Bear With Me: Shifters of Spellholm Forest - The Bears, #3

By Harmony Raines

Lauren is out for revenge. A terrible childhood has left her hurt and wounded, with a need to destroy the happiness of others. When she turns up in Spellholm, she tries her hardest to cause trouble.

What she didn't bank on, was meeting her mate, a bear shifter she shares a bond with.

Chris can't believe it when he meets his mate, and she tells him he's made a mistake. It can't be true, there is no way she can already belong to another.

Each time she pushes him away, he becomes more confused. Why would she do something like this to hurt the one person she should care about above all else?

But when he catches her in the arms of his brother, he realises things have gone too far. Can he tame his mate, and discover her reasons for lying?

Just when he thinks they are making progress, she makes a mistake that not only threatens their relationship, but also puts his brothers lives in jeopardy too.

Contains explicit adult scenes.

This is the third and final part in the Shifters of Spellholm Forest - The Bears

• Language: English
• Publisher: Silver Moon Erotica
• Release date: Sep 13, 2014
• ISBN: 9781502226433

Book preview

Chapter One

Lauren

Lauren Tyler stood in front of The Den, as far as she could gather this was the place most shifters used as their watering hole. For as long as she could remember she had dreamed of hunting down the woman who had destroyed her life, and this was where she hoped to finally confront her face to face.

Thoughts of revenge had made her stronger. Through all the crap of growing up, watching her mom struggle to cope alone, and then having to hide how different she was from everyone else. This one desire had blossomed and bloomed until it consumed her existence, and today promised to hold the fulfilment she had dreamed of. Today she would track down, and repay the woman who had taken her father away from his real family.

In Lauren’s fantasies her nemesis was a beautiful witch, who had spelled her dad into falling in love with her. It was the only reason there could be for him to never return home to her mom, the woman who was his true mate. There could be no other reason for him abandoning them so cruelly.

Thanks to her mom’s eternal love and adoration for the man who had missed his daughter growing up, Lauren could never lay blame at his feet. Never once did she let the thought enter her brain that he might have simply up and left of his own accord. There had to be magic involved, or an accident, memory loss, in fact anything that did not take an ounce of esteem away from her mom’s devotion to her mate.

A slight feeling of nervousness buzzed through her. Excitement tinged with fear. Not because Lauren doubted her ability to hold her own with this woman, if it came to a cat fight, but because if she didn’t find the woman, or get any further news here, she was at a dead end. She knew her father had lived here for some time after he left home, but apart from that all she had was the name of the woman he supposedly shacked up with.

Only one way to know if her hunt was in vain. One determined step took her to the bar entrance, she pulled it open and stepped inside.

Heads turned, but she was used to that. She knew she was striking with her long blonde hair and startling blue eyes. Innocent and sweet, and she played it that way, letting everyone sink into a false sense of ease around her. People let their guard down much easier when they thought she was no threat. If only they knew.

Hi there. What can I get you?

Hello. My was he a handsome creature, then she reminded herself she wasn’t here for pleasure, something she had abstained from in her goal to avenge her mom. Lauren had become totally fixed on the goal she had set myself. I’ll have some lemonade, please.

Lemonade, he repeated, slightly stunned, a small curl to his lip hiding the smirk, no doubt most of his clientèle went for something much stronger, and there was no denying it would give her courage, but she needed a clear head.

Yes please, Lauren said, giving a little girl giggle. I’m in here looking for information really, but I didn’t like to come in and ask without buying a drink.

Can’t argue with that. I’ll get your lemonade, and then you can ask away.

Lauren got comfortable on a stool right in front of the bar, adjusting her shirt so he could get an eyeful of her ample cleavage. Once satisfied she slowly took in the other people in the bar, trying to work out who, and what they were.

It was early afternoon, those present were old timers, sharing gossip and drinking a nice cold afternoon beer. A couple of cats, small ones though, not the big lions she heard frequented the area.

