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.

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

woman here, I usually let them

turn to enjoy the cool water instead of having to sit in damp clothing as the sweat

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

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,

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 we were out stalking,

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

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

the uneven stones beneath me bruised my tailbone, and I kicked the fabric

They deserved their punishment of

cheeks burned brightly as I looked up. A beast of a man was bent over the bank of the river almost 20 yards downstream, rinsing what looked like blood from his hands. His thick forearms were massive, and the veins were prominent as his

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

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

greet the Goddess with open arms and thank her for creating such a

Him. My mate.

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 I held my

chest as I realized my position. His eyes roamed over

to clean and dry, the better. But now I was second-guessing everything. Nudity wasn't uncommon for

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

A bear shifter.

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.

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

could make something that simple look so sexy, I was

determined to make the most out of meeting my mate, but I couldn't do that covered in slime. I dove back

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

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 was as excited about finding me as I was about