Southern Shifters: Inked By The Bear (Kindle Worlds Novella) (Black & White Series Book 2) by Lissa Matthews Page B

would matter.
    “Not even on your best day. So, what are you wanting?”
    “I want the start of this,” he said, handing over his cell to Gus.
    “How do you know you can trust me to do this kind of work? I may be shoddy as an artist.”
    “I asked around after you left Deal’s Gap. You have a reputation for being one of the best tattoo artists in the tri-state area. And, we need to kill some time.”
    “This is a multiple visit tattoo.”
    “’S why I said the start of.”
    Gus grabbed his sketch pad and started to work on the outline. The image Luke showed him was a view straight out over the Blue Ridge Mountains. Sunrise. Winter. The trees were stark. The mountains gray and craggy. But the snow made it beautiful, and the sun glinting off it at just the right angle… It was a once in a lifetime, right place perfect time shot. It would be a crowning jewel in Gus’s portfolio.
    “How did you know where we were?”
    “I sent a couple of my pack to follow you. They stayed in the woods, so you wouldn’t be able to tell they were there.”
    “Been spying?”
    “No. This is the first time I’ve used the knowledge of your location to my advantage.”
    “I see.” He set the pencil down. He preferred ink for the outline and colored pencils for the shading on paper. He handed the sketch over to Luke. “Here. Tell me what you think,” he said while grabbing for a stack of transfer sheets.
    Luke whistled low. “If you can make this look as good on my skin as you did on the drawing, I’ll be suitably impressed.”
    “Suitably impressed, my ass,” Gus muttered. “Where do you want it?”
     
    * * * * *
     
    Luke sat with this back turned and relaxed into the needles inking his flesh. Trusting the big bear shifter was akin to taking his life into his own hands. Or, putting his life into the hands of the big bear shifter. Whatever it was he was doing, he should have his head examined for this little stunt.
    His pack had tried to talk him out of it, and he should’ve listened. He’d told himself a thousand times that he should’ve listened, but he had a hunch and needed to see if he was right.
    “This would work better if you stop thinking so much and stop tensing.”
    “Yeah,” was all he said. He knew Gus was right. Tension and tattoos didn’t go well. The pain could get intense if he didn’t relax completely rather than relaxing, then tensing, then relaxing, then… “Why this little town?” he asked.
    “I don’t know. It’s what she’d already set in motion.”
    “And you just went along with it? For the alpha in the relationship, you sure seem a little whipped into shape.” Luke kept his tone conversational. Gus just chuckled behind him.
    “I never even thought to look or consider that I’d have a mate. Bear or human.”
    “Really?” That confused Luke.
    “Yeah. Like you said earlier. Survival.”
    “Is your family gone?” He knew the dangers of poking a bear, but he needed to get the conversation started somehow, get the bear to open up about where he was from, who his family was. He had a scent that Luke had smelled before, but not in a long time. It made him twitch, and not in a good way.
    “Biological, yes.”
    The words were sharp, bitten out, and gave Luke pause before continuing. “You grow up alone or taken in?”
    “Are you asking about me for a reason, Wolf? I thought you were here about Bex?”
    The voice was quiet, but the underlying danger was there. The bear was close to having enough. Luke just needed a few more answers.
    “I am here about her.” He looked over his shoulder at Gus. The shifter’s eyes were narrowed until only black could be seen and teeth were bared to show his displeasure at the line of inquiry. Luke understood. He didn’t like anyone nosing into his business either. “Look, the scent that is on you, that comes from you, is something I know, something I’ve come in contact with before. Years ago. It’s a puzzle I’m working to put together.” He