The Bear's Mate

By Vanessa Devereaux

This story was first published by Evernight Publishing in 2014. It’s been reformatted and edited.

Aidan Renner’s been keeping a secret for twenty-five years. Since his father died, it’s been his job to keep the shifters safe but when his brother needs urgent attention due to a stab wound, he takes him to a free clinic where previously the doctor hasn’t asked any questions.

However, there’s a new doctor in town, she’s female—and drop dead gorgeous. When she insists on taking his brother’s blood as a precautionary measure, Aidan knows he has to get it back before it’s tested and the truth about them comes to light. When he breaks into the clinic in hopes of locating it, and finds it not there, there’s only one course of action. Take Charlotte out for a meal and ask her which lab she sent it to.

Charlotte doesn’t know if it’s because she’s been alone for over a year or if Aidan is as perfect as he seems, but she’s got the feeling that he could be a keeper.

Can Aidan continue to keep the shifters’ secret under wraps? And when he senses himself falling for Charlotte, can there be a future for a bear shifter and a human? Or is their relationship doomed from the beginning and could it put the shifter group in danger?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Susan Palmquist
• Release date: May 14, 2019
• ISBN: 9780463165522

Vanessa Devereaux

Vanessa Devereaux is the bestselling author of erotic romances and erotica including Cater to Me, The Rake, Who's the Boss, and The Pleasure Room. She's also pens three ongoing series, Perfect Pairing, Big Sky County and Kalispell Shifters.

Book preview

The Bear’s Mate

Kalispell Shifters

Vanessa Devereaux

Published by Coldstream Publishing at Smashwords

Copyright 2019 Vanessa Devereaux

Smashwords Edition, License Notes.

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Table of Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Thank You

Social Networks

Back to Top

Chapter 1

Aiden’s heartbeat picked up tempo allowing him to feel each gush of blood it pushed around his body. He put his foot down harder on the accelerator as beads of sweat broke out on his forehead. He gripped the steering wheel tighter causing his knuckles to look like every drop of blood had been drained from them. He wiped away the perspiration with the back of his hand, willing the car in front of his to get the hell out of the way because this was clearly an emergency.

You’ve got to come and help me because I’m in big trouble.

That’s all he’d heard his brother shouting down the phone and then the line had gone dead.

He’d told one of his co-workers that he needed to go and pick up some medication for the cough he couldn’t seem to shake. After that, he’d swiftly left the wildlife management office. He glanced down at the bag perched on the passenger seat. It had been packed for as long as he could remember. Pulled out in haste just ten minutes ago. Inside was a way out and a fresh start. He hoped that his brother had his one ready and also every other member of their group too. Once Aiden gave the signal they’d leave, never turning back and never coming back.

Sadness swept over him. Flathead County had been their home since they’d arrived here. They’d set up roots in Western Montana and Idaho as best as they could. They’d found jobs, homes, had children in the local schools, but if it was no longer safe, then so be it.

Aiden pulled into the parking lot of his brother’s condo building. He really wanted to collect his thoughts, take a deep breath and think about the next move, but someone, maybe even government officials, had discovered their secret, and his brother was in danger.

Exiting the car, he put his nose into the air. The bear in him smelled the blood. The air was tinged with a heavy metallic odor. Someone was hurt or worse. He glanced up at the building, keying in on the exact window of his brother’s condo.

So much for thinking they were safe because nothing significant had happened before now. However, someone had found Christopher and was probably torturing him, punishing his body until he gave in, told them the truth and the identity of every single member of the group.

Aiden entered the building, opting not to take the elevator because most of the time it was unreliable. Once he’d even got stuck between floors in the damn thing. He ran up the stairs two, sometimes three at a time, hoping he wasn’t too late. Christopher was the only family he had left now, and he couldn’t imagine carrying on without him.

Aiden reached the fifth floor and pushed back the stairwell door, smelling burgers cooking as well as the tell-tale coppery odor that still clung heavy in the air. It was his brother’s blood…he knew it. He’d always been able to detect shifter blood better than that of a human. He ran along the hallway to apartment 511. The door was closed. He turned the handle but didn’t expect it to open because he’d always instructed his brother to lock it at all times and never let a stranger over its threshold. Not such a great idea now that the enemy was inside with him. Just how had they gotten inside? His brother wasn’t easily fooled.

