Bear Mountain Baby: Shifter Romance (Bear Mountain Shifters) Read online

  “Yeah,” she said. “I’m kind of hungry, now that you mention it.”

  “Ah!” said Clyde, his wide, handsome face lighting up. “Say no more.”

  Winnie and Tessa came to Olivia’s sides and, taking an arm each, helped her to her feet, keeping her still for a moment to ensure she was steady.

  “I think I’m good to walk,” said Olivia, feeling like a little old lady as the two women helped her across the room.

  Her eyes fell once again on the man facing the window. Olivia wondered why he hadn’t introduced himself. She wondered if he was irritated that this large…family, or whatever it was, was being forced to deal with this strange pregnant woman. He stayed in the room as they left, and, strangely, she found herself wishing that he’d introduce himself—if only to dispel the tension.

  The group filed out of the bedroom, and Olivia saw that the bedroom led into a long, tall-ceilinged hallway with floors of glossy, tan wood and walls painted a soft off-white. Down the stretch of hallway, she could see many doors along the walls, and she began to wonder just how big this house was.

  They continued down the hall, and to her left appeared a large, open living room one floor down that the hallway overlooked. The living room was, like the bedroom, tastefully appointed, a welcoming fire crackling in the marble fireplace. Floor-to-ceiling windows afforded an impressive view of the forest outside of the home, the trees nodding in the breeze as the sun shone from above.

  Arriving in the large, modern kitchen, she saw that Clyde was already at work preparing them a breakfast of eggs, toast, and sausage. The food sizzled on the stove as Olivia took a seat on a barstool at the kitchen island, the broad span of Clyde’s shoulders blocking her view of the food being prepared at the large, stainless steel stove. But the smell of the meat wafting through the air of the kitchen set her mouth to water.

  “What time is it?” asked Olivia, wishing the food was ready.

  “Almost nine,” said Tessa, pouring Olivia a large mug of steaming coffee and setting a small dish of creamer and sugar with it in front of her.

  Olivia, her maternal hunger taking over, dumped spoon after spoon of sugar into the black circle of coffee, followed by a healthy pour of cream. She took a sip, letting the sweet, rich drink revitalize her.

  “Well,” said Roland, leaning against the tall windows of the kitchen, “we found you at the entrance of the gate last night. You were being chased by three men.”

  It all flashed back to Olivia now—Brody and the men chasing after her, the desperate attempt to enter the mysterious compound in the middle of the woods. Her hands went cold as she wondered what would’ve happened if they hadn’t let her in.

  “Thank you,” she said, her eyes moving to each of the men and women. “You didn’t have to let me in, but you might’ve saved my life.”

  “Think nothing of it,” said Atticus, his hands wrapped around a tall, blue mug, the steam from the coffee rising and coiling up to his strikingly handsome face. “Couldn’t very well let a pregnant woman stay in the woods like that.”

  “I just know you might feel a little put out by me being here,” said Olivia, her gaze drifting to the man who still had yet to introduce himself, “but I promise I’ll get out of here as soon as I can. After breakfast, maybe.”

  The men and women broke into a clamor, all talking over one another to dispute what she was saying.

  “Not another word,” said Atticus once again. “We’re not gonna stuff you full of eggs and send you back out into the world. Unless that’s what you want, that is.”

  “Do you…” asked Melanie slowly, obviously choosing her words carefully, “…have anywhere to go?”

  Olivia knew she didn’t. No family other than Brody, and with his reputation, no friend of hers in New York would take her in for fear of getting on his bad side.

  “I…don’t think so,” said Olivia, being honest, but not wanting her situation to sound so dire.

  “Listen,” said Roland, “you don’t need to explain yourself, but if you’re in danger, we can protect you. Are you in danger?”

  Olivia knew the answer was yes. If Brody found her, if he got his hands on her it could be deadly. She hated the idea of coming into this family’s home like a stray dog, whining and weak. But what other choice did she have?

  “Yes…I left my husband. Well, soon-to-be husband, right before we were set to be married.”

