Hidden, Clan of the Werebear (8 page)

“I’m sure you don’t have to worry. The only ones who have to fear the clan are werebears who break their rules of conduct, and any male that lives in this village. They’ve taken most of the men away. Now there is only Cullen and me. I don’t know what more they can take from us.”

“There’s always more that they could take. What if they take you and Cullen? What would the village do, then?”

“Neither Cullen nor I would allow that. There’s no way the clan would take the last of the men without dispersing the remainder of the village.”

“Like how?”

“Well, since they have so much power and are known to be quite brutal in the north, there’s no telling what they’d do. But don’t worry, we won’t let anything happen to you or anyone else.”

Elaina rested back against the fur covered bed. “So why did you come in here?”

“I heard you scream.”

Elaina’s eyes widened as she caught sight of a sliver of light from a behind Damon and watched helplessly as a blade sailed through the air. Instead of it hitting Elaina, it stuck Damon on the back of the shoulder. Elaina screamed for help, but Damon shifted and tossed Shauna to the ground. She dropped her lantern and it set the side of the hut on fire. Women ran inside with buckets and extinguished the fire quickly, but not before a hole was burned through, exposing the night sky. Shauna was then dragged out and chained to a tree outside.

Elaina helped Damon back to his hut and watched as Hannah attended to his wound. She mixed a smelly brew with herbs and leaves, heating it up by holding the pottery bowl over the fire. She then smeared it on Damon’s wound.  He flinched, but never made a sound.

“I’m so sorry, Damon. I feel so responsible.”

“Don’t,” a voice from the doorway said. “Shauna has always been like this. She’s tried to kill me before, too,” Klesa said. “At the time, I was pregnant with Ivan. Shauna can’t carry a cub to full term and she resents anyone who might be able to.”

Damon tried to smile, but grimaced. “We need to get rid of her before she harms someone else. I’ll discuss it with Cullen when he returns. I even rutted with her tonight to pacify her, but I guess when I comforted you, Elaina, she was consumed with jealously.”

“Crazy, is what she is. She should know that you have to mate with other females in hopes of creating more cubs,” Klesa said.

Damon’s eyes were heavy now, and as he blinked, he said, “Head back to Cullen’s hut. I don’t need to tangle with him tonight.”

Elaina stood up and Klesa walked her back to the hut. Both women froze as they stared into the enraged eyes of Cullen. “What’s going on here?” he demanded.

Elaina’s hands went to her hips. “Well, it’s not what you think it is.” She gazed at the lightening sky. “Where were you all night?”

“I was scouting the nearby perimeter. The last thing we need to worry about are werewolves straying into our territory.”

“Werewolves have their own territory to monitor, I’m sure.”

“Oh, and what do you know of werewolves?”

“Not much, but they’re not any threat to this village. But if what Damon says is right, the Clan of the Werebear is.”

“I better get back to the children,” Klesa said as she walked away, obviously not wanting to get involved in the conversation.

Cullen stared at the sound of chains near a tree. “Why is Shauna chained up?”

Elaina walked into Cullen’s hut and pointed out the new window. “I was having a nightmare and Damon heard me scream. When he was comforting me, she followed him in here and attacked him with a knife. The old one had to patch him up.”

“It looks like we’ll have to deal with her tomorrow, then, once Damon is up. We’ve never had to consider removing someone from the village before, but it’s long overdue. Shauna has been a pain for a long time now. She’s a danger to everyone in the village. I just hate the thought of executing her.”

Elaina gasped. “What? Is that a possibility?”

“It’s up to the village.”

“Oh, so you’d let the village make the decision? I thought that you and Damon would have to decide since you’re the men of the village.”

“Being a man doesn’t qualify you to make the best decision. Whatever happens will affect us all.”

“Yes, but it seems so harsh. But what do I know since I’ve never been a part of a village before. I thought most werebears lived closer to civilization. That’s what Sa—”

“Who?”

“My protector.”

“I thought you said you didn’t have a mate.”

“I don’t, but I was raised by Marla, remember?”

“Ah, I remember what you said, but why do I have the feeling that you’re hiding something from me?”

“I’m not, but I’m sure interested in the clan. What kind of werebears can they be if they have taken all of the men from the village? Is the village really in danger of being eliminated?”

