Something about talking in our heads makes me braver than usual. “How did it happen?”
She growls. “He and my father were killed by hunters. They say it was humans, but I think it was Victor.”
A powerful urge to strike out tingles in my muscles. “I’m so sorry, Annie.”
She reaches over and pats me. “So see, you have to hurry up and get pregnant so I can help raise your babies, okay?”
“I'm counting on it.”
Annie stands. “We should head back.” She dives off the rock, and I watch her powerful strokes as she swims away.
When we get home, I find shifting back is easier. Even after all the fish we consumed, my stomach growls. Annie can hear it, and we make our way to the kitchen. She makes us huge tuna and cheese panini sandwiches, and we sit at the island to eat.
It must be the part bear in me that makes me so ravenous. I get up to make another once I'm done the first one. The griddle creaks as I open it to pull my sandwich off.
I ask, "So what else do I need to learn?"
Annie wipes her mouth on a napkin. "You need to learn to fight. It's not nearly as fun, but it’s necessary. We have a couple of trainers for the new shifters, and I'm going to set one up to come and train you here. I'll join in because my skills are rusty."
My first instinct is to groan about exercise, but then I remember how powerful I feel in bear form. "Okay. I guess I'm going to get good at shifting, aren't I?”
Annie smiles at me. "You're already good at it. It's as if you were made for this."
I bite into cheesy tuna goodness, and as the flavor drowns my taste buds, I think, Maybe I was.
27
Chapter 14
Carly
Apparently weekly breakfast meetings with Donna are a thing. This time I'm ready for her and swear I won't blush. Keith and Sierra are invited today and arrive before she does.
I haven't seen much of Sierra the past week and am excited for girl time with my friend. I practically prance down the stairs to greet her. "You look radiant. It must be love." I grasp her hands and look her up and down.
Her eyes widen. "My God, you're getting cut. How did you do it so fast?"
I grin, "Werebear fitness training. You should see the things I'm learning. I run and swim in the morning and then fight with a trainer in the afternoons. And the funny thing is, I enjoy it."
She squints at me and speaks in a low voice. "And the sex? You're getting a lot of that too, right?" Clearly Keith hasn't told her werebear can hear everything.
I chuckle and hear Brady's voice in my head. “Tell her about the animal part.”
Heat rises to my cheeks, and Sierra snorts. "Jesus, don't tell me because that red face says it all." She winks. "Besides, I know all about that part. Keith's dick is huge, and boy oh boy is he insatiable. He's a dream come true."
She giggles at her little joke while I flush even more knowing Brady, Keith, and Annie heard. I'm going to have to tell her and am about to when Keith comes around the corner.
He says, "Are you bragging about me again?" He wiggles his brows, and I want to die on the spot.
I shake my head at him knowing Sierra is going to be the one who's embarrassed when she finds out how acute werebear ears are.
She reaches up on her tiptoes and kisses his cheek. "You know it."
He growls a little in her ear, and I lead the way to the breakfast table.
Sierra makes a beeline for the waffles. "I'll never get enough of real maple syrup. I think that might be the reason I'm here."
I fill my plate with eggs, bacon, and berries. I can't explain why, but the scent of the waffles turns my stomach this morning. "I love the stuff too, but no sugar for me in the morning. I need protein."
Brady loads up his plate and bumps me with a hip. He talks in my head. “Is my dick a dream come true too?”
“You're such a man!”
He growls at me and presses his hardness against my butt. I just about come undone and say, “Don’t do that in public. I can't be responsible for my actions.”
He smirks at me, and I want to bite his lower lip. I lick mine while staring at his mouth, knowing it turns him on. I then glance at his crotch and see the erection about to rip free. “Nice, just in time for your mom.”
He winks at me. “She did tell us to get pregnant.”
“After breakfast, you're mine. Got it?” I give him my own little growl, and Keith looks over at us. I shrug at him, and he grins. My plate clatters on the table as I set it down.
Donna walks in with a sigh. She’s wearing a flowery scent I don't remember being so overpowering. Maybe she spilled it today.
She sniffs the air, and I suspect she has bacon on her mind. Especially when she smiles slowly and says, "Hello all! Sierra. Keith, great to have you here. Let me grab breakfast, and we'll get started."
She turns and cocks her head at me. “How are you feeling today, Carly?"