Page 21 of Taken Home By the Grizzly

“Are you crazy? Kids, come here, please!” I’m hysterical. I think I’m even crying, and I’m definitely about to wet myself.

“C’mere.” Lock hunkers down, and all three kids leap on him. Mari scrambles onto his shoulders, while the twins wrap themselves around his massive arms. “Come on, let’s go.” He heads back to the gate at a trot.

I follow him, head spinning. Why, why, why am I the only one who’s terrified here?

The second Lock has passed through the gate, I lock the padlock again. Lock carries the kids up to the house and deposits them on the front step. I shove them through the front door. “Come in,” I yell to Lock.

“Zoe, you’re safe. Trust me,” he says.

I stare at this naked man, standing on the front step, in absolute confusion. “How… what?” I falter. My head is spinning, and I’m using every scrap of willpower to maintain eye contact with Lock, and not steal a glance at that fire hose between his legs. But it’s no use. It demands my attention. I glance at it fast. It’s absolutely massive. Long and thick and dangerous looking.

When I meet his gaze again, a little smile tugs at the corner of his lips. He caught me looking.

“You’re naked,” I blurt out.

“Sorry.” He puts his hands over his junk. “I’ll go.”

“No,” I say forcefully. “You’re going to tell me what’s going on.”

I see his big chest rise and fall. “How about I go put some pants on, then I’ll come back and explain?”

“Yes, okay,” I hear myself saying.

6

Zoe

Mari, Jace and Todd’s cheeks are glowing and their eyes are bright with excitement.

“Are you kids okay?” I ask leading them back into the kitchen.

“Yeah!” they yell boisterously. They look like they’ve never been better.

Trying to pretend this wasn’t the weirdest half hour of my life, I crack some eggs into a skillet

“You three sit down quietly,” I say sternly, and for once they obey me. I fry up the eggs, then I cook the bacon and lay it all on plates with the now-cold sausages. Not bad for a breakfast cooked amid a bear attack, I think as I dump the plates in front of the kids. Then I look up in time to see Lock striding across the yard. He’s not only wearing pants, but a shirt and boots as well.

When he comes into the kitchen, despite everything, my stomach flips. He’s so stupidly hot. Meanwhile, the kids, who until now have been eating like animals, drop their silverware and chant his name like he’s a returning hero.

“So, you gonna tell me what the hell just happened?” I demand.

“Whatjust happened?” he echoes, folding his arms and looking at me quizzically.

I force myself to stare right into those startling eyes. “You know what I’m talking about, Lock. There was a bear outside. But instead of being scared of it, the kids went crazy for it.”

“He is the bear!” Todd yells.

“Just a minute, honey. Lock has something to tell us.”

I fold my arms, too, drumming my fingertips against my upper arm.

He exhales slowly. “He’s right. I was… I am a bear. I’m a shape shifter.”

“A shape-what?”

“I’m part man, part beast. More beast than man sometimes. And I can change between my human and animal sides whenever I want.”

I goggle at him. Am I dreaming? I pinch my arm.Nope,wide awake.

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