Catching the Bear: BBW Paranormal Shapeshifter Romance (The Callaghan Clan Book 3) (2 page)

“You mean being trapped with one woman the rest of your life?”

Derrick laughed. “Yes, Bo. I mean finding a mate. You know, like our animals are supposed to.”

“My animal doesn’t want a mate,” I countered.

“How do you know that?” he asked.

“He just doesn’t seem interested in that kind of stuff. Like me, he enjoys getting laid but there’s never been a time when he’s latched on to a woman.” I shrugged. “I mean, look at me. When have I ever had a relationship with a female that lasted more than a few hours?”

Derrick tilted his head in thought and then let out a rumbling laugh. “You’re right. You never have.”

“Nope. And proud of it.”

He continued laughing for a while until we heard the distinctive sound of a car coming down the long driveway that led to this secluded cabin. Derrick jumped to his feet and walked over to me. I stood still in the driveway, wearing nothing but my ball cap and a ratty old pair of jeans.

“Who is that?” Derrick growled.

“I’m not sure,” I said. “Maybe it’s her.”

“Her who?”

“The human,” I whispered.

We watched the rented Jeep bounce its way along the dirt road, slowing for every bump and puddle. Jeeps weren’t meant for that. They wanted to speed through the back roads. Just like Derrick’s, which was splattered with old dirt and clumps of mud. I spared a glance at my aging truck. I used it in the summer only when I needed to go off the beaten path…the convertible just couldn’t cut it back here.

The Jeep moved at an excruciatingly slow speed. But for some reason, I couldn’t take my eyes off it. The tinted windows didn’t give away any secrets. And the smell of the fresh mud the car kicked up masked any scent of the person inside.

“Holy shit, Major. You scared me.” Derrick jumped to the side when a large white tiger stepped in between us.

“Do you think you should greet her like this?” I asked Major.

He turned his orange eyes up at me and blinked slowly—an eye roll for a cat. Dick.

“Seriously, cat. You’re going to scare the shit out of her too,” Derrick agreed.

Major huffed and walked forward to greet the Jeep when it finally came to a stop next to a large pine tree. The engine cut out but the person didn’t open the door for a while. Major sat back on his haunches and waited. Minutes passed but Derrick and I just stared. I could make out the shape of wild, curly hair but I couldn’t see much more. Derrick kept squinting into the window and I searched the air for some type of scent. There! Fear and excitement. This person was happy to be here but still recognized that she was surrounded by top predators.

“Is that the human?” Derrick whispered.

“Must be,” I said as the door finally opened.

I watched intently, craving a look of this mysterious human that knew of shifters. But I didn’t see her until the door closed. That’s when the tiniest woman I’d ever seen jumped down into the dirt. So petite and fragile, my bear instantly went into protective mode. Her wild red curls danced in the breeze, the sunglasses on her face dwarfing her tiny features. Not much more than five feet tall, I almost lurched forward to stop her from approaching Major.

The woman lifted her glasses onto her head, controlling that crazy pile of hair. Then she smiled at Major and something inside of me tweaked to life. Gorgeous. Just gorgeous. Bright, white teeth, freckles dotting her cheeks, and the bluest eyes I’d ever encountered in my life. The color of oceans.

She extended her small, bony hand when she got closer to Major. The scent of fear had lessoned, and as Major nudged his giant white head against her palm, she giggled. “Hello again, Major,” she said. “It’s been a long time.”

Major purred, actually purred, as he rubbed up against her. His body almost knocked her over considering he was practically just as tall as the tiny human in his tiger form. Her smile grew wider than I would have thought possible, and I felt mine growing right along with it.

Derrick watched me with a cocky smirk on his face. “Well, this should be interesting.”

I snapped my head to look at him and that’s when she turned her focus on me and Derrick. And that’s when I smelled the terror inside of her.

Why was I here? I sat in the Jeep with two men and a white tiger staring at me for as long as I could. Twisting the ring on my left hand, I cursed Major for asking me to do this for him.

When he’d called, I was just a few days free of dealing with the fallout from the vampire chaos that occurred in New York several weeks earlier. The size of the mess that I had to clean up exhausted me and I wanted nothing more than to take some time off from work and relax. But it was Major and he was my friend. Ever since we were kids growing up and traveling the world with our parents. We’d only see each other once every couple of years, but we had always kept in touch. He had been my only friend for many, many years. He got it. He’d understood persecution and being labeled an outcast for being different.

He’d understood what I had to deal with.

I touched the ring again. I didn’t know why I still wore it. Perhaps it gave me strength despite the fact that it harbored no magic. But it was a gift and I wasn’t ready to get rid of it yet. It felt like I was dishonoring a memory of a life that could have been. Would have been, had the accident not happened.

