Bear Naked (Halle Shifters) (14 page)

No way in hell would she admit to him how good he was. He had a fat enough head already.

“Hey.” Glory turned as Cyn put an arm around her shoulders. “You okay?”

“I’m fine.” When Cyn’s eyes narrowed suspiciously, Glory laughed. “No, seriously. I’m okay.”

“You think Ryan managed to overcome the mark the other shifter put on you?”

“You tell me, oh Sniff Master. What do I smell like?”

Cyn took a deep whiff of Glory’s neck, tickling her. “You smell like Glory.” She stared at Glory for a moment before bellowing for Julian. “Super Bear? Come sniff Glory and see if she’s going to be Bear or Wolf, will ya?”

Glory felt her cheeks flaming with embarrassment as Julian sauntered toward them and took a deep whiff. “I can’t tell. Right now I smell Ryan more than anything.” He smirked, but there was a hint of silver in his eyes and hair. The Kermode was either healing her, or had recently done some healing, the mark of his power plain to see. “I can’t imagine why.”

Glory rolled her eyes. “Can I help it if Ryan went all cave-Bear on me?”

Julian patted her head. “Don’t worry. It won’t be long before we know which one will win out. Your scent should change soon.” He smiled. “But I’m willing to bet Ryan’s bite will overcome the other, simply because it’s a mating bite as well as a changing one. It will be stronger than any other bite you could receive.”

“So you’re pretty sure I’ll be a Bear.” Glory was strangely relieved. As much as she loved Tabby, the thought of becoming just like her attacker had made her feel sick.

“I do, but we’ll know for sure by the end of tomorrow. Either way, it should be a few days before you change for the first time.”

“And when that time comes you’ll listen to what we have to say. The last thing you want to do is change in the middle of the shop.” Ryan tugged her close, kissing her with a possession he hadn’t shown before. “I have to go to work.”

He sounded so cute and pouty. “Then go already.”

“Listen to what my parents say. They’ll keep you safe.”

“We need to call Gabe and let him know what happened.” Julian was already dialing the phone. “We should have done that while you were, um, making sure Glory wasn’t hurt too badly.”

“Yup. He checked my tonsils with his tongue.” Among other things, the thought of which made her blush furiously.

The man was seriously talented. Just the thought of a repeat performance had her squirming in her seat.

Ryan laughed. “What can I say? I like playing doctor.” He cuddled Glory close. “Want me to take your temperature?”

He grunted when she jammed her elbow into his stomach. “Go to work.”

“Yes, SG.” He cupped her chin, his expression serious. “Listen to my parents.”

“I will.” The last thing she wanted was to be attacked again by the psycho. “Ryan?”

“Hmm?”

“Should I go get a rabies shot?”

“No.”

She used her best puppy eyes on him. “But I don’t know where that guy’s been.” Honestly, she didn’t want Ryan to go. She felt safer when he was hovering over her. It didn’t matter how nice, how fiercely protective his parents were.

They weren’t him, and already the beginnings of panic began to fill her. She took a deep breath, trying to get her raging emotions under control.

Ryan growled. “Maybe Bunny can work without me today.”

“Ryan?” His father, Steve, came over and studied them both. “If you’re going, you need to head out.”

Glory continued her deep breathing. She’d be okay. She really didn’t need Ryan. Cyn would keep her safe.

“Is Glory all right, son?”

“Panic attack.” Ryan picked her up, cradling her close. “Calm down, sweetheart. I telecommute, remember?”

“Going to use your amazing psychic powers to dig holes?” Glory closed her eyes and breathed deep. Was it her imagination, or did Ryan smell really good?

“Damn. You figured out my super power.”

Glory giggled.

“Seriously. I think Bunny will understand if you need me to stay here. I’m pretty sure I can keep the books from your shop.” Ryan kissed her forehead. “Say the word and I’m on your Internet, not checking out porn at all.”

She laughed again. God. She really didn’t want to force him to stay, but the thought of being in the shop without him? Chills raced up and down her spine. Her arms were quickly covered in goose bumps. She was pretty sure her hair was standing on end. “I’ll be all right.”

