Bear's Arrival

Two days. A solid forty-eight hours I've managed to avoid Vlad. Misty is supposed to be coming home with Bear today. I don't have any real plan on how to break the claimed mate bond but I do know I want to claim Bear. I'm leaning over the massive table in what used to be the ballroom when the massive doors slam open dramatically, drawing my attention to the disruption. "I'm back," Misty declares as she enters the room followed by a tall and broad guy with facial scruff, light brown hair and the most hypnotic brown eyes; my mate. She beams at me as he stops in his tracks, looking at me. Suddenly I feel very exposed and self conscious but that's wiped away as soon as his face breaks out in a grin and he runs at me, picking me up and spinning me around. I scream and giggle, wrapping my arms around his neck and burying my face against him.

His deep laugh resonates throughout the hall as he sets me down but continues clutching me to his chest. Someone clearing their throat breaks us out of our happy reunion and he turns to see Vlad. I watch as Bear glares at Vlad, snarling. I can see his wolf pushing forward. Vlad, on the other hand, remains calm and passive in the face of an enraged alpha. "I would appreciate you unhanding her," Vlad says stiffly. Bear sneers at him, assessing him as only a wolf can. "You left her. You abandoned her. You made your choice and what? Now you think you have some claim to her," he continues. "You let go of her. It isn't anybody's fault but your own that you let her go. She's one of the most loving and caring women I know but she's still a great alpha. Despite her past pains, she still fights for every and any one. Just because you were too blind to see what you had doesn't mean I'm going to make the same mistake."

Vlad's jaw flexes; the only indication he's losing his seemingly endless patience. "I know what I lost. I did then and I do now," he says. I can hear him forcing his voice to stay calm as Bear keeps hurling his cruel but true words. "Then you're even more stupid than I thought." Vlad growls lowly at the insult, but doubles down. "I'm aware that I screwed up. It doesn't mean regret what I did. I did it for her because at the time, I couldn't give her what she deserved in a relationship." Beside us, Misty facepalms. "Are you? Why on earth would you let her go then? Unless you just assumed she'd always be there waiting," Bear demands. Vlad growls and I raise my eyebrows, surprised by the sudden, if not small, display of anger. "Bear, that's enough," I say soothingly, putting a soothing hand on his bicep lightly. I feel him shaking slightly but when he registers my touch, it slowly stops. He pulls me tightly against him, burying his face against my neck and inhaling deeply, almost desperately. I pull back and stroke his jaw softly. "That's enough my love. Why don't you go for a run," I say gently.

His eyes flash between their light brown and his Wolf's almost black, but he nods nonetheless. I watch him slam the doors open, storming out. I sigh, putting my palms on the table and bowing my head. "D, his temper-" I raise my hand, stopping Vlad. "His temper is none of your concern. Why do you egg him on like it's an Olympic sport? You did it even when we were all in high school. Some days you seem so mature and then there are days I'm reminded you're only one year my senior. You know he can kill you. And his wolf is itching for a reason," I say, straightening up. His jaw ticks again as he steps closer. He takes one of my hands in his, raising it to his lips to kiss gently. "I can take care of myself. I'm more concerned with what happens if he loses his temper and hurts you on accident," he says softly.

Again, as always when he's near, my heart flutters, threatening to escape me. Heaven knows my wits already abandoned me. I sigh, pulling my hand away from him gently. I look him in the eyes, Wynter stirring and begging to join Bear. He just got here and I can already feel the pull to him dulling the one to Vlad. Maybe breaking this stupid bond won't be so hard after all. "He can kill you. And I can't honestly tell you I would be too torn up about it." My words are cold, my tone dismissive as I cross my arms. He chuckles and smiles at me softly. "I'm harder to kill than you think, love," he replies. My jaw flutters as I sigh, raking a hand through my curls. "Human army basic training does not make you equal to an angry alpha. Why do you push him? Why do you push me?" He smirks in response. "Because it gets a reaction from you," he says simply. I growl, fighting my own violent urges. "Right, well, for the duration of your stay, I'm going to ask that you refrain from doing so. Thanks," I say stiffly, turning and leaving the room.

