Husband Fur Hire (Bears Fur Hire #1)(58)

The back-end of Millers ride faded in the distance, and then his red taillights disappeared altogether.

Ian skidded to a stop and arched his head back in rage.

And then the woods were filled with the roaring of his bear.

****

Elyse clutched the gun tighter as an enraged roar rattled the woods, raising all the fine hairs on her body along with it. Birds lifted from the trees, the cicadas went quiet, and inside her veins, blood pounded with adrenaline and fear.

She trusted Ian—trusted him with her life. Yes, even after he’d lied about how he’d known Cole, she could still feel his love. He would protect her from Miller’s dark promises.

Her hands trembled badly as she waited by the open front window. Wolf or bear—which one would come back for her?

Please let it be my bear.

But if it was the wolf, she was going to f*cking annihilate him.

Movement captured her attention in the dark woods, and she lifted her rifle through the window and put the crosshairs on the form meandering through the trees. Deep breath. Click—the safety was off.

A soft grunt sounded from the animal, and a long, frozen puff of breath steamed in front of him. Much too tall to be a wolf, Ian’s bruin bear ambled from the woods.

Click—the safety was back on, and Elyse lowered her weapon.

Her mate didn’t look injured, but he swung his weight from side to side in agitation. If he hadn’t Changed back, it was because he couldn’t. Perhaps he’d gone too long between shifts, or perhaps he was too close to hibernation to Change back. No, no, no.

Elyse threw the door open and ran to the edge of the stairs. He won’t hurt me.

“Ian,” she said on a scared breath. He just couldn’t be Changed for the winter season already.

At the muscular hump between his shoulders, the bear was taller than her by a few feet, and even though she knew it was Ian, it was hard to advance on the massive grizzly. He wouldn’t hurt her. He wouldn’t. She was his mate.

Gasping, she stepped down the stairs slowly, hand out, shaking fingers outstretched.

“I love you, I love…you,” she murmured, her voice as meek as a mouse’s.

Ian grunted again and stopped swaying. He averted his dark gaze and angled his head, giving her his neck. She blew out a long, trembling breath as she slowly approached.

If she’d had any lingering doubt he was her bear before now, his ripped ear put her at ease. Still, five feet away, she couldn’t make her legs move forward. She stood there frozen, fingers out, helpless to move toward him any farther.

Ian ghosted her a glance, then lowered his head and took two powerful steps forward, forehead against her middle. She stumbled backward and held onto his big, block head just to stay upright. There was a humming in his throat that filled the air as she slowly rested her cheek on top of his head, near the ripped ear. The nerves left her slowly as they stood there, touching. Animal and human, bonded so deeply that neither one of them could be whole without the other.

Slowly, Ian lifted an intimidating claw and wrapped it gently around her back, then settled back on his haunches and pulled her toward him. She didn’t fight him. Couldn’t. He was hers, and if he wanted to be closer, she understood the instinct. She couldn’t stop stroking his coarse fur. Her thin nightgown wasn’t meant to meet air this cold, but Ian sat up and pulled her against his massive chest as the gown billowed around her legs and her hair lifted in the chilly breeze. Here, in his powerful arms against his heavily furred torso, the chill was banished and her fear along with it. Ian was so big, so powerful and protective, she couldn’t help but feel safe from the rest of the world—Miller included.

Elyse tucked her arms between them and rested her cheek against his chest. His breath was deep and steady, and the drum of his heart beat had slowed to match hers. Neither one of them were scared here in the dark yard of their home.

Ian rubbed his giant muzzle over her face, and his lips lifted against her skin. His gleaming teeth grazed her, and as he eased back, he snuffled loudly against her hair. He scented her gown and between her breasts as if he was allowing his animal to put everything about her to memory.

“My mate,” she whispered.

Ian responded with another soft noise in his throat.

“Tell me you can Change back, Ian.” Tears burned her eyes and blurred her vision. “Tell me you aren’t Changed for the winter.”

Ian released her and backed away, shaking his head sharply. With a soft roar, he strode for the woods.

Baffled, she waited for her beloved to return. Without his warmth, the autumn air lifted her dress and chilled her blood, raising gooseflesh over every inch of her body, but still, she waited. And when Ian, human and naked, strode from the tree line, blue moonlight illuminating his bare torso and powerful legs, her face crumpled with relief. Her Ian was still here.

“I didn’t catch him,” he said in a gravelly voice. He looked sick about it.

Elyse held her arms open and sighed as he lifted her off her feet and spun her slowly. “I can’t protect you when I’m sleeping, Elyse.” The gravel in his voice turned to glass, and a slow, angry rumble vibrated against her belly.

“Oh, Ian. You don’t have to.” She eased back and cupped his cheeks, so certain of her destiny now. “You protect me during the warm season, but now it’s my turn to protect you. We’re a team.”