Waking the Bear (Shifter Wars) (22 page)

Pursuing the Bear

by Kerry Adrienne

Bria Lane tapped in the last stake to her small tent then gave a tug on the line to make sure it held. It wouldn’t bear up to a strong gust of wind, but in the forest of Deep Creek National Park, she wasn’t expecting any hurricanes. She put the small hammer back into its zippered pouch with her other wilderness tools.

I don’t remember it being so hot here in the summer.

“A small breeze would be nice.” She wiped her forehead with the hem of her tank top, careful to not disturb the holstered gun at her waist. Summer’s oppressive heat had taken hold and wasn’t going to let go anytime soon. Good thing she’d put her hair in a ponytail, otherwise she’d be melting.

This ivory tower professor has to get used to the heat.

She sat back on her heels and scanned the forest. Trees that had grown since her great-grandparents had first vacationed in Deep Creek towered overhead, mingling with shorter and younger trees and the occasional downed and insect-eaten trunk.

She grabbed her canteen and gulped the water. She’d be out soon and then she’d have to purify water until she picked up and headed to where her small RV was parked back at the campground. She’d already spotted a stream with swift-moving water, so that was a start, and she had her purification kit. She’d only be out in the woods for two days and nights this first trip, so she had plenty of supplies.

Insects hummed, making the forest sound like static.
Good thing for repellent.
She stood and hung her canteen on a low branch then began unloading the rest of her backpack. Inside were her bear-proof nets, her rations, extra bullets, camera, some extra clothing, GPS, a toothbrush, her notebook and not much else. Hiking everything in and back out necessitated frugal packing.

The sun was high in the sky already and she figured she’d hiked in about two miles since she left at sun-up from the RV campground at the edge of the park. She’d confirm on the GPS later. Right now, she needed to get her stuff ready so she could get to work.

The bears weren’t going to find themselves.

Excitement bloomed in her heart.
I’m here. After all the dreaming, and all the years of school, I’m here. I’m finally going to prove that what I saw wasn’t a fantasy.

She pulled the camera out of the front pocket of her pack and hung it around her neck.

Just in case.

A crunching noise sounded through the forest and she turned to see where it was coming from. It sounded like a large animal, and she put her hand on her gun. A tall man crested the hill between trees in the more dense part of the forest. Wearing a trim-fitting white T-shirt, jeans and carrying a daypack, he made his way toward her at a steady pace.

Her mouth went dry and she unclasped the gun. Feeling its cold metal against her hand, she slid it out of the holster and held it close.

She’d protect herself. She’d trained.
Stand tall. Often a gun is a deterrent.
Her instructor’s words echoed in her mind.

The man grew closer and the first thing she noticed was his beard. Trimmed neatly, yet long, she couldn’t help but warm. Nothing like a good-looking bearded man, and this stranger was of the tall, dark and handsome variety. His black hair was pulled back and his cheekbones were high and chiseled. The T-shirt he wore was dirty, like he’d been digging in the forest.

“Afternoon.” His voice carried over the landscape like slow-moving lava. Smooth, glassy and hot.

“Hello.” She gripped the gun tighter.

He stopped outside the perimeter of her little camp and smiled. “What are you doing out here in the woods by yourself?”

“Camping.” She bit her tongue not to retort sharply.
Be firm. Don’t be antagonistic.
“You?”

“Oh, looking for dead wood that I can repurpose into furniture. Logs, branches, even tree trunks if I can come back and cut them up.” He pulled his pack up on his shoulder and held his hand out. “Derek Poole. Resident Deep Creek craftsman. Well, I don’t actually live in the forest, but nearby.”

She held back. Camping this far out into the wilderness, you simply didn’t run into people. She nodded but kept the gun trained on him. “Bria Lane.”

He paused, taking his bottom lip into his mouth and sucking on it, then pulled his hand away. “Well, Bria, did you know it’s illegal to camp without a permit in this park? Do you have one?”

Really? Who the hell is he?
“No, I don’t have a permit.”
She scowled.
“But low-impact camping is fine.”

He shook his head. “No, actually it isn’t. I’m also a ranger here in Deep Creek, though I’m off duty right now. You need to camp in designated spots, and you need a permit.” He looked around, his icy-blue eyes as cool as his demeanor. “This isn’t a designated spot. But I’m not going to ticket you. Not this time.”

Her shoulders relaxed. “Thank you.”

He pulled out his wallet and flashed his badge. “You’ll need to get a permit at the ranger station at either park entrance next time. And make sure you get a map of designated camping sites.”

“I will.”

Hands on hips, he stood and stared, his eyes piercing through her. He looked like he knew something she didn’t. He pushed a stray lock of hair from his face and tucked it behind his ear. “You can put the gun away. I assume you have a carry permit?”

