Bear Cuffs (Broken Hill Bears #3)(3)

    Tarkus was sitting on the steps of the porch when Harper arrived home, playing with his grandson Luca. Despite the tangle of thoughts in her mind, she smiled at the sight of them. Tarkus was born to be a granddad, always lavishing love and time on his grandkids, and she was happy that she'd have the opportunity to give him some more. At the sound of her step, he looked up, and she caught the strain in his eyes before he replaced it with a smile. He was a handsome silver fox, with a dark gray beard and crinkles at the corners of his eyes and lips when he smiled, which was very often. It was easy to see why her mom had fallen for him.

    "Ah, my favorite daughter's home!" he exclaimed. "Let's go say hello." He swept Luca into his huge, powerful arms and hurtled toward her, holding him out at arms' length. She held her arms out too, and they came together in a group hug, all laughing. He put Luca down, who tottered for a few steps, before falling down onto the soft lawn and staying put, investigating the bugs that lived among the blades of grass.

    "Tarkus?" she said hesitantly. He straightened up and faced her, two deep trenches appearing between his brows. He waited, giving her time. "It's a yes. I give my consent to mating the Broken Hill bear," she said. He clasped her shoulders as a wide grin lit his features.

    "Are you sure, Harper?" he said.

    "Yes I am."

    "Thank goodness." He pulled her into his arms, pressing her against his broad chest. "Harper, my dear daughter, you've done an amazing thing for the clan, believe me. And I'm sure it will bring you great happiness too. I know that Rocco Silvester is a fine young bear." Harper stiffened, her breath hitching in her throat, and she was very glad that he couldn't see her face. If Tarkus knew Rocco like she did, he wouldn't be saying that.

   

    I'll be a good mate, and if the goddess gives me a chance to have cubs, I'll be the best mother in the world, she resolved later that evening, once she was alone again. But my heart, which once belonged to Rocco Silvester, will never belong to him again after what he did to me.


     
       
         
       
        

   

   

    3

   

   

    Harper Waverly. Of all the bears in the world, why did it have to be her? Rocco thought as he attached a row of junior-sized punch bags to some low-hanging branches of an old oak tree. The only female he could name who hated his guts. He pummeled one of the bags half-heartedly as he waited for his charges to arrive  –  a bunch of six-year old shifters, about to have their first ever wrestling lesson. He wasn't going to wrestle in front of an audience. Not now, maybe never again. But as a compromise, he'd agreed to teach the young bears.

    Xander was right. Losing his last fight had hit him hard. He'd been wrestling a Brooks Bear fighter  –  a shifter he should've beaten easily. But he was distracted by a hostile crowd. Two traitors from his own clan who secretly hated the ruling family had deliberately sabotaged the audience, paying them to chant abusive slogans. Rocco was so shocked that he couldn't concentrate, and he'd been knocked out, for the first time ever. It had hurt his pride a lot, and broken his passion for his favorite sport  –  and his career. And then he'd taken off for a couple of months, riding around on his bike, drinking, running with bikers, and getting himself into all kinds of trouble, as if he wanted to punish himself for his own defeat. It wasn't until he'd had a real bad wipeout while surfing at a notorious spot in California, alone and far out to sea, that he realized that it had gone on long enough, and he dragged himself back to Broken Hill, tail between his legs. While he'd expected Xander to be mad at him, his older brother showed him kindness and understanding. But with every day that Rocco refused to fight, he could see Xander's frustration growing. He had been a champion for his age group in every single category as he was growing up, and was now one of the Broken Hill Bear's star wrestlers. Agreeing to work as a trainer was a stop gap, and kept Xander off his back  –  for a while at least.

    As if Harper's going to agree to be my mate anyway, he thought, unconsciously pummeling the punch bag harder and harder. The last time he saw her was five years ago, but he remembered the moment as clearly as if it was yesterday. Those leaf-green eyes that were usually so calm blazing with fury and hatred. Of him. Those pink, perfectly shaped lips spitting furious words. Her hatred was a palpable thing. He could almost see it standing between them, like a flame. She was never going to agree to be friends, never mind mates. Which would mean he was off the hook. Free to mate whatever stranger Xander set up for him instead.

    "Hey, Rocco," a shrill little voice called from behind him. He stopped punching and fixed his face into a friendly expression, before turning around to greet the first of his charges. 

   

    An hour later, he was having fun. Training the cubs was actually a lot easier than he'd expected. They were very eager to learn, and they hero-worshipped him, hanging on his every word. He'd already taught them how to throw jabs, and they were lined up at the punch bags, pounding them excitedly, the air full of their shrieks and grunts.

    "Nice work, Rocco. You've got 'em working hard," a voice said behind him.

    "Thanks, Brains," Rocco replied not turning around. "Ten more and you're done!" he yelled to the class instead. Xander laid his arm around Rocco's shoulders.

    "I have some news for you," he said. "Harper has agreed to be your mate." Rocco's chest heaved.

    "What?" he spun around. Xander's brow furrowed.

    "Why the surprise? You're a very eligible bachelor. I'm sure every young female in the clans would jump at the chance to be your mate." Rocco let off a snort.

    "Sure. But I wonder if their fathers would say the same thing." His tone was flippant but his head was spinning. Why would she have agreed to this? Did it mean she didn't hate him any longer? At the thought, a spark of hope lit inside him. But it was quickly extinguished. She must have said yes because she didn't have any other option, he realized. The Pine Bluff Bears must've put a lot of pressure on her. She would've been well aware of what was riding on her decision. Suddenly, he wanted to punch something, ride off on his bike, get himself into trouble again. Why did this have to happen? Why couldn't he at least get matched with a nice girl that he'd never met before?

    "Don't look so miserable, Roc. I'm certain that this is the beginning of a very satisfactory match," Xander said, cutting into his thoughts. Instead of replying, Rocco clenched his jaw. Of course Xander didn't know that Harper hated him. He'd been away in the military when it had all happened, so he had no idea that they'd been anything more than friends. And that was just fine by him.

    "I've arranged with her father for the two of you to meet tonight and go through the practicalities, such as living arrangements, etc, and the mating ceremony itself."

    "Tonight? Why so soon?" Rocco demanded. Xander chuckled.

    "Because, at this point in the game, it's a political mating, and we need to move fast, before the Black Paws start requisitioning our women. They've already been observed sniffing around outside our territory." Rocco sighed.

    "And who said chivalry's dead," he drawled.

    "That'll come later, little brother. Tonight you'll have the opportunity to get reacquainted, and then you'll have your whole lives to get to know each other." Rocco groaned inwardly. Our whole lives for Harper to hate my guts and me to feel terrible about it, while keeping my secret from her.

    "We need to get going soon, as it's a long drive. And wear something nice. Let's make a good impression with the Pine Bluff Bears." Rocco let off a snort that was more of a snarl.

    "Yes, dad," he said. Sometimes Xander could be more anal than his father ever was. As if it would matter what he was wearing anyway.

    "I can lend you something if you want?"

    "No, I'm good thanks," Rocco said shortly.

   

    Half an hour later, they were climbing into Rocco's customized Ford pickup. Xander had wanted to drive, but Rocco insisted, eager to escape the feeling of being driven to a high school prom. His black hair, still damp from the shower was combed back smoothly and he'd trimmed his goatee neatly. He was wearing a midnight blue button-down shirt with short sleeves, revealing some of the tattoos that adorned his arms, and a pair of snug navy jeans. He'd exchanged his usual biker boots for a pair of stylish tan leather ankle boots, and applied some rich, earthy cologne. Xander looked at him approvingly, but he turned his head away, disinclined to be congratulated on his efforts.