He pulled out his gun and kicked at the door with the sole of his right foot. It flung open, and Aiden rushed inside, scanning the area with his gun ready to shoot.

Please, don’t hurt me, I’m sorry.

Christopher cried out, and it sounded like he was in the bedroom. Aiden edged his way along the wall toward the room, ready for the ultimate showdown. He expected to see people in there torturing his brother, but instead a naked woman stood by the door holding a bread knife that had blood splattered on it.

He knew her. She was one of the members of the group. She was a wolf-shifter and was, in fact, his brother’s sometimes girlfriend. He’d warned Christopher that a wolf and bear shifter weren’t exactly a match made in heaven, but his baby brother knew best. Aiden lifted the gun higher and entered the room. She caught sight of him, suddenly pointed the knife at Aiden and partially shifted, showing him her sharp canines as she opened her mouth and growled.

Eliza, just put the knife down, okay, he said, stepping farther into the room.

His brother was lying on the bed with a nasty wound to his lower belly.

Aiden, do something because she’s gone crazy, he said.

He’s the one you should do something about, she said, taking a run toward Christopher with the knife.

Aiden knew he needed to grab her and wasn’t sure just where on her body to do it. She was nude, and the bottom line was she was Christopher’s woman. However, by the look of things the relationship might be over. He put his arms out and grabbed her with one hand on her belly, the other across her left breast.

Just drop the knife, he whispered in her ear while getting a strong odor of her wolf. She was just as scared as Christopher was. He knew it because he could detect the tinge of fear in the air. She wasn’t going to let go of the knife any time soon, so he decided to take matters into his own hands.

He shook her, and the knife fell to the ground by his right foot.

Aiden kicked it under the bed and out of her reach, and then let her go.

Your brother is a disgusting rat, she said turning around.

I said I was sorry, said Christopher.

Just what the hell’s been going on? asked Aiden.

He’s been with another shifter, said Eliza.

Aiden looked at his brother and raised both his eyebrows.

I will never forgive you for this Christopher Renner. I’ll show myself out and let me just say you got exactly what you deserved. She stormed out of the bedroom.

Aiden put his gun back in its holster. Is it true that you’ve been two timing her?

Christopher didn’t have a chance to answer when another girl, also naked, walked out of the en- suite bathroom. He lifted his nose to catch her set. Cougar if he wasn’t mistaken. This one had to be new in town, and that worried him more than Christopher cheating on Eliza.

Shit, what the hell have you been up to? asked Aiden.

I felt in a playful mood, said Christopher holding his stomach and grimacing.

Hi, my name’s Linnie.

She walked over to Aiden and held out her hand. He had to admit she did have a great body, but that was beside the point. He’d panicked and broken speed limits, even traffic rules in his attempt to save Christopher, and all because of sex.

I think he should get that gash and bite checked out. She slipped on the blue dress she’d picked up off the floor.

And I think it best that you leave ASAP, Aiden told her.

Maybe I’ll see you around, she told Christopher before she exited the room.

Aiden walked into the bathroom, hoping he wouldn’t find any more naked girls lurking in there. He took a towel off the rack and a washcloth, ran it under the tap, and walked back into the bedroom.

Let me see how bad that wound is.

Christopher set his head back on a pillow while Aiden wiped away the blood from the injury.

Ouch. Be careful, said his brother. He pushed Aiden’s hand away, but he persisted with cleaning him up anyway. He’d always been a big baby about things like this.

You had me worried. Why didn’t you tell me it was Eliza you were scared of? asked Aiden.

I didn’t get a chance to. She was coming at me with that knife. I know you’re finding this very amusing.

Aiden smiled, relieved that things weren’t as bad as he’d expected. They wouldn’t have to leave. So, you mind telling me what brought this about? I thought you and Eliza were becoming exclusive.

Guess my libido’s been in overdrive lately. I’m sure I don’t have to tell you we’re heading toward bear mating season.

He didn’t. Aiden had felt the stirrings and urges within his own body. However, he didn’t have a mate, didn’t even have a female friend at the moment so he’d done his best to suppress them and used his daily run as a way