The Bear's Mate Read online

  The Bear’s Mate

  By

  Adrian Blue

  © Copyright 2017, Adrian Blue, All Rights Reserved

  Chapter One

  Reagan stood at the back of the meeting hall and listened to the elders discuss her fate. Her mother and father sat in the front row with the parents of the other girls. The voices around her rose and fell, but it was all a meaningless buzz to Reagan. Her fate was sealed one way or another. If she was not chosen, her father would likely marry her off to her mother’s cousin. The thought of the cruel man made a shiver run down her spine.

  Compared to him, anything was a better. Even the threat of death at the demon bear’s hand. He had killed every sacrifice the village had sent, none could appease him. A shape-shifter who preferred his animal form, the massive creature had haunted the forest for centuries. The strongest warriors could not defeat him. Nothing could. And every year he grew more ferocious.

  “Then, it is decided?” one of the elders asked.

  Reagan raised her head to look up at the council. The lead elder glanced around at the others before he nodded.

  “At dawn, we will take the girls to the forest to appease the monster.”

  A collective gasp went through the girls around her and one of the girls on her right began to cry softly.

  Reagan felt numbness settle over her like a thick blanket. There was nothing left to do. Her eyes swept the room and landed on her father's stoic face. He would be unhappy that his plans for her had been ruined, but there was honor in giving her to the creature. It would improve his standing among the village men.

  The room quickly began to empty, parents leading their daughters away to make final preparations. Most would spend the evening exchanging loving words and encouragement. Reagan knew the only thing waiting for her was the cold of her loft bedroom and the pale comfort of threadbare blankets. Her parents would be only too pleased to have one less mouth to feed.

  Reagan dropped her gaze as her father walked past her to the door. Her mother was a silent shadow behind him. Reagan followed the two of them from the stale air of the meeting lodge into the cool evening. The ground was still damp from the day’s rain and the breeze carried the heavy scent of the pine trees that surrounded the village.

  Reagan could not keep her gaze from drifting to the forest. Somewhere out there, the demon bear waited. She had heard tales of the creature for as long as she could remember. When she was a child, the older children would frighten her with stories of sharp teeth and jagged claws. They told her the bear was a demon too monstrous to take a human form.

  Later, she learned the truth from the village elders. The bear had once been a sorcerer of unmatched power. He grew so powerful, he was able to change his physical form into that of a massive black bear. Over the years, he began to crave the overwhelming physical power of his animal form. Eventually, he lost interest in returning to his human body.

  “Girl!”

  Reagan snapped her gaze away from the trees to see that they had reached the small cabin she shared with her parents and younger brothers.

  “Sir?” she murmured, careful to keep her eyes down. She could feel her father glaring at her.

  “Go to the river and bathe. I will not have you embarrass me with your appearance tomorrow.”

  Reagan internally winced, but nodded. “Yes, sir.”

  She retrieved a cloth and sliver of soap from the shed behind the cabin and headed down to the river. The narrow path was mostly overgrown, most too afraid to go to the river anymore. The bear had killed three hunters on the river bank in the spring. It did not stop her father from sending her there.

  In her heart of hearts, Reagan knew it was a passive attempt at her life. Her father had no need of a daughter. With her fiery hair and freckles, she was not pleasing enough to interest any of the council members. None of them would have her even as a second wife. A fact she was secretly thankful for.

  The rush of the river grew louder with each careful step along the path, until it came into view. The water was the same gray of the sky overhead. Reagan came to a stop with her worn shoes only inches from the edge of the river and looked across the violent expanse. The forest was silent and still, no sign of the bear or anyone else.

  Regan carefully set the soap and cloth on a boulder and stripped off her threadbare dress. It slipped down over her shoulders, skimming her slim body on the way to the ground. She set it aside and knelt at the edge of the water. The current was too strong to swim as she often would, but she could chance a quick dip.

  She shifted forward, slipping first on leg and then the other into the freezing water. Instantly, goosebumps erupted across her skin and her nipples pebbled. Shivering violently, Reagan continued into the river. She slid into the water just far enough to wet her body. By the time she emerged, her teeth were chattering.

  She knelt on the damp earth and hurriedly scrubbed the soap over her skin. Every gust of wind stole her breath away. When every inch of her was covered in soap, she took a deep breath and slipped back into the water. She gasped at the stinging cold and her numb fingers slipped off the rocks along the shore.

  The river instantly dragged her down. Water poured into her mouth, stealing her breath. Her frozen body felt as heavy as stone, as the river carried her away. Just before her vision faded, a dark shape appeared over the water. She felt a faint pain in her shoulder, warmth, and then nothing.

  Chapter Two

  Regan woke with a gasp, the memory of the water fresh in her mind. She clutched at her throat, frantically blinking her eyes and searching her surroundings. The river was nowhere in sight. In fact, the trees around her were entirely unfamiliar. She slowly sat up from the forest floor and blinked at the thick blanket covering her naked body.

  It was made of the kind of soft, luxurious fur her father would never have given her. Frowning in thought, Reagan ran her small hands over the pale fur. As she raised her left hand, her shoulder twinged painfully. She looked down and her eyes widened in alarm.

  A massive bite-mark covered her shoulder and upper arm. She carefully traced the mark with the fingertips of her right hand. There was only one thing in the forest large enough to leave such a mark. As if her thoughts had summoned it, the bushes on her left parted and the demon bear lumbered into view.

  Reagan froze, not even daring to breathe. The bear’s eyes glowed faintly red in the fading daylight. After a long moment, he huffed and his huge head swung away from her. Reagan silently watched him walk around her and settle on the ground with his back facing her. She slowly let out her held breath.

