Over time, she completely forgot about how he’d chased every man away before approaching her himself. It didn’t seem to matter in the whole scheme of things. He appeared as the most deserving man among all the others. She fell madly, deeply in love with him, and she’d have it no other way.
***
Rescued By Her Bear
Ashley Hunter
Copyright 2015 by Ashley Hunter
All rights reserved.
No part of this publication may be reproduced
in any way whatsoever, without written permission
from the author, except in case of brief
quotations embodied in critical reviews
and articles.
This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to any
person, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
First edition, 2015
I.
I waited outside my Medieval Literature 101 course, waiting patiently to take my last final of the semester. I felt nervous, to say the very least, but I figured I could get away with writing a decent enough essay to pass.
My eyes wearily followed other students travel down the dimly lit halls. A couple passed, completely involved with each other, their fingers so intertwined that a voyeur (such as I) wouldn’t be able to distinguish whose thumbs were whose.
Bradley Ryan, whose head I stared at the back of for three semesters now and never had the guts to approach, walked up with his beautiful nose in The Canterbury Tales. Here was my moment.
I could make a joke about the Wife of Bath or the Pardoner. I could do it. I could maybe make him laugh, and he would surely fall madly in love with my wit. Until he looked up and down my body and noticed my “child-bearing” hips, my huge ass, and my thick thighs. He’d remember my extra curves, and the mad love would vanish.
I know how this worked. I know exactly what would happen when I tried to talk to him. He, the tall, lean, beautiful and elite white man would never want to date the shorter-than-average, “voluptuous,” plain woman. The only thing he saw me as was a large shadow in the way of his studying.
“I still can’t get through ‘The Knight’s Tale,’” Bradley said, seemingly to me since no one else was around. “I just can’t do it.”
“It’s one of the rougher ones,” I answered.
He looked up at me, “Not for you, Lorena - you’re smart.”
“You’re smart too.” Also incredibly attractive. So, so, so hot.
“My mom says that too,” he smiled. “She tells me a lot of things though.”
I wanted to ask if he’d like to go to coffee and tell me those things, get to know each other, but my jaw wouldn’t unhinge. Bradley is a friendly sort of guy - he only made conversation with the awkward girl standing outside the classroom.
Dr. Stegner, our professor for the course, approached with hot coffee in one hand and our exams perched in the crook of his other arm.
I followed him in, deciding to say nothing to Bradley. The final needs more attention now than a boy sure to turn me down. I’d always found my studies to be my safety net.
I’d been much heavier when I was a kid. In college, I’d lost my baby weight, but I didn’t gain any more self-confidence. Boys had teased me when I was younger, and when I got older, I didn’t want the same treatment. Even then, it seemed so easy for college boys to sleep with women and then throw them away. I couldn’t stand someone just wanting a larger notch on their belt.
No one would ever love me for all of me, every curve and inch of me. I’ve always thought if you don’t put yourself out there to get rejected, you’ll never be disappointed.
After the final, I hurried home in order to avoid interaction with Bradley again. I also had to get ready for a camping weekend with my old high school friends to celebrate the end of another year.
I planned on trying on most of my clothing to see what was most flattering and could be considered appropriate for camping. It’s only natural to be over-prepared.
As I entered my dark studio apartment, it felt particularly lonely. I clicked on the tall lamp in the corner of the room and gave myself a good look over in the mirror. Brown almond eyes, pale white skin, plump pink lips - like Marlon Brando said, I could’ve been a contender. But I knocked myself out before even getting into the ring.
II.
“Lorena, could you bring any more baggage for a camping trip?” my best friend, Julie, asked as she helped me carry my bags to her car. “It’s only a weekend.”
“There’s food in there too,” I responded. “You know I need to be well nourished.”
“Yeah, okay. I don’t believe you, but okay.”
I gave her my best frown and got into the passenger side of the car. We discussed my reluctance to talk to Bradley and her disappointment from such. She expressed her concern in my low self-esteem and insisted that I am a “beautiful, strong woman.” I was kinda getting motivated and she continued talking about how I needed to “live up to my potential.”
Julie and I have been friends since third grade, but she always kept men on the forefront of her mind. Even then, she had a list of the boys she had crushes on and was completely intent on winning their affections.
I’m still not sure what she expected to do with boys at that age, but I guess I was never incredibly boy crazy. I had other things on my mind - like remaining invisible.
We met our other high school friends Shelly (and her boyfriend Rick), Vickie (and her girlfriend Sandra), James (and his girlfriend Patsy), and George, who happened to be off and on with Julie. I realized in the first moment of arriving that I was the additional wheel in a vehicle with quite a few wheels. I suppose they assumed since I’m the biggest wheel, I can get along carrying the weight on my own.
This trip is going to suck.
I tried to keep my cool, be amiable with the group, but they all seemed more concerned with enjoying nature with their respective significant others. It seemed, unfortunately for me, that George and Julie’s relationship currently was on.
It would have been nice for her to tell me that so I didn’t waste my time having to watch couples together. Even when the couples are my own friends, I despise couples and being around them. Once I pushed a couple down in the street on Valentine’s Day. It didn’t really make me feel better, but it helped enough.
