Kuma by Kassanna Read Free Book Online

against the bottom of the boulders. Boris formed fists on the stone’s surface. She wouldn’t respond to rough and tumble. He stared at her form. No, she needed to be charmed and persuaded. Not an easy thing for him to do when all he wanted to do was grab her by her hair, swing her around, and pound into her until the end of time.
    He ran a finger up her spine and felt her shiver. “Your turn. I’m an open book. What would you like to know?”
    “How did a bear end up with a pack of wolves?”
    He chuckled. “They happen to be a very progressive pack. There are quite a few of us that aren’t wolf and belong to the pack.”
    She didn’t turn around, instead speaking into the wind. “That doesn’t answer my question.”
    “My mother was Alutiiq Indian. She was part of the people that lived on Kodiak Island and was accidentally killed by a careless hunter while in her bear form. I don’t remember my father and no one came looking for us, so I stayed with her. I don’t think I was more than two. As a cub I had nowhere else to go. The Blaidds came across us while on vacation. By then I was starving and scared since I couldn’t get my mother to move. They gave me food and coaxed me out of my form. Then they buried my mother and took me back to my tribe.” Boris’s chuckle lacked mirth. “No one wanted me. So the Blaidds became my family. Mira, my new mom, refused to leave me. I think she got Dad to change his mind rather quickly. Even after she had Rhys and Myka, not once did she ever differentiate between us. You did know they were twins right? Funny, for the longest time I thought I was a wolf.” He stared at the calm water. “I think it was the easiest way for me to fit in.”
    Nix did twist her body to stare at him then. “Get out of here. I mean they look alike, kinda, but they are so different…stop changing the subject and dropping minibombs like that. Wonder if Fre knows?” She pulled herself around and straightened her legs, laying them across his thighs. “At least you had a mother. Hell you had two.” Nix hung her head. “I was left at the fire station. According to my social worker, I was so tiny I was nicknamed Pixie by the firemen. As a toddler I guess I couldn’t say that, so I told people my name was Nixie and it stuck. Eventually it just got easier to say Nix.” She lifted her chin to stare at him.
    “So what’s your real name?” he whispered. Her body seemed to glow amber and her hair appeared to blaze as the sun dipped into the mountains behind her.
    She arched a thin brow. “No one knows my real name. Not even Fre.”
    He leaned forward and cupped her cheeks with his hands, gently tracing her lips with his thumb. “But I’m not just anyone, I’m your mate.”
    “I hear the words.” She pulled away from his caress. “I’m just not believing them.”
    “What’s so hard to understand? We were designed to come together and act as one unit.”
    “Uh-huh.”
    “Okay, how about a bet?”
    “What’s your wager?” Her eyes brightened with interest.
    “Whoever can make it back home first wins. You win, I’ll be your slave for a week, at your beck and call for absolutely anything. I win, you tell me your name, the real one .” He eased to his feet.
    “I need to warn you I have great night vision. It wouldn’t be fair. It’s growing dark and you wouldn’t be able to see well.” She took his hand and rose to her feet.
    “It’s a handicap I’m willing to accept.” He shrugged.
    Nix pursed her lips then smiled so wide her eyes crinkled at the corners. “Deal. But what week will I get?” She held out her hand.
    “Any week of your choosing.” He gripped her palm and pumped his arm. “Go!”
     
    ***
     
    Nix jumped from the rock and took off running without a second glance back. She knew he could move quickly when he wanted to and she couldn’t take the chance of him getting a lead on her. She ran along the perimeter of the bushes until she located the break where one