Hero Bear Page 10

  Watching him go was heartbreaking. Each step cost Dustin so much, but he took those steps all the same. His young shoulders hunched further, and shook as he began to cry. Hannah leaned on Knox’s chest and cried her own tears as they watched Dustin. The boy kneeled down in the dirt and dug a hole before placing his token of love in it and covering it back up.

  “He won a medal in track and field a week after his dad died. He never got to show him.” Hannah watched Dustin as he stared at the ground. “His dad helped him train.”

  “Poor kid. To push himself through his sorrow to win.”

  Hannah pulled away from Knox. “Now I get it. Dustin never said, but I remember there was trouble that day. Another kid having a go at him. Ross Vardy, the same kid who teased him about shifting.”

  “So that’s why this kid keeps picking on Dustin.” It all made sense.

  “I’ll speak to Principal Collier when we get back. We need to take care of it once and for all. Poor kid, runs his heart out to win a medal for his dead dad and then puts up with this crap.” Hannah’s temper flared.

  “Hey, let it go. That can wait.” Knox understood her anger.

  “Here he comes.” Hannah wiped her face and puffed out a couple of breaths. “Let’s get down off the mountain.”

  “Agreed.” They’d done what they’d promised to do. It was time to get the boy home and back with his mom. Time for Knox and Hannah to move on, to make a life of their own. Have kids of their own, but he would always be there for Dustin as long as the boy needed him.

  “Can we go?” Dustin didn’t wait for an answer; he walked on past, heading for the trail back down the mountain.

  Knox and Hannah followed silently behind him. When they reached the trail, he took her hand and she let him. “It’s faster going down,” Hannah commented as she slipped a good couple of feet along the trail, raining small pebbles down before them.

  “We should be back at the cabin before it gets dark. We could push on for the truck and get off the mountain tonight.” Knox’s need to keep them safe kicked in. They were exposed out here; they were safer back in Bear Creek.

  “I think maybe Dustin needs some time before he goes back. Let him have a night to process everything that’s happened. We can eat and let him talk if he needs to.” Hannah gripped his hand tighter as they slid down the last section of the trail onto the grassy plateau. The sun was beginning to descend behind the mountain, and they hadn’t eaten anything other than granola and candy bars. Hannah was right, they all needed to eat and rest.

  With the cabin and the thought of food so close, they picked up the pace, covering the last couple of miles quickly. The cabin was still empty when they reached it; no other hikers were around. Knox allowed himself to relax, they’d completed the task, Dustin had kept his word, and showed no sign of running. If anything, he was newly optimistic.

  “Can you teach me all your survival skills?” Dustin asked as they sat down to eat. They had all helped prepare the rest of the food Hannah had brought with her. Dinner was tuna and pasta bake, along with the rest of the bread, and dessert would be a rather squashed, but just as tasty, cake from Dustin’s pack.

  “I can if you are willing to work hard. It’s not the kind of thing you can learn in a day or two.” Knox glanced across at Dustin. “But I think you’re a quick study, so maybe a summer.”

  “This summer?” Dustin looked at the flames licking the wood in the hearth. “My dad was going to teach me how to track, and how to tell normal animals from shifters.”

  “I’m not your dad, but I can teach you that. Takes a lot of patience, the differences are subtle.” Knox liked that Dustin was talking about his dad. His own grief had caused him to shut the memories of his fallen friends away. When he thought about them, he saw them broken on the ground.

  “Like what?” Hannah asked. “I’m intrigued. You guys have all these extra senses, but is it something someone like me could learn?”

  “You mean a girl?” Knox earned himself a kick in the ankles. He chuckled. “I don’t know, because I don’t know what you can hear or smell.”

  “I smell good.” Hannah made a joke and sniffed her armpits, before pulling a face.

  “We taught one of my squad to know the difference. So I guess we could teach a civvie.” Knox forked food into his mouth.

  “Tell me about him.” Hannah’s prompt was gentle, a nudge in the direction he’d been skirting around. Could he break through the perimeter and enter the territory his brain had classed as out of bounds?

