Mating Fever (Morgan Clan Bears, Book 3) Read online

  Just as Drake was walking Gaia to the back door, she froze and looked up at the elder Morgan. “Wait, you said three humans, right?”

  “Yes, ma’am, why?” Drake responded, his brow furrowing.

  “The sheriff specifically said there were four human males,” she gasped.

  Chapter 3

  Once Gaia finished with the bodies, the males returned to the main house. Rex and Drake took their cubs from their mates and sent Tessa and Ada off to their quarters to rest until dinner was ready. Gunnar planned a huge meal for everyone and had made sure the elders and O’Kelly brothers were invited.

  “Want me to help?” Anna Claire asked. He wanted to have her in his kitchen helping with a meal, but that wasn’t his nature. “Have a seat and relax. You’ve been through a lot today.”

  “And you haven’t?”

  “We’ve both healed, but I’d feel better if you took it easy,” he suggested. He wanted to be gentle with her, and he wanted to spoil her, but he was quickly learning Anna Claire didn’t like to sit still for long.

  “I’m feeling fine, Gunnar,” she whispered. “I wish you’d let me help you prep.”

  He sat the knife aside and dropped his chin to stare down at the beautiful, blonde female. “You can cut up the carrots.”

  Sucker!

  Gunnar couldn’t deny that female anything. He was trying his hardest not to be too overbearing. He was a large male, and with Anna Claire being so tiny, he was worried he’d hurt or frighten her in a way that would set her back.

  She washed her hands and took the knife he offered her. She stood in front of the cutting board and pressed her hips into the counter as she began cutting the carrots into pieces for the roasted chicken dish.

  Gunnar tried not to watch her, but he found himself mesmerized by the way she handled the knife, cutting the pieces to expert precision. “Where did you learn to cut like that?”

  “Online videos,” she said with a shrug, then frowned. Gunnar wanted to ask her where her mind had just gone, but she swallowed hard and continued. “After my mother died, I was in charge of the duties at home. I didn’t know how to cook, and he allowed me to look up recipes online to learn.”

  “How old were you?” he asked as he carefully picked up the knife to resume working on the ingredients for his meal. The mention of her father sent a fiery rage through his body, and if he didn’t control his anger, he’d use the knife to stab the damn chicken he was planning to cook for dinner.

  “Twelve,” she replied sadly. He could see the shame and hurt in the way her body folded in on itself.

  “Well, you don’t ever have to cook again if you don’t want to,” he offered.

  “That’s not it,” she replied, finally lifting her gaze. There were unshed tears in her eyes, and Gunnar felt his beast push at his skin to comfort her. “I want to care for my mate someday, and even though the reason why I learned to cook is a bad memory, I want to use it for good. Like taking care of…you, Gunnar.”

  “I am honored you want to care for me,” he said after a long pause. “But first, we need to work through a lot of things to get to that point.”

  “I know,” she sighed and dropped her own knife, turning around to lean her perfectly rounded ass against the countertop. “We need to talk about us.”

  “We do,” he agreed with a nod. “But only when you’re ready.”

  “It’s mating season, Gunnar,” she reminded him, folding her arms across her chest. “We are going to be fighting the call to mate more and more as we get farther into the season.”

  “I can wait for you,” he promised as he moved from his spot by the stove. He stopped only inches from the female, inhaling her unique mating scent. It was a scent only made for him, and it was one he would know anywhere.

  “I don’t want you to wait,” she whispered as she stood tall. “I’ve come to a realization that what was done to me was done so by some very bad men. It shouldn’t define who I am. It’s been almost a year, Gunnar. It’s time I move on with my life.”

  Gunnar was four years her senior, but he felt younger than her. She was smarter than anyone even realized. At twenty-two, she should be out partying with her girlfriends and not recovering from the brutality brought on by her father and the men who worked for him.

