Leland's sat still, considering what she told him. He knew something like this would be coming. He had no idea how he would come up with that much cash in such a short time. But he was not surprised by the outcome.
"I'm so sorry, Leland," she said, her voice cracking.
"Sylvia," he said, squeezing her hand. "This has nothing to do with you. You have nothing to be sorry for."
"I know you don't have the money to pay it. You'll have to sell off the land and the livestock and maybe even your brothers’ equipment. I can't live with knowing that I did that to this family," she said, her voice shaking.
"Whatever happens happens. But I want you to know, my dear sweet mate, that you matter more to me than any of that. Please don't doubt that for one second."
"Leland, how can I live with taking your life from you? I know you won't ever be able to forgive me."
"There's nothing to forgive."
"I won't be able to forgive myself. I brought this to your door, and I don't know if I can look into your face every day, knowing what I took from you."
"Nothing matters more to me than you. Now tell me your good news."
"I'm not sure I'm ready to tell you," she said.
"Okay,” he said, letting out a long sigh.
"What did you find out from your brother?" she asked hopefully.
"Only that our dad had a gambling problem that got much worse during the war. He suggested that our father might have taken out a loan from a loan shark.”
"That makes sense," Sylvia said.
"I knew the man was hurting. We all hurt after mom died. But I swear to God that man just made it worse and worse. With everything he tried to do to help it."
"That must have been hard for you," Sylvia said, looking up at him sympathetically.
“It was, but that's life. I have to see the man for who he really was, the bad and the good alike. I loved him and I hated him. But I can no longer blame him for anything. Everything that happens in this life is my responsibility."
"You are a good man, Leland," Sylvia said, letting her briefcase slip to the floor with the papers inside it.
Leland wrapped his arms around her and kissed her deeply, pulling her soft curvaceous body against his. She'd worn a pink dress with nude stockings and pink ballet flats. It was softer and more feminine than the suits she'd been wearing before.
She smelled different too. Somehow, even more delicious than she had before. He took a long draw of the scent in the crook of her neck, intoxicating his senses. His arousal jumped to the forefront, and his grizzly roared that he claim her.
He pulled her to his chest and let out a soft growl as he looked up at the ceiling, cradling her curves against him. She nestled her cheek over his heart and let out a soft sigh.
"I love you so much. You know that?" Leland said, feeling his heart and his cock throb for her.
"I love you too, Leland," Sylvia said.
He cupped her face in his hands. Realizing it was the first time she'd said it to him. He'd felt it from the start, but couldn't push her.
"I think I'm ready to tell you the good news,” she said.
"What is it, babe?”
"I'm pregnant," she said in a soft voice, her eyes darting downward on the second word.
"Pregnant?" he repeated, gathering her to him and cradling her in his arms.
His sweet Sylvia was carrying his cub. He couldn't remember a time in his life when he had felt this much joy. He let out a deep growl and slid his hand under her knees, lifting her off her feet. He carried her to the stairs and took them two at a time up to his bedroom.
He laid her across his brass bed. She looked so innocent and beautiful in the morning sunlight coming through the window. He kissed her soft face so gently, belying the aching need in his core. He'd taken her quickly the first time. He wanted this time to last in his memory forever.
He caressed her body, kissing her softly on the lips as he sank between her thighs. He was hard as a stone, throbbing with pent up need. He'd waited so long to be with her again.
This time she was carrying his child.
He growled as he softly thrust against her core. Sylvia ran her nails down his back and arched her neck, gasping and exposing her delicate throat. He buried his nose in the curve of her neck, drinking in her scent as his teeth grazed her skin. He needed to claim her.
His grizzly was barely contained as he pushed her skirt up around her waist. He unbuttoned her top and slid his hand inside her bra, exposing her breasts. She groaned and he took a taste of her sweet nipple, sucking hard and biting gently. Sylvia's body shuddered as he pressed his cock against her wet panties.
He unbuttoned his pants, pushing them down to reveal his long, aching need. He pressed it against her opening through the seam in her panties. She was so wet and open. Her nipples, pointing up to his hungry tongue. He couldn't wait to kick off his boots. He thrust inside her, and she took him with a gasp, arching her back, exposing her lovely neck to him again.
He groaned and pulled back, savoring her velvety softness before he gave a hard, short thrust inside her again. Sylvia's nipples pricked. He grazed his teeth over her breast.
Holding her round hips in his hands, he planted a hard kiss on her lips. Sylvia was so soft and open, yielding to his hardest embrace. He had to slow down and give her what she needed. The feral part of him roared to sink his teeth into her skin and take her. He thrust again, his teeth brushing against the skin of her neck. Sylvia groaned as her body contracted around him.
His teeth broke the skin of her neck and buried deep inside her. The heat of his bite, and the heat of his cock united in one exquisite thrust. His cum erupted volcanically, thrusting even deeper inside her core. His teeth bit down in the mating bite, giving her the final bond of their lives. Forever on, they would be united as mates. Their spirits a single whole.
