Woodsman Werebear (9 page)

Drew turned but waited for Riley with questioning eyes. She twined her fingers into the fur over his ribcage and walked alongside him until they reached the water’s edge. Denison was headed their way in a determined doggy-paddle, so wise woman she was, Riley backed away and avoided another helping of river water splashed across her clothes. Already she was going to have to change her wet jeans from Denison’s first grizzly-sized cannonball.

As she stepped back beside Diem, Riley watched the bears on the bank and in the river. She watched the giant falcon as Skyler took off into the air again. Brooke was laughing and chasing little Wyatt around while Kellen unloaded the backs of the trucks. And it struck her that she belonged. No one was staring at her stomach, wondering why there wasn’t a ring on her finger, or judging her based on the trial or what had happened last night with Seamus. She was caught up in this simple existence with these people who were wiggling their way into her heart.

Diem draped her arm across Riley’s shoulders and rested the side of her head against her temple. “You feel it?”

Riley knew what she meant. Diem had been right about the magic, but it wasn’t contained in the trailer park. The magic was in these people.

“Yeah,” she whispered, afraid to break the enchantment of the moment. “I really do.”

Haydan had created a new drinking game. Each time anyone said “dragon,” they took a swig. Boxed wine and beer seemed to be the go-to libations of the raucous group, while Riley was already on her second glass of ice water. Now, it might’ve sounded easy to not say “dragon,” but apparently it was nearly impossible for Kellen.

And now even Brighton was slurring his whisper.

Riley couldn’t stop laughing, and at this point, her cheeks hurt from grinning. She swallowed another bite of steak and shook her head in disbelief that anything could be this good outside of a dream. “Why does food cooked over an open fire taste so much better than food cooked in a kitchen?”

“Have you never had a cookout before?” Haydan asked, tearing into a package of marshmallows. He was the most intimidating looking man of the group with his shaved head and a tattoo across his neck and down one arm. He was wearing a pair of jeans and no shirt, as if the cold didn’t affect him at all. But when she’d gotten the chance to talk to him throughout the day, he had been nothing but polite. He’d even made her plate before anyone else had filled theirs.

“This is my first cookout ever. Even when I’ve eaten s’mores before, I made them in the microwave.”

“Nooo,” Denison drawled out. “That’s not right. S’mores are made for open fires.”

“Yeah, but Denny’s a bit of a pyro,” Danielle said, tweaking his cheek with her fingers.

Denison snapped his teeth at her with a hungry look that made Riley blush for witnessing the intimate moment between them.

From behind her, Drew chuckled warmly at their antics. He was resting against a log he’d dragged by the fire, and Riley was encased warm and safe between his legs, leaning back against his chest. He was absently stroking her belly, chasing Harper’s movement as the firelight threw a golden glow across her.

Today had been amazing. Drew had stayed a bear for a couple of hours, while she, Danielle, Diem, and Kellen had pitched the tents. She’d been a bit lost on the first one, but apparently Danielle was some super-outdoorsy environmentalist who wrestled tents on the regular, and she had Riley whooped into shape in no time. It was satisfying working with them to get camp set up instead of sitting around wondering how she could help.

When the bears had Changed back, they’d all gone on a hike through the woods and witnessed the most breathtaking mountain views. She’d never seen anything like this place. Sure, the pine beetles had killed off a lot of the trees, but it was still beautiful wilderness. Drew had doted on her, helping her up, and resting with her when she was tired. He even carried her for a while when her feet began to swell and her hiking boots felt too tight. He’d steadied her on the hike, his touch never far away, as if he anticipated her needs. And he wasn’t the only one. The men here were all like that. Every one of them treated the women like equals, but rushed to help if they ever asked.

Lunch had been eaten on the trail, and all along, Danielle had collected plants and late season flowers into a little notebook she carried with her, while the others joked constantly in that easy banter that only came when people truly enjoyed spending time with each other.

