Chapter 15
Chapter Fifteen
ULY
I awoke a few hours later, warm and comfortable, with two bear cubs cuddling me.
Glancing down, I could see the differences in the boys.
While they were nearly identical in their human forms, their ursine—I think that’s the word—bodies weren’t the same at all.
Eddie had darker fur, while Jack’s was lighter brown.
Eddie’s paws were massive, at least compared to his feet.
I wondered if that denoted their level or strength or whatever.
The door cracked open and Brent peered around it. He seemed tired, almost haggard. He stepped into the room and came over to the bed.
“You okay?”
I thought for a moment. “Yeah. I really needed some sleep. I’m sorry if it was—”
“No, don’t apologize. You had every right to be freaked out.
Having two bears in the bed with you would screw with most minds.
Then to find out that everyone else is a bear?
I can see how that would throw you for a loop.
” He sighed and scrubbed a hand over his face.
“I am sorry. If I had known this would happen, I would have done things differently. Kids usually shift in the first year, but Eddie and Jack didn’t.
I thought maybe they wouldn’t inherit the ability, so figured it passed them by and pushed it to the back of my mind. ”
“It’s inherited?”
“Yeah, for most people. Though we have some that never learned how to use it. They’re still part of the sleuth, though.” His brow wrinkled. “A sleuth is a group of bears.”
“Thanks. I wasn’t sure. So, how did all of this happen?” He frowned. “I mean, how did you become a bear shifter?”
He shrugged. “There are theories, but no clear cut answers. Some figure we’re a genetic anomaly, others are certain that our people always had the ability to shift, and still more think we’re the next step of evolution.
While still others believe that an ancient bear god, Typhon, melded bear and human together to teach us humility.
I’m not sure what to think, but I do know we can’t let humans find out about us. ”
And there he went again, talking about humans. “Why? Are they—we—that bad?”
His eyes widened. “What? Oh, no. It isn’t that.
Some would deal just fine, but there are others, especially in some religious communities, who might consider us an evil to be cleansed.
Humans are a very uncertain lot. We might think we know them, but when the truth bears out—no pun intended—we discover who they really are.
” He put a hand atop mine. “We’re trusting you, Uly.
In ways we’ve never trusted anyone before. You have the power to ruin our haven.”
That made no sense. “How?”
“Because if you tell people about us, most will dismiss it, but there are those who will always go looking for the truth. And if they found it, they could destroy what we’ve built. We could end up in cages or killed.”
The very idea flooded my brain, and I could see it happening. I’d seen enough nature documentaries to tell me humans could—would—easily decimate groups of animals. The thought of it happening here horrified me. “I would never tell anyone. Not even Jamie.”
“Thank you.”
“No, don’t thank me. I mean, a haven of bears? It’s got to be a once in a lifetime miracle, right?”
He shook his head. “Nope. There are shifters all over the world. Bears, wolves, rabbits, mice. Any animal you can think of likely has a shifter counterpart somewhere.”
I chuckled, and it felt good. “So dodo bird?”
He cocked his head a bit. “It’s weird, but when an animal goes extinct, the corresponding shifter type also disappears. I don’t know if they die off or go into hiding. Considering how quickly species vanish, I would hate to think that people will as well.”
That was something I understood. Still, there were questions I needed answered. “So what now?”
“What do you mean?”
“About me.”
A soft smile smoothed out some of the harsh lines. “That depends on you.”
“How so?”
“Now that you know about us, we would be happy to welcome you to our community. That is, if you’re interested in living with a bunch of bears.”
I stroked a hand over Jack’s hair and he stirred, opening his eyes and peering up at me. Eddie followed a few moments later. They shifted quickly, then snuggled with me again.
“Momma stay?” Eddie asked, his voice a broken whisper.
“Please?” Jack added.
I turned to Brent. “But I don’t have a job yet.”
“Here’s the thing. The boys are wary around strangers, but they opened up to you right away. You could be their manny, if you wanted to. We pay well, and we could work out a schedule that would suit your needs. Plus, with them in school, you’ll have time.”
“Time for what?”
“Anything you want. If you’d like to go back to take some classes, we can make that happen. If you want to get a different job? That’s easy enough. Like you, Ursine is filled with potential.”
