Simply Bears: A Ten Book Paranormal Bear Shifter Romance Collection

by Simply Shifters

  “What is it?” I asked.

  “Let me start from the beginning.” She sighed and turned off the water.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  According to Beth, the male contenders in line for Alpha had one thing in mind, and one thing only, sex. That’s all everything was until the full moon arose; just a battle of mind, body, and soul on choosing an adequate mate.

  “All will seem right,” she had warned me. “But only one will be the best choice. All of the young suitors will be well versed in the art of pleasure and passion.” Her promise was a guarantee I wasn’t ready to put to the test. “Go beyond that. Your soul will bind with both man and beast Jewels, but only with one will you truly connect. Only mate with one and one only,” her tone was insistent and sharp. “Because otherwise you will be cast aside and deemed worthless in the eyes of the Elders.”

  My head spun as her words echoed in my thoughts. I had been given a cup of something bitter to drink just before bed that night. I felt high, as if a mix of wine and weed had gone straight to my head. Never had I been so alive and alert to the sensations of our world.

  “It is imperative that you understand what is going on,” Beth lovingly anointed me in oils from the mountain wildflowers. “After this is over, you will be introduced to the pack as one of us. But before then, you will see and hear no one. It is part of the ceremony.”

  All things said and done, I stared out into the dimly lit cave. My body had been placed on the hide of a deer as I slept, blissful to the world around me. Vaguely I beheld the nakedness of my body. The secrets of my femininity were covered only by a thinly veiled black silk thong, and the nipples of my plump breasts remained visible to the world. Tugging at the deer hide, I attempted to cover myself, but to no avail. It was much too large and heavy.

  Wind ravished the trees somewhere off in the distance until their voices shouted angrily back. The whole night was on edge, including my nerves as I attempted to sit up in the darkness.

  First I felt and saw nothing, but as I got to my feet, they decided their own path.

  I couldn’t fathom the horror as my ears picked up a particular clanking sound. My eyes followed the long chain that was fastened to my delicate ankle. My breath came in short gasps as one’s do when their heart beats furiously. Beth had told me this would happen. There was nothing I could do.

  Something hidden and memorable struck me with this place. The spot where the fire lay, the stone walls, and the dirt floor all felt so familiar, like I had been there before. Sparks danced from the flames, shadows flickered on the walls, and further in the back was something to be discovered.

  I shuffled back, the entire time dreading the noise my chain made.

  “On the full moon, everything will happen,” Beth sniffed matter-of-factly. “And that chain will barely hold you down. It will take all his strength and will power to fight the beast in you.” All of her words flooded back to my memory.

  Several large hides stacked on each other against the wall. Throw pillows adorned the cave’s posterior. They looked plush and comfy, so naturally I did what most girls would. I jumped into it. I needed a momentary distraction from the nerves rocking my stomach.

  I lay there dazed for a few minutes.

  No sound alerted me. I looked up to see a dark formidable wraith looming at the entrance of the cave.

  Biting my lip I felt the crawl of goose bumps. The huge apparition approached slowly towards the campfire until it began to materialize into something recognizable.

  I stared in utter horror at it. Of all the ways to die, this was not how I expected to go. Before me the large grizzly bear flashed its wicked black and silver eyes. The voice within it resonated deeply to where I could feel vibrations reach my skin.

  Giant paws trampled the dirt.

  I jumped up from the cozy spot I lay and looked around for anything to defend myself. Nothing but the iron chain around my ankle could serve as a decent weapon.

  Penetrating the cave deeper, it stood there with a look in its eyes I had never seen from either man or beast.

  Slowly it arose, reaching full height on its haunches. Its body began to shake, the bones in its body cracking loudly.

  I heard the hollow gasps of its breath and almost felt the heat of it wash up towards me. It took a few steps forward before falling back onto all fours.

  Scrambling to gain distance from it, I screamed uncontrollably. My back hit the wall hard. There was nowhere further for me to go. I clawed at the stone behind me, and then turned my binding shackles.

