The Clawed Squad: Royal (The Bear Shifters of Clawed Ranch Book 2) Read online

  He smirked. “I’ve seen enough.”

  She was about to ask him what he meant when an owl flew by and landed on a nearby tree. Camilla gasped and stared into its huge eyes. “I’ve never seen an owl in the wild before,” she whispered. She looked around and suddenly realized that it was pretty dark outside. The bright moon and stars were out and the sun was long gone. The time had flown by while they were talking and she had been so focused on his gorgeous face that she didn’t realize the night slowly getting darker. Scrappy was sound asleep on the rock behind them. She giggled as his front paw twitched.

  The owl flew off over the lake and she watched it until it disappeared into the night sky. “It’s so dark,” she said, rubbing her arms.

  “We can go back,” Royal said, sitting up.

  “No, I didn’t mean…”

  He froze and looked down at her. She sighed and stood up, scooping the sound asleep puppy off of the rock. This was the best night that she had in a long time but everything had to come to an end eventually.

  They walked back to the camp and it was empty when they arrived. The campfire was smoldering, casting the warm smell of burning wood throughout the camp. Empty Adirondack chairs circled the fire where Royal’s friends had been, no doubt laughing and having a great time. It looked like fun and Camilla secretly wished that she could stay here a little longer.

  She froze in fear when she saw what was parked beside the two pickup trucks and Jeep: a police car.

  Oh no. They had finally caught up to her. She was about to join Angela in jail, where she belonged.

  “Don’t worry about that,” Royal said when he saw her staring at the car. “It’s just Stetson’s mate, Kylee. She’s the Sheriff of Colwood. She usually leaves for work early in the morning. You’ll meet her eventually.”

  Camilla gulped. “Oh,” she said, with a frog in her throat. “Great.” She hoped that it was later rather than sooner.

  “I’ll sleep outside,” Royal said when they arrived at his cabin.

  “You can sleep in your bed,” she said, feeling horrible to take his cabin. “I’ll just curl up on the couch.”

  He leaned in and smiled at her. “No princess is going to sleep on my couch. I have a tent that I can sleep in.”

  Camilla’s shoulders dropped. She hated to sleep alone and it had been so long since she had someone sleeping beside her. She pet Scrappy’s soft head. At least I have you.

  “Goodnight,” he said, leaning in. Camilla closed her eyes and waited with a held breath for his sexy lips to touch hers but they landed on her cheek instead.

  Fuck it.

  She opened her eyes, grabbed the back of his neck and pulled him in for a kiss. A real kiss. Right on the lips.

  His body stiffened in shock at first but then he relaxed and kissed her back, soft yet firm. Camilla’s heart thumped in her chest as his tongue slid through her parted lips and explored the inside of her mouth. She took the opportunity to caress his strong biceps, something that she had been wanting to do all day.

  When he finally pulled away her head was light and dizzy, her mouth moist and her chest fluttering. She held onto the wall of the cabin in case she fell over.

  “Goodnight, my princess,” he said, as he walked away, disappearing into the night.

  Camilla sighed as her shoulders slumped down. “Right,” she mumbled as she opened the door and stepped into the cabin, “princess.”

  eight

  Scrappy was already sound asleep on the pillow as Camilla climbed into Royal’s bed. She scooped up the puppy in her arms and cuddled it to her chest as she pulled the crisp blankets over her body.

  That was a really good kiss.

  Camilla ran through her Rolodex of first kisses, comparing it to all of her past kisses to see where Royal stacked up. Better than Donovan? Oh hell yeah. It looked like she had a new winner. Royal’s sexy lips were soft yet firm and she liked the way that his strong hands pressed up against her lower back, pulling her in nice and close.

  She moaned softly as she stared up at the moonlight shining on the ceiling. Camilla inhaled long and slow, trying to breathe in Royal’s rugged scent off his pillow but they just smelled like Scrappy.

  She felt bad. The poor guy was outside sleeping in a tent.

  I should just leave now while he’s sleeping.