  “If you’d like to talk more, we can do so in our quarters after dinner,” he offered. With the humans shooting at them, he would’ve suggested they take a walk in the woods after their meal, but he didn’t want to put her in danger again. They could say what they needed to say to each other in the privacy of their room.

  “I’d like that,” she replied. Just as she turned away, he saw a dusting of pink across the tops of her cheeks.

  They worked together for the next fifteen minutes, and Gunnar found himself smiling more than he had in a very long time. Anna Claire was perfect in every way. He wasn’t just saying that because she was his mate. She really was everything he’d ever hoped he could find in a female.

  “We have forty-five minutes,” he stated, wiping his hands on a towel he kept in his back pocket. “Would you like to retire to our quarters until dinner is ready?”

  “I’d like that.” She nodded and finished cleaning off her cutting board and knife. He waited until she had put the items away before holding out his hand in a silent gesture for her to go ahead of him.

  As they entered the living space, he saw his bed on the left where they’d pushed it against the wall. His couch and chair were closer to the television that hung on the wall by the entry door.

  Anna Claire took a seat at his small table just to the left of the door after grabbing a water from the fridge. The female crossed her legs and took a drink, but he noticed she was thinking hard about something. One thing he’d learned about Anna Claire, once she’d healed from the physical injuries she’d sustained last spring, was the female wasn’t afraid to speak what was on her mind.

  “Gunnar,” she began. “I want you to know that I’m ready for you to touch me.”

  Okay, she had said it. She had told the male she was ready to find out if they were truly mates.

  Anna Claire fisted her hands to keep them from shaking at the words that had fallen from her mouth. Gunnar was huge…like really, really huge. She was only three inches over five feet and he towered over her. The thought of their mating sent a thrill and worry through her bones.

  The elder females had said the first mating was rough…intense. Would she be able to handle him?

  “I know you want me to touch you,” he sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose after taking a seat beside her. “But, Anna Claire?”

  “Yeah?” she replied, unsure of what was going through his mind.

  “I need to know what exactly happened to you at your old clan,” he ordered, his eyes glowing with the presence of his bear.

  She wasn’t scared of the bear’s presence. In fact, she felt safer…more at ease, knowing the bear was protective of her. For once in her life, she finally had someone on her side she could trust.

  “They touched me, but they didn’t…well,” she paused to grit her teeth, “they didn’t take my virginity.”

  Gunnar dropped to his knees as a loud breath whooshed from his lungs. “Thank the gods.”

  “I fought them,” she continued. Anna Claire didn’t want to look weak. She wanted her possible mate to know she was pure for him. “The night I ran away, he touched me all over, but he never did that. I fought as hard as I could, kicking him in his…well, ya know.”

  She felt tears prick at the backs of her eyes. She hated reliving that night, because she’d never been more scared than she was when he had taken a knife to her body. “He was in too much pain to mate with me.”

  “I’m…I’m so sorry this happened to you,” he choked out.

  Gunnar’s mating scent swirled around her, and it thickened in the air. She inhaled deep and dropped to her knees in front of him, so they were on an even level. “That time is over. I only told you so you wouldn’t
think I didn’t want to be with you.”

  “But you’ve been so sad,” he said, looking into her eyes. His bear was close to the surface, and she could see his eyes shifting from human to animal.

  Anna Claire wanted to console them both, but she didn’t know how…other than to touch him.

  “I have been sad,” she agreed. “I went through a lot. It wasn’t until our hibernation that I really put things into perspective and dealt with what I’d been through. I’m a lot stronger than you all give me credit for. My cousins, they coddle me, and while I love them dearly, I really wish they’d let me get through this my way.”

  “And what is your way?” he asked. She loved hearing him talk. In the early days, when she’d first arrived, his deep baritone voice kept her steady. It rooted her in place just enough to not go into a downward spiral. She didn’t think she’d ever be able to tell him exactly how much he’d helped her.

