Romance: Stranded With The Alpha Bear: BBW Paranormal Shapeshifter Romance (Werebear, BBW, Bear Shifter Romance) (Sweet Shifters Book 1) (6 page)

I couldn’t help but blush. “Did he say I’m pretty?”

He nodded, “He talked about you
a lot
. We almost got tired of it.”

“I didn’t even know he was talking to you all.”

“We had meetings in the evenings. That’s usually the best time for us. I think you were doing something else or he’d just do a conference call.”

“Oh, I see. I didn’t think he thought so highly of me.”

“It is weird. He usually doesn’t think highly of anyone,” he shrugged. “He’s a hard nut to crack.”

I took a deep breath of air and smiled, “That is very nice of him. Was he um… close with his sister?”

“Very close. That’s how we knew it was her. We all grew up together. It really was a big blow when she disappeared.”

“I can only imagine.”

“I think his mom was looking for a reason to leave, and that was the last straw. It’s not easy to be the alpha’s wife.”

“So Christian’s family has always been the alphas?”

“Yes. They have a strong bloodline.”

“Do you think the other girls are still alive?”

“I don’t know. Anything can happen. To be honest, I never thought I’d see Marilyn again, so I have a lot of hope.”

I nodded, thinking of Beth and hoping she too is alive out there somewhere. “Do you mind if I go upstairs and make a call?”

“Not at all. You’re welcome to do whatever you like.”

“Thanks. I’ll be right back.”

I went up the stairs to call Stevie. Arlo kept his position on the floor in front of the day and seemed relieved to be left alone for at least a little while. I’m not sure what I should say to my old friend, but I should tell him the truth. My heart beat fast as the phone rang.
Maybe he’s at work. Maybe I could leave a message.

“Hello?” he answered.

“Stevie, it’s Veronica.”

“Veronica! I’ve been trying to call your cell phone, and it’s been off. I was really worried!”

“Don’t worry, I’m fine. I’m actually more than fine.”

“You said you’d call, and you didn’t. That’s worrisome.”

“I know. I’m sorry; I kind of forgot.”

“Well, you were also with that strange Christian guy. Who is he, anyway?”

“I’m staying with him for a few weeks. He’s actually quite kind and lovely.” I remembered the way it felt to kiss him and almost let myself get carried away. “Anyway, I really need to talk to you about something. About Beth.”

“Okay.”

“I think you’re right. I think she was taken.”

“I’m so glad you believe me! Everyone thinks I’m crazy.”

“That may be true, but that’s not the point. I think I know who took her.”

“Who? I’ll kill him.”

“Do you remember the stories of werewolves in the woods?”

“Sure. The tourists love those. I got a lot of tips for telling those stories.”

“Well, you’re not going to believe me, but they’re real. I saw them.”

“You’re right. I don’t believe you.”

“When I was walking home from work, they attacked me. They abduct virgins so that they can… forcibly impregnate them.”

“And you think they took Beth?”

“Yes.” The line went silent. “Are you still there?”

“Yeah, I’m just… I’m trying to… process what you just said. Do you…” he paused, “do you think she’s still alive?”

“I honestly don’t know. I think it could be possible, but I don’t know.”

“Do you know where they could’ve taken her?”

“Christian and his tribe think they may have found the place. That’s why I’m calling.”

“‘His tribe’?”

A tribe of bear shifters may be going too far
. “Yeah, they’ve been fighting the werewolves and trying to protect women from them.”

“I can’t be mad at that.”

Bounding footsteps pounded up the stairs, and my door opened. Arlo stared at me wild-eyed, “I need you.”

“I have to go, okay? I’ll call you back,” I said, raising an eyebrow at Arlo.

“Is everything all right?” Stevie replied.

“It’s fine. I’ll call you later.” I hung up without saying goodbye. “What is it?

“They’re here,” he answered urgently.

“Who?”

“The wolves. They’re here.”

I stood, “Oh no! What do we do? Should we um… get some garlic?”

“They’re not vampires. They don’t care about garlic,” he snapped. “I have to hide you and Rick.”

“Let me help. Let me do something.”

He sighed, staring at me for a moment. “Okay, but Christian is going to kill me if he finds out. I know his dad used to keep a gun with silver bullets for his mom, so let’s find that. Make sure you aim for their hearts.”

I nodded gravely. He led me to Marilyn’s old room and rushed in. Her room looked very much like that of a teenage girl’s, with band posters on the wall and purple accents everywhere. It felt wrong being in there. It was like coming upon a tomb that had been left untouched for centuries, but just now had been stumbled upon for sanctuary.

“Where is the gun?” I asked, staying at the door. “I don’t think we should be in here.”

“We shouldn’t, but we have to do what we have to do,” he answered, climbing on a computer desk with old homework still stacked on the side. He moved aside a wood slat in the ceiling and searched around. “I think I just touched a dead rat.”

“Wash your hands. You’ll get the plague.”

“Blah blah,” he answered. “Ah, here we go.” He reached up and pulled out a steel box, then held it out for me to grab. I didn’t move from the door. “Can you take this please?”

“I don’t think we should be in here, Arlo.”

“You just said that, and I just said we shouldn’t. Now take the box,” he growled. I shuffled forward and took it, then shuffled back out. “Can you help me down?”

“No,” I responded, putting the box on the ground and opening it. A large caliber revolver sat inside with a number of silver bullets. “Oh holy Jesus.”

“I think I might have broken something getting down,” Arlo said behind me. “Do you know how to use one of those?”

No.
“My dad used to take me hunting.”
But we mostly just went out into the woods where he’d drink beer and yell at squirrels.
“My brother was better at shooting than I.”

“That makes me feel really secure and great. Maybe I should just hide you like my initial plan.”

