The Kodiak's Mate (Shifters-Match.com Book 2) (8 page)

Chapter Ten

When Alaska woke the next morning, she was sore. Every inch of her body hurt but she was in a soft bed and warm. She shifted to move closer to the heat of her mate and yawned. “Good morning, evening, or whatever it is.” She was pretty sure that she had terrible breath this morning from the bloody mouth she’d had the night before. “It’s over, isn’t it?”

His low chuckle had her melting into him further. “It’s evening, little witch. You’ve been asleep close to sixteen hours now. I would have worried except you grumbled at me from time to time when I got in and out of the bed.” She felt his lips coast over her shoulder as his arms tightened around her slightly. “I’m going to assume it’s all over. The vampire is dead, and yes I’m sure. One of my trips from our bed was to confirm that he was nothing but ash that we ground down to dust and disposed of. How are you feeling, Alaska?”

“Sore, like I was ran over by a truck, but overall I’m okay. I feel the new power surging inside of me, almost like it’s trying to heal the damage that was done to me. I think the part of me that hurts the worst is my neck, where that fucker dug his claws into it. I hope that they made that bastard hurt when they killed him.” Okay, so she was a little bloodthirsty but she didn’t give a shit, she hurt. “How are you? No one was hurt, were they?” She lifted her head to ask him that question.

“We’re all perfectly fine. No injuries sustained on our end. You were the only one hurt out there. As to the vampire, I didn’t make him suffer nearly enough before I tore his head off but I was more concerned for you than that thing.” Harley pressed her head back down onto his shoulder. “I thought they were nothing but a myth. Jagger’s still shaking his head over actually seeing one in his lifetime.”

“They were supposed to only be a myth. That explains the elders’ words about the taint when they scried for the man who tried to get me. He also did tell me that it was one of my ancestors that cursed him to walk the night only. That’s why he was after me. He thought that by killing me and drinking my blood, it would end his curse. It wouldn’t have worked, though. Only the witch who creates the curse can break it. That’s just how it works.” She rubbed her cheek against his shoulder again and smiled. “I love being in bed with you and having you all warm and snuggly against me. Oh, and by the way.” She lifted her head again and looked at him to grin. “Your bear is pretty freaking awesome.”

“You noticed that, huh?” His lips curled into a crooked grin. Pressing a kiss to her nose, he shrugged. “I’d have preferred much better circumstances but I guess we work with whatever we’re given. And it all had a happy ending, so that’s a good thing. By the way, your phone’s been blowing up with calls and texts. I took a peek after about the twentieth one and it looks like they are all from the coven. You should probably check in with them before you shower and eat.”

“I’ll check in with them and then shower if you want to order us some food? I don’t much feel like cooking anything.” He could cook but she didn’t want to ask anything more from him.

“Go do what you need to do while I check on dinner. It’s in the slow cooker but it’s been simmering for a while now. I may need to come up with plan B if it’s turned to mush.” Harley swung from the bed and pulled on a pair of jeans. He left the room with a wink thrown over his shoulder at her.

Alaska shook her head and smiled. “God, I love that man.” She crawled out of bed. “Oh shit,” she mumbled, bending at the middle. She hurt like hell but when she stood up it was even worse. She looked down at her body and the bruises that littered it here and there and sighed. “Fabulous.” She walked into the bathroom, then paused. “Good Lord, I look like shit.” She had four large marks on her neck, and her hair was a hot mess around her head. It was clear that she’d had a rough night. Fortunately, after a shower and a taming of her hair she figured she should be good.

****

Half an hour later, she walked down the stairs slowly. She had on one of his shirts and her shorts. “Hope you don’t mind, but I stole one of your shirts.” She knew he wouldn’t and if the smile on his lips was anything to go by he was actually happy to see her in his clothes. “I feel a bit better now that I’ve gotten a shower. I checked in with the coven and brought them up to date on what was happening. They are in shock that it was a vampire. They’re all putting their collective minds together to come up with something to use to see if there are more vampires out there.”

“God, I hope there are no more. Damn thing was creepy. I had a hell of a time keeping my bear in line when that thing touched you. I won’t even mention what was running through my head when I saw the cuffs. Where the fuck did the guy get the damn things from? Not like he ran down to the local store given the rust on them.” Harley passed her a glass. “It’s good for you. Drink it all.”

“He probably had them for a very long time. More than likely he was a witch at one time himself, if my ancestor cursed him. If that’s the case, he knew our weaknesses.” She accepted the drink from him and took a sip. “What is this?”

