Wounds to Bear (Heart of The Bear #1)(17)

Paul’s claws dug into Corey’s throat, drawing blood. Corey tried to jerk away, and Paul pulled him off his feet. “He’ll die before you can even finish—”

Roman set his bear free and leaped, shifting as he flew forward. Paul’s eyes widened in shock—just before the bear slammed into him, one paw tearing the wolf’s claw away from Corey’s throat. Corey tumbled, out of harm’s way. Paul wrenched free and scrambled across the clearing, knife in his hand again.

“I’m going to gut you, Roman, like I should have I caught you and the girl I loved going at each other like animals. I’ve been waiting ten long years to do this.”


He rushed Roman, knife raised, and the fight was on.





***





Jenna heard the furious roar echo through the trees, and she started running.

Jed took her hand, kept himself between her and the battle ahead.

“Never run into the middle of a shifter battle,” he said, his deep voice edged with fury. Jenna knew, instinctively, that it wasn’t aimed at her. “We will always scent our own, but an enemy will take you down before you can blink.”

She nodded—and understood that she had been yanked into a world with a whole different set of rules.

Jed halted at the edge of the clearing, the growl rumbling in his throat deep and threatening. “Go see to Corey. Use the trees as cover until you reach him, and get him out of the clearing.”

She didn’t argue, like she normally would have when a man presumed to give her orders. Real life didn’t apply here. She spotted a boy on the far side of the clearing, who looked about twelve. He was huddled against a tree, blood on his face, and his throat. Jenna moved as fast and quietly as she could, but he was already turned around when she approached.

“Corey?” He nodded, clear brown eyes wide, and dark with fear. “I’m Jenna, a friend of your Uncle Roman. I’m also a doctor. Come on,” She held out her hand. “Let me take a look at your cheek.”

“I won’t leave him,” he whispered.

Jenna looked at the clearing for the first time—and her heart lodged in her throat. She recognized the bear, tall and magnificent. What he faced was a monster. Half man, half wolf, his opponent kept ducking under Roman’s fast claws, leaving shallow cuts on his chest with a bloody knife.

“Oh, God.” She sank to her knees, her body shaking.

Corey gripped her hand. “Uncle Roman will win. He always wins.”

Jenna pressed her free hand to her mouth and watched the battle, helpless. She had just found the man she wanted to grow old with, have children with—and there was a damn good chance she was about to watch him die in front of her.





***





Roman roared as Paul scraped him with that damn knife. Again. The cuts barely registered, but the fact that he managed to get in past Roman’s guard infuriated him. Paul hadn’t lied—he was a better fighter. Good enough that what Roman had planned as a fast defeat was turning into a battle that didn’t have a certain outcome.

“I warned you, Roman.” Paul darted in again—and this time the knife slid in. Pain erupted in Roman’s left side and he staggered. “I’ll be happy to kill you by inches. In fact,” Paul slashed at him, and sliced across the pad of his right paw. “I’d prefer it.”

Roman retreated, blood pouring out of his paw. The sensitive pad throbbed, telling him the cut went deep. He needed another plan of attack, and fast. Paul was getting bolder with each wound he inflicted…

An idea flashed in his mind. One that would probably cost him in pain. But it would draw Paul in, and give Roman the opening he needed.

Jenna’s scent hit his nose. God—he didn’t expect her to catch up before this was done. He circled Paul, scanning the edge of the clearing. There—she knelt next to Corey, tending his cheek. She looked up at him, tears bright in her blue eyes, despair on her face. She expected him to lose.

Like hell. He had too damn much to live for.

Braced for the pain he was about to inflict on himself, he let out a roar and lowered himself to all fours, charging at Paul. He aimed his left side at the waiting knife, grunting when the blade sank into his shoulder.

He kept going, his heavy body trapping Paul as he collapsed.

Jenna screamed, and a second, deep roar echoed through the trees. Jed. Roman saw him, standing at the edge of the trees, vibrating with fury. He wouldn’t interfere, unless Roman invited him into the battle.

Paul struggled under him, and managed to free his right arm. He whipped up, his claws tearing at the left side of Roman’s snout.

“Get off me!” With a desperate shout he sank his claws into Roman’s left shoulder, just under the knife. “Get off—”

Roman growled and swiped his throbbing paw across Paul’s cheek. The man screamed as Roman’s claws raked his face, then finally passed out.

After making sure Paul was really unconscious, Roman staggered to all fours, turning toward Jenna. She pushed to her feet and moved forward, crouching in front of his left side.

“Oh, Roman. What did you do, you brave, foolish man?”

Jed joined her, back in human form. “Fast or slow, little brother?”

She looked at him. “What are you—oh. Not at all, not until I get him back—”