Discovered, (Werebear Shifter Romance) (Clan of the Werebear) Read online

  DISCOVERED

  CLAN OF THE WEREBEAR

  BY

  MADISON JOHNS

  Copyright © 2014 Madison Johns

  Discovered, Clan of the Werebear, Madison Johns *

  http://madisonjohns.com

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  This e-book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This e-book may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author

  Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction. Any similarity to persons living or dead (unless explicitly noted) is merely coincidental.

  Cover by Tina Adams http://www.tina-adams.com

  Edited by Cindy Tahse http://www.smashingedits.com

  Dedicated to my writer buddies, Lee Dobbs, Cindy Tahse, Pamela Kelley, and Katherine Saunders. They are my greatest cheerleaders and source of inspiration. I can’t thank you enough, ladies!

  I also would like to thank all of the ARC readers from the Wolf Pack: For Readers Who Love a Good Howl Facebook Group. You’ve helped me more than you’ll know with your insight and plot advice, finding a few grammar mistakes along the way, too. Thanks!

  Other books by Madison Johns

  Agnes Barton Senior Sleuth Mysteries

  Armed and Outrageous

  Grannies, Guns & Ghosts

  Senior Snoops

  Trouble in Tawas

  Treasure in Tawas

  Bigfoot in Tawas

  Agnes Barton Senior Sleuths Box Set (Books 1-3)

  Agnes Barton in Tawas Box Set (Books 4-6)

  Agnes Barton/Kimberly Steele Cozy Mystery

  Pretty, Hip & Dead

  Kimberly Steele Romance Novella

  Pretty and Pregnant

  Kelly Gray Romance Standalone

  Redneck Romance

  Clan of the Werebear — Paranormal Romance Serial

  Hidden, Clan of the Werebear

  Discovered, Clan of the Werebear

  Chapter One

  Loud noises roused Cullen and Elaina from their blissful and limb-entwined slumber when Damon burst through the door and shouted, “Cullen, they’re early.”

  Elaina sleepily sat up. “Who is?”

  Cullen dragged his palm across his face, massaging his brow. “The clan shouldn’t be here for a few days.”

  Damon paced the hut. “I know, but Ethan came to warn us.”

  “Ethan?” Elaina asked. “Who is that? I thought you two were the only men left in the village.”

  “He’s from our village, but he was taken by the clan last year,” Cullen said. “Get dressed, Elaina.”

  Elaina reached for her clothes, but Damon said, “Wait. I’ll bring you some fresh clothing. What you’ve been wearing—”

  “We hardly have the time for that,” Cullen huffed. “We need to hide her so the clan doesn’t find her.”

  “Hide? No,” Elaina shouted. “I’ve hidden for far too long now.”

  “Listen to me, Elaina. I’m now your mate since I’ve coupled with you.”

  Elaina stood there in all her naked glory, defying Cullen. “Your mate? Since when do you claim any mate? I thought I was to be a shared property.”

  Damon nodded as his eyes trailed down Elaina’s curves. “She’s right, but—”

  The old one burst into the hut and threw a frock at Elaina. “Put this on and hurry to the stream with the others.”

  Elaina pulled on the surprisingly soft material that came to her knees and was white in color. “But why?”

  “We can’t let our breeders fall into the hands of the clan. We have so few as it is,” Hannah said. “Plus, there’s no time for Klesa and the boys to safely leave now. We’ll have to hold off the clan so they don’t go near the stream.”

  Elaina slipped her boots on and was practically dragged to the stream by the old one, who gripped her wrist much tighter than she expected one so old could do. All she could do is gaze one last time at Cullen and Damon as they left the hut and welcomed an older man of an undetermined age from her vantage point.

  “You don’t have to drag me, you know.”

  “Shush,” came the response. She then pulled a necklace off that smelled rancid and placed it around Elaina’s neck. “This necklace will throw them off your scent,” she explained.

  “If it doesn’t kill me first,” Elaina said, blinking her eyes repeatedly as the smell drifted up her nostrils.

  When they neared the stream, Elaina caught sight of Klesa and her sons who clung to her skirt, Cullen’s son, Peter, and Damon’s son, Ivan. Both boys were wide-eyed and gazed in curiosity at Elaina. They all also wore a necklace that resembled the one Elaina was forced to wear.

  “Boys,” Hannah said as she clucked her tongue. “You must be very quiet right now. You don’t want a ole big bad bear to get you, do you?”

  “I thought you told us that we only had to fear the big bad wolf?” Peter said quietly.

  “The bears from the clan are much scarier than any ole wolf. Listen to your mother and do what you’re told, boys.” With that final word, Hannah disappeared around a large boulder, leaving Elaina and Klesa to look after the boys.

  “Don’t worry. I’m sure it will be okay,” Elaina said, but her mind swirled. She had barely recovered from the mating with Cullen and she was sent away like a child, like she was as helpless as these children standing before her. It angered her greatly that Cullen would now claim her as his mate since last night, when both Cullen and Damon had told her they shared the women of the village ever since she came here. Sure, they gave her a choice, but it was really no choice at all since she’d been drawn to Cullen from the moment he collapsed naked on the beach next to her not so long ago. That didn’t mean that she would go along with everything that he told her to do.

