Chapter 10 Bears In The Woods
Bears In The Woods
Suzie grinned as she raced into her bedroom, dressed in Niall’s robe and carrying the clothes she’d worn yesterday.
A glance from her tower window showed sunshine, and after a leisurely shower, she opted for shorts and a T-shirt.
A walk before breakfast to enjoy the fine weather, she decided, before she headed to the office to work with Niall.
It was the working bit that surprised her a little.
She liked the gruff bear very much, and now that he’d told her about his past, she understood his determination to succeed and his attitude toward his family.
Her younger siblings sometimes drove her nuts, but she loved them and would do anything for the pests, as she called them.
Her parents, too. They’d been strict with her but fair, and they had her respect.
Niall hadn’t mentioned his parents, but they must’ve known what was going on with their children. Shaking her head, she arranged her hair in a haphazard ponytail. She thrust her feet into sandals and headed out to explore the gardens Niall kept for his private use.
Outside, she inhaled the crisp air tinted with pine and roses. The nearby flower bed was awash with yellow roses, and a gardener was busy removing the dead flowers. He dipped his head in a respectful nod.
“Good morning,” Suzie said. “Which is the best way to walk?”
“The master usually wanders through the flower beds and into the forest. There’s a trail that joins the one that circles the lake. It will take you about an hour.”
“Thank you. That sounds perfect.” Suzie waved goodbye and strolled between the flower beds, directing her steps to the path the gardener had shown her.
After the bright morning sun, the shade under the trees was welcome.
The pine needles muted her footsteps, which allowed her to spot shy forest creatures.
A red squirrel darted along the branches of an oak tree and jumped to the next—a beech of some kind.
The animal chittered at her as if scolding her for interrupting its foraging, then flitted away with a flick of its bushy tail.
The crack of a branch had her freezing, and she peered through the trees.
A flash of color enlightened her. A deer.
It darted away with more crashing, and silence fell again, broken only by a singing bird.
The path sloped upward, giving her views of the castle and the lake, and she halted to take photos before glancing at her watch.
Oops! She’d need to hustle if she wanted breakfast before she started work.
Angus served traditional Scottish breakfasts with bacon, square sausage, beans, fried eggs, and tattie scones. Sometimes, the breakfast included link sausages or slices of haggis and grilled tomatoes. She was a devotee.
Suzie jogged along the forest path and down the hill to the lakeshore.
Halfway down, a musky scent reached her.
Not unusual because the shifters attending the gathering had access to this area of the estate, but something—an inner instinct—had her steps slowing and her feline surfacing.
She warily scanned the shadows beneath the tall oaks, beech trees, and the lower leafy bushes full of lush summer growth.
When she saw nothing, and the birds continued to sing overhead, she shook herself and hustled down the path to the lake.
The scent bothered her, but Suzie pushed onward, each of her senses ultra-aware and processing information at top speed.
She’d reached the lake’s edge when a bear padded from behind a bramble patch.
Suzie’s heart jumped before she forced herself to keep moving.
Scotland didn’t have native wild bears—not any longer.
This was a shifter and a male, judging by his size.
His shaggy coat was a rich brown, and he scrutinized her intently.
Suzie stared back, instinctively refusing to let the shifter intimidate her. A large contingent of bears had attended the gathering. She’d met a few but didn’t recognize this one despite his familiar scent.
The bear retreated, padding out of sight as quickly as he’d appeared.
Suzie waited for the count of ten before breaking into a jog to avoid being too late. She rushed into the breakfast room, breathless and warm from her hustle. Niall had already started with a heaped plate of sausage, eggs, bacon, and other delicious items when she slid into the seat opposite him.
“Sorry, I’m late. It was such a lovely morning. I went for a walk. The loop around the lake took me longer than I planned.”
His brows cocked, his silence full of questions.
“Okay, I admit it. I dallied watching the red squirrels. They are so cute.”
“See anyone else?”
“I saw a bear shifter, but we didn’t speak. He remained in his bear form.”
“He?”
“Yeah, the bear was freakin’ huge.” She cast him a glance. “How big are you in your bear form?”
Niall choked out a laugh, and she rolled her eyes.
“Mind out of the gutter, Sinclair. Typically, bear shifters are large, and this one was immense.”
Angus arrived carrying a loaded plate, and Suzie eyed it with pleasure. “Thank you, Angus. That looks delicious.” She reached for toast and buttered it before digging into the bacon, eggs, and square sausage she’d become enamored with since first tasting the meat.
“Tea or coffee?” Angus inquired.
“Tea, please. English Breakfast.”
Angus retreated, returning a few minutes later with a large teapot. He poured tea for them, remembering her preferences without asking. She gave a happy sigh before she took a bite of toast. Adapting to this life would be easy, but she’d gain weight without exercise.
“What are we doing today?” she asked.
“I thought we’d review the designs for the honey labels and the packaging. My friend also sent me a package of user questionnaires. We need to review them and compile the information in a usable form.”
“I can review the surveys for you. I’ll create a spreadsheet. How many are there?”
“Around a hundred,” Niall said as his phone rang. “Sinclair.”
It was the local investigator, and Suzie heard every word of his report.
He’d tracked Niall’s brothers to a cottage at the edge of the village.
His gut told him they weren’t staying there legally since he’d contacted the owner, who was visiting relatives in Australia and had left the property empty.
He’d spotted one brother entering but hadn’t seen both siblings.
He intended to watch the premises and follow them if the brothers left together.
“Thank you,” Niall said. “Please send me daily reports, and if they do anything suspicious, call me immediately.”
“Will do.” The terse male ended the call.
“A man of few words.”
“Yes,” Niall said. “I like working with him because he doesn’t mess around.”