I decided to take a walk on my own to clear my head. I wouldn’t be missed since I didn’t have a significant other to notice my existence. Only a few days before I had noticed how utterly lonely I truly am, and now I’m faced with that predicament again.
Yet, nature helped calm my nerves and disappointments. The pine trees stood apart from each other, but appeared strong and beautiful, reaching for the endless blanket of stars above them.
Their pine needles may have touched, but they all appeared as single members of the large group. They didn’t need to be intertwined with another tree to be whole.
I sighed. That lonely metaphor didn’t really make sense as I thought about it more. The trees are still gorgeous, and the sky is still infinite, so maybe I could handle my loneliness by appreciating the beauty of…
Suddenly, I felt a hand grab me from the back, covering my mouth and dragging me into the woods. My heart exploded in my chest, trying to beat out of my ribs by punching my jogging lungs. Air could not enter my nose fast enough.
My arms tried to fight, my legs tried to kick, but whoever had me held on too tight. The trees seemed to whizz by as I went further and further into the forest. My lungs simply couldn’t catch up.
Before I knew it, the whole scene had gone black. The last thing I saw were those numberless smatterings of stars glistening lonely and helpless above me.
III.
I opened my eyes slowly, wondering if I had died in the struggle, and now I existed somewhere in the limbo for spinsters. Wherever I was, the darkness had set in further except for the faint light of a fire.
Somewhere around me, I could hear a male voice muttering to itself. Could
that be a demon ready to torture me? Were there demons in limbo? I tried to remember Dante’s Inferno, but the fear destroyed any thoughts in my head.
“I have to do this,” the voice muttered. “I’ve come this far, and I need to follow through.”
I’m going to die. If I’m not dead already, I’m soon going to die. I need to find a way out. I need to be the girl who’s on I Survived, not Forensic Files. I contemplated my surroundings. The cushy embrace of a couch held me, and, even in the dark, I could see wood beams and walls around me.
Out the window, I could see the outlines of rows and rows of trees. The escape would not be easy, but thankfully I felt no binds on any of my limbs. Perhaps, perhaps, I could get out of this.
A tall figure moved into the shadow of the fire burning somewhere near me. If only I had a weapon to shank him with. Maybe I could find something in the couch…
“Are you awake?” the voice asked before an unbelievably handsome face appeared above me. In the fire light, I could see his green eyes glinting as his frown added to his chiseled features.
“Am I dead?” I asked. “If I’m dead, I’m probably not awake.”
Even in the dark, I could see his eyes roll, “You aren’t dead, obviously. Sit up, I’d like to talk to you more face to face.”
I sat up. My kidnapper looked even better as I faced him. He wore a tight wife beater (appropriate) that showed off his muscles and six pack. I expected the guy to be like John Wayne Gacy, a crazy, greasy clown who inspired nightmares.
But there he stands, a beautiful Adonis of a man. He looks slightly older than me, perhaps twenty-five or twenty-six, and had that haughty look one would expect the real life Heathcliff to have.
If this were in a different circumstance, I definitely would’ve stared at him from across the room and imagined our fairy-tale futures together.
“You’re even more beautiful in the light,” he said softly, perhaps to sound romantic.
“Uh thanks,” I answered, not sure what else to say.
“I intend on making you my mate tomorrow,” he stood taller, giving me a look of superiority. “You may not think so right now, but I will make a fine mate for you.”
I narrowed my eyes. This is completely crazy. It might be some suicide cult thing where he made me his mate, then made me drink poisoned Kool Aid.
“Are you hungry?”
I shook my head. No poison for me, thanks.
“I’ll get you some water.” He moved to leave the room.
“Please don’t,” I stopped him. “Please, I don’t want anything.” No poison for me, thanks!
“You should keep hydrated. I didn’t expect you to pass out.”
“People do strange things when they’re being kidnapped.”
His stature slumped slightly, but he regained his composure. “I’ll get you some water.”
As he left the room, he began to mutter again. I scooted closer to the kitchen to listen.
“You have to impregnate her tonight,” he muttered. “If you don’t do it tonight, there’s no use. You need to do it before the sun sets tomorrow morning. You have to.”
Oh no, I am not letting this guy impregnate or do anything to me. He’s probably one of the hottest guys I’ve ever seen - even beyond Bradley - but I will not allow some man who stole me away into the woods to “impregnate” me. I looked around again to find the exits. The door looked to be a straight dash if I could distract him.
He returned with a glass of water. I took it and pretended to take a drink.
“Why are you doing this?” I asked, trying to seem more vulnerable so he had his guard down. “Why me?”
“You’ll know very soon,” he replied, seeming as ominous as ever.
I need to get out of here. Behind him, the fire crackled loudly as a log fell from its perch on the other burning logs. He turned to tend the fire (or just see what the fire was doing), so I stood with the water tightly in hand. Before he could stop me, I threw the water onto the fire and hit him on the head with the glass. He yelled in pain as I ran to the door.
