The Bear's Abused Mate.

Chapter One

Kathrine McNeil sat on her bed, braiding her long black hair and hoping that her uncle's new female friend would forget that she was here. "Get out here!" Kathrine internally groaned as she went to open the door before the woman knocked down her door again. "How can I help?" Kathrine bowed her head and kept her words on the woman's newest scent to herself. "The fur seller is coming today, and I need my newest cloak cleaned. Your uncle wants to show me off, I need my new dress, the red one." Kathrine nodded and went to get the dress she finished fixing the night before. "This one? Or would you prefer to wear the fox cloak with dark blue dress?" Kathrine really didn't care what the woman wore, she just hated the work that went into the red dress. The woman who only let Kathrine call her madam was by no means a skinny woman and fighting to get her into a dress that was not designed for someone of her body type. "That works, don't want to ruin my new favorite furs." Kathrine helped to get madam ready and then excused herself to change her own dress. She had three dresses total, a wool one for the coldest days, a dark green one for the house, and a greyish one for when she worked downstairs in the pub, she was allowed one cloak and it was a bear fur one that her uncle left for her when she was 12. "Get downstairs first and make sure that my man is ready for me, or I will burn you again." Kathrine ran downstairs and saw her uncle talking with Thomas. Thomas was a wine merchant who had been trying to marry Kathrine for the longest time. "Uncle, do you want Madam to join you today?" Her uncle nodded and Thomas smiled at Kathrine before she went to the back.  "Kathrine!" Rosie MacDonald called for her friend before placing the last bowl in front of the man she had been serving. "Rosie, what are you still doing here?" Kathrine had been practically raised by Rosie's independent mother. "I can be anywhere I want dear sister. Also, I heard that the fur trader is coming by today and I heard he is handsome." Kathrine smiled at her friend. "I thought you wanted to marry a wealthy merchant like the farmer who owns the land near you." Rosie gagged and Kathrine laughed till she winced and moved to the back room. "It happened again didn't it." Rosie never had to ask, if Kathrine had been beaten the night before. Her uncle hated her for looking like her mother, apparently her uncle resented his brother for marrying the woman he loved. "I was singing like her." Rosie's face went almost as red as her hair, in her anger. "Don't." Kathrine grabbed her friend's hands to make her stay in the room with her. "They can ban you from here and I can't lose my sister." Rosie sat down next to her and just held her being careful of the sore ribs and most likely bruised arms. "I heard Thomas has a reason to believe that he will be marring you soon." Rosie felt Kathrine stiffen in her arms. "Don't worry, I won't let that happen." Kathrine's face fell, she hated the thought of being Thomas's wife. "Why does he think I will be his wife?" Thomas was a wealthy man, but he gave Kathrine the creeps and at least three women have said that he is the father of their children. "I heard him say that your uncle is deep in debt and might not be able to pay it off. Thomas said that he was going to propose that he marry you and pay of your uncle's debts for him." Both girls jumped when John, the baker came to get them from the back. "I didn't mean to scare you moi malenkie sestry." (This is how to pronounce the words. its Russian for my little sisters roughly. Most of the names are Irish but this is more fun.) "You didn't." Kathrine gave him a hug as did Rosie and the three left the room together. John was a longtime friend of the girls. John had worked in the bakery with his father ever since they could remember, and he loved the girls as a brother loves his sisters. It was still cold outside even in the sun and Kathrine had to wear the bear fur. "Don't embarrass me." Madam shoved her forward and almost made the girl trip. "This is Braith Stone; he works with the fur trader sometimes." Thomas was talking with her uncle and smiled dangerously at Kathrine. Even looking at him made her want to heave. "Ah my lovely wife." Madam loved it when she was called the wife of the pub owner for some reason. "This is my niece, Kathrine." He didn't even look at her when he said it. "Hi, my name is Rosie." Kathrine smiled at Rosie when she saw her friend introducing herself to the man Thomas called Braith. "This is the fur trader himself. Bracken Medved." Kathrine stopped breathing when she saw the man. He was taller than herself by a lot and he looked strong like he could kill her with one punch. He had scars on his arms from animals and possibly humans, he looked scary and also, he was hot, she couldn't think of anything else to say about him. Bracken handed her uncle a bundle of furs. "This is what you asked for." His voice was deep and commanding, he looked at Kathrine and she saw he had golden eyes. "It is so nice to meet you Mr. Medved." Madam tried her best to show off her chest that was already hanging out more than it should. "I need to talk to you about the payment." Bracken didn't even look at the woman and what she was showing off. Kathrine felt Thomas moving closer to her and she moved away, closer to her uncle and madam. "The only thing I can offer is my niece. She could be your slave." Thomas scowled and opened his mouth to say something before closing it when he caught sight of the 10.5-inch knife hanging from the trader's belt. Bracken looked shocked before anger set in. Kathrine was shoved into his arms, and she had to suppress a cry. Her arms were screaming in pain and her ribs protested at the sudden movement, she could barely stand. Kathrine stilled and felt Bracken steady her, keeping her from moving more than necessary.

Bracken held the girl and felt rage when he heard the small noise of pain she made. She was holding herself together but only slightly. He wanted to rip all the people in the room to shreds, especially the whore wearing blue. The wine seller looked like he wanted to fight Bracken. Braith was smiling at the girl Rosie who had just struck up a conversation with him and looked worried for her friend. "I don't want a slave, nor do I need one." The man looked at his niece with a smile. "Then what about taking her as a bed warmer?" Braith and Bracken both growled and Kathrine tried to hide herself in Bracken's chest. "I will take her, have her get her things." Braith raised his brows at him. "Get your things kotenok (kitten), I will be waiting for you." Braith whispered to the girl he had been holding and saw her nod before going after her friend. Bracken had to grit his teeth and pretend that he was okay with the male's idea. He saw Thomas leaving and made sure that the man stayed. "Why don't we celebrate with a glass of your wine." The man gave a hate filled stare in Bracken's direction. "I don't think that will be necessary." Braith blocked the doorway. "I would love to celebrate my prize with everyone." Bracken could lie easily about this, because she was prize, his mate. "We will leave today. I want to be home before the week's end." The whore's smile sank but she was happy with a fur that was placed around her shoulders. Soon Kathrine was entering the room with a small bundle, and she seemed less nervous. "Come to me kotenok." She went to him, and he felt her relax against him. "We need to get going. Say your goodbyes." He took her bundle from her and handed it to Braith to put on the horse. "Goodbye Uncle, Madam, Thomas." She then turned to a man in the back. "Goodbye brother." He hugged her and whispered to her making her smile slightly. "Goodbye sister. I hope to visit you soon." Rosie and Kathrine had no idea how close they would be living. "I love you sister." They held each other close before Braith took Roise with him outside and Bracken left with Kathrine. "I won't hurt you; I will never hurt you. I will not defile you without a marriage in place." He saw her smile at him, and he lightly kissed her hand and then lifted her up onto his horse and felt that she was too thin. "I want to reach my home before too long, I feel snow coming and I intend to make you my wife before then." He saw her smile and saw Rosie next to Braith and the two men nodded before setting off for their home, far away from the humans before their animals could rip them apart.