Forbidden Bear (Bear Creek Biker Bears #1)(14)

“I’m not exactly the picket-fence type, am I? And Wolf Valley is not the kind of place to raise children.”

“It used to be. It can be again. We just need someone to take control. We need an alpha.”

“It wouldn’t matter anyway.” She looked her mom straight in the eye, wanting to gauge her reaction. “He’s from Bear Creek.”

“Bear Creek. Oh. Oh, now I see why you are hesitant. How does he feel? About having a wolf for a mate?”

“He’s OK with it.”

“And you?”

“Mom, he’s wonderful. He really is.” She put her fork down and covered her eyes, blinking back tears. “Why does it have to be so difficult?”

“Can’t you go and live there with him? It’s such a beautiful town.”


Her mom was right. Even though it was only on the other side of the mountain, it was as if it was a different world. Bear Creek was unspoilt, in terms of both scenery and people. It would be a perfect place to raise kids.

“What about you, Mom? And Kurt, for that matter.”

Her mom placed her hand on top of Mia’s and squeezed. “That is not your concern. You have to live your own life. I know you only began running with that godforsaken gang because of Kurt. Now it’s time for you to move on.” She reached up and stroked Mia’s cheek, where the bruises were still vivid. “This is not what I want my daughter to be.”

“I did what I had to do. I had to be strong.”

“I know, but now you have to find a different strength. Kurt is getting stronger each day.” Her mom hesitated and then took a deep breath before plowing on. “I would have him back here. If you would forgive him.”

“Forgive him? Mom, I want to try but what he did to Fiona, it was wrong.”

“We all make mistakes. But we can change.”

“I hope so, Mom, I really do.”

“Let’s eat. Then you can see for yourself exactly what kind of man your brother is now. Is that OK?”

“Sure. Great pancakes, Mom.”

“Made better by the great company.” They sat and ate in silence, and Mia could almost imagine the clock had rolled back and it was five years ago, she was on her way to school, Kurt was in college, and Wolf Valley had an alpha.





Chapter Fourteen – Joel


“And here comes our missing member.” Ethan looked up from the table. All the others were sat around drinking coffee, eating breakfast, and discussing plans for the day.

“Sorry, guys, got a little delayed.” Joel helped himself to a cup of coffee and sat down with them.

“A nice little lady to warm your bed?” Kris asked.

“Something like that.” He drank the coffee, feeling the caffeine kick in. “So what’s on the agenda for today?”

“We thought we might do some wolf baiting. You know, those bikers who came on to our territory?” Ethan reminded. As if Joel could ever forget.

“I thought we are done with them. They won’t be back this way and they weren’t doing drugs.” Joel kept his voice even, but his mind was working hard to see how he was going to persuade them to leave the wolves alone.

“We thought it was time to start a war. You know, get rid of the competition.” Ethan sat calmly eating.

“They aren’t competition.”

“It’s already decided; we took a vote before you arrived. We thought their president might need to be taught a lesson.”

He set his cup down. Was this it: the time he would have to choose sides, Mia or his brothers? Looking around the table, he thought of all the five of them had been through. And couldn’t believe it would come to this.

“Hi guys, am I late?” The door opened and Will came in.

“Will,” Joel said, “We don’t often see you around at this time of day. Not in your suit?”

“No. I have the day off. Ethan messaged me and said we were going to war with the mangy wolves. So here I am. You know I can’t miss a good fight.”

Joel stood up; he had to come clean and try to talk them out of this. “Look. I can’t. For my own personal reasons, I am asking you to drop this. The wolves won’t be bothering us again. I can guarantee it.”

“Really? Do you have some kind of inside information, Joel?” Will asked.

“Maybe an informant,” Ethan probed, sitting up, with his elbows on the table, studying Joel.

“No.” Joel looked around the table, taking the time to note their expressions. “You bastards, you knew.”

“Of course we knew. Hal let slip that you had asked to borrow his cabin. Then it all came together, the reason you disappeared on us,” Kris added.

“Especially when I passed you going out to meet your little she-wolf. I was in my car; you never noticed me as you sat waiting for her,” Will winked and then grinned as Joel confessed.

“She’s my mate. I mean, it’s not just a fling or anything.” Joel was suddenly bashful at having to admit to keeping it from them.

“We had our suspicions when you came out of the woods that night. We reckoned you had let her go.”

“Yeah, you had this spaced out, lovey-dovey expression on your face,” Ion teased, making a dazed face.

“I did not,” Joel snorted in derision.