A Bear Temptation

| Chapter Four |

Zeke had been used to silence, since he had lost his bear, he had lived in a constant state of it. What he wasn't used to was his Dads silence, it was a deafening t*****e that Zeke didn't know how to deal with.

Leaning against the tree at his front his Dad stared blankly at him, assessing the situation, taking in every tiny detail. The man analysed everything and Zeke never thought for once he would have been one of his Dad's puzzles.

"Where is Mum?" Zeke asked casually scratching the back of his neck.

"She stayed in the car until I took you away to speak. She is besides herself that you didn't come to us." His Dad responded narrowing his dark brown eyes. "You know how she worries."

"I was dealing with things first."

"No Son, you surely weren't dealing with anything. From what your Alpha Female told me you were just about living." His Dad sounded furious and Zeke knew the man was doing his best to rein in his animal.

"Neve." Zeke sighed. Of course it would have been her to contact his Dad. The woman cared too much.

"Yes Neve. That woman cried on the phone for ten minutes solid saying how she was abusing your trust. Do you know that Wolff wasn't going to phone Our Clan for help to fight the Council because he didn't want to a***e your decision not to tell us about the Bear. He is lucky he has a mate who knows better."

Looking up into the green trees Zeke sighed bitterly. What was he supposed to tell his father, that he was sorry he was a disappointment? There was nothing he could say.

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be sorry Son. Not when you don't mean it. I didn't bring you up to lie." The man remarked wryly.

"Are you going to fight with them against the Council?" He asked knowing that his father would. As second to his Clan he had probably been sent to talk through the threat.

A growl came from his Dad, an annoyed groan that startled Zeke. He frowned looking at his Dad who's eyes had deepened until they were almost black.

"Fight with them? No Son, I am going to fight alongside you as well."

"Dad, I lost my bear." Zeke whispered.

His father chuckled, the humour non-existent in his tone. He stood, his broad shoulders rigid as he walked towards Zeke his solid steps eating up the ground between them quickly. Placing his hands on Zeke's shoulders he smiled bitterly down at him.

"I'm sorry you lost the animal. You didn't deserve to lose something so precious but I see you now, how broken you have become. It breaks my heart to see you like this son but you need to realise that animal didn't make you who you are. It was a part of you sure but it didn't define you." His father stressed his fingers squeezing Zeke's shoulders.

"I feel like nothing without him. I feel like a failu..."

"Never." His father boomed cutting him off. "You will never be a failure do you understand me? You protected your Clan, you fought for them. I could not be more proud of your bravery."

Zeke swallowed thickly feeling the tears well in his eyes. His Dad's arms engulfed him before they fell, his solid grip taking the wind from his chest. He didn't care how pathetic he looked, he just needed a hug from the man who had never saw him as anything other than his son, the man that he hoped one day he would be. His Dad was one of his best friends, he had been there always and Zeke knew that a part of him was terrified that if he lost his animal, his Dad would see him differently.

He should have known better.

His father coughed clearing his throat his emotions clear. "I'm so sorry this has happened son. If I could give you the animal back I would."

"Dad." Zeke whispered.

"Hmm?"

"Are you crying?"

"Of course not." He sniffed pulling back from Zeke and wiping his eyes. "Us Hornsby men don't cry. I am Jeff Hornsby, second to my Clan. I. Do. Not Cry." He protested.

"Is that why every time Mum gets drunk she tells the story of how you sobbed for an hour when you found out she was pregnant." Zeke bantered.

His Dad clicked his tongue shaking his head with a smirk. "Those tears were deserved. I didn't want to share my beautiful mate."

"I'm so sorry I was such a burden." Zeke laughed feeling lighter now that his Dad knew.

"It's fine son, it turns out that you were the best thing that ever happened to us."

They fell into a silence again, this time one that was welcomed. Walking over to a tree Zeke sat on the muddy ground. The dirt didn't matter, Katze dropping him into a pile of mud had covered him anyway. His father did the same sitting across from him.

"What's that smile for, you wouldn't be thinking about the girl who was kicking your a*s would you?" Zeke's Dad smiled knowingly.

"A man's allowed to think about a beautiful girl without a motive Dad." He rolled his eyes at his Dad's cheeky wink.

"Oh, so you think she is beautiful?"

Zeke shook his head at the glint of mischief in his Dad's eyes. "What did you mean about her fate?"

Watching the light leave his Dad's eyes Zeke instantly felt his heart plummet to his stomach. His father had a sixth sense to things. He seemed to know...everything. It was both unnerving and unbelievable.

"You don't remember the story?" He asked with a frown.

"Dad you told me so many stories that it's impossible to store them all." Zeke looked at his Dad with an annoyance, more in himself.

"It's not my place to say son but I would stress that you try to remember, it may help you understand her. The girl has a lot to deal with at present."

"How do you know that?"

"The fact that she is here proves that it wasn't just a story, over the years most of the myths seem to have a hidden reality within them. I am guessing she has come for help?" Zeke watched as his Dad's eyes clouded, the man looked torn.

