Scarlett: Furry Tale Shifters

by Nicky Fox

  I see three wolves surrounding Scarlett with one dark gray wolf hunched over her body baring his teeth. The look on Scarlett’s face is one I will never forget. Pure fear in her eyes, a gasp escaping her mouth and her hands trying to block the attack. Then nothing. I see nothing; I hear nothing. It all fades to black. I feel him tear through me in an instant. The process happens so abruptly that it’s painful, like my body is being torn to shreds while I’m still alive.

  An outcry rips from my lungs and then we are one. My bear has been unleashed and he’s ready to fight for our mate. My large paws crunch the snow as I get my bearings. The wolves stop everything and turn in my direction. None flee. They have to stay with their alpha whether in life or death. It all comes to a head here and now. Being outnumbered is no matter, I have enough ferocity in me to take them all on, but I’m only looking at Max Wolf over my Red.

  My bear roars again before he charges at Max. The wolves open their circle and let me in, surrounding me. I know they think they have the upper hand that way but it couldn’t be further from the truth. My bear is crazed and free for the first time. He’s bloodthirsty, especially seeing his mate in danger. The only thing I’m worried about is how many pieces will be left for me to pick up.

  “It’s him. He shifted,” says one of the other wolves. He sounds panicked. Good. He should be.

  “Shut up. Stick to the plan,” says another. My bear is tired of this already and decides to charge Max. He’s expecting this and evades me. He’s much quicker than my bulky bear but my claws are drawn, and I swipe at the wolf before he can get out of his grasp. Max howls in pain as his shoulder is shredded by my claws.

  A tan wolf jumps on my back and tries to take me down from behind. I was expecting this. I flop on my back and crush the wolf with a crunch. I’m sure I broke a few of his bones. Although, in this position, I’m quite vulnerable. The third wolf decides to take advantage and goes for my neck. I roll and pull him with me, dislodging him from my neck. Then, there’s another rumble from the woods.

  Ben comes barreling out like a shot and takes care of the third wolf by biting his scruff and throwing him around like a rag doll. Now, all my focus is on Max. Except he’s shifted into his human form and he now holds a knife to Scarlett’s throat. She’s crying. My bear doesn’t like it. His steady growl lets the wolf know he’s made a huge mistake. I try to push to the surface to shift but my bear is being stubborn. He thinks it’s safer if he’s in control but this is a delicate situation that an animal shouldn’t be in control of.

  “Shift, you son of a bitch!” Max demands. That makes my bear even more enraged. He’s seeing red and pacing back and forth in front of them, looking for a weakness. I know he sees that there’s no other way to handle the situation. He relinquishes. Shifting back is a slower process and less painful. Soon, I’m standing in the snow naked facing Scarlett and Max. Her eyes show amazement at my transformation. Hopefully, my eyes show her that I’m going to get her out of this.

  “That’s more like it, Paul. Wow, you surprised us with your bear. I thought you couldn’t shift. Bravo. Now, what do you think, Scarlett? You can see us side by side now. Why have a bear when you can have a wolf?” He grinds into her backside and I step forward. “Ah, ah, ah.” He cackles and moves the knife higher on her throat. It’s grazing her jaw now.

  Everyone has gone still around us. The wolves are beaten and bleeding on the white snow. Ben is panting and waiting for my move. I have no idea what to do right now. Max holds all the cards and that’s a very dangerous thing.

  “What do you want, Max?” Maybe if I get him talking Ben can create a diversion and I can go after him. I just don’t want to make a mistake and have it cost Scarlett her life. If she dies, I die with her. There would be no reason to live.

  “You know what I want. And I have her.”

  “You have to kill me to mate her. What are you waiting for? Challenge me!” I yell at him. He thinks it over and pushes Scarlett to the ground. She scoots back toward the trees as Ben makes his way to her. I’m going to end this once and for all.

  “No shifting. You and me. Here now.” Max points his knife at me.

  “No!” Scarlett shouts. She stands up to go to me but Ben stops her progress.

  “Honey, I have to end this. Stay with Ben.” I know she’s worried because Max has a knife. Max also thinks he has the upper hand, but he’s going to be in for a rude awakening. Max glances over at Scarlett.

