Bearing a Grudge: Bear Shifters of Alaska, #3

By Ava Catori

Can you forgive your childhood bully?
Could you fall in love with him?

Keyoni Kalani left Alaska as a child after being bullied. She happily spent the rest of her school years in Hawaii, living with her grandmother. She never thought she’d go back. Unfortunately, part of her scholarship repayment for her doctorate means that she owes two years of work and research, in Alaska of all places. Now, independent, strong-willed, and sassy, Keyoni finds herself face-to-face with one of her childhood tormentors.

Jake Marchetti’s past catches up with him when Keyoni’s path crosses his own. She’s the last one in the world he expects to be spellbound by. The bear inside of him screams that she’s his fated mate. Problem is, she wants nothing to do with him.

Can Jake find a way to convince her that he’s changed? Or will Keyoni leave him in the past, like she did all those years ago?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ava Catori Books
• Release date: Oct 25, 2017
• ISBN: 9781386676249

Book preview

Chapter 1

Jake nudged his buddy . He gestured with his chin to a woman across the room. He hadn’t seen her in ages. Hey, isn’t that Keyoni?

Yeah, I think so. Didn’t she leave the area? Denver asked.

I’m pretty sure she did. Hard to remember, but I haven’t seen her since we were kids. What did we used to call her? I can’t remember, but it was something about her teeth.

Bucky the Beaver, Denver said.

Jake flinched. Ouch, that’s harsh. Kids can be cruel.

Well in your case, an asshole.

Hey, now. Jake rubbed the back of his neck. Damn, she looks fine. Are you sure that’s her?

It looks like her, but who knows. I need to get home. Denver tossed a couple of bills on the bar top and got up.

He said goodnight to his friend. Yeah, I’m going to stick around for a little while and maybe go talk to her.

Do you think that’s a good idea? I’m not so sure she’s going to want to get reacquainted with her childhood bully.

I wasn’t a bully, was I? Nah. Besides we were kids. All kids go through that stuff, and it wasn’t just me. Besides, we’re grown-ups and can laugh about that stuff now. I mean, look how much she’s changed.

Denver patted his friend on the back. Stay out of trouble.

Me? Jake flashed a grin at his buddy.

JAKE WATCHED AS DENVER pushed open the front door and made his way outside. He thought of a couple of one-liners, but couldn’t come up with anything perfect. He hadn’t seen her in over a decade, maybe two. It’s not like he wanted to approach her with some lame come-on.

His gaze was locked on his old school mate. He couldn’t look away. Damn, that long dark hair, and the way it framed her face was sexy as hell. And her body, wow. She was all sorts of curvy and voluptuous. She had the kind of soft body that a man could really hold onto while he was...

Jake? Hank shot out firmly.

He snapped out of his daze and looked at the bartender. Oh, sorry.

Are you done, or do you want a refill?

I’ll take one more. I’m going to move over to one of the booths shortly. I’ll sort out my tab before I leave.

Hank topped off his beer, then slid it back to him.

Jake turned to thank him, but Hank was already gone. He’d been lost in thought once again and didn’t see him leave. He picked up his mug and made his way across the room. The closer he got, the stronger his body reacted. Strong vibrations rushed through him like magic. The intensity grew the closer he got. Electricity raced over his nerves, leaving them on edge. Something grabbed ahold of him and refused to let go.

Shit, was she the one? He’d heard rumors about fated mates, but never dreamed he could have one. Maybe it was the beer. Maybe it was how damn hot she was. Or maybe, just maybe, she was the one he’d been waiting for.

With confidence riding his shoulders, he propped himself against the side of the booth. Hey, aren’t you—

She cut him off before he could say anymore. And you’re the asshole that ruined my life. See you, bye.

Whoa, back up. I think you’re mistaken. You’re Keyoni, right? I’m not sure who you’re thinking of, but I haven’t seen you since you were a kid.

I wonder why that is? she snapped. And I’m not interested in reminiscing, so you can leave now.

Jake grew defensive. She was hostile before she’d even given him a chance. What was with the stick up her ass? Yeah, uh, good to see you, too.

Her shoulders tensed. "No, it’s not good to see you. You’re a big part of the reason I left this place. Now that I’m back, I’d prefer that you come nowhere near me. Understood? I have work to do, so if you’ll excuse me."

Wait a minute... He sat uninvited. For someone I haven’t seen since I was a kid, you’re awfully bitchy.

Oh, am I? Excuse me if I’m not falling all over you. And no, get your ass up and out of my booth. Go away.

Jake winced. What’s your problem?

Keyoni clenched her teeth. I have no intention of going down memory lane with you, buddy.

Is this about—

Again, she cut him off. The nicknames, the taunting, the teasing, the bullying...if you think I’m interested in making nice with you, you’re sadly mistaken.

Jake stood and furrowed his brow. We were kids. How many years ago was it? Talk about holding a grudge. What was I ten? Maybe twelve?

Bucky the Beaver, she started. Or how about that time I was playing in the field chasing butterflies and minding my own business, when you came along. You told me I’d never catch them because butterflies were beautiful and didn’t like ugly things. Then there was the time you made fun of how skinny I was next to the other shifter bears that had filled in before me. I had an eating disorder for years because of you.

Ouch, did I really say that?

She glared at him.

Hey, I’m sorry. He offered his hand. Truly, I was an asshole. I’m horrified to hear this. I don’t remember it, but you know, it was well over ten years ago, almost twenty.

Fuck off, Marchetti.

He turned to leave. He got it. She didn’t want to be in his company. Only, there was a teensy problem. His body fought against him. How would he convince her that she might very well be the one, and that it was a sealed deal?

You couldn’t undo a fated mate. She’d just have to come along for the ride and accept matters. Yeah, like that would go over well. He’d go all barbarian bear on her ass, and she’d fight him to the core. Not like he would take her against her will, hell no, he wasn’t like that, but something had to give. He couldn’t explain it, but he needed her in ways that he didn’t even understand.

Jake turned back and looked at Keyoni. She’d grown from a weed into a perfect thornless rose. Too bad she had the personality of a prickly cactus. This was going to get ugly.

Chapter 2

Keyoni hated Alaska . Well, not necessarily the state, though it did house all of her bad memories. She’d spent the first twelve years of her life in Alaska, then the next ten or so in Hawaii living with her grandmother, before finishing her studies in California and Montana.

It was a hard decision to let her go, but her parents knew she needed a change. She’d grown desperate and chaotic. Her insides were tangled. She was the kid that all the other kids made fun of. A massive bullseye target was stuck to her back. She was scrawnier than the other shifters, wore thick glasses, and had an overbite that was hard to hide. In shifter country, the weak went down and the strong survived, natural selection they said. Her human heart and mind couldn’t handle it.

Year after year, she’d trudge through her day, praying to be invisible. If they couldn’t see her, she could read her books, go to school, then get back home without somebody making fun of her or knocking her textbooks out of her hands.

In physical education, she was the slowest runner among the others. In learning to shift, she took longer