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.

inch of my body, and I excitedly eyed the water. The only good thing to come of accidentally puncturing the pocket of mucus that trolls had under their chin, like a croaking

the only woman here, I usually

it was my turn to enjoy the cool

along my spine as I bent my knees and sank down. My hands fisted into the sand, and I rubbed it over my top first. It had been the easiest way for a

my lesson by now and switched to leather. The men had

those men smelled like by the end of the day. Somehow, it managed to be more pungent after a day of working around camp than when

appreciated my family

and laying it over the rocks to dry. I knew I would still go to bed with it at least damp and would have to hang it

stones beneath me bruised my tailbone,

didn't bother to lay them out. They deserved their punishment of sitting tangled up in a wet

man was bent over the bank of the river almost 20 yards downstream,

my jaw dropped at his size. Growing up surrounded by Lycans, I was used to shirtless, muscular men walking

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

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 meeting

Him. My mate.

as I felt. My hands were still behind me, holding my back off the rocks, and my knees were bent as I held my injured butt off

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 mismatched

But now I was second-guessing everything. Nudity wasn't uncommon for Lycans

took in another deep breath, my muscles tensing. I may not interact with their kind often, but I recognized them when I crossed

A bear shifter.

made me feel even more exposed than when he was staring. I wanted his eyes on me. I wanted to know that my mate liked what he saw... even if I was propped up

Classy.

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

something that simple look so sexy, I was

my feet, determined to make the most out of meeting my mate, but I couldn't do that covered in slime. I dove back into the water, arching my back slightly and straightening my legs. Maybe he would enjoy the sight I offered as much as

I needed to regain my composure. So far, I had done nothing to

me at the prospect of him joining