Bride For the Bear (Paranormal Shifter Romance) (Haven Book 1)

by Stella Night

  I backed away from her, terror vibrating through my entire being. “Gillian, whatever you’re thinking about doing, you don’t have to. I’m not a threat. You won. It’s over. Just let me go.”

  She shook her head. “I can’t just let you go.” She tapped a finger to her lips. “I’ll tell you what, I’ll give you the same deal I gave Anna. Did Noah tell you about her?”

  I nodded, too scared to speak. My mouth had gone dry from fear.

  “Good, it’ll save me the trouble of explaining. He revealed our secret to her, too. And I had the honor of removing her as a threat to the clan. But I’m not a cold-blooded murderer. I am a huntress and she was my prey. And now so are you.”

  “Gillian, please.”

  “I’ll give you a five minute head start. But if I catch you, it’s game over.”

  I shook my head. My whole body trembled with fear.

  “The clock starts now,” she said. “Run rabbit, run.”

  The air in front of her shimmered and she was replaced with a hulking blond beast. Her black glittering eyes looked at me with something like intelligence, and she snarled at me, baring her dripping fangs menacingly.

  I did the only thing I could do. It was the thing I always did.

  I ran.

  ***

  Noah

  I rushed through the woods as fast as my paws would carry me. Soil churned up beneath my claws and trees fell as I barreled past them. Nothing would stand between me and Rachel.

  She hadn’t left a visible trail, but her sweet scent hung in the air like a beacon, leading me to her. As long as I could keep her scent, I would find her easily.

  Dark storm clouds roiled above me. The sky looked almost purple, like the color of a bad bruise. It was an ugly sky. A violent sky. I only hoped it wasn’t an omen of Rachel’s fate. If the sky opened up and the rain began to fall, I’d lose Rachel’s scent, and there was nothing I could do to save her.

  It didn’t matter if Rachel was done with me. If my secret was too much for her, I’d have to live with that somehow. But I had to save her. I owed her that much. I’d already broken her heart, I couldn’t let her die. I couldn’t have another woman’s blood on my hands.

  Their only crime was falling in love with a monster like me. They didn’t deserve to die for that. I’d never gotten the chance to save Anna, god rest her soul. I couldn’t fail Rachel, too.

  It didn’t matter if I lost my clan. Rachel was more important than them. I never thought anything would be important enough for me to turn my back on my people, but with Rachel in danger, I didn’t have to think twice.

  Now if only I could get to her in time.

  ***

  Rachel

  My breath was ragged in my chest, and a stitch tore at my side. The pain was bright and blinding, but I didn’t let it stop me from moving. I couldn’t let it stop me. Gillian was gaining quickly.

  I could hear her crashing through the underbrush over the sound of my breathing. It was like being chased by a truck, only this truck had claws and fangs ready to tear me apart.

  The trees seemed to thin out in front of me. I burst into a field covered in wildflowers in every color of the rainbow. Snow capped mountains encircled the valley on every side. The clouds were the color of amethysts.

  At least it was a pretty place to die.

  The morbid thought energized me. My legs pumped faster than I’d ever run before. It’s amazing what the fear of death can do to motivate you.

  I glanced behind me. Gillian was still in the forest, but she was gaining ground quickly. My heart sank as I realized I’d never be able to outrun her out in the open. But I was too far away from the tree line. There was no going back.

  I was out of options. I could either die running or I could try to make a stand. Both would end the same way, but I was tired of running. I’d run away from everything my whole life. Maybe that was how I lived, but it wasn’t how I had to die.

  I spotted a fallen tree. Its dry branches stuck out the grass like giant, skeletal fingers. An idea sparked in my brain.

  I veered towards the tree, glancing behind me. Gillian burst out of the trees. She picked up speed on the open terrain, barreling towards me like a freight train. I didn’t have much time.

  I grabbed a long, straight branch with both hands and worked it from side to side as hard as I could.

