Bearly Healed: Pacific Northwest Bears: (Shifter Romance) (2 page)

“
I
really hope
this is the answer. I need my friend back. This baby needs its Auntie,” Effie said, grabbing her mate’s hand. Her eyes scanned back to the rear of the plane where her friend sat trying to ignore them.

“Do you think this is going to work?” Effie whispered. She ran an agitated hand over her very round belly.

“It’s what we are going to try. If this doesn’t work, maybe there is some European spa we can send her to,” Dax said with a small smile. He wasn’t totally joking.

“I don’t know. Being at home wasn’t working. She’s stressed, which makes you stressed, which she feels is her fault. It’s a vicious cycle for both of you, and it’s not healthy,” Dax said. He took his hand and covered hers over her belly.

His mate and his child were everything to him. Cougar and man would do whatever it took to keep them safe. That meant physically and mentally. Right now his mate was suffering mentally, and both man and animal were unhappy.

“You sure this was her idea?” Effie asked quietly, looking over her shoulder down the jet to Cass lying on the couch.

Dax’s gaze followed hers. “Yes, she heard me talking about being pampered by Connie Rochon and thought it sounded like a spa. She wanted to give us some non –medical time to get set up for the baby. I think she needs some time to get her head back on straight. I love you babe, but you are worse than a mother hen,” Dax said, chucking his finger under her chin.

“I know. I do, I just can’t help it. I was so scared when she was in that coma, and I assumed she’d wake up her old self. Funny and sarcastic. Flipping everyone shit. She’s barely snarky right now,” Effie said sadly.

Most people would think this was a weird comment, but you had to know Cassie. She was his mate’s first true love. He’d come to terms with that. Cass was the one that kept Effie’s head above water no matter how bad things got in her life. They were each other’s support system. And Cassie was the wild carefree support that Effie needed.

Even when Cassie tried to fake her sarcasm for Effie, it fell short. She was broken. Dax’s cougar could sense it. It wasn’t just the injuries; those could heal. It was something deeper that not even Effie had tapped yet.

Clearly her being at the vineyard wasn’t working. She was in the guest house that Effie had made them build when their own house was under construction. It wasn’t really a guest house; it was Cassie’s house.

Cassie spent her days watching TV, eating cheese puffs and playing solitaire on the tablet he’d bought her. That was it; she’d stopped going to therapy. Which worried Effie even more.

“This will be a change. Maybe being away from where she was in so much pain will give her a different perspective,” Dax offered.

“Cassie, a new perspective? I would have thought only a full frontal lobotomy would have changed her personality. Apparently, it took a lot less to lose her,” Effie said sadly.

For a shifter and a shifter mate, you’d think that they’d be a little more aware that their whispering; even inside a noisy jet, wasn’t that quiet.

Cassie heard them. She knew she was a big pain in their asses right now. She looked down at her knee brace and the walking cast on her other foot. She felt like her legs belonged to someone else. She could sort of walk now on crutches. She was so sore after being in bed so long that Dax had swapped out her hospital issued crutches for a pair that wrapped around her forearms.

Effie had her friends at the tattoo shop paint them black and pink and cover them in custom artwork. As far as crutches went, they were pretty bitchin’.

Normally she’d be thrilled to show them off. Like if she broke her ankle skateboarding. That would be something to brag about. Breaking your ankle and totally fucking up your knee because you were blacked out drunk and your buddy drove you home was less than brag-able.

She didn’t blame her friend. She was a sad sack. She felt stupid. She felt alone. Besides Effie and Dax, she didn’t have anyone else to rely on. If they decided to up and move to Japan, she’d be back living in a shitty apartment above a greasy spoon.

Cassie didn’t have any huge life goals. Her expectations for a good life involved a roof that didn’t leak, food in her belly, and money for tats.

She was sure all the kids she went to school with wanted to be doctors or lawyers. Cassie thought that a steady retail job so you could pay rent on a single wide was living pretty large. She and Effie had lived in some shitty places. Effie spent some time living in her car. Cass thought she was lucky to have the car. She’d been back at one of her cousin’s houses sleeping on a couch.

That didn’t last long mostly because Cassie didn’t want to be roped into a drug raid in the middle of the night. Those kinds of sweeps usually didn’t take into account your pleas of “I don’t really know them. I was just crashing.”

Knowing she needed to at least step up and better her life as much as she could, she convinced Effie that they needed to move out together and be more independent. So they pooled their money and found a crap shack of their own. Those weren’t horrible times; they were bad sure. But they were together.

