A Bear Temptation

| Chapter Fourteen |

Zeke stretched opening his eyes. He knew she would be gone but still he was disappointed when he opened his eyes to the world, and she wasn’t there.  Last night had been everything he could have hoped for and more. If he could have lived in that moment for the rest of his life he would have.

Life was so unfair at times.

Getting out of bed he could hear the others outside; they must have been sorting themselves for the day. He had to go see Calla soon, he missed her little face.

A small piece of paper caught his eye. Walking over he lifted it up his heart breaking into a million pieces.

‘You will always have my heart.’

Sitting down on the chair at the table he stared at that little piece of paper until the words were merging into one. The heaviness of his heart deepened the longer he sat there, he didn’t know if he could survive this life without Katze. He didn’t want to think about what she was going to have to do to survive.

It would break him, and this time the pieces wouldn’t be fixable.

He had never considered taking his own life before but in that moment the thought lingered in his mind. He couldn’t let that thought sink into his mind too long, he wouldn’t let the others around him suffer from his death. He couldn’t be that selfish.

He had to hold onto what little strength he had and survive.

Walking over to his bed, he placed the note inside his cabinet. He couldn’t look at it anymore, it was too hard.

“Zeke.” Fleur shouted.

Zeke frowned at the panic in her tone. He rushed out watching as everybody stared at Calla in shock. She didn’t look good.

“Calla, are you ok?” Zeke asked confused.

He went to walk towards her but was stopped by Wolff. He turned to him frowning but then a realisation came to him.

“Zeke, I don’t feel good.” Calla whispered sounding weak.

“She’s too young.” Maxton gasped.

Zeke didn’t know what happened, but it was like a switch flipped in his brain. Suddenly the only thing that mattered was getting Calla through this.

“You all need to go into your cabins, she can’t do this with so many animals, she won’t be able to concentrate.” He begged.

“He is right, an animal turned in fear doesn’t do well.” Wolff nodded.

“You can’t stay out here with her alone, she could attack you.” Deon added.

“I’ll be fine, I’ve been through worse, go.”

With a nod from Wolff they all disappeared into their cabins. He could feel their eyes on him through the windows. Calla could probably smell their nerves but hopefully she would be okay.

“Your animal is ready to come out Calla, you need to let her free.”

The tears fell down those little cheeks as the panic set into her eyes. Zeke walked to her slowly taking her shoulders in his hands.

“It’s going to be ok, I’m right here with you.”

“I’m scared.” He could feel her shaking beneath his hands.

A hiss left her throat and she smacked her hand over her mouth with wide eyes. Zeke laughed; she was going to be a feisty little cat, just like her sister.

“I know you are, but the animal is the best part of you. I’m going to step back, and you need to close your eyes and imagine her ok. Once you do that, she will take your skin and you will get to meet her.”

Calla nodded but he could still see the fear in her eyes. He stepped back a good couple of steps to give her plenty of space. She closed her eyes and just as the change began they shot open.

“It hurts.” She cried.

Technically her body wasn’t ready for the change. She was far too young but with everything that had happened around her, the cat was surfacing to probably try and protect her. The pain would also be greater because she wasn’t fully developed to take the animal yet.

“I know and I’m so sorry, but you have to do this Calla. You need to give the cat your body and then the pain will all be gone.”

He could feel the tears well in his eyes because the reality was that if she didn’t give the cat her body, if she fought it she would die of exhaustion. It didn’t happen a lot, but it happened. He couldn’t let that happen to her.

“You can do this little cat. You’re strong and brave.”

“Will you stay with me.”

“I’m not going anywhere. I promise” He meant those words; he would stay with her for as long as she needed because he wasn’t giving up on her.

They must have stood there for hours but he kept a soothing voice, encouraging her to let the animal free. Getting frustrated wasn’t going to help anyone so he swallowed all those negative emotions. She needed the best parts of him.

It happened in a blur and was totally unexpected. He blinked and a little blond panther was in front of him. She blinked confused looking at her paws in bewilderment. She truly was one of a kind.

The others came out their cabins, looking at her in awe. Nothing like her existed. He didn’t get a chance to admire how cute she was. Her eyes darted round sensing the other animals and in a second she was bolting for him.

She bit his arm as he tried to protect himself and the world went black for a second. The pain didn’t register, only shock. As his eyes focussed it was like chaos around him, but the sudden contorting pain had a scream leaving his lips.

“She’s running.”

“Get her.” Zeke begged. “Make sure she is safe.”

Again, the world went black with the pain. His body was jerking on the ground, he could feel it but couldn’t control himself and just like that he felt the urine leave his body without permission.

“f**k, he’s seizing.” Wolff bellowed.

When he came around again Zeke lifted his arm frowning at the dark brown fur and claws. His other hand was completely human. A pain lit through his brain, the vomit leaving his stomach. He could feel the others around him but all he cared about was Calla.

“What do we do.” Maxton yelled.

“Phone Pax, tell him to get the girl, she’s running towards his land.”

Good, Pax would get her. He was trustworthy. He felt like he could rest now but the burning rage of his limbs wouldn’t let him. He screamed but it was a roar that came out and again he was just confused.

“He’s stuck half turned.”

“It’s because he has been claimed by someone who isn’t his mate.” Wolff answered, he sounded miles away.

“But panthers don’t bite to mate. That’s what Katze told me.” Neve added.

“No, but bears do, and his bear has seen it as a claiming mark.” Deon sounded frightened as he spoke.

“Katze. He needs Katze.” Maxton whispered. “I can get her.”

“If we do this, we need to all know what it means. Bringing Katze back will bring the panthers.” Wolff stated evenly.

“If we have to fight for him to get his animal back then do we really care?” Fleur shouted. “This will save him.”

“I know but I won’t bring a war here if everyone isn’t on board.” Wolff stated and he knew the words were pointed at Maxton.

“We are all on board.” Maxton bellowed. “He has lost too much; we can give him back his bear.”

“Good now go Maxton, get her. He doesn’t have much time but be careful, his life is in your hands right now.”

Of all the people he thought would have been against him in that moment, it was Maxton. Zeke knew why Wolff took that stance, he needed a united clan and with this he could get it. Lately there had been too many conflicting opinions.

The pain had his back arching off the ground. He felt his bones snap and with it the unbearable agony came. He bears was grumbling in anger, it had been claimed by an unwanted animal. Calla hadn’t meant it; she was just scared.

“Everyone else prepare. Maxton will get her into the land, but the panthers will chase them. We need to make sure Maxton can get her to him. No matter what comes, they must have a clear path to Zeke. Understood.” Wolff demanded.

“Understood.” They all agreed.

“Calla.” Zeke whispered.

He felt Wolff come down beside him. “Pax has her.”

“Good.” He whispered.

He could taste blood. Coughing he felt Wolff roll him over to his side, the liquid oozed from his lips and down his cheek.

“How long does he have.” Fleur panicked.

“I don’t know.” Wolff sounded in pain as he spoke.

With every ounce of strength Zeke lifted his human arm placing it on Wolff’s shoulder. He squeezed it as best he could, he tried to open his eyes, but they weren’t working.

“I got this Wolff. You concentrate on killing those panthers.”

“That I can do.” He could hear the smile in his voice.

“Good, I’m just going to lie here and top up my tan while you do all the work.” His chuckle left into the distance.

“Are we ready for this?” Neve asked, whispering but Zeke heard. He could also hear her desperately hold onto her control of the bear.

“Are we ever ready? We will just do as we always do. Fight or die trying.”

The thought of them dying had a bitter twang in his heart but he didn’t have time to concentrate on it for long as the pain once again took hold of him.