He could feel her heartbeat and the quiet whispers of her mind coming in contact with his. For the first time, and now forever, the mate bond spread out before them.
Chapter 17
Sylvia followed Leland into the bathroom, giddy with excitement and the awakening connection that was imbued with mountains of unbridled desire. Leland didn't let go of her hand as he turned on the shower and tested the water.
He turned to her and slowly helped her undress, taking in the curves of her body as he removed each garment. She stepped out of her shoes and helped him out of his jeans.
The wide shower smelled of his aftershave. He kissed her as she stood under the spray of the water. She could still feel him inside her and the hard need of his animal. She'd seen the light of the grizzly in his eyes while he'd taken her, raw and primal.
Her body shuddered just thinking about it. These last two weeks she'd been waiting for him every day to show her the same intensity he had on the first night, but he'd been holding back. She couldn't stand it. She'd wanted him, just as much as he wanted her, but their fears had kept them apart.
Now, nothing would stand between them. She could feel Leland's devotion to her flower inside her and bloom like a rose. He reached down and sprayed body wash into his hand. The fragrance filled the shower as he rubbed it over her body and between her legs. The water sprayed down her hair and her back, running between the curves of her ass as Leland washed her. He growled into her ear as he rinsed her clean and started to stroke her need. Her nipples were painfully erect. Even under the stream of warm steamy water.
"You need more attention. Don't you?" he growled into her ear.
He pressed his finger against her clit and she groaned, arching her neck. Leland sank to his knees, drawing his hard teeth over her body intermittently with his soft seductive kisses. He rested on the shower floor, still so big and imposing as she looked down at his dark head. He spread her open and ran his tongue up her slit. His eyes going back in his head as he tasted her.
She could barely stand to look. She had to brace herself on the shower walls to keep her knees from buckling. Leland twisted and twirled
his tongue over her clit and the entrance to her pussy. She was gushing for him as his fingers entered her and his tongue vibrated on her clit. Sylvia groaned, her nipples painfully erect as she braced herself under the warm spray.
His fingers moved over her g-spot as he nibbled on her clit, making her explode in a gush of heat that was doubled by their new psychic bond. Each nuance and movement; each instance of pleasure seemed compounded as their connection radiated between them. They could feel each other's lust, and he could feel her release as she came throbbing on his hand.
He stood and turned her around, the water spraying over her back as her elbows braced against the shower wall. Leland ran his hands over her curves. His cock throbbing and slapping down on her ass. Her knees shook as he pushed against her. The place where she longed for him to be. He spread her again, this time, achingly slow.
His hands caressed her as the water fell on her back, down over her thighs and between her legs, washing down her clit as Leland pulled back and thrust again. Her nipples ignited and her body released. She called out his name, and he kissed the back of her neck.
"My sweet darling," he growled, nibbling in the tender flesh behind her ear and licking the delicate skin of her earlobe.
She contracted again, her mind throbbing in time with her body. She could barely comprehend what he was doing to her or how much pleasure she could feel. She was slammed against everything that was him, and it erupted inside her, making her giddy, making her languid and open and so much more than she had been.
His hands caressed her skin, cupping her breasts, moving over her hips and thighs, encouraging her to build her pleasure again as he moved into her so rhythmically.
"Oh, my dear girl," Leland breathed into her neck.
She could feel him throbbing inside her as he pulled her back against his chest and held her body tight to him. He pounded into her soft core relentlessly with his need for her. She was set alight as they came together in a burst of fire and light, as the water hit her chest. The scent of perfume surrounded them. They stood breathless in the moment, entwined in each other’s arms.
Sylvia wiggled and pulled away, collapsing against the shower wall, breathless. She looked up at him and smiled. He smiled back, and cupped her cheek.
Sylvia giggled and grabbed the soap, since she knew her face must be covered in smeared mascara, and went about taking a proper shower, and Leland joined in.
Once they had washed and dried themselves, Leland got dressed and went down to the car to get Sylvia's bag so she could change into some fresh clothes. She put on a comfortable pair of jeans, boots and flannel shirt. She joined him in the parlor. He had a cup of tea in his hand and another waiting for her. He handed it to her when she joined him on the couch. She took a sip, taking in the flavor and aroma of chamomile, honey and cream. She let out a satisfied sigh and smiled up at her mate.
"It's beautiful out here," she said, looking out the window at the northern pasture where the cattle grazed. "I could spend the rest of my life looking at that view."
"And I hope that you will," he said, reaching into his breast pocket. He sank to one knee and took her hand in his. He gazed up into her eyes.
"Sylvia Becker, will you be my wife?" he asked, opening the box.
"Of course, Leland," she said, her heart flying into her mouth. Her eyes went watery as butterflies took over her stomach. Inside the box was a perfect antique wedding ring.
"It was my grandmother's engagement ring," he said, taking it out of the box and slipping it onto her finger.
He sat beside her and looked down at her hand. The ring seemed to fit perfectly. "I promise to spend the rest of my life making sure you have everything you need. I hope you can accept me for who I am."
