Last of the Bears: Wild Ridge Bears, #5

By Kimber White

With the fate of the Wild Ridge Bears hanging in the balance, can Bo find his true mate before it's too late?

 

Bo Calvin is running out of time. As one of the last two Alpha bear shifters on Wild Ridge without a mate, he's facing madness and certain death. When he finds Oona trespassing on Calvin lands, his attraction to her hits him like a thunder bolt. She's fierce and beautiful like some Amazonian goddess. But, another Alpha has already made a claim for her. Bo knows she's meant for him, but acting on it could lead to an all-out clan war.

 

Oona Ryan has a secret. She's spent her whole life thinking she's got a monster inside of her. Because of it, she's lost her family and her home. A cryptic letter from her dying mother leads her to Wild Ridge in search of answers. What she finds instead turns her world upside down and reveals a shocking betrayal. Being among a group of virile bears calls to Oona's nature in ways she never expected. One stolen kiss from Bo Calvin brings out her own, ancient primal power. But, her attraction to him comes with a price and her presence on the ridge leads the clans to the brink of civil war.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Nokay Press, LLC
• Release date: Mar 10, 2023
• ISBN: 9798215993521

Kimber White

Kimber White writes steamy paranormal romance with smoldering, alpha male shifters and kickass heroines (doormats need not apply). Because she just can't help herself from torturing her heroes…expect edge of your seat suspense as Kimber's characters fight for their happily ever afters and their fated mates. Kimber lives on a lake in the Irish Hills of Michigan with her neurotic dog and wildly supportive family. For the latest scoop on Kimber's new releases plus a FREE EBOOK as a welcome gift, be sure to sign up for Kimber's newsletter at www.kimberwhite.com

Book preview

Chapter One

Six Months Ago...

Oona

I stood almost a foot taller than her, but my sister still tried to make me feel small. She stared at me with cold, dark eyes, keeping the mahogany desk between us.

I’m sorry for your loss, Hannah said. It was at least the fourth time she’d said it in less than an hour.

My loss. Mine alone. Our parents had been married for twenty years, but Hannah could never accept it. Not even now when my mother was out of her life for good. I closed my eyes, trying to let the fog settle over me again. I wanted nothing more than to be numb. My purse sat on the floor next to me. I could see the white, round cap of my pill bottle poking out of the side pocket. My fingers shook as I held back the urge to reach for it.

I sat back in the leather wing-backed chair in our father’s office. Our father. I should remind Hannah of that. When I did, she would wrinkle her face and purse her lips as if it made a sour taste in her mouth. I suppose it did.

Cormac, our brother, at least had the decency to pretend to look ashamed. He wasn’t though. Not any more than Hannah. The two of them were twins, but it was hard to believe. Cormac was blond and tall, like Daddy. He had blue eyes and a deep cleft in his chin. Cormac Ryan V. He was groomed to take over where Daddy had left off, running the family business and pursuing the political career our father had to leave behind, all because of me.

You see, I grew up in a castle, but no one would ever mistake me for a princess.

Ryan Castle and Winery sat nestled along the banks of Seneca Lake in upstate New York. The place had been in our family for over a hundred years. Cormac the First had bought it and started to make it into the place it was. The castle sat on twenty-four pristine acres overlooking the lake. From here, I could see the perfectly manicured, emerald-green lawn stretching all the way to the vineyards beyond.

Oona, Hannah’s tone sharpened. I said I’m sorry for your loss.

My loss. My loss. Her words thrummed in my ears in time with my pulse. I looked back out the window and craned my neck. The guests had all gone, leaving rows of gilded folding chairs behind. The ushers were beginning to collect those chairs and take the flowers off the podium and platform. Just over the hill, on a trail leading down to the family cemetery, we’d laid my mother to rest. Hannah hadn’t wanted that either, but my father’s will was specific. If I gave in to the rage I felt beneath the medication-induced fog, I would point out to Hannah that our father had been the one to file for divorce from Hannah and Cormac’s mother. He had chosen my mother.

Thank you, I turned back to Hannah, trying to keep my voice even. I didn’t want to give her even a little piece of me. She would be expecting that. They all would. Hannah, Cormac, Hannah’s husband Stewart, and Bradley Lauer, the family lawyer. Each of them stared at me from the other side of the room, watching. Waiting. Would my face start to flush? Would my fingers tremble? Would my breathing grow erratic? What would be the first telltale sign that Oona was about to blow? All the guests had left, save for one, Dr. Maura Neely. I could almost sense her presence outside the door. Hannah had invited her here today. I could almost hear the conversation they must have had.

Be here for Oona. Who knows what she might do?

