Page 5 of Grizzly's Bear

Rissa opened her eyes and saw the sadness on Em’s face. God, she hadn’t meant to make Em sad.

“We can’t go back and change any of it, and it’s pointless to keep trying. Even in our minds. Jack’s gone. He wasn’t the man you were meant to choose, and you can’t punish yourself or the man you do want as your mate out of a false sense of guilt. Besides, if Jack really cared about you, he’d never want you to deny your own happiness.”

“You say that as if you believe Slade is my mate.” Rissa shook her head, but Em merely stared at her.

“If he’s not, then why are you languishing in his bed?”

“Because he put me here and told me in no uncertain terms to stay put,” Rissa groused.

“As if that would keep you anywhere you didn’t want to be,” Em scoffed. “You forget just how long I’ve known you. Lie to yourself, but not me.”

“I’m not ready to talk about Slade yet. Not yet,” Rissa repeated when Em seemed ready to say something else. “What I really want to know is what happened to me.”

“Didn’t Slade and Jensen tell you?”

“Not the particulars,” Rissa said. “I take it I was seriously injured, but I don’t remember any of it. I don’t even remember them taking me. How could I forget that happening? Or what they did to me while I was there?”

Em swallowed. “You were in bad shape when they brought you back here. Adam nearly went out of his mind. Slade was almost pure animal. His rage was absolute. Laramie didn’t leave his side. I think my mate was afraid we’d lose Slade if we lost you. I think he was right.”

“Slade and I aren’t that close,” Rissa tried to deny.

“Reference my earlier comment on lies and who not to tell them to,” Em offered drily.

“Slade found me?”

Em nodded. “You and Ariel were both taken. According to Ariel, the real targets were me and Kenzie Erikson, mate of the liger the Holloways are friends with. Dr. Talbot did some experiments on her as a baby and wanted to get his hands on her again. Apparently, he tried a few years ago but wasn’t able to get her.”

“Why would he want you?” Rissa asked.

“The only female Kodiak bear in existence. I hear, in certain circles, there’s quite a handsome price on my head, but don’t let my mate catch you mentioning it. He takes it very seriously.”

“You should, too,” Rissa warned.

“I do. I promise you. I do. It helps to know that Dr. Talbot is now being held prisoner on a ranch in Oklahoma where he can’t hurt anyone else.” She paused and took a deep breath. “Of course, word is there’ve been several attempts to locate him and get him out.”

“He probably isn’t someone hunters can afford to lose,” Rissa stated as she contemplated the stories she’d heard over the years. The man was known for his experiments.

“Slade wanted to kill him. I think, if he would have come across him first, he would have. He was a man possessed when you were taken. His heart was on his sleeve for everyone to see.”

“And you’re still not telling me what you know about my abduction. I want to know, Em. I need to know.”

“Ariel said she was alone when she came awake. They’d stripped her naked and tied her down to a table. There was silence, then she heard you scream. She fought to get free. Then your scream ended. She said it just stopped. She was afraid they’d killed you. When Slade finally found you, you were covered in blood. You’d been stripped and tied down. They’d beaten you. You had cuts, bruises, the works.”

“And?” Rissa prompted when Em stopped.

“There was a metal club on the floor. They used it on you. Your leg was broken. The bone snapped in several places. You had broken ribs. One was nearly splintered. And… they hit you in the head with it.”

“That explains the headache.” Rissa lifted her hand to touch the side of her head.

“Your skull was fractured. Jensen wasn’t sure you’d pull through, but he didn’t admit that to anyone but Laramie. He told Slade you were in hibernation while your bear worked to heal you, but he wasn’t certain you’d ever wake up.”

“And Slade?” Now, she wanted to know what Slade had done.

“He never left your side. Even Adam couldn’t get him to leave, and you know how your brother can be.”

“I do,” Rissa agreed.

“He laid himself bare, standing guard at your bedside. Everyone knows what you mean to him. Bringing you here. He’s made his claim, Rissa. He won’t back down.”

---