Chapter 7
Chapter
Seven
Ryder bounced around the kitchen, humming under his breath because he was having the best day ever. He was making breakfast for him and Nolan, and something told him to make extra because he had a feeling his brothers were going to show up any minute.
They always knew when his mood was swinging wildly in any direction, and his happiness would draw them down to him.
A mate. He had a mate. A beautiful, dear, little bear mate of his own, who was a perfectly formed, absolutely delicious omega bear.
Ryder couldn’t stop smiling.
He could hear Nolan sleeping, dreaming of them together running, barreling through the woods and hunting for berries, honey, and salmon.
Oh, he did love salmon.
Me too, Nolan vocalized, his muzzle wrinkling and nose twitching. One day, we’ll have to go where the salmon are. It would be a neat road trip, and it wouldn’t be a long trip from here.
I love that idea. Go back to your dream, little bear.
He laughed, tickled Nolan could hear him, could talk to him like this, and still rest and chat away.
He needed to get back to cooking, the scent of the bacon was making his stomach growl and rumble.
Through the window, he could see his brothers, both of them in bear form, galumphing through the trees and heading toward him.
A strange sound hit his ears, a random, mechanical buzzing, and all of a sudden a black bear came barreling toward Warrick, roaring at the top of his lungs.
Ryder had ripped his door open, his bear already trying to take him, when the black bear jumped into the air. The red top of a dart appeared, which sank into the black bear’s shoulder, and he slumped to the ground, sliding a few feet with his momentum.
Connal’s head acted like it sat on a swivel, and he stretched up and swiped out, pulling a drone down with one huge, clawed paw.
It fell to the ground and shattered into a bunch of pieces, but Con stomped on it anyway, making sure that it could never be used again. Warrick put himself over top of the black bear and tore the dart out with his teeth, spitting it out on the ground.
Ryder ran as fast as he could to them to smell the bear and see what was going on.
I know that scent, Con said. It’s Race.
They had to get Race to the house, and Ryder could hear Nolan waking up, the panic right there on the surface. Stay in the house, baby. Lock the bedroom door and stay in the house just in case.
Since the bedroom was up on the second floor, it was defensible, even if it did have one whole wall of windows.
He was assuming if they’d sent a drone, nobody was going to be making actual forays into the house just yet.
But if they had darted Race, then whoever this was probably meant to come pick Nolan up.
Someone would be showing up soon, no doubt.
What’s going on? What happened? Is that Race? It looks like Race. Oh my god, this is my fault. What the fuck? I’ve got to go figure this out. Why would they actually follow me? It’s not like anybody wants me, not really. I’m just another little omega bear. Oh god. Oh god.
Ryder didn’t think Nolan even knew he was speaking with him anymore. This was just panic as Nolan fought to get dressed.
Do what I said and lock the door. It’s important.
I don’t understand what’s going on. This isn’t right. Nobody wants me. Not like that. Not like that.
They got Race into the house, then barred the door, Connal shifting back into his human form first.
“What the actual fuck?”
“I can only assume this is about Nolan because who else would know Race was going to be here? Can you start working on Race while I go get Nolan? He’s freaking out.” Ryder needed to go see to his mate.
“Of course.” War waved him off, his human form back on him. “We’ve got this.”
“Thanks.” Ryder took the stairs two at a time, because he was half afraid Nolan would try to crawl out a window or something and flee.
He did also check most of the rooms on the second floor first, though, because if somebody had managed to get into the house, he didn’t want to be ambushed.
He knocked on his bedroom door, glad when he shook the door handle that it was locked. “Nolan, baby, it’s me. Come on open up; it’s safe.”
The door lock clicked, and he opened it, finding Nolan standing there with his arms wrapped around himself, his eyes wide, his lower lip appearing chewed up.
“He’s fine. He’s going to be fine. They just knocked him out. It’s going to be all right.”
“It’s not fine. This is my fault. I ran and I worried Herschel would come after me, but he always said I was a dime a dozen. Seriously.”
Ryder didn’t roll his eyes, even though he wanted to.
“No, this might be about you, but it’s not your fault.
You are a grown bear. You’re allowed to say, ‘I don’t want to mate with someone.
I don’t want to do X. I don’t want to do Y.
’ That’s within your rights.” And anyone who didn’t like it could answer to Ryder.
“I don’t feel like it right now. I’m sorry, I’ll leave. I know you need me to go.”
