Page 15 of Grizzly's Bear

Gabriel laughed. “No need to doubt. He’ll find you as soon as you get here. He’ll probably try to talk you into giving him some blood then start asking you a million questions about bear shifters and how you differ from us and wolves.”

“That’s right,” Slade murmured. “His daughter is the mate to the four alpha wolves.”

“Wait,” Adam interrupted. “One woman is mated to four alpha wolves? Are you serious?”

“Jess? Yeah,” Gabriel agreed. “I’ve met her a couple of times. She’s pretty impressive herself. Incredibly intelligent. A scientist like her father. They’re always researching something. Along with Abby, Diane, and Gideon. Mark my words, the professor’s going to ask for blood and anything else he can get from you.”

Rissa knew Abby was the mate to the alpha of the cat pride, Utah Pearce, or Tah as the pride referred to him. Diane was one of their doctors and also mated to a panther shifter named Zane Ephraim. Gideon she wasn’t familiar with, though she’d heard Holt mention Gideon’s mate, Vic, was a close friend. And that was just the tip of the iceberg. From what she’d learned, there were at least ten couples as well as a number of other shifters now residing at the ranch.

“Depends on what he’s offering in exchange,” Jensen answered Gabriel, and Rissa wondered if Jensen had another reason to make the trip with them. She’d been surprised when he’d backed her up then decided to come with them. Perhaps, she should have questioned that sooner.

“Follow us up to the main house. We’ll introduce you to everyone then get you settled. There’s a room at the main house and a cabin for the newly mated couple,” Gabriel told them, casting a smile at Rissa before glancing at Jensen again. “I figured you’d want to stay close to the medical center. Professor Mueller has a room set up for you there.”

“And Talbot?” Slade asked, voice hard and cold. His expression was the same. In that moment, Rissa glimpsed a side of Slade she hadn’t really seen before. She’d heard about it, though. This was the Slade who’d gone after her, leaving a trail of bodies in his wake.

“Tony has him locked up. We’ll head over there later,” Gabriel stated, then drummed his fingers on the door before turning and walking away.

“Deep breath, brother,” Jensen warned as he drove. “Calm the beast. You don’t want to meet the alpha and the rest of the pack with your bear so close to the surface.”

Rissa released her seatbelt, then leaned forward and reached for her mate. When he turned to her, she pressed her lips to his. He easily took control of the kiss, and when he finally drew back, the SUV was coming to another stop. Slade’s color was still high, but his rage was now replaced with lust. She planned to act on it as soon as she could get him alone.

“Damn,” Adam muttered, and she blinked slowly as she glanced past Slade and took in the people waiting to greet them.

Damn was right. Front and center stood a man Slade’s height. His very presence practically screamed alpha. In fact, he reminded her a lot of Laramie. As she watched, a woman stepped up beside him, and the little girl she held immediately reached for the big man. He took her instantly, peppering her face with kisses then lifting her until he could rub his nose in her belly. Her laughter greeted them as the doors opened, and they stepped out.

Slade waited for Rissa, taking her hand as they all stepped forward. It was the woman who greeted them first, stepping up and immediately hugging Rissa.

“You must be Rissa. It’s so good to meet you. Ariel’s told us all about you.” She turned to Slade. “And Slade and Jensen Holloway. It’s so good to meet you both. We can’t tell you how much your help has meant to us. We’ll even forgive you for taking Holt from us. And you must be Adam. Welcome. We’re glad to have you here.”

“Thank you for allowing us to come,” Rissa offered when the three men with her remained silent.

“Of course,” Abby assured her. “Ariel’s chattered away about you since she got back. She was so worried until she found out you woke up.”

“I doubt I’ve ever chattered in my life.” Ariel stepped up, and Rissa’s gaze flew to the other woman. She waited for the moment everything would hit her. For all her memories to come rushing back in. But there was nothing. Not even when Ariel stepped in and hugged her. “I’m glad to see you looking back to normal. My last view of you wasn’t a good one. Of course, I didn’t look so good myself, either.”

Ariel’s mate growled behind her as did Slade. She suspected neither man liked to be reminded of what she and Ariel had been through. Of what they’d narrowly escaped.

“I hear congratulations are in order,” Ariel continued with a wide grin. “It’s nice to see you took your new bestie’s advice.”

“What?” Rissa asked.

Ariel gave her a curious look. “You informed me we were going to be besties. We were planning to do something wild and crazy to commemorate our friendship when we were attacked and taken.”

“Just a bear and a…” Rissa let the words trickle off, unsure where they were coming from.

“Tiger,” Ariel offered. “Let me know when you feel like shedding your skin and going for a run.”

As if the words had lifted the heavy veil that had shielded her mind since the capture and torture she’d endured, fragments of memories poured back in. Rissa couldn’t contain her cry as she relived hard hits from a metal rod. She felt the metal against her skin as if it were happening in the present, on the porch where she stood. The give of her bones as they shattered and broke. Her torture came vividly back to life. Tied down. Defenseless while several men surrounded her and inflicted debilitating pain. She automatically stepped back, seeking to distance herself from the memory and the pain it brought screaming back to mind.

“Rissa.”

Slade’s voice was laced with concern as he reached for her.

“What? I…” She shook her head, unsure for a moment what was memory and what was happening. It was real. All too real. She backpedaled faster, ignoring the voices of those around her as she searched frantically for the one person she needed. Slade.

“I…” She reached for him, her admission of need dying on her tongue as pain filled her head almost as quickly as the memories had. She grabbed her temples and fell hard to her knees before Slade could grab her.

“Rissa!”

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