So Dr. Neely would stay close, ready to manage me if I showed any signs of disturbing behavior.

They were scared of me. I took a tiny measure of satisfaction in that even though I knew it was the very thing that would make my world come crashing down again.

Bradley Lauer cleared his throat. He at least looked uncomfortable with what was about to happen. His fingers shook as he gripped the document in front of him. Hannah stood at his left shoulder. Stewart stood a little behind her picking lint off his dark navy suit. Couldn’t he have bothered to wear black today? Cormac stood behind Bradley’s right shoulder staring down at the paper.

With your mother’s passing, Bradley said, Hannah and Cormac become the co-successor trustees. The way Cormac Senior set it up, he’s given very broad powers of authority to them. He gave them to your mother as well. But, she was very conservative with the way she handled things. You understand?

I cleared my throat and nodded. I didn’t understand. Not really. A hollow space formed beneath my chest and my vision clouded. Clouded, not darkened. The rest of them thought the first sign of the change would come from some movement or quickening on my part. It wouldn’t. It never did. They had nothing to worry about. I felt nothing. Only numb. If I closed my eyes, I could see them lowering my mother’s casket into the cold ground.

Time must have passed. I don’t know how much. But Hannah had moved around the desk. She knelt in front of me.

Oona, she said. We’ve been generous. Too generous.

Hannah, Cormac pulled her away. Give her some space.

Hannah shot her twin brother a stony glare. Space. All we’ve ever done is give her space. She’s been coddled her whole life, Cory. Every single second of it. Well, no more. I’m not going to let her bring this family down anymore. Do you hear me, Oona? It’s over.

I shook my head. I felt my pulse quicken, but I stayed focused. I bit my bottom lip, fighting the urge to lash out at Hannah. I should have doubled up on my dosage this morning. Had Dr. Neely suggested it? God, so much of the morning hadn’t seemed real. How long had Hannah rehearsed this little speech? I could feel her own pulse rising from across the room.

I’m in this family whether you like it or not, I said in a tone I thought was rather calm under the circumstances.

Hannah’s lip curled back in a snarl. Sweat beaded her brow and she stepped back. She wore a deep purple wrap dress with a plunging neckline. How had I not noticed it before? Dangling between her cleavage, Hannah wore a turquoise pendant studded with small diamonds.

That doesn’t belong to you. I don’t remember leaving my chair. But now, I towered over Hannah and clutched the pendant in my fist. One jerk of my hand and I could have ripped it off her neck. Hannah’s eyes traveled up and up, taking in all six feet one inch of me.

This was my mother’s, I said. Daddy gave it to her.

Hannah tried to step back. Her breath went out of her as I let go of the necklace.

Daddy? He wasn’t your daddy, Hannah said, her voice dripping with venom. And she wasn’t your mother. Wake up, Oona. Look in a mirror. Your mother was five foot two in heels, for God’s sake. Daddy was Scandinavian and looked every inch of it.

Heat rose within me, starting low in my chest and spreading out. I closed my eyes, afraid to open them and see the darkness I knew was brewing underneath.

Hannah! I don’t even know who called to her. All of the men in the room seemed meek and cowed. Whatever was about to happen was between my sister and me.

I opened my eyes half expecting to find my hands around Hannah’s throat. They weren’t though. I kept them at my sides with my fists balled.

You were adopted, Oona. Hannah spit the words out.

Adopted.

I suppose it should have mattered. It should have brought me to my knees or enraged me. Here was my sister, standing in front of me on the day I buried my mother, telling me she wasn’t really mine. I did feel a kind of rage. But, it was distant, on an island somewhere in my mind. I smiled. Hannah’s eyes widened.

That’s right, she said, growing braver as she straightened her back and took a step toward me. She made a move to take another one but stopped. She knew who I was, after all.

Why do you hate me so much? I asked, my voice sounding detached and eerily calm.

Hannah’s chin jerked. "Hate you? Hate you? Oona, are you thick in the head? Diana always used to brag that you were a genius. Hell, she tried to take credit for it."

Hannah, that’s quite enough, Bradley flattened a hand against the table. Let’s just get through the rest of this.

Hannah folded her arms in front of her. Yes. Let’s.

Bradley looked at me. The color had drained from his face. Cormac and Stewart shrunk back almost into the shadows. Cowards, both of them. Bradley opened his mouth to speak, but Hannah was far from done.

