Colt heard the door open while he was tossing trash into the dumpster. When he turned around, he saw the bearswan that had everyone on edge. He stopped and watched her.

A storm was rolling in, the temperatures had dropped even further after the sunset. So, he could see her breath. It was heavy and ragged, as she fought back her emotions. She was obviously angry and upset. But, what was it about her that he couldn't take his eyes off of her? Yesterday, when he cornered her, she was so warm and she smelled so intoxicating. But, she had serious issues and he was not real interested in emotional woman troubles. So, he forced himself to return to tossing the bags into the dumpster. Once he was done, he headed for the door.

She jumped when he got closer, wiping away her tears as if she didn't want him to see her cry.

"I don't know what is wrong with you. If you hate us so much, just leave!"

"I can't! If I leave, then I fail my final test and won't be accepted as a Blood Rites Squire." She said as she slumped against the wall.

"Seriously? They are forcing you to stay here, making all of our lives miserable just as a hazing for a freaky secret squire club that probably doesn't matter to anyone anyway?"

"It matters to me!"

"Why? You are a bear, you shouldn't be a squire to begin with!"

"I am not a bear!" She finally broke down. "I can't be a bear. I am a squire. Like my father. I am a Kostas. I have to be Blood Rites."

Colt was losing his patience. He rushed up to her and sniffed at her neck. He could see the chill bumps erupt across her skin as he made her uneasy. "You smell of bear. You are half human and half Arcadian. And you are starting to cycle. How can you deny this of yourself? Everyone in the bar can tell."

Her face was flushing red. She reached up to slap him. But to her surprise, she grabbed his head and pulled his lips to hers.

Colt was so stunned that he melted into the kiss without even thinking. Her lips were so soft. The taste of her was utter ecstasy. He moaned as he deepened the kiss and she fisted her hand in his hair.

His hands slid down to her hips to lift her legs around his waist. She moaned. And the sound sent vibrations of pleasure through his body. He was instantly hard for her. In that moment, he wanted her more than anything else in the world. It was a need. It was raw. It was primal.

"Is this what you want?" He groaned between kisses.

She nodded her head and pulled him back for another kiss. She was so demanding that she had him seeing stars. Damn, it had been a few months since he hooked up with a woman.

He used his powers to transport them both, instantly to his room where he had her pushed up against the door while he let his hands drift down to her breasts. She moaned at his touch, and lifted her sweater over her head so that he could reach them better.

Roxie had never been so hot in her life. Why did she want him so badly? The feel of him, the taste of him, the way his hands caressed her body. Her head was spinning. She wanted more. She needed more. She pulled at his black shirt until she had it off of him and she could feel his chiseled muscles. Damn, those were muscles that she could take a bite out of. Everything was so confusing, but she could not focus on anything but the need between them.

But, when she reached for the button of his jeans, he froze for a moment and pulled back. "Be honest. Do you really want this? I know that it is hard to control yourself like this."

She whimpered at his absence from her lips. "Please."

With that, he carried her to his bed, where he used his powers to remove what remained of their clothing.

He dipped his fingers down to the center of her body. He groaned at how wet she already was. Screw the foreplay. They were both too demanding. When he pressed himself toward her body, her legs wrapped around his hips and pulled him in. Damn, she was hungry. She hissed at the pleasure.

He slowly started to rock his body in and out of her while he buried his face into her neck, licking, nipping and kissing at her soft skin. He could not get enough of her scent, of her taste. She felt like heaven

Roxie was in absolute ecstasy. His very touch scorched her skin. The feel of him inside her splintered her thoughts. And when she did not think that she could handle any more, he used his thumb to rub at her most sensitive spot while he continued to stroke himself inside her. She completely shattered into ribbons of ecstasy. Screaming out in pleasure, her body spasmed around him, spurning his own release as he thrust in hard and fast and joined her in the pleasure of it all.

His powers surged as he climaxed, leaving Colt on a charged high as he collapsed above the girl.

Shit, that was amazing. Her body tingled as all of her tension drained from her and all that was left was the relaxing calm of being so sated.

Until she looked at the man that she had been with. One half of his face was covered in an intricate tattoo that she had not seen before. That jolted her back into reality as she looked around to see that they were in a bedroom. How in the hell?