My vision blurred with the tears that always came up each time I thought about him. Seven years later and I could still remember every moment. The very last moments we had together. Shaking my head, I kicked myself for getting this way again. I always let those memories tear me up when I was nervous about something. This time, I was nervous about the bear shifters. Sure, Major was a tiger, but he was a cute little kitty when I’d first met him. These two men standing in front of me, were from a clan of killers. And they all lived together—not like Major and his solitary life.

Swallowing the fear the best I could, I jumped out of the rental. The ISC had given me a Jeep, figuring I’d need it driving around in the woods for the next several weeks. I didn’t even like the woods that much anymore. I had once. But that life was lost to me a long time ago. Now I preferred the cities. Lots of people let me blend in. I was an anonymous woman in an anonymous city. It was perfect.

As my feet landed in the dirt, I cursed myself for not dressing better. It was summer in Alaska. Didn’t that mean sandals and platforms? Well, apparently not. My ankle twisted in a hole and I mumbled a pain reducing spell under my breath. Way to make a first impression.

Hiking my sunglasses on top of my head, I looked up at Major who was smiling at me—if tigers could actually smile. It had been years. Seven years, in fact since we’d seen each other. He’d comforted me at the cemetery, weeks after the funeral and when I could finally leave the hospital. My parents never knew that he came to visit me. It had been our secret.

Another round of tears stung the back of my throat. I reached out to my old friend and he immediately pushed his giant head against my palm. Laughing and feeling like I wasn’t alone again, I let him rub all over me. He thought he was the size of a house cat sometimes. And I always let him get away with it. How could I resist? He was a beautiful white tiger, a rare and precious man, and probably the closest thing I had to a best friend.

One of the men shifted in the driveway. The shirtless one. Wavy hair that curled out from under his ball cap, abs so defined they could have been painted on, and jeans hanging low enough that I couldn’t help imagining how much I wanted to slip them just a little further down his hips. Holy hell. I had to tear my eyes away from him despite the heat rising in my cheeks with the way he was looking at me. The other man chuckled quietly as he watched the shirtless one watch me.

Major nudged my side and jerked his chin toward the two bear shifters. I didn’t know their faces yet, but I could feel the magic that surrounded all shifters. Major once told me that he couldn’t sense the electrical pulses his kind gave off, but that he instead relied on smell to tell the different animals apart. They all felt the same to me—my human nose being unable to pick up on the variable scents.

I followed Major’s strutting cat body forward until I was standing directly in front of the two giants. My small height made me feel even smaller next to these two behemoths. I knew bears were some of the largest, but these guys were tall. And built like a house. A muscular house with a glistening chest and a smile that highlighted two perfect dimples.
Oh my god, stop looking at him like that
.

Major made a noise that sounded like a cross between a purr and a meow, and then he trotted off behind the cabin. My mouth hung open as I thought about a revenge spell I could cast on my friend for leaving me here with two strangers. The man without the cap, also incredibly handsome and fit, cleared his throat. He was still staring at his friend who only had eyes for me. When shirtless bear didn’t speak, he extended his hand.

“I’m Derrick Ward,” he said, voice low and rough and ridiculously sexy.

Grabbing his hand, I gave him a solid handshake. “McKenzie Parker.”

Derrick elbowed his friend and then laughed again. “And this is Bo Callaghan.”

“Uh, yeah. Hey. Hi.” He grabbed my hand and squeezed while refusing to break his gaze with my eyes. “You have the bluest eyes,” he whispered.

“Holy shit,” Derrick mumbled under his breath. Then he turned to me, “I think this is the first time I’ve ever seen Bo speechless in front of a woman.” Derrick seemed too amused and Bo didn’t respond to his friend’s jab.

“You’re Bo Callaghan,” I said, raking my brain. When it clicked, I sucked in a breath. “Yes. I’ve heard about you.”

“You have?” Bo looked shocked.

I nodded. “I just finished a job with Viktor Kaska and his mate, Sophia. I recall your name coming up in conversation.”

Bo cracked a smile, “Yep, I bet it did.” He paused for a moment, finally releasing my hand. “Did you meet someone named Nadya?”

I shook my head. “No, but I heard about her. And you.”

Bo stepped back as though I’d slapped him. Perhaps it was the way I’d said that last part. I hadn’t intended on there being a tone to my words, but Bo’s womanizing reputation had been a frequent topic of conversation. Especially since he’d dropped Nadya the second he’d returned to Alaska.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” he asked while Derrick laughed.

“It means that you have a reputation and that it has now crossed species lines,” Major said, walking down the stairs of the front porch in human form and fully clothed. He held out his arms and I didn’t hesitate to embrace him.

Major was solid muscle but still almost normal size. Unlike the bears, whose hands had smothered my own, Major felt like a good height. Tall enough that he could wrap me up but not too big that he could crush me with one squeeze.

“It’s been a long time, Kenzie.” Major kissed the top of my head and I swear I heard one of the bears growl. He looked up at them and chuckled. “Derrick and Bo, this is McKenzie and she’s the human who will be working with us to get the cougars and coyotes on board with the plan.”