  “Does this turn you on, sweetie? Seeing two men naked fighting for you.” His body turns to her and he gives himself a stroke. Her face is disgusted. Ben shows his teeth and I’ve had enough. I charge at his sick ass. Max’s stance stands ready. He’s expecting me to go head to head but I’m smarter than that. Instead, I slide under him and take him down with me. We wrestle in the slush as I go for the knife. He worms out of my hold until I am able to flip him over and take him from behind. I put him in a chokehold with one arm and try to retrieve the knife with the other.

  Max slashes at me with all he’s got. I don’t let go, not even when he cuts deep into my arm. I choke him tighter until he’s gasping for breath. He drops the knife and that’s when I pick it up, hold up his head and slit his throat. Blood paints the snow in red as gurgling sounds escape his body. The forest is quiet.

  I turn away from Max’s body and approach my Scarlett. She’s already running toward me with tears in her eyes. Her body clashes with mine. I lift her up, glad to have her in my arms once again.

  “Hey,” I mumble in her neck.

  “Hi.” She sniffles.

  “You were supposed to wait for me at the store,” I admonish her. Ben chuckles behind us as Scarlett punches me in the shoulder. “Are you okay?” She’s never seen my bear. Hell, she’s probably never seen a dead body either. I hope this hasn’t traumatized her. Although, seeing Max’s small pecker probably already did that.

  “Yes. I’m so glad you’re here. I was worried about you. I thought maybe Max already gotten to you.” Red pulls away and looks into my eyes.

  “He took the battery out of my truck so I couldn’t get to you. God, I thought I’d lost you.” My lips capture hers.

  Chapter 20

  Scarlett

  It’s the day before Christmas when Paul lumbers into my living room with a great big Douglas fir tree. “We didn’t have a tree, and it’s almost Christmas. We can’t have that. I chopped this down for you.” He sounds so proud like he hunted it down and then brought his kill home. I giggle at the image. My lumberjack. I go to him and wrap my arms around him.

  “I love you.” Raising my head up for a kiss he leans down.

  “I love you too,” Paul says against my lips.

  We have the tree in place in no time and we decorate it together. Paul brought over some old ornaments from his home and I found a box in Nan’s attic. The merging of the ornaments is quite comical. Nan had a lot of fun ornaments and even some I had made for her when I was younger. Paul’s family ornaments are more traditional and a lot of them are bears. The tree seems to come together as we speak of past traditions with our families.

  “So, I was thinking . . . I’m here all the time fixing up your nan’s house. It’s like my second home and we are mates . . .”

  “You want to move in with me?” I’ve been waiting to have this conversation. He’s been moving back and forth getting his clothes from his house but spending every night with me. I wasn’t sure how he felt about moving in with me. Since he lost both parents, I thought his house might be special to him as Nan’s is to me. I didn’t want to have to ask him to give his house up.

  “Are you asking me to move in or . . . finishing my question?” he asks.

  “I would like you to move in with me. Nan’s house is my home now, and I was hoping it could be yours too.” Paul comes over to my side of the tree and takes my hands in his.

  “I just want to be wherever you are. I know this house is special to you, and I want to share it with you, not take you away from it.” I couldn
’t have said it better myself. I reach up for a kiss from my lumberjack, my bear, my man, my mate.

  After dinner, I notice Paul acting a little strange, nervous.

  “Are you okay? Was the ham no good?” I’m putting the dishes in the new dishwasher I bought, feeling very proud of myself. Although, Paul did install it for me.

  “Yeah, could you come into the living room? I want to show you something on the tree.” I hope it’s not a squirrel. I’ve heard horror stories of people cutting down trees and then finding snakes, bird’s nests, and squirrels stuck in their tree.

  “Do I need to get the baseball bat?” It seems that’s how I deal with all my intruders.

  “No.” He laughs. “Come here.” He points to a branch on the tree where it looks like a new ornament is hanging. Except, now that I look at it, it doesn’t seem to be an ornament at all. It’s a ring!

  “Paul?” He takes the ring from the branch and kneels before me.

