish. “I can’t believe you just
let
him go. You really believe he went out there to think? Have I not raised you to be any smarter than that?”

Marco swallowed but didn’t speak. Max did not want answers at this point. Max wanted complete acquiescence.

“Dammit, dammit, dammit.” Max stomped. “He could get killed, you know. The bears are crazy. They won’t take into account that Evers has issues. They’ll just kill him. Then where will I be? One less son.”

“I’m sorry—” Mason started.

“Be sorry if Evers dies. Both of you. Because right now, you’ve put me in a position. We aren’t ready to fight the lions. If I send you in after him, I could lose you, too.”

“He wants to do this alone.” Mason stuck his hands in his pockets. “I think we should let him.”

Max whirled on Mason, his white hair flying out around his head. “We don’t live in a bubble, boy. Whatever Evers starts, we’re going to have to finish. If Evers kills Griff Martin, we’re forced into a war we aren’t ready for. Mark my words, it will be a war unlike any we’ve seen. More loss than we can even imagine. Too many weapons involved now.”

Marco nodded. “I know you’re right. We couldn’t stop him. This battle is his.”

“He alone should fight it.” Mason stood beside Marco.

“I want you two to go find him. Track him down and try to get him to come home. I don’t care how long it takes. Otherwise, this may be the beginning of the end of the lions of Deep Creek.”

Chapter Twelve

“It’s so beautiful up here, and the trees are dark and lush.” The forest passed by the Jeep window as they wound their way into the park. “Thank you for bringing me.” Griff had his gun in the open compartment between them, and she glanced at it occasionally to see if it moved.

Being afraid of guns was something she’d never thought she’d confront. Griff told her he usually carried it when in uniform, but she was a bit uncomfortable actually seeing it.

Just for protection.

“Thank you for coming.” Griff placed his hand on her knee.

She stiffened then relaxed when she realized that he wasn’t moving his hand. He was resting it there because he wanted to feel her, be close. Nothing creepy. Ever the gentleman, that was Griff. His fingers, warm and strong, held her tightly, but not too tightly. With authority but not in a domineering way.

“I’m ready to be there. Soak up some rays and eat a bite.” They’d been traveling since about 11:00 a.m. and it was well past noon now. Her stomach growled.

“Me, too.” Griff smiled big and patted her knee. “Glad you’re hungry because I packed some mean sandwiches.”

“Mean?” She pushed her sunglasses up on her nose. “What does that mean, ‘mean’?”

He laughed. “Mean means a big sandwich. Lots of meat. These are traditional big boy sandwiches.”

“I’m sure they are delicious. By the way, I brought my sketchbook and pencils. Hope I have time to use them a bit after we eat.” She looked out at the woods, the trees taller and older in this part of the forest. They hadn’t traveled higher in elevation, but were deeper into the park where old growth still thrived. “It’s so amazing. And green.”

“I wanted to apologize again about not being able to make it Friday night.”

“Oh, it’s okay. I was pretty tired anyway.” She’d had mixed feelings when he’d called to cancel because of a work meeting, but once she went to bed, she was glad she hadn’t pushed it and tried to go out that night. Relaxing was proving to be a very tiring activity.

“Special ranger meeting. Not on the calendar but mandatory attendance. In other words, if you want to keep your job, you’d better be there.” He gripped the steering wheel with both hands as they wound around the curvy road.

“Everything okay?” She leaned back and looked out at the tree canopy. Amazing how much the leaves had developed in a week. Another week and they’d be ready for the summer sunshine.

“Yeah, mostly.” He slowed to take a curve.

“Your face sure healed quickly.”

“I do heal pretty fast. Good genes.”

“Ahh. I see.”
More like good jeans.
She fiddled with the seat belt. “What did you discuss at the ranger meeting?”

Griff blew out a breath. “More reports of lions in the forest, and that’s unusual. We’re tracking sightings to help us try to figure out where the group is located.”

“I thought mountain lions were solo creatures except for mating.” She didn’t want to give away that she’d been looking up the animals Griff talked about. Studying all the details and also ways to avoid and divert an attack.

Just in case.

She didn’t want to leave her life in anyone else’s hands unless she had to.

He sighed and gripped the wheel tighter. “Typically, they are. These lions aren’t behaving the way we’re used to. We’re seeing evidence of pride behavior. You don’t need to worry. We’re setting up more security. We can handle it.” He squeezed her knee and flashed her a full-on smile that reached all the way to his hazel eyes.

She loved the way his dimples showed up when he was super happy. Like hidden gems, they could only be found when everything was going well. Wait...
loved
?
That was a pretty strong word, even for just a body part. She turned away.