He arched an eyebrow. “Why?”
Nolan stared at him as if he was insane. “Because your family is in danger? Will you take care of Race?”
Ryder worked very hard not to growl or roll his eyes. “Are you done? You’re not a prisoner here. You can leave whenever you want to, but I don’t want you to go. We’re mates, and I want you to stay forever—even now, especially now—because I think I can probably keep you safe.”
“Yes, but who’s going to keep you safe?”
He smiled, because the real answer was his brothers, but the answer he gave was just as true. “You are. Because you’re my mate.” Oh, that felt really good to say. So he bent down, took a gentle kiss and said it again. “My mate. Let’s go see your brother?”
Nolan nodded. “Okay. Poor Race. That had to be scary.”
He shook his head. “I think he was more pissed than scared, and they dosed him pretty good, so he hasn’t had a chance to stress it yet.”
Nolan gave a watery laugh. “That sounds like Race. I just feel awful about everything.”
“Hey, no.” Ryder reeled him in for another hug because Nolan had started to edge away.
He didn’t think it was because he was upsetting Nolan.
He thought it was because Nolan felt like he needed to start detaching himself.
“This isn’t on you. This is on the asshole who tried to keep you prisoner.
This is your brother’s whole life. Getting omegas away from abusive assholes and keeping them safe. He wouldn’t want to keep you safe?”
“He does. He’s good at it too. All right, I need to go see him. He’ll wake up for me, if not for any of you.”
That was his little bear. “Good deal. Stay away from the windows.”
“Yeah. Herschel’s not going to know what to do, if he thought he was just hunting me and Race and he saw two grizzlies. I’m assuming he didn’t see you.”
Ryder rumbled softly. “Yeah, I think the drone was down well before he caught sight of me.”
“Well, that’s good. That means that there’s a chance that he was just following Race.”
They headed downstairs where Race was still in bear form, snoring to beat the band, as relaxed as Rye had ever seen him.
“Oh, Race. Are you okay?” Nolan plopped down by his brother and started stroking the heavy fur.
“You should have paid more attention, huh? Oh, I guess that’s victim-blaming, and that’s a shitty thing to do.
I wish they hadn’t followed you. I think it’s awful.
I’m not going to let anything else hurt you.
But don’t worry, we’re just going to make him go away.
We’re going to fight because I have a mate.
” Nolan met Ryder’s eyes. “I have a mate.”
“You do. And me and my brothers are going to keep both of you safe. Race can rest, and you can feel like you don’t have to worry about what’s going to happen.” Ryder reached out to touch Nolan’s shoulder while Nolan petted Race’s fur.
Nolan grinned for him, shaking his head. “You know I’ll worry. I always worry, but I do feel safe with you, and now Race is here, so I know he’s safe too. We just have to figure all this out.”
Someone cleared their throat softly, and when he looked up, his brothers stood behind them, hovering right there at the back of the room.
“Hey, man. we didn’t want to interrupt, but we should fill you in. War did the perimeter search, and then I did the house, and everything seems to be okay. We didn’t leave him alone at any time, though.” Con raised an eyebrow at Nolan. “How you doing, kiddo?”
“A little worried, a lot pissed off. I really don’t want anybody hurting my brother.”
“I don’t blame you, man.” Con looked down at Race, something like rage flashing in his eyes. “This was absolutely not okay.”
Race stirred, his nose working, his breath snuffling in and out, interrupting his snores.
“Hey, I think he might be waking up.” War reached out to poke Race, his finger hovering just over his foot, but Nolan slapped it away.
Rye bit back a laugh because that was so protective and wonderful, and he thought it was kind of hilarious. Race would’ve eaten Warrick’s hand for that if he’d been awake.
“That’s it, Race,” Nolan said. “I need you to wake up and tell me you’re okay. I know they gave you a massive amount of drugs, but I need to look in your eyes and see that you’re right here with me.”
Race snuffled some more and then turned toward Nolan, reaching out with one big paw. It was big compared to Nolan’s human hand, but compared to a grizzly, not so much.
Nolan reached out to ruffle Race’s ears, his fingers gentle. “Come on brother, wake up. I’m waiting for you. I need you.”
Race groaned, the sound was kind of awful because Rye could tell he was in pain. Those deep black eyes opened, staring at Nolan, the bear form shimmering.