  “Wow,” said Clyde over his shoulder as he attended to the food. “Left at the altar.”

  “You’re not from around these parts, I take it?” asked Atticus.

  “No,” said Olivia. “From the city.”

  “Ah, a city girl,” said Atticus, sitting back. “Don’t see too many of you types up here unless you’re looking to take in some nature.”

  “Nothing so fun, unfortunately.”

  Before she could continue, Clyde turned away from the stove, plates of eggs, bacon, and toast held in his large hands. He set everything out on the counter, followed by a stack of white ceramic plates.

  “Eat up!” he said, his mouth in a wide smile.

  Olivia stared at the food, her eyes hanging on the fluffy mounds of scrambled eggs before snapping hungrily over to the hot, steaming meat. The family snatched up plates, piled them high with food, and started in on eating. With a smile, Melanie placed a plate in front of Olivia.

  “I’m not as far along as you,” she said, her hand on her belly. “But I can spot a hungry pregnant woman from a mile away.”

  Olivia warmed at the knowledge that there was another woman with child.

  “And we’ve got two boys upstairs,” said Tessa, wrapping her arm around Atticus’s shoulders. “You’re in good company.”

  “So, you want to talk more about your…situation?” asked Atticus, his fork loaded with bacon and inches away from his face.

  “Like I said, I left him. He wasn’t too crazy about the idea, so he didn’t let me get far.”

  Olivia was careful with her words, omitting the fact that Brody was a criminal, a lieutenant in the Garbrizi crime family, one of the largest and most powerful syndicates in New York. She also side-stepped his abusive nature. She figured not every shred of detail was needed at once. And, as nice and welcoming as the family had been so far, she knew that it would be foolish to put her trust in them so quickly. After all, why were they here, so far into the forest, living in a place like this?

  “Um, it’s been nice to meet you all,” asked Olivia, ready to change the subject, not to mention satisfy her curiosity, “but who is the other man? The one who didn’t introduce himself?”

  The group exchanged glances over their meals, as if unsure of how to answer the question.

  “That’s…Ian,” said Atticus, wiping up egg grease from his plate with a piece of toast. “You’ll have to excuse his manners.”

  “He prefers to keep to himself, mostly,” said Winnie, setting her plate down on the counter.

  “But he wasn’t always like that,” Clyde was quick to offer.

  And as soon as he spoke, Atticus and Roland shot him a pair of withering glances, as though warning him to keep his mouth shut. Clyde’s face reddened, and he got the message. Olivia found herself wondering what the story was with this other brother.

  “I see,” said Olivia. “I don’t mean to pry, but why do you all live up here in the woods? Don’t get me wrong, I’m glad for it, but it’s kind of isolated.”

  “That’s how we like it,” said Atticus. “We have something of a…community out here. Aside from us, we’ve got the men and their wives living in those cabins on the property. About fifty of us, in total, including the little ones.”

  Olivia said nothing. It put her a little more at ease to know that this was a family community of sorts, but it still struck her as very strange.

  “Don’t worry,” said Roland. “We’re not a cult, or anything like that. Just a group of families who appreciate nature and solitude.”

  “Though,” added Atticus with a smile o
n his face, “what cult would admit to being a cult, when you think about it?”

  Olivia smiled. Looking down, she saw that she’d inhaled her food. Only small pools of grease remained on her plate, and it took every ounce of restraint to not snatch up a piece of bread and sop up every last drop.

  “Good job,” said Tessa. “You want some more?”

  Olivia shook her head. “No, I think I’m stuffed.”

  Her eyes drifted to the deck just outside of the living room, and the sudden urge for a little solitude and fresh air came over her.

  “Do you want me to help clean up?” she asked, pointing at the dirty dishes that were piling up.

  “Don’t even think about it,” said Tessa with a smile. “We’ve got this; you just relax.”

  “Thank you so much,” said Olivia. “I’m going to go finish my coffee on the deck.”