“Okay.” She watched the vista going by out her window. His tension worried her, but she tried to push it aside. Today was going to be a fun day. She looked for animals as they drove. In some parts of the woods the trees were so dense you couldn’t see even a few feet into the forest. “What about bears?”

He pulled his hand from her knee and used both hands to steer.

“What about them?” Griff glanced at her then looked back to the road, his knuckles whitening on the steering wheel.

“Aren’t you having bear trouble, too?”

“Oh.” He shrugged and adjusted his rearview mirror. “It wasn’t brought up.”

Hmm.
She rode in silence. What he’d said made no sense. Both lions and bears were large and scary and the park rangers should’ve made plans to protect people from both.

From what she’d looked up, bears didn’t typically approach people to eat them. They wanted their candy bars. Unless you came up on a mama bear, then you’d better give her and the cubs a wide berth because she would attack if she thought her babies were in danger.

Like any good mama would.

“Everything okay over there?” Griff raised his voice. “You’ve gotten quiet.”

“I’m fine.” She clasped her hands in her lap and watched the scenery.

Tall, granite rock faces rose on one side, where the mountain had been cut away so that a safe road could be built. The other side dropped off at least a thousand feet. Thankfully, guardrails lined the open side, though they didn’t really look very protective.

“Let’s try to go to the bar next week, is that okay?” Griff’s voice was low and smooth. “Make up for this week.”

Amy turned to look at Griff. “I’m pretty sure that works for me but I need to check my dance card.”

“Do people still use dance cards?” He raised his eyebrows and she stuck out her tongue. He smiled as he turned to watch the road.

“Well, let me know.” He turned and quickly stuck his tongue back out at her then focused on the road. “I don’t want to exceed the guest limit.”

“Of course not.” She put on her best fake high society persona. “That would be sooo tacky.”

They both laughed and Amy’s insides warmed. Felt so good to be sharing feelings with a man instead of hiding them from him. If only she didn’t have to go back to the city.

“Almost there.” Griff turned the right blinker on. “One of my favorite spots. Maybe my very favorite spot.”

“Yay! I’m starving.”

“We have to hike a little ways in, remember?” He pulled into a parking spot in the almost empty lot.

Amy wondered if the summer crowd filled the park with hikers and bikers and kids and campers. Or if the park was quiet even then. Right now, it was magical in its solitude.

Her stomach growled so loud she rubbed it, her face flushing.

“I don’t remember that. You’re trying to starve me to death, aren’t you?” She tied her hair behind her head.

Griff hopped out of the Jeep. Then he leaned inside and spoke in a low, authoritative tone. “Do you make it a point to go on picnics with people you don’t know, Ms. Francis?”

She giggled and got out of the Jeep. A picnic with Griff was a perfect way to spend the day. She pulled out her pack of art supplies and shut the door.

“Only in the mountains.”

They walked a ways in silence. Amy took in the beauty of the path—the variety of stones along the way and the small crops of gray and pink mushrooms growing in the damp undersides of dead logs. Leaves of every size covered the ground, along with pinecones and pine needles. Velvety ferns sprouted from the nest of compost and once in a while, she spotted a chipmunk racing by.

Griff carried the basket, swinging it as he walked. The gun was inside. Amy tried not to think about it. She was sure it was loaded, but it was nothing to worry about. He was trained to use it and he’d only brought it along in case they ran into a large animal and needed help.

She sighed.

“Everything okay?” He reached for her hand.

She squeezed his hand and interlocked her fingers in his. That felt better. “I’m fine. Relaxing.”

“That’s the point.” He stepped over a small tree trunk that had fallen over the path and held her hand up while she followed. Low-cut hiking boots had been the right choice.

“Thanks for bringing me out here.”

“My pleasure. I feel a lot better if I’m in the forest with you. It’s not that I don’t think you can take care of yourself. But with the recent problems with the lions—”

“And bears...”

“And bears.” He stopped and faced her. “I don’t want anything to happen to you. That’s all.”

“Thank you.”

He leaned in and kissed her on the forehead then grinned sheepishly. “Sorry, I can’t help myself. You’re so darned beautiful.”

“Thank you. You aren’t too bad-looking yourself.” She winked at him, hoping her joking would play off the awkwardness of the moment. It was nice to have someone compliment her for a change. Darren made a point of trying to make her feel horrible about herself and she’d only realized that after he was gone. Even if Griff was exaggerating, it was sweet to hear.

A large bird swooped through the trees and let out a long screech. Amy startled and Griff pulled her close with one arm.

“Just a hawk.” He set the picnic basket down and rubbed her back. “Probably announcing we’re in his territory. Nothing to worry about.”

