A Siren for the Bear (Sarkozy Brothers Book 1) by Meredith Clarke, Pia Milan

want to talk, and she didn't blame him.
    She was ruining everything for them. All these past weeks of practicing, and she was running, only days from the kickoff of the tour.
    As they headed out of the gates to the Sarkozy land, Carson rolled down the window. The rain had stopped, and she wanted one last whiff of the fresh mountain air before she left forever.
    Then, she frowned. She could have sworn she'd heard something echoing through the hills.
    The sound of a bear's agonized growl.
    She shook her head and rolled up the window, refusing to allow her mind to play tricks on her.
    Bears indeed.

25. MAREK  

    M AREK RACED THROUGH THE TREES , pushing himself hard enough for his muscles to burn. He'd fucked up. He'd taken a chance on her and told her the truth, but she'd thought he was mental.
    He ran for miles, trying to burn away his hurt.
    Was it because she couldn't handle the truth? Or was it because she couldn't believe that he really cared so deeply for her. He'd come to terms with his likelihood of never having children, which meant a relationship with a human woman would be that much easier, considering she wouldn't bear his children, wouldn't have to go through the reality of their transformation when they came of age, wouldn't have to see her children become bears.
    The curse was actually working for his benefit.
    Or so he'd thought.
    The look in her eyes when he'd spilled his guts had hurt him deeply. But he couldn't blame her. Humans found such truths hard to swallow. It would take time and he'd rushed her.
    He reached a rise and paused to study the canyon below. Trees filled the valley, part of the Klamath National Forest. His territory.
    When the needle plunged into his shoulder, he was too shocked to think straight. When the pain stabbed through him, he let out a roar, the sound filling the valley and echoing back to him. Then he turned and ran, tugging the needle from his flesh. Some of the liquid had already seeped into his muscles, but he hoped he had enough time to get back to the lodge.
    He crashed through the trees, destroying a number of saplings. But his mind was focused on getting home. If he collapsed here, they'd come for him, take him away the way they'd taken Aleks. He'd disappear the way his brother had, without so much as a farewell.
    He was close to the house when he fell, rolling over and over, realizing only then that the bear had retreated and only the man remained. He lay there staring at the black sky, sucking in breath after breath. The trees were falling, closing in on him, and he grunted.
    No. They wouldn't have him. Not if he could help it.
    He rolled over, pushed himself to his feet, and lurched forward, racing to the house. He burst on to the lawn, letting out a warning growl that ripped through the trees.
    A yell from the other side of the property confirmed that Greg had heard his alert and security was coming. Marek hit the ground two feet from the stairs. Hands rolled him over, and people were talking to him, urging him to answer.
    He opened his hand and let the dart fall to the ground.
    Faces swam around him, but there was only one thought in his head, even as he fell into unconsciousness.
    Carson wasn't there.

26. CARSON  

    T HREE WEEKS LATER , THINGS HAD finally gotten back to normal in Carson's life. So normal she'd be forgiven for thinking the whole Ursus Major episode had ever happened.
    Kat slapped her tablet down on the counter in front of Carson's mug of coffee, pointing at it with one manicured fingertip. "They postponed the tour," she said, as if it meant something.
    Carson rolled her eyes. She'd been too busy preparing new songs for her channel to pay much attention to what the band was up to.
    Rex had dropped her off without a word, only waiting at her door until she was safely inside. And that was the last she'd heard from them. A portion of her salary had been paid into her account, but as yet, she hadn't received any communication regarding the dissolution of