  Camilla hated going to bed. It was at this time that she was alone with her self-loathing thoughts, unable to escape from them, unable to hide. They would torment her until she finally fell asleep. She would lay there staring at the ceiling wishing that she could go back and change all of the bad things she had done, apologize to all of the people who she had hurt.

  Royal was right outside. She could go apologize to him now and confess to her lies. She felt horrible for deceiving him but that old fear was always right at the forefront of her thoughts. Camilla pictured the strung-out girls with the short latex skirts, and she gripped Scrappy tighter.

  Angela never felt guilty. “Fuck them all,” she would say. “Society abandoned us. We’re just taking what’s rightfully ours.”

  Camilla would always nod along but she never felt the same way. Angela was too harsh, too angry. They could make ten grand in a day and it wouldn’t be enough for Angela. It was never about the money with her. She had emotional scars, she had been hurt. She wanted to steal everything from everyone. She wanted to watch the world burn.

  Angela had a hole in her soul that she tried to fill with money but it would never fill up.

  Camilla never had much need for money beyond food, shelter and the other necessities. All that Camilla ever wanted was a family. She could manipulate and fool people into giving her anything, but she couldn’t manipulate anyone into loving her.

  She squeezed Scrappy gently and kissed the top of his sleeping head. Maybe it’s time to give up this life of lies and theft.

  She liked Royal. He seemed like a genuinely good guy who liked her back, but where could she go from here? She had told too many lies. He thought that she was a princess and he didn’t even know her real name.

  She hugged Scrappy and closed her eyes tight.

  I’m going to be alone forever.

  “Hey Royal,” Slate said with a grin the next morning. “Did you get any ass last night?”

  Tyler frowned at the twin. “She’s a princess, Slate. Show some respect.”

  “Sorry,” Slate said. “Did you get any derriere last night?”

  Royal chuckled as he watched Stetson flip the bacon that was grilling on the pan over the campfire. He hadn’t gotten any derriere as Slate so eloquently put it, but he did get a kiss. For the first time in his life he had kissed a princess, and it was amazing. He spent all night in his tent replaying the moment in his mind; feeling Elsa’s plump luscious lips pressing against his, the feel of her soft back under his fingertips, the intoxicating smell of her perfume, and the sweet taste of her mouth.

  “Not yet,” Royal answered with a sly smile. He was never one to kiss and tell.

  It was early morning and all of the boys were up. But there was only one person who he really wanted to see.

  “Staring at the door is not going to make her come out any faster,” Stetson whispered to him with a knowing grin.

  The front door of his wooden cabin opened and Scrappy burst down the stairs, barking and chasing a nearby bird who took off flying when he saw the little pup charging forward on his clumsy legs. Royal was about to tell Stetson that he was clearly wrong, but Elsa walked down the stairs and his mind went blank.

  She looked stunning with her green eyes looking a little puffy and red like she just woke up and her hair all big and wild. She was a beautiful sight, just like a princess would be. That’s what I want to wake up to every morning.

  Stetson nudged Royal’s arm with his elbow when he just stood there gawking. “Go bring her a coffee,” he whispered.

  “Right,” Royal said, racing to the coffee machine. He poured her a mug so fast that he spilled half of the burning hot liquid on
to his hand. He wiped it off on the back of his shorts and hurried over to her.

  “Good morning,” he said, handing her the mug. “Do you like coffee?”

  Of course she liked coffee but he just wanted her to answer so that he could hear her voice. He wanted to see her luscious lips moving, the lips that he had kissed last night.

  “I do,” she said, smiling as she took the mug from his hands. Her fingers touched his, lingering on his hand longer than necessary. Yup. This is definitely how I want to wake up every morning.

  “Come, sit,” he said, sliding his hand onto her lower back and guiding her to the campfire. “I’ll get you some breakfast.”

  She smiled as she took a sip of her coffee and walked to the firepit. Royal looked at the scene and sighed as his stomach dropped. Stetson was looking enormous as he cooked in a frilly pink apron over the campfire and the twins, Karl and Slate, looked like reject superheroes as they pulled on their tight wingsuits. They were both adrenaline junkies who loved to jump off high cliffs in nothing but wingsuits, which were basically tight suits with fabric wings sewed in under the arms and between the legs. It made them look like flying squirrels.

