What's Beyond the Trees?

Chapter 13 Fixing Him Up

Raine's POV

We rejoined the group of searchers that were out looking for me. "Raine, what the hell were you doing galavanting around in a storm like this?" Shayne asks me in an annoyed tone as the other two stare at me. "The bear ran off still hurt and then I heard a gunshot so I ran off after it, and got caught up in this storm then the river.. It was chaos," I say to them, not explaining too much more.

"We heard you scream and that's when we really picked up the pace." Dawn says to me as I smile and say "Yeah luckily I found an area to try to hide out." She stares at me for a longer than expected moment, making it a little awkward as she says. "You're really good at running and hiding aren't you?" I send a nervous smile her way as I nod but not wanting to talk about this.. So we continue our trek back to the home base house.

I can feel all their prying eyes on me as I smile and say softly. "Thanks for coming after me. I appreciate the kind gesture from all of you.. Have a good night I need rest after all that." They stare at me as Clayton says, "You're not going to hang out with us? You never said if you found the bear.. Was it a gun shot?" He asks me as I state. "You're correct. I never said that huh.. We can talk about all of that later.. Sorry I'm exhausted guys. It's been a long day and not much energy for hanging out."

I keep walking up the stairs just feeling their eyes on me the entire time, I can hear someone walking behind me and I'm just hoping it's Orion because I don't want to look back just in case.. Orion was right there are being strange for sure. I get to our room and shutting the door behind me as I strip off my soaking wet clothes. I wrap a towel around my body helping me get dry and warm as I hear the door open and shut. "See their comments are getting suspicious.. what was with Dawn staring at you like that and saying that.. creepy." Orion says to me as I nod at him before slipping off my towel just to get dressed. He squeaks as he flips around, making me roll my eyes. "Calm down you big baby I'm getting dressed." I spat at him as he scoffs right back.

I grab a bra and thong, slipping them on as I slip on a pair of my favorite skinny jeans with rips in them. I put on a longsleeve shirt and grabbing my knife and firestarter shoving those into my pockets. I throw my hair up into a bun and looking in the mirror as Orion says to me. "So what's going on with you?" I look over at him with confusion as I state. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"If you don't know what I'm talking about, then explain why you're getting dressed and trying to look nice for this bear just to take care of him for the third time.. Putting your life out on the line for him since he said you almost died already." he asks me knowingly as I look back at him and avoid his gaze . "I just want to help him."

"Why him?" He asks me without hesitation as I shrug my shoulders not wanting to talk about this. "You like him?" He asks me as I look back and state in a sarcastic tone. "I just found out his name and that he is a bear in his spare time. That's it." He chuckles at me and says right back. "That wasn't a No.. and how could you not.. he was hot.. and naked.. did you see the weapon between his legs?" He says to me as I flip around slapping his chest as he laughs but puts his hands up in surrender. "I knew you liked him." He says to me as I roll my eyes not wanting to talk about this as I slip on my boots, tying the shoelaces tight.

"We were just trying to survive and maybe bonding over trauma.. that's it." I state as he says to me. " I saw the way you looked at him.. it's nice to see you liking someone.. too bad we have to go." He says to me as I sadly nod at him. "Yeah too bad.. he seems like a nice guy." I say softly as he pats my back. "I'm sorry."

I shrug my shoulders. "I'm meant to be alone forever.. I came to terms with that long ago." I say this to Orion as I watch his eyes get sadder than I ever thought they would. "You know I think he likes you too." I grab my jacket putting it on as I say. "It doesn't matter if he does or not.. it's not like I could ever be with him.. the life on the run doesn't allow happy endings.. Let's go help him out." I say to him as he nods and leading the way out with full hands but I can't tell what he has.

We sneak slowly down the stairs and out back. Once the door is shut behind us I say to him. "We need to get back to the shed to grab my things and the first aid kit." He nods as we leave the area in a haste to get back to him. I lead the way running to the shed. Grabbing my flashlight, taser and first aid kit along with the couple of towels left out here.

Orion now leads the way, since he knows a short cut to our destination. We stomp through the terrain as we make our way as quickly as we can to the cave. We get there and of course it's still dark and everything is hard to see. "Cole?!" I whisper yell as I get shoved against the cave wall, taking the air right out of me. "Raine? You came back?" He says just as softly to me now hovering over me, gently touching my cheek. "Of course." I say to him as I stare up into those glowing eyes as I add. "I promised."

"We brought somethings for you Mr.Bear... As much as I'm sure she wants you to keep holding her, we need to get a move on." Orion states to us as I send a glare his way, causing him to laugh. But he is right about one thing. I don't mind Cole holding me or pressing his body against me one bit. I hate it when Orion is right.