  “Come on, you son of a bitch,” I grunted through gritted teeth. The rough edges of the branch bit into my hands until they were slick with my own blood. “Break, you fucker!”

  I heaved on the branch with the last of my strength. It broke from the trunk with a crack. The end of the branch came to a point where it split from the tree. Not the greatest weapon in the world but it would have to do.

  I hopped over the fallen tree, positioning it between myself and Gillian. It wouldn’t stop her, but it would slow her down enough so that she couldn’t just trample over me.

  The big golden bear crashed into the tree, snapping branches like twigs. But she didn’t make it all the way through. Jagged shards of wood stabbed into her hide, and she howled in anger. She lashed out with tooth and claw, turning the tree to splinters around her.

  Gillian stalked towards me. I raised my pathetic spear defiantly. After seeing what she’d done to the tree, I knew my branch was as good as useless. I might as well be brandishing a toothpick. But I’d be damned if I’d give her the satisfaction of seeing me scared.

  But I was scared. So scared I could barely grip the branch with my trembling hands. I thought back to what Noah had said at the waterfall.

  He said the only time you could be brave was when you were scared. I wanted to be brave for him. I wanted to be the woman he saw when he looked at me, even if it wasn’t true. Even if he wasn’t around to see it.

  She roared at me. Her giant jaws stretched wide. They dripped with spittle. The sight of her gaping maw was terrifying. My body shook so hard I thought I would break apart. My brain screamed with terror.

  But a little voice inside me whispered, “Be brave.” It sounded like Noah’s voice.

  I jabbed the branch right between her big ugly teeth. I felt the sharp tip of my spear sink into something soft and meaty. Gillian’s menacing roar turned into a yowl of pain. It was the sweetest sound I’d ever heard in my life.

  Son of a bitch. I just might make it through this.

  Then Gillian snapped her jaws shut and shattered my spear to pieces. The force of the movement yanked the branch from my hands, leaving me unarmed and helpless. Gillian reared up on her hind legs, her dagger-like claws ready to strike.

  My last thoughts were that I’d never get to say goodbye to Noah, I’d never get to tell him I forgave him, and I’d never get to tell him I loved him.

  ***

  Noah

  I burst through the tree line just in time to see Rachel stab Gillian with what looked like a makeshift spear. Atta girl, Rachel. I knew she was stronger than she ever gave herself credit for. She was every inch the woman I thought she was. I was so proud of her.

  But that pride was quickly overwhelmed by absolute fear when Gillian bit through her spear and tossed it aside. Rachel stood up straight and unafraid. I’d never loved her more than in that moment.

  That made what happened next all the more devastating.

  I watched it like it was in slow motion. Gillian standing on her back legs. Her claw drawing back, then striking. Rachel crumpling to the ground.

  I roared in pain as if the blow had struck me as well as Rachel. Gillian turned and saw me. She ran, but I had no intention of following. The only thing I cared about was Rachel. My entire world was lying in this field bleeding. And it was all my fault.

  I shifted as I neared her, collapsing to my knees next to her in human form. She lay surrounded by wild flowers, looking almost peaceful. The only flower I could see was the red one blossoming at her throat.

  She was already so pale. The life was draining out of her and there was nothing I could do to stop it.

/>   I gathered her in my arms. Tears blurred my vision.

  “Oh god, Rachel. I’m sorry.”

  Her eyes blinked open. There was no accusation there. No damning look. Just sadness and regret. That look echoed in my chest as I felt my heart shatter into a million little pieces. I gazed into her eyes, needing every second before she was gone.

  I felt her hand clasp mine. Her skin was like ice and her grip was weak. Her lips moved but no sound came out. I could feel her fading.

  We should have had more time. How cruel was fate to bring us together like this, only to tear us apart. This couldn’t be the end.

  Her hand slipped out of mine, and her eyes fluttered shut, taking all the light in the world with them.

  I did the only thing I could think of.

  I bit her.

