Total pages in book: 28
Estimated words: 26479 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 132(@200wpm)___ 106(@250wpm)___ 88(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 26479 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 132(@200wpm)___ 106(@250wpm)___ 88(@300wpm)
He lifts his head and looks at me with soft kind eyes. I’m not sure if he’s understanding the words coming out of my mouth, but I can tell that he’s understanding the intention behind them.
“Let’s start over. All of us. Together.”
He exhales long and hard as he watches me. His body language changes. It’s subtle, but I can tell by the way he lowers his shoulders and relaxes his back that things are going to be different now.
“Thank you,” I whisper as I scratch his legs. “Look how big you are!” I slide my hand down to his paw and compare the size of the two. His claws are longer than my fingers and thicker too.
“And you can tell that big grump Gus to let you visit me more,” I say as I scratch his cheeks, giggling when I hear the grumbling sound he makes. “Tell him he has nothing to worry about when it comes to you and me.”
The long brown hairs on his back stand up straight and he lets out a low deep growl. He turns away from me, staring down the dirt road with his black lips curled up in a snarl. My eyes lock on his sharp white teeth, little bubbles of saliva dripping down them as he lets out a protective growl.
“What is it?” I whisper as my stomach drops. Did they find us? How? Are they that good at picking up scents? I remember reading that a bear’s sense of smell is seven times greater than even a bloodhound’s. It’s so good that it’s difficult for humans to measure. With three of them and a wolf tracking August down, I guess we didn’t stand a chance. At least we got one night together. At least we got that.
He steps in front of me protectively as I start to hear the roaring of the dirt bikes. They’re in the distance but closing in fast.
“Remember what we talked about,” I tell my protective bear as the dirt bikes come closer. They suddenly appear in the distance, all four of them rumbling forward. “This is where you’re going to prove it. Don’t do anything rash. Let August handle it, please.”
The four of them park in a horizontal line a few yards away. The French Canadian, Remy, is the first one off his bike. He pulls out his sword and is looking excited to use it as he cuts through the air.
“Hold on!” I say as I rush in front of August’s grizzly with my hands in the air. He growls, not liking me in front of him and so close to these dangerous men.
“Step aside, cherie,” Remy says as the three others step off their bikes. “You keep your hot spray spray in your purse, okay? Or bad things will happen to you too.”
“You can’t hurt him,” I plead to August’s brother, Jackson. “Everything has changed!”
“There are things going on here that you don’t understand,” Jackson says. “For your own safety, you should get in your car and leave now.”
“I’m not going anywhere,” I say in a fierce tone with my shoulders back and my chin up. “I’m staying with my mate.”
“Your… mate?” Jackson says, looking confused.
“You’re his mate?” Grayson the polar bear shifter asks.
Ryker laughs. “Talk about some shit luck being mated to that psycho bear.”
“He’s not a psycho bear,” I say, feeling my blood starting to boil. “He’s a sweetie and August is a wonderful man. And none of you are going to hurt either of them. Got that?”
Remy shakes his head. “He’s turned, cherie. There’s no going back for him now.”
“That’s not true,” I say as I step to the side. “Look at him. He’s different.”
“He’s different alright,” Grayson says. “He’s the nastiest bear I’ve ever seen and I’m going to enjoy putting him down once and for all.”
I look at his brother Jackson, pleading with my eyes. He still looks shocked, like he can’t quite believe it.
“Look,” I say as I turn to my grizzly. He’s snarling and growling, but at least he hasn’t charged at them yet. Although, I might not have much time before he snaps. I have to hurry. “August said that he couldn’t control his bear anymore, right? He couldn’t pull him back in no matter how hard he tried.”
Jackson is listening. I have to make him see.
“Well, watch,” I say as I put my hand on the grizzly’s head.
“Best not touch that rabid beast,” Remy says with a grimace. “He’ll snap off your arm and use it as a toothpick.”
“Let August out,” I whisper to him, trying to calm and soothe him with my words and touch. “Let him handle this. You have to trust me.”
He’s snarling and growling as his protective eyes dart from one shifter to another.
“It’s no use,” Ryker says. “Let’s smoke this beast and get the fuck out of here.”