Page 16 of Stolen By The Beast
Juniper bit her lip as I walked away, and the guilt swept back in. It bothered me to upset her, but I couldn’t let either of us get any more attached. When I was done building the shelter for her, I was walking away, and I refused to think about how much I might regret the decision.
Just like I refused to think about how this female smells like a mate.
Chapter Five
Juniper
Karvikdisappeared,hismassiveform merging with the shadows of the forest.
I was alone, and I hated it.
As he’d carried me in his arms, striding away from the hikers, my fear had been replaced by a sense of contented peace.
I wanted to stay with him.
But Karvik didn’t want the same. He’d agreed to let me stay in the forest, but he wasn’t going to let me stay at his side.
He was going to build me a place to live… somewhere not near him.
I was a fighter, at least I was fairly confident I was a fighter, and I wasn’t going to give in easily. All I needed to do was prove that he needed me.
But I couldn’t do that if I continued sitting around, waiting for Karvik to take care of me. I could help collect firewood. How hard could it be to pick up sticks?
Pushing to my feet, I made my way toward the tree line that ran parallel to the gurgling river. By keeping the river in sight as I collected wood, I was able to keep my sense of direction and not end up lost.
If Karvik was forced to come find me because I’d lost my way, I doubted it would help me to convince him I wasn’t a burden.
Arms full, I made my way on tender feet back to the nest-like pit Karvik had created for me. I had no idea how much wood it took to keep a fire going, so I decided to gather another load.
Following the path I’d just traveled, I made my way further up the river to find more branches small enough for me to carry.
“Just a few more sticks,” I mumbled, bending to grab another stick.
When I straightened, the world came to a screeching halt. I opened my mouth to scream but couldn’t make a sound thanks to my heart launching itself into my throat.
A large black bear had stepped from the woods less than fifteen feet from where I stood.
Maybe he hasn’t seen me, and I can stand still until he leaves.
I’d barely finished thinking the thought before the bear’s black gaze locked onto me. His muzzle bore fresh scratches, and several deep wounds had been carved into his back. It looked like I had something in common with him… we’d both had a really craptastic week.
Don’t panic.I tried to calm myself. The bear had seen me, but that didn’t mean he’d be interested in me.
Lifting his snout into the air, the bear’s nose turned in my direction. I didn’t have to be an expert to know he was taking in my scent. He was probably deciding if I was a snack, a threat, or not worth his time.
Please be the latter,I silently begged.
Apparently, my telepathy skills were nonexistent. The bear’s eyes lit with a hunger that took my breath away and caused my heart to pound around in my chest like a drunk bird.
If only Karvik would look at me with that…
I wanted to facepalm myself for thinking horny thoughts when I was about to become a hors d'oeuvre, but I didn’t dare move.
My plan to remain a motionless statue changed a heartbeat later when the bear charged toward me. Dirt and rocks flew up around him as his claws dug into the soft earth.
There were probably a thousand other things I should’ve done, but with a bear the size of a small car barreling toward me, logic gave way to primal fear.
I ran for my mother-freaking life.