  “Ronno. He was a city boy who decided he needed adventure. He joined the squad late, but he made sure he fit right in. When he learned about shifters, he understood that to really fit in he had to think like one and act like one, even though he couldn’t shift. So we used to set him up. This or that. A bear that was your friend, or a bear who could take your head off. He got good at it fast.”

  “I’m not sure Dustin needs to be put in danger.” Hannah finished her food and put the plate down beside her.

  “Ronno nearly got his name changed to Runno,” Knox reminisced. “This one time he thought he got it wrong. He stood his ground, but the bear kept coming. So he ran.” Knox chuckled. “Smithy chased him for a mile before his bear collapsed on the ground. I’d never seen a bear roll around laughing before.”

  “Sounds as if you have good friends.” Dustin’s voice was wistful.

  “I did. I did.” Knox smiled sadly.

  “You don’t have them anymore?” Dustin’s question hung in the air.

  “Some.” Knox tilted his chin up; it was time to stop running, it was time to own the memory of their deaths. “Some died in an ambush a few months back.”

  “I’m sorry.” Dustin placed his hand on Knox’s shoulder. “I didn’t know. Death sucks.”

  “It sucks eggs,” Knox agreed. “But we have to live on, don’t we? To honor their memories. A young man named Dustin taught me that.”

  Chapter Fifteen – Hannah

  The two bears wrestled in the morning sun, while she ate a leisurely breakfast of cereal with powdered milk. They’d talked through the night and slept late, treating the rest of their time in the mountain like a vacation. Hannah had called both Brad and Sandra to reassure them they would be home around midday.

  “OK, kids, time to leave.” Hannah watched as the smaller bear pounced on top of the larger bear. The large bear, Knox, tried to shake him off, but Dustin held on with his legs gripping his body, his teeth chewing on the ruff of fur around his neck. The fight lasted a few more minutes before Knox got the upper paw and sent Dustin crashing to the ground.

  Immediately shifting, Knox went to Dustin and spoke to him briefly, no doubt giving him combat tips before Dustin shifted back to his human form and jumped to his feet. “That was great. Thanks, Knox.”

  “Anytime, kid,” Knox replied. “As long as your homework and all that shit’s done. Good grades come first.”

  Dustin nodded sagely and agreed. “Deal.”

  Hannah folded her arms and leaned against the porch, watching the two men who shared so much grief. Pride surged in her chest. They were going to be OK.

  “I’ve cleaned the cabin, packs are ready. And I am ready for a nice, long hot bath.” Hannah stretched. “And my bed.”

  “Sounds good.” Knox winked at her. His mood this morning was lighter, a change had come over him. A change that brought with it optimism and talk of the future. “I think a cabin on the lower slopes would suit us best. As a new home.”

  “You do, do you?” Hannah asked.

  “Yes. Come on, don’t tell me you don’t want to spend your evenings hiking over the mountains. I can tell how much you’ve enjoyed your time up here.”

  “You might be right.” She looked at the amazing view around them. “Puts everything into perspective, doesn’t it?”

  “It does.” He took her hand and they walked side by side. Dustin ran ahead, shifting into his bear, and then back to his human form as if he were practicing for a m
ath exam. “He’s changed.”

  “I’ve changed,” Knox admitted.

  “And I’ve stayed the same.”

  “What’s wrong with that, when you’re already perfect.”

  Hannah laughed hard at Knox’s words. “You think that’s gonna get you into my bed?”

  “I was hoping.” Knox gave her a cheesy grin that melted her heart and warmed other parts of her body.

  “We’ll see.” Hannah teased. Knox wasn’t the only one thinking that a little privacy and a whole lot of time was just what they needed to celebrate their success with Dustin. “We make a good team.”

  “We do.” Knox’s voice grew softer. “Mates for life.”

  “Mates for life.” Hannah could not imagine her life without Knox, no man had ever come close to him, and no man ever would. He was unique, and he was hers.

  An hour later they reached Jamie’s truck, and Hannah called Brad and Sandra to say they were off the mountain and would be back in town shortly. Sandra sounded nervous, despite the reassurances from Hannah that everything was good now. As she ended the call, Hannah hoped mother and son could put this all behind them and move on. As difficult as it was, they had to find a way to live without Lex, and thrive without him. Maybe one day Sandra might meet another man: she deserved a second chance at love, didn’t she?

