Chapter Eight
Danny struggled to free himself from arms that had protectively held him just moments before.
He wiggled and twisted against the steel bands that refused to let go.
Finally, they went slack, and Danny tumbled free in a disorienting blur.
Staggering to his feet, he swayed as the world tilted, feeling seconds away from throwing up.
His legs buckled beneath him, crashing him back to the ground.
“Ash,” Danny groaned, clawing the grass to reach him.
Each pull forward made his nausea worse, but he needed to get to Ash, pausing when the helmet felt too tight.
He couldn't breathe. His trembling fingers slipped against the clasp once, twice, before finally clicking it open.
Tearing it off, Danny gulped fresh air into his burning lungs.
Why would someone try to run them off the road? Danny still felt the heat of that grill against his back, could still hear a strange ticking coming from inside the engine. He’d never been so terrified in his life.
And Ash?
Danny turned and crawled closer, his vision clearing enough to see how still he lying a few feet away.
Don’t think it. He’s not dead, just hurt. He’s just hurt, that’s all.
“Ash, you have to wake up.” Another wave of nausea rolled through his chest. “Ash, open your eyes.”
You think I’d ever let anything happen to you? Not in this lifetime, honey bear.
A quiet sob escaped. Ash hadn’t just promised safety.
He’d become it. Even as they were falling, Ash's first instinct had been to reach for him, to shield him. Those hadn’t been meaningless words just to get Danny on his bike.
Ash had proven he’d meant them, taking the hit instead of letting Danny get hurt.
No one else had ever done that. No one else had offered him the safety Ash provided so effortlessly.
He’d given Danny courage to reclaim himself, to step back into the light.
The realization hit him with startling clarity. Ash wasn't just his protector. He was his anchor. His home.
“Ash.” Danny gently shook his arm, tears stinging his eyes. “Please.” Another sob escaped. “You’re supposed to be invincible. Indestructible. You’re not allowed to leave me alone, damn it!”
A gentle breeze cut through the small clearing, causing the grass to sway.
Danny scanned their surroundings, looking and listening for whoever had been driving that truck.
They were still out there somewhere. Until Ash came to, it was up to Danny to keep him safe.
How? Danny had no idea. He couldn’t fight his way out of a paper bag, but Danny would go down swinging to protect him.
“You have to wake up, Ash.” He lifted Ash’s hand and laced their fingers, the contrast astonishing.
Ash’s fingers were so much larger, making Danny’s appear delicate in comparison.
“We still haven’t watched Harry Potter. I’m sorry I fell asleep, but I’d worked a full shift and hadn’t gotten much sleep the night before.
Bad dreams keep me awake most nights.” He glanced at Ash.
“But I didn’t have them when you held me while I slept.
Ever since I met you, I’ve felt…safe. Like the monsters can’t touch me because you won’t let them. ”
Danny froze when Ash’s warm hand turned furry. Slowly, he turned his head, jaw going slack when he saw a massive bear instead of Ash.
Shouting, he dropped the paw and scrambled back, his heart nearly giving out.
“How?” he asked, like the bear would answer him.
Maybe he’d died in the crash and this was some crazy-ass afterlife, even though Danny didn’t belief in such things.
But seeing a bear where Ash should be, he was reconsidering a lot of things.
This could not be real, yet there was a ten-ton bear lying in the grass like this was as normal as a sunrise.
“Oh god.” Now it all made sense.
Honey bear.
Cub.
Their conversation at the diner. What do you think about?
Business stuff. Family drama. Whether the Bears have a shot this year.
Should he run, scream, or faint?
You’ll never feel its destruction. I’d never weaponize it against you, Danny. They’d been talking about Ash being a storm, but now those promises took on a whole new meaning.
His entire perspective of Ash had realigned. He really was as big as a bear.
Holy shit. Isaac had known. Danny remembered his best friend calling Ash a bear. Then he’d tried to play it off by commenting on his size. He was going to kill Isaac.
Wait, how had Isaac known? Was he a bear too? But he was a pocket-sized menace, too little to be a bear.