Cullen took ahold of Elaina’s shoulders. “Who told you that?”

“Damon, but he wasn’t really all that clear. If you and Damon are also taken, the village will cease to exist. You don’t think that they’d kill everyone, do you?”

Cullen didn’t answer that question. He disrobed and climbed into bed, patting the bed next to him. “Let us sleep. It sounds like we both could use more.”

Elaina was bothered that Cullen wouldn’t finish this conversation. She wanted to know. She didn’t know most of the people of the village, but she didn’t want to see any harm come to any of them.

Elaina’s mind raced as she listened to Cullen sigh as he repositioned himself in the bed. Elaina kept her clothing on and climbed over Cullen’s body, but as her one knee was just on the other side of his body, Cullen moved his leg upright, smacking Elaina’s womanhood. She let out a tiny gasp, and he said, “Sorry.”

Elaina tried to settle herself next to Cullen, but sleep was the furthest thing from her mind. The lower half of her body twitched with need and her breasts longed to be touched. She wanted to be free of her clothing and she tossed and turned in the bed, lifting her shirt over her head, tugging her jeans off, and flinging them on the floor. She enjoyed the sensation of the breeze that blew through the hole in the ceiling. She moved her leg until she felt Cullen’s manly leg against hers.

“Go to sleep, Elaina.”

Those words were like a knife to her heart, but Elaina didn’t understand why she’d feel that way. Perhaps Cullen really didn’t find her desirable at all. She curled on her side away from Cullen, all the while wishing she could feel his skin against hers once more. She stifled a groan as the lower half of her body ached. In frustration, Elaina whipped the furs back and lay fully naked without a covering. She concentrated on feeling the cool breeze that occasionally drifted far enough for her sweltering skin to feel it. It was a long time before she slept, and her only hope was that tomorrow she’d finally know what it would be like to be a woman at last.

Chapter Eleven

Elaina shifted positions, reaching across the bed where Cullen had been asleep, but she felt only emptiness there. She sat up and stood, wiping the sleepiness from her eyes. She pulled on her clothing, wishing she had something else to wear since that’s what she had worn since she arrived.

She really couldn’t stop herself from thinking how much she wanted Cullen, but torn since she felt equally drawn to Damon, who was much easier going. There was something about the way Cullen stated that she belonged to him that made her feel all giddy inside. Two men fighting over who would mate with her was surreal, but she hoped when the time came that she would figure out which of them to choose.

She made her way outside, as her bladder was about to explode, and she relieved the pressure. It was only then that she heard loud voices coming from the center of the village. Elaina made her way there and she saw Shauna chained to a pole. Tear coursed down her cheeks as she cussed up a storm at the other women who were shouting at her.

“You dared to murder a true blood!” the old one shouted.

“No, I didn’t. I tried to kill that newcomer. I swear.”

Klesa prevented me from venturing closer. “Don’t. That’s one fight you don’t want to get in the middle of.”

“Fight? I don’t understand.”

“Shauna has broken the laws of this village and she’ll be judged soon enough.”

“Cullen told me the village would make the decision about her punishment. Is that right?”

Klesa glanced away, never a good sign. “Yes, but there’s really no choice. She tried to murder Damon and that can’t be forgiven. He’s one of the two true bloods. Only Cullen and Damon remain. Shauna had her place of importance as Damon’s favorite, but now—”

“She was only jealous that he came to see me last night,” Elaina explained.

Klesa shifted. “Oh, did he?”

Elaina gazed at Klesa. She knew that she had to have feelings for both Cullen and Damon. She had given them both sons that would hopefully go on to lead the village as their fathers had. “Damon heard me scream. I was having a nightmare. He was checking on me, is all. I didn’t know Cullen had left.”

“Oh, I see.”

Klesa wandered over to the fire pit and threw on a few more logs, watching the embers shoot up. “I know how hard it was for Shauna seeing Damon with you. It’s hard to deal with sometimes, but Cullen and Damon make it very clear that they will mate with the other females. It’s expected.”

“Yes, you’re right. Cullen told me that the first day. I wonder how I’ll be able to handle it myself, if it comes to that.”

Klesa gave Elaina a look. “You mean Cullen hasn’t mated with you yet?”

