Page 2 of Snowed in with the Bear Shifter
ROARKE
There were times a man needed to shift into a bear and go for a peaceful walk in the woods.
Truth be told, Roarke Hargrove preferred to be out in nature, the crisp leaves crunching beneath his paws and a stiff wind ruffling his fur. But he could do without the freezing rain, especially as it threatened to turn into a true snowstorm.
Time to head home and den up until it passes, he thought as he watched the rabbit he’d scared scamper back into the undergrowth. The incoming weather was a perfect excuse to stay home and put the finishing touches on the presents he was making for his sister’s cubs. A solid winter storm would buy him at least twenty-four hours of peace before he’d be expected to make an appearance at his parents’ house, currently packed to the brim with family.
Bah, humbug, he huffed, his exhalation turning smoky white in the dropping temperatures, and gave his body a good shake, freeing his fur of the ice that clung to his back. If he could just skip over this whole overly-cheerful, brightly colored, hyper-commercial season, he would. Too much excitement, too much forced holiday cheer, and too many expectations.
Though he had to admit it was pretty hilarious watching the cubs open their presents, wrapping paper flying through the air as they ran around like lunatics high on sugar. And it was nice to see his pack all in one place once a year. Plus, his parents put out a spread to rival all others. For that alone, he’d leave his cabin and brave family time.
He knew he was a simple man with simple tastes. Give him a nice whisky, a roaring fire, and the peace and quiet that came when he was home alone with no one around for miles, and he was a happy camper. Not that he didn’t adore his family pack, but the combined whirlwind of sisters, husbands, kids, and assorted pets all at once was a little too overwhelming for his introverted ass to tolerate for more than a few hours at a time.
His sisters teased him for choosing to live so far away from civilization. That, as a bear, it was a given that he enjoyed spending time in the woods. But he didn’t have to live in them 24/7.
They just didn’t understand.
Snorting, he turned onto the hiking trail towards home, his pace slow and steady as his big paws crunched over hard-packed dirt and frozen pine needles.
And then he saw her. Eloise Fisk. The woman he’d been in love with since high school. A purple scarf swaddled the lower half of her face, and the hood of her bright red jacket was pulled tight so only her eyes were visible, but he’d recognize those velvety brown eyes and those luscious curves of hers anywhere.
What the hell is she doing all the way out here in a brewing storm?he thought as he moved towards her.
As she slowly backed away from him, waving her arms and blowing her whistle, he realized she must think he was a big ole bear looking for one last snack before a long winter’s nap. The last thing he wanted to do was scare her. He stopped, letting her put some space between them.
Except she was watching him and not where she was going. Before he could do anything to stop it, she slipped and tumbled down the bank.
Fear washed over him. He ran to her, his thick claws gouging deep furrows in the icy ground. She lay in a heap at the bottom of the drop, propped up against a tree and looking dazed.
Alive but injured, he thought, adrenaline making his ruff stand on end.She’s moving, though, which is a positive sign.
They were at least four miles from the trailhead and even farther from medical help. He had a fully stocked medical kit back at his cabin, thanks to his nurse sister who worked in the ER, but even that was a solid couple of miles away and here he was, in bear form, with no pockets and no supplies.
Carefully, he approached, trying not to startle her again.
She stared at him, her eyes wide, pupils dilated as she whimpered and huddled against the base of the tree.
She’s terrified, he realized, cursing himself for being the thing that was scaring her half to death. Of course she was afraid. She was hurt, and all she saw was a gigantic predator getting up in her face.
He needed to shift, to show he was human and not a hungry bear, though he wouldn’t be able to change again for another few hours. Being naked wasn’t ideal, but it seemed like a better option than giving the woman a heart attack. Besides, he’d need his arms to carry her to safety.
Concentrating, he let the magic flow through him, welcoming the hot sparks of pain that raced through his being as he shifted from bear back to human.
At his change, Eloise blinked up at him, cursed, and slumped over.
He dropped to his knees in front of her, ignoring the rocks and pokey pine needles that dug into his skin. “Eloise?” he said, tugging her scarf loose and pushing back her hood to betterassess her condition. He felt her pulse, relaxing incrementally at the steady beat of her heart against his fingertips. Running a careful hand over her head, he hissed out a breath at the lump near the base of her skull. “Shit, woman. Gave yourself a pretty good knot there, didn’t you?” he said, sitting on his heels and scanning the area.
No one and nothing else was in their vicinity. Smart, considering the freezing rain was shifting into snow as the temperatures dropped. His cabin was closer than the trailhead and still accessible. He needed to get them to safety before the weather worsened.
Re-wrapping the scarf around her neck and securing her hood, he gathered her up in his arms and started the trek home. “You know, this would be much easier if you were awake. Of course, then you’d have to walk next to a naked man,” he said, briefly taking his attention from the increasingly slippery ground to glance down at her.
Honey-blonde tendrils framed her lovely heart-shaped face. The cold painted the tip of her nose and her cheeks a ruddy shade of pink, a stark contrast to her too-pale skin. Her rosebud lips were pale and chapped, and he had to resist the impulse to stop and dig through her small pack for some chapstick.
His arms tightened around her as he picked up his pace. Walking as a human through the woods holding a beautiful woman as thick flakes of snow fell around them hadn’t been on today’s to-do list, but it wasn’t the worst thing to have happened. For one, he was holding Eloise Fisk, and she fit perfectly in his arms, like she was meant to be there. And for two, he might be a naked human at the moment, but he was a fur-covered bear at heart and, while it wasn’t the most comfortable of walks, he wasn’t in danger of frostbite nipping his precious dangly bits.
All the same, he breathed a sigh of relief as he broke through the stand of trees and sighted his cabin nestled in the clearing ahead.
“We’re here,” he said, adjusting his grip on her. She let out a soft sigh and rubbed her cheek against his chest. “Now, let’s get you inside and warmed up.”