  “You go right ahead,” said Atticus. “It’s a beautiful morning.”

  Olivia freshened up her mug with another pour of coffee and stepped out on the deck. Pulling open the glass door, a gust of fresh, cool air rushed up to her. She took in a long draw of forest air that was so clean that it almost tasted sweet on her tongue. She realized that though her circumstances were less than ideal, being away from the bustle and grime of the city would do her some good while she figured out her next move.

  The thick, brown trunks of the trees outside of the compound’s steel fence were dense and plentiful. As she looked into the forest, the rest of the events of the night before began to drift back into her mind. She remembered the fear that had gripped her as Brody and his men chased her through the woods, the relief as she spotted the lights of the compound, and the exhaustion after she made her desperate call into the speaker box of the front gate. She scanned the forest, as though she might spot Brody in the tree line, his eyes hot and murderous with betrayal and anger. But there was nothing but the gentle lolling of branches in the early autumn wind.

  She placed her hands on her round belly, wondering if she might end up giving birth to the baby at this strange compound in the woods, surrounded by strangers. Taking a sip of her coffee, she considered that it beat the alternative. But still, the reason why they were out here, for nature and solitude, struck her as insincere—an easy answer. A voice in her said there was something more to this family, something they were hiding.

  Olivia leaned against the wood railing of the deck, her fingers wrapped around her coffee mug. She took a slow sip, letting the sweet, hot liquid wash through her mouth before bringing it down in a swallow. The caffeine was doing its work, and she felt energy spike and jolt in her body.

  Now, she thought, I’ll have to see about having a shower.

  But before she could think further about her plans, she spotted something in the woods. It was a gentle rustling off the branches, just into the tree line. Her heart tightened as she wondered if her fear that Brody had decided to break into the compound and get her was coming true. But what she saw was even more surprising and strange than that.

  It was the man from before—the silent brother, Ian—stepping out from the trees, shirtless as he walked towards Olivia with long strides.

  CHAPTER 3

  Olivia tightened with anxiety as Ian opened a small door in the gate and entered the compound grounds. He came towards her, his bare feet slapping against the wooden stairs as he came up onto the deck.

  He approached her, staring without saying a word.

  The man who stood before Olivia was stunning. Narrow, hazel eyes; dark brown hair that hung thick and full down to his shoulders; a thin nose that was pert yet masculine; and a full, haughty mouth with lips made for whispers. He was tall—tall enough that Olivia had to crane her neck slightly upwards to make eye contact with him. His body was lean, yet strong, his hairless torso sculpted and strong, the notches of his hips flanking his flawless abs and dipping behind the waist of his belt. A necklace holding a gold ring dangled from his neck and rested between his pecs. As she finished scanning this perfect specimen of male sexuality that stood before her, Olivia felt a hot welling of something rush through her body.

  He said nothing as he looked over Olivia, not even saying hello before walking down the deck and leaning against the railing in the same fashion Olivia was, staring deep into the woods that he had only just emerged from.

  Moments passed, the tension of two people standing near each other but not speaking building by the second.

  “Um, hi,” said Olivia, breaking the silence.

  Ian shot Olivia a side-eyed glance.

  “Hi,” he said, his voice low, his tone brusque.

  “I’m Olivia,” she said, her voice thin.

  “I know.”

  He leaned against the rail, the muscles of his arms flexing as they supported his weight. His hair hung down the sides of his face, thick and lustrous, and hid his expression from Olivia.

  “You live here with everyone else?” she asked.

  A moment passed.

  “Not really in the mood for conversation,” he responded.

  Silence returned.

  Olivia took another sip of her coffee as she turned back to the woods.

  “I just figured—”

  “I don’t need to know what you’re figuring,” said Ian. “Just be glad you’ve got some place to stay.”

  Olivia’s eyes went wide and her mouth sealed shut. If there was any doubt about if this man was interested in getting to know Olivia, he’d dispelled it with those words.

