Wounds to Bear (Heart of The Bear #1)(6)

“I’ll do whatever I can to help you find them, Mrs. Black.”

“Lindy, dear. We are long past formal names. Elijah, take the map over to Roman, and the hiking boots I brought for him. I want to get on their trail in the next ten minutes. All of you—eat up. Jenna and I will pack up edibles for the hike.” She pulled Jenna toward the kitchen. “I brought backpacks, water, and protein bars. Anything else you can add to the mix would be welcome.”

Jenna pointed to the trays on the counter. “The cheese and crackers can go in baggies. I also have carrots, and some trek mix. I’m afraid I haven’t shopped much, since I’m still moving in.”

“No need to apologize, my dear. We are invading you with no warning.”

“I want to go with you, Lindy.”

“Hell, no.” Roman spoke before Lindy could open her mouth, his voice a deep growl.

Jenna turned to him, forcing the anger out of her voice. “I’ve spent most of my life hiking trails, all over the country. I know how to track, and I have medical training. I was in my first year of residency before I realized I’d rather work with animals.” She wanted him to understand that she needed to help, to become part of the community she chose as her home.

“You stay with me,” he growled, his amber eyes dark.

“That will be difficult,” Lindy said, hands on her hips, “since you aren’t going.”

“I know where they are, Mom. I know that bastard’s mind almost as well as he does.”

Jenna watched the two shifters stare at each other, mama bear and her long-grown cub. The emotions were almost palpable.


“Who is he?”

Roman closed his eye briefly, then looked at Jenna.

“His name is Paul Benning. He was my best friend, and a shifter, before we fought, and I took away his ability to shift.”

Jenna pressed one hand to her belly, Roman’s grief like a fist around her heart. “Will he hurt them?”

“He shot me in front of them. I never expected him to do something like that. I honestly don’t know.”

Grey pushed off the counter and hauled Roman to his feet, his voice deadly quiet. “If he harms Corey, or any of the children, I’ll kill you, little brother. You were supposed to protect them and you failed.” He let go of Roman and stalked outside.

“Backpacks on, boys.” Lindy clapped her hands, then picked up two packs, handing one to Jenna. “I’m grateful for your offer. I’d feel better knowing we have an experienced tracker with medical skills on our side.” She looked over her shoulder, and Jenna followed her gaze. Elijah was helping Roman adjust his pack so he could carry it over one shoulder. Roman’s jaw clenched with every move, so tightly his muscles jumped under his skin. “My boys are all stubborn. Roman is second only to Grey. He’ll be fine, Jenna. He’s strong, and he’s been hurt worse.”

“I’m worried.”

“Then I won’t be alone in that. If necessary, I’ll have you bring him back. Let’s go, before the boys leave us behind.”

Jenna followed her out of the house and into the twilight. It would be dark soon, and Jenna’s fear for the children she didn’t even know spiked higher as the sun sank behind the trees.

Please let us find them, safe and unharmed.

She didn’t want to see how the powerful, muscled shifters in front of her reacted if they were found any other way.





Four





Roman led the way, moving quickly. He looked like he wasn’t in any pain, but Jenna saw the sweat dampening his shaggy hair, the way he kept his left arm pressed to his side, and she knew he hurt.

She also knew he wouldn’t let the pain stop him. After less than an hour with him, she understood that much, and he proved it now, stalking through the night dark forest like it was daylight.

All of the men moved without flashlights, as easily as if it were broad daylight. Lindy moved to her side, also without a flashlight.

“How are you doing?”

“Fine, thank you.” Jenna may have bigger hips, and a butt that would give Jennifer Lopez a run for her money, but she’d always been proud of her strength, and that she could still do the splits, even after years out of dance class. “How can you all see? I thought bears…” Her voice faded in embarrassment.

“No need to hesitate, my dear. I was going to give you the full orientation as soon as you were settled, though I figured you already knew something about us. We don’t keep our existence secret. In bear form, we wouldn’t even try this, but in human form our sight is sharper than the average non-shifter, as well as hearing and smell. I want to try your stew once we can take a breath. The delectable smell of it drove me crazy all the way into the valley.”

Jenna’s eyes widened. The road to her homestead was at least half a mile long.

Roman halted, and she put her questions aside.

“Here.” His voice sounded ragged, his breathing uneven. “He shot me here.”

Grey crouched next to him, and pointed into the trees. “Paul took them that way. This is where you stop, little brother.” He stood, already moving forward. “We have to move faster than you can handle right now.”

“Grey—”

The big man stopped, taking a deep breath before he turned around. “Not now, Roman.”