“Bullshit.” Julian was crouching in front of her, his eyes totally gray. A thick strand of silver appeared right over his temple. “You are very far from okay.” She felt a tingling sensation as Julian used his Kermode powers to calm her racing heart. “I think you need to stay, Ryan.”

“Why is this happening? I thought I was over this.” Glory leaned back against Ryan, his strength becoming her own. “I hadn’t had a panic attack in years, and now I’m getting them all the time.”

Julian shared a concerned look with Ryan. “When you stopped having them, you went into ‘remission’.” Julian took hold of her hand. “Have you ever seen a psychologist for your panic attacks?”

She shook her head. “No.”

“That’s why. For some reason, the fear of the panic attacks receded, sending the disorder into remission. The recent attacks on Tabby, Cyn and yourself, plus the stress of moving the business and finding out there are shifters,
plus
the stress of finding your mate, have all combined to bring them back. It isn’t your fear of being left that’s causing all this. It’s your fear of change.”

Glory blinked. “What? That makes no sense.”

“It started when Hope disappeared, continued through your family’s abandonment of you. No one has truly left you this time. You’re not alone, not ever. And part of you knows that, but the panic disorder doesn’t distinguish between true changes and what’s happening now.”

“I know that.” She clutched Julian’s hand. “Ryan won’t leave me. I know nothing’s
really
changed.”

“But your heart and your head are at odds. Tabby mated Alex and moved out of your apartment.” Ryan placed his finger over her lip when she tried to speak. “Then Cyn moved in with Julian. Then the shop got moved.”

“And last night I moved in with you. So it’s all about change, good or bad.” It made sense, in a twisted sort of way.

“Mm-hm.” Ryan stroked her hair. “No one’s saying that what you’re feeling isn’t legitimate. You’ve been through a hell of a lot, sweetheart. It’s a testament to how strong you are that you haven’t lost your mind for real.”

“And the panic attacks can be controlled, just like any phobic reaction.” Julian was smiling, but his eyes were still silver.

She glared at them equally. “So you guys are saying I’m crazy.”

“No. You’re coping with crazy. There’s a difference.” Ryan tugged her hand out of Julian’s, stroking her fingers soothingly. The sensation of Ryan’s power washing over her was different, more jagged and not as strong as Julian’s. “This is something you may overcome with time, or something that will occasionally hit you for the rest of your life. The important thing is knowing what causes it and trying to overcome the fear that triggers it.”

“That’s it?”

“That’s it.” Ryan kissed the top of her head. “And for now, at least, I telecommute from here. If it keeps the panic attacks at bay, it will be worth it.”

“But we still need to address the phobia, and for that we need an expert.”

“Then we find one. But for now?” Glory smiled as Ryan’s arms tightened around her. “I’m not going anywhere.”

And he didn’t, not for the whole day. He stayed out of the way, peeking in on them every now and then to make sure the asshole who’d bitten her hadn’t returned.

Ryan claimed he had a whiff of the guy now, and if he caught even a smidgeon of his scent anywhere near Glory the asshole was going to suffer a Bear mauling.

He also told her it was the same scent that had been on the gifts she’d found outside her apartment.

That didn’t creep her out the tiniest bit.

Nope. Not at all.

Deep breaths, Glory. Deep breaths.

Ryan sauntered out to the front of the shop, stopping to check out the piercing jewelry. Ryan was pleased with the dark earring she’d picked for him. Maybe he was considering getting something else done as well.

Some people loved getting piercings, while others simply did their ears and nothing else. She was beginning to think Ryan might be in that first category. Maybe he would let her pick his next piercing again. Maybe she’d do one of his nipples? She didn’t think he was ready for a Prince Albert or a guiche, but a pretty gold ring in his nipple for her to play with?

Yum.

The bell over the door jangled, catching Glory’s attention.

A white-blond, blue-eyed man walked in and took a quick look around. She gasped, the stranger all too familiar to her.

