Zane held up his hands in a placating gesture, his own temper rising at the accusation but trying to remain calm.

  “Whoa, hold up. I have no idea what you’re talking about. No one from my clan touched your tools, Brandon.”

  Brandon scoffed, pointing to a melted heap of metal on the floor.

  “Oh, yeah? Then how do you explain that, huh? Half my wrenches and sockets, reduced to slag! And wouldn’t you know it, it happened the night before I was set to work on some of the Riders’ bikes.”

  Archer stepped forward, his expression guarded. “Let’s not jump to conclusions here, Brandon. We don’t know for sure that dragons were behind this.”

  “Oh, come on, Archer!” Brandon exploded, throwing his hands up in frustration. “It was obviously dragon fire!”

  Zane pinched the bridge of his nose, a headache blooming behind his eyes. This was bad, really bad. “Look, Brandon, there’s no way my family had anything to do with this. We’ve been working with the Riders ourselves, remember? It wouldn’t make sense for us to—”

  Brandon cut him off with a bitter laugh. “Working with them, huh? Is that what you call it? More like budding in on our territory. You dragons can’t stand the idea that the bears might get a leg up on you, huh? No, god forbid. You’ve got to keep us down, isn’t that right?”

  The accusation hung heavy in the air, the weight of decades of distrust and animosity bearing down on them all.

  Zane shook his head vehemently. “That’s not what this is, Brandon.”

  “Bullshit,” the bear mechanic spat. He jabbed a finger at Zane’s chest, his eyes flashing with barely contained rage. “You dragons better watch your backs. ‘Cause if I find out you were behind this, there will be hell to pay!”

  Archer placed a restraining hand on Brandon’s shoulder. “Enough,” he said firmly, his tone brooking no argument. “Throwing around threats isn’t going to solve anything.” He turned to Zane, his expression serious. “I think it’s best if you leave now. And I seriously hope none of your clan are behind this.”

  Zane wanted to argue, to defend his clan’s honor, but the steely look in Archer’s eyes told him it would be futile. Unless he wanted to kick off a full-scale war, he had no choice but to retreat. With a curt nod, Zane turned on his heel and stalked out of the garage, his dragon roaring with impotent fury beneath his skin. The accusation stung, even more so because a tiny, traitorous part of him wondered if there could be some truth to it. Had one of his own acted without his knowledge, so intent on gaining an edge over the bears that they’d resorted to blatant sabotage? He shook off the thought as soon as it surfaced. No, he had to believe in his clan, in his family. They were better than that. With a heavy heart, Zane pulled out his phone and dialed Dash.

  His brother picked up immediately, his voice tight with tension. “What’s the situation?” Zane relayed the confrontation, the accusation of dragon fire and destroyed tools. Even over the phone, he could practically feel Dash’s frustration radiating through the line.

  “Those fucking bears,” Dash growled. “Always so quick to point the finger at us. Do they think we are idiots? ‘Cause it’s either that, or I swear, they’re just itching for a reason to start shit.”

  Zane sighed.

  This is the last thing I need right now.

  “I don’t know, Dash.”

  He had to choose his words carefully. He wanted to say what he knew in a way Dash might actually hear him. But was that even possible?

  “You don’t know? What are you talking about? You said Brandon totally got in your face! And he is accusing us of destroying his tools!” Zane practically spit.

  “Yeah, but what if someone else is trying to just rile us up?” Zane pointed out cautiously.

  “Oh, come on, man, are you gonna start telling me again about how the Forsaken Riders are to blame? Why do you have it in for them?”

  Zane felt his dragon hiss with displeasure. “I overheard some of them talking.”

  “You overheard? Look, Zane, we have been clear. We need this deal with the Riders to work, okay? We need that money to fund this new Lone Reach resort. You got that? Unless you have proof, I don’t want to hear any more of your theories about the Forsaken Riders. I thought we were past this,” Dash retorted.

  Zane bit his tongue. He knew enough not to waste his time trying to talk to Dash when he was in this mode. His brothers had a lot to gain from the deal they were working out with the bikers, and the more he saw, the more Zane suspected they were allowing it to cloud their judgement.

