What's Beyond the Trees?

Chapter 12 Cave

Coleman's POV

I wrap my arms so protectively around her body, making sure nothing will happen to her after all this. I feel so bad, if she wouldn't have met me, just to help me and had such a big heart coming back for me, then she wouldn't have gotten involved and almost killed. This is what happens when people get close to me or try to help me.. My whole bear family, my brother Easton and now this saint of a woman.

In that thought I feel her snuggle into my broad frame, making me smile automatically. I haven't had much of this ever.. I have had girlfriends here and there, but they didn't want me. They wanted the bear or the title and territory of being the only bear in this area, so supposedly king.. But she doesn't know about any of that and by the looks of her in my arms, it doesn't look like she cares either. Which is honestly nice.. I thought she might be freaked out about everything at least, since I'm pretty sure by the shock and awe on her face that she had never seen anything like that before. But here she is snuggled into my hold.. But as much as I'm loving this, I have to get her back to her place before she gets hurt more than she already has by just being in my presence, because those people will be back.. and I need to find my brother.

Maybe it's my love for him that won't let me believe that he is gone, but I don't feel in my heart like he is gone, so I need to find him. I get us into this little cave, looking for any signs of anything living here and with no sounds but the rain outside and no smells either, I can only conclude that there is nothing in here.

I set her down to her feet, no matter how much I'm liking holding her, I don't want to freak her out by any means. She stands up and looking around, grabbing wood and sticks, I think trying to get a fire started. I put my hands on top of hers to stop her as she looks up into my eyes. She is gorgeous beyond belief, so beautiful it takes my breath away. "I can build us a fire." She says making sure I know what she is trying to do.

I clear my throat as I look away explaining to her. "We can't.. They will still be after me and they will try to follow my scent or try to find any signs of me and a fire would be a beacon leading them straight to us." I glance over to see her nodding as she looks around. "Ok.. well maybe we can create some weapons or traps just in case they come." She says grabbing the sticks from her pile. I smirk at that as I shake my head getting her attention.

"I appreciate everything you have done for me my little savior.. but I don't want you to be involved anymore than you already have been.. They will leave you alone, but they won't leave me alone." I try to explain as best as I can. I can see she is processing what I'm telling her as she sits down in a huff on the ground looking almost mad.

I find my body moving on it's own towards her, as if she is a magnet pulling me in. I sit down next to her letting out a deep breath as I hear her ask in a soft tone. "Why are they after you?" I shake my head, not wanting her to be involved anymore than she already is. I look away as she lets out a deep breath, then saying. "Well.. you know my name and I have no idea what yours is.." She practically asks as I think about that.. It's probably best if she doesn't know, because look at what happened to the people that came into contact with me. "It's probably best you don't know... anything."

She huffs as she spats, standing straight up. "You're right I wouldn't tell me anything either.. I have already been enough of a burden to you throughout all of this anyways.. I'll just go before I bother you more than I already have... Just like I do Orion everyday.. sh*t.. sh*t.. I bet he is freaking out. Dammit I will never hear the end of this." she groans out, touching her head as she turns away from me to walk away, but my body takes over, grabbing her hand before she has a chance to leave.

She abruptly stops looking down at me and where our hands connect but not objecting, just waiting for me to say something. "Coleman." I say softly as she looks confused and says. "Excuse me?" So I swallow the lump in my throat and reply. "Coleman is my name.. my friends call me Cole." She keeps starring at me as she says just as softly back to me. "My name is Raine.. but you already know that.. I sound so stupid I'm sorry.. It's nice to meet you but I really don't want to bother you."

She tries to pull her hand from mine but I just tighten my grip as I quickly say, "You're not a bother at all.. I'm just worried you will get hurt by being around me or knowing anything about me. You already almost died and that was my fault." She shakes her head at me as she gets down on her knees in from of me saying right back.