And now here they were as the sun sank behind the mountains and the first stars twinkled back at her. Being here with the Ashe Crew, cuddled against Drew—her Drew—everything just felt right in the world. Seamus was in transit back to Minneapolis thanks to the statements and pictures the crew had taken, Harper was safe and dancing around in her tummy, and this burly crew of bear shifters and their mates were treating her like she was one of them. She’d never fit into a place so completely. She’d always been the puzzle piece with the odd shape, and now she’d finally found her match.

“You gonna eat the rest of that?” Denison asked.

“Dude,” Drew muttered, throwing a bean from Riley’s plate at him across the fire. “You don’t take food from a pregnant lady.”

Kellen looked troubled beside Denny. “That’s no way to treat the Vessel of the Dragon.”

“Drink!” Drew called out.

Snickering ensued as the crew scrambled for their beers and Dixie cups of boxed wine.

“This is a stupid game,” Kellen groused, but his mate, Skyler, bumped his shoulder, and a tiny smile curved his lips.

“I am actually full,” Riley conceded, handing Diem her plate to pass around the circle to Denison.

“You didn’t eat much,” Diem said with a frown as she took the metal plate, still warm from dinner. “Are you feeling all right?”

“Oh, fine. I just don’t have that much room in my stomach anymore. Harper makes it hard to eat a lot in one sitting.” Though tonight she’d lost a bit of her appetite, too. Perhaps from all the excitement of the day or something. Come to think of it, she was a bit worn out from the hike and losing steam quickly, as well. She was just feeling a bit…strange. “I think I’m going to turn in early.”

Brighton stopped plucking lazy notes on an old guitar and rasped out, “What? No, stay.”

“No, I remember those days,” Brooke said, rocking her sleeping boy gently in her arms. “Pregnancy exhaustion is no joke.”

“We’ll try to keep quiet if you want to take the farthest tent over there,” Tagan said from behind his wife and son.

“Thanks. And don’t worry about keeping quiet. I don’t think anything will keep me awake tonight.” Drew pushed her upward like she weighed nothing, then stood himself.

“Night,” he murmured, following behind her.

“Oh, no, I feel bad. You can stay if you want,” she said, snuggling against his chest.

“Yeah, Drew, stay,” Haydan said through a grin. “You’re finally not being an asshole. We’ve missed the fun you.”

“Shut it,” he muttered, throwing his friend the finger over his shoulder and leading Riley toward the row of tents. “And don’t worry about taking me from our friends. It’s not like I don’t see them every day. I want to be with you, and if I can’t sleep, I’ll go back to the fire after you’re out for the night.”

“Okay, deal.” That compromise did make her feel a lot better.

She got a little queasy when she brushed her teeth with Drew by the river. He rubbed her back and looked worried. The day had definitely taken its toll on her, but she wasn’t going to regret the trip. This had been one of the best times of her life.

Sinking into the air mattress in the tent, she exhaled a relieved sigh as she watched Drew pull his sweater over his head. His arms and abs flexed with the movement in the artificial light the lantern threw. The claw mark Bruiser had given him that first day was nothing more than a light pink mark that would probably go away in a couple of days. It reminded her of how different Bear was today than when he’d attacked his friend.

“Come snuggle me,” she said as he pulled a leather necklace from his neck. He tossed it onto his pile of clothes in the corner and kicked out of his boots.

“Yes, ma’am,” he said softly, a tender smile in his voice.

It was chilly out, but the blanket over them was thick and Drew was roughly the temperature of the sun, so the gooseflesh disappeared from her skin in no time.

“Hey,” he said, settling behind her and pulling her against his chest. “I liked watching you with the crew today. You fit with us.”

She smiled at the gray nylon tent wall as the compliment settled over her.

“And I like that you say what you mean and don’t get intimidated around everyone. It can be overwhelming. Everly had trouble adjusting at first.”

Riley could see that. Everly was Brighton’s mate and was naturally shy. It would be easy to get lost in a group with such big personalities.

“Well, I liked the way you let me see your bear today and how you took care of me without coddling me. I imagine that’s a difficult balance with your animal instincts.”

