An Unexpected Affair Read Online Free Page B

another story from a long time ago - it's more of a myth than anything else. Did your mother ever tell you of Bhaltair and Aileen?"
    She looked up, her eyes locking with Derek's, and her expression once again grave and serious after the werewolf remark, which had been partially in jest.
    He slowly shook his head, the names did seem familiar, but he did not recall the story at all.
    "In the olden days," Elise began, "back when we lived openly among humans, once every few generations, a bear would discover his true mate in a human. My speculation is, it's to do with revitalizing the bloodline. As the story goes, Bhaltair was the leader of his clan, a bachelor well into adulthood, who despite being surrounded by women of his kind never bonded with any of them. One day upon visiting a nearby village, he came across a human girl, Aileen, and it was as if lightning struck. His inner bear knew, he knew, he had to take her as his mate. Of course, Bhaltair, being a clan leader and accustomed to being in charge wasn't subtle about the matter, and some say that there had been hostilities between his clan and the humans already. It was more of an abduction than a love story in the end..."
    "Oh?" Derek could barely hide his shock at hearing Elise describe pretty much what he'd felt when he first saw Clarice.
Lightning
.
    "When Aileen's father, Lord Domnall, found out where she'd been taken, he collected as many men as he could, calling them in from the surrounding villages. It inspired one of the greatest genocides in our history. You will have heard of the
Sons of Domnall
... It is said they evolved from that very first group of soldiers, who vowed to hunt us to extinction."
    "And that's why we keep our existence a secret," Derek remarked, finally remembering bits and pieces of a similar story his mother had told him a very long time ago.
    "Perhaps. Or perhaps it's just a bedtime story we tell our cubs. A morality tale aimed to illustrate why the code of secrecy is so important. Any particular reason you're coming to me with all this?" Elise asked.
    "I was just curious, didn't know who else to ask... As you know, Aidan's turned into quite the globetrotter, so you're the only family around." Derek brushed away her question.
    "I see. Well then, glad to be of help."
    Derek nodded at Elise, who understood that this signaled the end of their little chat. She turned back one last time, no doubt wondering what he had gotten himself into, then ran off North, where undoubtedly Jack would be waiting for her at home.
    It wasn't what he had wanted to hear, especially her mention of the
Sons of Domnall
was very worrying, but at least he now knew his situation wasn't unique.
    Although his mother had been a firm believer in following your destiny - especially when it came to mates - Derek was a lot more practical. He wasn't about to leave his reality in favor of a human existence. His inner bear wouldn't allow it anyway, it practically tried to claw its way to the surface every time he got near Clarice. No, he refused to jump head first to his doom.
    Elise's story suggested that Aileen hadn't felt the same connection with Bhaltair. Humans must be incapable of sensing these things as bears do. Chances were, his own lightning strike with Clarice was equally one-sided.
    Then there was the code of secrecy to consider. It existed for a reason, and not just to hide from the mythical bear assassin squad, the
Sons of Domnall
. Those guys were probably a figment of bear imagination, but that didn't detract from the fact that people were scared of what they didn't understand, and scared people were dangerous. Even if Clarice did feel an attraction for him, he couldn't trust her with the secret of his species.
    He was going to fight this thing tooth and nail. It was only two weeks, for God's sake. Surely he could resist his urges long enough to watch Clarice drive off in that rented hatchback of hers, never to return...

Chapter Five
    Indeed, the next morning