“I do.” She scowled. “I’ve even taken extra classes.”

“Good. Put the gun away. I won’t hurt you.”

The words sounded in her head.
Did he say that?

She shook her head. “I can’t trust someone I just met.”

“Fair enough. Since we’re both out here in the woods, we should at least be friendly. How about I help you hang your bear netting?” He pointed to the heap on the ground. “I’ve done it plenty of times.” He set his pack down.

“I guess that’s okay. Sure.” She watched him pick up the pile of net. “I’m able to do it, though.”

“I’m sure you can.” He leaned over to pick up the netting from the ground and she stared at his ass.

Figured that the good-looking ones were the ones doing odd things like gathering wood and being crafty. Still, he seemed harmless. And he was a park ranger, so she needed to be on his good side. She put her gun back in the holster and snapped the strap.

“Where’s all the wood you’ve collected?” She peered at the small pack on the ground. “That doesn’t look like it would hold big enough pieces.”

He turned. “I’m particular about what I pick up.” His gaze raked over her and lingered a moment, then he closed his eyes. When he opened them, the hungry look had faded a bit and his eyebrows drew together in confusion.

She swallowed hard.
What is that supposed to mean?
She tugged her sweaty tank top down.

He didn’t speak but went to work putting up the bear netting at a speed she’d never have matched. And now she didn’t have to try to reach too high in the trees to secure it.

“Done.” He wiped his hands on his jeans. Even more of his hair had come loose and he pushed it away. “Be sure you’re careful out here alone. You really should be using the buddy system.”

“Like you are?” She raised her eyebrows.

“Point taken.” He winked. “In all seriousness, though, we’ve had some mountain lion encroachments lately. They’ve even killed one tourist.”

“Oh, that’s terrible.” She removed the camera from around her neck and set it by the tent. “I didn’t realize there were many lions around here.”

“Yeah, you don’t want to mess with lions. And reports are that there are a lot of them in Deep Creek this year. They’re just as likely to kill you as to look at you.”

“Wow. Thanks.” She sighed and looked around the woods. No animals. “I’ll be okay. Besides, I’m an Ursinologist.”

“What?” Derek freed his hair and it fell in long waves around his shoulders. He shook it loose and finger combed it before securing it with the elastic band again.

“Huh?” Bria closed her mouth as her heart thumped.
Damn.

“What an Ursus...umm...whatever you said? I’ve always worked with my hands—I never was a college guy.” Derek kicked at the ground then looked up. “But I do what I love. That’s what counts.”

She swatted at a gnat. “Most people don’t know what an Ursinologist is. It’s someone who studies bears.”

“Bears, huh?” He shook his head and laughed.

“What’s so funny?” She crossed her arms. “It’s a valid profession. And I’m doing what I love, too.”

He stepped so close to her she had to look up to meet his gaze, and held his hands up in mock surrender. “Nothing wrong with it, Bria. I think it’s a fine profession. Here you are in the woods with me, so I guess we aren’t that far apart, career-wise.”

Derek was in her space and even though they weren’t touching, she felt his presence touching hers. One step closer and she could pull that hair band out and hop into his arms, straddling him as she kissed him.
Ugh. Stop.
She cleared her throat and took a step back. “I thought you were laughing at me.”

“No. I didn’t know there was a name for someone who studies bears.” He scanned the forest. “I guess you’re in the right place. Bears all around here. Probably closer than you think.”

“I hope so.” She relaxed a bit. “Have you seen any this season here in the park?”

“Every day.” He chewed his lip. “I’m out in the woods a lot.”

Her eyes widened.
He’d seen bears.
Her pulse thumped in her neck and she leaned forward. “Where? Can you show me, or at least give me some pointers where to look?”

“My best advice is to keep your eyes open. You never know when a bear will appear right in front of you.”

Available November 2016 wherever Carina Press ebooks are sold.

www.CarinaPress.com

Copyright © 2016 by Kerry Adrienne

Acknowledgments

Many thanks to my always awesome and forever amazing agent, Marisa Corvisiero. She works so hard for all her clients. Thanks also to my editor, Libby. I’ve known for a long time that she’s one of the best in the business and I was so happy to be assigned as one of her charges at Carina Press.

Stay tuned for
Pursuing the Bear
and
Taming the Lion
,
the next books in the Shifter Wars series from Kerry Adrienne!

About the Author

Kerry grew up in the mountains of North Carolina and now lives in Raleigh, NC, with her husband, three daughters, seven cats, a bunny and some other small animals, including a panther chameleon. Her husband says no more animals until they get rid of some children, so she buys shoes instead.

In addition to writing, Kerry loves music and traveling to concerts in her Mini Cooper convertible named Sheldon. She is also a costumer, artist and loves to play guitar, badly.

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