  “Scarlett Bonet, we are already mates, a bind only broken by death. In the shifter world there is nothing stronger. I know it’s important to you to be bonded in the human world too. I want you to have everything, Red.” Wetness runs down my cheeks. This man loves me so much. He surprises me every day with his love. Paul is always so thoughtful and protective. I couldn’t ask for a better husband.

  Not even having to think, I yell out, “Yes!” He grins widely and slides the ring on my finger. We kiss passionately and he grips my hips to lift me. I wrap my legs around his form as he takes me to the bedroom. “I love you,” I say as he lays me on our bed.

  “I love you too, honey.” He winks. My silly bear. I tease him with my clothes, slowly taking them off one piece at a time. He enjoys every minute of my striptease. By the time I’m naked on the bed, he is naked as well and charging at me like the bear he is.

  “Hey, teddy bear.” He growls. His bear doesn’t like that term of endearment, I think it’s cute. After he shifted to fight Max, he was able to do it again back at the house. Paul hadn’t been one in so long, I thought he should stay that way for a while. His bear was very playful and rolled around in the snow as if he were finally free. Paul has never told me why he stopped being able to shift, but I have my ideas.

  I’m just happy we’re together now and his bear is back. Lying on my back on the bed, I wait for him to take me. Except, he shakes his head.

  “Turn around, honey. I want you on all fours.” We’ve never done it in this position before, and I’m excited to see how it feels. I position my ass in the air and wait for his touch. I don’t have to wait long. Large hands grab at my hips and pull me back until my knees are on the edge of the bed. “I need some of this honey,” he mumbles against my core. I gasp as his tongue makes contact. His tongue massages my clit as his nose nuzzles my pussy. I feel so exposed and vulnerable to him. Paul moans as wetness drips down my leg.

  “Mmm. God, you taste so good. Is this my pussy, Red?” I moan at his dirty mouth and rock into him.

  “Oh, God. Yes.”

  “Are you going to come on my tongue?” Paul makes one long lick up my center. I groan and grind against his face. “Come for me, Red. I need it.” His tongue centers on my clit and doesn’t stop. The wave is coming and I’m going to topple over any second. It feels so good.

  “Oh!” I gasp. He moans as my orgasm hits and my pussy becomes wet. My core clenches as he laps up my release. I sigh, resting my head on the bed, feeling my body droop from the exertion. Paul slaps my ass as he gets up.

  “Damn. That was hot. We’ll have to do that again later. Right now, I need my cock in this wet pussy.” He gives my other cheek a slap as he slides in.

  “Oh, wow,” I exclaim.

  “You like that? You like me deep, Red?” Nodding my head, I push back against him, encouraging him on. Paul grips my hips firmly and begins a punishing rhythm. The sound of our bodies meeting fills the room. I can’t stop from moaning every time he pushes all the way back inside me. The noises in the room sound lewd and turn me on further. He hits my ass again with his hand and then rubs it soothingly.

  “Fuck.” Paul’s body leans over mine and then his hand slips under me to fondle my clit. Paul begins whispering in my ear all the things he wants to do with my body and how he can’t wait until I’m pregnant. I’m so turned on that my orgasm rushes through my body out of nowhere. I collapse on the bed as my core tightens. Paul grunts and stills inside me. His cum slowly leaks out and drips on our bed.

  He goes into the bathroom as I lie on the bed, feeling blissed out from our lovemaking. Paul comes back with a wet washcloth and cleans me up. He throws it in the dirty clothes hamper and joins me on the bed. We stare into each other’s eyes for a while, saying nothing, just caressing with our fingers. I’m studying his features and thinking about how much I love this amazing man.

  “Merry Christmas, Red.” Paul traces down my nose and touches my lips.

  “Merry Christmas, mate,” I reply. He smiles and leans down for a kiss. We spend all Christmas Day in bed together, talking, laughing, and making love. This has been the best Christmas ever.

  Epilogue

  “You’re engaged?” Rose squeals as I enter the shop. I’m bombarded by two women rushing to me and embracing me. They hop around me as I’m stuck between them, a Rose and Firn sandwich. I’m so happy, I’m sure it shows on my face. “I can’t believe he already proposed! I’m so happy for you. I mean we knew he would because he’s obviously obsessed with you, but wow,” Rose rambles on. Firn sighs like everything is so romantic.