"That wasn't your fault.. I heard a booming and Orion told me that it was the thunder but I told him it sounded like a gunshot and I had to make sure you were ok.. He tried to stop me, but I didn't listen.. It's not your fault that I'm stubborn and nosey." She says to me as I scoff at that and smirk to myself. "Well without you multiple times being nosey and stubborn, I wouldn't be here so thank you my little savior Raine." She nods then smirks at me.

"So... Did you piss off the wrong people? Because you don't see like a bad guy." She says softly to me as I glance up looking straight into those gorgeous sparkling orbs that are just begging to know more. "I guess you could say that... I'm just rare." I say to her as she nods vigorously before she states. "I never even knew anything as beautiful as you existed.. So I guess I could see that." She says as her eyes go wide and she looks away, shaking her head. "I'm sorry. " She says to me, making me chuckle at her as she slaps my chest playfully. "Dont make fun of me, I saved you, I could take you right back out of this world." She says with just as much humor in her words making me laugh louder.

"That threat is kinda intimidating if that makes you feel any better?" I say just as playfully as she scoffs and rolls her eyes while giggling with me. "Whether you're a bear or yourself, your still twice my size, you don't have to lie Cole." She says to me as I smile looking over at her as I say sweetly to her. "You know I really do appreciate you standing up for me.. You were the only one and the only reason I survived.. thank you."

She smiles over at me as she opens her mouth to say something but we both hear. "Raine?!" her eyes go wide as she says under her breath. "It's Orion." I feel a tinge of jealousy building inside of me as I watch her jump up and go to the cave opening. "Is he your... boyfriend?" I ask her even though it shouldn't matter what they are.

She scoffs at that, saying automatically without thinking. "What? A boyfriend with me? I haven't had a boyfriend ever.. HA.. no he is my bodyguard.. I mean friend.. no um brother.. shit.." she says nervously looking over at me as I feel my eyebrows scrunch up. "So what is he? Your brother, bodyguard or what?" I ask her as she looks at me nervously.. "He is my bodyguard honestly.. But you can't say anything.. just like you, mysterious Mr.Cole.. I'm on the run from bad people as well.. and have been for a very long time." She looks away as she gasps as the tall man from before finds the cave entrance, storming in as he wraps his arms around Raine squeezing the hell out of her saying. "Ray you f*cking dumbass! I told you to not go out here after the bear! I wish you would have listened to me.. Are you ok? I will kick your ass next time you don't listen to me or your father will come back from the grave to haunt me either way!...... wait.. who is that?" He is shocked looking over at me as he tightens his grip around Raine protectively.

"Um.. Ry.. This is the man who saved me.. This is the bear.. Cole." She says softly to him as he looks back and forth between us. "Wait you're the bear she saved earlier?" He asks as I nod and he looks around thinking about things and letting Raine go as he starts to pace and think. We can hear them calling Raine's name in the distance since they sent out a search party for her.

"So the poachers are after you?" He asks me as I just nod at him. "Ok.. Um.. We can't let the search party see you like this.." he says to himself as he looks around. "What do you mean?" She asks him as he says to her softly but I heard it anyway. "They are asking too many questions about you and its making me suspicious.. We will probably have to move again, sooner than we expected.. So I know they would do the same with him asking too many questions.. and I don't trust them.. Do you trust him?" He asks her as she glances over at me and nods. "I do." This answer eases a pressure from around my heart that I never even knew was there.

"Ok.. We need to get them out of his and our hair.. So Raine come with me back so we can get the search party done with.. then we will grab some things, sneak out and come back so we can help him." Orion states to me as I shake my head. "No you guys have helped me out enough and it almost got her killed.. I would do anything to make sure she is ok.. So stay away.. I'm fine." I say trying to stand as my hurt leg collapses and it starts to bleed once again from that extra pressure.

"No you're not fine.. We will get first aid and come back. I swear on my life this is not a trick.. You need to stay here.. I know where you are, but stay quiet and stay here and we will be right back." The guy says pulling Raine away by her hand as she says back to me. "Please wait here I will be right back for you I promise." I nod at her swallowing the lump in my throat as they walk out of the cave leaving me alone.