A Bear Temptation

| Chapter Sixteen |

Only one word registered in Zeke’s mind – kill.

It was like watching a slow-motion film as the animal took in the chaos around it. The bear had control and as much as Zeke pushed for it back the bear wasn’t having it.

He wanted blood.

There was so much noise around him, so many smells. He couldn’t decipher them all, but the blood was violently potent in the air. There were enemies on his territory, enemies trying to kill his people. Trying and succeeding by the looks of it.

Something in his mind snapped, like a twig on a silent forest floor. The bear vaulted and he was thrown into darkness as the animal took full control of him.

His bear lunged at the panther on his Alpha ripping him off, so it landed on its back. Stepping over the beast he roared, rearing back on his back paws, and slamming them off the ground beside the cowering animal at his feet. Something in him knew this was the leader, something primal.

Taking his huge paw, he placed it over the animal’s throat gazing as it struggled for air, when he had enough of watching he put down all his pressure hearing the bones beneath snap. Like that the animal was dead.

The other panthers seemed to stop what they were doing, looking at him in shock. He walked forward noting them all cowering away. Some bowed their heads in submission, some purring lowly as they stared at the animal he had just killed.

He did not care if they were now retreating, today they would die so tomorrow they wouldn’t try to kill them again. All those days without his animal, feeling useless had built inside him.

No mercy meant safety. No mercy meant one less threat. No mercy meant he could keep those he loved another day.

A roar left him as his paws thundered off the ground to the threat. The first panther lunged, he bit its head, ripping it clean off its body and throwing it to the side. The others tried to prepare but it was too late, his animal had already marked them as targets.

Zeke walked to them slowly like he had all the time in the world his heavy paws thundering on the earth below them, the blood dripping down his muzzle and onto the crimson mud at his feet. He could feel his power, feel his animal and for a second he felt like himself.

“Run.” He thought, wishing he could say the words.

He wanted to chase them, wanted them to fear him. He wanted their terror so that they knew this land was his, it belonged to his family and anyone who dared step onto it as a threat would take their last breath here.

“Leave him. He needs this.” Wolff’s voice lingered through his ears.

He turned his head slightly making sure he still had view of the panthers. His Clan had turned into their human forms. They stepped back knowing that he would end the threat and Wolff was right, he did need this.

He got what he wanted; the panthers ran like the cowards they were. If a bear could smile there would be the biggest grin on his face. He vaulted after them running like his life depended on it. The panthers whipped past the trees, bolting for their lives.

The smell of their terror hit his nostrils and a satisfied roar left his lips as he kept the chase going, letting them tire second by second.

He watched them run noting they were slowing, his own bear keeping up without a problem. He tackled them one by one, killing them like it was nothing because to his animal it was. He was only doing what had to be done. It was like a blur as one by one they fell onto the earth below them.

A roar left his animal as he stood, the dead bodies surrounding him. For the first time in a long time, he felt powerful. He could smell the death, smell the victory and a low satisfied purr left him. Walking back towards the others, he stepped over the dismantled bodies and pools of blood not daring to look back.

This was war, there was no space in war for remorse.

He made it to the clearing taking in the others and as he did the panther next to Katze caught his eye immediately. A low warning left the animal. Everything around him went black, the only thing that registered was the threat.

His mate had just returned, he could not lose her again. His bear took control and with it Zeke was smashed into the darkness of the unknown.

“Stop.”

The voice was distant yet so familiar, he wanted to listen, but he was too feral.

“Stop.” The voice shouted.

It was louder and clearer and for a moment a tingle of familiarity hit him. He blinked several times watching as Katze stood before a man, protecting him.

“Zeke, stop now.” She bellowed.

He took several steps back trying to focus. The smells and fear overwhelmed him and for a second his bear was confused but he had enough control to know his mate wanted this panther alive. He didn’t like that idea.

“He is my brother.” She pleaded.

The bear roared at her and the others around him laughed. He would have stomped away in a huff knowing that if he killed the man his mate would never forgive him but the chaos of Deon bounding in holding an unconscious Maxton took everyone’s full attention.

“Oh God.” Wolff panicked looking at Maxton as he was placed on the ground.

Zeke pushed with everything he had for his human. A part of him feared he would never get the animal back if he changed but that was a risk he was willing to take.

Maxton needed him.

He ran over holding his hands on the wound on his stomach that was pouring with blood. The others knelt too holding what they could, trying to keep as much blood in him as possible to help him heal.

“If only we could grow back arms.” Pax said from above them holding a sleeping Calla, she must have been exhausted after her change.

Zeke looked at what he was talking about and saw Fleur was holding Maxton’s arm trying to stop the blood. It has been ripped off from the elbow.

“Pax…”

Zeke trailed off not knowing what to say. He was bleeding fast and if they didn’t get control of it he would bleed out faster than he would heal.

Pax disappeared into the cabin after giving Calla to Katze’s brother. The sound was clear as he rummaged for what he needed, Zeke would have revelled in the fact his animal senses were back, but Maxton was his only priority. He came running out with towels, bandages and ran back in for some hot water.

“He has to be ok.” Wolff demanded. “He has to survive.”

There was a sadness in the air, one of uncertainty. Pax took over from Zeke holding the wound on his stomach. Zeke got to cleaning the blood off the small cuts that had healed hoping that they would have a clearer idea what they were dealing with. The more blood he cleaned, the more appeared. 

They bandaged him up, hoping the tightness would stop the bleeding, it did only slightly so they kept the pressure on the wounds, each, and every one of them concentrating on another part of his body.

“I’m so sorry.” Katze cried. “This is all my fault.”

“This is your people’s fault, not yours.” Neve stated evenly although Zeke knew she was anything but.

He wanted to comfort his mate, but he couldn’t, they all had to stop the blood, they all had to give him the best chance.

Nobody spoke for hours as they sat there, their grips like lead as they help onto Maxton praying for a miracle.

“Why isn’t he showing the pain?” Deon asked, his voice small.

“He’s gone into a sort of coma to give his body the best chance. Our animals have amazing survival skills, his has put him to sleep to try and help him.” Pax answered.

Zeke looked around at the others, each of their faces as scared as the next. They were all huddled together, hands on Maxton trying to help.

He had imagined if he ever got his bear back it would be the happiest day of his life but instead it was filled with bitter anxiety.

Wolff was right, Maxton had to pull through. He didn’t know what he would do without him.

He couldn’t lose anyone else.