  Klesa instructed the boys to hide behind the bushes until she told them to come out. She hugged Elaina close for a moment, and when she pulled away, she smiled shyly. “You mated with Cullen last night.”

  It was not a question, more of a statement. Elaina sighed. “How do you know?”

  “I can smell Cullen on you. I expected him to keep you closer until he planted his seed deep inside you.”

  “He did. Why was I sent here with you? I thought you and the boys were being sent away before the clan came.”

  “We were supposed to have gone, but since Shauna disappeared and the search party was on her trail, Cullen forgot to order us to leave.”

  “And you always do what Cullen tells you to?”

  “Where have you grown up that you don’t know the way of werebears?”

  “I was raised far from here, near the mountains.”

  “Werewolf territory?”

  “I’m not sure. I guess, but—”

  “Since you made the decision to mate with Cullen, you must know that your life is not your own anymore. Soon Damon will come to your bed, too.”

  “Cullen just told me I was his mate. That doesn’t make sense.”

  “He did? That must mean he wants to keep you for himself for now. That’s what he did with me for a time, but after I gave birth to Peter, he became uninterested and found another female to mate with.”

  Elaina bit her lip. “I don’t understand the ways of the village, but I’m not going to be passed around like my feeling
s don’t matter, nor will I allow Cullen to tell me what to do.”

  Klesa shrugged. “You’ll see, but soon you might think differently. Cullen won’t stand for insolence from a female, but he can be kind when he wants to. He’s most likely posturing in front of Damon. Those two might share the women of the village, but they squabble over them, at times.”

  “None of that is important right now. Hannah mentioned that they had to hide the breeders. What did she mean?”

  Klesa massaged Elaina’s cheek. “Well, the clan has been known to steal away the pretty females, especially if they can breed.”

  Elaina’s chest throbbed with anxiety. “And Cullen and Damon allowed this?”

  “Not at all, but it’s not so easy to watch everyone.”

  Elaina stared up at the wall of rock on the other side of the stream. There was no way in or out of this area, and the pathway into the village was covered with tree limbs and dense shrubs. “It seems like the village is quite secure.”

  “Yes, but the females leave the village sometimes. Most of them have to hunt. Cullen and Damon can’t do it all.”

  “And they allow the breeders to hunt, too?”

  “Sure, why not? It’s the way of the village. Everyone needs to pull their weight.”

  “I see. Well, I don’t want to be called a breeder, if you don’t mind. I might not even be one.”

  Loud voices carried to where Klesa and Elaina stood talking. Klesa pulled Elaina behind the bushes where the boys were huddled. They were smiling like it was a game until Klesa gave them a harsh look.

  “Stop. Why are you coming out here?” asked Hannah. “There’s nothing for you to inspect near the stream.”

  Elaina peered through the bushes and saw two men wearing leather pants and jackets, both of them with long black hair and full beards. These men were also very large, with muscular, barrelled chests and massive arms and legs.

  “We’re inspecting every inch of this village like we do every year. Is there something you’re hiding that you don’t want us to see? Like a human?”

  Klesa gripped Elaina’s arm tightly and the boys quivered.

  “Or your breeders? The clan could use a few good breeders in the north. Our numbers have decreased of late.”

  “What of all our men you’ve taken from us year after year?” Hannah asked.

  “That’s none of your business, you old crow.”

  Elaina had to stop herself from giving those disrespectful werebears a tongue lashing, but she knew it wasn’t wise to reveal herself. Not only would she be putting herself in danger, but also Klesa and her sons. Where were Cullen and Damon? Unless—

  “Come, Gerirr and Hectar,” Cullen said. “Quit harassing Hannah. She’s one of the oldest werebears of our village, and as such, show her the respect she’s due.”

  “You’d do well to tell her to stay out of our way. As it is, we have a few things to discuss with you.”

  Elaina leaned forward so she could hear better, but Klesa pulled her back as they returned toward the village. Hannah glanced around a moment and followed at a safe distance.

  Chapter Two

  Damon stood there with arms folded across his chest as Gerirr and Hectar from the clan tore through the contents of Klesa’s hut. Cullen’s face was taut as he tried to muster up enough strength not to shift and rip these two limb from limb.

  “I hope you plan to put everything back the way it was,” Cullen said.

  Gerirr held a pottery bowl and dropped it to the ground, where it broke into pieces. “Cullen, why are you wasting away in this village when you could be in the north fighting the rogue werewolves?”

  “We’re not part of your war. We live a peaceful existence here.”

  “Or did, before you stole all of the men in our village to fight for you,” Damon spat.

  “It’s a noble thing, you know,” Hectar said. “There’s no more honor than to die for the clan.”

  “So all the men you took are dead now?” Cullen asked.

  “The ones who didn’t run off, that is. Most of them we caught and they died in battle.”

  “Who could blame them for escaping, since they were going to fight a war that they have no part in?”

  “You’re all part of the clan, too, and I think one of you shall come back with us. Voluntarily, of course.”

