Bear Bride (Bear Cove #1)(16)

No, she had thought hard and fast and despite the rage that boiled inside her, she had devised a plan. Unobstructed by the blinded by the fight bears, she had simply walked into the cabin that was Chase and Shona's home and scooped up their unattended baby from its crib, and she had run. She hadn't stopped to catch her breath until she had reached the cave.

Now that there was no hope for her to become the Queen of her own little bear clan, she could see only one option. The thought of revenge seared her insides and kept her going.

When she finally sat down to rest on a jutting rock above a freezing cold underground spring, the baby stirred in her hands. She knew it would be hungry. She'd have to figure that out. For now, she just needed to stay still and hide until it was all over and done with. She knew how these fights went. Soon, all the bears would disperse across the mountains, running away or hunting, depending on their strength. She smoothed down her dirty skirts and lay the baby on its back in her lap, stroking its tiny belly with her fingers.

"Shh, hush, little one," she said, almost in singsong, "You and I are going to have such a sweet life together. You needn't worry. I'll take care of you, little bear boy. I'll teach you all you need to know. I'll be your perfect mommy. Little bear boys grow up fast, you know. Soon, you will be a real man. The strongest, most powerful, most charming man. And when you do, you will finish what your mommy most longs for. You will go against your own kin, against those who wronged mommy. We have a long, long time to spend together little one, but I'll learn to love you and you will learn to do anything I ask of you."

She started singing quietly the only lullaby she remembered from her childhood, and perhaps the hunger and exhaustion were playing tricks on her, but when the baby finally opened its eyes and looked into hers, she thought she saw him wink at her.