  Feeling uncomfortable, she finished her coffee, preparing to go back into the home. But before she could leave, the man pushed himself off from the deck and started towards the door. Moments later, he was back inside, and Olivia was left alone once again.

  Who is this guy? she wondered. She knew that he was part of this family, but unlike the rest of them he wasn’t warm and open; he was cold and distant. She found herself pondering how a man like him could be so different from the rest of the family. But before she could psychoanalyze him, the thought of his body filled her mind. Olivia felt herself already recalling how he looked as he walked towards her, his muscles rippling with each step, his hair framing his stunning face, his strides long and purposeful.

  But, Olivia asked herself, what was he doing in the woods?”

  ***

  “Oh my God, they’re beautiful!”

  Olivia’s eyes went wide as she beheld Atticus and Tessa’s twin boys, Alexander and William. They were a pair of squirming, cooing babies with big, open smiles and wriggling fingers, comfortable and safe among their blankets in the large crib in the center of their nursery. It was later in the day, and Olivia was feeling fresh and rejuvenated after a stroll around the compound grounds followed by a long nap.

  “Go ahead and pick one of those little guys up,” said Atticus, leaning against the nursery door frame. “They won’t bite.”

  Olivia looked at Tessa, who signaled her approval with a warm nod. Reaching down, Olivia scooped up Alexander and brought him up and out of the crib.

  “You might as well get used to holding a baby now,” said Tessa. “You look like you’re about to pop.”

  Olivia held Alexander close, his small, adorable face looking up at her with big, blue eyes, his little hands reaching for her dangling strands of hair.

  “No kidding,” said Tessa. “How far along did you say you were?”

  “I didn’t,” said Olivia. “But I’m into my eight month.”

  Atticus let out a slow whistle. “’bout to get a little more crowded in here,” he said.

  At this, Olivia turned to Atticus as she bounced Alexander gently in her arms. “About that, I don’t want to impose, so I think I sh— “

  Atticus held up his hand. “Not another word about it. I’m the boss of this place, and what I say goes. And I say you’re here as long as you need to be.”

  Olivia looked over at Tessa, who was now holding William. Tessa nodded, seconding Atticus’s words.

  “Just one stipulation to o
ur agreement,” he said. “You shower and get cleaned up. Take as much time as you need. And when you’re ready, come find me.”

  He pushed himself from the door frame and stood up, his expression serious.

  “Because if you’re gonna stay here, then I’m gonna need to know who you are, and what exactly you’re running away from. I need you to tell me everything.”

  ***

  Tessa showed Olivia to her room, which was a small, but cozy bedroom with a lovely view of the woods. After showing her where she could find everything, Tessa left Olivia alone to freshen up, only stopping by again to drop off some maternity clothes.

  “Can I ask you something?” asked Olivia as Tessa set down a pile of dresses and shirts designed to accommodate a woman in the later months of pregnancy.

  “Sure,” said Tessa.

  “It’s just… Ian doesn’t seem like he’s happy about me being here.”

  “Well, don’t worry too much about that,” said Tessa, unfolding a dress from the pile and laying it out on the soft, white sheets of the bed. “Try this one, it’s really cute.”

  She looked away, as if wondering how much about Ian she was at liberty to say.

  “Just…don’t worry too much about him. He’s going through a lot right now, and he’s a pretty reserved guy to begin with. He’s been needing time by himself recently, which is totally understandable, but we’re all more than happy to have you here.”

  “Thanks again,” said Olivia, now more curious than before.

  “Anyway, like we said, take as much time as you need. The bedroom’s kind of small, but you’ve got your own bathroom and the tub is huge. I couldn’t spend enough time in there when I was in the last couple of months with the boys.”

  “Thanks again,” said Olivia.

  “Of course,” said Tessa, flashing one last warm smile before heading out.

  Olivia undressed, looking down at her large, round stomach, wondering what it would be like to have her baby here. She still didn’t even know what sex it was going to be; Brody had been very insistent that it be a surprise. He wanted a boy more than anything, and he was convinced that finding out the sex beforehand would jinx things.