The Bear Naked Truth Read online

  Chapter Seven

  Harvey had an ache in his ass, but it was a good ache. It reminded him that his mate had claimed him. It also told him that Dwayne had forgiven his fuck-up. The man never would have claimed him if he hadn't.

  He smiled as he reached up and feathered his fingers across the bite mark Dwayne had left in his throat. He'd known from the moment he discovered Dwayne was his mate that he wanted the man to claim him as much as he wanted to claim Dwayne.

  He was proud of the claiming mark on his throat. He'd go around shirtless to show the world if he thought he could get away with it. If he wasn't so jealous of anyone looking at his mate, he'd make Dwayne go around without a shirt, as well.

  "I think we're here," Dwayne said.

  Harvey glanced up from his musing and looked toward the front of the truck. They were following behind Rob, Casey, Jeb, and Billy Ray, who were following the sheriff out to Alpha Kersey's house.

  "Remember to be on guard no matter how welcoming they are," Harvey said. "Until we know we can trust these people, we have to be wary."

  "That's a horrible way to live. You know that, right?"

  Harvey nodded. "I do know, but that doesn't make it any less true."

  "I suppose not, but that doesn't mean I like it."

  Harvey didn't like it either, but it was a fact of life. "I saw a lot of it when I was overseas. People would be all friendly like, offer you hospitality, then blow you away when you let your guard down. And there was no telling the good guys from the bad guys. They came in all shapes and sizes. Not even age or sex were a factor. People do crazy-ass shit in the name of their beliefs all the time."

  "Fuck, Harvey."

  Harvey winced when he glanced at Dwayne and saw how pale his face was. "Hey." He leaned across the cab of the truck to cup the side of Dwayne's face. "That part of my life is over, remember? I just have to go back to sign my exit papers, and then I'm done."

  "I guess it just kind of hit me how much danger you were in while you were overseas."

  "There's always danger, Dwayne. We face it every day, especially being bear shifters. We live with a foot in two separate worlds. The human world and the shifter world. Both are dangerous."

  "Damn, maybe we should find a deserted island somewhere and live there."

  Harvey chuckled as he dropped his hand to Dwayne's thigh. "That might sound ideal, but we'd both go crazy inside of a week. Despite the many dangers out there, life is too short to cut yourself off to the wonders of the world. I mean, just think about it. What would you do without honey?"

  "I'm a bear. I can find honey anywhere."

  "True, but what about when you're not in bear form? Or if you want honeyed cinnamon rolls? Or fresh cooked salmon with a honey sauce? Or even just a jar of honey." Harvey smirked as he looked Dwayne up and down. "The things I could do to you with a jar of honey."

  Dwayne moaned before reaching down to adjust himself. "Please don't say that right before I'm supposed to go into a house full of strangers."

  "Sorry, babe."

  Sort of.

  Harvey liked knowing he could affect his mate so much. Of course, the guy could really have an obsession for honey. He was a bear after all. But Harvey didn't believe Dwayne's uncomfortable situation was due to that.

  "This is not what I expected."

  Harvey had no idea what Dwayne was talking about until he took his eyes off his mate and looked out the front window. "Holy shit."

  He had expected them to be taken to a house. What he saw in front of him was a small village. Several houses sat in a square around a large grassy park. The park was complete with trees, grass, a small pond, a playground set, and a picnic area under a wooden pagoda.

  "Nice."

  "Do you think all these people are related to Alpha Kersey?" Dwayne asked.

  "He did say that his grandfather bought the land for his family, so maybe?" Harvey really had no idea. Still, the place looked nice. There seemed to be an emphasis on community, which was kind of a clan thing.

  Dwayne pulled the truck over and parked next to Rob and Casey. Jeb and Billy Ray were parked on the other side. Harvey climbed out then waited for Dwayne to join him before walking over to join the others.

  He looked toward his baby brother to see how he was taking all of this. Rob had a shadow of a frown on his face as he looked around. He also had a tight grip on Casey. Harvey took that as a cautious interest in what they were seeing.

  "Everyone needs to be on their toes," Harvey said when no one else did. "This all sounds good, and I hope it is, but be prepared in case it isn't."

