Chapter 5
CHAPTER 5
RICK
T he following morning, Rick headed out before the sun had even begun to light the eastern horizon. It was that time of the day known as the blue hours—the time when the black of night began to give way and relinquish its hold on the earth. His sleep, what little he’d had, had been peaceful but elusive.
He wasn’t sure what he was worrying about but knew chances were if he found a spot to shift and go for a run, he’d realize what it was. Rick often found that running as a bear and letting the feral part of his brain take over, left the reasonable, analytical part to ponder whatever it was that was bothering him.
Thus, he found himself standing at the edge of the woods, the towering trees of Kodiak casting long, spooky shadows even in the half light of the pre-dawn. He took a deep breath, filling his lungs with the crisp, pine-scented air. To the east, beyond the ocean’s horizon, the sky was just beginning to brighten as the first rays of the morning sun began to make their presence known. He knew he was alone up here, above Max Renner’s place, far from prying eyes. It was the perfect spot to shift and let go of his human self.
The big black bear prowled the dim recesses of his mind, making alternating growls of impatience intermixed with chuffs of excitement and pleasure. Rick was certain that his black bear was anticipating that this year’s rutting season would be different for them. This year they most likely would have a mate—and a fated one at that.
With deliberate movements, Rick began to undress. He folded his clothes neatly, placing them on the seat inside the Jeep. As he removed the last piece of clothing, he felt a familiar tingle in his spine, a prelude to the transformation that was about to occur. Standing naked in the cool air, he closed his eyes and focused inward, calling forth the ancient power that lay dormant within him—the spirit of the black bear into which he would shift.
A swirling mist began to form around his feet, creeping upward like tendrils of smoke. It was a mist unlike any other, thick and alive and pulsating with energy. The air around him crackled with electricity, and the first rumble of thunder echoed through the forest with lightning strikes descending from the skies to spark the mist and the shift that it empowered. Rick's heart pounded in his chest as he felt the change begin. His muscles tensed, his skin prickled, and then, with flashes of lightning sizzling within the mist and combining with the colors of the night sky, the transformation began to take hold.
The mist enveloped him completely, and he was plunged into a world of color and sound. Flashes of navy, black, and silver danced before his eyes, intermingling with bursts of pure, clear, bright light. The thunder grew louder, resonating deep within his bones. Rick's human form melted away, replaced by something larger, more powerful. His senses sharpened, his heartbeat steadied, and a primal roar escaped his lips as he completed the shift.
Dropping down onto all fours, Rick shook his massive head and stretched his limbs. He was a large black bear now—no different than his purebred brethren except for his much larger scale. His fur was thick and dark, his eyes gleaming with a new awareness. He could smell the earth beneath his paws, the distant scent of prey, and the crispness of the approaching dawn. He felt alive in a way that was impossible in his human form, far more connected with the wilderness all around him and all it had to offer.
Rick took off into the woods, his powerful legs propelling him forward with ease—his claws digging where necessary to give him grip and stability. The forest blurred around him as he ran, his movements fluid and instinctual. He reveled in the sheer joy of the run, the wind rushing past his ears, the ground pounding beneath his feet. Every muscle in his body worked in perfect harmony, and he felt an exhilarating freedom that only another shifter could understand, and which could never be fully explained to those who couldn’t shift, human or beast.
As he ran, Rick's thoughts drifted to Hannah. Hannah. It was funny how one little thing—the presence of his fated mate—could change everything. Ever since she’d arrived in Alaska, she’d been a presence in his life, even when he tried to stay away. But more and more as they’d been spending time together, he’d found himself drawn to her in ways he could never have anticipated.
She was his first thought each morning as he came awake and the last thing on his mind before sleep claimed him. His protective instincts towards her had intensified, and he was constantly aware of her presence and her safety. The thought of anything happening to her filled him with a fierce determination to ensure no harm would come to her, which led him back to the two incidents that had at first seemed like random accidents. He now wondered if they might not be connected.
The snowplow incident had been the first. Hannah had barely escaped serious injury when she’d been pushed directly into the path of the oncoming snowplow. He’d tried to write it off as just a lowlander’s innate clumsiness, but he’d watched her move. There was nothing awkward or clumsy about Hannah and she negotiated snow and ice with the best of them. At the time, Rick had chalked it up to bad luck and an overactive imagination.
Then came the gas leak. Hannah had entered her building to start her day. When she’d opened the door, she smelled the distinct odor of gas. She’d checked the downstairs and found nothing, but then had foolishly gone upstairs to find the source of the leak. He hated to think about what might have happened if he hadn’t found her, gotten her outside, and gone back in to turn off the stove and open the windows. He hadn’t told Hannah, but a quick call to the utility company later that day had confirmed that it had been a potentially fatal leak.
Two near misses. Two incidents, both of which could have been fatal. Rick's instincts told him that these weren't mere coincidences. Someone was targeting Hannah, and that realization chilled him to his core. He had to protect her, but he wasn't sure how. More importantly, he wasn't sure from whom. And if he did tell her, should he tell her about his true nature? He really didn’t want any secrets between them, but the shifter world was hidden for a reason, and revealing it to a human was forbidden without just cause.
Of course, he could always turn her. That idea warmed him in a way nothing else ever had. If she was a bear-shifter, she would be safer. It was a lot harder to kill a bear than it was a human. She would also be more able to endure the rut, even in her human form. And if she was a part of the shifter world, she would be far less likely to betray their kind. He shook his head. While the first two might be true, he didn’t believe for an instant Hannah would betray him or any of their friends who were also shifters.
After his long run, Rick found himself back by the Jeep. He slowed to a stop, panting slightly, his breath visible in the cool morning air. The exhilaration of the run was replaced by a heavy sense of responsibility. He needed to change back and return to Hannah, to be there for her, to keep her safe.
The transformation back to human form was always slower, more deliberate. Rick focused inward once more, bidding his bear to relinquish control as the mist that heralded his change began to take hold. The colors and sounds enveloped him again, though this time they seemed softer, more subdued. His bear form receded, muscles and fur melting away to reveal human skin and bones. When it was over, Rick stood shivering slightly in the cool air, his human senses reasserting themselves.
He opened the door to his Jeep, grabbed his clothing, and dressed quickly, the familiar feel of his clothes and boots grounding him. As he laced them up, he glanced around the forest, feeling the weight of his thoughts. He got inside the Jeep, fired up the engine, and made his way out of the woods back down to the highway.
The drive back to Kodiak was a quiet one. Rick's mind raced and was filled with thoughts of Hannah, of the incidents that had almost taken her from him, and of his own secrets. The dark highway began to give way to a soft, glowing amber light as it stretched out before him. Should he tell her? Could he trust her with the truth about his nature? About that of their friends? It was a risk to be sure, a huge one, but they couldn’t move forward unless she knew the truth. But more than that, he couldn't shake the feeling that she deserved to know, especially if she was in danger.
Rick's hands tightened on the steering wheel as he approached the outskirts of Kodiak. He had always been a protector, a guardian of those with whom he chose to share his life, but this was different. This was personal. Hannah was personal. She was his fated mate; of that, he was sure. Hannah had become important to him, more important than he had ever expected. The thought of something happening to her or worse, losing her, was unbearable.
He pulled into his driveway, the decision still weighing heavily on his mind. As he stepped out of the Jeep and headed towards his cabin, he knew he couldn't keep this from her forever or even for much longer. Sooner or later, he would have to tell her. He had no choice. He only hoped that when the time came, she would understand and accept him for who he truly was.