He chuckled deep in his chest, the sound vibrating against her back. “You have no idea.”

“Drew?” she asked, flopping over. She’d meant for it to be graceful and swift, but instead she probably resembled a tuna fish on dry land. Damn air mattress.

He laughed and tried to help, but it took a ridiculously long time to get situated facing him.

“What?” he asked, practically wheezing with amusement.

“I was just going to say, before I ruined the moment with my floundering, that I like you.”

“Oh,” he said, trying to contain his laughter. “That’s very serious. You like me.”

“I do, and stop your smirking. I like you, and I think we should be exclusive.” For the next two weeks, but she banished the sad thoughts. There was no room for that in this tent.

Drew reached over and turned off the lantern, casting them both in shadow. “Oh, so I should stop banging my other girlfriends?”

“I’m being serious. And don’t talk about other girlfriends. It makes me feel all angry and want to claw you.”

“Mmm,” he growled. “Dangerous little human, there’s no need to claw me. I was yours from the moment I looked into your eyes.” He stroked her short hair out of her face and cupped the back of her head. With a lingering kiss to her forehead, he murmured, “Now sleep. You had me worried tonight.”

Riley was already well on her way, all tucked up close to Drew and feeling safe. Outside, Brighton and Denison were playing a slow country song, and in the woods beyond, the crickets were singing along. Her eyes grew heavier as she inhaled Drew’s scent, and she clenched her fist against his chest.

And in the moment right as she drifted off, she could’ve sworn she heard him whisper, “I love you.”

****

Riley gasped and sat straight up.

“What’s wrong?” Drew asked in an alarmed voice in the dark.

“I don’t know,” she rushed out. She felt panicked and strange, but couldn’t put her finger on why. If it had been a noise outside, Drew would’ve woken up first. He was the lightest sleeper she’d ever met.

“You smell different,” he said low.

“I’m wet. Oh my God, am I bleeding?”

“No, no, not blood. It doesn’t smell like iron. Shit.” Drew fumbled with the lantern in the dark.

She squinted blindly when he turned it on.

“I’m peeing!” Horror filled her as wetness spread down the legs of her charcoal-colored cotton pajama pants.

“It’s not pee,” Drew murmured, eyes wide as he stared at her thighs. “I think your water broke.”

“No,” she whispered, devastation clogging her throat. “I was supposed to have two more weeks.”

“Wait here. I’m going to get help.” Drew rocketed out of bed and didn’t even bother putting his boots or shirt on before he disappeared through the tent flap and into the night.

She was leaking steadily now with tiny gushes when she moved, like a dam breaking.
Not now!
Harper girl, I’m supposed to have two more weeks here with these people…with him.

Tears burned her eyes, and this time, she didn’t hold them back.

Diem threw open the door of the tent, looking worried and disheveled. Tagan and Bruiser followed, then Brooke, and it was getting crowded in the four-person-sleeper.

Tagan’s nostrils flared. “Yeah, it’s your water. Smells like Brooke’s did.”

Diem knelt down and pressed her hand on Riley’s tummy, her eyes brimming with moisture. “We’re going to have a baby today.”

Happiness surged through Riley. She was going to make Diem and Bruiser’s dreams come true today. She was going to make the guilt of what Seamus had done easier to bear.

Then sadness washed over her just as quickly. Her time here would be at an end. She couldn’t be here and watch Diem and Bruiser raise the child that had stolen her heart. Couldn’t stand by and watch them love her and kiss her, hold her hand, push her in the swing, take her to preschool. Someday she would have that with a child of her own, but her heart didn’t see anything but Harper right now.

Riley’s emotions were wrecked as she helped them pack her few belongings into her backpack. Everyone spoke in hushed, excited tones, but she didn’t understand the words that were coming from them. It was all a rush, strands of conversation that blurred together as her mind raced on and on.

Drew, Drew, Drew, her Drew.
He would be hurt when she left. Why had she let this get so far?
Because you thought you had weeks, not hours, with him.

A sob filled her throat as she followed the others out of the tent and into the night.