  Royal gulped. What did he have to offer her? Really?

  She was a true princess and he was a shifter with no money, no mansion, and he lived on an empty ranch with a bunch of crazy guys. I have nothing to offer her.

  His mood shifted from the highest of highs to the lowest of lows. He could enjoy having her here all that he wanted, and he could pretend that their kiss actually meant something to her, but the truth was that she would be gone soon. She wouldn’t want to stay here for long. A princess belonged in a palace, not in a frat house.

  Royal and Elsa grabbed seats beside Thorn as Scrappy came strutting over. Thorn picked up the little pup and pet his head as the dog attacked his thumb, biting it with his sharp baby teeth.

  “Royal told me a bit about your predicament,” Thorn whispered, leaning close to Elsa. “It’s not every day that you find a princess in Montana. Especially one in need of so much money.”

  Her green eyes darted to Royal with a look of betrayal. He turned away with guilty red cheeks.

  “I actually don’t really need the money,” she answered, stuttering nervously. “I think that I’ll be okay.”

  Thorn’s eyes narrowed on her. “What country did you say you were from again?”

  Royal couldn’t stand to see her squirming so uncomfortably. She had been through enough and Royal was going to tell Thorn to back off even if he was the alpha.

  “I don’t think she wants to talk about it,” Royal said protectively.

  Thorn shrugged his shoulders. “It’s just a question.”

  Elsa was moving around in her chair restlessly as she stared down at the coffee mug in her hands. “I’m from Grumerland.”

  “I smell bull shit,” Karl shouted.

  Elsa whipped her head towards the twin. She was sitting up on her chair, looking like she was ready to run.

  “I think the cattle are here early,” Karl said, holding his nose. “I can smell the manure from the main road.”

  Royal kept his eyes on Elsa as she dropped her tense shoulders and took a breath of relief. He was still trying to analyze her reaction when the smell of manure hit his nose. Yup. The cows are here early.

  The heavy trucks rumbled as they came barreling down the gravel road towards them. Thorn sprang up and ran over to meet the drivers. Royal was thankful to have him gone. He could tell that Thorn made Elsa uncomfortable and he didn’t want anything making her uncomfortable while she was here.

  Speaking of uncomfortable. “Aren’t those wingsuits a little tight,” Royal asked as Karl and Slate walked over, looking like they were in a low budget superhero movie. “I can see the outline of your junk.”

  Slate grinned. “Pretty impressive isn’t it?”

  Elsa laughed. “What’s impressive?” she asked. “Your unitard that’s criminally too tight or your package which is criminally too small?”

  “First of all,” Slate said with a frown. “It’s a wingsuit. Not a unitard. I haven’t worn one of those since I was a teenager.”

  “And,” Karl said, joining in. “Our packages are anything but small. You would need at least twelve stamps to mail these packages.”

  Elsa chuckled as she stared at them. “There are so many things in those two statements that are beyond wrong. I don’t even know where to begin.”

  Thorn waved the trucks on and they drove behind the cabins up to the empty barn. The cows and bulls watched them through the little slats in the side of the trucks.

  “It smells like work around here,” Slate said, looking at his twin. “Let’s fly.”

  “Literally,” Karl answered and they hurried away before Thorn could call them back.

  “You’re not staying to help?” Royal called out to them. He had over a hundred head of cattle to organize and settle in.

  “Nope!” they both called out as they ran to the pickup trucks.

  Elsa was watching the trucks with a smile. “I love cows,” she said.

  “You love all animals,” Royal said as he admired the side of her face. “Want to go see them?”

  She jumped out of the chair before she answered. “Yes!”

  They hurried over as Thorn and Tyler helped the drivers unload the cattle into their new home. They were Hereford cattle, large and beautiful with brown bodies and white heads. Royal would know each of them soon enough. He was the one in charge of them.

  Thorn had put Scrappy down while he helped unload the trucks and now the pup was getting into trouble.