"Yes. She said her family need help."

A frown took his Dad's face. "You should be careful with her."

"Why do you always speak in riddles."

"Because your mother loves it. It was a riddle that brought you into this world." He smirked with a wink.

"Dad, seriously that is knowledge I could be doing without." He shook his head.

"They say the best relationships stem from friendships, maybe you should give it a go." His Dad was really driving him crazy, he clearly didn't understand the situation.

"She has a mate out there somewhere waiting to see how amazing she is. She can do better than a human who doesn't even know who he is anymore." Zeke sighed, he sounded more angry than he intended to. Maybe it was because that damn Panther had crawled into his thoughts since she arrived and she wasn't leaving them quickly.

"Human or not us Hornsby men have charm. A Woman is a fragile creature. They only want a man to show them how incredibly special they are. She can do better? Son, if you were to claim that woman as yours then she would be the luckiest woman on earth." He smiled throwing a stone at Zeke's feet.

"She is special Dad. I've only been around her a week and I feel attached to her. If she finds a mate I don't think I'd last letting someone like her go." He admitted with a grimace.

"So you like her?"

"She makes me...feel normal. She gave the best gift to me and she doesn't even know it." He chuckled

There was something about that Panther that called to him. He could see her desperation, her fear lurking in those different coloured eyes. She was feisty and brave and so many things that Zeke admired.

"Sometimes having something for a short period of time is better than not having it at all, it's OK to be selfish at times. There is something to think about son. Let's get back." Zeke nodded getting to his feet. Walking side by side they made their way back to the Cabins.

His Mums furious eyes met his as soon as the left the trees. Zeke wished he was invisible in that very moment. The woman's Hazel eyes narrowed, her small face contorting into the perfect image of fury. Storming over to him her palm smacked against his cheek the slap rippling around them. Zeke was sure he had whiplash as slowly he brought his face back to hers his cheek ringing in pain.

"Don't you ever keep something like that from us again Zeke Hornsby. I've been so worried." The tears were falling down her face and before Zeke could stop himself he pulled her into a hug. Her tiny arms instantly wrapped around his waist her grip almost suffocating.

"I'm sorry I worried you Mum."

"I'm sorry about what's happened." She mumbled her tears soaking his chest. "I'm so sorry."

"Me too." He let her go, his Dad instantly pulling her to his side with a worried sigh as he wiped the tears from her eyes.

Wolff walked over to them his smile tight. He stared at Zeke a nod the only communication between them.

"Katze has decided to leave." Wolff admitted eventually.

He couldn't be sure, maybe he had imagined it but as Zeke stood there he was sure his heart fell from his chest. She couldn't leave, he had just met her. Looking past Wolff he could see the panther picking up her things from the washing line.

"I need to speak with you, quickly."

"I thought you might." Wolff smiled, Zeke ignored the gloating in his eyes.

Walking into Wolff's cabin Zeke stood at the window watching Neve talk to the panther. Those furious eyes were darting everywhere, her arms throwing themselves through the air as she spoke.

"We have to help her."

"As Alpha you know you are pushing my limits Zeke. We have a fight to prepare for, one that is coming with a force we may not survive."

"I know but if she leaves I think i'll leave with her." He could feel Wolff pace at his back. He was asking a great deal.

"Why?" Wolff demanded the tension clear in his brittle tone.

"She feels important. I've been trying to ignore it, to let her be but I feel drawn to her. I can't explain it." He shrugged.

"If I decide to help her I need something from you Zeke." Wolff walked over so he was standing beside him.

"What?"

"I need you to be part of this Clan. I need you to do as I asked and gain Deon's trust. I need your loyalty again." Wolff admitted folding his arms.

"You never lost my loyalty."

Wolff ignored him continuing with his words. "Do you promise to give me those things?"

"Yes." Zeke stated without hesitation.

"Then I will help her."

Wolff left his side walking from the Cabin, it had started to rain again. Zeke shivered following Wolff at the cold droplets hitting his skin as they came before Neve and the panther who were deep in argument.

"You can't leave. Not now." Neve stressed her hands gripping Katze's arms.

"No, you can't leave." Wolff agreed.

Zeke watched the shock in the panthers eyes. She looked as if she had been hit by a train. He wanted to pull her into his arms but immediately stopped, she would probably hit him again.

"What?" She gasped startled.

"I am going to help you." He nodded then left with Neve by his side to join the others on the logs.

"Thank you." She turned after Wolff took a few steps.

"Don't thank me. It was Zeke who plead your case." Wolff smiled at Zeke that glint of gloating back in his eyes.

Before he could stop himself Zeke took her hand in his, lacing his fingers through hers. Lifting her hand up to his lips he gently kissed her fingers liking the closeness of her body to his.

"I'm going to hurt you Zeke." She whispered her tone laced with regret and if he wasn't mistaken uncertainty.

"I know." He agreed bitterly as they made their way to the logs to sit with the others.