  The journey down from the mountain gave Hannah a chance to appreciate the scenery. All that had been hidden from her on the night-time journey was now revealed in its wintry splendor. The bare trees allowed glances into the heart of the forest, where ancient trees put down deep roots, and reached for the sky with their branches. Beyond the trees were glimpses of the green valley below, with the silvery creek threading its way toward the town that was its namesake.

  They were all going home. Dustin may have lived here all his life, but Bear Creek was also Hannah and Knox’s home. “I like the idea of a cabin in the hills.” Hannah leaned back in her seat, stretching her aching legs.

  “We can start looking when we get back.” Knox glanced sideways at her. “We can live apart for as long as you want. But I’m ready to move in with you as soon as possible.”

  “How about tonight?” Hannah laughed at his surprise. “Come on, I saw you arrive in town, I think I have room for you to stow your pack at my place. And if I get bored with you, I’ll kick you back to Jamie’s.”

  “I accept your offer.” He cocked his head to one side. “Things sure do move at a different pace in Bear Creek.”

  “They do. My parents will be suitably shocked, and most likely insist on flying back to check that I’m not being duped by a man.” She giggled. “They’ll like you. My dad will like you a lot.”

  “He’ll finally have a man to build a shed with.” Knox grinned.

  “We can go visit them. Maybe honeymoon with them.”

  “Are you asking me to marry you?” Knox asked hopefully.

  “Maybe I am.”

  “You know I can hear what you’re saying?” Dustin asked from beside Hannah.

  “Yes, this is part of your survival training,” Knox joked. “How to get your mate to ask you to marry her.”

  “Don’t take lessons from Knox on that, a man should do the asking,” Hannah replied hotly.

  Dustin rolled his eyes. “Who needs a relationship?”

  “You’ll learn,” Knox said.

  “Not if the school kicks me out.” Dustin put his chin on his hand and leaned against the window.

  “They won’t. I’ll get to the bottom of this,” Hannah promised as they reached Dustin’s house, and got out. “But you have to prove yourself. You have to talk to your mom; I want you to write down everything that’s happened at school. This Ross Vardy kid has given you a hard time since you won that track and field event, and I need to present the evidence to Principal Collier.”

  “Principal Collier thinks I’m the rotten apple,” Dustin admitted.

  “We need to prove him wrong.” Hannah hugged Dustin. “Go say hi to your mom, and say sorry. You scared her, you know.”

  “I know.” Dustin hung his head.

  “Hey, man up. Go face your mistakes and apologize.” Knox pulled Dustin into a bear hug. “I’ll come see you tomorrow, we can start that survival training.”

  “See you tomorrow.” Dustin waved as he walked up to his house. The front door opened and Sandra stood there.

  Hannah waved, and Sandra waved back. “Thank you!”

  “You’re welcome.” Hannah watched mother and son embrace. Sandra kissed him on the head, and Dustin didn’t push her away. A good start. “Let’s go home.”

  “I’ll take you home, and then go back to Jamie’s, grab my stuff, and come back to your place.” Knox started the engine and backed out of the driveway. “I’ll shower and change. Do you want me to grab anything on the way back?”

  “Some food. I still haven’t shopped properly. My kitchen is running on fumes.” Life in Bear Creek had been hectic since she moved, and a change of pace would be welcome.

  “Sure.” Knox pulled up outside her house; she leaned across and kissed him. “See you soon.”

  “See you soon,” Knox repeated, watching as she climbed out of the truck and walked toward her house. After unlocking the front door, she turned to wave, and he waved back before driving away.

  Tumbling into the house, Hannah dropped her pack on the floor, and slid down to a sitting position to take off her boots. Wiggling her toes, she got up and went to the kitchen to make fresh coffee, then she headed for the shower. Washing away the dirt and dust from her hair and skin left her feeling fresh and alert. Her muscles ached, but in a good way.

  Going back downstairs, she poured a coffee, and took a large slice of the leftover cake before crashing down on the sofa. Hannah could happily have stayed there for the rest of the day. But half an hour later, a freshly showered Knox arrived. He looked mouthwateringly good. Even better than the chocolate cake.

