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 only woman here, I usually

my turn to enjoy the cool water instead of having to sit in damp

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 I rubbed it over my top first. It had been the easiest way for a quick clean, and when the small pebbles washed away

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 offered to make me some so I could sew it into a functional top, something easier to

it managed to be more pungent after a day of working around camp than when we were out

had no idea. While I appreciated my family of misfits

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 heel

as the uneven stones beneath me bruised my tailbone, and I kicked the fabric free from around my

bother to lay them out. They deserved their punishment of sitting tangled up

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

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

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

greet the Goddess with open arms and

Him. My mate.

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

as I realized my position. His eyes roamed over me greedily, stopping to examine the thin see-through bralette I

better. But now I was second-guessing everything. Nudity wasn't

not interact with their kind often,

A bear shifter.

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

Classy.

hair, clearing the strands back from

that simple look

back into the water, arching my back

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

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