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

Anya was claimed.

Suddenly, the war seemed even more tragic. Chase was leading the bears to battle with Riker, Juan, and Brody.

“When?” she breathed against her friend’s neck.

“Last night.” Anya’s voice hitched and she eased back to wipe tears.

“He was so quiet yesterday, and it was only our second night back in Bear Valley after Nathan died, and I thought maybe he was still mad at me for the betrayal. But he led me into his bedroom and the ceremonial knife was sitting on his dresser. He just kept watching me in the mirror, like he was afraid of my reaction, and I just burst out crying. Chase looked terrified. I think he was scared of cutting me after what Nathan did. He said he didn’t want to hurt me anymore, but he wanted to claim me as his mate before we went off to war. He said if we lived two days or sixty years, he wants me for always.”

“And then he cut you?” Corin asked. This was the most romantic thing she’d ever even heard of.

“Well, eventually he did.”

“He boned you good first, didn’t he?” Hannah asked, grinning.

Anya laughed thickly and nodded. “We made love, yes. He was so tender with me and couldn’t seem to stop looking at me, and we cut each other as he said the sweetest things.

“What did he say?” Hannah breathed. Her eyes were wide, like she was watching the end of a good romance movie.

“That’s just for me to know, you nosy human.” The smile drifted from her face as realization seemed to dawn on Anya. “I’m claimed,” she uttered, reverently.

“Congratulations,” Hannah said, hugging her up tight.

Corin wiped moisture from her eyes with the back of her hand and waved to Chase, who was watching them with a worried furrow to his brow from Riker’s porch. She’s okay, Corin mouthed. She’s happy.

Relief flittered across his features, and she thought about Daniel. About how he should’ve been here to give her marks like Anya’s. The Long Claws treachery had touched all the lives here, from the scars on Anya’s face, to the worry Chase would always carry about how his mate was adjusting after abuse, to Hannah’s kidnapping, and Joanna’s years of mishandling at the hands of the rival alpha.

Now, the brutal clan would try and annihilate Bear Valley entirely.

“Go see your mate. He’s worried,” Corin said, smiling when Anya glowed under the new title.

She and Hannah watched her jog up the porch stairs. Chase took her in his arms like he hadn’t seen her in weeks and Corin’s heart thudded painfully as she remembered the kiss she and Daniel had shared before he died. Dragging her eyes away from them, she smiled at Hannah. She didn’t know her very well, though she liked the alpha’s mate a lot. When she and Anya had started hanging out after training sessions with Chase, Hannah had always made sure to include her in invites to Riker’s house and went out of her way to talk to her in passing.

“You’re a really good friend to Anya,” Hannah said.

“More like she’s a good friend to me. I was displaced from my clan and came to Bear Valley when I was older. It’s been nice talking to someone who understands.”

“You’ve helped her transition here too, Corin. Don’t sell yourself short. I adore Anya. She is an asset to Bear Valley and she’s so strong. I admire her so much, but I can’t figure out how to talk to her like you can. I think I will eventually, when she’s had time away from the Long Claws, but for now, you’re that comfort for her. You and Chase.”

Corin frowned and shook her head, confused. Anya had become someone important in her life, but did she need Corin’s friendship? Anya seemed so strong. It was Corin who was reaping most of the benefit from their closeness.

“I want you to ride with us to Bridger Teton,” Hannah said.

Hannah was close with Jenny, Joanna, Anya, and their mates and Corin had figured Anya would be riding with them. “Will there be enough room?”

“Jenny is staying behind with Blaine to organize the evacuation for the young families here, in case we lose the war. The Long Claws will immediately come after anyone remaining in the valley if we fall. Jenny’s pregnant and Riker doesn’t want her anywhere near the war so there’s an extra seat. It won’t be comfortable, and you might have to sit on a lap, but so will the others. You’ll ride in Riker’s truck with the rest of us. Here.” She took Corin’s duffle bag and hoisted it onto her shoulder. “You go help load up, and I’ll put your things with mine in the back of Riker’s truck.”

“Okay, thank you.” Corin was starstruck as Hannah strode off. The mate of the alpha was offering her a seat in the lead truck. She’d get to make the ride with Anya inside of the cab instead of hanging onto one of the hummers like a lot of the Bear Valley shifters would have to do.

An hour passed in the blink of an eye, and as Corin tied the last bungee cord over the supplies in the back of the trailer, the first hummer roared to life. Everywhere, able bodied men and women piled into vehicles and onto trailers. They hung onto grab bars and sat in windows.

Riker was checking that everything was tied down properly and Hannah, Chase, Anya, Juan, Brody and Joanna were streaming into the oversized black pickup truck. A wave of insecurity took her. Surely there wasn’t enough room for her in there with all of those giant men. She should just go get into a trailer with the others at the bottom of the clan.