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Authors: Zenina Masters

Tags: #Shapeshifter, #Erotic Romance, #Paranormal

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BOOK: Bearing It
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Chapter Three

 

 

At the base of the stairs, a man was speaking with Teebie. Fred swallowed and straightened her shoulders, sailing past them with a pleasant grin. Her heart pounded in her chest, and she headed out the door.

The moment she was outside the bed and breakfast, she exhaled and shuddered. It was too soon to begin courting anyone or to let herself be courted. She wasn’t properly dressed.

She went to the General Store, picked out three nice outfits and changed into one of the dresses, wearing the deep blue-black dress with beadwork around the neckline with a certain amount of pride.

The dress skimmed over her curves and the beads gave interest to a neckline that only hinted at her cleavage. The hem stopped just above her knees and that was close enough to sexy for her.

The friendly—but not creepy—man behind the counter bagged up her purchases and told her that he would bring them over to the Open Heart. The new shoes were surprisingly comfortable, so she was out of excuses to delay the inevitable.

She headed for the Crossed Star Bar, keeping her shoulders back and her head high.

The music was playing, loud enough to dance to but not loud enough to drown out conversation. A man with colourful tattoos stamped on his arms was tending bar, and he must have been the Chuck that Ezzy had spoken about.

The dozen or so men, ranging around the edges of the bar, turned their heads toward her as she entered, and she swallowed but made it to the bar stools where she had a seat.

“Good evening. What can I get for you?” Chuck smiled with encouragement.

“A sharp blow to the head. I can’t believe I am here.” She snorted.

“Well, I can’t provide you with that, but I can give you this.” He smiled and shook a number of berries together after muddling them with honey. He added some alcohol that whizzed by before she could identify it.

He slid the large martini glass to her with a wicked grin. “Here you are, if you dare.”

Unwilling to pass up the challenge, she took a sip and smiled. “It tastes like summer.”

“That was the idea. I can smell the bear in you, and I know how much your folk like berries.” He winked one of his serpentine eyes.

She laughed and sipped again. “I am Fred.”

“Welcome to the Crossed Star, Fred. I am Chuck.”

“I know. My cousin was here recently. His wife mentioned you in an effort to make me more comfortable with the process.”

He grinned. “I do love family connections. That drink is a
Berry Special
. You can ask for it by name.”

“Thank you. I will.” She spotted the silvery band on his wrist. With the tattoo, it looked like the band was in the clutches of a swan. Both the silver and the tattoo were bright. “You are recently mated?”

He smiled happily. “I am. Ivy is sitting over in that corner, trying to punch holes in my writing.” He waved toward the woman in the corner, and out of the dimness, a pale hand waved back.

“You are happy with your mate?”

“Don’t let her hear you asking that. She would beat you to death with her feathers.” He winked at her. “Joking aside, I am happier than I have ever been. We don’t always get along, but we do work through our issues, occasionally in very creative ways.”

She was left to ponder that as he attended to some new arrivals.

Fred watched as the women who had been here longer than she had took their drinks and separated, milling around to allow the men to approach them. The men approached with self-control and pleasant expressions. Some showed signs of scenting the females and others spoke for a moment before their posture changed and they either left in search of another or asked the female to dance.

It was not the invasive procedure that Fred had begun to imagine.

She felt a presence to her right.

“It seems that we are sharing the Open Heart.” The man’s voice was low, and when she turned, his amber eyes were smiling at her.

Everything about him were shades of gold and amber, from his skin to his hair.

She inclined her head. “It seems we are. My name is Fred.”

She extended her hand, and he took it with an amused smile. “Hektor. Is your name really Fred?”

“It is. Well, it’s Winifred. Fred is the least offensive nickname.” She felt the warmth of his palm against hers, and her bear came roaring to the surface. With effort, she throttled it down.

He blinked. “Did you just grow fangs?”

She retrieved her hand and pressed it to her lips. “Um, it is possible. Sorry about that. What is happening to your eyes?”

He blinked as his eyes went from human to avian and back again. He smiled. “Sorry about that. Would you care to dance?”

She took a final sip of the cocktail. “That sounds like a good way to start.”

Gathering her nerve, she slid her hand into Hektor’s and took to the dance floor.

The music allowed them to sway and talk at the same time. Finally, he asked, “Are you as nervous as I am?”

She blinked. “I don’t know your level of nervousness, but mine didn’t let me have dinner, just in case.”

He laughed. “May I ask what brought you here?”

She snickered. “A transporter.”

“Funny. Me too.”

“Aside from that, a general lack of attraction on the part of my inner beast.”

“Ah, they are tricky things to satisfy, are they not?” His hand was warm on her hip while the other kept her fingers in his grip.

She looked up into his features, the strong jawline and high cheekbones. In any room, he would garner attention, but here, he was simply the eventual result of good breeding. Generations of inner beasts wanted the best mates, and he was the end result.

