Free A Promise on White Wings (Wiccan-Were-Bear) by R. E. Butler Page A

Jes’ truck moved quickly on the highway towards the bear den.  She was trying to be calm, but her nerves were getting the best of her.  If Kajika wouldn’t listen to reason, then Jes would fight Mato.  If Mato lost, then nothing would change, and she would be leaving with her mates.  But if Mato won – and he always fought to the death – then Jes would die and she would be forced to leave with Mato.
    Chance pulled her against his shoulder and kissed the top of her head.  “I can feel your worry, katja , but let it go.  No matter what happens tonight, you are not going back to the den.”
    She looked up at him.  He looked very serious and extremely deadly in that moment.  She’d been holding Jes’ hand since they got into the car, and she gripped it tighter.  “I don’t want to lose either of you.”
    “You won’t,” Jes said.
    She looked at him, and his face was stony with concentration as he stared out the windshield.  His other hand gripped the steering wheel so tightly that his knuckles were white.
    “He’s the best fighter in the den.  Brutal.  Without mercy.”  She shivered, knowing that if she hadn’t found her mates, she most likely would have wound up in his bed, on the receiving end of a different kind of brutality.
    Jes said, “I am the best fighter in my nest, little bird.  Yes, I’m leader because of heredity, but I’ve been unchallenged because of my strength and fighting prowess.  And if I should die, then Chance will fight for you.  Mato may be able to beat one of us, but he will not survive both of us.”
    She hadn’t thought of that.  Still, she shuddered at the prospect.  “I don’t want anyone to die.  I just want them to leave us alone forever.”
    Jes glanced at her.  “I swear that I will come back to you, Danika.”
    She wanted  to believe him.
    When they arrived at the big red barn that sat overtop of the Ohio bear den’s underground city, she was not surprised to see her bear den standing outside the barn.  They parked and Jes and Chance escorted her, along with Jes’ many warrior falcons and the entire lion pride, who surrounded them like a protective wall.  She’d never felt so safe and yet been so utterly terrified in all her life.
    Adriel, his mate Filene, and many of their den warriors, were standing in a line in front of the barn.  Kajika and the den were standing in a cluster to their left, and Danika and everyone with her stopped on Adriel’s right.  A wide space of several hundred feet separated her den and her new people.  Adriel, along with two of his sons — Griegs and Lynk — stepped into the clearing.  With a gesture of his hands, Adriel called for the leaders to come forward, and Jes and Chance kissed her cheeks and left the group.  Kajika and Mato strode forward.  The sun was setting, and a spotlight above the barn door cast a bright light across the grounds, making long shadows on the dirt.
    Her heart clenched painfully as her mates stood in the center of the clearing.  Jantha, Gamble, Tonik, and Revere clustered around her protectively.  Tonik looked down at her.  “You have nothing to fear, little sister.  We will not allow anyone to take you from here, regardless of the outcome of the fight.”
    Gamble took her hand and squeezed it, saying with a low voice, “Family doesn’t let family get screwed over by overzealous assholes who don’t know when to take a hint.”
    She smiled at him, blinking at the tears that threatened.  “Thank you.”
    Gamble nodded at her and released her hand.
    A small sliver of peace settled over her, knowing that no matter what happened her new family wasn’t going to let her be taken.  But that knowledge didn’t entirely erase the worry that Jes was going to fight for the right to be her mate.  And if he fell, then Chance would take his place.
    Shivering, she shoved the worry and dark thoughts away and filled her mind and heart with hope.  Hope that she would carry Jes’ child, the