He whispers, "You don't know that."
I'm tempted to use my alpha voice and tell him I do. But I won't lie and abuse the power. Instead I reach over and comb my fingers through Sierra’s hair to get it off her face. I know how she hates that. I ask, "How long will she be like this?"
His hands clench, and I guess he’s struggling with shifting. “It took you about two hours to change. But this is taking much longer."
I stifle rage at my helplessness, and defiance makes me try to communicate with Sierra. “Don’t you leave me here after all of this. I can’t be the only one that gets wild bear sex.”
Annie comes up to sit with us a while later. She’s brought a bowl of water and washcloths. Handing one to Keith and me, she offers us a small smile. “Donna’s outside handing out doggy bags to everyone as they leave.”
Warmth soaks into terrycloth as I wet it to wipe Sierra’s face. I imagine Donna is best under pressure and ever the perfect hostess. Sierra moans, and I wince for her agony.
I speak to Brady in my head. “Where are you?”
“I'm calling off the hunt. Victor got away tonight, but we know where to find him. And we will. How's Sierra?”
“Still out.”
“I'll be back soon.”
Sierra begins to thrash at the restraints. I speak softly. "Sierra, we're here. You're okay."
Her eyes open in fear, and she yanks at the ties on her wrists. “What the fuck?”
Keith leans over and strokes her cheek. "Hey, not how I wanted it to happen, sweetie, but you're a werebear now. I'm sorry."
We begin to untie her, and she says, "Holy shit, that hurt. I better be a sexy freak when this is all done."
I chuckle. "Oh, Sierra, I love you." I pull at the final knot to let her free. When she is, Keith scoops her into his arms and holds her gently.
Sierra reaches out for my hand, and I squeeze. From her puzzled look I guess Keith’s talking to her in his head.
She smiles, and I could try to tap into their phone line but decide not to. It's probably personal. He nuzzles into her hair, and Sierra rubs her wrists distractedly. "Love you right back.”
I notice her hands are shaking when she suddenly stiffens. “Keith, honey, could you get me a glass of water, please?"
"Sure." He places her gently on the bed.
Once Keith is in the bathroom, Sierra grabs my arm so hard her nails dig into me. Her eyes are wide. When we hear water run, she whispers, "Carly, Victor is talking in my head too."
Ice runs through my veins, and my heart skips a beat. I put my finger to my lips. I open my silent communication to Brady too. “Sierra, Victor can talk in your head all he wants, but you're a Le Roux. He has no idea what he's stepped into.”
* * *
Part 3
Carly Robichaux Cutler LeRoux? Stumbling on my biological mother was the last thing I expected when I moved to Maine. And boy is this discovery a doozy, because my DNA gave me more than just blue eyes. But that’s the least of my worries. Sierra’s living a nightmare that could destroy more than her sanity.
Sierra Steele – werebear. I knew the transformation would be hell, but being bitten by the wrong guy brought evil along with it. Now I’m torn between two men – the one who has my heart and the one who’s invaded my mind.
31
Chapter 1
Sierra
I wake to find I’m restrained. I fight against the rough cotton strips, but my arms are so tired that they’re the consistency of overcooked noodles. I gulp in air and think I might hyperventilate. “What the fuck?”
Keith's unique scent is almost overpowering, and his concerned face hovers over me. He says, “Hey, not how I wanted it to happen, sweetie, but you're a werebear now. I'm sorry.”
When I move, every inch of my body aches as if I was run over by a freight train. I say, “Holy shit, that hurt.”
Carly's fingers work at removing the strips of fabric holding me down, and I recall my last conscious thoughts. I was at dancing at Carly’s wedding with girls from work. Victor interrupted me, and the vision of his hand sprouting hair made ice flood my veins, because I realized he was shifting. That’s when he bit my neck. After he did, hot pain stabbed at my neck, and fire spread through my body. I glance at Keith. He bit me, too.
Keith’s smile is weak, and I wish I had the strength to touch his face to reassure him of my love. I smile up at him instead. He had to have been so worried about me going through the change. I know they restrained me to keep my claws from tearing at my skin, and I remember my bones feeling as though they were being broken a million times. The pain was so intense that I passed out more than once.
I say, “I better be a sexy freak when this is all done.”
Carly says, “Oh God, Sierra, I love you.” She's finished untying me and is massaging my hand.