Thankfully, it opened easily, and I ran like a spinster out of limbo into the dark woods.
IV.
I felt frantic, running in any direction that could lead out of the woods. I heard the kidnapper behind me, could almost sense him around me. His figure appeared before me, silhouetted by the light of the moon. Suddenly, the figure transformed from a man to a bear. I froze. My mind completely blanked.
I might get mauled by a bear. This is the end.
I closed my eyes, preparing for my death. As if from heaven, an arrow flew through the air and hit the bear just as he prepared to lunge for me. The animal dropped to the ground, revealing another male figure with a bow still pointed. He lowered it and came closer.
“Are you okay?” he asked, keeping his distance.
“I am now,” I responded, finally able to breathe again.
"Come with me before he gets up. These are tranquilizer arrows, and staying here is dangerous.”
I obeyed, following him quickly through the woods. He grabbed my hand through a particularly sketchy part and looked back to make sure I could make it through. I could barely see him in the dark, but his hand felt strong, and he looked tall and lean.
When the moon and starlight touched his face every so often, he looked handsome. Perhaps it’s just some kind of damsel in distress thing, but I felt instantly close and connected to him.
We came upon a decrepit looking shack, which he led me toward.
“That place looks riddled with spiders,” I panted.
“Trust me,” he responded, unlocking the dilapidated door and gesturing for me to enter into the dark.
I walked carefully into the building, worrying I’d walk right into a large spider web or some kind of old machinery. Old shacks in the wood always seem to be full of creepy old relics.
A light turned on behind me to reveal a much nicer than expected cabin. No bugs or animals, no relics of the past, nothing seemingly amiss really. I turned to see him in the light. He indeed appeared tall, lean, strong, and handsome. He looked like the stereotypical hot, rugged man - dark, thick stubble, a flannel shirt, and intense dark eyes.
“I know it looks like a dump on the outside,” he said. “I like to keep a low profile. I don’t like people poking around.”
“You live out here?” I asked, trying not to stare at him. Though he’d saved my life, he still would probably never consider a woman who looks like me.
“I do. A few other hunters and I live out here, off the grid. One of us usually waits behind while the others go out and hunt to just kind of hold fort.”
“Is that what you were doing when you found me?”
“I was walking back from one of my friend’s houses, yes. I heard running and decided to investigate. You looked to be in trouble.”
“I was. This may sound completely crazy, but the bear he… he was a man. I was at a barbeque with my friends, and I decided to go for a walk. The man grabbed me and dragged me into the woods. He was muttering about how he was going to impregnate me before the sun rose and all of this. I fled when I could.”
He raised an eyebrow, but didn’t show any sign of disbelief. “There are stories about bear shifters in these woods. So, don’t worry - I don’t think you’re crazy. I’m very sorry you went through that.”
“If it weren’t for you, I’d be right back there. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. I am sure you’re eager to get back to your friends, but I don’t think it’s safe with that guy out there. I would feel better if we wait until my friends get back from the hunt, and then get you home. He’s dangerous.”
I nodded. “When do your friends get back?”
“A week from now. I know that may seem like a long time, but I want to keep us both safe. I don’t want that man to know where I live or to be able to somehow intercept you when we try to make our way back into town.”
“Okay. Is there any way I could call my friends o
r my parents so they know I’m safe?”
“I’m off the grid. I don’t have a phone.”
“What if you have an emergency?”
“I haven’t had one yet. I guess I’ll deal with that if it comes.”
I could only nod. “Well, okay. Um… my name is Lorena. What is yours?”
“Dorian.”
“As in The Picture of?”
“You got it. My last name just isn’t Gray.”
I laughed, “Right. Well, I guess I will try to make myself comfortable then. Do you mind leaving me alone for a little bit to just… comprehend everything?”
“Of course. Let me set you up in the guest room.”
The cabin was deceivingly large. I expected it to be smaller from the look of the outside. He led me into a small, quaint room and let me be. I needed the time to think about all that had happened, but I also wanted to get out of the room with him. Perhaps because he saved me, all I could think about was his sexiness. My kidnapper had been the hottest guy I’d ever seen, but Dorian outdid him.
I’d rather separate myself from the situation than be rejected and disappointed. There didn’t seem a point to try to pursue him during this short time together.
V.
I awoke the next day greeted by the smell of something delicious cooking. It took a moment for me to remember where I was and the situation at hand, but at least I’m not being starved.
I never imagined anything like this would happen to me. Of all the girls to kidnap, why me? What do I have to offer anyone? It must be the child-bearing hips that my kidnapper wanted.
In real life, who actually kidnaps someone to impregnate and marry them? I thought in this day and age, men didn’t even want to get married. They long to stay bachelors and sow their wild oats.
Maybe that’s just men in college though - they aren’t ready to settle down. They don’t even really want to do their homework. The kidnapper must feel his biological clock ticking for some crazy reason.
Romance: Bearilicious: BBW Paranormal Bear Shifter Romance Collection (Werebear, Bear Shifter, BBW Paranormal Romance) Page 14
