Bearly Enough (13 page)

“Can you tell me this? Was—was my father a bear?”

Stone stood up and looked out the window. He was silent for
so long that she thought maybe he hadn’t heard her.

“Yes. That was how all of this started. Your father was a
sort of bear king.”

Lucy gulped.

It was just like the dream.

“He was the alpha of this tribe—though I don’t know many
details—I was young. He was killed by someone from the other tribe.” His eyes
darkened. “The tribe your sister joined.”

“Wait. So you’re saying that he was a bear of
your
tribe? And
what
? There are more tribes? Gabby is part of a tribe?”

She clutched at her head. It was too much.

“Damn it. Let someone else explain. I don’t know all the
facts.”

Stone stood up and Lucy jumped up too.

“Well who? Who can explain? And when? Because I would really
like to know what the
fuck
is going on here?”

Stone gave her an exasperated look. “Can you promise me that
you aren’t going to make a run for it? If so, I’ll let you out of this room.”

Lucy put her hands on her hips. “Fine,” she agreed. “Fine.”

Stone opened the door slowly, and Lucy stalked out. She had
forgotten how beautiful Stone’s place was. She went downstairs and then looked
around, admiring the house.

“Your house is very nice,” she sulked, taking a seat.

“Thanks.”

Stone seemed to be considering who to call.

“Don’t call, Jeremy,” Lucy warned. “And I want someone to
tell me what the hell is going on and why I’m being held prisoner!” She
stopped. “And I’m hungry,” she added in a pouty voice.

Stone rolled his eyes.

How was it that Stone was suddenly stuck babysitting Lucy? It
had been his job to bring her to their lands, which hadn’t even happened the
way he had anticipated, but now he was suddenly by himself having to keep an
eye on her.

This was ridiculous!

And how the hell did Jeremy just disappear? This was his
brainchild; he, at least, should be overseeing things and dealing with Lucy.

He needed to find someone to call who could come over and
better explain to Lucy what was going on. He didn’t have enough facts, and it
certainly wasn’t his job to turn Lucy’s world upside down.

He didn’t have much food in his house either, and he
continued to fume as he took out two pieces of bread for Lucy, along with some
butter and an apple.

“That’s it?” Lucy asked, eyeing the sad plate.

“That it. I don’t have much food.”

“Clearly,” she muttered.

Stone scrolled through his phone and suddenly a number
jumped out at him.

Karina.

Torin wasn’t going to be happy, but what the hell did Stone
care?

She answered on the first ring.

“Hi, Stone,” she said carefully.

Stone had a flashback of Karina sitting at his parents’
dinner table, holding their hands as they cried over Joy.

“Hey, Karina. I know this is really strange, but I have a
favor to ask.”

“Okay,” she said slowly, “sure.”

“So, I have this woman at my house, Lucy, and she’s kind of
a prisoner.”

A sharp intake of breath. “What? What the hell is going on,
Stone?”

“Trust me. I don’t want any part of this. Jeremy’s orders,”
he explained. “Anyway, she is the sister of the Bear Princess.”

Karina gasped. “What? Seriously? How has Jeremy kept this
quiet?”

Stone shook his head, running his hand through his long
hair. “I have no idea, but I need some help over here. She’s,” he paused,
glancing over at Lucy who seemed to be paying him no attention as she ate,
“very feisty,” he finished.

Karina laughed on the other end.

“It’s not funny,” Stone snapped. The whole situation was
ludicrous. “Are you able to come over? I need someone who can explain the
history to her. You know more than almost anyone.”

He could tell Karina was considering. “What else do you need
from me?”

“Umm, maybe some clothes. Lucy has been wearing some of my
baggy sweats. And maybe some food? I don’t have much in the house.”

“Seriously?” she snapped. “Fine! Give me a half hour.”

“Thank you, thank you, thank you.”

“You owe me.’’

“Yes! I do. I owe you big time.”

There was a long pause. “Torin won’t be there, will he?”

“No,” Stone said quickly, “he’s not around.”

“Okay,” Karina agreed, “see you in a bit.”

Stone hung up and saw Lucy peering over the edge of the
couch at him. “Who was that?” she asked.

“An old friend. She’s going to be able to explain things to
you. At least, better than I can.”

“
She
?” Lucy looked skeptical.

“Yes. She. Hopefully she can answer your questions. Her name
is Karina.”

Lucy nodded.

“I need to see my sister.”

“One damn thing at a time, Lucy.”

She jumped off the couch, the empty plate clattering to the
floor. “Excuse me! You kidnapped me from my sister’s wedding! Do you not remember
that? I have a life, and a family, and things to do; you can’t just keep me
locked up in your house!”

Something about her was so angry, so determined, that Stone
felt himself getting hard.

What was wrong with him? This could not be happening now!

“Let’s just deal with Karina first, okay?”

Lucy gave him an angry look, and then stomped upstairs.
Stone went to follow her, but waited to listen first. Sure enough, he heard the
door to the bedroom slam.

He paced the first floor, waiting for Karina to arrive.

At long last, there was a knock at his door. He opened it
and was relieved to see Karina standing on the porch. She looked the same way
that she had looked eight years ago, still pretty in an unconventional way.

Her long, black hair hung halfway down her back in a glossy
sheet, and her dark eyes were highlighted with makeup. Her small lips were
pursed, and her arms were folded across her chest; she didn’t exactly look
happy.

