Alpha's Rescue (Shifter Ops 5)

“Not really. Just leaving the rental car and… trying to reach the summit with Bentley.”

“Bentley?”

“My stepbrother. Named after the car.”

Teddy stops eating trail mix long enough to make a face.

“I know, right? Who names their kid after a car? Even if it is a nice car. Although I'm named after a bimbo in the sitcom Three’s Company,” I inform him, “which isn’t much better. Especially when your stepbrother uses it to make fun of you.”

Teddy finishes all my trail mix. He crumples up the bag like it offended him. “That’s not very nice.” His voice is a low rumble, almost a growl.

“Oh, Bentley isn’t nice,” I agree. “I swear, he’d be happy if a bad bear came out of the woods to eat me.” My head aches again. “Wait, I think I just remembered something.”

“Yes?” Teddy sits carefully on the edge of the bed, near me. His weight makes the mattress dip, and I end up leaning towards him.

I lower my voice to a whisper. “When you rescued me, did you happen to see the ‘pizzly’ bear?”

“The what?”

“The ‘pizzly’ bear,” I repeat. “You know how polar bears and grizzly bears have started breeding together?”

Teddy opens and closes his mouth several times before saying, “We're nowhere near the habitat of polar bears.”

“But because of climate change, their territory is changing. And they’re mating with grizzly bears. Polar bears plus grizzlies make ‘pizzly’ bears. You can call them ‘grolar’ bears if you prefer.”

“I don’t…have a preference. Lana, there’s no such thing–”

“They’re real,” I insist. “They're big and meaner than regular bears. I learned all about this on Mamadou Ndiaye’s TikTok. He called them Nesquik bears.”

Teddy rubs a rough hand over his beard and rises.

I cock my head up at him. “Where are you going?”

“To call the doctor. I think you hit your head harder than I thought.”

“No, I’m always goofy. That’s why Bentley says the name fits.”

His grouchy expression softens. “I’m going to call anyway.” He points a finger at me. “Don’t leave the cabin. And don’t move.”

“I was thinking about running a triathlon, but okay.” I lie back on the bed then reconsider. “Wait!”

“What?” He pokes his head back in, looking annoyed even though his tone is gentle.

“Can I at least use the bathroom?”

“Of course. It’s right there.” He motions to the door next to the wardrobe. “Do you need help?”

“No,” I say, even though I’m struggling to scoot across the bed.

“C’mere.” He bundles me into his arms so fast, I squeak in surprise. I throw my arm around his neck.

I’m a big girl, but he lifts me easily. I breathe in his masculine, woodsy scent and my ovaries drop another hundred eggs. The ache in my head makes it loll onto his shoulder, which feels solid and sturdy.

Especially when he doesn’t immediately put me down. He carries me into the bathroom, which is a modern addition to the cabin, bigger than the bedroom. There’s a large sink and a separate room for the toilet, and a bathtub with jets in front of bay windows, perfect for soaking and enjoying a view of the forest.

“Wow.” I don’t lift my head from his shoulder because it’s too darn heavy. My head–not his shoulder. “This bathroom is nice.” Oops, that was rude. I shouldn’t sound so surprised. “Not that the cabin isn’t nice. I love the decor. Tiny bears for the win.”

He grunts and just stands there, holding me, my head nested against his shoulder. Is he swaying slightly from side to side?

Maybe he’s right. I hit my head harder than we both thought because this scenario seems a bit hard to believe.

Giant, gorgeous Viking rocking me gently in his dreamy bathroom?

It can’t be.

I lift my head, and he lets me down on the tile. He’s so tall, I only come up to his collarbone. I’m the perfect height to study the swell of his pecs under his shirt. What I wouldn’t give to see him shirtless. Just the thought makes me dizzy.

Teddy frowns. His big hands are on my arms, steadying me. “You okay, babygirl?”

“Yeah, thanks.” I lift my face, and we lock gazes. His grey eyes darken, and hunger flits over his expression. For me?

“You sure?”

I rub my lips together, and his eyes track the movement. “Um, yeah. Thanks for carrying me. I think I’ve got it from here.”

“I’m going to make that call,” he says, but doesn’t move.

“You smell good,” I blurt.

He just nods like it makes perfect sense. “You smell better.”

O. M. G. I think he does like me.

He takes what appears to be a reluctant step backward. “Okay. Holler if you need me.”

“Yep. I will. Thanks.”

He shuts the door behind him, and I sigh. Literally.

Now that I'm on my feet, I feel a little steadier. I do my business and examine my freshly bandaged head in the mirror. Teddy’s doctor did a good job. But now I need to figure out what happened and where Bentley is.