Fuck, she just slept with a bear. How could she have forgotten what he was, the powers that bears could have, to hide things, to move them places...

"Oh gods. What did you do to me?" She demanded. "I, I,- I don't… can't.. shit."

She scrambled out from under him to start looking for her clothes. Where were her clothes?

"I need my clothes. Now!" She demanded, on the verge of tears. "Why couldn't I stop? Why couldn't I think? What in the hell is wrong with me?"

But, Colt grabbed her arm. He was angry at the yo-yo emotions, she went from angry, to sex, to anger again faster than his head could spin. But, mostly he was confused. Why didn't she use her own magic to bring her clothing back? He looked at her, the confusion on her face, the panic. He quickly used his powers to put their clothing back on them both and cover his facial markings.

"Do you honestly not know what is going on with you?" He asked, his brows creased in concern. He wanted to be angry at her. However, she seemed so lost, he just couldn't bring himself to be angry.

She did not answer. But, the look on her face said it all. This was her first cycle and she truly didn't know what what happening.

He pulled her into his arms. "It will be alright. I am sorry that you don't understand what happened. But, you are safe."

She tensed at first, but relaxed a little after she realized that he was not trying to hurt her. Her mind was racing about what she had just done. She was still angry, but somehow, he was so soothing.

"I don't know how it is that your family did not explain any of this to you, but we can help. Aimee would be a really good person for you to talk to, to understand the female side of things." He spoke into her hair while his thumb rubbed circles in the center of her back.

Colt was hurt. Every animal instinct in him had wanted her. But, she made it really clear that she hated bears. She hated him. And for one brief moment in her arms, he forgot that. However, her reaction afterwards, proved just how much she was driven by biology alone. She never chose him. He just happened to be the guy close to her. And, that hurt him far more than he was prepared for. Still, he would not take it out on her. He wouldn't let himself lash out. She was scared and confused. That wasn't her fault.

Once he could feel that she was starting to pull herself together, he pulled back.

"My name is Colt by the way."

She sniffed a bit. "Roxie."

Once she was more composed, Colt lead her back into the bar from the house behind it, and through the halls to Aimee's office. He knocked and then walked in, without waiting for the reply. Aimee had a tendency of being focused and not hearing the knocks. Unless she and Fang were up to something, then they listened closely and usually remembered to lock the door. Colt still couldn't bring himself to contemplate that relationship. Who would have thought that a Katagaria wolf and an Arcadian bear could be mated?

Aimee was sitting at her desk. Fang was not there. Thank the gods. That would be beyond awkward.

"Hey Aims. I was hoping you could help with something." Colt said.

"Sure Colt. What's up?" Then Aimee looked away from the computer and froze when she saw Roxie. Her eyes narrowed.

Roxie stayed firm. She was obviously still very uncomfortable with them, but also lost and confused. But, she would not back down. He was impressed with her determination.

Colt sighed. "Aimee. This is Roxie. I don't know what kind of life she has had. But, she just started to cycle and she does not seem to know what is going on."

It was Aimee's turn to look confused. "Is he telling the truth?"

Roxie's voice was flat. "I don't know what you are really talking about. So, how could I know if it is the truth?"

"Who is your family?" Aimee demanded.

"Kell." Roxie answered.

Aimee rolled her eyes. "No. Your bear family?"

Roxie stiffened. "I don't have bear family."

Aimee growled.

Colt jumped in. "Roxie, who raised you?"

"Kell."

"Is Kell the Dark-Hunter that was here yesterday?" He asked. She nodded. For some reason, that made him feel better. There was a reason for the affection between the Dark-Hunter and the bearswan.

"Why would a Dark-Hunter raise a bear?" Aimee asked as Dev walked into the room.

"There you are. I have been looking for you squire girl." Dev grimaced as he realized what he walked in on. "About the Dark-Hunter thing…" Aimee turned her scowl onto her brother.

"Yeah. I told everyone that Roxie was alright and to just give her space. I just didn't share why." Dev continued.

"How would you know why?" Roxie growled.

That pulled all of their attention to her. But, she was slipping back into her anger. Her defense. She would not back down. Especially since Samia told Roxie that he was a bear… and married to Aunt Sam? No, anger is stronger. Don't think about that now.