Here we are. Now, stranger, what do you need to know.

She guessed that was his subtle way of asking her to introduce herself. There was no reason for her to lie, they wouldn’t know her name, not yet. Soon though, the whole of Spellholm would have it on their lips.

Smiling brightly, giving him a burst of her dazzling blue eyes, she held out her hand. Lauren, Lauren Tyler.

Good to meet you Lauren. He held her hand a little too long, and she might have mistaken it for more, but she had been studied like this before, he was checking she was one of them. That she wasn’t an imposter, or a traveller lost their way and not been put off by the spell she had sensed on the threshold. No common people were welcome here, not unless the owner allowed it.

She had seen it used before, often to keep the small number of thrill seekers away. Those that knew the secret of the shifter gene, and wanted some part of it. Or at least give some part of themselves to it. They loved sex with people of dual nature, but Lauren could think of no reason one like her would ever lower themselves to be with a creature so mundane as a common human.

So do you have a name? she asked, looking up at him through her eyelashes as she sipped her lemonade through a straw.

Wes. I own the bar. So what can I help you with? He smiled, but she could tell he was on his guard. Strangers asking questions were not always welcome, they usually brought trouble in their wake.

It's probably a bit before your time, but my dad lived around here for a few months. I was trying to find out about the woman he was living with at the time.

Wes drew himself up to his full height, it appeared she had hit a nerve. At last she felt as though the trail was heating up, after months of chasing her tail. She didn't want to admit it, but her father had been quite careful about covering his tracks. Her mom had only heard the news of his affair with another woman through second hand information. Then she had paid a witch to divine the whereabouts, but all she got from the old fraud was a name.

If it helps the woman's name was Sharon. Keeping her face nice and relaxed she studied him, trying to hide the fact that her heart beat faster, and adrenalin pumped it's way around her body. This feeling nearly surpassed the thrill of her first change, when everything finally became right in her world. This would complete everything, and her revenge would be so satisfying she could taste it. All she needed to do was know the information she was positive he held, and then she could find her quarry at last.

Sharon. Is that all you have to go on?

Her bubble of excitement burst. Yes. I know it's a long shot, but I hoped you might know. Perhaps you could ask your parents, or some of the other older people.

My parents aren't around here any more. You could ask them. He nodded in the direction of the cats, and then lowered his voice. But they don't always like sharing their past.

Oh, why? Do they have some dark secrets to hide?

He looked at her unsmiling. Everyone has a dark secret somewhere inside them.

She wondered if he could read her soul, see her own dark secrets, those she kept hidden from everyone. The jealousy and rage she had carried everyday of her life were hidden in the deepest part of the hole where her heart should be. Only shown the light when she was alone, or in her other form. Tearing through the forests and hunting had become her way of life for the last four months since she first changed. Honing her hunting skills for when she had something more personal to hunt.

So do you have any suggestions? she asked, putting just the right amount of disappointment in her voice so she didn't sound like a deranged stalker.

Not really. I don't like to trade on gossip, but I'll ask around. Where are you staying?

Nowhere. I just arrived, I was told this was the place to go for information. I guess I got told wrong. I'm sorry to have bothered you.

No problem.

He walked away, leaving her in a quandary. Almost positive he knew more than he was letting on, she made her lemonade last for far longer than her dry mouth wanted. All the time she kept her ears and eyes open, watching the comings and goings, carefully assessing everyone who came into the bar.

Lauren looked up as a young woman came out from the back of the bar. Something about her was familiar, but she couldn't put her finger on it. It might be the colour of her eyes, or the shape of her mouth, she couldn't be sure. All she knew was that the young woman had come out for a purpose. To look at Lauren.

Averting her attention, she let her get a real good look, waiting for her to come over and speak. Would she threaten Lauren? Perhaps the bar owner, Wes, was her man. Did she think Lauren was invading her territory? She didn't find out, because she disappeared out of sight.