  “Oh, Scrappy,” Elsa said as the little puppy ran after a squirrel. He was heading into the forest. She chased after him and Royal just smiled as he watched her. God, she’s beautiful.

  An agitated bull broke free from the herd and sprinted away from the trucks. His sharp horns were lowered and he charged forward as he grumbled angrily. Apparently, he didn’t like being stuffed onto the truck and he wasn’t interested in his new home.

  Royal gasped as he saw where the bull was sprinting. He was heading right at Elsa and the pup.

  Crap! He sprinted forward but there was no way that he would arrive there in time. She was about to get trampled.

  “Watch out!” Royal screamed.

  Huh? Camilla turned and froze in fear when she saw the fierce eyes of the furious bull. He was coming in like an unstoppable train, about to run her over. His thick hooves were kicking up dirt and he lowered his horned head as he was about to collide into her helpless body. She closed her eyes and tensed up as she prepared for the impact. But it never came.

  The bull was standing in front of her, staring at her curiously when she finally opened her eyes. It gave her a wink before turning and trotting back to the barn.

  She touched her sweaty forehead wondering if she was going insane. Did that bull just wink at me? It couldn’t be but that’s what she saw. He had winked at her.

  “Thanks, Tyler!” Royal called out to the men by the barn as he rushed over to her.

  Camilla looked over at them and Tyler was standing beside a truck with his eyes glowing white. What the hell?

  She dropped her mouth in shock as she stared at him. He looked possessed. She had never seen anything like it.

  “Are you okay?” Royal asked, grabbing her arms.

  Camilla just ignored him. She couldn’t take her eyes off of Tyler. The bull who had almost killed her was now as calm as could be as he trotted back to the barn. When he was safely inside, Tyler’s eyes dulled back to normal and the bull shook his massive head and grunted. He kicked up dirt and ran around the fenced barn, acting even more aggressive than before.

  “What the hell was that?” Camilla asked with her hands shaking.

  “Nothing,” Royal said, trying to guide her away. “Let’s go see the cows.”

  She didn’t move. “His eyes were glowing.”

  Royal tilted his head and looked at her funny. “No. It
must have been the glare of the sun.”

  “Right,” she said, watching him as they walked. That was no glare of the sun. It appeared that she wasn’t the only one here with secrets.

  nine

  “Thanks for your help,” Royal said, sitting beside Elsa. They had finally finished their day of back breaking work getting the cattle settled in their new home with water and food. Elsa had been a real trooper, helping out a ton even though she only had the strength of a human. And she had made the day really fun, asking Royal all sorts of bizarre questions which had them both laughing at the answers.

  “It was my pleasure,” she said with a smile. “You’re so lucky to live here and have this as a job. I’d love to be surrounded by animals all day like this.”

  So don’t leave. Stay here forever.

  “You have such a way with animals,” he said instead. “They seem to really like you.”

  She laughed. “When they’re not trying to trample me.”

  Royal exhaled deeply thinking back to the morning. That had been way to close for his comfort. He owed Tyler a nice cold beer for having saved Elsa’s nice ass.

  He grabbed two bottles of lemonade from the cooler beside him, cracked them open and handed her one. “Thanks,” she said, touching his hand again. This time she didn’t even try to hide it. She squeezed his fingers as she took the bottle.

  “Would you rather be a wild wolf living in the forest or a pampered dog in a family home?” she asked.

  Royal chuckled. “That’s a weird question.”

  “No, it’s not,” she said with a shake of her head. “It’s a brilliant question and will tell me everything I need to know. Answer it.”

  Royal chuckled as he shook his head. He was starting to expect, and even look forward to, these strange questions. “Wild wolf,” he said after thinking about it for a few seconds.

  “That’s what I thought you’d pick,” she said, staring at the cows.

  “And you?”

  She took a deep breath, never taking her eyes off the cows. “Family dog. It would be so nice to live in a nice family home where everyone loves you and you’re the center of attention. Imagine the mom and dad both showering you with attention and love. It would be pretty nice.”