Page 4 of Bear Haven
“Truth is, I live in this world, too. These mountains are my home and have been for more years than I care to think about. My family has lived and owned businesses here. This affects all of us. My brother and his wife were shot while shifted, on their own property. My nephew was just a child. Not much older than you were, from what I understand when you were orphaned. Blake spent so many of his years angry and fighting against everything, determined to keep himself separate from anyone who loved him.”
“What changed for him?”
“Leah.”
Gus couldn’t help but smile. That’s how he felt about Bex. He didn’t feel as lost as he had before he met her. Hell, he didn’t feel lost at all. She was his lover. She was his bear’s mate and safe haven.
“We’re all in this together,” Gus’s father stated in the growing silence. “We have to face it together, or none of us have a shot in hell of getting out alive. They’ll hunt us until we’re all dead.”
Gus knew that to be a truth none of them liked to think about. He didn’t know what Beck hoped to gain by going to see his father, but a halt in the killings wasn’t a likely outcome. The man’s eyes hadn’t held much beyond contempt, and when his son had defied him, the Mayor hadn’t looked at Beck with anything more than the same coldness.
“Hungry?”
Gus looked up at the rustle of a paper bag that Blake’s uncle pulled from his pack. Whatever it was smelled better than the jerky and trail mix he’d been surviving on the last few days. “What’ve you got?”
“There’s a bar and grill that sits near the summer resort Blake runs and they make the best salmon burgers.” He tossed one Gus’s way. “It’s cold, but it’ll work as nourishment.”
“I don’t care if it’s near frozen. I can’t handle another handful of dried fruits and nuts.”
“Y’all didn’t plan this very well.”
“Shit. There was no plan.” He shrugged and unwrapped the sandwich. “Not much more for me to do but wait and hope they show up together at the appointed time.”
He took a bite of the salmon patty topped with two soft, homemade buns and some sauce that was sweet going in with a kick going down. He could eat a dozen of the damn things. Bryan must’ve realized because he tossed Gus two more, to which Gus grunted his thanks.
He’d sleep better tonight than he had the previous few with Martin and Bryan there. They could split the watch three ways.
But his best sleep was yet to come. That would happen with Bex, in the bed he shared with her.
