Wedding Bear: BBW Bear Shifter Paranormal Romance (Enforcer Bears Book 3) (11 page)

Blood Claw had tracked him all the way back to the hidden camp of his clan. Worse—Kayden had not even succeeded in drawing him away from Sidney, because the mate bond had led her right back to Kayden.

Back into danger.

His heart was pounding in his chest. Rage had heightened all of his senses. He stared at the giant black bear, meeting those angry eyes unflinchingly.

Blood Claw was the strongest of them all. Kayden had never beaten him. Blood Claw had been the alpha’s second for a reason.

But Kayden felt no fear. At this moment, with his mate next to him and his clan at his back, all that filled him was cold determination and the ancient instinct of the feral creature within him. His bear would defend clan and family to his death.

“You don’t have to do this,” Kayden said coldly. “We left. We are no longer part of the Iron Fang clan. I am this clan’s alpha, and you have no power over us. You are encroaching on our territory. I will let you leave without a fight, and then consider this challenge settled. But if you choose to stay...
I will kill you
.”

Kayden felt Sidney flinch next to him, but there was no time now to reassure her. This challenge would be settled one way or another, and he would do whatever it took to keep his mate safe and protect his clan.

The black bear opened his mouth and let out a loud, furious roar.

Then he attacked.

Before he had even halfway crossed the clearing, Kayden was running towards him. He shifted mid-run—one moment, he was running on two legs, the next, four majestic paws dug deep into the forest soil, and he opened his own jaw to let out a roar of rage. The sharp senses of his bear told him that Darrell and Glory, his clan’s most capable warriors, had stepped to Sidney’s side to keep her safe. The rest of his clan was watching from the edge of the clearing.

This was it. This was the challenge that would decide their future. If Kayden failed, he would not only fail Sidney, but also his entire clan. Their sacrifice would be for nothing. With Kayden dead, they would be dragged back to Iron Fang’s territory.

I will not fail you,
he thought.

Then he met Blood Claw mid-jump.

They crashed into each other in a furious whirl of claw-studded paws and sharp fangs. Kayden could feel the burning pain of claws shredding the fur somewhere behind his right shoulder.

Blood Claw’s breath was hot on his face. His dark eyes gleamed with rage.

But Kayden’s own hind paw had found purchase, and while he wrenched his throat out of reach of Blood Claw’s fangs, his own claws opened deep wounds along his challengers unprotected belly.

With a pained, enraged growl, Blood Claw released him.

Panting and roaring, they circled each other. Distantly, Kayden heard Sidney cry out in shock, but he could not take his eyes from Blood Claw now. This was perhaps the most important and most dangerous moment of his life. He was not afraid for his own life—but he was afraid what would happen to everyone he loved, should he fail here.

I cannot fail. I cannot give up. No matter what it takes...

Again Blood Claw attacked.

Kayden was prepared; he reared back just in time to escape a mighty swipe of a paw that would have ripped open his face. Blood Claw didn’t pause even for a second. Immediately the next attack followed: Blood Claw’s head shot forward, the mighty jaw clicking shut just a hair’s breadth in front of Kayden’s unprotected throat.

Immediately Kayden lashed out in retaliation. The move had left Blood Claw’s own throat unprotected, and so Kayden went in for the kill, using the full force of his weight to hurl himself at his opponent. His own fangs opening for the vulnerable skin and the veins beneath—but it seemed that Blood Claw had foreseen his move.

He’d left himself open to the attack intentionally to draw Kayden in, and as soon as Kayden’s teeth connected with his skin, Blood Claw threw himself to the ground.

It was too late for Kayden to stop. The full force of his attack carried him forward. When Blood Claw went down, Kayden went down with him, his speed carrying him onward. He flew forward—and Blood Claw used his chance.

Kayden roared in pain when Blood Claw’s paw opened deep, burning lines from his chest to his stomach. The wounds were bleeding heavily; he could feel the wetness of his own blood matting his fur.

With every breath he took, pain was throbbing through him. When he skidded across the ground, he had to shake his head to get rid of the dizziness that threatened to overwhelm his senses.

Blood Claw gave him no time to recover.

A second later the black bear was back atop him. Hot breath hit Kayden’s face. Again they rolled across the ground together.

