Tracking the Bear (Blue Ridge Bears Book 1)(42)

“His life is mine.”

“Choose steel or a gun, Mr. Kassower,” Joseph instructed calmly.

“I choose neither,” I said, and pointed at Luke. He’d rushed to his sister’s aid the moment I’d released her. Lucy was rubbing her forehead with a grimace. “This man, this bear, saved my life. I owe him a debt of honor. I vote that he be outcast.”

A murmur of ascent ran through the assembled lawmen. When human, Luke had been very cooperative. He’d killed no other humans and he had even helped to save my life. No one save Joseph Fenn seemed to have a cause to want him dead. If he could be contained and controlled, why shouldn’t he live? And as an outcast to bear society, he could be hunted if anyone so wished.

“We will put it to a vote,” Joseph said sourly.

He conferred with his fellow members of the Thing, and the vote went in favor of my plan. I glanced back at Luke and Lucy. She had a lump on her forehead and it turned my stomach to see the bruises on her fair skin. Bruises I knew I’d caused.

Never again, I promised myself. Never again would I let harm befall her, by my hand or anyone else’s.

“He is outcast,” Joseph pronounced finally. “No bear outside of his family may have dealings with him. We do not acknowledge or protect him as one of our own. He will live or die by his own power.”

I helped Luke get Lucy into an upright position and together we limped away from the campsite.

“What does that mean?” Lucy grumbled. “They weren’t acknowledging him before now.”

I sighed. “It was the best I could do. What it means is that if someone decides to hunt Luke down, I’m powerless to stop them while operating as an enforcer. He’s outcast now.”

“It’s fine,” he muttered, when Lucy looked about to argue. “They said I could still see family. I’ll have you, at least.”

She stood on tiptoe so she could get her arms around his shoulder. She held the other out to me, inviting me into the embrace. I stepped into her arms. It was odd being pressed so close to another man, and Luke and I exchanged an awkward hug before letting go of one another.

“Yes. Of course you’ll have me. You’ll have us both.”

He raised an eyebrow. “I thought he wasn’t supposed to associate with me. Family only.”

“He will be,” she said confidently. She glanced up at me nervously. “Right?”

“Of course,” I said, squeezing her lightly. “You’re mine, remember?”

“And I’m yours.”

“Promise?”

“If you can stay human long enough, I’ll prove it tonight.”

Luke gagged. “I think that’s my cue to leave. I think I’m going to go find a nice cave to throw up in.”

“I’m not sure sex is advisable with a head injury.”

“Excuses, excuses,” she said breezily. “I think maybe you just don’t want to sleep with me.”

I pulled her to the ground, careful not to jostle her too badly. She giggled as I levered myself over her. “Now that is where you’re wrong,” I said, and I nipped her throat lightly.

“Prove it,” she taunted, her blue eyes sparkling merrily.

It didn’t matter to me that the lawmen were probably nearby, and that Luke was not further on than that. I had my mate. She was warm, and willing, and mine

And so I shredded what was left of her jeans and did exactly that.





Epilogue


Lucy


“Ooh,” I moaned. “Right there. Keep doing that.”

Chance chuckled and continue to rub at my instep. “I should give you foot rubs more often if that’s the sound you’re going to make.”

I was leaning back in the recliner in our new home. I’d insisted we be closer to Luke. Chance was still getting used to his job as an enforcer in the new territory that composed West Virginia, Virginia, and Maryland.

While the move had been good for me, I hadn’t realized how much I’d been leaving behind until I’d gotten the influx of calls from home. Millie had been equal parts relieved and irate when I’d finally returned her calls. Uncle Mack and Aunt Caroline had apologized and had even invited me back home. Chance and I planned to put in an appearance at Thanksgiving, as long as nothing disastrous happened.

And there was a better than average chance of that, according to Freyr. The God popped into our lives periodically, usually when we least expected it. The most recent encounter he’d looked older and more haggard. Chance said that until Idun’s apples were returned to the Gods, both sides were going to age and could possibly die.

It had made me wonder about Frigg. Had my attack killed her for good, or was she out there biding her time, waiting to get revenge on my happy little family?

Well, Chance and I were happy. Luke was still trapped in the Blue Ridge Mountains, afraid to venture back into society lest he lose control. While Chance was working with us both on it, he was having a harder time controlling it than I was. Or perhaps the ease of the transformation was due to a different factor, one that Luke couldn’t replicate.

“You owe me,” I groaned as his long nimble fingers worked magic on my sore feet. “You could have warned me that you’re especially virile.”

He smiled and his free hand came up to press against my huge pregnant belly. The babies inside always seemed to know when he was touching me, because they always kicked at his hands.