Cassie even found a job that she excelled at. Granted sitting at a desk at a tattoo parlor wasn’t curing cancer, but she liked the clients. She could deal with every rough biker or yuppie housewife that came through. She even gave them some subtle hints when they would discuss how they wanted a cartoon character or an Asian script that they thought said fighter and really meant parking attendant.

The tattoo artists liked her, and she kept their schedules booked and managed to keep their operating expenses balanced. She’d taken over all of their ordering and promotion after they had realized she wasn’t a brain dead bimbo. Cassie felt like she made a difference there.

Then Effie found Dax. Cass was happy for her. Dax was amazing. He was a hot, scratch that, smoking hot guy. He was a millionaire. He owned his own winery and bottled wine. Apparently, people really liked his wine. Cassie preferred orange soda.

Cass had come to terms with mooching her pad off of Dax. He’d told her that whatever made his mate happy is what he’d do. Effie needed Cass to be happy, therefore Dax needed Cassie.

It was an odd symbiosis. But it worked. Cassie came and went from her job. She didn’t have to pay rent or utilities anymore since again she was mooching a sixteen hundred square foot pad from her bestie. Dax had weekly grocery deliveries to the main house, and after she’d moved in, she would come home to find her fridge stocked too. And not just weird healthy food, real food. Things that were artificially flavored and colored.

So outside of clothes and hair dye she didn’t have a lot of expenses. Even on her meager salary, she’d managed to save some money. That was until she’d been turned into a sardine stuck in a can on Christmas Eve.

She didn’t know how long she was going to stay out in the woods. Her ability to make future plans for herself was not possible. She wanted to wrap up, numb out, and hide from her future as Frankenstein’s monster. Hobbling around town, scaring all the little children. Well, that might be fun, she thought.

T
he plane touched
down at the tiny airport. She didn’t complain when Dax carried her off the jet, since negotiating the narrow stairs was tricky even without crutches. Cass could just pick up the salt on the air from being so close to the ocean.

Filling her lungs, she let the crisp air sink into her lungs. It wasn’t bad.

Dax tucked her into a monster SUV that had a long third row seat. Effie had packed about a dozen pillows to stuff around her like she was made of glass. The drive to the Rochons was just shy of two hours. The pill she’d taken on the plane was still working just fine, so she closed her eyes and let the boring drive slip away.

“Cass, babe, we’re here,” Effie said, giving her shoulder a shake.

Cassie tried to pry her eyes open, but they were heavy and didn’t want to budge. She was in a medication fog. One that she’d grown accustomed to. Dax was standing outside the car, greeting a large man and woman that looked to be somewhere in their late fifties but maybe sixties. Rugged outdoor life probably kept you looking youthful.

“You sure they are okay with me being here?” Cassie asked, suddenly realizing she’d agreed to become the ward of some strangers.

“Of course. Kenzi will be by soon to say hi. The boys were all told to give you some space to settle in. The Rochon brothers and their wives, plus their little ones are a bit overwhelming. Trust me, Christmas was insane,” Effie said, then realized what she’d said.

“I’m sorry sweetie, I just meant…” She faded off. Christmas had been amazing up until that phone call.

“Don’t worry about it, biotch. I’m sure it was fun. Hell, I was having fun up to a point too. Although some of those pictures online didn’t really do me justice,” she tried to joke.

“Well, Connie is like a nursemaid, B&B owner, and nanny all wrapped up in one. She’ll keep you fed and warm, and hopefully all this fresh mountain air will speed your recovery,” Effie said, trying to sound cheerful.

“I suppose you scheduled rehab for me as well, huh?” Cassie ground out. She wasn’t a child; she knew her friend was trying to help. And fuck all if she wasn’t an invalid currently. She just hated being treated that way.

“Yes, but since I know you didn’t like going where there were a bunch of people, we’ve arranged private rehab. They’ll be coming twice a week and can help you out right here,” Effie said.

Cassie had started rehab in a large facility. Her knee was the biggest problem currently. It just didn’t want to work right. The tendons were healing, but it was still weak. Her stomach wasn’t even tender anymore from the surgery. She often poked at the healing scar just to check. Her ankle would need some rehab but nothing major.

“Fine, but I’m only doing it so you won’t be a big baby and start crying again,” Cass snarked.

“I’m hormonal, dumbass. This little one has my emotions all over the place. I can’t be held responsible for anything right now; just ask Dax,” Effie said smugly. “Besides, you try compressing a pregnancy in half and see how hot you feel.” Shifters had gestations based on the animals they were. Cats had relatively short pregnancies. So Effie had only around four months to wrap her head around being a mom.

“You realize that thing is basically a parasite. Feeding off your blood, controlling you. It’s like body snatchers,” Cassie said sternly.

“Well, it’s your little niece or nephew parasite, so you have to love it,” Effie said softly.