  Firn wants to know all the details of the proposal. It is romantic so I share it with her. She oohs and aahs. “Gosh, Scarlett. You’re so lucky. What a guy!” Firn gushes.

  “I know. I am very lucky.” Rose grabs my hand and looks at the ring.

  “He did good.” Firn nods her head in agreement.

  “Well, while we are all announcing things . . . Since business is so good, I’ve decided to open a second store.” Firn seems just as surprised as I am.

  “Really? Where?” Rose saddles up on a stool and leans over the register counter.

  “I’m glad you asked.” Rose keeps us in suspense. “Shepfield!”

  “What?” Firn and I say in unison. Shepfield is the biggest town near Bremen. She would be over an hour away. It doesn’t make any sense.

  “Look, I need a change of scenery. There are no men here, for one. I have nothing to look forward to. No excitement. I need to branch out and see the world, you know? It’ll be good for me.” It seems that Rose has made up her mind. Firn seems distraught. Her other half is basically uprooting and going somewhere else. “Of course, Firn and you will run this store, and I’ll come and visit. I haven’t set anything up officially but I’ve made my decision.” Rose nods her head like it’s a done deal. Firn is too upset to say anything so I do.

  “Congratulations, Rose. I’m happy for you. Of course, we’ll miss you. You better come and visit.” I give her a hug and she laughs.

  “It’ll all work out, just wait and see. Maybe when I return, I’ll have a ring on my finger too.” I smile even though I feel like the shop won’t be the same without her here. Firn is taking this hard, I can tell.

  “Oh, did you hear that law firm closed down? Apparently, they skipped out on the rent, skipped out of town too. Shame, really. Some of those guys were pretty hot.” Rose rests her jaw in her hand. I come around beside her.

  “Yeah, well, they weren’t very bright.” I guzzle some water.

  “What was that?”

  “Nothing.” I smile.

  The wolves are never to be seen again. I feel safe walking home now, and all of my deliveries are drama free. I have my life back in a sense. Only my life now is so much better with my lumberjack bear. Now, if only Firn and I can get Rose to stay.

  There’s a tap at the window. We all look out and see my mate waiting for me on his own bike. Paul was surprised to get a bike for Christmas. He loved the idea of us riding together. Sometimes, we even have a lit
tle rendezvous in the forest. He bends me over a log like a wild man.

  Ben

  She’s here. I know she is. I’d been searching for her almost a month when I picked up her scent. My mate is close. I’m conflicted about this though. I’m cursed. I can’t shift, so what happens when I find my mate? She’s human and I’m not. I can’t speak to her like a man speaks to a woman. Once I find her I don’t know if I’ll even make myself known. This curse needs to be lifted. But before I concentrate on that, I need to see my mate.

  Who knows, maybe she’ll be the key to breaking the spell? It’s why I gravitated to Bremen in the first place. It’s known as a shifter town. A safe haven of sorts. I thought I’d find some answers here but it just leads to more questions.

  If I was a polar bear, I could blend in more with the snow and get closer to town and wouldn’t be seen. Instead, I have to wait on the outskirts and hope she ventures out. She was at the lumberjack competition; I just couldn’t get close enough to pick her out. I return there often to see if I can still smell her. Sometimes it feels like it was all a dream and my mind was playing tricks on me. But there’s no way I could make up that scent. She smelled like heaven. Damn. I could almost taste her on my tongue.

  She’s the driving force in me right now. I was about to go out of my mind in the body of my bear for so long but my mate has given me purpose. I camp out on the road toward Scarlett’s house. I like to watch over her home too to make sure everything is safe. Scarlett’s become a good friend, her mate Paul has been my friend for years. He’s one of the reasons I’m still sane.

  A cardinal chirps above me and calls to his female. She chirps back and he comes running back to their nest. I’m envious of a bird. Even he’s found his someone. It’s a warm winter afternoon and some of the snow has melted which creates slush. I hunker down under a tree and watch the world go by as I stay stagnate in this form.