“When you wake up, you have so much explaining to do.” Danny scowled then prayed the backup Ash had called arrived soon.
A gust of wind stirred the grass around them, branches creaking ominously overhead.
Heart beating wildly, he scanned the tree line, the roadside brush, every shadow that might conceal a threat.
His gaze darted back to the bear. To Ash.
Hesitantly, Danny reached out and touched the thick fur, marveling at how soft it felt under his fingertips.
The bear’s coat was a rich brown, dappled with flecks of gold that gleamed in the fading light.
He was massive, easily ten times Danny’s size, and yet there was something almost peaceful about the way he lay there, chest rising and falling with each steady breath.
How could this be real? His hand sank deeper into the plush fur. People didn’t just turn into bears. That kind of thing only happened in fairy tales and bad horror movies. And yet here he was, crouched next to a giant grizzly, trying to wrap his mind around the impossible.
The distant rumble of an engine made Danny’s heart lurch into his throat.
Oh god. They were coming back. Whipping his head around, he searched for any kind of weapon, a hiding spot, something he could use to protect Ash.
But there was nothing except nature and Ash’s wrecked bike lying on its side a few yards away.
The twisted metal, blown tire, and mangled handlebars made him feel sick. It was a miracle they’d survived at all. If Ash hadn’t shielded him, Danny wouldn’t be alive right now. The helmet alone wouldn’t been enough to save him. He owed Ash his life.
He pushed the thought away, unable and unwilling to process anything else right now. Refused to think of how close he’d come to losing the one person who’d not only seen him but also cared about him. The man he’d fallen halfway in love with.
Gritting his teeth, Danny positioned himself between Ash and the road, arms spread wide as if he could block a bullet or oncoming pickup with his body.
As the sound grew louder, he realized the truck engine was joined by the unmistakable rumble of motorcycles.
They crested the hill, half a dozen of them flanking a blue pickup truck.
Men clad in leather and denim rode the snarling machines.
They looked fierce, dangerous, like something out of Danny’s worst nightmares.
They roared into the clearing like a swarm of angry hornets, kicking up dust and gravel.
Danny rose to his feet, keeping himself between Ash and the newcomers.
This could be their backup or a new kind of threat.
Until Danny was sure, nobody was getting near his bear.
His palms were slick with sweat, but he didn’t move, didn’t flinch.
Not even when the bikes slowed to a stop mere feet from the wrecked bike and the riders dismounted, boots thudding heavy on the packed earth.
The driver of the pickup climbed out from behind the wheel, closing the door softly behind him.
But it was the lead rider that terrified Danny. The guy was all broad shoulders and weathered denim, taller than Ash and wearing expression that said he could take a punch and throw one harder.
“Stay back!” His voice shook, but he held his ground, arms still spread wide. “I'm warning you. I'll fight every last one of you if I have to.”
Never mind that he probably wouldn’t last two seconds against one of them, let alone six. But Ash was his responsibility now, and Danny would fight like hell to keep anyone from ever hurting Ash again.
“Easy, pup.” The lead rider’s voice was deep, commanding, even at a distance. “Name’s Zeppelin. We’re friends of Ash.”
The bikers exchanged glances, some almost amused. A few hands drifted toward waistbands where Danny was sure guns were hidden or holstered knives with razor-sharp blades.
You’re insane if you think you can fight any of them. You bruised your knuckles punching a pillow. They'll crush you like a bug.
He told the voice to shut up. It didn’t matter if he was outmatched. It didn’t matter if his knees were shaking so badly it was a miracle he was still standing. Ash had protected him, and Danny would do no less.
“Sorry me if I don’t take your word for it.
” Danny glanced between them, watching for any sign of attack.
“I’m aware Ash called for backup, but I don’t know any of you.
Until I’m certain, I stand by what I said.
” This newfound courage felt like someone else had possessed him, lending him a voice that didn’t waver and a backbone made of steel.
“I’ll fight every last one of you if I have to, because no one is hurting him. ”
Holding up one hand, palm out, Zeppelin pressed some buttons on his phone. With the call on speaker, the ringing sounded deafening in the small clearing.