  Rob took on a guarded look. "What is your gut telling you?"

  "They're keeping something from us." Harvey couldn't put his finger on why he felt like that, just that he did. "I don't know if it's something good or something bad, but they are definitely keeping something from us."

  "That was my feeling, as well," Rob replied. "This all seems just a little too easy to me."

  Harvey couldn't agree more. Rob was being handed an established bear clan on a silver platter. There had to be a catch somewhere. "I think we should listen to what Alpha Kersey has to say, but we also need to be ready to go if we need to."

  "I never unpacked," Dwayne said. "My bag is still in the truck."

  "Mine, too," Jeb agreed.

  Billy Ray just nodded.

  Harvey chuckled. "Well, I guess we were all kind of thinking the same thing then, huh?" His bag was in the truck, as well. He'd taken it out of the hotel with him when they left.

  Casey pointed to the small group of people waiting on the steps of the largest house. "I think they're waiting for us."

  "Stay frosty, people," Rob directed as he started for the house. He was all smiles by the time he reached the steps. "Alpha Kersey, thank you for having us."

  "Welcome." The older man waved his hand toward the house. "Please, come in. My mate has been cooking for hours."

  "Oh, I hope she didn't go through too much trouble."

  "She enjoys putting on big spreads."

  Harvey would believe that when he saw it.

  He followed his alpha and alpha mate up the stairs and into the house. He scanned everything, every entrance and exit, anything that could be used as a weapon, anyone who might be a threat. He wasn't thrilled to see two men standing in the room near the front windows.

  "Please, have a seat," Alpha Kersey said. "I'll get my wife."

  Harvey walked over to stand behind Rob and Casey when they sat on the couch. It was his duty to protect them. He was still glad when Dwayne came to stand next to him. With his mate within reach, it would make it easier for him to protect all three of them.

  As if they had already discussed it and done it a thousand times before, Jeb and Billy Ray took up spots close to the exit. If they needed to make a run for it, they needed a clear path to the trucks.

  Alpha Kersey walked back into the room with an older woman that looked as if she had just stepped out of a "what a grandma looks like" contest. She would have easily won.

  Her white hair was pinned up in a bun at the base of her neck, with wisps trailing around her rosy cheeks. Her eyes sparkled behind bespoke eyeglasses. A white apron was tied around her waist, covering the front of her blue checkered dress.

  Alpha Kersey puffed out his chest when he introduced his mate. "This is my wife, Mary."

  "Welcome." She had a wide smile on her face. "I hope none of you are allergic to rack of lamb."

  "No, ma'am," Rob replied as he stood. He shook the woman's hand before gesturing to Casey. "This is my mate, Casey."

  She shot her husband a startled look before smiling at Casey. "How do you do?"

  "It's nice to meet you," Casey said. "Thank you for inviting us to dinner."

  “We're glad to have you here," Alpha Kersey said.

  "Why don't you get everyone something to drink, Albert," Mary said, "while I go check on dinner."

  "Yes, dear." Alpha Kersey pressed a kiss to his mate's cheek before turn
ing toward everyone. "What can I get you to drink?"

  "I'll have a beer if you have it," Rob said. "Casey will have water."

  "And your men?"

  "They'll have water, thanks."

  "Yes, of course." Alpha Kersey's smile was a little wobbly. "I'll just go get your drinks."

  Harvey tried not to fidget once the alpha was gone, but the tension in the air was making his skin crawl.

  "Do you think if I got a butter knife," Casey whispered as he leaned toward Rob, "I could actually cut the air?"

  Sheriff Riley snickered before quickly covering the sound with a cough. "Sorry."

  Harvey knew without looking that Casey's face was red as a beet. He hadn't meant to be overheard, but he was, and it broke some of the tension in the room. Harvey was still on alert, but his muscles weren't bunched up into tight little knots.

  When Alpha Kersey walked back in, he had a small tray of drinks. He handed them out then grabbed the last beer for himself and sat down in a chair across from Rob and Casey.

