My Bear to Heal (Cypress Valley Shifters #3)

5. Tyler

I ’m not sure how I got here. One minute, I was sitting at the bar having a conversation with Addie. The next, I’m here—on a lumpy threadbare couch, in an apartment that smells faintly of cigarette smoke. The putrid odor clings to my skin as Kandice sprawls across my lap. Crimson-painted lips kiss down my throat, and I know I’ll have to scrub the skin raw in the shower later to get rid of the lipstick stains.

Why am I here?

“You’re so sexy, Ty,” she purrs against my neck. Her hot breath flutters over my skin, making it crawl as my stomach churns. Fuck, I don’t think I can do this.

I’m not even hard. The only woman my damn dick gets hard for is Adelaide. My sweet rose. Blood rushes south at the thought of her milky-white skin, dotted with freckles, her swirling gray eyes, and pink pouting lips.

“Mmmm,” Kandice moans, grinding down on my denim-clad cock, killing the vibe instantly. The poor guy shrivels when her overpowering, syrupy sweet perfume hits my nose, realizing it’s not Addie.

He’s not the only one.

My grizzly whines in my ear, pacing back and forth in my mind, urging me to get the hell out of here. Roger that, buddy.

Gripping her hips, I lift Kandice off my lap and gently place her on the couch cushion next to me. “I’m sorry, babe. I’m not feeling the best. I think we should call it a night. Raincheck?” I give her my best puppy eyes, hoping it will ease some of the sting.

She scoffs, crossing her arms over her chest, pushing her fake tits up in the process. She looks so much like Amber; same small frame with big breasts, same blue eyes and bleach blonde hair.

A fist squeezes around my heart… I really can’t do this.

I thought I could lose myself in a warm body and forget about Addie for a night. Forget about the fragile state of my heart.

Boy, was I wrong.

Ever since Addie told me she wanted to be friends, I’ve been lying to myself. Trying to use other women as a distraction for my obsession with her, but it hasn’t worked. Every time I go home with a woman, it always ends like this. With me sulking home, tail between my legs, because there’s only one woman I want.

Not to mention my bear is furious. His snarl fills my head. He only wants the red-haired goddess he can’t have.

“Is this because of her ?” Kandice’s whiney voice drips with venom.

“Who? ”

“The redhead who’s always hanging around. She can’t give you what I can, baby.” She reaches a hand toward me, but I lean away before she can make contact, plastering myself to the arm of the couch. “I’ll let you do anything to me.” Clearly missing the change in my mood, she winks. The sultry sugar in her voice forces a shiver of repulsion through my big body.

I need to get out of here.

Abruptly, I stand and grab my leather jacket from the back of the couch, shoving my arms into the sleeves as I back toward the door. “Sorry. I gotta go.” And I haul ass outta her apartment like it’s on fire.

My skin itches and is about to burst at the seams, vibrating with each step I take closer to my motorcycle. My bear is agitated, pacing in my mind, as he bares his teeth in a snarl.

He wants his mate.

But he’s an animal, running purely on primal instinct. I have to be the logical one in this situation. I can’t just show up at Addie’s house at midnight professing my undying love for her. Admitting she’s my fated mate.

A whine sounds in my ear, as if my bear is asking why not?

“Because, you idiot, you remember what happened last time. She pushed us away. Said she needed a friend. She’s so focused on her dad and becoming a vet; she doesn’t see me like that? And even if she does, what if it doesn’t work out? It would ruin our friendship. And I’d rather live a life without love, and have Addie as a friend, than to have loved and lost her,” I mutter, settling onto my bike and cranking the ignition. The breeze picks up, rustling my hair and rippling across my leather jacket .

The jacket is more for protection than anything. Shifters run hot, and the temps this time of year stay relatively mild, even at night. But we’re not immune to road rash, so I hardly ever go without some sort of protective layer. I’m not a complete idiot.

The familiar rumbling purr of my bike instantly calms my frayed nerves. I squeeze my thighs tighter around the gas tank, letting the vibrations seep under my skin. This is exactly what I need. My bear wants to run, but a midnight motorcycle ride to nowhere is the best way for me to blow off steam. “Next time, bud. Promise.”

He sulks into the corner of my mind with a huff.

Shifting into gear, I zip down the main street of Oak Ridge toward the scenic highway, going faster than I probably should, but the roads are deserted at this time on a weeknight. The wind in my hair and the roar of my bike blot out my feelings for Addie, my heartbreak from Amber, and my bear’s incessant whining in my head.

All the constant noise and emotion gets to be too much some days; I just need a minute of quiet, a minute to myself.

Once I reach the scenic lookout, I pull off onto the gravel parking lot and kill the engine. Down below, the river races, waves crashing against the base of the cliff. A full moon illuminates the sky, casting an eerie glow over the treetops. If you watch closely enough, bats swoop through the sky in search of their next meal.

Closing my eyes, I brace my hands on the old wooden railing at the edge of the cliff, forcing every last ounce of air from my lungs before inhaling a cleansing breath. “Why do I have to be so broken?” My voice echoes down to the water.

A buzz in my pocket draws my attention away from the glowing moon overhead.

Addie: I’m all packed! What time do you want to get the chicks tomorrow?

My lips automatically tug into a smile at her text. This is good, right? Having her in Cypress Valley will force me to confront my feelings.