Cory and I control everything now, she said. It’s as it should be. Surely, even you can appreciate that, Oona. We’ve gone over and above what we should have where you were concerned, out of respect for Diana. But, now that she’s gone…

Respect? I shot back. "Respect? Bloody hell, Hannah. Who do you think you’re talking to? I’ve heard you call my mother a whore to her face more than once. That’s right, I said my mother. You think I care whether she gave birth to me? You ask me, that makes me more Daddy’s daughter than even you. He chose me. You and Cormac were just the trap your mother used to get him to marry her. You think I didn’t know about that?"

I hated the sound of my own voice and that I’d lowered myself to Hannah’s level. I couldn’t help it though. She deserved it. My words struck a chord and Hannah reared back, actually staggering to the side as if I’d hit her.

Enough! Bradley said, rising. Ladies, this isn’t good for anyone. Like I was saying. Cormac and Hannah control your father’s trust now…

Bradley said other things, but his words began to blend together. I knew what was coming anyway. Hannah had been waiting for this day since we buried my father three years ago after a sudden stroke. She’d blamed me for that too. Only then, my mother had been around to stand up to her too. Now, it was just me.

It was over. Hannah and Cormac finally had everything they felt they were owed. They were the golden children of Cormac Ryan the Fourth. I was just the bad seed spawn of his gold-digging trophy wife, Diana Sheffield Ryan, former ‘70s soap opera and TV movie star. My heart ached as I saw my mother’s beautiful, tanned face smiling back at me when I closed my eyes.

You can take a few personal items from your room, Hannah finished for Bradley. But under our supervision. Most of the things Diana had belonged to the trust. Daddy set it up that way, thank God. You’ll have a generous, one-time stipend, but that’s the end of it.

The end of it? I looked up.

You’ll need to leave the property by the end of the month, Hannah said, her words delivered as a coup de grace.

Hannah. Stewart stepped around her. Stewart Schlagheck, Hanna’s husband. I’d always thought him a decent enough guy, if not completely a beta male. She married him for his status, and no amount of pretending on Hannah’s part could convince me otherwise. Stewart was a rising star in his political party, and Hannah had ambitions. The same ambitions my father once had.

How generous of you, I said, my words burning like acid in my throat. I rose. I couldn’t stand to be in the room with these people another second.

So, I’d lost everything. My mother. My identity. My home. I felt strangely calm and wondered if my medication was to blame. Whatever it was, I knew staying in this room another second would do none of us any good.

I smoothed my skirt and stuck my hand out to Bradley Lauer. I don’t know why I did that, but it felt like the civilized thing to do and I relished ignoring the shit out of Hannah’s triumphant smirk.

You’re lucky, Hannah said, not willing to leave it alone even now. You should be in jail, not getting a chunk of cash on the way out.

My spine felt like ice. My fingers trembled as I let go of Bradley’s hand. His eyes widened in recognition and maybe a healthy amount of fear. But, I kept my cool and showed Hannah my back as I turned to leave.

Closing the door behind me, I went down the hall. Dr. Neely waited at the end of it, arms crossed, pacing. She wore her hair in a severe bun today. Bleached blonde strands strayed from it, framing her face. She hurried toward me and held her arms out to hug me. I didn’t want to be touched. Dr. Neely knew me well enough to read the expression on my face. She ought to. I’d been seeing her twice a week for as long as I could remember.

How did it go in there? she said. She’d been smoking. The scent of nicotine wafted off of her, turning my stomach.

Did you know? I asked. Hannah said I was adopted.

Dr. Neely sucked in a breath and her eyes flickered. She knew. Of course she did. I’m sorry, Oona. It was wrong of your siblings to throw that at you on today of all days. Why don’t you come back to my office with me? We’ll talk it out. I think it might be a good idea to up your medication for a little while. Just until you get over the hump. How are you feeling right now? Are you in control?

Control. I had control of nothing. I just want to go lie down for a while. I mean, while my bedroom is still mine. I’m being evicted.

Dr. Neely sucked in another breath. She always did that when she was upset. I’ll talk to your sister. All this disruption isn’t good for you. I think it would be better to ease you into a transition. Maybe I can make her understand that. Do you mind if I talk to her?

I took a step back. My pulse pounded in my ears. I couldn’t hear anymore. I didn’t want to think about anything. Do whatever you think you have to. I need some air. I’ll see you later in the week.

Promise? Dr. Neely looked up at me, smiling. Because you can call me anytime you’d like. Anything you need.

Thanks. I stepped away from her, my head spinning. I felt light-headed but didn’t want to tell her that. I couldn’t stand the look of concern on her face. It was bad enough I felt like I was losing my mind. I didn’t want Dr. Neely to confirm it.

I got as far as the yard before I heard Bradley’s voice calling my name behind me. I stood at the edge of the family plot. A little of that dangerous heat rose inside of me. A shudder went through me as I turned to face him.

"Are you