It doesn't take me long to find Bear locked in a sparring match with Ashton outside. I put my index finger and pinky in my mouth, whistling loudly to draw their attention. They both disappear into the trees, Bear coming out first in cargo shorts and a tribal Darth Vader shirt. He lopes over to me, pulling me back into his arms and smiling broadly. "You're my mate," he says, his eyes alight with joy. I chuckle and nod. "I know. I've known since high school," I say. His smile drops and he pulls back, looking at me. "Why didn't you say anything? Why didn't I smell you," he demands. I wince, looking anywhere but at him. "Come with me," I say softly. I lead him inside and up to the office, closing and locking the door behind us. Sitting in my chair, I nod for him to take a seat. "You didn't smell me because I masked my scent. I didn't say anything because at the time you were human and with that airhead. You seemed fairly happy and I wasn't willing to take that from you," I say. His eyes flash, his fists clenching at his sides. "You were with Vlad." It isn't a question, but I nod wordlessly regardless. He growls. "So you not only hid from me, but also continued dating him when you knew I was your mate." I close my eyes and nod. "Wynter and I claimed him as our mate because you seemed on the fast track to marry that girl," I say softly. A harsh laugh tears from him, making me look up as his eyes flash black. "So instead of talking you elected instead to play it off. And for what? So you didn't have to have a mate? So you didn't have a human mate? What about after I was bitten? You still hid from me. Why," he demands. He steps closer with each sentence, causing me to back away slowly. I wince at the harshness in his tone; a harshness he's never used on me.

He growls deeply. "Why," he repeats. "Because you were happy dammit! And at the time, so was I. We both had our respective relationships. Besides you'd made it clear you didn't want to talk to me anymore. How selfish would I have been to not only dump the man I was in love with, but then tell you we were mates, resulting in you dumping someone you seemingly loved? And for what? A mate bond you didn't even know about? To force you to be with me? You were my best friend goddammit! I didn't want to ruin that! I was terrified if I told you that you'd reject me! That I'd lose you completely! It was bad enough that I had to watch you with her every damn day! But to risk telling you and you leave?! I wasn't ready for that and neither was Wynter," I finally reply. He blinks at me like he is trying to understand a foreign language. I put my hands on his chest, pushing him back. "I had plenty of valid reasons, so before you start getting all moody alpha male on me, maybe you should consider that I was sixteen. Yeah I fucked up. I made mistakes. And I regret them. Shame was the only damn thing that kept me from contacting you all these years. Shame in myself that I had actually allowed those things to happen," I snap.

I push past him, heading up to my bedroom. I know better than to remain around him when he's angry. Or when we're both angry.

Ashton comes in and I raise an eyebrow, looking up at him. "Hello, doll," I say casually. "So that was quite a heated argument in there wasn't it," he says rhetorically. I groan, rubbing my face. "You heard that," I ask. He laughs, sitting in his usual spot at the desk I have on the far right side of my room. "Of course I did. I wouldn't doubt everybody did." he chuckles. A deep blush floods my cheeks as I lean back, dropping onto my bed like a cement block. He laughs, leaning back in his chair and almost flipping it over. When he manages to calm down, he comes around and kneels in front of me. I sit up eventually with a sigh, meeting his eyes. He looks at me somberly, sadness in his eyes and smile. "Look, you and I had a fun time. But it's time for you to pick your mate. And that can't be me. We both knew this would come to an end eventually. We both know who it's going to be. It may be a challenge, but it will inevitably be Bear." I roll my eyes at his certainty, but I know better than to try denying it. He's generally right about these types of things. I run a hand through my hair, growling softly when a curl flops into my eyes. He chuckles softly and gets up, moving it out of my eyes when he comes closer. "You can't keep just denying your feelings. For either of them," he says smugly.

I narrow my eyes at him, growling softly. I cross my arms, pouting like a child. " I hate when you're right," I mutter. He gets up, laughing. A knock on the door stops his laughter and the warrior replaces the playful man. He opens it and grumbles but steps aside to let Vlad in. I groan and grab a pillow, covering my face. "Need a guard," Ashton asks cautiously. I remove the pillow and watch as he eyes Vlad carefully and I can see he wants to hit him. "No, if I need you I'll scream," I reply. He laughs and closes the door as he leaves, leaving me alone with my has-been mate. "So you think you'll choose him," Vlad says eventually. I roll my eyes.

"Yes and, for once, don't antagonize him. Please. I mean it, Vlad. You have no reason to butt into it. You forfeited that right long ago," I say. "I believe you're the one that said to take what I want," he quips, raising a dark eyebrow. I growl, my eyes flashing. "Vlad, so help me if you ruin this, the goddess herself won't be able to save your sorry hide," I growl. He chuckles. "Relax. I won't come between you and mister alpha." I roll my eyes. "Was there anything else you needed Vlad, or did you come solely to waste my time?" He chuckles and shakes his head. "No, just wanted to let you know I'm still here." I pinch the bridge of my nose between my index finger and my thumb, closing my eyes. "I am painfully aware that you are. Now, please, go. I have things to do," I say. He smiles and gets up, opening the door to reveal an obviously eavesdropping Ashton.

I facepalm as he smiles sheepishly. Vlad rolls his eyes and leaves, closing the door. "So, do you think he's gonna fight," Ashton asks. I groan and drop back on my bed.