“Do your parents support your choice to come to the Crossroads?” She smiled as she moved with him.

“I left the nest years ago. They haven’t known my moves or choices for years.” He was matter of fact about it, but there was a visible pain in his eyes. “Does your family support this?”

She was able to grin with relief. “Yes. My cousin recently returned with a mate that makes the rest of the family look at each other with envy.”

“She made a good match?”


He
did. His wife is a great woman and a better owl.” She didn’t explain that the pair had been given full equality for shifting. It wasn’t common knowledge that such a thing could be achieved.

“Your family reacted favourably?”

“They did. They were just happy that there was a woman out there ready to accept Buzz.”

He smiled. “He was lucky.”

“I am fairly sure that as you work your way through the women here, you will find the one for you.” She kept her voice non-committal as the music halted and couples parted.

He inclined his head to her and smiled. “Until later, Fred. Save me a dance.”

There was a wobble in her step and her inner bear roared in frustration, but she made it back to the bar. “
Berry Special
please, Chuck.”

He nodded and started to make her drink. “He wasn’t your type?”

She cocked her head. “It isn’t supposed to be the first person you meet, is it? I mean he only asked me to dance because we are both staying at the Open Heart.”

“Did he? If that was his only interest, he could have spoken to you over breakfast tomorrow. He chose to introduce himself in this open environment. That shows interest; now, the key is, do you reciprocate?”

He slid the drink in front of her, and she turned on the barstool to watch as Hektor asked an elegant blonde with a sparkly dress to take a turn on the dance floor. A low rumble became audible to her, and she realised she was growling.

With deliberate control, she turned away from the couple as the woman plastered herself to Hektor’s chest.

“I don’t know what I am thinking and feeling. I think I will ask the cocktail.” She nodded and sipped at the berries and honey.

“Don’t ask too many cocktails before you ask yourself, Fred. Your inner beast knows what it wants, and it will go get it if you don’t act.” Chuck wiped the bar down and then moved off to attend to his other patrons.

Her inner bear was pacing. It wanted to get closer to Hektor and to breathe deeply and memorize his scent. Fred rubbed at her forehead and frowned at the pain of restricting her inner animal.

A feminine voice spoke from a few feet away. “Perhaps you need some fresh air. I would be happy to go out with you for a walk if you like.”

Fred looked up, and a woman with the marks of a golden lioness with dark hair stood next to her. Her silver bangle marked her as mated staff of the Crossroads.

“Do I look that rough?”

“You are giving off waves of power, and I think you need to calm down. I can distract you and get a nice meal at the same time.” The woman smiled. “I promise that everyone will still be here after you get a snack.”

Knowing that the woman seemed to have the voice of experience, Fred stood up and her knees buckled. The woman calmly took her arm and linked hers, appearing girly while she actually supported much of Fred’s weight as they left the bar.

Time for a little sustenance before she shifted out of her new dress and hauled Hektor out of the bar to have her way with him.

 

Chapter Four

 

 

The first bite of the cheeseburger was heavenly. “Okay, so you might have been right, Lee.”

Lee laughed. “I usually am when it comes to matters of health. Seriously, you were furring out and back so fast, I could barely see it, and the other women were getting dangerously close to the claws that were appearing and disappearing.”

“Ouch. I am so embarrassed.”

“I know. I thought that it would be nice to extricate you before someone was injured.”

There was something in her eyes that Fred could see. “Chuck called you, didn’t he?”

She snorted. “He did. He is very protective of the ladies in the Crossed Star, and you wouldn’t like it if he had to act to calm you down.”

“He’s venomous?”

“Very.” Lee chuckled and ate her salad with shredded chicken. “He rarely uses his fangs though.”

Fred finished her burger and moved on to her own salad and soda. “This is hitting the spot. I have been so nervous that I am pretty sure I skipped lunch and dinner.”

“It explains a lot. So, you are a bear?”

Fred winced. “I shifted that much?”

“Yup. Well, that and I have an excellent sense of smell. Bears are distinctive.”

Fred laughed. “That we are. Well, I am sorry that I almost
beared
all.”

“Are you feeling more in control? Feeding the beast is important.” Lee looked at her intently.

“I am definitely more in control. What next?”

“I thought I would show you the area where you can work out as your other self. It helps to shift and run around a little.” Lee got to her feet and waited while Fred finished her soda.

There were several men watching them leave, but Lee gave them a look and they all returned their gaze to their plates.

“I am guessing that you are well known around here, Lee.” Fred snickered as they entered the evening in progress.

“Pretty much. Tony warns the men to beware of me the moment that they arrive at the Crossroads.”

“Funny, I didn’t get that warning.”

“It’s like health class in schools. The men get one lecture and the women get the other.”

Fred laughed. “The women don’t need to know that you roam the night and the men need to see you around.”

“Something like that. While most of the men here are good, solid options, there are a few that are not, and those are the ones that I will kill to keep the women here safe.”

