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.

layer of sweat coated every 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 frog, was that

the only woman here, I usually let

argued otherwise, but now it was my turn to enjoy the cool water instead of

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 quick clean, and when the small pebbles washed away through my fingers, I reached down and grabbed

top from my body. I should have learned my lesson by now and switched to leather. The men had offered to make me some so I could

what those men smelled like by the end of the day. Somehow, it managed to be more pungent after

happened, I had no idea. While I appreciated my family of misfits and monster hunters, I

and would have to hang it up around camp, but it was better than it crusting with mucus. My pants

the uneven stones beneath me bruised

out. They deserved their punishment of sitting tangled

of the river almost 20 yards downstream, rinsing what looked like blood from his hands. His thick forearms were

dropped at his size. Growing up surrounded by Lycans, I was used to shirtless, muscular men walking around. But he put them to shame. I was sure if one wanted to, a full-grown Lycan could hide behind him, and no one would be the

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 scent wafted over to me. I had never smelt anything so enticing

with open arms and thank her for creating such a

Him. My mate.

not as excited as I felt. My hands were still behind me, holding

redness in my cheeks promptly burned down my neck and over my chest as I realized my position. His

I was second-guessing everything. Nudity

deep breath, my muscles tensing. I may not interact with their kind often, but

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 on me. I wanted to know that my mate liked what he saw... even if I was propped up like I was ready to

Classy.

his black hair, clearing the strands back from his forehead.

make something that simple look

of meeting my mate, but I couldn't do that covered in slime. I dove back into the water, arching

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

he was now standing, and giddiness filled me at the prospect of him joining me.