Page 4 of Bound to Two Bears

Jared was his best friend and companion. As children, they’d been matched as brother bears by their den’s alpha—two who would one day be bound together by a third. They weren’t usually at odds with one another, but the perfect storm of too many humans and having to hide who they really were was getting to them both.

Something needed to change.

And fast.

He didn’t know how to calm the beast within.

“You’re right. I’m sorry,” Royce mumbled.

Jared’s eyes began to glow golden, emotion high. “You have no idea all I do around here,” he snapped, the raw sound of his voice letting Royce know he was close to a shift. “Just because this place was your grandparents’ that doesn’t make it more yours than mine. They left it tobothof us, Royce.Both of us.” Jared moved closer to the door. “I work my ass off every godsdamned day. But if you think you can do things better on your own, maybe I need to let you try. Then you’d see all I really do.”

Royce clamped down on his bear before it raged and ruined anything more. Jareddidwork his ass off and Royce well knew it. “We’re both feeling raw. We haven’t shifted in weeks.” He sighed. “I know you work hard. I’m just… on edge.”

Jared’s eyes dimmed and the glow ebbed. He took a deep breath before speaking again. After glancing at the floor a few seconds, he lifted his face back up to Royce. “I’ve felt… off lately. I don’t know if it’s me feeding off you or what.”

Royce leaned back in his chair. “I feel it, too. I don’t know how to describe it. I feel like my skin’s two sizes too small and I’m ready to lash out. I assumed it was because we’ve been unable to shift, but I can’t stop thinkingsomething’sabout to happen. I don’t know if it’s good or bad, but it’s coming for us.”

“I feel it, too,” Jared whispered.

Royce offered Jared a small smile. At least they were both attune to those feelings. It spoke for something.

Jared grinned softly. “The moon’s full tonight. Maybe we can sneak in a night run.”

“Maybe,” Royce said as he closed his ledger.

The bell rung out front, alerting him they had a guest. Royce rose to his feet. “Hopefully that’s our final guest for the weekend. Let’s get them set and we can talk about that run.”

Jared’s smile widened—but he suddenly whipped his head to the side. He lifted a hand, signaling Royce to stop. He scented the air and his eyes grew larger. He sniffed again, and frowned. “Do you smell that?”

Royce inhaled and caught a whiff of something…odd.Not unpleasant, but unfamiliar. A warm, tingling sensation raced through his entire body, making him feel both exhilarated and apprehensive all at the same moment. The scent was musky…yet sweet. He inhaled again and felt the same rush through his body.

“Whatisthat?” Jared asked, turning toward the door.

Royce wasn’t sure, but he sure as hell wanted to find out. He stalked out of the back office, passing Jared, and out into the small lobby. A lone man stood at the counter. When he turned to look at Royce…

Something struck Royce like a physical blow.

The air was drawn from his lungs, and he felt a fire low and deep in his gut. Sweat beaded on his forehead. A roar bubbled up his throat and if he hadn’t the clarity of mind to tamp down on the instinct, he would’ve let loose until the walls and windows rattled. He knew his eyes were glowing, had to be, from the look of terror on the human’s face.

The human’shandsomeface. His eyes were the same color of the blue sky on a summer’s day on the mountain. His hair was blond with glints the same shade as the golden bits shimmering in the mountain’s creek bed under the sun. The color was matched by the stubble growing on his chin, not yet a beard. By the warm glow of his skin, he’d spent many a day outdoors, enjoying nature. His body was fit, too, muscled in all the right places.

Royce noticed the quickening of the man’s breath. A glimmer of fear and longing circling in his eyes.

And the sudden tenting of his pants.

Royce’s own cock had thickened as he’d laid eyes on the man.

The man looked between them before pulling his backpack higher onto his shoulder. “I think I’m in the wrong place.”

He spun and headed for the door.

Royce snapped out of his stupor and raced around the front desk, stepping between the human and the door. “I’m sorry. Our customer service is typically better than this. I’m one of the owners, Royce. How can I help you?”

The man’s gaze swung between him and Jared again.

“You’re here for a reason,” Royce whispered.

“I-I have a reservation.” The man stepped back and kept them both in his eyeline. “Hada reservation. I was stupid for coming up here. I need to go.”

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