Fred blinked. “Okay. I am guessing that there is a story there, but I will leave you your mystery.”

“If you are still here in three days, I will tell you the story, but based on the fact that your friend from the bar is following at a safe distance, I am thinking that it won’t be that long.”

Fred turned her head casually, and the light of one of the businesses lit the bright gold head that was Hektor.

Lee beckoned him close. “Come on, I won’t bite.”

He moved to Fred’s side quickly. “Are you all right?”

She looked up into his eyes and smiled. “I am much better now.”

Lee cleared her throat. “I will just be on my way. Hektor, you know where the shifter’s field is?”

“I do.”

“Good. Fred needs a run on four legs. Take her.” Lee patted Fred on the arm. “Talk to you later.”

Fred waved farewell, and her new friend was gone.

She stared up at Hektor, and he looked down at her as if trying to figure out what to say. “So, the field?”

He blinked and nodded. “Of course. This way.”

He offered her his arm, and she took it, letting him lead the way.

“Were you unwell?”

She sighed. “Sort of. When was the last time you couldn’t control your shift?”

“Well, I was in high school. Why?”

“It happens to me more often. It’s why I have chosen to live outside a city.” She sighed. “I don’t do well in competitive situations.”

He chuckled. “What do you do for a living?”

“I run a U-Pick in Alaska.”

“Like berries and things?” His teeth gleamed in the moonlight.

“Yes, like berries and things. I even have a small honey farm as a sideline.”

He laughed. “Nice.”

“What do you do?” Asking about the human-world job was usually a question for a more intimate time, but it seemed right.

“I am a border patrol and customs officer.”

She stopped in her tracks. “You? But you are so friendly and cheerful.”

He snorted. “I am not on duty. I can only be surly so many hours of the day and usually when I am getting paid.”

“Grumpy for hire. I should get in on that action.” She grinned.

“It’s an open market.”

“Well, I have to keep a cheerful attitude most days. Folks don’t like it when you glare at them for touching your produce.”

He laughed. “Is that a euphemism?”

“No.”

They arrived at the field, and the shift cabanas offered a bit of privacy that she hadn’t expected. “That is nice.”

“It is arranged for our convenience. You enter the cabana, remove your clothing and shift. There should be room enough for you to exit, and then, the field is yours, run as much as you like.”

“Will you be shifting?”

“No, I am more of a day animal. I will wait for you, and after you work out the kinks, you can give me that dance.”

She chuckled and headed for the cabana.

After shucking her shoes, she slipped her dress over her head and removed her jewellery. Standing naked in the cabana, she let her transformation wash over her.

Her hairline rippled and fur cascaded down her body, her muscles thickened and cracked as they took on the wider stance of a she-bear. Snuffling, she wandered out into the night on her hind legs.

Hektor was waiting for her a few yards away. His surprise was evident.

Her mobile nose twitched as she took in his scent. She backed up and dropped to all fours, still sniffing at him until his essence was stamped in her senses.

She felt his hands on her, and she huffed low in warning. Touching a shifter without asking was dangerous. His hands slowed their exploration but continued to pet her head. The moment he touched her ears, she huffed and head-butted him to the grass.

Fred turned away from him and ran across the meadow, her body and fur rippling with each step. Her claws dug into the ground and propelled her far faster than most campers could imagine. She did love scaring trespassers by chasing them just fast enough to make them sweat. They had no concept of how easily they had gotten off. If she weren’t prowling her perimeter and one of the family gatherings found the trespassers, she would be filling out incident reports at the local fish and game department, as well as the police department.

She thundered through the meadow, feeling the turf beneath her paws. When she reached the copse of trees, she turned and pounded back to the cabana. She entered the space and sat on her haunches while she caught her breath.

She couldn’t imagine why she had head-butted him, but his scent was firmly on her forehead. Fred shook her furry head and resumed her human form.
Damn it.

With a disheartened sigh, she put her clothing and shoes back on. She ran her fingers through her hair a few times and exited the cabana with her jewellery tucked in her cleavage.

She stopped short when she saw Lee. “What happened?”

“Oh, honey, you broke his arm.” Lee was apologetic. “Come with me. He didn’t want you to worry.”

Fred was humiliated. In one night, she had lost control of herself in a strange place, and then, she had broken the arm of a man with feathers and the wind in his scent. She had crippled a flier and that was one of the worst things she could have done.

“Is there a way for me to just go home?” Fred was sunk in misery. The day that had started with hope had ended with disaster.

Lee took her hand and tugged at her. “Come along, Fred. Things aren’t as bad as they seem.”

“I really don’t think that you are telling me the truth, Lee.”

“He is resting, but he wants to see you. By tomorrow, he will be up and around. No worries. This isn’t the end of the world.”

No, but it was the end of hope. Silent and moping at her gauche beast and her lost possibility of a mate, she let the lioness lead her back into town, to a building with the standard red cross in a white circle that indicated medical aid.

 

BOOK: Bearing It
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