Blood Claw’s paws opened new wounds all across Kayden’s back, but this time, Kayden gave back as good as he got. He buried his fangs deep into his attacker’s flank, biting down as hard as he could while Blood Claw roared in pain.

When they parted this time, Kayden barely felt the pain, although he noticed how his body’s strength was waning. Dimly he registered that he was still losing blood. Was Blood Claw planning to draw out this fight until exhaustion and blood loss forced him to surrender?

Never,
his bear roared.
Never! I’ll die for my clan if I have to!

His heart was pounding in his chest. Every beat echoed through him like the tolling of a giant bell. He heard Sidney cry out again, and through the bond between them, he could feel her fear and pain.

You cannot die! Don’t you dare,
her voice cried out.
Surrender if you have to! I don’t care as long as you are alive!

It took a moment until he realized that those words hadn’t been spoken out loud. The mate bond had sent her thoughts to him. Danger and love had strengthened the bond. And with it came not only her fear, but also an overpowering sense of love. Her warmth was wrapping around him, dulling the pain of his wounds, restoring the strength of the blood he had lost.

I love you,
he thought back, the fury of his bear receding for a moment as a deep awareness filled him.
I love you.

He could not surrender. Not out of pride or his bear’s instincts. But if he surrendered, what would happen to Sidney? Iron Fang was cruel. He might order her killed because she had seen too much. To him, she as a human held little worth.

To me, she is everything.

He took a deep breath. Suddenly, he was calm. He knew now what he had to do.

The instinct was old—older than this forest. Older than their clan. Perhaps it was as old as the times when their forebears had crossed half the world on a bridge of ice between continents that no longer existed.

My life for hers,
he thought, offering it up silently to the green trees that surrounded them, the blue sky that stretched above them, the ancient heart of the forest that had nurtured bear clans for as long as they had roamed the world.

My life for hers.

Then he attacked.

Even wounded, Kayden’s strength was still enormous. He barreled into the powerful body of Blood Claw. He didn’t feel any fear or weakness now; there was only fierce determination. When Blood Claw’s jaw snapped shut in front of his face, he drew his lips back for a grin, baring his own fangs. Once more his hind paw found an opening in Blood Claw’s defenses, and he drew blood again as he slashed across Blood Claw’s belly with all his might.

Despite the pain, his opponent didn’t relent. Kayden had drawn blood—but the attack had left him wide open to Blood Claw’s teeth.

Blood Claw used his chance. Burning pain and panic shot through Kayden as at last, Blood Claw’s jaw closed around his throat. Sharp fangs pierced his skin. The crushing pressure was nearly unbearable. Already it was impossible to breathe.

Kayden could hear Sidney cry out again in terror even as dark spots began dancing in front of his eyes.

He had lost.

But what Blood Claw didn’t know was that Kayden had opened himself up to his attack deliberately.

With Blood Claw already victorious, concentrating on burying his teeth deeper into Kayden’s throat, Kayden gathered what was left of his strength for what he knew would be his final chance.

His left paw slashed straight across Blood Claw’s face. Just as Kayden had intended, for a moment Blood Claw couldn’t see when blood came spilling down.

With a furious roar of pain, Blood Claw reared back—and one last time, Kayden barreled into him. He didn’t have much strength left, but it was enough for this last outpouring of determination.

With Blood Claw temporarily blinded and distracted by the pain, he wasn’t prepared for the full force of Kayden’s weight hitting him. They went down together—and then there was another roar of pain that suddenly turned into a human groan.

Blood Claw had shifted back. And as Kayden stood over him, weakened and still bleeding from multiple wounds himself, he slowly realized that he’d done it. He had won.

Below him, Blood Claw was on the ground, one of his legs bent at an unnatural angle. He was pale, the strong, scarred body gleaming with sweat, bleeding profusely from a long gash across his face.

Kayden lowered his head. He parted his jaw.

He’d end it all now. One bite would be all it took. His mate and his clan could live in safety.

Say goodbye, Blood Claw
, he growled silently, parting his mouth to show his fangs—and then there was a shout, and something touched his shoulder.

Even before he turned his head, he knew who it was.

Sidney.