“Mountain lions,” Bo grumbled, all amusement gone from his face.

“You guys know each other?” Derrick asked with a raised brow.

“Yes.” Major looked down at me wrapped tightly underneath his shoulder. “We’ve known each other for a long time.”

Bo shifted his stance again, somehow exposing more of his naked chest. “Do you go by Kenzie or McKenzie?” His voice sounded strangled, like he was trying to keep it under control.

“Either one works for me,” I said meekly.

“Then I’ll call you Kenzie, too.”

“Okay,” I replied, curios at the reasoning behind that.

Derrick sniffed the air and Bo quickly followed suit. “What are you?” Derrick asked.

“That’s a rude question,” Major said as I laughed.

“I’m a human,” I said.

“That knows about shifters?” Bo asked.

“Yes.”

“We can catch up on that stuff later. For now, let’s offer our guest a chance to rest her feet before you have to head out again.” Major didn’t give them a chance to counter as he led me into the cabin.

I heard the two bears behind me, whispering to each other. I could have cast a quick spell to enhance my hearing but in all honesty, I was tired. New York to Alaska is a long trip and I’d been up for almost twenty-four hours now. As though sensing my tiredness, Major squeezed me tighter.

“Do you want to take a nap?”

I smiled up at him. “No, that’s okay. I’d rather just get started so that I can get back home as soon as possible.”

A low sound rumbled in Bo’s throat and I stared at him. He was still looking at me like I was an alien with no mouth and three breasts. Maybe it was my crazy hair. The humidity and me didn’t get along. I knew it would be a mop of curls sticking out all over the place. Many girls had been jealous of my hair, but all I ever wanted was a mane full of straight and thin strands.

“So, what’s the plan?” I asked Major when he handed me a mug full of tea. He’d remembered my favorite flavor. Sitting at the small table that separated the kitchen and living room space, I waited for someone to answer.

“You and Bo will be heading off to see Calvin Baptiste first, followed by a visit with the coyotes,” Major said.

“You found Calvin?” Bo asked.

Major let a wicked grin consume his face. “He checked in with me this morning.”

“Well, why the fuck didn’t you tell me?” Bo quickly dropped his head and covered his mouth. “Sorry, Kenzie.”

I liked the way the nickname rolled off his lips. Only a few people ever called me that. “It’s okay. I live in New York City. I’ve heard it before.”

Bo grinned, those dimples screaming out to be touched. Jesus. No wonder why the ladies flocked to him. “Well, I’m still sorry,” he said. Derrick cleared his throat and Bo gave him a glare. “Where is Calvin?” Bo asked Major.

“At his den.”

“I was there a few days ago,” Bo whined.

“Well, he’s back now and he’s expecting you two tonight.”

I nodded my head, assuming Major told him to expect a human. Then I looked at Bo, who was watching me again. I guess if Major hadn’t warned the mountain lion shifter about my human status, Bo Callaghan would protect me. He could just wrap me up in those muscular arms and pull me against that taut chest. No shifter would bother me then. Heat crawled up my neck just thinking about him touching me. Jesus Christ I had to get it under control. This wasn’t me.

Major narrowed his eyes at me. He could smell it. My arousal. God dammit.

Clearing his throat, he looked at Bo. “Kenzie is the one in charge, do you understand?”

“Excuse me?” Bo asked.

“You had your chance. Calvin ran away to avoid you and you know what disgrace you caused the coyote pack.”

Bo’s eyes quickly found mine and then dropped to the floor. “Fine,” he grumbled. I’d expected an argument but he gave in pretty quickly. “But they won’t want to talk to a human.”

“They’ll talk to her,” Major said.

“Whatever.”

“Kenzie, do you have the files I emailed you?” Major asked me.

Tearing my eyes from Bo, I said, “Yes.”

“So you know where you’re going?”

“I have a GPS in the Jeep—”

“I know where we’re going,” Bo interrupted. Was he pouting? Derrick covered his mouth to hold in his laugh. Bo punched him in the arm.

“Do you need anything else from me then?” Major asked. His soft voice and kind eyes wrapped me in their embrace. I’d missed my friend.

“Will you be here when we’re done?”

“Should be,” he said.

“Good. I’d like to catch up then.”

Major’s wide smile melted my heart. “It’s a date.”

This time I know I heard Bo growl. Major shot him a deadly glare but the bear shifter didn’t back down.

“I think it’s time to go,” I said, jumping to my feet and deliberately getting in between the two men so they couldn’t stare at each other anymore.

“I think it is,” Bo growled.

Derrick nudged his friend, seemingly snapping him out of the alpha male challenge. He turned to me, “Good luck, McKenzie.”

“Oh. Thanks, but I don’t think I need any luck,” I stumbled over my words.

Derrick smiled, “No, you misunderstood. Good luck hanging out with this one for the next few days.” Again, he shouldered Bo.