  “Howdy.” Hannah stood in the doorway as he walked in, his backpack over his shoulder.

  “I had to tell Jamie and Dani everything that happened.” Knox followed Hannah to the kitchen. “Jamie is going to give Will a call about a job for me.”

  “Coffee?” she asked, pouring herself a refill and offering a cup to Knox.

  “Yes, please.” He drank his coffee, while Hannah unpacked the few groceries he’d bought. “Do you think Dustin will be OK?”

  “Yes, yes, I do. I’ll call Principal Collier tomorrow and schedule a meeting with him.” Hannah put the loaf of bread away.

  “I would not like to be that man. You look as if you’re going to chew his head off.”

  “Well, maybe if the guy had stopped trying to get in my pants and taken more notice of his students, Dustin would not have ended up in the position he is in now. Ross Vardy has been picking on him throughout this last year, and all the principal has done is blame Dustin.”

  “Hey, back up a little. He’s been trying to get in your pants?” Knox’s eyes flashed with anger. “Maybe I should be coming along to this meeting too.”

  “What, you think I can’t handle myself?” Hannah asked Knox.

  “Oh, I think you can handle yourself just fine. But a bear has to protect what’s his.” Knox drained his coffee cup, and put it down on the counter. The look in his eyes turned her stomach to liquid fire. “And you are mine.”

  “Is that right?” Hannah nursed her coffee cup, while Knox prowled across the kitchen toward her. “I have been brought up to be my own woman. No one owns me.”

  “Are you sure?” His hands reached for her, but she danced out the way.

  “Perfectly sure.”

  Knox sighed. “I have never wanted anyone the way I want you right now.”

  “I know.” She smiled sweetly. “And maybe I feel the same way. But no man owns me.”

  “Let me make love to you and then you can decide.” Knox followed her toward the kitchen door, and she placed her coffee cup down on the counter, before turning to run from him.


  “If you can catch me, you can claim me.” Hannah shrieked with laughter as he thundered after her. She was fast, but Knox was faster and he caught hold of her halfway up the stairs. He lifted her effortlessly with one arm around her waist, her feet walking on air as he lifted her off the ground.

  Throwing her on the bed, he climbed up beside her, his eyes filled with passion, a passion so deep it scared her. “You are mine, Hannah. And I am yours.”

  “Prove it.”

  Chapter Sixteen – Knox

  Hannah breathed life into him. She made him see sunshine and rainbows where before there had been darkness and thunderclouds. She radiated peace and happiness, and he never wanted to taint her. When he’d met her, he thought it impossible not to darken her world if he was in it. He was bad luck, a curse on everyone he came into contact with.

  He’d been living a lie fueled by sorrow and guilt.

  Hannah had broken through; she pulled him back from the brink, and showed him there was a way through the storm that swirled in his head.

  “I’ll prove it to you every day of our lives,” Knox promised as he undid the buttons of the crisp clean shirt that hid her wonderful soft body from him.

  Hannah reached for him, her hand stroking his clean-shaven cheek. “Kiss me.”

  Knox leaned over and pressed his lips to hers, running his tongue along her lower lip. She shivered, trembling beneath him, as he opened the last button and stroked her soft belly with his large hands. Hannah tugged at the hem of his T-shirt, and pulled it up. Knox lifted his arms and threw it to the side before unclasping her bra, freeing her luscious breasts.

  “You are so beautiful.” Knox cupped her breasts in his hands, and rubbed his thumbs over her taut nipples, watching Hannah squirm with pleasure. Bending forward he sucked her left nipple into his mouth, his tongue rolling around the taut bud. Her breathing came in soft gasps as her arousal kicked up a notch. He could toy with her for hours, learning what her body craved, and giving her what she needed until she was addicted to him.

  But he needed to be inside her. He needed to claim her. The thought of another man wanting to get inside her panties was enough to drive him insane. The soldier, the protector, wanted to go and rip this man’s head off. Not only for daring to want his woman, but for ignoring what was going on right under his nose. Dustin had become part of Knox’s life, a surrogate brother, and Knox would protect him with his life, just as if he were a member of his squad.