“It’s good for you,” he repeated with a pointed look. “A secret recipe of my mother’s that will help with the aches, pains, and bruising. She swears by it and it does work even if you have to choke it down. If it’s too sweet, cut it with some water but nothing else.”

“No, I can use whatever is in it to help me feel better.” She continued to drink it while she watched him. “So what did you make for us?” Whatever it was smelled amazing.

“I figured something easy was best so I threw a stew in. I knew it would take a while to cook. The potatoes are a little softer than I like but it shouldn’t all turn into one giant glob of sameness.” Opening the oven, he pulled out a loaf of garlic toast. He spooned up two bowls, set them on the counter, then cut the garlic toast into thick chunks and dropped them onto a plate. “Grab a seat. Finish the drink before you start eating. The stew will help kill the aftertaste from that muck.”

“It smells fabulous,” she told him, then forced down the rest of her drink. Once she did that, she took the seat at his side and asked for water with their meal. She took a bite when he took his seat. “Oh God, this is so good.” It was a bit softer than she would have liked but the flavors had all blended together in a way that only cooking them for a long period of time could create.

“Glad you approve. Eat whatever you want. There’s plenty still in the pot. And you’ve been down recovering for hours. I have a feeling you’re going to be damn hungry a few bites in.” Harley took a piece of toast and tore it into chunks, dipping them into the juices while he watched her eat.

He wasn’t kidding. She ate the first bowl, got a second, then even took a third bowl of the food. Licking his spoon, he collected their dishes and took them to the sink. “Why don’t you go pick a movie while I throw everything in the fridge and the dishes into the dishwasher so we can let it all digest before you get back into bed.”

“Sounds good. How about an old-school comedy? Like
The Hangover
? The first one, not the other two.” They really should have stopped with the first one, in her opinion. Then again, Bradley Cooper was fabulous. “Oh, or how about
A Million Ways to Die in the West
? Seth MacFarlan is brilliant and I swear that man’s life must be filled with laughter day in and out. Plus, it has Charlize Theron in it.”

“Whichever, sweetheart. I’m more interested in cuddling you than what’s on the TV. Besides, you’ll probably be asleep halfway through whatever we pick.” He passed her the refilled glass of water to take with her and went about wiping down the counters.

“True. Okay,
Million Ways
it is.” She stood and stretched, sighing when she felt her back pop. “God, I needed that.” She moved away from the kitchen and got the movie ready. The blanket and pillow for them to stretch out and cuddle on was already on the couch.

Five minutes later he joined her, shutting off lights as he came her way. Falling onto the sofa at her side, he handed her the bowl he had in hand for her to see popcorn. “Figured this wouldn’t do any harm and we are watching a movie after all. Start it up,” he told her. Slipping his arm around her shoulders, he drew her in closer to his side.

She moved easily into his arms, naturally fitting him. “This is perfect, having you holding me like this.” She could do anything at all as long as he was there with her. “If I were feeling just a smidge better I would totally jump you right now.”

“Save the jumping until you do feel better. I know you have to be hurting,” he said quietly, stroking his hand up and down her arm. “You took a beating last night. I think you deserve a couple days off to heal properly.”

“I agree. I will still have my bear with me, though, right? Can you take a couple of days off and stay with me? Even though he’s gone, I still would love to have you near just for my peace of mind. Silly, I know, but there it is.”

“Already talked to Jagger about it. He’s going to give one of the younger kids the extra shifts. You get to have me for the rest of the week, may you not regret it. He’s also talking about bringing the cub by to visit with you in a couple days. Figures you’ll heal faster with some cuddling from someone who’s actually cute. And yes, he said that.”

That had her smiling and she shrugged. “I would love to cuddle with the little bear. He’s such a sweetie but you are very cute, Harley, handsome and sexy and all the things that I ever wanted in a man. I’m happy that fate chose you for me.” She had turned to face him when she told him that. She needed him to realize just how honest she was with him.

“Ditto, little witch.” Cupping her cheek with his free hand, he leaned down to kiss her gently. “You’re my perfect mate, Alaska. I could never have imagined anyone better than you even if I’d tried. Fate was truly kind to throw you into my path that day.”

“I couldn’t agree more,” Alaska said with a smile as she curled against her bear. Her family may have been wiped out by polar bears, but her heart and soul had been found by a Kodiak. She was truly a blessed woman.

The End

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