Chapter 2
Chapter Two
The moment Eddie stepped into her bedroom, she pressed a hand to her chest. Her bear paced inside her, right beneath the skin, restless and growling softly.
Mate.
The word was whispered loudly inside her head.
“Not now,” Eddie hissed. She went over to her closet and pushed the door open so she could assess what she had that Liana may be able to wear.
Liana was fragile, injured, and held the scent of fear on her. Her cheeks were flushed from the cold. Her ankle was swollen and had needed attention.
But all Eddie’s bear wanted to do was nuzzle her, wrap her arms around the woman, and mark her.
Ridiculous.
She grabbed a pair of thick fleece pants, a fitted thermal shirt, and soft wool socks.
She muttered a curse. Was Liana going to need help taking her jeans off?
They were soaked from the amount of snow that had fallen on them while they had made the walk from her car to the cabin.
Eddie shuddered at the thought of seeing Liana’s brown thighs.
Her dark-brown eyes, smooth brown skin, and plump, kissable lips had immediately caught Eddie’s attention.
Then her scent hit her, which had sent her bear crazy.
Eddie held the clothing to her chest. She closed her eyes and blew out a deep breath. She had taken this time away from her beloved clan because she needed a break.
One week of peace and quietness.
No commitments. No meetings. No demands.
Just her and her bear spending some time in the wilderness.
Then fate had decided to screw up her plans and toss a beautiful, injured human directly into her arms.
Her bear didn’t care about the logic of the situation. She wanted to claim that woman on the couch now.
Mine.
Eddie clenched her jaw. She could still smell Liana’s scent all the way in here. It was sweet, and now nervousness was mixed in. The scent of fear was gone. The woman smelled like cinnamon and honey.
Eddie opened her eyes, unsure what to do. This was the first time she hadn’t had a plan. She, the alpha of the Brown Claw Clan, who always had the answers for all those who came to her, didn’t have a clue on what she should do about the guest in the other room.
Protect her, her bear rumbled.
I know, Eddie muttered. Then there was the ankle situation. She would focus on taking care of Liana and ensuring she healed properly. She could do this. She was an alpha bear who was in charge of her clan. Why was she hiding in her bedroom as if she were a young cub with her first crush?
She straightened to her full height and headed back into the living room. Liana tilted the cup back and finished the last of the tea she’d made her. Satisfaction filled Eddie.
“You were right. I already feel much warmer,” Liana said. There was a slight tremor in her voice. She set the empty mug down on the table next to the couch.
“Good.” Eddie made her way across the room and held up the clothes. “These should fit you. There’s a bathroom down the hall where you can get changed.”
“You have spare clothing?” Liana blinked.
“Um, yeah. Do you think I only have one outfit?” Eddie smirked. She tilted her head to the side and watched embarrassment wash over Liana’s face.
“Well, of course you do,” Liana sputtered.
She pulled her hat from her head and dropped it on the couch next to her. She pushed her hair back from her face. The wild ringlets were dark with the tips a golden color. Now that she’d removed her hat, it allowed Eddie to see Liana fully. She was breathtakingly beautiful.
“I mean clothing that will fit me?” Liana clarified.
“We can make them work. You are smaller than me.” Eddie’s words ended on a hitch. The size difference between the two of them had her bear in protective mode. Humans were much more fragile than shifters. “Let me help you to the bathroom.”
Eddie handed the clothing to Liana with the intention of carrying her. Liana took the clothing and shook her head.
“I can do it.” Liana scooted to the edge of the couch and tried to stand. She nearly face-planted on the floor. A cry escaped her lips as she fell back to the couch.
Eddie stood before her and rested her hands on her waist.
The woman was too damn stubborn for her own good.
“Your ankle won’t support you. I haven’t wrapped it yet. I wanted you out of those clothes and in something loose so I can wrap it good.”
“I am not helpless.”
“No, but you need help,” Eddie replied softly.
Liana’s shoulders sagged slightly.
Eddie moved toward Liana and gently picked her up. “I’ll carry you for now.”
She carried Liana down the short hallway to the bathroom where she sat her on the edge of the tub. The bathroom was small with stone tile, frosted windows, and a faint chill in the air. Liana shivered slightly. Eddie gritted her teeth and backed away to the door.