Me: Feed store opens at 9. Pick you up at 8:45. I’ll bring sustenance ;)

Addie: You better. You’re doing all the heavy lifting when it comes to moving my furniture.

Me: Whatever the lady wants, the lady gets. Thanks for doing this, Addie.

Addie: Of course. What are friends for?

Friends. The word cuts a path right through my chest.

Rubbing away the ache, I contemplate spilling my guts and telling her how much I love her. Although, text seems like an inappropriate way to tell someone they’re your fated mate. So, instead I respond with…

Me: I’ll see you tomorrow. Get some sleep, sweet rose. Goodnight.

Her response is almost instant, pulling another smile to my lips.

Addie: Goodnight Ty 3

Somehow, my soul is lighter as I hop on my bike and drive back to Cypress Valley. Once I’m in bed, the crickets singing outside my open window, the only thought in my mind is that Addie will be right next door starting tomorrow.

A yawn falls from my lips as I pull the truck into the parking lot of the coffee shop. Since I only have a motorcycle, I had to borrow Kiernan’s obnoxious lifted truck for the day. Can’t have Addie and the chicks flying off the back of my bike.

I slept like shit. Like every night, smoky eyes swirled through my brain when I closed my eyes. Matched with a bright-red mane of hair and pale, freckle-coated skin, Addie has haunted my sleep since we first met almost two years ago.

The beat-up black pickup pulls to a stop in front of the greenhouse. Same time as last week. Earl hops out and walks over to greet me and Reese. Except today, he comes from the passenger side. Weird.

“Morning, boys!” A broad smile lights up his face. It’s good to see him smiling again after the heart attack he had a few weeks ago.

“Morning, Earl,” I say, shaking his hand. For an older gentleman, he’s got quite the grip. He’s also still a big guy, around my height, with an impressive amount of muscle under a layer of fat. “What did ya bring us this week?”

After leaving Minneapolis, I had driven my bike north until a mysterious pull led me to the Cypress Valley trailhead. My bear broke free and led me to Reese, who brought me here… to Cypress Valley. Over the past few months, I’ve put my agriculture degree to good use, growing crops in the greenhouse and small field behind it. Sure beats the stuffy office I was working in for Amber’s jerkoff dad.

“Oh, a little bit of this, a little bit of that. Heard you were out of eggs, too,” Earl says, but the squeak of hinges from the driver’s side of the truck distracts me, drawing my eyes to the most gorgeous creature I’ve ever seen.

Blazing copper curls fall over her shoulders to the middle of her back, a fiery contrast to her pale skin, which is flecked with the most beautiful freckles.

But her eyes are what truly mesmerize me. Swirls of gray and a deep navy-blue, reminiscent of a storm raging over the ocean’s waves.

“Fuck,” I murmur as she approaches and I get a glimpse of the curves she’s rockin’. Her dark green sweater pulls tight across an amazing pair of tits before stopping at the small of her waist. Tight high-waisted blue jeans hug her wide hips and thick thighs. Worn black combat boots adorn her feet.

Coming to a stop next to Earl, she smiles and extends a hand to me. “Hi, I’m Addie.”

Lightning zings up my arm when I grip her hand. What the—I’m nearly knocked on my ass when the sweetest scent of roses fills my nose. Flaring my nostrils wide, I greedily suck in another breath of the intoxicating smell.

Under my skin, frenetic energy ripples as my grizzly perks up, pacing back and forth. It takes everything in me to hold him back from pouncing on this woman.

“Boys, this is my little girl, Adelaide. She’s come home to take care of me, what with the heart issues and all. You’ll be seeing her around, I’m sure.”

I look down, realizing I’m still shaking Addie’s hand like an idiot. Clearing my throat, I quickly let go of her hand, the earlier warmth filling my body disappears when I do.

She gives me a small smile, a blush creeping onto her pale cheeks, before turning to Reese and extending her hand. Reese gives her hand one firm shake and a head nod. My alpha is a man of few words and one of the grumpiest motherfuckers I’ve ever met.

Finally finding my voice, I say, “I’m Tyler. That’s Reese. Nice to meet you…” I trail off, hit by another wave of intense rose scent. A rumbling purr escapes from my open mouth. I cough, trying to cover up whatever is happening to me. Why won’t my damn bear behave? “Excuse me.”

In my periphery, I catch Reese staring at me with intense dark eyes. Suddenly, his brows pull up on his forehead.

“What?” I ask, turning to face him.

“Nothin’,” he grunts. “Let’s get everything unloaded.”

Later that day, after Addie and Earl left, Reese explained shifters and fated mates to me. How, on rare occasions, fate will draw a shifter to a specific female to be his chosen partner for life. Usually, he explained, your body will have an immediate reaction, either to the female’s scent or touch .

Fuck me. I had a very visceral reaction to Addie that day.

He didn’t spell it out directly, and has never pushed me to pursue Addie, but based on the assessing looks, Reese knows she’s my fated mate.

My bear has been on board since day one, but it’s up to me to claim her.

Hopping out of my borrowed truck, I head into the coffee shop, ordering Addie’s favorite drink and two blueberry muffins. We’re in for a long day of work, between getting the chicks settled and getting Addie moved. After today, my mate will be within my grasp… now if I can get my act together and muster the courage to try again.