  "I'm not sure how much you got to see as you drove up. It's kind of dark out, but this is the main clan compound. There are some clan members who live in town or in outlying farms, but the bulk of the clan lives here."

  "How many houses are here?" Rob asked.

  "There are twelve houses in all surrounding the common grounds where the park is located. This house, the alpha house, is the biggest, but that's just because of all the functions we have to have and the number of visitors we get."

  "Does Jasper live here with you?" Casey asked.

  "No, Jasper has his own place back in town." Alpha Kersey's lips twisted in a deep frown. "Once he transitioned and finished his schooling, he wanted a little independence. Considering he was officially an adult once he transitioned, I couldn't deny him."

  "And your uncle?" Rob asked. "Where does he live?"

  Harvey was kind of interested in that answer, as well.

  The alpha's frown deepened. "Ralph and his family own a house on the other side of town. They prefer living in town versus out here on clan grounds."

  Harvey's gaze snapped to the sheriff when the man snorted. "You have something to add to that?"

  "Ralph lives on the other side of town because it's as far from the alpha as he can get and still be a member of the clan. He doesn't like Alpha Kersey keeping an eye on him, interfering with his shenanigans."

  Harvey grimaced. "He sounds delightful."

  The sheriff snorted again. He seemed to do that a lot. "He's an ass."

  "Thomas!" Alpha Kersey admonished.

  "Oh, come on, Al," the sheriff replied. "Ralph is an ass. He was an ass to us when we were a teenager and he's an ass now, and he's teaching his boys to be just like him. You know how many times I've had to run them in because of some crap they've pulled. It's insane. They have so many community service hours racked up, I haven't had to pay anyone to clean the park in months."

  Harvey couldn't wait to meet these guys. He was pretty sure if he took over the beta position of the clan—assuming Rob accepted the challenge idea—he'd run into Ralph and his boys. He'd be more than happy to help them stay on the straight and narrow path.

  "Enough shop talk," Mary said as she walked in. "Dinner is ready."

  Harvey waited until everyone stood and started for the dining room before following. Once Rob and Casey sat down, he took the seat on the other side of Casey. He was happy when Dwayne sat down next to him. Jeb sat down next to Dwayne. Billy Ray sat on the other side of Rob.

  His stomach growled when Mary started bringing out the food and he got his first good whiff. He hadn't realized just how hungry he was until that moment. "This smells delicious, Mrs. Kersey."

  The older woman smiled at Harvey. "Well, I hope you're hungry."

  Harvey smiled back. "Oh, yes, ma'am."

  He could still tell that the Kerseys were keeping something from them, but he couldn't fault their hospitality. The alpha and alpha mate were both exceedingly friendly, and Harvey wasn't getting any aggressive vibes from the sheriff or the two enforcers in the room.

  Harvey waited until the alphas and their mates had been served before making sure Dwayne had food then getting some for himself. The sheriff, Jeb, and Billy Ray were last to fill their plates. The two enforcers didn't move from their spots by the windows.

  Harvey kept his mouth closed other than to fill it with food as the others ate and talked. Most of the conversation revolved around Silver Lake and the clan. Nothing important was discussed, at least nothing Harvey deemed important. He could really care less about the May Day festival or how good the pastries were down at the new bakery.

  By the time he set his fork down, he was ready to poke pencils in his ears. He hated small talk. That might have been why he went into the service. Things were pretty straight forward in the service. Officers barked out orders, and enlisted men followed them. They did not discuss pastries.

  The dishes were quickly cleared from the table, then everyone headed back into the living room to have an after-dinner drink. Harvey stuck with coffee. He needed to have his wits about him in case anything happened.

  "So," Rob said as he glanced sharply at Alpha Kersey, "what aren't you telling us?"

  The alpha lifted his eyebrows. "I'm sorry?"

  "If I accept what you're saying, you are basically handing me a well-run, established clan on a silver platter. As good as that sounded, there has to be a catch." Rob chuckled. "There is always a catch."

  "I explained to you about Alpha King. I don't know what else you want me to say."

  Harvey would have believed the man if he hadn't looked away.

  Rob stood and then pulled Casey to his feet. Harvey quickly stood, as well.