  There was no point in trying to get them to see the light. Not about the Riders, and definitely not about Alena. At least not now.

  “We put you in charge of dealing with Misty Brews. I will keep in mind your theories, but at the moment, our problem is the bears. Until I see proof, that’s the way I see it. Striker and I have too much on our plates getting this resort project off the ground, not to mention planning for the community center. Handle it, whatever it takes.”

  Dash’s tone left no room for argument. And Zane couldn’t have argued had he wanted to, as the call disconnected abruptly, leaving him standing there with the weight of his family’s expectations bearing down on his shoulders. He closed his eyes, taking a deep, steadying breath.

  And to think he had actually begun to believe things were coming together for him. For them. The idea that he could have told them about Alena felt like a joke now.

  He did his best to remain calm, but his dragon wasn’t having any of it. He bellowed fire deep inside him in a show of helpless fury.

  Dammit.

  CHAPTER 14

  Alena found herself strolling hand in hand with Zane down a sun-dappled path, the air heavy with the scent of blooming wildflowers. A sense of peace and contentment settled over her, her bear practically purring with satisfaction at having her mate by her side. Because Zane was her mate. She felt it in her bones.

  Suddenly, a small crowd of women appeared on the path ahead, their faces alight with excitement.

  “Congratulations!” they chorused, rushing forward to engulf Alena and Zane in a flurry of hugs and well-wishes. Alena blinked, confusion clouding her features.

  “Um, thank you?” she managed, shooting Zane a bewildered look. “But what exactly are you congratulating us for?”

  The women merely grinned, their eyes sparkling with some secret knowledge. Before Alena could press further, a rumble of thunder echoed in the distance, the sky darkening ominously.

  “Oh, dear, looks like a storm is brewing,” one of the women tutted. “Better hurry home, you two.”

  Alena opened her mouth to respond, but a crack of lightning cut her off, making her jump. As the women dispersed, a mailman appeared on the path, a package tucked under his arm.

  “Ah, just the person I was looking for,” he said, thrusting the parcel towards Alena. “This is for you, my dear.”

  “For me?” Alena asked, her brow furrowing. “But I’m not expecting anything…” She turned to question the mailman further, but he had vanished, leaving her standing there with the mysterious package in her hands. What in the world?

  Alena jolted awake, her heart racing and her mind spinning. She sat up in bed, running a hand through her tousled hair as she tried to make sense of the bizarre dream.

  “Well, that was weird,” she muttered to herself, shaking her head.

  These dreams are getting out of control.

  For a moment, she let herself wake a little.

  God, but last night was incredible.

  She looked to where Zane had been laying. She had awakened briefly as he kissed her goodbye maybe an hour or two ago. All she knew was that it had still been dark out. Thinking of him flushed out most of the weird feeling from her dream.

  Shaking off the last lingering bits of unease, Alena swung her legs over the side of the bed and stood, only to be hit by a wave of dizziness.

  “Whoa.” She steadied herself against the nightstand. That was when the smells hit her. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee, once a morning staple, now turned her stomach. And was that… Indian food?

  “What the hell?” Alena groaned, her nose wrinkling in distaste. Who on earth was cooking curry at this hour? Annoyance flickered through her, hot and sharp. Great, now I’m moody on top of everything else. Her bear shifted restlessly beneath her skin, attuned to the sudden shift in her emotions but uncertain of the cause.

  Before she could dwell on it further, her phone rang, Brandon’s name flashing on the screen. Alena sighed, steeling herself before answering. “Hey, Brandon. What’s up?”

  “Alena! Hey, sorry, I know it’s kinda last minute, but I need you to come in a few hours early tonight,” Brandon said, his tone clipped and harried. Irritation surged through her, and she bit back the urge to snap at him. It wasn’t like she had plans, but still…

  “Is everything okay? I mean, what happened to ‘please’? Jeez, Brandon,” she muttered instead, trying to keep her voice level.