Nolan covered Race with a blanket, which was handy, because he shifted a few minutes later. His human form was so much smaller than the bear. He was wiry and tough, though, this guy, and he would be fine. He blinked, staring at Nolan, then glanced at Rye, Con, and War.
“What the hell?” he croaked.
“Somebody got you with a dart.”
Race growled low. “The drone. I didn’t want them to get to you guys, and I led the fucker right here.”
“I don’t know what to do.” Nolan frowned down at his brother. “I know this is my fault, and—”
“Pbbt.” Race blew out a frustrated breath.
“Stop it. You’ve been raised to believe that everything is your fault.
It’s not your fault. It’s not anybody’s fault but those assholes’.
This is just bullshit. That’s all it is.
Simply shit of bull, and also I don’t like it.
” Race sat up, eyes flashing. “This asshole decides that he’s going to be your mate, and you don’t get a choice in it?
Fuck me, it’s not like we’re wolves, okay? ”
Ryder chuckled, because they’d all been on the pointed end of this particular rant of Race’s. “What? You don’t believe in fated mates?”
Better to have Race snarling at him than Nolan.
“I believe in chemical pheromones, and that some people smell better than others. Don’t get me wrong; I’m tickled that you two found each other and like each other—even though it I’m not a hundred percent sure that this isn’t just the response to simply getting out from under Herschel.”
Ryder rumbled softly, his lip curling, and Nolan leaned toward him, touching his leg. “I wouldn’t take advantage of him.”
Race rolled his eyes. “I know that. In fact, this is maybe one of the reasons that he’s so into you, but again both of you are adults. You can make your own decisions. You can do whatever the fuck you want, and guess what? No one’s going to force you to do it.”
Race started waving his hands. “You don’t have to mate with him.
He doesn’t have to mate with you. You two don’t have to mate at all.
You can just fuck, or you don’t even have to do that.
In fact, I don’t care. What I do care about is the relationship between you.
You’re both adults, and if there’s a relationship between you, yay.
If there’s not. Okay. What matters is that you have free will.
Omegas and alphas both deserve free fucking will! ”
Ryder was fairly sure Race was babbling and Con was sporting a hard-on.
Gross.
Nolan blinked at Race, then he tilted his head. “Are you done?”
Race pondered for a second. “Yeah.”
“Oh good. Because you were giving me a headache. I can only imagine what your head feels like right now.”
“I think the term is ‘like an overripe melon’.” Race sighed softly. “Someone tell me the drone didn’t get away. It was expensive and someone’s going to be pissed if they lost it.”
Connal’s grin was triumphant. “It’s never flying again.”
“Oh, fuck yeah.” Race grinned at that, his expression finally loosening up. “Once I’ve slept off this headache, I’d like to look at the pieces. I’m assuming you gathered them all up.”
“Yeah, when I did the perimeter search to make sure everything was locked down, I got everything gathered up and brought it back in.”
“Thanks.” Race fist-bumped Warrick. Ryan noticed he didn’t really even glance at Con. Interesting.
“I can take you to one of the bedrooms if you want to actually get comfortable and sleep,” Ryder told him.
Race wrapped the blanket that War handed over around him and stood, his legs wobbling. “Yeah, I would love that, and if I could get a water bottle as big as most of my body, that would be awesome.”
“You got it, man. I’m on it.” Connal fled.
Rye had to bite back a grin at that, because he knew Connal was totally into Race. He didn’t know if that was new, but he really felt it was. He’d never noticed it before.
He and Nolan led Race upstairs where he put Race into a guest room with a big fluffy bed and some great pillows. It also had an en-suite bathroom.
“Sleep it off, man,” Ryder told him. “We’ll have a war meeting once you get back on your feet. I have a feeling Con will bring you all sorts of food and drink.”
A faint blush spread over Race’s cheeks, and he dipped his head, not quite looking at him or Nolan. “Yeah, that’s cool. Don’t forget, I want to see the pieces of that drone.”
“We won’t forget.” Nolan gave Race a hug. “I love you, brother.”
“Love you too.” Race reached up and pushed a lock of hair off Nolan’s forehead. “This isn’t your fault, okay?”
Nolan glanced at him sideways but then nodded at Race. “Okay. Get some rest.”
Race fell over onto the bed, wrapping himself up in the blanket he still wore. “I absolutely will do that.”
Ryder took Nolan’s hand, and then pulled him out of the room because Race really did seem like he was just going to pass out from exhaustion. Con would take care of him.
Rye needed to take care of Nolan.