Gray Back Bad Bear (Gray Back Bears Book 1) by T. S. Joyce

quick, and said, “I can’t wait to see you tonight,” then ran for the door. He threw it open just as Creed was jogging up his porch steps looking pissed.
    “I’m coming.”
    “From what I heard, you already came. What the fuck did I tell you about potential mates in the trailer park, Barns?”
    Okay, Creed was irate. As he should be. There was no more denying Willa was a potential mate. She was the one. Fuck, Creed was going to hurt him today.
    “Ream me out on the landing. I don’t want Willa to hear,” he pleaded low.
    “I’m not going to ream you out, Barns. I’m going to bleed you for disobeying my orders.” Creed spun around and strode for his truck where Clinton was hanging out the window pointing and silently laughing, the prick.
    “Get the fuck out of my ride,” Creed yelled at Clinton. “Go ride with Easton.”
    “Aw, man,” Clinton said. “I don’t want to ride with Easton. He’s weird and will probably drive us off a cliff just for funsies.”
    Creed stopped in his tracks. “Why does everyone think that whatever I say is a suggestion? That’s a fuckin’ order, Clinton. I swear to God…” Creed kept muttering, but Matt couldn’t hear what he was saying under his breath anymore as he stomped around the back of his truck. “Get in, Matt!”
    “This is your fault,” Clinton said, kicking a rock as he sauntered toward Easton’s truck.
    Easton stood leaned against his old beat-up Ford, green eyes dancing as he gave Clinton a predatory grin.
    Aw, shit, Matt did feel bad now. Today was going to suck for everyone. Everyone except Jason, who had the day off and was enjoying the show from his front porch with a big old grin on his face as he blew on a mug cupped in his hands. He was also incredibly naked, as he always enjoyed his coffee in the mornings, dick out for all to see.
    Fuck it all, Creed was right. A woman didn’t belong up here.
    His inner bear snarled his disagreement.
    Sack lunch in hand, Matt slid into the passenger’s seat of Creed’s truck and slammed the door beside him.
    “You need to cut that snarly shit out, Matt.”
    Matt swallowed hard and forced the sound in his throat to stop.
    Creed jammed the key, and the engine roared to life. “Who is she?”
    “You met her yesterday. Her name’s Willamena Madden. She just graduated college, and she’s here on vacation.”
    “No, dipshit. Who is she to you?”
    The truck lurched forward as Creed slammed his foot on the gas.
    Matt rolled down the window to ease the electricity that snapped from Creed’s skin toward him. His alpha’s bear was a gnarly beast to mess with, and Matt was practically pulling the damned thing’s stump tail just by breathing right now.
    “She’s the one.”
    Creed shot him a look. Eyes round, mouth hanging open—that kind of look. Matt’s lip lifted in a snarl, and he looked out through the woods that were passing in a blur.
    “Have you lost your mind? She’s human, Matt. I’ve already forbade you all from Turning anyone, and there’s a reason for that.”
    “I’m not Turning her, Creed. I wouldn’t do that to her.”
    “Then what’s the plan, man? Cause I have to tell you, I don’t see this working out for any of us.”
    “The Ashe Crew has human mates—”
    “The Ashe Crew is the A team, Matt! We’re the fucking C team. You know why? Because our dumbasses went and recruited all the problem bears.”
    “For a reason.”
    “Doesn’t matter what our reasons were, Matt. The only way this works is if we don’t complicate our lives up here. Women complicate things. Mates complicate things. Humans complicate things. Willamena Madden is a fucking time bomb.” Creed ran his hand roughly over his black hair and spat out the open window. “She can’t stay here. I’m not going back on my orders.”
    “Her place is with me if she wants it.”
    “Yeah? And what am I supposed to do with that? Can you even imagine Clinton or Jason thinking ‘Aw, Matt found a mate. That looks fun. I