Once they reached Niall’s office, Suzie took a pile of surveys and began analyzing them, transferring the questionnaires to a spreadsheet for easier comparison. The job was fascinating, and the hours flew. It surprised her when Angus arrived with a lunch tray.
“Is it that time already?” she asked, blinking at the clock near Niall’s desk.
Her gaze slid back to the surveys. Only three more to go.
“I might finish inputting the info from the last three questionnaires, then I can print out the results while we’re eating.
” Huh! Where was Niall? She hadn’t even heard him leave.
“The food won’t spoil,” Angus assured her, his manner gruff. It was an improvement from his usual clipped replies, and she sensed the approval beneath his words. It made her curious, and she wondered how Niall had inspired such loyalty from the older man.
Pushing aside her curiosity, she resumed work. Half an hour later, she stood and stretched. During that time, Niall had reappeared, and she discovered him eyeing her with interest.
“What?”
Niall broke into a boyish grin, and her heartbeat blipped.
“I enjoy watching you. Let’s eat, then walk for fresh air and sunshine. We can review your spreadsheet info once we return.”
They demolished the food, and once they wandered outside into the rose garden, Niall took her hand.
“Thank you for your hard work this morning.”
“I enjoyed it,” Suzie said, and it was the truth. Organizing the information had been easy enough, and she liked using her secretarial skills.
“Tell me about your music. What type of course do you prefer? And how can I help?” Niall guided her on the same walking track she’d taken during the morning. “We’ll see if this enormous bear is still hiding in the woods.”
Suzie huffed, and he laughed. Something he didn’t do often, but it suited him.
She stopped walking, and when he looked askance at her, she stood on tiptoes to kiss him.
Niall hummed his approval and drew her closer, arms wrapping her in an embrace.
Their kiss deepened until he was all that existed in her world, along with his enticing honey scent.
When they pulled apart, they were both breathing hard.
“What was that for?”
“I like you,” she whispered, going for truth.
“Our thoughts align,” he said in a rough voice. He released her but held her hand as they walked into the shade of two towering beech trees. They ambled in silence, but it was comfortable.
Suzie tugged him to a halt when she spied a red squirrel, and she leaned against him while they watched the tiny creature’s antics.
The path dipped when they headed toward the lake, and belatedly, Suzie realized the forest had gone silent.
Not a bird chirped, and the squirrels had disappeared from the treetops.
Niall’s hand tightened on hers, and her steps slowed. She turned to him, about to speak when he tensed. His gaze was on where she’d seen the bear this morning, except now two bears sat watching them.
“Niall?” she asked in an undertone.
He sighed, a harsh sound containing irritation. “My brothers.”
“But this is private property. How did they get past the fence?”
“Nothing much will stop a determined trespasser,” Niall said, maintaining his watchful air.
Movement from behind them had Suzie shifting her stance, and what she saw alarmed her.
“Niall,” she said, tugging at his sleeve.
“I see them. Shift and run for help. Speak with Angus. He’ll know what to do.”
“I can’t leave you here alone,” Suzie protested. Two men appeared from the trees, causing her stomach to drop. They weren’t close enough for her to scent them, so she wasn’t certain if they were shifters. But two bears and four men against one. Niall wouldn’t have a chance.
“Please,” Niall repeated in an undertone. “I can’t fight if you’re in danger.”
Despite the circumstances, everything inside her went soft. “All right but fight dirty. Strike first and take them by surprise. They’re big but soft around the middle. I bet they rely on their size to intimidate, but they’re not great in hand-to-hand combat.”
Suzie subtly distanced herself and broke into a run. The men let her go, and she increased her speed, tearing toward the castle for help.
Niall breathed easier once Suzie disappeared into the trees surrounding the lake, and none of the men tried to stop or follow her.
Once he lost sight of her, he turned his attention back to his brothers.
He’d known they were trouble but betraying him this way cut like a knife.
His parents had always drilled into him and his siblings about family first. He sneered at Euan before he let his gaze slide to Colin, both still in their bear forms. Their urgent need for money had overcome their principles.
“What do you truly want?” Niall demanded. Strike first. Learn what they expected from him.
“Boss wants to speak with you,” one of the hulking brutes said.
That was an apt description, and Suzie was right. They appeared soft around the middle. He wondered what his brothers were doing with humans. He didn’t recognize them but committed their faces to memory. They were all bald or with shaven heads, tall, and wearing uniform-like dark clothes.
“Why? I don’t know your boss.”
The man standing to his left was older and kept his distance. A sense of familiarity jostled at the back of his brain. He’d seen this man before but couldn’t recall where.
The men exchanged grins. No, they were more leers.
“Your lady is sexy. She a good lay?” the man asked, waggling his black brows.
“Who?” Niall played dumb and batted down anger and his bear. Not the right time.
“The one we let leave. The one we saw you kissing,” the man said, his smirk in evidence again. “She knows.”
Niall cursed, every muscle tensing. Suzie was part of this?
“You coming with us peaceful like, or do we have to jump you?”
“I’m a busy man. Tell your boss to make an appointment like everyone else,” Niall said.
“He’s busy too,” the man said.
The men sniggered, but Niall didn’t shift his attention from the speaker. It must be related to his honey. It was the only thing that made sense.
“You tell your boss he can produce his own honey. I have no intention of letting him steal my formula.”
The big man shrugged, and he grinned. “Why should he when you do his work? He has your honey, but a few crucial parts are missing.”
“You broke into my research station,” Niall snarled, taking half a step forward.
The man straightened, and the others closed around him, not appearing as casual now.
“Stop mucking around,” the man said. “You’re coming with us. Why not make it easy on yourself?”
Niall darted forward, smashing his weight against the nearest man. He went down with a yelp. Niall punched hard and used his size and fitness to knock two more men over before the rest grabbed him. Someone hit him from behind, and everything turned black.