by Adele Niles
My bear sorts it out—it’s E. J.
I feel my jaw clench and my fists tighten. What the hell was he doing here? If he was after my lady, there’ll be hell to pay. My bear lets out a roar that shakes the trees.
I whip out my phone. No signal. Too high up and on the wrong side of the mountain. No wonder she hasn’t returned my texts.
I stride back to my bike. I rip open a saddle bag and bless old Griffin.
He wanted all the bros to carry walkie-talkies, but most of them wouldn’t do it. They were afraid he’d keep piling up the equipment and they’d end up with garbage wagons instead of bikes.
When he told me I had to have the walkie-talkie, I didn’t like it either. But I’m Sergeant at Arms and they need to be able to get ahold of me. I stuck mine in my saddle bag and forgot it.
Now I’m glad it’s here. I send out a general alarm and get no answer.
I start to pace. How long can I wait before going it alone?
My bear thinks I should have started yesterday.
I try one more time.
I hear crackling, and then Drake’s voice comes on. “What’s your location?”
“North side of Bear Mountain. About four miles up. Getting ready to cut east off the path. Got to leave my bike here.” I take a deep breath, my finger still on send. “I smell Howler, Drake. And it’s E. J. I think he’s got Coraline.”
Loud noise comes over the receiver. At first, I think I’m losing signal, but then I realize what it is.
It’s the sound of bikes firing up.
Fuck yes. They’re coming. I phase, and my bear comes out roaring.
I’m down on all fours, tearing through the woods after my lady.
Chapter 13
Coraline
I guess I’m glad I ran across this guy. He really seems to know his way.
But even though I know it’s shallow of me to judge people by their appearance, he still creeps me out.
“So,” I say, trying to start a conversation. “What brings you out into the woods today?”
“Beauty, of course,” he says, looking at me like I’m the chicken and he’s the fox.
I change the subject. “I noticed all the patches on your jacket. Are you a member of that motorcycle club in Maiden’s Fork?”
He pulls in his chin and shoots me a look, but then smiles a sideways smile. “Why, yes, I am. You’ve heard of us?”
“Yep,” I say. “I’m dating a guy in your club.”
At least I think I’m still dating him, runs through my mind. But something tells me not to say it out loud. It’s probably a good idea to let this guy know I’m spoken for, because I really don’t like the way he’s looking at me.
“Is that so?” he says. “Which one of those assho– er, brothers, are you dating?”
“Zane,” I say, rubbing my arms. It seems to be getting chillier. I thought it would get warmer the closer we got to town. But the sun is going down, so I guess it makes sense.
“Zane,” he says, and I hear a sort of growl in his voice, but he coughs and clears his throat.
“Yep, Zane,” I say, rambling on. “And he’s got a jacket with patches like yours…”
I stop myself. Is Zane’s jacket like his?
Suddenly I know it’s not. This guy’s jacket isn’t like Zane’s at all. This guy doesn’t have a black bear on the back—or the letters URSA—but he does have a patch of a monster coyote—and the name “Howler.”
Like on the backs of those creepy guys I saw the day I saw Bigfoot. Right before the coyotes attacked me.
A solid, heavy feeling rests in my gut. I look around. This can’t be right.
“Hey,” I say, “aren’t we going uphill? I thought we were headed back to Maiden’s Fork.”
He keeps walking.
“Hey,” I say. “Who are you anyway?”
He lets out a long laugh that ends in a howl. “I am E. J.”
We round an outcropping and come face to face with a pack of coyotes They lean forward on haunches like they’ve been waiting for us to come.
For me to come. This whole walk with him has been nothing but a trap.
E. J. laughs again. Before my eyes, he morphs into a coyote.
Chapter 14
Zane
I’m charging up the mountain full speed when I hear it. Coraline is screaming.
My bear’s crashing me through trees at forty miles an hour and tossing aside logs like twigs.
He rises up on his haunches and bellows so loud, the owls and hawks scatter.
I’m coming, Coraline.
An outcropping juts up in front of me. I throw a bolder out of the way. I round the corner and see her.
Coraline, my mate, is surrounded by a pack of snarling, growling coyotes.
My bear comes down on the coyotes like a buzz saw on a bulldozer.
They try their teeth on my arms and legs, but my fur is thick. When one gets lucky and latches on, I pluck him off like a scab and bash him against a tree.
My claws tear them new assholes and my jaws break a few heads.
For the first time in his life, the coward E. J. acts like a real leader—and heads off into the woods.
The rest of them take the hint, and pretty soon they’re all gone.
I stand upright, panting and weaving, covered with blood and coyote gore.
I look over to see Coraline standing with her back against a tree, her eyes as wide as saucers and her mouth open in a silent scream.
I take a step toward her.
The scream is no longer silent, and I realize she has no idea who or what I am.
I tell my bear if he ever wants to get close to her again, he better let me go back to human form.
He doesn’t like it—he thinks she should be more impressed by a bear—but he drops me to all fours and I feel my bones break and my skin split as I phase back to human.
I raise my head, exhausted.
She is still frozen in place. Her chest is heaving and her face is pale.