  “I don’t let the past define who I am,” she stated, holding her head high. “Please, don’t mourn for me or what was done to me, Gunnar. I need you to help me celebrate being here…in your clan. I’m happy and safe with you, and that’s all I’ve ever wanted in life.”

  “I promise to protect you until I no longer walk this earth, and when we reunite in the heavens, I vow to guard you for eternity.”

  “You really are my mate,” she stated.

  “I am,” he declared, rising to his feet. “Dinner is almost ready. We have all day tomorrow to discuss this some more.”

  Anna Claire hoped tomorrow would be the day they finally made their mating official. It was well past time for her to move on with her life.

  Chapter 4

  Gunnar reached for the spoon handle and immediately closed his fist. The beast inside him vibrated with need from Anna Claire’s scent. Mating season was here, and he was fighting his nature every moment of the day.

  He’d found his mate; had even begun to possibly love her. Despite what she had told him, he still didn’t think she was ready for a mating. The males were naturally aggressive when it came to mating for the first time. The females were built differently, and Anna Claire was no exception.

  Every single time he thought of her tiny body, the image of finding her restrained in those woods would flash in his mind’s eye. That day would forever be etched in his brain. The thought of being aggressive with her during their first mating scared him.

  He’d called out for his brothers to cut her down the moment her scent had hit him. Somehow, his bear had immediately known. Seeing the abused female that was meant to be his for life had changed him. No longer was he the rough and tumble youngest Morgan brother. Now, he was softer, more patient than he’d ever been. Call it a growing up phase, but Gunnar saw the difference in himself when he looked in the mirror.

  For being in his mid-twenties, he looked older, felt wiser. Anna Claire had calmed him once she had healed from her physical injuries. They’d become close over the summer, and when it’d come time to build her a cabin, they’d both hesitated when Drake had come to ask about her building plan. She’d shyly asked if she could stay with Gunnar during the hibernation, then decide on her future in the spring.

  Well, spring had arrived, and they’d finally voiced their knowledge about the mating. It was out in the open now, and it was up to them to decide when to consummate it. She was ready…Gunnar wasn’t.

  He wanted to make the mating special for her, but how special would any preparation be if he was just going to mount her like a beast after all she’d been through?

  Fuck!

  Gods, he was so torn.

  He plated her chicken and vegetables, taking the dish over to the table. She looked up at him with a smile that tugged at his heart. It was the male’s responsibility to care and provide for the females.

  Tessa had come to them as a human and refused to let the males provide for her. It’d caused several arguments between her and Drake. In the end, Gunnar had kept his kitchen until the elders joined them. He’d respectfully opened his home to Martha, and during the first few weeks while they set up housing for the new clan members, she’d traded days with him. The moment they’d moved into the temporary housing, and then their permanent home, Gunnar had been back at the stove, preparing the meals for his family.

  “This is so good,” Anna Claire hummed as she dug into her plate.

  When Gunnar turned around, he saw his family gathered around the table. He’d been so deep in thought, he hadn’t heard them come in. “It’s ready. Y’all come on and eat.”

  He filled his plate and moved out of the way. His brothers made plates for their mates before making one for themselves. “Has anyone checked on the elders?”

  “I called them earlier,” Ada announced. “We told them to shelter in place until we know more.”

  “Are they good on supplies?” Drake asked.

  “They are low on a lot of things,” Ada frowned. “Alfred said he needed to get to town tomorrow, Friday at the latest.”

  Drake nodded and set his fork beside his plate. “We need to come up with a plan to find these hunters. There were four in the sheriff’s vision, and we took out three. There is one more out there somewhere, and when he comes back, I’m positive he will be bringing friends.”

  “It’s spring, Drake,” Tessa huffed, folding her arms across her chest. “We are low on food and the crops need to be prepared. We have the O’Kelly boys to help, but with this threat, are we going to be prisoners here?”