“Don’t,” she said quietly. “Don’t. You once told me that you ran because you didn’t want that life of violence. Then don’t start your new life like this. Let him go.”

Kayden looked down at Blood Claw again. He growled softly. It would be so easy. One quick bite, and all their troubles would be over...

“Kayden,” Sidney said again.

Her hand touched his face once more, this time with more determination. Despite the blood on his face, she took hold of him and forced him to meet her eyes.

“I’m not afraid of you,” she said, stroking along his powerful jaw. “You’re better than that.”

His bear was still full of rage, but at her touch, even the beast inside his heart suddenly grew a little calmer.

I’m not,
he said silently, hoping she could hear him through their bond as well.
I’m not. But you make me want to be...

Reluctantly, he took a step backward, releasing Blood Claw.

The man was still panting for breath, his chest heaving as blood kept dripping from his wounds. When Kayden moved off him, his eyes suddenly opened and he struggled into a sitting position.

“No,” Blood Claw forced out, his voice a soft growl. “No. Don’t you dare. End this. Here. Now!”

Kayden took a deep breath. Then he shifted back. Immediately Sidney’s arm came around him to support him.

“No,” Kayden said simply. “I won’t kill you. Go back. Don’t return to my territory again.”

“No!” Blood Claw roared weakly. “Kill me! Kill me now, or I swear you will regret it—!”

Suddenly, he fell silent. A sharp blade had been pressed to his throat. Sidney gasped in shock—but Kayden wasn’t even surprised when he raised his head and found that Glory had appeared out of nowhere. Her eyes blazed with furious anger as she knelt in the grass behind Blood Claw with a knife in her hand.

“He’s right, alpha,” Glory said with a fierce smile. “Let’s end this here. You don’t have to do it yourself. I’ll take care of it, boss. And then we’ll truly be free!”

“Show-off,” Darrell muttered behind them. The rest of the clan had fallen silent.

It would be easy. The thought was seductive. Let Glory take the blame...

But Sidney was right. He’d sworn he’d never become an alpha like Iron Fang. And he couldn’t start their new life of freedom with murder.

“Drop the knife!”

Surprised, Kayden whipped around when he found that the words he’d been about to speak had resounded from the other side of the clearing instead.

There, a stranger had appeared, broad-shouldered and pointing a gun at them.

“Police! Drop the knife!” the man shouted again.

“Oh my God, it’s Chris!” Sidney said, and then yelled, “Chris! Don’t shoot! I can explain this! This is not what it looks like...”

“I know what it looks like,” Chris said grimly as he slowly came closer. “I’ve been smelling bear in my forest for some time now. Looks like I found the source of the trouble.”

“Your forest?” Kayden echoed, watching the man come closer.

Kayden inhaled—yes. Now that he knew what to focus on, he could smell the distinctive scent of another bear shifter. A familiar scent.

“You’re the one I nearly ran into yesterday in town,” Kayden said when the pieces of the puzzle finally clicked.

Next to him, Sidney gasped. Chris still hadn’t lowered his gun.

“My forest. My town,” Chris said. “I don’t want any other shifters around here. Take your fights elsewhere. This town is my home, and I’m damn well going to protect it and my mate from your wars.”

“Does that mean that... that you know about shifters?” Sidney asked in disbelief.

From the edge of the forest behind Chris, another bear suddenly appeared. He opened his jaw to growl in warning, then came loping along behind Chris.

“I’m sorry, Sidney,” Chris said in apology. “You shouldn’t be here—but it’s too late now to keep the secret. Both my brother and I are shifters. And this land is ours. There won’t be any killing here. And no more fights. Drop the knife, release the man, and then I want all of you to leave.”

“Drop the knife, Glory,” Kayden ordered.

A moment later, Sidney sighed in relief when his order was followed.

“I’m sorry,” Kayden said. “If I’d known, I would have come to talk to you.”

He was interrupted by sudden, bubbling laughter from his prisoner.

“Come to save me, eh?” Blood Claw asked and then coughed. He wiped his mouth, then blinked when he found blood on his lips. “It’s too late now. Never was a good brother anyway, but I did what I could. Did what I could...”

He coughed again. More blood came pulsing from the slash at his brow, and this time Chris nearly dropped his gun.