He took a look around, his gaze glancing off both Cyn and Glory before whipping back to Glory. “Glory? Is that you?”

Glory collapsed into one of the turquoise chairs, her hands clenching on the arms. It couldn’t be, but it was. “Temp?”

The man’s smile was huge, his blue eyes, so much like Glory’s, sparkling with happiness and tears. “Damn, girl. You look good.”

Glory covered her mouth, her own blue eyes huge. “Oh. My. God.”

The bell jangled again, and another pale blonde walked in. This one was tiny and feminine, a younger, slightly taller version of Glory. “You found her, Temp?”

“Faith?” Glory was shaking, her voice weak with shock. She stood and took a step closer to her baby sister, a sister she’d never thought to see again.

“Glory!” Faith rocketed forward, throwing herself into Glory’s arms. “It’s really you.”

“Oh my God.” Glory began to breathe erratically as Faith sobbed in her arms. “How?”

Temp watched the two women hugging, silent tears streaking down his cheeks. “It’s so good to see you again.” He moved forward far more cautiously than his sister had, watching Glory as if she might collapse at any moment.

Ryan crossed the room to her side, putting his hand on her shoulder. “Easy, sweetheart.”

Her breathing evened out as Ryan’s power poured into her, soothing her. “Rye? This is my family.”

“I know, sweetheart.”

For some strange reason, Ryan saying that made everything real. Glory began to cry, finally embracing her siblings. Ryan watched over them all, making sure she remained calm. The three of them murmured to each other, soothing words of how they’d missed one another and loved each other.

Faith stroked Glory’s hair. “I like the blue.”

Glory’s laugh was watery. “I was thinking of going back to lavender.”

Ryan growled. “I like the blue too.”

Temp pulled way from the girls, shooting Ryan a distrustful look. “Who are you?”

“I’m Glory’s fiancé.” Ryan took hold of one of Glory’s hands, reminding her that he was right there, that it was all right to lean on him. “Name’s Ryan Williams.” He held out his free hand.

“Temperance Walsh. Nice to meet you.” Temp relaxed, shaking Ryan’s hand. “I was hoping Glory would find someone.”

“She found us.” Cyn, ever protective of her friends, also put herself between Temp and Glory, much to Julian’s obvious dismay. The man made an abortive gesture toward Cyn, but they both knew if it came to a fight between Temp and Cyn, the Kodiak would whoop the human’s ass with ease. “Why are you here?”

Temp looked taken aback. “Faith turned eighteen last month. We’ve been traveling back toward Halle ever since we escaped my dad.”

Cyn didn’t look convinced, but Glory stood and took a step toward her brother, clinging to Ryan’s hand. She might not want to admit it, but she needed his strength right now. Faith still had her arm around Glory’s waist, clinging to her older sister as if she never wanted to let go. Glory let her, but kept her gaze on Temp. He was the strongest of them, had always been so. “Where is Dad?”

Temp shrugged. “Last we saw he was in some little town in Washington, preaching fire and brimstone as always. He’s been traveling a lot, doing tent revivals, keeping us under observation. It…wasn’t easy getting away.”

“We’re sorry to barge in on you like this, but we just found out where you were.” Faith was hugging Glory tightly again. She couldn’t seem to take her hands off her. “Some nice ladies over at Wallflowers told us to come here when we started asking around.”

“Hell, we were just happy you were still in town.” Temp ran his fingers through his hair, something he did often if the ragged mess was anything to go by. “But we didn’t know where else to start, so we came back here, hoping you’d have told Cyn where you were going.”

Cyn visibly relaxed at the mention of Wallflowers. Neither Emma Cannon nor Becky Holt, the Curana and Beta mate of the Puma Pride, would send someone to Glory they thought was a threat to the Cynful girls. “You met Emma?”

Temp grinned. “She’s small, but she’s mighty.”

“She grilled us for an hour before she’d tell us where to find you.” Faith’s hopeful gaze hadn’t once left her sister. “How have you been?”

“I’ve…been.” Glory took another step toward Temp. “Cyn’s family took me in.”