  They were fastened too tight, and each tug threatened to break my skin.

  The bear advanced towards me, its body contorting into something gruesome and hideously frightening. I could see its spine protruding through the thick fur.

  “Stop,” I managed to yell at it. “Go away!” I hid my face in my hands and cowered like a little girl. I fell to my knees and hugged them; desperately hoping I could disappear into the darkness. But all was for naught.

  The great magnificent beast fell suddenly to the ground. Arrays of spasms shook its body as an earthquake ravages land. It growled so loud I could barely hear myself think.

  Its large paws were the first to change; claws retracting and bones shifting into something different altogether. Muscle mass diminished amidst the decline of fur being pulled back within its skin. Moments later the cry of a man’s voice bellowed within the deepened howl of the beast.

  Its size diminished, growing smaller until the shape of a man lay before me.

  Blinking vigorously to see if I was dreaming, I beheld the magnificent revelation.

  It was Logan who stared up at me, a torturous wickedness reflecting his black and silver eyes.

  He stood up naked and bare; every muscle in his body contracted. “That’s always God awful,” he groaned, walking over to the nearby wall and slamming his shoulder against it. “Shit!” His face contorted painfully over the chink of his resetting joint.

  I flinched emphatically. My own shoulder ached.

  “Sorry,” he apologized. He sat next to me and cracked his neck.

  “What just happened?” I reached out to touch his arm. Was this real or just another dream?

  His hand securely grasped my wrist. When I tried to pull away, he refused to let go. Instead he gently drew me towards him, the sweetness of his smell growing, intoxicating me until I succumbed to his touch.

  “You’ll grow accustomed to us, our ways, and your new life,” he promised. His breath came in soft alluring gusts of warmth. “Let me show you,” his body dominantly loomed over mine, making me feel like a prey in his grasp.

  Beth told me I’d have to choose between them. But the sexual urge to give in and let him take me burrowed deep into the secrets of my femininity. Just the thought of him revealing the way of love made me wet.

  “I don’t know.” I slowly retreated back, willing myself to refuse him. It would be easy, so easy to just let the animal in him ravage me. There was no denying how much the beast in him wanted it.

  “The moon is set and I can smell your virgin desires,” he growled softly. “Even being this close to you I can barely stand. It’s only a matter of time before you won’t be able to resist, and if you don’t make a choice, nature will choose for you.”

  Two other males made their presence known.

  “Felt like showing off Logan?” Adam’s low tones showed signs of disapproval. Liam accompanied him.

  Both dressed in nothing but jeans, they made their way back to where we sat.

  The scent of honey drowned out even the smoke of the fire.

  I couldn’t help but stare at Liam, who was considerably larger than the other two. He crossed his marbled arms over a broad carved chest.

  Something in my stomach twitched nervously. When Adam in turn came into view, I noted the blonde signature ponytail.

  “Get the fuck off her,” Liam hissed at his brother. “Give her some respect, God damn it!”

  That was probably the first tim
e I heard him openly say something in front of me, other than the night he took me home. He wasn’t much for words.

  Logan snarled. “Bite me.”

  Enraged, Liam jumped and grabbed his brother by the hair, forcefully yanking him up. “Follow the rules!”

  “Touch me again,” Logan barked loudly, twisting away from the iron grip.

  “You’ll do what?” Adam’s dubious expression tainted to that of amusement.

  Liam glared at Adam. “Both of you need to back off.”

  “Shut the hell up,” Logan bellowed, curling his fists and standing in front of me. “You’re cold as ice and feel nothing. How can you be a man and stand before a beautiful creature like that,” he gestured towards me, “And speak about rules? You probably can’t even please her if you tried.”

  Adam remained fixed in his columnar stance, watching the two go back and forth.

  Liam spat vehemently back. “You don’t deserve her after Sarah!”

  Silence cut the air, Adam’s eyes sparked with anger, and Logan’s blazed like an inferno.