  Chapter 15

  Rachel

  Drops of moisture fell on my cheek. My eyes fluttered open. I found myself staring into two beautiful blue eyes the color of a cloudless sky.

  “You’re alive,” Noah breathed.

  His eyes widened, spilling more tears down his rugged cheeks. I had the strange urge to brush those tears away.

  Then a thought occurred to me, like the distant memory of a dream.

  “Did you fucking bite me?” I asked.

  He blinked at me, confused. Then he laughed so loud it echoed off the surrounding mountains. He was holding me in his arms, and my body shook with his laughter. I couldn’t help but smile at the joy in his expression. It was a welcome contrast to the tears staining his face.

  “I did bite you,” he said with the biggest smile I’d ever seen curving his lips.

  “That’s not very polite. Biting a girl when she’s trying to die.” I struggled to sit up. “Fucking bears, man. Is this what I have to look forward to the rest of my life?”

  He shook his head. Fresh tears fell from his eyes, but they seemed like happy tears. “No, this was the only time. I had to do it. It was the only way to save you.”

  “Save me how?”

  “You were so close to death. I had to bite you. To turn you into a bear.” I must have looked confused because he continued to explain. “Bear shifters heal fast, even if we’re close to death. I had to turn you so you could heal.”

  Something clicked in my brain. “So that’s why you didn’t seem hurt after I hit you with my car? That’s why you were pretending to be more hurt than you actually were.”

  He nodded.

  I let it all sink in for a moment. “So I’m a bear now? Like you?”

  A look of sadness painted his face. “I’m sorry, Rachel. I never would have done it without your permission, but I didn’t know what else to do.”

  “Well, a part of me wants to be mad, but that part is an idiot, since I would be dead without you. So thank you, Noah. Thank you for saving my life.”

  “I wasn’t just saving your life. I was saving mine, too. I couldn’t live with myself if you died because of me.”

  “Damn straight,” I said. “I would have haunted you like the world’s bitchiest ghost.”

  “Now you don’t have to.” He paused. His expression turned serious. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you the truth about me. I kept trying to, but things kept getting in the way.”

  I nodded. “You should have told me. That’s for damn sure. But considering our current circumstances, meaning the fact that I too am now a bear, I think I can overlook it just this once.”

  The look of relief on his face made it impossible to be mad at him.

  “But,” I said, holding up my index finger. “If you have any other secrets to tell me, now is the fucking time. If you’re a smoker, you’ve got a gambling addiction, or you’re like crazy racist or something, now is the time to come clean.”

  “No,” he said, grinning. “There’s nothing else.”

  “Are you sure?” I asked. “Because coming back from the dead has put me in a particularly good mood. I can’t promise I’ll be this forgiving tomorrow.”

  “I’m sure,” he said.

  “Good. Now kiss me, you big dumb bear.”

  He did.

  It was without a doubt the best kiss of my entire life. Something about being alive instead of dead just makes you appreciate the simple things in life. A lungful of fresh air, the wind in my hair, and the soft lips of the sexy man who resurrected you.

  I felt a strange energy surging through me.

  “Something’s wrong,” I said.

  ***

  Noah

  I could feel the power stirring within her. It was a sensation I was intimately familiar with.

  “It’s alright,” I said. “You’re changing.”

  “Crap, how do I stop it?”

  “You can’t. Not the first time. Don’t try to fight it. Just relax and it’ll go much easier.”

  I released her from my arms and backed away from her, giving her space. The air shimmered around her. A strange smile split her face. I knew for a fact that changing felt empowering.

  Then there she was.

  Rachel’s bear was as big as mine, only her fur was the color of her dark brown hair. She was magnificent.

  “I fucking knew it,” I exclaimed.

  She shot me a quizzical look, which was a difficult expression for a bear. Luckily, I was well-versed in bear expressions.

  “The size of our bears isn’t based on the size of our human bodies. It’s based on our inner strength. And for a woman who claims to be weak all the time, you’re one of the biggest, most beautiful bears I’ve ever seen. I told you you were stronger than you thought.”