She gazed up into his eyes, the mountain of a man looked down at her with such vulnerability it made her heart break. They already shared so much, yet he still felt he need to prove himself to her. She could barely speak.
"I've wanted you from the first day, Leland. It would be my honor to be your wife."
"Thank you."
Leland gathered her in his arms, and they held each other as the soft spring daylight ran down from the deep azure blue sky outside the window.
Chapter 18
Leland gathered his brothers around the dining room to deliver the bad news. Sylvia sat beside him with an attentive look on her face as she folded her hands over the papers.
"What’s the damage?" Jesse asked.
"How much trouble did Dad get us in?" Buck huffed, crossing his arms over his broad chest.
Leland hated what this would do to his brothers.
"The final decision of the auditors was that the ranch owes one-point-one million dollars.”
"What the fuck?" Buck spat, slamming his fist into the old oak table.
"I know this is a shock, but please, we have a lady present," Leland said.
Buck glanced over at Sylvia and sniffed. He stared at the ring on her finger and then looked at Leland.
"I apologize, Sylvia," Buck said, glancing back at her and nodding his head in her direction. "What are we supposed to do now?"
"Well, since the timber business has been bringing in cash for the last six years, the first thing we will do is sell the herd," Leland said.
"But the bloodlines go back to the original stock for our great-grandparents," Jessie objected.
"Since I left Dad alone with the operation since the war, the cattle operation has not been profitable. We also have to sell off a good part of our land and our equipment."
"How much land are we talking about?" Buck asked.
"How much equipment are we talking about?" Jessie added.
"We'll have to have everything evaluated. But we only have until the end of the quarter to pay off the first payment of five hundred thousand dollars."
"Or they will take you to court and you could be facing jail time if found guilty," Sylvia added, letting them know the real stakes involved.
Buck and Jessie went completely silent, their mouths gaping open.
Buck scoffed. Jessie just shook his head with a weird smirk on his lips.
"I was just thinking about those Updike brothers and the rest of the hyena pack that seems to be taking over Fate Mountain,” Jessie started. “The last time I saw the Updike brothers. They were taunting us about our land. They’d love it if we lost everything and the Kincaid name faded into distant memory on Fate Mountain.”
"Things have been getting worse since the hyena packs started moving in," Buck agreed.
"Rollo Morris of the Bear Patrol told me that crime is up fifteen percent since hyenas started moving into town. The humans have started asking for shifter protection. The shifters who decided to take the dark path seem to be increasing all the time. After the war, a lot of these guys are pissed,” Buck said.
"The veteran’s benefits ran out. A lot of them just drank or fought through it because of everything they'd been through. We’re lucky to have a family, and a place like Timber Bear Ranch to call home. But now everything that shifters have built here is at risk," Buck continued.
"It can't be that bad," Sylvia said.
"Maybe you're right," Buck said. “But it’s still important that decent shifters like our family stay here and carry on the traditions that have made Fate Mountain the place that means so much to so many people."
"I'm glad we are all on the same page," Leland said. "But now we have the serious work of deciding what we will sell and what we will keep. What parcels of land are we most comfortable losing? What is the resell value of our equipment?"
Jessie opened his laptop on the table and started researching resale prices for their equipment. Leland was surprised at his brother's affinity with computers, but he shouldn't have been. He was learning new things about his brothers all the time.
After a few hours of the entire family researching land prices and equipment prices, making phone calls and writing lists and schedules, Leland went outside to take a breath of fresh air a
nd check on the herd.
Since the expensive livestock vet had come from out of town, his cattle were doing much better. Most of them were cured and were happily grazing in a high and dry pasture on the north side of the property.
He raised his foot and rested it on the wooden fence as he looked out at his cattle. He heard a motor rumbling behind him and he turned to look down the driveway. He saw two dirt bikes race toward him. The Updike brothers parked in the driveway and got off their bikes, headed towards the door. Leland called out to them, cutting them off before they could knock and bother the rest of the family.
"Can I help you?" he asked.
The brothers looked at each other and looked back at him. A smile curved on their faces and the light of their shifters glowed behind their eyes.
"We came here to make you an offer," Chuck said.
"An offer you can't refuse,” Brandon said.
"What are you talking about? We have no business with each other."
"Oh, but I believe we do," said Chuck.
"You see, your father still owes our family quite a bit of money. We’re willing to forgive his debts if you sell Timber Bear Ranch to us for five hundred thousand dollars," Brandon said.
Leland scoffed and shook his head, imagining that they would believe that Timber Bear Ranch was only worth five hundred thousand dollars. Leland looked back up at them and smirked, letting his grizzly shine from within. He curled back his lips and allowed his canine teeth to descend slightly in his mouth.
"No fucking way," Leland said flatly.
"You're better off selling to us than trying to pay off your debt some other way."
"What do you know about my debts?" Leland asked. “What does five hundred thousand mean to you?”
He was beginning to feel suspicious that they had something to do with this entire mess. They had just revealed to him that their family were the loan sharks that had given his father a loan after the war.