I stand up, naked, with my clenched fists by my sides.
“It’s me, Coraline,” I say. “Zane.”
I take a step toward her, but she only presses harder against the tree.
“Stay away from me,” she says, gasping.
I stop. My shoulders sag. My hands hang loose at my sides. “I’m sorry, Coraline. The last thing in the world I wanted was to see you hurt.”
I slowly turn to leave.
“Wait,” she whispers.
I twist back my head.
She walks forward, one slow step at a time.
She touches my hand.
I turn.
We fall into each other’s arms.
Chapter 15
Coraline
I still can’t believe what just happened! Zane, my lover, the man who took my body for the first time, is a shapeshifter!
No wonder I’m so strongly attracted to him. He is the embodiment of everything I love.
I lean against his strong, naked body and stroke his powerful chest. He gathers me up in his wounded arms and covers my mouth with his. He wraps his body around me and whispers in my ears.
“Coraline, I was scared to death I’d lost you,” he says. “Don’t ever do that again.”
My heart about jumps out of my chest. He was afraid of losing me? Tears well up in my eyes.
He presses me into his chest and takes another demanding kiss. “Come on, Coraline, let’s get out of here.”
He takes my hand and leads me down the mountain in silence, our hearts beating together. I’m partly in shock, but partly eager to talk about all of this. The questions stay lodged in my throat for now.
When he gets to his bike, he opens a leather bag on the side and pulls out some clothes.
I guess my disappointment must be showing, because he lifts my chin and combs my hair back from my face with his fingers.
“Don’t worry, babe,” he says. “They’ll come off again soon.”
Once his clothes are
on, I’m suddenly more able to think.
“Zane,” I begin. “What just happened back there?”
He laughs a rich, full laugh and draws me to him again. He tweaks my nose.
“In due time, babe, I swear I’ll explain everything. But first let’s get down out of these mountains.”
He puts on his jacket, fires up his bike, and I get on the back.
It feels like the most natural thing in the world.
At the base of the mountain, we are met by a fleet of motorcycles, all massive and powerful and piloted by big, fierce men in leather jackets.
Zane stops his bike and gets off and these men do the same.
They walk slowly toward each other.
I’m starting to get worried again when suddenly they surround Zane and start pounding him on the back, giving him bear hugs, and laughing and smiling with great, big smiles.
Zane’s smiling big, too. He points back at me and they wave at me and give me a thumb’s up.
I wave back weakly, still confused, but guessing it’s all okay.
Pretty soon, Zane comes back to the bike and stands by my side.
“You’re a hit, babe!” He leans in close. “What do you say we go back to your place and relax?”
I look up at him with as straight of a face as I can manage. “Oh, sure. You want to meet my landlady?”
I laugh pretty hard when he jerks back and pulls in his chin.
“Never mind,” he says. “I already have.”
I trace a finger down his gorgeous pecs. “Well, then,” I say. “How about your place?”
His smile comes back bigger than before. “If you don’t mind a few bike parts lying around and an unmade bed.”
“Oh, the bed wasn’t going to stay made anyway,” I say.
He mounts his bike and kicks it to life.
When we first get to Zane’s place, I think we’re stopping at a junk yard for some reason. But he scoops me up in his arms, kicks open the door of the shack, dumps me down on his unmade bed, and sends the dog outside.
I fall back on the bed, laughing. “You weren’t kidding, were you?”
He stands and strips off his clothes until he’s back to the naked man I saw in the woods. But this time his massive cock is standing at attention. I can see the vein running up the side and a sweet drop of pre-cum on its tip.
He locks eyes with me. “Does this look like I’m kidding?”
I squirm under his gaze. The soft parts between my thighs tingle with want. I feel myself moisten.
“Do you want me to shower?” I ask with a suddenly dry mouth.
“Oh, no,” he says. “I want you just the way you are. Sweet and tangy.”
He gets on the bed and straddles my legs. He unbuttons my blouse and pushes it back from my shoulders. He lifts my breasts from my bra and arranges them so the tight elastic of my bra lifts them and points them up. He drops and suckles and presses on each one until I think I am going to melt from pure pleasure.
But then he pulls back.
He unfastens my jeans and pulls them down to my ankles. I know my filmy panties barely cover the warm triangle between my legs, and he stares at the vee, lips parted.
Then he plunges his face down on my lush folds and runs his tongue up the furrow between them, pushing the fabric down with his powerful mouth.
I writhe. I want to scream. I want to come. The sensations are intense, crashing through me with waves of pleasure.
But he pulls away again.
He swings his body around and straddles my head. He works at unlacing and pulling off my boots, and then my jeans, as his huge cock swings over my face.
I reach up a hand and pull it to my mouth. I hear him groan.
I feel my thighs shoved apart and then his face is lapping my folds again. I suck on his cock and stroke his shaft and his tongue tastes my pussy.
We both drink in one another until we can hold back no more. We stiffen together in gasping passion—then I lie panting on the pillow and he collapses with his cheek on my thigh.
We cuddle together, inhaling the essence of our love.
The dog scratches at the door.