Dev did not elaborate about Kell being the one to tell him, or that he dug Samia for more details after that. Instead, he ignored her and talked to Colt and Aimee. "Do you both remember the hunt in 2001 when the Omegrion sent out kill orders for a whole bear family from Alaska?"

Colt and Aimee nodded. "The reason for the kill order was that the bear family killed Roxanne's parents in cold blood. Apparently, her mother was part of the family and had been abandoned for being Arcadian. The family was Katagaria and didn't approve of her Arcadian father or his bloodline. But, when she mated to a human squire, word eventually got back to the family and they went after her and her mate. They made enough of a mess of things that it was national news. No one seemed to know about their cub. Except the Dark-Hunters, who kept her safe. She was obviously traumatized. And, so, she had never met a bear other than her mother before last night. Now the Dark-Hunter is hoping that we can help her learn about being a bear."

Colt looked at Roxie who was trembling as she heard Dev speak about her parents, but she ground her teeth trying to keep her strength and anger. So, she was never raised around bears at all? Or any other Were-Hunter? She really was raised by the Dark-Hunter. Damn. No wonder why she was so confused.

Aimee frowned and stood up. "So, no one has helped you learn about any of this?"

"Kell tried, but I wouldn't listen." Roxie said honestly as her eyes dropped to the floor. "They killed my parents. I don't want to know about this stuff." Roxie started for the door.

Aimee stopped her. "Sugar, we all have reasons to hate someone. But, it is important to realize that other people don't deserve that hate. And hating part of yourself is not going to get you anywhere but seriously screwed. None of us want to see you get hurt simply because you don't understand your own body." Aimee put her arm around Roxie and led her out to the bar. "I will get you some pie and a beer and we can talk about what you are going through."

When they made it back to the table where she had been sitting before, Roxie was almost happy to see that Samia was still sitting there, with Kell. They both smiled when they saw Roxie come out with Aimee, Dev and Colt.

Roxie stayed quiet. They were all working together. But, Kell and Sam knew. They knew why she didn't want to be there. She wanted to just cry.

But, her body had betrayed her. Even there, standing in front of Kell, after having sex. Every inch of her wanted to turn around and grab onto Colt. To wrap herself around him and taste his skin. Her stomach was tied in knots and her mind raced in the competing emotions and demanding needs.

She didn't know what to do.

Could she swallow her pride and anger enough to hear what Aimee had to say? Kell obviously trusted her. Samia trusted Dev. Could she do this?

But, it felt like she was betraying her parents. How could she sit with bears after bears killed them?

Kell stood up. "I knew you could do this little monster." He kissed her on the forehead and gave her a tight hug. Roxie was trembling. "You are strong enough for this Roxanne. I have faith in you. Just remember that this isn't about the past as much as it is about your present and future. Please try to be open."

Roxie nodded hesitantly, still unable to find her voice in the chaos of her emotions.

Kell smiled. "I have to go back out to patrol. But, stay here, get to know everyone. Please. You need to know all of this stuff before your body changes."

"Too late." Dev said flatly.

"What?"

Aimee was the one that answered. "She started her cycle already."

He ran a hand over his face. "Oh gods. I really don't want to be here then. I can't handle the thought of anyone hitting on Roxie, let alone…" He visibly shuddered. "I am not prepared for my little monster to grow up." He grumbled as he quickly left the bar. The look of panic and concern on the Dark-Hunter's face actually gave Colt respect for the man. He obviously cared for Roxie as a father, and genuinely seemed to want her to embrace her bear half.

Roxie blushed violently.

Without thinking, Colt leaned over to whisper in her ear. "He's a little over protective. Huh? So, I am assuming that I should not tell him about what just happened?" To his surprise, her blush grew even darker.

It was getting a late enough that Colt needed to get ready for the band to perform. Even though every instinct wanted him to stay and protect Roxie, comfort her, he had to force himself to let the women talk alone. After all, she had shown no real interest in him. She had not even looked directly at him since she bolted out of his bed. He never should have let anything happen between them. He knew better than to trust the urges of a bearswan in heat.

His chest was tight as he turned to walk away, with the taste of her still on his lips. He was such a fool.

Dev returned to watching the door.