and pulled her to my chest, right where she belonged. “Can't hide forever, though.
My clan's gonna figure it out sooner or later. So will the tigers.”
Fear sparkled in her eyes. “And what then? You told me there was another couple once.”
“Joe and Lydia. It didn't end well. Everybody says it was heartbreak over losing their cub, but I think the fucking prejudice was what really ruined them. They tried to live and love in secret, and it didn't work.”
Laura shook her head sadly. She didn't want to believe we were heading for anything less than bliss, especially after all we'd been through.
“What's going to happen to us?” she asked, sharp desperation in her words.
“We're gonna make it. I don't give a fuck what my fellow bears say. The Elders can strip me of my Alpha post for all I care. Long as I have you, everything's worth it.”
I squeezed her tighter. She nuzzled into my chest, shaking her head, on the verge of tears.
My words weren't convincing. I believed them, sure, but I couldn't blame her for doubting it.
Then the realization hit me.
Maybe I couldn't tell her with absolute certainty what lay ahead. There was somebody who could, though.
I settled her on the ground and wiped the small tear from her cheek. She looked up, smiling and scared.
“Come on inside. Let's get to work on dinner and turn in early tonight. Tomorrow I'll show you somebody who can read what fate has in store. We'll both know then.”
“But how?” Laura whined.
“You'll see. Trust me on this. I can't guarantee it'll be what we want to hear.” I paused, sliding the door behind us shut. “And if it isn't, I don't give a shit. We'll know what's coming, and if Fate decides to be a cruel bitch, I'll grab her by the throat and knock her on her ass. You're mine, baby, and nothing –
and I mean nothing – has the tiniest chance of changing that.”
We were deep in the forest, carefully stepping over the broken trees and muddy patches left by the flood. The last few days had been a bit warmer, giving the whole woodlands a thick, dusky, slightly sour smell.
It was half a day's trek through the thick brush to get to the Shaman's cabin. Old Spark lived outside the clan, a bear who'd been born with a limp and a strange mind.
In the old times, when the first settlers came to Denali, the Elders forced female bears to test their cubs by sending them out into the wilderness for a week. Those who weren't hearty, the gods took.
No one alive then expected Spark to return alive. But he came back all right, many weeks later, speaking in a cryptic way that declared him gifted or insane, depending on who you talked to.
Since he'd taken off into the woods alone for good, he'd assumed the Shaman's role. We came to him for prophetic advice or to drop off food and offerings.
His appetite certainly hadn't slowed in old age either. The pack on my back was filled with nearly a hundred pounds of choice caribou and salmon steaks. I hauled it through the treacherous woods, calling on my bear's strength to deaden the burn in my muscles.
“James!” Laura's voice rang out behind me.
She gestured to the stream and we stopped. I watched as she filled her canteen, trying not to get hard when she bent down, giving me a perfect view of her full, sexy hips.
Gods, this woman made me burn. Last night was no different than the ones before.
Going to sleep early had been a dream once she was under me, moaning in my ear as I ravaged her deep, reminding her who'd taken her heart.
Shaman Spark had better confirm what I already knew in my blood. Laura was mine, dammit, and no walls made by Nature or politics would divide us ever again.
She took a long drink from her canteen, refreshing herself after the long journey. When she paused and looked around, deep in the forest, I stepped up next to her.
“What's out there?” I asked.
“You ever feel like you're being watched? I can't shake it...like someone's peeking out at us.”
I shook my head,
My clan's gonna figure it out sooner or later. So will the tigers.”
Fear sparkled in her eyes. “And what then? You told me there was another couple once.”
“Joe and Lydia. It didn't end well. Everybody says it was heartbreak over losing their cub, but I think the fucking prejudice was what really ruined them. They tried to live and love in secret, and it didn't work.”
Laura shook her head sadly. She didn't want to believe we were heading for anything less than bliss, especially after all we'd been through.
“What's going to happen to us?” she asked, sharp desperation in her words.
“We're gonna make it. I don't give a fuck what my fellow bears say. The Elders can strip me of my Alpha post for all I care. Long as I have you, everything's worth it.”
I squeezed her tighter. She nuzzled into my chest, shaking her head, on the verge of tears.
My words weren't convincing. I believed them, sure, but I couldn't blame her for doubting it.
Then the realization hit me.
Maybe I couldn't tell her with absolute certainty what lay ahead. There was somebody who could, though.
I settled her on the ground and wiped the small tear from her cheek. She looked up, smiling and scared.
“Come on inside. Let's get to work on dinner and turn in early tonight. Tomorrow I'll show you somebody who can read what fate has in store. We'll both know then.”
“But how?” Laura whined.
“You'll see. Trust me on this. I can't guarantee it'll be what we want to hear.” I paused, sliding the door behind us shut. “And if it isn't, I don't give a shit. We'll know what's coming, and if Fate decides to be a cruel bitch, I'll grab her by the throat and knock her on her ass. You're mine, baby, and nothing –
and I mean nothing – has the tiniest chance of changing that.”
We were deep in the forest, carefully stepping over the broken trees and muddy patches left by the flood. The last few days had been a bit warmer, giving the whole woodlands a thick, dusky, slightly sour smell.
It was half a day's trek through the thick brush to get to the Shaman's cabin. Old Spark lived outside the clan, a bear who'd been born with a limp and a strange mind.
In the old times, when the first settlers came to Denali, the Elders forced female bears to test their cubs by sending them out into the wilderness for a week. Those who weren't hearty, the gods took.
No one alive then expected Spark to return alive. But he came back all right, many weeks later, speaking in a cryptic way that declared him gifted or insane, depending on who you talked to.
Since he'd taken off into the woods alone for good, he'd assumed the Shaman's role. We came to him for prophetic advice or to drop off food and offerings.
His appetite certainly hadn't slowed in old age either. The pack on my back was filled with nearly a hundred pounds of choice caribou and salmon steaks. I hauled it through the treacherous woods, calling on my bear's strength to deaden the burn in my muscles.
“James!” Laura's voice rang out behind me.
She gestured to the stream and we stopped. I watched as she filled her canteen, trying not to get hard when she bent down, giving me a perfect view of her full, sexy hips.
Gods, this woman made me burn. Last night was no different than the ones before.
Going to sleep early had been a dream once she was under me, moaning in my ear as I ravaged her deep, reminding her who'd taken her heart.
Shaman Spark had better confirm what I already knew in my blood. Laura was mine, dammit, and no walls made by Nature or politics would divide us ever again.
She took a long drink from her canteen, refreshing herself after the long journey. When she paused and looked around, deep in the forest, I stepped up next to her.
“What's out there?” I asked.
“You ever feel like you're being watched? I can't shake it...like someone's peeking out at us.”
I shook my head,