Betray the Bear (Bear Valley Shifters #4)(35)

“Yes.” Oh, hang being strong. The tears were coming in streams down her face now, burning her cuts, but she didn’t care. She was so damned relieved. “I thought I could fix everything, but now he’s left me scarred and I’ve failed.”

“No,” he said in a gruff voice, easing her back to look at her marred skin. “You didn’t fail. You’re so damned beautiful, I couldn’t stop watching you while you were asleep. We thought you’d die and I couldn’t leave. I was so bitter about what Nathan did to you. About how you’d always look in the mirror and remember him. But then you started healing and I was just so glad you were still with me that the scars didn’t bother me anymore. You got those fighting your past, Anya, you brave woman. You got them trying to keep him from marking you so you could make your own decision.” He ran a light fingertip along the edge of the lowest mark, trailing fire with his touch. “You got these because you are strong, Anya. You’re a survivor. You’re even more beautiful to me now.”

With a sob, she held his hand to her lips and kissed his palm. “You came for me.”

“Of course I came for you. You’re mine. I heard you scream…” His voice cracked and he swallowed hard, his throat moving with the motion. “I could see him hurting you and I couldn’t get to you in time. I saw you stand up on your hind legs to fight him, Anya. You were backed up against that fence and you didn’t roll over and accept it. I was so f*cking proud of you.” He rested his forehead against hers. “I’m so proud of you,” he repeated in a battered whisper.

“I have to fix this. I have to meet with Riker and tell him everything, from the beginning.”

“Later, when you feel up to it.”

“I feel up to it now. There’s no time if the Long Claws have declared war. You and Brody need to be there to lead the clan. Joanna and I have to fight for Bear Valley too. Every fighter matters.” She leaned in and pressed her lips against his, then eased back. “I want to go home.”





Chapter Twelve



Anya’s skin crawled under the scrutiny of so many pairs of eyes on her. From a u-shaped table, Riker and five council members had held onto every word as she explained how Nathan had pushed her into spying for the Long Claws.

She told them of his threats, both veiled and blatant, and described her fear in coming to Bear Valley. She told them of how Nathan manipulated her, and of how much time he had spent subduing her with fear and speeches of duty. Of how he’d used affection to stifle her. Of him manipulating his people into seeing Riker and his clan as evil, and she listed all the clans Nathan and the alpha before him battled and killed off, just to take their land. The Kodiaks and Blood Den had fallen just in the last two years.

The shifter who replaced Nathan as alpha would call the small Long Claw clans that had sectioned off to dwell in the stolen territories and increase their numbers. She gave them estimates of capable fighting members and told them of any strategies she’d seen them use in the arena while working the gardens. It wasn’t much, but Nathan hadn’t allowed her near the battles.

She was pleading for her life, and for Joanna’s. Riker was a good alpha and wouldn’t kill her for her betrayal. It would be a waste of shifter life, he’d said. But he was considering banishing her and Joanna forever for endangering the clan. They couldn’t go back to the Long Claws, and what chance would they have outside of the safety of their people?

The chair creaked under her as she shifted her weight again, and Joanna reached over and held her hand. Her injury ached. She should have taken a pain suppressant before the meeting started, but she’d felt well enough at the time and didn’t think about it. Now, her skin felt like charred ashes.

All six men dipped their gazes time and time again to her new scars. Chase had been right. Thinking about it made it hurt so much worse. She understood why he was brushing his teeth in the dark now.

A rumbling growl came from Chase, and he shrugged off Brody’s hand on his shoulder. Standing, he paced two quick laps at the back of the room, then settled again behind the council.

Riker looked so disappointed. She closed her eyes and dropped her chin to her chest under his disapproval. She’d messed up so badly.

“My mate likes you very much, Anya, and Joanna is one of her most trusted friends. And I think Hannah will need you two in the coming months.”

Joanna’s head snapped up and her eyebrows lowered in silent question.

“But, you two have put me and our clan in a very precarious position.” His eyes looked snowy blue and hard. He was a very handsome man, but with one look, he could be terrifying too. “You’ve killed the Long Claw’s alpha and outside of our land, unbidden by me. What do you have to say for yourself before we make the final decision on your fate?”

Slowly, Anya stood. “I came here the first day frightened of you and scared of what I was being made to do, and you took me in. I made friends here, began to build a life here.” Her voice came out airy as her throat closed up. “I found a man I want as my mate here.” Her eyes drifted sadly to Chase and back to the council. “I never looked for any information to help Nathan because it’s not who I am. I focused on relationships here instead, and became hopeful that I could be a part of Bear Valley if I just told Nathan I wasn’t his anymore. I know it sounds stupid, but I really thought if I was strong enough to face the man who had subdued me, he would leave and I would be free to live my life here. He didn’t want me. I couldn’t give him a cub, so what good was I to him? It was a mistake to meet him alone, but I didn’t want anyone to find out what he’d tried to make me do. I thought I would lose everything. I should’ve come to Chase in the beginning, when I’d made the decision that I wouldn’t help Nathan. I should’ve come to you, Riker, and I messed everything up. I know you have no reason to trust me. I know I have no right to ask for forgiveness from any of you, but I want it more than anything. I want to fight for my life here. I want to become a Bear Valley shifter.”