Redeem the Bear (Bear Valley Shifters #5)(13)

“At least he didn’t know I was here—Brooks.” The name sounded foreign on her tongue.

She turned around and swallowed a scream as two glowing eyes stared at her from the shadows.

“Yeah, he did. Any shifter with decent hearing would’ve known you were here. You were panting like you were having a panic attack.” Riker stepped in front of her and led her farther away from Brooks and his eerie eyes. “You need to get ahold of yourself, Corin. Even now, your heartbeat is going fast enough to make you pass out.”

Why did Riker have to walk so damned fast? It was dark and she couldn’t see very well, and the breathing trouble he had so insensitively pointed out was making her even dizzier. “I’ll have you know, I don’t swoon, if that’s what you are implying.” She tripped over a branch and went sprawling face first, and right before she hit the ground, an arm snaked out and wrapped around her middle, saving her from a fern to the eye.

Gasping, she was jerked backward and set upright. Brooks’ eyes, intense and as dark as the sky above, devoured her. His eyebrows lowered slowly as his eyes drifted to her lips. He seemed confused when his gaze lifted to hers again.

If she didn’t talk now, she’d never get a chance again. “You can kiss me. You’ve done it before.” Part of her wished he would, because then she’d know for sure. Part of her was terrified of him leaning down and brushing his lips to hers. Every fiber of her being knew with certainty that he was dangerous.

Drawing air through his teeth, his expression turned pained and he flinched away from her like she’d burned him. “Don’t.”

He turned and strode for the woods, then cast her a dark glance over his shoulder. Pausing, he turned and canted his head as his dark eyebrows furrowed. He looked lost.

She ached to reassure him and took a step forward.

Holding his ground, he shifted his weight like he was about to bolt at any moment.

His warmth beckoned her, and she took another step toward him.

His dark eyes darted over her shoulder, and in an instant, he changed completely. No longer was he confused or apprehensive. His focus was drawn inward and he straightened his spine. A cruel smile transformed his face into something unfamiliar. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

That one careless sentence broke something hopeful in her. He would see her tomorrow—on the battlefield. His threat wasn’t even veiled, and he chuckled darkly as he walked away. The sound bounced off the trees and chilled her blood.

Breath lifted the fine hairs on the back of her neck and she spun. Riker was staring at her like he’d never seen her before. “I couldn’t figure out whether I needed to protect you, or give you two some privacy. What the hell was that?”

Sadly, Corin looked at the grove of trees Brooks had disappeared behind. “I think I loved him once.”





Chapter Six



Corin couldn’t sleep.

How could she when in a few short hours, she was going to draw her last breath out in that meadow? She was so scared, her hands trembled more with every passing minute. Thank goodness everyone seemed to be asleep and not as witnesses to her freak-out.

All alone. That’s how she felt. No one else even seemed nervous about tomorrow as they slept soundly, and she was wide awake and chugging breath like a spooked racehorse.

A shadow passed in front of her tent and she propped up on her elbows. Should she wake Chase? He was asleep beside her, big spooning Anya. And Brody was an arm’s length away too. The slow zip of the tent door had her reaching out, hovering the palm of her hand over Chase’s shoulder.

Hannah poked her head in.

“Holy shit,” Corin breathed. Her heart was still trying to wiggle its way out of her throat, but at least Hannah probably wouldn’t try to kill her the rest of the way.

The alpha’s mate gestured her outside and quietly, Corin ducked out of the tent flap, then slowly zipped it back. The sleeping shifters inside could thank her in the morning when they weren’t covered in blister bugs and ants.

“What’s wrong,” Corin asked as soon as they were a safe distance away.

“I’m pregnant.”

“I asked what’s wrong, not what’s awesome.” She pulled Hannah in and squeezed her until one of the little human’s vertebrae cracked. Oops. Right. Tone down the bear hugs. “Congratulations,” she whispered, pulling back. “Wait.” She wicked a tear away from Hannah’s cheek and frowned. “Why are you crying?”

“I’m pregnant, and the father of my baby is about to go to war.”

Corin gusted an exhale and pulled her in again. Resting her chin on Hannah’s shoulder, she said, “Yes, but he’ll be fine. Riker is stronger than anyone. He’ll make it.”

“What if he doesn’t though? And what about you and Anya and Joanna. Chase and Brody? My child can’t grow up without a support system. I need all of you.” Hannah’s shoulders shook, and she buried her face against Corin’s shoulder.

The tragic truth of it was that, no, they probably wouldn’t all be together after tomorrow. They couldn’t expect one hundred percent Long Claw losses and zero percent Bear Valley deaths. It wasn’t the way war worked.

Everything was so sad. Her budding friendship with Hannah had started right before fate would rip them apart. Meeting Brooks and realizing a destiny worse than death had found Daniel. All of the loss that would come tomorrow. It was all so overwhelming. What words of encouragement could she give Hannah? She had little hope herself.