“I think I’ve got it from here. I…um…need to use the um…” Liana motioned to the toilet.
Eddie jerked her head in acknowledgment.
“I’ll be close by if you need me.” Eddie stepped out of the room and closed the door.
She leaned against the wall and blew out a deep breath.
Her animal prowled inside her as they waited.
To give Liana a little more privacy, Eddie went back into the living room and tossed another log into the fire.
She had plenty stored on the back porch to keep this fire burning for days.
She rushed back into the hall to ensure she’d be nearby when Liana was ready.
“Are you out there?” Liana called.
Eddie opened the door and found Liana in front of the sink.
She stood on her good leg while holding on to the sink.
Her other foot was kept off the floor. Eddie flicked her gaze down Liana’s body.
The clothing was quite large on her, but she’d folded the pant legs and the sleeves to make them work for her.
Liana’s curvy frame was not missed underneath the bigger material.
“I’m here.” Eddie picked her up and turned to leave.
“Wait. My clothes.”
“I’ll get them later,” Eddie promised. She carried her back into the living room. She noted that Liana’s body felt hotter than when she’d originally brought her into the cabin. “You’ve warmed up.”
“I have. Thank you.” Liana sighed.
Back in the living room, Eddie sat Liana down on the thick rug in front of the fire.
She wanted to ensure that she was warm. It was freezing outside, and she wanted to keep Liana as heated as possible.
She hadn’t been out in her car long before Eddie had found her.
Any longer and Liana would have certainly frozen to death.
Liana stretched out her injured leg for Eddie. She sat close to her and pulled out the supplies she would need form her emergency kit bag.
“You do this often?” Liana asked.
Eddie carefully pushed up the pant leg and bit back a growl. Liana’s soft brown calf was perfectly shaped. It would look good wrapped around Eddie’s waist.
She froze and had to control her racing heart. Thoughts such as those should not exist when Liana was injured and trusting her to help her. Eddie swallowed hard and braced Liana’s foot on her leg so she could start wrapping it.
“Life as a shifter means there are going to be plenty of injuries,” she murmured.
“But I thought shifters healed quickly?” Liana asked with wide eyes.
Eddie smirked at the cuteness of her expression.
“We do, but it’s not instant. What may take a human weeks to a month to heal, may take us a few days.
” She certainly had bandaged up enough rambunctious bear cubs who’d forgotten they were not invisible.
Or even an enforcer or two who’d got hurt in the line of duty.
It was the alpha’s job to ensure everyone was protected and safe.
“That’s amazing,” Liana breathed. Her leg jerked as Eddie was in the middle of wrapping her ankle.
“Hold still,” Eddie instructed.
“Sorry. Just a little ticklish.” Liana looked away and stared at the fireplace.
Eddie continued to work in silence. She wanted to ensure the wrap would secure Liana’s ankle to allow her to put some of her weight on it.
“You said that outside was dangerous. What did you mean by that?” Liana asked.
“It is. Something has been prowling in the woods near the roads, and I don’t think it was a normal wolf.”
“What would make it not normal?” Liana’s head snapped back to her.
Those big brown eyes of hers locked in on Eddie, taking her breath away.
“Desperation. Hunger,” Eddie said. She finished wrapping the bandage around Liana’s ankle. She reached for the wide tape that she was going to use to hold the bandage in place. This would also lend some support. “Besides, if I hadn’t found you when I did, you could have passed out from the cold.”
“And then…” Liana’s eyes were wide as saucers now.
Her bottom lip trembled, and Eddie could have kicked her own ass. The slight scent of fear reached her from Liana. She hadn’t meant to scare the woman.
“You probably wouldn’t have woken up.”
Liana blinked and looked away. Her chest rose and fell fast. The magnitude of her crash must have sunk in for her. Eddie reached out and took her hand in hers.
“But you’re safe now.”
Liana’s gaze came back to her. The fire cracked, illuminating her smooth skin, warm complexion, and dark lashes.
Her hair was wild and free with the ringlets shining bright with their gold tips.
Eddie couldn’t stop staring at Liana. This woman captivated her.