Elaina walked to a nearby log and sat down. “No. I’m not sure how humans are, but I have the mating fever and I feel like I have a weight between my legs that won’t go away. Cullen says it will feel better if I mate, but—”

“You’re not sure.”

“No. I haven’t mated with anyone before, but I know this won’t go away until I do. It’s all very confusing, and a little scary.”

Klesa took ahold of Elaina’s hand. “Don’t be frightened. Cullen will be gentle. I know it. He’ll also make you feel so good. It’s very pleasurable to have a man inside you.” She laughed at Elaina’s facial expression. “I know you’re a shifter like them, but the first time will be fine. He might even impregnate you on the first try. It would be so good if that happened. My children are only half-breeds.”

“What does it matter?”

“Well, they have a target mark on them if the clan finds them.”

“How would they know for certain?”

“I’m not sure. I just know that Cullen has told me that we’ll have to go into hiding very soon.”

“And that worries you?”

“Yes. I’d hate to leave the safety of the village. If we leave, we’ll be all alone. It’s going to be hard to keep the boys hidden. They’re used to roaming the village at will, not being secluded in some damp cave somewhere. They’re quite willful.”

“Yes,” Elaina agreed. “It was that way for me, too. When I grew up, I mean. They are still shifters though, right?”

“Yes, but they haven’t been allowed to shift unless they’re with either Cullen or Damon. Cullen and Damon have worried that if they do, they might get into trouble, or find their way out of the village. Cubs aren’t safe to be wandering around in the wilderness.”

Elaina knew exactly what she meant and she felt as much a bear cub as they were. She was also prevented to shift by Samson. Elaina changed the subject since she wanted to know more about Klesa. “How did you come to live here?”

She sighed. “Well, I lived far from here, but I was taken from my home by a shifter by the name of Jesup.”

“Was he a wearwolf?”

“Yes, how did you know?” When Elaina didn’t answer her, Klesa continued with her story. “He wasn’t nice at all and he forced me to mate with him a few times.”

“Did he take you to the pack?”

“No. He did it on the way there. I escaped one night and found my way into the werebear territory. Cullen and Damon found me and brought me to the village. I was quite injured and I was nursed back to health with the help of the old one. In time, I learned to love it here and eventually coupled with Cullen. He got me pregnant that first time and I gave birth nine months later. I knew then that I’d have to also sleep with Damon and was given three months to recover from childbirth. He was kind to me and I didn’t mind being with him in that way. Again, I got pregnant and gave birth to his son, too.”

“So that’s why the boys look like twins.”

“Yes, they’re quite close together, a year apart. Ivan is quite big for his age, though, so they appear to be even closer in age.”

“Cullen seems like a good father.”

“They both are. I’ll really miss them when I have to leave. I just hope that the clan doesn’t find me.”

“Or any of you.”

Klesa gave Elaina a hug. “Promise me that if something happens to me that you’ll look after my boys.”

Elaina shook her head. “That’s silly. You’ll be fine. The boys will be fine. Don’t worry about it.”

“I need to be realistic, though. I’m not a shifter like you. I have the survival skills of a gnat.”

Cullen and Damon strutted toward them. “We’ll be voting by the stream,” Cullen said.

Twenty minutes later, the members of the village each voiced their opinions. “She should be executed,” the old one insisted. “It’s the law.”

Cullen massaged his chin. “I know, but our numbers are so few now, and Shauna is a good hunter.”

“Not so good if she had killed your brother.”

“Perhaps we could discuss her options. We could give her another chance.”

“We’ve already given her too many.”

“So how many believe we should put Shauna to death?” Cullen asked.

Hands were raised and Damon’s face whitened. “She didn’t mean to try and kill me.”

“It doesn’t matter what she intended, but I believe she intended to kill someone,” the old one said.

“Yes,” Klesa said. “If not Damon, then she’d kill the newcomer.”

Elaina fidgeted. “I don’t want this on my conscience.”

“It’s not,” Damon said. “Shauna broke the law and deserves whatever punishment that the village decides. I won’t allow my feelings to change it.”

“So how do you feel about Shauna?” Elaina asked. “I can’t believe it would be easy for you to see her life ended.”