Just Like A Bear: A Steamy Shifter Romance (A Ravenswood Romance Book 3)

by Jada Turner

  I walked in and found her. She was talking to some friends. I went straight up to her.

  “Mother I…”

  “May I have this dance?” a thick Spanish accent said.

  My mother and all her friends turned to see that Emilio was asking me to dance. I couldn’t refuse with so many eyes on me.

  “She would love too,” my mother added.

  I was mortified. I bowed slightly and let him lead me on the floor. It was the most excruciating dance. I had to keep my composure and not cry. I had to do the steps and not make eye contact with him because I wouldn’t be able to handle it. I was cold in my manner. When the dance was over. I left the ball.

  I went home and cried myself to sleep. I would have to just endure the pain and remember that I brought it upon myself. I would need to use the memories we made together.

  That was it. That was the end of my affair with Emilio. I stayed indoors for a week. I didn’t want to hear any news of the engagement. I didn’t want to run into him in the village. I stayed in. I was back to my mundane life. Then one day a letter arrived. It was from him. He was inviting me to lunch. I tore it up and threw it in the fire. How dare he. I was disgusted by his behavior. He was engaged and he still wanted to be with me.

  Two days went by and I got the same letter again. I did the same thing. This went on for another week. I was sick of it. I almost wanted to go to tell him to stop. My stomach hurt and I had to vomit every hour or so. Then it hit me. It hit me hard like a slap to the face. I had missed my last bleeding. I panicked. I knew though. It felt obvious to me. I was pregnant. I would have to tell him. Now I truly was a pariah. I would have to leave home and go stay with my aunt and uncle.

  I got dressed and walked in the woods. Just as I expected Emilio was waiting for me.

  “Charlotte, my Charlotte. I have been trying to…”

  I slapped him across the face. “You could have told me you were engaged to Rose Harrington! That way I would not have been shocked at least. You are a cruel man.”

  “Charlotte, it is not what you think. It was arranged by my father. I had no say in the matter. I didn’t know until the ball.”

  I began to cry. I was so hurt.

  “I am sorry I hurt you. I did not mean too.”

  “I’m pregnant,” I said.

  There was no point in not telling him right away. He was silent. Then he hugged me. I pushed him away. I beat on his chest with my little fist. Then he hugged me again. This time I let him. I was scared and I needed comforting.

  “I will call off the engagement. I will take care of you. You are mine Charlotte,” he said rubbing his hand on my back.

  “You can’t. You’re father.” I said crying knowing the situation was hopeless.

  “No, I will not let him run my life. I have my own money. I do not rely on him. I am my own man. I should not have let him engage me to a woman I don’t love. He is in debt and he was trying to add more money to our family. That is his debt. I will not honor it. I am free of rules as I said before.”

  “Emilio is this true? I want to believe you but after the ball. I do not trust you.”

  “Yes, I understand that. Come let’s go.”

  “Where?”

  “We go to my house where I will write the Harrington’s to call off the engagement. You can seal it with my seal and my man will take it to their home. Then we go to your father and I tell him I am marrying you.”

  I smiled at him. I was relieved to hear those words from his mouth. We made our way through the woods for the last time in secret. We went to his house and we did just as he had said he would. He wrote the necessary letters to the Harrington’s and to his father. Then we went to my home. My parents were in disbelief and shock. They had no idea we knew each other and the engagement was out of the blue. I did not tell them about my pregnancy but it might have been obvious because we married four days later. It was necessary to marry as soon as possible. Not only to make it seem like the baby was conceived after marriage, but because we could not stay apart any longer.

  This was the end of my path to being a spinster. I went the untraditional route to finding love, but I found it. It took an untraditional and exotic man to capture and keep my heart forever

  ******

  THE END

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  About the Author

  Jada Turner lives in a magical town just like Ravenswood. She loves all things paranormal. She is currently working on more Ravenswood novellas.