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.

The only good thing to come of accidentally puncturing the pocket of mucus that trolls had under their chin, like a croaking

woman here, I usually let them

argued otherwise, but now it was my turn to enjoy the cool water instead of having to sit in damp clothing as

and sank down. My hands fisted into the sand, and I rubbed

lesson by now and switched to leather. The men had offered to make me some so I could sew it into a functional top, something easier to clean, but the

smelled like 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 creatures

idea. While I appreciated my family of

back up the river bank 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 up around camp, but it was better than it crusting with mucus. My pants were next, and as I pulled them over my thighs with a groan, my

bruised my tailbone, and I kicked the

their punishment of sitting

A beast of a man was bent over the bank of the river

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

dark eyes were alight with amusement, 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

in it and would greet the Goddess with open arms and thank her for creating such a perfect

Him. My mate.

I felt. My hands were still behind me, holding my back off the rocks, and my knees were

my chest as I realized my position. His

clean and dry, the better. But now I was second-guessing everything. Nudity wasn't uncommon for Lycans or wolves, but he didn't

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

A bear shifter.

me, and somehow that 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.

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

could make something that simple look so

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

my composure. So far, I had done nothing to attract him to me, and I wanted to make

noticed he was now standing, and giddiness filled me at the prospect of him joining me. Perhaps he was as excited about finding me as I was