  “No one is a prisoner,” he growled, his brother’s eyes flashing the golden color of his bear. The air in the room thickened with the male’s mating scent, and the females relaxed as Drake walked over to his mate. “We will get the supplies and make sure everyone is cared for. I don’t want anyone to worry unnecessarily. There was one missing hunter, and if he returns, we will deal with him.”

  “Have you thought about calling the sheriff?” Ada asked. “Maybe he has some more insight to his vision.”

  “You know how I feel about having that lawman on my land,” Drake grumbled, narrowing his eyes at his brother’s mate. Rex immediately took a stand in front of her.

  Gunnar waved his hands in the air to get everyone’s attention off his grumpy oldest brother. “We can come up with a plan to get everyone their supplies and not leave the land unguarded.”

  There was a heartbeat of silence before the males nodded and resumed eating. Gunnar decided to go out and check on the O’Kelly brothers and the elders to take them the dinner he’d promised before the attack. Rex would clean up while he went on his mission.

  “Let me go with you,” Anna Claire begged after he’d cleared their plates and made the announcement. She picked up the few containers of food Ada had made for the others.

  “It’s not safe,” he replied, noticing his voice was no softer than Drake’s had been when he was upset about the sheriff. “I’d rather you stay here.”

  “Please, Gunnar,” she pleaded, her big eyes staring up at him as if he held her world in his hands. “I need some fresh air, and I’d like to visit with the females.”

  Gunnar couldn’t deny her, and whether she knew it or not, he was defenseless when it came to anything the female wanted. He wouldn’t be surprised if his older brothers teased him about being putty in her hands.

  “You will have to listen to me about your safety,” he grunted. “I want you as close to me as possible.”

  “I’d be against your skin if we would touch already,” she hinted. A soft blush painted the tops of her cheeks as she turned away. “I’ll grab my jacket.”

  Gunnar stared after her as she disappeared down the hallway leading to their quarters. He felt a presence beside him and knew it was his oldest brother.

  “You need to claim her before the height of mating season,” he warned, giving Gunnar a knowing look when he broke his gaze from the hallway. “She needs you.”

  “She needs a gentle hand,” Gunnar growled. “That isn’t me or my bear.”

  “You
underestimate yourself, brother,” Rex added. Gunnar finally glanced past their shoulders and saw the females were nowhere to be found. They must’ve gone to their rooms to give the males a chance to talk alone.

  “My bear and I know what we are, and we know our limitations,” he replied, running his hand through his long hair in frustration. “But…I just cannot bring myself to touch her yet.”

  “I don’t want to put my nose in your business, but I would suggest you touch her now rather than later,” Rex said with a knowing look. “She’s more than ready to complete the mating, and you should be, too.”

  Gunnar glanced down the hallway and took a deep breath, “I’ll think about it.”

  “Don’t overthink too long,” Drake said in his slow, southern drawl. “That little lady needs you.”

  Gunnar was quickly realizing he might have been acting too chivalrous. The female had expressed her desire to go through with the mating, but just like a female grizzly, she was waiting for him to make the first move, because that was the way of their world.

  “Sheriff?” Gaia frowned when she opened the door to her little home. The damn sheriff knew where she lived, and she didn’t like it one bit. “What are you doing here?”

  “I came to talk to you,” he replied, raising a brow. “May I come in?”

  Gaia narrowed her eyes, trying to gauge her trust of the angel. He’d never done anything to harm her or her bears, but his presence irritated her to no end. They were different beings. She wasn’t cast down from heaven to care for those in need like he’d been. She didn’t even worship the gods. Hell, she was born of the earth, and that had nothing to do with them.

  “Sure,” she agreed and pushed the door open wide. When he passed the threshold, she felt his power, and it hit her square in the chest, taking her next breath. What was it about that male?

  Gaia looked out across her small property and didn’t see anything out of the ordinary. The sheriff’s car sat in her driveway like a large, white, blinking beacon. She wasn’t happy about him showing up in his patrol car. The last thing she needed was for her neighbors to become nosy.