We start to laugh a little. And then a lot. And then we are laughing and kissing and holding each other.
And the dog stays outside.
Chapter 16
Zane
It’s a long time since I’ve felt this contented. I know I’ve found my fated mate and all that remains if for me to mark her—and explain why she can’t post the picture of me phasing on the internet.
This isn’t going to be easy, but I’m done trying to play games. She’s too important to me. I don’t want to gamble on losing her trust.
And she’s too smart to fool.
So I look over at her lying all cuddled up in my arm and decide it’s now or never.
I run my finger down her cheek. “Hey, babe. You awake?”
She makes a little sound and burrows further into my chest.
I continue, “Because, I’ve got something I need to tell you.”
One eye pops open and then narrows.
“Oh, don’t worry. Nothing bad.” I clear my throat. “But remember when you told me you have fun looking for ghosts, spirits, and any kind of cryptid—”
Now both eyes are open—and both narrow. She says, “I remember when I told you about my job, if that’s what you mean.”
“Your job?”
“Yes,” she says. “The thing with which I make money and pay my bills. So yes, my job.”
I nod, wondering about her sudden hostility, but then decide that the info I have to give her will cheer her up. “Okay. Well this is the thing. I’m a bear shifter—”
“Yes I know. I saw you change forms, remember?”
“Yeah, but there’s more to the story than that.”
She becomes very still. Watching me with those big brown eyes. Listening.
I take a deep breath. “Being a shifter isn’t some big party. There’s a lot of pain involved.”
She doesn’t blink.
I go on. “There’s the physical pain every time your bear takes over and your bones crack and your skin tears as you re-form your body—but there’s the mental pain, too.”
I roll to my back but feel her eyes still on me.
“You know you’re different from the day you’re born,” I say. “You’re a freak. People avoid you. They’re scared of you. Or they want to hurt you. Or they want to catch you. Control you. Dissect you.” I pause. “So when you find others like yourself, a family, a haven, it’s as important to you as anybody else’s family. Maybe more so. And you want to protect your family. Your life. Your home.”
I roll toward her and lean up on an elbow.
She pulls back, frowning.
“The URSA is my family,” I say. “And my home. And that’s why we work so hard to help the people of Maiden’s Fork. It’s why we work so hard to protect them from threats like the Howlers—and other outside threats.”
She pulls in her chin. “Are you calling me an outside threat?”
“Coraline, that’s not what I said.” I plunge on. “But if you release that picture of me shifting—if you tell the world there are bear shifters in Maiden’s Fork—people are going to descend on us like vultures smelling carrion.”
She pulls back from me, searching my eyes.
“Coraline,” I say. “You can’t do it.”
Suddenly she’s up on her elbow, open-mouthed. “I can’t do it? You’re telling me I can’t do it?”
“Did you hear what I just said?” I ask.
She drops her head and then looks up, her face scrunched and red. “First of all, you can’t tell me what to do.” She takes a breath. “And second, this is my work! This is the whole point of my existence. This is why I agreed to come to Maiden’s Fork to begin with. And you’re telling me I should just shrug and go home?”
“Coraline, I don’t want you to go home. Ever.”
This seems to stop her for a second. Bu
t then she rolls away and gets out of bed. She starts grabbing up her clothes and getting dressed.
“You know, you really didn’t have to worry,” she said. “That picture isn’t enough on its own, like you said. But now I’m going to do my job. I’m going to go out there and get more pictures to back it up.”
She stomps to the door.
I’ve had enough. I told her the truth, and this is what happened.
“Fine,” I say. “I was going to go to the clubhouse anyway. There’s a game we’ve been wanting to watch for weeks and there’s going to be a party. So you go have your fun.”
She stares at me and then slams out the door.
Chapter 17
Coraline
I burst into tears as soon as the door slams behind me.
Zane’s story about feeling like a freak really hit home. I know that feeling. But then how could he hurt me so much by saying my job—looking for ghosts, spirits, and cryptids—was just having fun?
That’s like my parents and friends who think I should be doing something “real” like being a doctor or a lawyer.
I dry my eyes on my sleeves and straighten my shoulders. I straighten my hair and pull it back. I start to walk toward the bed and breakfast to change into new hiking clothes and charge my equipment, when suddenly I don’t have the energy to do it.
The one person I love most in life just told me the pursuit I’m passionate about is worthless.
I feel deflated. Defeated.
I walk aimlessly. I have nowhere to go. Nothing I want to do.
I come to a beat-up looking theatre. I look at the marquis and see that the feature movie—some B grade horror flick—is just about to start.
Why the heck shouldn’t I go in? The idea of sitting in the dark, crying into my popcorn, and watching something mindless sounds like a good idea to me.
But it’s not. The monster flick turns out to be a bad takeoff on Frankenstein, complete with villagers with pitchforks, and the popcorn has way too much salt. And the couple in the row in front of me are using the seats for an activity better accomplished at home.
I give up after an hour and leave.
I don’t expect it to be as dark as it is when I walk out onto the street. I’d forgotten that the sun goes down sooner in the mountains.