  She waved a paw at me, as if to say, “Oh, stop.”

  “I’m serious. I knew you were the perfect mate for me.”

  She gave me another confused look.

  “I have so much to tell you. Believe me, it will all make sense soon. Do you think you can change back?”

  Rachel’s bear scrunched its face up in concentration. It was a hilarious sight to see. She still had a lot of human in her, but eventually she’d get more used to her bear form. She had plenty of time for that. In fact, she had plenty of time for a lot of things now. It was something I still couldn’t get over. My heart was so filled with joy I thought it would burst.

  Rachel shifted back into human form. She looked down at her body and picked at her clothes with her fingers.

  “Why am I still wearing clothes?” she asked. “Shouldn’t they, like, tear off me when I get big and bearish?”

  I shrugged. “It’s magic. None of us really know how it works. It’s just the way it is, and it’s just the way that it’s always been apparently.”

  “Well that’s good, cause I don’t want to have to walk back to the car naked. Plus, I like this outfit.”

  “I hate to break it to you, but that dress is torn to shreds.”

  She looked down at the ragged fabric and sighed. “Fucking Gillian. Speaking of which. I need to find that bitch. Now that I’m a bear, it’ll be a fair fight. And I intend to win this one.”

  “I couldn’t agree more. Once we shift we can follow her scent.”

  Rachel nodded, her face set with determination. We shifted and ran through the woods together. The feeling of running next to Rachel in bear form was one of the best feelings of my life.

  ***

  Rachel

  We caught up with Gillian back at the Circle of Elders. The less said about that murderous bitch, the better.

  All I’m going to say is this. She begged for mercy like the coward she was. The only mercy I had to give was the mercy of a swift death.

  ***

  Noah

  I called a meeting of the entire clan that night.

  The first thing I told them was what Maddox, Gillian, and the other Elders had done.

  The second thing I told them was that justice had been carried out. Their corrupting influence on the Bear Haven Clan was gone.

  The third thing I said was that from this moment forward, the rule against taking human mates was nul
l and void. The greatest love of my life had been human, and no one should have to feel ashamed or afraid about loving who they loved.

  The fourth thing I said was if anyone had a problem with the first three things I said, they were welcome to challenge me in a fight to the death. No one took me up on my offer. My position as Alpha was secure.

  The fifth and final thing I did was to get down on one knee and ask Rachel to marry me.

  Chapter 16

  Rachel

  Three weeks later, I was standing in the field where I’d almost died, wearing a lacy white wedding dress and veil. The sky was a much prettier shade of blue today. It reminded me of the color of Noah’s eyes. The mountains stood silent vigil over us, protecting us from the rest of the world. The wild flowers were in full bloom. I’d picked a bunch of them to make my bouquet.

  I’d asked Noah to have the wedding here. It just felt right. This was the place where I’d been reborn, and it was the place where Noah and I had been reunited, never to be separated again.

  It might seem that things were moving fast, but love and commitment was just different now that I was a bear. I knew without a shadow of a doubt that Noah was my perfect mate. It was instinctual and certain. It was like the feelings I’d had for Noah before I was a bear, only a hundred times stronger.

  I was sure we were meant to be together, and after what had happened in this very spot, I came to realize that life was short and fragile. I didn’t want to wait another second to make our bond official.

  We’d set up a wedding arch in the field. Noah had made it himself, weaving polished branches of wood into an altar that looked like it could have grown straight out of the ground. It was absolutely breathtaking. Once I saw it, I couldn’t imagine getting married in front of anything else.

  Wooden chairs had been lined up in front of the arch, and a massive tent had been erected nearby. The whole thing seemed like a pain to set up on such short notice, but Noah had spared no expense to make sure everything was perfect.

  Oh yeah, it turns out Noah Sinclair was crazy rich. If he’d just told me that in the first place, I wouldn’t have cared if he was a shape shifter.