Page 4 of Bear It All
Sliding into the cemetery, I scanned the bleak area, looking for Freya. Although I couldn’t see her, I could feel her, and instinctively let my bear guide me. The mausoleums were at the far end of the cemetery, and I quickly realized she was over there. Every fiber of my being was drawn to her, but my animal scented a threat in the area. Turning the corner, I was stunned by the sight in front of me.
Freya, my delicate human mate, was caught in a whirlwind of unfamiliar magic. I turned to look for a foe, someone to fight, but her screams stopped me. She looked trapped, on her knees in the dirt with her hands holding up her shaking form. Her body bowed under the weight of the forces smothering her. I had no idea how to process the scene in front ofme. Magic was pulsing all around us, unfamiliar but potent.
Freya seemed stuck in her own bubble with all of that power pointed toward her. Wind was whipping around her as I felt the grass grow hot under my feet—even through my shoes. I tried to get closer to Freya, but the forces had her in a cocoon. Anything loose in the nearby area was getting sucked into that web. I dodged rocks and sticks, pushing through invisible walls just to get to my girl.
Horrified, I watched as more items were sucked into the storm around her. The tangy scent of her blood ripped through the air as a rock grazed her forehead. She barely flinched as it dripped down her face. My fangs extended, and I jolted into action. With a roar, I used all my strength to push through the stream of magic surrounding her. Once I made it into her orbit, I wrapped my arms around her, shocked at the scorching heat radiating off of her.
Now that I had my hands on her, the magic was only stronger. It felt like it was trying to rip me into a million pieces and scatter my remains in every direction. I curved my body around Freya, trying to protect my mate from any more unexpected objects as I tried to get her off the ground. It felt like she was stuck in quicksand; the more I tried to get her out, the more it sucked her in.
Finally, I managed to rip her from the ground before the earth could suck her under. Once her arms were free, I had to fight the winds wrapping around us just to settle her in my arms. They grewso intense, I was worried tombstones would start flying if I didn’t get us out of there soon. With Freya safe in my arms, I pushed against the wayward elements, determined to get us out and protect her from any further injury.
When those stormy grey eyes slowly slid open, I couldn’t help the animalistic urge that ran through me at having her so close. Freya’s body jumped and twitched in my arms, so I clutched her closer to my chest, nuzzling her hair to soothe both of us. Her scent was stronger, flowers and fire invading my senses.
“Mine,” I declared in a beastly voice, my bear and I united in our claim. Just as quickly, she went limp in my arms, passing out before everything settled around us. It was eerie, especially after the erratic conditions we had just been trapped in. Clutching Freya closer, I turned on my heel, determined to bring her back to my den.
Taking long strides, I made it into the castle and up to my room in good time. With care, I placed Freya on my bed, not bothering to cover her since she was still overheated. With haste, I found a first aid kit and quickly poured antiseptic onto a cotton ball. I tried to work as gently as I could to clean the wound on her forehead.
Cleaning the blood off her face, I applied a small butterfly bandage to the laceration. An injury like that would have taken me less than a day to heal from.How long will this scar my human mate?I hadn’t given much thought to humans over the pastfew years, preferring to stick to my family and clan members. Even during the years spent at human schools, I never saw a need to really learn about them.
Now, watching Freya’s face scrunched in pain even unconsciously, I wished I had taken some time to learn more. The need to take care of my mate ate at me, and I was worried I wouldn’t adequately be able to protect her until I knew what we were facing. Having Freya so close, I was able to study her. She was stunning, her long hair the color of a raven’s wings making her creamy skin seem almost luminescent.
Her body dipped and curved in all the right places. Her lashes were thick, dark crescents, hiding what I knew to be gray eyes that shifted colors, reminding me of storm clouds. Needing to touch her, I lay down beside her, wrapping her in my arms. She was so small that I was able to curve my body until I completely surrounded her. I don’t know what had just happened, but I was with her, and from then on, nothing would hurt my mate.
Chapter 5
Freya
I snapped awake, instantly confused by my surroundings. Power was still rolling through my body. Everything felt amplified. The arms around my waist and the hard body pressed against me weren’t helping my disorientation.
”You smell amazing,” Mikhail muttered in a gravelly voice from behind me.
Slamming my eyes shut, I tried to organize my thoughts, but my body had a different plan. His hand had risen, and I instinctually arched my breasts to meet his giant palm as I pressed my ass closer to the bulge I could feel steadily growing. I let out a sigh as I gave in to the overwhelming sensations coursing through me.
“Please, I need…Touch me,” I managed to stutter out, my voice deep with need, making it fairly unrecognizable.
Mikhail’s hand came up around my neck and, rather than fear, a rush of wetness coated my thighs. His hand flexed around my throat before reaching up to my chin, turning my face toward his. Caught inhis gaze, I couldn’t look away.
“Say my name,” he said as he withdrew his body from mine. A whimper escaped at the loss, and I quickly replied.
“Mikhail, please,” I found myself begging. For what, I still didn’t know. My body was running the show.
“What do you need? I wanna hear the words, my sweet Freya.” Mikhail growled as he released my chin to kiss his way down my neck.
“Misha.” The term of endearment slipped out of me. I was lost in the cocoon around us, a slave to the sensations, unable to think rationally. I reached for him, needing more.
“I don’t know what I need!” I yelled in frustration, missing his hard body pressed against my back. His hand ghosted down my body, leisurely mapping out the contours before sliding between my legs. I inhaled sharply once he applied pressure and wrapped his body back around mine.
“Come on my hand, mate. Mark me as yours.” He growled in my ear, but I was too far gone to process the words. I was grinding heedlessly against him, reaching for something I couldn’t describe.
I moaned loudly once I finally reached that peak and launched over it. My hips were moving of their own provocation, riding out every minute of that feeling. My heart was racing, and I finally collapsed back against Mikhail’s chest, out of breath and oversensitive.
Reality came crashing in, jolting me off the bed.I made the mistake of looking up before I grabbed my book bag, and found myself facing a deliciously rumpled Mikhail, who was watching me with confusion on his beautiful face. My hesitation gave him just enough time to hop off the bed and prowl toward me. I stumbled back until I hit the wall.
“What are you running from, Little Storm?” Mikhail whispered in my ear as he shoved his face in the crook of my neck, breathing me in.
He surrounded me completely, caging me in the cocoon of his body. I tried to respond, but my mouth was dry. He pulled away from me, his hand wrapping around my throat, forcing me to meet his gaze. Blinking up at him, I couldn’t figure out what to say. Not with the feel of his body pressed against mine distracting me.
“Nothing. No one. I just—I have to go,” I stumbled out, looking anywhere but at him.