  “Sorry, We’re dealing with issues at the shop. Can you make it or not?” Brandon retorted. Alena felt tears prick at the corners of her eyes.

  What is wrong with you? She chided herself. This was definitely out of character for Brandon, but hardly worth getting teary about.

  “Yeah, fine, I can make it. You’re sure you’re all right?”

  “Archer will fill you in when you get here, okay?”

  “Yeah, sure. No problem,” she managed, hating the wobble in her words. As soon as the call ended, Alena rushed to the bathroom, barely making it to the toilet before the nausea overtook her. She retched, her stomach heaving violently. And that was when it hit her like a bolt of lightning. The weird dreams, the heightened senses, the mood swings…

  “Oh, my god,” Alena whispered, her hand fluttering to her stomach. “I’m pregnant.”

  No, it can’t be! But even as the denial formed on her lips, Alena knew, deep down, it was true.

  Mate. Baby. Protect. Her bear’s instincts suddenly roared to life, a fierce surge of love and protectiveness almost overwhelming her. What? No, it wasn’t possible, it had only been what? Ten days since her and Zane’s first night together? But shifter pregnancies were fast. She knew that.

  Oh my God, this can’t be happening.

  A sudden, almost primal urge to find a den in the woods and nest hit her next, her bear pacing frantically just beneath her skin. That was the final confirmation she needed.

  “Yup, definitely pregnant,” she muttered, dragging a shaky hand across her face. “Holy shit.” Panic and joy warred within her, the enormity of the situation crashing down like a tidal wave. Pregnant. With Zane’s baby.

  Her mind began to race even as her bear pressed her desires on her at the same time. Protect. Cub.

  It will be cub, right? Or a hatchling? How will that work anyway?

  Alena paced her small living room, her heart racing and mind reeling. She could feel her mind wanting to go to the darkest corners, although at the same time, there was undoubtably a current of something…

  Excitement? Hope?

  She wasn’t sure. Her head was a mess. And her condition was not helping matters.

  I need to tell Zane!

  She grabbed at her phone but hesitated.

  Wait, you need to get it together. Calm down. If you call him like this, you are going to freak him out, too. Right. But I need to talk to someone, or I’m going to lose it.

  With shaking hands, Alena dialed Kelly’s number instead.

  “Hey, Kel, are you busy?” she asked tentatively.

  “No, just doing some cleaning. Everything okay?” her friend asked, seemingly picking up on the tremor in her voice.

  “Yeah, um, sort of. I really need to talk to you about something.”

  “Of course. What’s going on?”

  “I know you wouldn’t say anything, but you have to swear to keep it a secret, at least until I say otherwise.”

  Kelly’s tone now carried an edge of concern. “Lena, that goes without saying. You’re starting to freak me out a little. What’s going on?”

  Alena took a deep breath, her bear pacing restlessly within her. “I’m pregnant.”

  “What! Holy shit!”

  “Yeah, that was my first reaction.”

  “You’re sure?”

  “Yes, I am sure. I mean, I haven’t done a test, but I know. It’s Zane’s.” There was another moment of stunned silence before Kelly spoke again.

  “Wow. I didn’t realize you had already… that is… Well, are you okay? I mean, what are you going to do?”

  “First, I just need to stop freaking out. And yeah, it’s been a whirlwind. That’s why I called.”

  “Do you want me to come over? Or whatever you need,” her friend said.

  “No, it’s okay. I just needed to tell someone, you know… but with everything, I just…” She trailed off.

  “Totally get it,” Kelly offered.

  As Alena poured out her initial anxieties, Kelly listened patiently. Slowly, Alena’s panic began to ebb, replaced by a growing sense that perhaps this, too, was all part of the plan.

  Isn’t this what I’ve wanted all along?

  Her bear rumbled in agreement, fiercely protective instincts already stirring.

  “So, do you have a plan?” Kelly asked gently.

  Alena nodded to herself, newfound determination filling her. “First, I I’m going to tell Zane, of course. Since you and I spoke last, things have really ramped up between us. Obviously.” She let out a nervous laugh. “I’m sure he’ll stand by me, I know it.”