“Oh, I already love the little monster, don’t worry. I’ll be its scary Auntie that has to hide away in the shadows and scare the kids on Halloween,” Cass said, looking at her lap. She was trying to be funny, but she knew it was true.

Effie looked at her friend. Her heart was breaking; she had to get her old Cass back. Her baby needed that crazy, wild, try anything aunt in his or her life that was the one they always wanted to hang out with. That would plan naughty adventures together and spoil them rotten.

“Well, I figure you’ll be ready for full time Aunt duty by the time this little one shows up,” Effie said, trying to sound confident.

Cassie didn’t even bother looking up. “I’m still tired,” she said quietly.

“Let’s get you inside then,” Effie said, motioning to Dax.

“Okay, I don’t want to alarm you,” Dax said ominously when he stuck his head in the door. “Connie has made some kind of caramel apple strudel thing that probably has about a pound of sugar in it. In case you were hungry. Now, don’t feel obligated to eat half it of like you normally would just to make her feel better,” he teased.

Cassie offered him a small smile. “Sounds tasty.”

Dax picked her up and carefully got her out through the door. Effie grabbed her crutches. The driver Dax had hired already had all of her luggage up on the porch. Dax and Effie were only staying one night before heading back.

“Oh, there you are my dear!” Connie Rochon exclaimed. She was smiling a big cheerful smile, but her eyes were all too perceptive. “We are so looking forward to spending time with you. This is a very healing place. Surrounded by so much life growing all the time, it’s good for the soul,” she said, patting Cassie’s cheek.

Cassie couldn’t help but flinch when she touched her. It was a kind gesture, but she’d had enough people touching her in the hospital. Always poking and prodding, usually it involved pain.

Connie didn’t miss the flinch either. “This is my husband, Edward. You probably won’t see much of him. He’s either fishing or snoring in his recliner. Feel free to poke him when he gets loud,” Connie said with a giggle that was cute, but at the same time showing her annoyance at her husband’s noisiness.

“Don’t listen to her; I purr like a kitten. Shit, you’re no bigger than a bug. Dax, how do you not lose her in the furniture?” Edward boomed. He was a big man, but apparently all the Rochons were like that.

“Oh, we just use that pointy vacuum attachment. She usually comes right up. I’ll give you a few more tips when we get her inside,” Dax offered.

Cassie gave his arm a pinch for that. He growled back. It almost made her smile.

“Well, young lady, you must be tired. How about we get you settled in? Would you like to be parked in the main room on the couch or straight to your bedroom?” Edward asked.

“Bedroom, please. My medication makes me sleepy,” Cass said quietly.

“Of course, I’ll show you the way,” Edward said gesturing towards the house.

They all trooped in, and Cassie took in the massive log cabin. It was big but still cozy.

“Let me take you on a tour, so you get the lay of the land,” Connie offered. She took them through the house pointing out areas and opening doors.

There was a great room with huge ceilings and a massive fireplace. The room opened to the kitchen. Down a hallway were four bedrooms. Connie pointed out the bathrooms and such as she went.

Bringing her into a room with a large, king size bed, Dax sat her down on the edge of the bed. Cassie looked around; it was sweet. Country charm all the way. From the lace curtains over the window that were above the bed, to the white fluffy comforter that was covered in tiny rosebuds. The bed was made out of real logs and looked like it grew out of the walls.

A dresser and a closet were opposite the bed, which was covered with a number of pillows that would rival even what Effie’s decorator had managed at home. Dax insisted they hire someone since Effie was overwhelmed with the idea of buying so much furniture to fill their huge house. The crazy decorator had a thing for throw pillows.

“This room will be nice and quiet for you; the window overlooks the back yard. Cage’s house is just off in the distance on that side. The bathroom is right next door. But if you ever need help, I’ve put a little bell on the nightstand,” Connie said pointing to the bedside table.

There was a small brass bell and a petite vase full of wildflowers. It was sweet, like they were welcoming her. But Cassie still felt awkward. They didn’t know her, had never even met her and she was plopping her ass down like the big old burden she was.

She could feel the tears welling in her eyes as the self-pity tidal wave started. “Thank you, Connie. If you don’t mind, I’d like to lie down for a while,” she said quietly.

“Of course dear, we’ll all be outside,” Connie said, patting her cheek again and pretending she didn’t notice the flinch.

“Get some rest; we’ll wake you for dinner,” Effie said, kissing her forehead.

Dax and Edward just waved and left the room. Scooting herself back on the bed, she grabbed some of the crazy pillows and tucked them under her knee and then her other leg to elevate her ankle. She laid back and let the darkness come.