  "Thank you for a wonderful dinner, Mrs. Kersey," Rob said, "but it's time for us to get going."

  "Wait, no!" Alpha Kersey jumped up.

  "Tell them, Albert," Mary said sternly, "or I will."

  Alpha Kersey's shoulders slumped as he sat back down. He clasped his hands together and rested his forehead against them for a moment before dropping his hands to the table.

  Rob slowly sat back down, pulling Casey down beside him. "Alpha Kersey, what's going on? What don't you want to tell us?"

  The alpha sighed. It was a sad, resigned sound. "Remember when I told you that there was no one to take over as alpha except Jasper, but he wasn't alpha material?"

  Rob nodded. "I remember."

  "There's one other person who could be alpha, but I'm trying to save my clan from him." Alpha Kersey swallowed tightly. When his wife sat beside him, he grabbed her hand before looking at Rob again. "Alpha King is our son."

  Well, damn.

  Harvey hadn't seen that coming.

  Chapter Eight

  Dwayne knew his mouth was hanging open, but he couldn't seem to shut it. Alpha King was Alpha Kersey's son? "Is he the oldest?"

  Alpha Kersey nodded. "Yes."

  Crap. That meant he inherited the alpha position by default. Dwayne was kind of reminded of Raymond Barker, who was next in line to lead his former clan. He was just as bad as Alpha King. Neither man had any business being in charge of anything.

  "How did he get his own clan if he's next in line?" Rob asked.

  "Him and a few of his buddies left the clan when I refused to turn the clan over to them. I was still spry enough then to beat him in a challenge and he knew it, so they left and established their own clan just outside of my territorial borders."

  "How can he still inherit if he left?"

  "I never officially banished him. No matter what, he is my son, and I kind of figured with him having his own clan, he wouldn't be interested in this one." Alpha Kersey's jaw clenched for a moment. "I was wrong."

  "About six months ago, we started to hear rumors that our son was intending to take over this clan," Mary said. "It was right after Jasper transitioned."

  "Do you think there is a connection?" Rob asked. "Or was the timing just a coincidence?"

  "It's
hard to say," Alpha Kersey replied, "but the timing seems too easy to me."

  "Could someone have figured out what Jasper is and told your other son?"

  "It's possible."

  "Why didn't you tell me this from the very beginning?" Rob asked.

  Dwayne couldn't blame the slight edge of anger he could hear in Rob's voice. He'd be angry too if he'd been lied to, even if it was a lie of omission.

  "Would you want to admit your son is a monster?" Alpha Kersey asked.

  "He wasn't always this way," Mary added in a small, sad voice. "He was a good boy growing up. It wasn't until he transitioned that he changed."

  Dwayne frowned. "Did something happen?"

  "His transition was normal," Alpha Kersey replied, "but after a couple of months we noticed he was overly aggressive toward the weaker members of the clan. When I confronted him about his behavior, he challenged me, stating he could better lead the clan than I could. He said I was too old and set in my ways."

  "I assume you showed him the error of his beliefs?"

  The alpha nodded. "After I put him on the ground and made him submit, we didn't have any problems with him until him and his friends left the clan."

  "We didn't know where he'd gone for the longest time." Mary sniffled before wiping at her cheek. "It wasn't until the first refugees from his new clan escaped and came here, begging for sanctuary, that we put the pieces together."

  "On my alpha's orders, I went there in my capacity as county sheriff. I gave him some bullshit story about putting the word out concerning some vandalism we'd been seeing around the county. I had no idea until I saw him that he was the new alpha."

  "I went to see Jason after Thomas told me where he was. He didn't attack me. He couldn't. It would have been an unprovoked attack on another alpha. He told me to leave, and he threatened to kill me if I ever entered his territory again."

  Mary gasped as she turned to look at her mate. Her rosy cheeks paled to a pasty white color. "You never told me that. Why didn't you tell me?"

  "Oh, Mary, I didn't want to have to tell you Jason had threatened me. I didn't even want to admit it to myself, but I have no choice. If I don't act, he's going to take Jasper from us."