A terrible crashing came from downstairs along with a momentous, terrifying howl. He grabbed the gun, loaded it, and then handed it to me with a thoughtful look. I took it with a deep breath. My hand trembled.

“Just think of your brother, okay?” he gave slight smile. “When you see a werewolf, shoot for the heart.”

He gave me a nod and patted me on the shoulder before running downstairs. I held the gun in my hand and pointed it. I can do this. I can kill some werewolves. I’m a strong, independent woman who’s in love with a man who changes into a bear. I can do this.

Wait, did I just say I’m in love with Christian?

Another horrifying howl came from outside. Time to get to action. I swallowed my fear and raced down the stairs as Arlo had. My patient hadn’t moved from the couch. I checked his pulse (still alive) and made my way outside with the gun cocked. A violent ruckus could be heard just nearby in the woods, alerting me to where the fight must be going on.

A bear and wolf fought viciously, each of them tearing at each other which fearsome claws and teeth. I raised the gun and tried to pinpoint on the wolf. What would Kevin do here? He was a good shot. He taught me some things. Oh God, if my brother was here, he would shoot all of the werewolves, and we would be saved. I miss my brother.

I thought of him again and aimed for the heart. Somehow, I felt him there with me, and Dad there yelling at the squirrels. I prepared myself for the worst and shot. A yelp echoed through the air, and the wolf fell to the ground. The bear gave me a shocked, but appreciative look. I gave him a thumbs up, which made him shake his head and take off into the woods.

Now, should I follow him or just hold court here? Can I hold my own in the dark woods?

Suddenly, a wolf darted out of the trees toward me. I screamed and shot the gun. The wolf yelped and dropped.

“Two out of two!” I yelled to myself in celebration.

A wolf leapt out of the woods and knocked me down, the gun flying out of my hands and firing as it hit the ground. Another yelp came from somewhere. I would count that three for three if I weren’t face down on the ground about to be ravaged by a werewolf. The wolf flipped me over with his teeth, then started to drag me towards the woods.

“Ghosts of Dad and Kevin, please help me!” I called out into the dark night. “Or someone living! Someone help me!”

I kicked and scratched as the wolf drug me across the ground. It all felt very d
éjà vu
, but this time, it all felt much more dangerous. The sound of more howling came closer as the animal kept pulling me.

Great.

IX.

“Someone please help me!” I screamed another time, my voice bouncing through the trees. “Arlo! Where did you go?!”

The werewolf stopped and snarled as if to say, “Can you please stop screaming?”

“Don’t growl at me, Wolf. You’re abducting me.”

He growled again, seemingly offended. I grabbed a rock as he kept growling.

“You don’t like that, huh? You kidnapping animal.”

He kept growling, his teeth bared. Truthfully, I’m terrified that I’m going to be mauled instead of forcibly impregnated, but I need to do something. I don’t want to be taken away by them.

“Are you the hot-headed wolf?” I stood. “You don’t like when people make fun of you?”

He came closer to me, lunging at me like an angry dog. The more I try to seem brave and not worried for my face being ripped off, the more I realize the possibility of my face being ripped off. I wish Christian hadn’t gone so he could protect me. I wish I hadn’t dropped the gun. I see so many of my regrets reflected in this werewolf’s eyes.

“What are you going to do? Rip off my face, you stupid dog,” I teased.

This was it for the wolf. He jumped straight for my face. I hit him hard in the snout with the rock. He fell to the ground unconscious. Okay. That was pretty good. I can get away with this. Just… run back home and hope Christian is there, then tell him I love him and hope he traces his fingers up my thigh until…

Behind me came a loud howl and the snapping of twigs. I turned to see a much larger wolf bounding toward me. My mind cleared. My arms froze. My legs grew into the forest ground. I kept my eyes wide open, watching in slow motion as the animal came closer and closer.

An earth-shattering pop cut through my stupor. The wolf paused, his eyes looking into mine before he dropped to the ground. My lungs attempted to start pushing air through, but I still couldn’t move. Not until a tall, handsome, sexy man burst out of the woods.

“Christian!” I found my voice. “You’re here!”

He ran toward me and took me up in his arms, “I’m so glad I found you. I came home, and no one was there. I saw the gun out and the struggle, so I just followed the trail.”

“I’m so glad you found me. I was screaming for my dead dad and brother to help.” I relished in his scent.

“I’m sure that they were there rooting for you,” he hugged me harder. “Come on, we have to get out of here. What I’m going to do is transform, and you can ride on my back with the gun.”

“That sounds kind of crazy.”

“I think it’s the best way to protect you.”

The sound of more howling came from behind him along with that familiar sound of snapping twigs. We looked at each other fearfully.

“Run,” he said simply. “Don’t fall and discharge the gun. Keep an eye out and shoot when you can.”

“I don’t know how many bullets are left.”

“Just run, Veronica.”

I followed his instruction and booked it. As I ran, a pack of wolves flew past me, headed straight for Christian. He transformed and jumped toward them. One burst out from behind him. I raised the gun and shot. The wolf fell; the others didn’t notice, too busy jumping onto Christian and ripping at his fur. I feel sick. I can’t just let him get destroyed like this.

The whole group of animals roared battle cries. I screamed and ran as fast as I could toward the house. The woods sounded alive around me, as though every animal was out to watch the fight and/or torment me. Large animals raced past me, grunting and roaring as they went. I watched behind me, trying to avoid getting pounced on the back.

When I looked forward, a bear stood in front of me. I screamed and jumped back. The bear stood and gave me a hug.

              “Arlo?” This is the weirdest experience ever.

              The bear nuzzled me.

              “Okay, I have to keep running, if you can get off of me.” I am talking to animals altogether too much tonight.