  Cullen’s eyes bulged out. “Not on your life. You’ve taken far too much from us already, and I’ll stand for no more!”

  Gerirr’s face reddened and then he laughed. “Look who decided to grow a pair? Cullen the brave, who has never once tried to stop us before is now trying to make a stand.”

  Cullen inched forward, hairs popping out on his arms in response to his anger.

  “Cullen, stop,” Damon said.

  Hectar held out a hand and asked, “Why are there white hairs here? It looks like polar bear to me.”

  Cullen tried to calm himself, but he was almost beyond the point of no return. “Do you see any damn polar bears here?”

  “No,” Hectar said, “But I smell them. If they’re not here, they were not long ago. Are there any newcomers to the village, like one in the heat of mating fever? Because your hut reeks of it.”

  Cullen massaged his chin. “Newcomer, eh? What makes you think it was a newcomer at all and not just another female in my village?”

  Hectar squared his shoulders. “I have a good nose, and know you well enough to know that you’d lie to me. We need a few good breeders. Why not share the wealth?”

  “We don’t have any breeders. Most of the village is barren.”

  Gerirr held up a pair of child-sized pants. “What about these. Obviously there are children here. Why have you hidden them?”

  “I’m not about to let you jeopardize our bloodline. If you found the children you’d kill them and steal their mothers just so they’d come into season for you.”

  “It’s not us that would be breeding with them. The clansman Atar has been looking for mates for quite some time. It seems that he’s grown tired of his favorites. Your contribution wouldn’t be overlooked, Cullen.”

  Cullen’s eyes darkened. “Get out of here, the both of you. I’ve been threatened for the last time and I no longer will allow the clan to dictate to me. Damon and I have royal blood flowing through our veins and don’t you forget it. One day, our sons will quell your reign of terror. Leave now, before you aren’t able to.”

  Gerirr raised a mighty fist and shook it at Cullen. “You’ll rue the day you have spoken to us like this. We’ll leave when we’re ready, and with your brother, Damon.”

  Cullen shifted to bear form in a blink of an eye, and pinned Gerirr to the ground before he had time to shift, while Hectar stood there with widening eyes.

  “Let him go. The elders won’t be happy—” Hectar said.

  Damon shifted as did Hector and they faced off with a show of razor sharp teeth until the old one screamed, “Stop this now. All of you!”

  Damon swung his bear head in Hannah’s direction, as did Cullen, releasing Gerirr, who then scrambled to his feet, and growled, “You’ll all be very sorry that you dared to defy the clan by interfering with our inspection.”

  Hector shifted, and instead of the old one, Hannah, being appalled at his nakedness, she cackled. “Humph, you were more impressive as a bear.”

  “Leave, before I change my mind,” Cullen hissed. “The clan is no longer welcome here.”

  Gerirr rubbed the back of his neck. “You’ll—”

  Hannah’s face screwed up as she interjected, “You heard Cullen. Leave!”

  Both Gerirr and Hectar warily left with the villagers looking on. When they were out of sight, Cullen strode through the passageway to assure himself that they had indeed gone.

  Cullen knew he had lost his temper when it would have been wiser not to, but he had all this pent up anger that he just couldn’t contain anymore. Who did the clan think they were, and why had he allowed it to go on this long? Good questions with no easy answers. Every yea
r the clan came to do inspections to assure that the laws of the clan were being followed to the letter. No humans or half-breeds were allowed, but both Cullen and Damon had broken the laws when they both fathered a child with Klesa. No other shifters were allowed, but two polar werebears had lived here the last year, and had been sent away just the night before, unlike Klesa and the boys who weren’t able to leave in time. He was just thankful that Gerirr and Hectar hadn’t found them or Elaina, who was struck with the mating fever. Elaina would have been taken for sure had they found her, as the clan was always on the lookout for breeders. He felt protective of her, although he knew in time his own brother Damon would mate with her. They needed to produce more offspring to assure that their bloodline continued.

  Each year the clan had taken male werebears to fight against the werewolves in the north, and little by little the men were all now gone except for Damon and Cullen. The suggestion that Damon would be taken had been more than Cullen was willing to tolerate from the inspectors.

  Cullen was so lost in his thoughts that he almost ran into Elaina. His lips curled back when the putrid fragrance from the necklace she wore drifted into his nostrils. “Please, take that off.”

  Her brow wrinkled slightly as she asked, “What happened? Are they gone?”

  Hannah took the necklace she had given Elaina and also collected the ones she had given to Klesa and the boys, Ivan and Peter.

  “Take the boys back to their hut,” Cullen ordered Klesa. “We’ll speak later.”

  Her eyes widened, but she did as told. But Elaina stood there staring at Cullen. “What did happen? Were they satisfied with the inspection?” she asked.

  “Come, let us speak about this privately.”

  Elaina wouldn’t budge when Cullen tried to move her in the direction of his hut. “No. I want to know now.”

  Cullen’s eyes narrowed. “I’m your mate and you’re to do as I say.”

  “No, I’m not. I’ll be coupling with Damon soon. I’m a shared property, remember?”

  “Not if you become pregnant.”