She relaxed into Griff’s hug. “Sorry. I guess I’m more on edge than I realized.”

He pushed her hair back and traced around her face with his fingertip. “Guess we should get moving. Where we’re going, you won’t be able to help but relax.” He grabbed the basket.

“Let’s go then.”

She followed a step behind him as the trail meandered deeper into the forest. The more she paid attention, the more animals she saw. Rabbits and other small creatures scurried along the ground and squirrels chattered from the trees. She even saw an opossum waddling alongside a large downed tree. So much nature to draw after they stopped to eat lunch.

“Can I ask you a question?” Griff didn’t turn to look at her.

“Of course.” She pulled her pack up higher on her back and walked a little faster. “Can you slow down a bit?”

“Oh, sorry. I’m used to patrolling.” He eased his pace. “I’ve been thinking about what you told me at the diner. About your ex.”

Ice zipped through her veins. Not a topic she wanted to discuss. Especially when she was trying to relax. “What about him?”

He kicked a small rock from the path. “You said he was controlling, but I got the sense there was more. That maybe he was...abusive. Was he?”

She stepped over a small branch that lay across the trail. Griff was extremely perceptive. She wasn’t sure how much to tell him. She gripped the backpack straps.

“Emotionally, yes. Physically, a time or two. Why?”

She saw him tense but he still didn’t look at her.

He stopped and she about bumped into him.

He turned and looked her in the eye, rage blooming across his features. “I want you to know that I don’t approve of a man treating a woman like that. Ever.” He stared out into the woods for a moment and when he looked back, there was a sheen of tears in his eyes. “The fact that my behavior reminded you of him makes me feel awful. I promise you, I will never treat you that way. I may be a little overprotective, but I will always respect you.”

“I know,” she murmured. “I’ve learned that about you. You are nothing like Darren. He was an angry man with a terrible temper. That isn’t you.”

“It’s not. Thank you for believing that.” He walked, staring at the ground. “Do you think you’d ever consider another relationship? Or has this Darren guy ruined all men?”

“I don’t know,” she whispered. “I just don’t know.”

* * *

An hour later, sweat coating her body, she stopped in the middle of the forest. Trees all around her, she couldn’t have found her way out if she had the whole day.

She’d been thinking a lot about Griff’s statement and what it could’ve meant. Did he want a relationship? She wasn’t really sure, but his willingness to talk about feelings was a refreshing change from most of the other men she’d ever dated.

She tugged her backpack up onto her shoulders. “This is not fun.”

“We’re only five minutes away. You can do it.” Griff switched hands, swinging the wicker picnic basket. “Then, we can rest.”

“And eat.” She rubbed her stomach. “Lead on.”

Next time, she’d get a better idea of his destination because they clearly had different interpretations of “close by” and “short walk.” The woods were dense, and if they were attacked by a wild animal, no one would find the bodies.

Though the trees were tightly packed, a dirt path meandered through the area like a squiggly line drawn with a brown crayon, though it obviously hadn’t been used in a while. Downed leaves covered the entire forest floor and piled over the path in places. A chill passed through the woods and Amy scanned for the source. No wind, nothing. Maybe just the world taking a nap. She shivered.

“Few tourists come out here.”

“It’s no wonder,” she grumbled.

“Come on.” He motioned her ahead to the edge of the stand of trees.

“Are we there?”

“And, stop.” He stood in front of her and she stopped.

“What?” The pack wasn’t light. “Why are we stopping if we’re so close to being there?”

“I’ll show you.” Griff took her pack and slung it onto his shoulder. “Close your eyes and don’t open them until I tell you. Don’t worry, I’ll lead you the last bit. I won’t let you fall.”

Too tired to argue, she closed her eyes and held out her hand. Griff’s large hand closed over hers and the warmth immediately traveled up her arm to her heart. She tried not to peek as he led her a few steps around the crooked path, rubbing her hand with his thumb as they went.

Then he stopped.

“Keep ’em closed.” He let go of her hand and moved behind her. He placed his hands on her shoulders and whispered, “Okay, you can look now.”

Amy opened her eyes just as a blast of fresh air breezed by, taking her hair from its tie and tossing it around her face. She pushed the strands behind her ears.

Her mouth fell open. “Incredible!”

They stood in a small open meadow filled with tall grass topped with tiny yellow flowers. Down the mountainside below, the world looked like it had been chopped off and they were floating on an island of green. Spread as far as she could see, the other mountains lined up for the beauty pageant. Hundreds of peaks, some with domes, others with craggy tops or rockslides down one side, they staggered and stacked beside each other in a pattern only nature could provide. Some even had snow at the very top.