“Frothy Pine.”
“Hey, sunshine,” Zeppelin replied. “Can you—”
“Did you find Ash? Is he okay?” Then the guy’s voice lowered to a growl. “Tell me you gutted the asshole who did this.”
Zeppelin grinned like he was amused and turned on by sunshine’s bloodthirsty tone. “We just got here, Preston. I need you to verify I’m friends with Ash. His mate’s twitchy and about to beat our asses if we go anywhere near his bear.”
Danny’s stance relaxed slightly.
“Oh my god! I so want to meet him! Is he absolutely adorable?” Preston squealed. “What’s his name? Have you invited him to the house yet? I bet Ash gets all growly soft with his mate.” He sighed. “I’m so happy for them.”
“Sunshine, you’re on speaker.”
Silence. “You could’ve warned me before I ran my mouth like a toddler begging for a playdate!”
Preston was the unicorn version of Isaac. Both unhinged, but with glitter instead of shovels. Danny instantly liked him.
“What’s your name, Ash’s mate?” Preston asked through the speaker.
“Danny.”
“Are you okay, Danny? Were you hurt?” Preston inquired with genuine concern in his voice, which surprised Danny considering they were complete strangers.
Glancing at Ash, Danny’s throat tightened. “Not a scratch on me.”
“We need to take care of this,” Zeppelin said to Preston. “I’ll see you in a bit.”
“Love you.”
“Love you too, sunshine.” Zeppelin hadn’t hesitated or seemed embarrassed by the declaration. Most alpha-type men would’ve played it off or whispered their reply. Zeppelin hadn’t done either.
“We good?” Zeppelin asked after hanging up. “I could call a dozen more people if you need me to.”
“Preston sounds like a nice guy.” Danny finally lowered his arms. Thank god. They’d started to cramp.
“He’s my entire world.” Zeppelin pocketed his phone. “Is it okay if we load Ash into the back of the pickup?”
The question caught Danny off guard. He glanced around at the other men, wondering why Zeppelin would need his permission. The others just stood there, like they were waiting on Danny’s answer. “I don’t understand,” he said. “Why are you asking me? You guys are friends.”
Zeppelin stepped closer, but kept enough distance not to crowd or tower over Danny.
“You’re his mate, which means no one overrides your decisions for him.
You told us not to touch him. So I need you tell me if we can load him up, or do you want us to stay here and watch your backs until he’s fully healed. ”
“What’s a mate?” Ash had called him that a couple of times. Danny just thought the guy was calling him a friend. Were these men simply referring to Danny as Ash’s friend as well? Maybe, but he had a feeling it meant something else he wasn’t aware of.
Someone groaned while someone else cursed under their breath. Zeppelin quietly muttered, “You’ve got to be kidding me.”
Danny just stood there, waiting for someone to tell him, though their reactions weren’t encouraging. How could the answer be any worse than finding out mid-crisis the guy you were falling for was actually a bear?
“Right now Ash is healing in his bear form,” Zeppelin said, completely ignoring Danny’s question. “How long he’ll stay a bear depends on the extent of his injuries. While I want to know what happened, getting him home takes priority.”
The look in his eyes said he wasn’t revisiting the mating question. Danny knew a closed subject when he saw one, and nothing he said would convince Zeppelin to tell him. “Please, load him in the truck.”
Before Danny had finished speaking, the men moved, lifting Ash’s massive bulk. Four men effortlessly deadlifted a ten-ton bear like he was the stuffed version kids hugged at night. This had been the strangest day of Danny’s life.
“You can ride shotgun,” the driver of the pickup said. “By the way, name’s Quinn.”
“Thanks, but I’m riding in the back with Ash.” Danny still shook the outstretched hand, the grip firm but not painful.
“That’s fine.” Quinn smiled. “Ash lucked out.”
Whatever that meant. Danny wasn’t going to ask, either. He’d had enough to process already. One more supernatural fact and his head might explode.
As he settled in beside the humungous bear, Danny glanced around, wondering where the black pickup had gone, while praying he never saw it again.