I feel Cole backing away from me to my dismay as Orion states. "I know I don't have anything that would fit you incredibly well with how huge you are.. But hopefully these will do." He says tossing him some clothing. "As much as we both would love to keep you just straight naked out here.. it is very distracting, so we need to cover you up to figure out what our next move is." Orion states playfully as I scoff at him making him laugh. Cole takes the clothing and slipping it on to my dismay.

"What OUR next move is?" Cole asks with question as Orion states, "Things are getting crazier than expected here and we all need to leave too.. So I just figured we could help each other out to get out of this surprisingly unsafe place and maybe hang out until we know where we are headed to next." Orion says to Cole. "I have to find my brother." He states to us as I demand from him before any of this can happen. "Please sit down I need to get the bullet out of your wound so we can try to tape it up." I say to him as he states without hesitation. "Both bullets for my arm and leg went straight through."

I nod at him as I pat the ground trying to get him to sit, since he is dressed so we can get his wounds dressed. "So where is your brother?" I ask him as he huffs looking irritated as he states. "I don't know.. We were ambushed and he was thrown, but since I was the one they were after, they chased after me and I'm hoping they left him alone." Cole explains to me as I get confused while I pull out the gauze and tape.

"You don't think they would keep him too if they just want bears?" I ask him as he shakes his head. "My family was killed when I was very young, so my best friend I refer to as my brother and his family took me in and protected me.. Since I had no where else to go.. his family were friends of my family." He explains to me as my eyes go wide and I stare at him for a longer than expected moment before whispering. "Me too."

He stares at me as Orion states. "That's exactly what happened to her.. Her family was killed and her father asked me to watch over her and protect her with my life and we have been on the run for 13 years now? Isn't that right Ray?" I nod at him not wanting to talk about this, but I can feel Cole's eyes on me. I look up to see he is just staring intently at me. "What?" I asked him hating being stared at as I finish his leg and go on to his arm.

"Why was your family killed?" He asks me but I hate talking about this.. So Orion responds for me, "We will tell you if you tell us why they are trying to kill you." Cole looks back at Orion then me as he says straight to me. "Werebears, which is what I am, are rare beings so they hunted or sold to the highest bidder.. But my father was king of the bears and helped protect many wolf and bear packs until they were almost all killed off.. The wolf pack that was great friends with my family were the ones who took me and protected me... Because I'm not just a bear, I'm technically King Bear.. Now your turn."

"She hates talking about this.. But.. You're are speaking to the Princess Raine of the royal family.. her family was killed off because of an alliance that went bad.. because the current enemy wanted to marry her off at a very young age and her father wouldn't allow that.. He didn't believe in that sort of alliance, he thought it was wrong and refused, so they murdered everyone but her in hopes to take her away and use her for her body and name, because to these beasts that's all that matters is a name and what you can give them.. So since she was the only one who can bear babies, like some baby-making machine, they were going to use her for just that." Orion states about me as I huff hating this story. "That's enough Ry, don't call me that."

I start to clean off his ear that has a hole through it as Orion decided to push my buttons more. "You're right Queen Raine. We should get our titles straight." I grunt at him, flipping him off as he laughs and keeps walking around the cave. "So where would this brother of yours be you think?" He asks Cole, but he is just staring at me, not saying anything to him. I try to ignore his stares, but it's like his eyes just call to me.

"Hey lover bear? I know the Queen is beautiful but I need your attention." Orion says to me as Cole states, "Gorgeous." I swallow the lump in my throat as I whisper. "Ok you're all taken care of Cole." He keeps staring at me as he says just as softly. "Thanks Raine." I smile at him shyly as he slowly stands, groaning out lightly so I instinctively grab hold of his arm and help him stand. "Be careful." I tell him as he chuckles and says. "You should be careful.. it seems anyone that comes around me get's hurt."

"Don't worry about me, I can take care of myself." I say to him playfully, but he responds just as quickly. "Oh believe me, I know." I stare up at him for a moment before Orion clears his throat and Cole responds. "We were meeting these people on the turn-off where the restrooms are right outside of this place and that's where we were ambushed." He says to Orion.

"Why were you meeting there?" I can't help but ask as he gets a sad look on his face. "My brother set up a meeting with the only other shebear in the area, for me to meet and hopefully make my chosen.. because he thinks I should be making bear babies, for the future of my family." He says to me as I suck in a sharp breath.. That honestly hurt, as stupid as that sounds, but it makes sense.

"That makes sense. I'm sure that's exactly what you want and need for the best future for yourself.. I wish you the best of luck with your shebear.. I'm sorry I need a breath of fresh air." I say turning around and walking away from them to suck in that amazing smelling rain to sooth my soul and hopefully making my aching heart feel a little better.