  “I agree.”

  “Right, and then, we’ll tell our families—at least, I assume we will. Together. We were already planning on telling them about us.”

  Her bear’s thoughts echoed her own.

  “Wow, you have some guts, Alena.”

  “Well, there is no other choice as far as I can see. And he and I were already planning on telling our families about us. This just sort of ups the ante.”

  “That it does, but you are strong. And yes, hope for the best.”

  “Thanks, Kelly. I just needed to tell someone, you know?”

  “Um, yeah, of course, are you kidding? This is a lot! If you need to talk more later, call me, okay?”

  “I think I’ll be okay. I’ll see you at work? I’m heading into town early to find Zane first and tell him the news in person.”

  “Okay, hon, good luck!”

  Alena hung up, her heart full of hope and love. She had some nerves, too, but she tamped them down. She quickly texted Zane with a simple, Hey, but she received no immediate response.

  He was probably busy. No matter, she would head in and find him.

  Alena’s heart raced as she hurried down the street, her mind still reeling from the revelation of her pregnancy. She had to find Zane, to share the news with him. Surely, he would be just as thrilled as she was, right? Her bear’s instincts thrummed through her, a constant undercurrent of fierce love and determination.

  As she approached Misty Brews, the distinctive rumble of motorcycles filled the air, growing louder with each step. Alena frowned, a sense of unease prickling along her spine.

  These bikers… what now?

  Rounding the corner, she stumbled upon a scene of utter chaos. Bears and dragons faced off against each other, shouting and gesticulating wildly. The Forsaken Riders milled about, their presence only seeming to fuel the tensions.

  Oh, shit.

  Alena spotted her brother Archer at the head of the bear contingent, his face twisted with fury as he jabbed a finger at the dragons. Brandon and Smith flanked him, their stances equally aggressive. What the hell had happened? Scanning the crowd, Alena’s gaze landed on Zane, her heart leaping into her throat. He was squaring off against another bear, his jaw clenched and eyes flashing with barely contained anger.

  This is bad. Really bad.

  Fear coiled in her gut as she watched the two groups inch closer to each other, the air practically crackling with hostility. Surely, they wouldn’t actually come to blows, right? Not here, not in broad daylight. But the sinking feeling in her stomach told her otherwise.

  Great.

  There were the unmistakable fluorescent vests of Sampson and the rest of his construction crew. It seemed the blowup she had witnessed the other day had not just faded away. The bear was right at the front, practically foaming at the mouth as he yelled and cursed, the specific words lost to Alena in the din.

  Her bear whined anxiously, torn between the desire to protect their mate and the instinct to shield their unborn cub from harm. Her hand instinctively went to her belly.

  Suddenly, Zane’s eyes met hers across the sea of snarling faces. For a suspended moment, the world fell away, and it was just the two of them. His gaze softened imperceptibly. For a fraction of a second, it was like they were right back in bed, lying next to each other and gazing into each other’s eyes. But just like that, the moment was gone. Whatever she had thought she had seen was almost instantly buried by his hard exterior once again. He gave an almost imperceptible shake of his head.

  The message was clear: Stay away. Don’t get involved.

  Alena’s heart clenched painfully, her bear keening at the perceived rejection. She wanted nothing more than to rush to Zane’s side, to stand with him against the rising tide of animosity. But she couldn’t. She shouldn’t, and she knew it. Not now, not with their cub nestled in her womb, vulnerable and precious.

  With a shaky breath, Alena turned away from the confrontation, her feet carrying her towards the diner almost of their own accord. Tears stung her eyes, blurring her vision as she walked. Stupid hormones. But it was true—this wasn’t how it was supposed to happen.

  She had envisioned telling Zane about the pregnancy, seeing his face light up with joy and wonder. They were supposed to be celebrating, planning for their future together. They were supposed to come out together to their families, to everyone! But this was a shitshow.

  Fear and doubt swirled through her, insidious whispers that maybe their love wasn’t strong enough to weather the storm after all.