“But usually for bears only.”
He drew in a sharp breath. “Well, in for a penny. Most of our people? They don’t fit in among humans.
Some were bullied relentlessly when they were kids, and for some it continued into adulthood.
Others can’t control their transformations as well as they’d like, and if they get overexcited or stimulated, that could trigger a shift.
They can’t live out in the world, so they stay here where it’s safe.
” He glanced down at the boys. “We have others who have mastered their changes and they prefer the bigger cities, so they stay out there, but their home is here, with us.
Many return for vacations and take that chance to run in the fields and forests.
I looked down at the boys who were dozing again.
They were so sweet and innocent, and the thought that someone would hurt them filled me with anger.
Yes, I’d only been here a day or so, but the people I’d met?
They were kind, considerate, and generous.
When I bought the bear for the boys, I didn’t have enough money on me.
I told the lady behind the counter I’d run to an ATM, but she said I could owe her the remainder. Who does that?
No one from the human world that I’d ever met.
Then there was Cullin, who was a bit of a tough nut, but he laughed when I expressed how beautiful everything was.
He said it was nice to meet someone who noticed the little things, then he whisked me off to a cafe where we had some of the best vanilla ice cream I’d ever tasted.
We drove around for a while, him pointing out features like parks, children’s playgrounds, a theater dome shell where they did plays and readings, the boat slips at the lake where you could float out and sunbathe.
When I asked about how they fished, he shook his head and told me Brent would explain it to me.
Now that I knew what the people in town were, I had to wonder if they did it the old fashioned way and got into the water to test their skills. No wonder they’d looked at me so strangely when I asked about tartar sauce. Not that I would stop asking, of course.
But the truth was, this place already felt more like home than my crappy apartment. I wasn’t stressed or worried. I was calm, able to think clearly. Combined with my meds, this place had already had an impact on me, and I loved it here.
“So what responsibilities does a manny have?”
He said I could stay! And it wasn’t out of pity, either. He genuinely wanted me here for the boys who, I had to admit, I was crazy for. They were like whirlwinds of sunshine, making me smile with their antics, even when sick.
“Momma stay?” Eddie asked again.
One look into those big, brown eyes of his and I wanted to be here with a renewed desperation.
“Yes, I’ll stay,” I told him.
He smiled so big. “I love you, Momma,” he whispered.
“I love you too,” I told him truthfully. “Both of you.”
“Why don’t you all sleep a little more?” Brent asked. “The boys are looking better, but still a bit pale, so another hour won’t hurt. Then we’ll get the pizzas and all sit in the great room and pig out. How does that sound?” He eyed the boys. “Or would you like more of the soup?”
“Soup, please. Momma makes the best soup,” Jack told him, sounding so proud.
“What about you, Uly? Up for some pizza?”
“Sounds great,” I informed him, though I could feel exhaustion pulling me under again.
“All right, close your eyes, guys.” He kissed their foreheads, then smiled at me. “They aren’t as warm as they had been.” He sounded so relieved. “See you in a while, okay?”
“Yes, Daddy,” the kids said at the same time. Then they lay back, tugging me down with them. “Momma sleep too.”
“Yes, Momma will sleep too,” I promised.
Brent closed the door as he left the room.
Eddie was already nearly sleeping, which told me they weren’t fully recovered yet, so the soup was likely the best option for them.
I lay there, stroking a hand over each of their heads and thinking about what I had seen happen.
Was I shocked? Yes. Did it really matter in the grand scheme of things?
Not a bit. I knew there was something special about a man who’d forcefully interjected himself into my life, doing what he had to in order for it to get better.
He was a literal bear charging into my proverbial china shop. And I was the better for it.
“Momma?”
I smiled down at Jack, who was struggling to keep his eyes open. “Yes?”
“Don’t go away again, okay? We missed you every day.”
Tears pricked at my eyes, because I knew it wasn’t me he’d missed, but still felt like it had been. “Okay,” I promised.
He snuggled against me once more and fell asleep, a smile on his face.
Meanwhile, I lay there and wondered what I should do next.
I really did love this town, and knowing the people here had a secret didn’t change that fact.
If anything, it made me feel better, because I was part of it. It was like being in a secret club.
And I loved it.
brENT