“Well, where is she?” she asked, stepping into the house.

“Yeah, nice to see you too.”

“I don’t have time for that, Stone. Now tell me where she is
so I can talk to her. And what’s the deal, anyway? What does Jeremy intend to
do?”

Stone threw his hands up in the air. “I have no clue.”

 “Axel wanted to-’’

“I know what Axel wanted to do. That’s not what Jeremy has
planned.”

“Good.”

Stone pointed up the stairs.

Karina nodded and headed upstairs, a canvas bag over her
shoulder. She stopped halfway up the stairs and flashed Stone a grin. “It’s
good to see you,” she sang in her teasing voice.

Stone missed her.

“You, too.”

She disappeared into the hall and Stone thought about Karina
and how she had felt like a sister to him. Sometimes it was hard to see her
because she reminded him of Joy. Torin and Karina had dated for a few years,
and everyone figured they would get married. But then Joy’s death cast a shadow
over everything, and it slowly drove a wedge between them.

Both were in so much pain, especially Torin, that they just
couldn’t get out of their own way to be happy again. It had been incredibly
sad, and Stone felt like he had lost two sisters.

Karina had begun dating a regular human nearly two years
ago, and from what Stone had heard, they seemed serious. He wondered if they
would get married.

There wasn’t any more time for him to consider Karina’s
marital status because his phone rang.

“How are things?” Jeremy asked curtly.

“Oh, just great,” Stone said sarcastically. “We’ve been
painting each other’s toenails and braiding our hair.”

“So glad you’re having fun.” Jeremy’s tone was sour;
apparently he didn’t find Stone humorous.

“Want to tell me what the plan is? She’s freaking out, I’ve
got Karina here now, but she also wants to see her sister.”

“Fuck,” Jeremy cursed.

“Yeah, fuck. Now I know you’re the alpha, and I have to obey
you, but some guidance here would be great. And how the hell did I get stuck
with her in my house? Is this my new job? Babysitting her?”

“We’re going to need to place Lucy with a mate.”

“You can’t just place her with a stranger!” Stone argued
angrily. “She doesn’t even understand this life, or know anything about us.
We’ve just uprooted her.”

“I never said it would be pleasant.”

Stone was in shock.

“We’ll deal with this later. I’ll see what I can do about
her sister. Maybe that would help make peace us and the Virtus.”

Always scheming.

Disgusted, Stone hung up. He couldn’t imagine Lucy ever
agreeing to just be locked away in some Cruentus house, mating to improve the
clan. And Jeremy still hadn’t even figured out if her blood was powerful. What
was the sense of holding her captive if she was just a regular human?

He gave himself a few minutes to cool down, and then went
upstairs. The door to the room was cracked and he could see Lucy sitting on the
bed, dressed in different clothes and whispering to Karina.

Karina was nodding as she played with the bed sheet. Stone
suddenly felt like an intruder, and he turned to leave, but the floor creaked
beneath him.

“Stone?” Karina called.

Sighing, he turned around and pushed the door open slowly.
“Yes?”

“Lucy and I were just talking.”

“And eating,” Lucy added, as she motioned to the bag of food
next to her. It was brimming with fruit and crackers, along with what looked
like a sandwich and a container of chocolate.

Karina looked down at her phone and frowned. “Excuse me for
one minute,” she said, clutching her phone and slipping out of the room.

Lucy looked up at Stone, and Stone felt the familiar pull
towards her. Why was he drawn to her? Her dark hair fell softly around her
shoulders; she was wearing a soft gray sweater and a pair of black pants.

“I see you got clothes,” he said, unable to think of
anything else to say.

Lucy stood slowly, her body unfolding as if she were a cat.
She walked towards Stone, and he could see how vulnerable she was. She didn’t
have her makeup or her black clothes to hide behind now—her face was bare and
pale, her eyes wide and even brighter and bluer than normal.

“Is it true?” she whispered. “I’m some kind of experiment?
Jeremy wants to see if I have
powers?
”

Stone held her gaze. “Yes.”

“Do you think I have powers?” she asked softly.

“I don’t know.”

“How can you tell?”

“I don’t know. Jeremy would know.”

Lucy’s face hardened at his name. “And then what? I’m just
some breeding science experiment?”

Without thinking, Stone reached out and cupped her face.
“We’ll figure this out.”

Lucy stared at him and then shook his hand off. “How? You’re
one of
them
.”

“Look, I don’t agree with everything going on, but I can
tell you that you will be safe here. Especially from other bear clans.”

“Gabby’s clan wouldn’t hurt me!”

“They aren’t the only clan,” he said darkly, thinking of the
dirty Atrocitas.

“How many are there?” Lucy’s eyes were filled with worry.

“Three. You’re safe with us.” He thought of Evan and wanted
to wrap his arms around Lucy.

Karina slipped back into the room, and Stone noticed the way
she stared at him and Lucy; it made him feel self-conscious.

“I’ll leave you two,” he said, hurrying out of the room
before Karina could ask questions or assume anything else.

He had forgotten how observant she could be.

Lucy watched Stone hurry out of the room.

“What was that about?” she muttered.

Karina shook her head and stared at Lucy. “I know him really
well. He’s got a lot on his mind.”

“How do you know him?” Lucy asked curiously. She looked down
at her clothes, and it felt strange not to see the sea of black she was
accustomed to.