  I found myself yelling now. “It’s my choice!” My eyes darted from each one to the other. “Mine damn it!”

  After all three had ceased their riotous behavior with surprise riddled on their faces, I dared to ask. “Who’s Sarah? This is the second time you’ve mentioned her.”

  Logan snapped. “None of your business.”

  Immediately I couldn’t stand him. He was so brash and tenacious. The feeling of desire for him left as quickly as it had come. I found myself almost detested by his very presence.

  Turning to Logan, I bit my lip before making the decision. “You’ve made your motives clear, now leave,” I pointed towards the entryway. “I don’t desire to mate with you.”

  Such a thing was no doubt awkward to say. Since when did such language become so normal to use? I came from a house where even the word sex was frowned upon.

  Half shocked and slowly boiling with anger, he took one look at me and scoffed. “You’ll be begging for me to come to your bed before the full moon is over.”

  “I doubt that,” my brows furrowed maliciously. Turning to both Adam and Liam, I addressed them together. “If either of you truly care about my feelings, you will leave me alone tonight.”

  “We can’t just do that,” Adam insisted, biting his lip out of frustration. “You need to choose.”

  Liam looked at his competitor with narrowed eyes. “She’s already made her choice.”

  “And I suppose it’s you,” he hollowly retorted.

  “No,” he snapped. “She needs time to decide on her own,” was all he spoke before walking away. Moments later he was gone.

  I watched him leave, almost relieved without his presence. I could barely breathe, the butterflies in my stomach driving me almost insane. My head was growing clouded and hazed by the constant yearning I felt every time I looked at him. But there were reasons I couldn’t decide on him, especially with his brother so wild and recklessly close.

  “Maybe,” Adam smiled and walked just before me. “You’d just like some company for the night.”

  To be honest I hated to be alone. The legitimacy of his offer was one to be questioned. There had to be an ulterior motive.

  “Thank you,” I gratefully smiled, standing up. My head came to about his shoulders. I found myself looking up into his handsome face, my heart a jumble of troublesome feelings.

  “Here,” he said, leaning down. Fiddling in his pocket for a second he produced the key and loosed my shackles. “We won’t need these tonight I gather.” Then he proceeded to rub the soreness as I stared astounded at his actions.

  There was something about Adam. Perhaps it was the way he knew how to say the perfect thing, or his gentle touch that turned me on. I couldn’t tell which. But every time he was near me, I almost fell into a feverish state.

  “Don’t do this to me,” he begged, closing his eyes as my fingers softly brushed his chest.

  “Do what?”

  “You don’t understand how much my body wants you. And it’s not in the same manner as a human’s sexual urge,” he explained. “It has to do with the season and our call to mate. It’s like a sickness.”

  The hardness of his muscles quivered beneath my touch. I could feel the compelling control breaking down within him.

  “Sorry,” I backed away, almost giving in to him without a thought or rationality. “I can’t help it.”

  “You feel it too,” he murmured behind glazed eyes. “But with you there is more logic to your needs until you’ve given in to them. Me, it’ll take nothing to break me. All you have to do is say the word and I’ll do what is in my nature to do.”

  “I can’t choose right now, no matter how much I want to say yes.”

  His eyes lit up. “So there is hope for me,” excitement trilled his voice.

  I hesitated before answering. “I like you Adam. I just can’t decide right now.”

  Understandably he kissed my forehead. “I’ll leave you to your thoughts tonight.”

  The warmth of his kiss lingered on my skin. It was the first time a man other than my brother had kissed me. Of course when that had happened we were little and at the acceptable age of brotherly sisterly affection.

  I watched him go, unable to say anything else to him. My heart and desires were torn in two. With no doubt Adam seemed a good and sensible choice. He was caring and extremely attractive, but for some reason the other night stuck to my memory. The night Liam said he’d see me soon brought butterflies to my stomach with each reflection. It was true he didn’t talk very much but something about him drew me in. The feeling was something Adam didn’t have to offer but I was too shy to request his presence. He seemed to have detected that as he bid his leave.

