The Beast And The Blessed

The Bear and The Beauty - One: Charlie

The Bear and The Beauty

Chapter One: Charlie

Charlie’s P.O.V.

I could hearthem laughing from here. There were a hundred yards of thick trees between us, and I could still hear them laughing at me.

The corner of my lips pulled up at the sound. Even if I was the butt of the joke, it felt amazing. Before them, I never had someone willing to treat me as an equal. Let alone to be so bold as to laugh at me to my face.

But as I grabbed a large glob of the thick green slime from my chest, I let a chuckle slip out too. It dripped through my fingers, stringing through them to the ground just as I reached the river's edge.

I deserved this. I knew better.

Yet, I still ended up covered in troll snot because I was careless. There were worse ways to end up after a battle with a rogue troll, but being drenched in their mucus was not my favorite.

Flicking my fingers to the side, the slime smacked loudly against the leaves of the overgrown bush next to me.

He would bring in a nice payday, but getting his remnants from my clothes and memory would take forever.

Oh, if my brother could see me now. He would be furious. Risking my life to chase monsters and sleeping in the forest with five men. Of course, they were in separate bed rolls and tents, but just thinking about him seeing how I lived now... I could picture the vein in Killian’s forehead threatening to burst.

He hated having his heir so far away and out from under his thumb. It was part of the reason why I left. Whenever he vocalized his dislike for my occupation, he always said it wasn’t suitable for 'the heir' to be putting herself in danger. Not once had he said he was worried about 'his sister.'

There was a big difference. One I resented.

As soon as I had the opportunity, I fled home like the hounds of hell were on my heels.

To be fair, they technically were. An angry Lycan was one thing, but the Lycan king? Forget about it.

excitedly eyed the water. The only good thing to come of accidentally

I usually let

now it was my turn to enjoy the cool

water. The chill in the stream sent a shiver along my spine as I bent my knees and sank down. My hands fisted into the sand, and

that the sludge had been forced from the fabric, I began the struggle of pulling the wet long-sleeve top from my body. I should have learned my lesson by now and switched to leather. The men had

by the end of the day. Somehow, it managed to be more pungent after a day of working around camp than when we were out stalking, chasing, and slaughtering

had no idea. While I appreciated my family of misfits and

I knew I would still go to bed with it at least damp and would have to hang it up around camp, but

uneven stones beneath me bruised

their punishment of

man was bent over the bank of the river almost 20 yards downstream, rinsing what looked like blood

was used to shirtless, muscular men walking around.

with his eyebrows raised as he held my stare and continued to clean himself. I couldn't tell if they were a deep brown or black from the distance, but I wanted to find out. I felt stuck in place for a moment as the breeze shifted and his delicious

my mind. I could drown in it and would greet the Goddess with open arms and thank her for creating such a perfect man and smell before ever even

Him. My mate.

wolf as the man sat back on his heels, watching me. He looked entertained but not as excited as I felt. My hands were still behind me, holding my back off the rocks, and my knees were bent as

burned down my neck and over my chest as I realized my position. His eyes roamed over me greedily, stopping to examine the thin see-through bralette I was wearing and the

the less fabric to clean and dry, the better. But now I was

with their kind often, but I recognized them when I crossed one.

A bear shifter.

gaze away from me, and somehow that made me feel even more exposed than when he was staring. I wanted his eyes

Classy.

wet hands through his black hair, clearing the strands back from his forehead. I

he could make something that simple look so sexy, I was

back into the water, arching my back slightly and straightening my legs. Maybe he would enjoy the sight I offered as much

heat was exactly what I needed to regain my composure. So far, I had done nothing

I broke the water’s surface, I noticed he was now standing, and giddiness filled me at the prospect of him joining me. Perhaps he