They had only been in each other’s presence for a short time, and already she knew she wanted her.
Needed her.
Wanted to put her mark on her.
Liana leaned forward slowly. Eddie’s nostrils flared as the sweet aroma of her human’s arousal greeted her. A deep, rumbling growl escaped her. It was barely audible, but Liana heard it. She froze in place and tilted her head to the side with a small smile on her lips.
“Are you hungry?” Liana asked.
Eddie blinked then let out a short laugh. She wasn’t going to admit what she was truly hungry for, so she lied.
“A bit. I don’t remember the last time I ate. I was reading when I heard the crash,” Eddie said. Well, she didn’t lie all the way. The little white lie didn’t sit well with her, but Liana wasn’t a shifter so she wouldn’t be able to detect the non-truth.
The wind chose that moment to howl. The strength of it rattled the cabin windows.
“Please tell me that was the wind and not a wolf or something looking to eat us,” Liana muttered.
“It’s the wind,” Eddie confirmed. She frowned and listened intently to ensure that it was indeed just the wind, but she didn’t pick up anything else. She wasn’t going to rest until she was certain they were safe and secured.
Eddie pushed up off the floor and headed to where she’d dropped her coat. She snatched it up and threw it on along with her boots.
“Where are you going?” Liana gasped.
“I’m going to check the perimeter to make sure we’re good,” Eddie stated.
She stalked to the front door and went back out into the storm.
The door slammed behind her. The icy cold winds slapped her right in the face.
She welcomed the pain of the frozen snowflakes across her skin.
It gave her something else to concentrate on other than kissing Liana.
She quickly made her way around the cabin.
She pulled the hood of her coat over her head while she assessed the property.
All was quiet. Anything would be a fool to be out in this weather.
She tromped back to the front door, satisfied that it appeared they would be safe for tonight.
With the amount of wolf activity in this area, one couldn’t be too sure.
This property had been in her family for years.
It was a vacation home that her grandfather had constructed when Eddie’s father was a small boy.
She had spent many summers and a few winters here with her father.
She inhaled sharply as she arrived back at the front door.
She had to get her animal in control before she went back inside.
She rested her hand on the handle and pushed her bear back down.
The damn animal wanted to break free. Now was not the time. They had to go back inside and see to Liana.
At that thought, her bear settled down.
Eddie went back inside. The moment she closed the door behind her, her bear surged forward, slamming against Eddie’s control. The scent of Liana’s fear wrapped around her. It took every ounce of strength she had to shove her animal back down.
Calm down, Eddie growled.
Her animal responded with a low rumble in her chest.
She stomped all of the snow off her boots and shook the accumulating snow from her coat and her hair. She took it off and hung it up on the hook by the door. She toed off her boots and walked to the living room.
Liana stood holding the iron poker in her hands like a baseball bat. Eddie froze and held her hands up. Liana’s arms shook slightly as she held the poker over her shoulder as if she were about to swing it.
“It’s just me,” Eddie said softly.
“Well, I had to be sure. You spoke as if you expected unwanted company or something.” She lowered the weapon and hobbled back over to the hearth where she returned the poker. “Did you find anything out there?”
“No. Everything’s fine. For now,” Eddie said. She moved over to the fireplace to check on the flames. The heat felt damn good to her compared to what she had braved outside. She held her hands near the heat for a moment.
“What do you mean, for now?”
Eddie hesitated in responding, but she didn’t want to lie to Liana when it came to her safety and the predators that may be lurking out in the wilderness.
“Wolves travel in packs. Even the shifter rogue kind, and that’s what I think is out there.”
“Rogues?”
“Shifters not abiding by the law,” Eddie replied.
She stood to her full height. She turned to Liana and took the few steps to stand in front of her.
She gazed down on the smaller woman and felt the deep instinct to want to protect her from the world itself.
“As long as you stay inside or near me, nothing will bother you.”
“Oh?” Liana’s perfectly sculpted eyebrow rose. She tilted her head while her gaze did a quick sweep of Eddie. She folded her arms in front of her and studied Eddie. “And why is that?”
“Because there are more dangerous things around here than a wolf?”
“And what is that?” A faint smile tugged at Liana’s lips.
“Me and my bear.”