  I lay down, grateful for the iron weight to be gone from my ankle. In a matter of moments, sleep deeply overtook my troubled thoughts.

  CHAPTER SIX

  In my sleep over the next few days, I had dreams, but instead of the brothers being children, they transformed into strapping men. The annoyance I harbored towards Logan dissipated slowly until one day he visited me in the cave, he got me to smile.

  The rules of the pack were that I was to remain housed there until I had decided. The men visited me nightly expecting some kind of change and every time my heart betrayed me. I waited for a sign and found nothing but empty solitude.

  As the nights lingered I found it harder and harder to resist. The call to satisfy my desires almost drowned me in that torturous hunger. Beth had warned me that I would make an irrational decision if I waited too long.

  Finally one night, the decision was made for me. It was beautiful out and I decided to go go for a swim in one of the nearby springs. The moon sparkled brighter than ever, its reddened hue marking my half crazed desperation.

  Adam floated in the water not far from the shore. He must’ve had the same idea seeing how calm the night was. Barely a ripple disturbed the crystal clear waters.

  The scent of pine caught my nose until the fragrance of honey dominated it from across the waters.

  Purely starved and craving his touch, I removed the scant covering I had and stepped quietly in. Amazed he hadn’t overheard the rustling I made, I swam softly over towards him. The area in the pool he floated remained shallow, but further off the ledge dropped into fathoms of depth.

  It was chilly, my nipples hardening from the cold. When I came a few yards from him I stopped and stood up, revealing my breasts to the night. Droplets coated them, reflecting the moon’s rays in an array of shimmers.

  I didn’t necessarily want him. I wanted to kiss him, to toy with him, and to test his limits. I had grown bored sitting around with just my thoughts to keep me company. When the men weren’t around, they were off doing their duties to the pack, which I guessed they weren’t quite honest with me about. Besides mulling over my recent situation, I thought about my family and how much I missed them. Would I ever see them again?

  Adam whirled
around. His eyes glowed silver and he stepped back. “Not tonight,” he warned me, raising his hand. “Not on a blood moon.”

  I stared confusedly at him. “What do you mean?”

  “Step back please,” he insisted, his tone raising octaves above normal.

  “Why?” I questioned, doing the opposite his request and treading the water softly. It carried me gently towards him.

  “Trust me,” he rasped, a low growl escaping his throat.

  Stubbornly I refused to comply. I had already made up my mind to approach him and nothing could change that.

  “Not only will I take you,” he furiously snapped at me, backing away towards the deeper end of the pool. “But I’ll most likely hurt you in the process.”

  I froze mid-step.

  “Get away from him,” a male voice pierced the air with supreme urgency.

  I whipped my head around to see Liam at the edge of the pool, concern on his face.

  “From you too?” I questioned him, fear sticking to me like tar. My heart beat within my ears.

  “From us all,” he admitted.

  Would Liam hurt me? I could hardly believe he would.

  “Please Jewels,” Adam shouted behind me. “Go back!”

  I made my way out of the water, circling around Liam’s bulky frame, and hustled through the forest towards the cave. I knew he was still behind me. I hadn’t lost the sweet honey scent of his presence.

  The entrance loomed above my head before I turned around. Liam’s whole body was tense.

  “Do you want to come in?” I offered, gesturing for him to follow.

  He shook his head. “You have no idea how much I want to say yes or how much I’ve wanted to convey my desires to you,” he expressed. He was rigid and stood a few feet further away from me than normal. “But tonight isn’t a good night.”

  “How come?” I wanted to understand, despite the butterflies plaguing my entire being.

  “Ugh,” he walked up to me and stared me in the eyes. “Because deep inside I’m something wild and reckless, and only you have the power to release me. But if that happens,” he paused, reaching out to stroke my long half soaked hair. “My control will be lost and there is no telling what will happen.”