Patiently, Lauren waited.

Wes appeared again.

Do you have a menu? I might as well eat here rather than go on with nothing inside me. It's been a long day.

Where are you from? He sounded genuinely interested, Lauren relaxed, things were about to get interesting, he was fishing for information.

West. But I've been travelling for a few weeks, she answered sounding disinterested, as though they were merely making small talk, but her senses were heightened, watching for any small sign he held the information she needed.

Trying to find this Sharon?

Yes. Hunting, was how she would describe it, but not right now. Smile, lower your gaze. Innocent and sweet, there you go. She let out a breath, trying to hide her annoyance as it simmered under the surface. They were up to something. And for a flickering moment she wondered if she was in danger. Then she snorted, no one was a danger to her. Excuse me, bubbles went up my nose.

He smiled. I'll get the menu.

She watched him move over to the other side of the bar, he sure was a man in every sense of the word. If she hadn't been so focused on revenge, he was the kind of man she would go for. Strong, maybe even strong enough to control her. Yeah, right. She had been out of control for enough years to know that there was no other creature in the world that she would give that power to. Unlike the rest of her kind, she was not restlessly searching for her mate. She never wanted to settle down, and she certainly didn't want to inflict herself on her own offspring.

Hi.

Lauren nearly choked for real this time. The young woman had crept up on her, not an easy thing to do when her senses were already primed and on the look out for danger. This time her smile came a little late, and she hoped the woman hadn't seen the real Lauren simmering under the surface.

Hello, you made me jump there.

Sorry. It's only... Wes said you were looking for a woman named Sharon, who used to live around here.

Lauren's interest was firmly off the bar keepers tight ass, and firmly on the woman in front of her. Yes. That's right.

Do you have anything else to go on, like a description? I'd like to help.

Oh, thank you. I was beginning to think I'd been wasting my time here. She glanced over at Wes, who returned with the menu, and a face full of warning. Obviously they had discussed this already, and he had told her to keep out of it. This was the most promising development in months. They must really have information, the bar man knew how to keep his patrons' secrets, but his woman wanted to share. Lauren was all for sharing.

Well, it depends, I mean I know a Shar, but she doesn't use the name Sharon.

Sharon was the name I was given, but it was a long time ago, perhaps she started using Shar since then.

Maybe. I'll ask her.

She lives around here? Perhaps I could meet her.

It might be better if you tell me what you need first.

Aren't you the nosey one, thought Lauren, she'd got herself a real busy body here. But she needed help, and so she said, I don't want to bother you, you must be very busy. Tell me where I can find her, and I'll go myself.

Wes spoke now. I don't think that would be such a good idea. You should run this past us first.

Lauren smiled. It's personal.

If you want our help you need to tell us first.

Wes. The young woman put her hand on his arm, trying to ease him back from this obvious confrontation. Lauren watched their dynamics, understanding now that they were an item, not the boss and employee she first imagined. He was looking out for her, trying to stop her getting hurt. How noble. It also told her exactly how personal it was for his woman, his mate.

I don't mean any trouble. But this is private, I would discuss it with you if you were close to Shar.

The young woman beamed. Great. I'm Paris, and I'm Shar's daughter.

Lauren reeled inside. Paris. How...French.

She smiled. Yes, that's why my mom picked it.

She was French?

No. I think my father was.

Your father, I get it.

Yes, she really did. The young woman, Paris was her sister. Half sister more like. She tried to breath, although the room spun around her like a merry go round. This was unexpected. The betrayal of her mom all the more terrible because he had bred with another woman. How could he do that unless coerced?

Are you alright? Paris asked.

Yes. Sorry. I think I need something to eat, it's been a long day.

Here's that menu. Wes handed it to her, still eyeing her uneasily.

No. Why don't you come upstairs and eat with us? There's plenty to go around. Wes's brother is here for the wedding, so I have to make plenty.

"Wedding. Who's the lucky