Chapter 802 Chapter 802
Bear had never been a nervous man. Angry and frustrated were more his go-to’s than nervous. Right now, he was so anxious about Calla shifting that he had to remind himself to keep breathing.
Fionna said she didn’t see an issue with Calla trying to shift. If it hurt too much, she was simply supposed to stop and go back to two-leg form. The problem with that was Bear knew without a doubt that Calla would not stop and go back. She would proceed, even if the pain was unbearable. He was going to have to stand there and watch her go through it.
Guilt flooded him. He should have gotten her out of that van faster. His animal scolded him. He shrugged, admitting that the only thing that would have been faster was if he had some kind of power tool that could cut through metal and the rest.
“Am I interrupting an internal discussion?”
He jumped and turned to see Griffin standing a few feet away. “What?”
Griffin motioned to the ground. “You’ve been pacing back and forth for a few minutes now.” He glanced up into the tree beside the house.
Bear looked up and was surprised to see Blaise three-quarters of the way up. She had her body wedged into a Y of big limbs and a rifle in her hands. Bear turned back to Griffin.
“She’s checking that the area is clear before you guys go for a run.’
“Oh.” Bear looked up again.
Blaise looked down at that moment. “I miss home, Griff.”
Griffin smiled and called up to her. “Maybe we could take my mom to stay there for a while.”
Blaise waved her hand. “Good idea. I’d feel better knowing someone was keeping an eye on things. It’s clear as far as I can see, Bear.” She gave a thumbs up.
“Thanks.” He answered, even though there was a part of him that almost wished it wasn’t clear. Almost. He didn’t want to deny Calla letting her animal out, especially after what happened and the drugs Fionna used. His lion loathed any sort of medication.
“I’ll go tell Calla.” Griffin looked up at Blaise. “Please don’t fall.”
“Didn’t you hear? I’m a cat. We land on our feet.” She grinned.
“Mmhm.” Griffin went back to the house.
Bear realized it might not just be him who had problems watching his mate go through things he couldn’t control. He thought briefly about Trip. He likely did more than others.
“Fionna is staying inside with Edda and Griffin.” Calla walked up beside him. “She says to shout if you need her.”
He looked at her. She had taken her hair out of the braid, and it was blowing against her throat. Bear felt like his heart pumped harder for a few beats. She was so lovely, with her pale eyes outlined by darker lashes. There was no mistaking what clan she was; all you had to do was look at those eyes, and he could see a brave, courageous lioness.
“Bear?”
He blinked. “Sorry?”
“I asked where the best spot is to undress.”
His animal moved closer to the surface. He was here to assist her and make sure she was all right, but he just realized she was going to be naked. He rubbed his hand briskly over his forehead.
“Over that way.” Bear looked up to see Blaise pointing.
“Thanks,” Calla called up to her and then started moving in that direction. She didn’t even look surprised that Blaise was thirty feet up in a tree.
He walked beside her. She was moving slowly and being careful with her footing, but that didn’t stop him from walking close with one hand out behind her back in case she slipped.
“I’m a little anxious.” She said it quietly. “What if I can’t?”
Placing his hand on her back, he leaned down. “You’ll be fine. Just take it a little slower than normal and allow your body to do the rest.”
She nodded and bit her lip.
What he really wanted to do in this moment was scoop her up into his arms and carry her back into the house and tuck her into the bed where she was safe and pain free., but he couldn’t. Despite the issues he had with his animal being aggressive, he still wouldn’t know what to do it he wasn’t there all the time. “Remember what Fionna said, you’re not going to have the energy to go for a long full on run.”
“I don’t care about that. My cat doesn’t either for once. Just as long as we can make the change back and forth, I’m content with jumping around on four paws for a few minutes and then shifting back while I still have the energy to get back to the house.”
Bera’s heart was drumming out stress signals inside him. She was going to shift and it was going to be perfect, he told himself. Issue free.
“I think this is where she was talking about.” Calla pointed to a large rock with two trees beside it.
Bear stopped and looked back at the house. He was gauging how fast he could get back if something went wrong. “Yeah. Here should be good.”
She reached up and rubbed a hand over his short hair. “So, are you a long, flowing mane or one of the neat and tidy ones?” She was teasing him.
“Miles and miles of mane.” He wasn’t exaggerating. His mane was so extra he didn’t dare try to go through any sort of growth with thorns or, worse, burrs.
“A manly mane,” She nodded. “Can’t wait to see it.” She went around to the other side of the rock. “I’ll shift first in case I run into any issues.”
“You won’t. You’ll be fine.” He pointed over his shoulder. “I’ll just turn around…”
“Bear.”
He looked to see her undoing the sweater she had over the tracksuit. “You can’t see if I’m having problems if you’re not looking.”
He cleared his throat. “Right.”
“I mean, it’s not like you’re never going see me naked, right?”
He nodded because anything he said to that would come out wrong.
“Okay.” She blew out a breath. “Let’s do this.” She said quietly, and he realized she was talking to herself or her animal.
Bear shrugged out of his jacket. “I’ll shift once you get through yours.”
She glanced at him and nodded.
He dropped his jacket to the ground and pulled his shirt over his head.
Calla was working her feet out of her first boot slowly.
He went over and squatted in front of her and held out his hand.
She placed a cool palm on his shoulder and lifted one foot. “Are you always this way?”
He slipped the boot off. “What way?”
“You’re considerate and polite. I watched you hold the door for Edda and even Amari.’ She lifted the other foot.
“A lot of sisters and females around me growing up.” He shrugged and pulled the boot off.
She made a clicking noise. “I think you’re just made that way.”
He looked up at her and gave her a lopsided grin. “It’s just the way I prefer to be. There are enough jerks in the world. I don’t need to add one more.”
She squeezed his shoulder. “I like it.” Removing her hand, she motioned to the rock. “Move back. If there’s a problem, I don’t want to swipe out and hit you with claws.”
“Okay. Lots of deep breaths. Force yourself to relax and then let your body do the rest.”
She nodded. “I can do this.”