  She waited, watching closely to see if the bear would turn on her, but he seemed to have fallen asleep. The tension left her a little at a time, until she slumped back into the cocoon of the blanket. Her gaze stayed on the bear until her eyelids grew heavy. Exhaustion pulled at her. Between one beat and the next, she was asleep.

  She jerked out of sleep an untold amount of time later to the feeling of fur against her bare skin. She stiffened. The light of the full moon illuminated the mountain that was the sleeping bear beside her. Reagan began to relax when she realized she had pressed herself firmly against the warmth of the bear’s furry side.

  One of her legs was bent at the knee and hiked over the bear’s side. It was the tickle of his fur on her inner thigh that had woken her. Reagan’s face heated at the unfamiliar feelings it caused. She slowly pulled back and rolled to her other side, putting several feet of space between herself and the bear.

  She immediately felt colder. A shiver went through her and she pulled the blanket tighter around her. Her eyes drifted over the massive bear against her will. She knew she should feel fear, and a small part of her did, but the majority of her was simply curious. Everything she had hear
d about the creature led her to believe he would sooner rip her heart out than look at her.

  Yet, he seemed to have pulled her from the river. Saved her from death and somehow provided a blanket for warmth. The so-called monster had treated her better than her family ever had. She frowned. There was something she was missing, some vital part of the puzzle that eluded her.

  Reagan’s gaze drifted up the bear’s body, over the enormous shoulders that rose and fell with each deep breath to the giant furry head. She froze when she realized one glowing, red eye was fastened on her. For several seconds, the two of them stared at each other. Then, like something from a nightmare, the mountain of muscle and fur rose from the ground to loom over her.

  A whimper caught in her throat. Reagan gripped the blanket in a white-knuckled grip, as if the fabric could protect her from bone-crushing jaws and slashing claws. Every muscle in her body tensed for an attack. Despite her curiosity about the creature, she was not so foolish that she believed she would escape the encounter alive.

  The bear stared down at her silently. When he finally moved, she was not ready. The bear lower his head and a long, hot tongue lapped at the wound on her shoulder twice. Reagan shivered, unsure if she wanted to move into the soothing heat or away from the slight sting. Before she could decide, the bear nudged her with his head.

  She stared at him blankly. The bear let out what sounded like an exasperated huff and nudged her again. Reagan slowly stood, clutching the blanket around her. The bear gave her a long look and turned away. Reagan watched him lumber away into the bushes. Hesitantly, she followed.

  The massive shadow moved ahead of her through the forest, slow enough that she never lost sight of him. After several minutes, she heard the faint sound of the river. The bear was taking her back? Confusion, relief, and disappointment rolled together in her belly. She knew she should be happy the creature was taking pity on her, but it somehow felt like a rejection.

  When the river came into sight, the bear paused. His red, glowing eyes fastened on her. An unfamiliar shyness seized her, as she carefully unwrapped the blanket and stood naked in front of the bear. For a brief moment, his eyes moved from her face to take in the rest of her.

  “I-I—” she stammered. “Thank you. F-for the river and the blanket.”

  The bear’s gaze returned to her face.

  Reagan snapped her mouth shut to keep from saying anything else. Her face flushed in embarrassment at her stammering. After a quick nod, she stepped into the cold water and began to make her way across.

  The current had slowed from its earlier frantic pace, but her arms still ached by the time she reached the opposite side. When she pulled herself from the river and turned back, the bear was gone. She told herself she was not disappointed. She should be lucky to be alive, not questioning if she would ever see the creature again.

  Reagan hurried to dry herself and slip her worn dress over her head. After the soft blanket, the rough cotton was even more unpleasant. She shook her head at herself and made her way up the hill toward her home. The cabin was dark, not even a candle in the window to guide her. She sighed.

  Chapter Three

  “Get up, girl!”

  Reagan’s eyes snapped open at the hissed command, cringing at the sharp pinch to her arm. She blinked into the dim light of the loft to see her mother kneeling next to her cot. There was a length of crimson fabric in her arms and an impatient glare on her face.

  “Up, I said!”

  Reagan hurried to sit up and free herself from the thin blanket. Her mother immediately began to tug at her dress.

  “Get this off,” she whispered harshly. “We cannot be late.”

  Confused and shivering from the icy morning air, Reagan helped her mother to strip her and took the fabric that was thrust toward her. The crimson fabric was soft in a way none of her clothing had ever been. It had to be something fine from the councilmen’s wives. For the sacrifice.

  She suddenly felt more awake. Reagan ran her fingertips over the rich material. She was meant to be sacrificed to the very creature who had saved her the day before.

  “Get dressed!” her mother snapped.

  Reagan flinched. Her mind was muddled from sleep and the events of the previous day only added to her mental haze. She fumbled into the crimson dress, as her mother hissed at her to move faster. When she was dressed, her mother grabbed her arm and jerked her to her feet.

  “Hurry up!”

  Reagan followed behind her mother, keeping her eyes on the floor. When they descended the ladder, her father and brothers were waiting. The boys looked at her with too-wide eyes, most of them too young to understand that she would never return. She forced a smile for them. Her father gestured sharply for her to follow him.

  Her mother closed the door without a word. The slam rang with finality and her heart clenched in her chest. She forced herself to keep walking, following her father toward the center of the village where she could see the other girls gathered. The other girls cried and clung to their fathers. Reagan knew better than to think her father would offer aid even if he could.

  The lead elder began to speak, a droning that faded into the back of her overwhelmed mind. Her eyes strayed from the terrified girls to the surrounding forest. Not too far away, the bear waited. Would he kill them? Would he kill her?

  Part of her feared the act of being a sacrifice would change the bear’s behavior toward her. Whatever strange emotion had seized him the day before, inspiring him to save her, would fade into bloodlust at the sight of so many helpless girls being given willingly. She shivered at the thought of the bear’s teeth ripping into her.

  “…for your sacrifice.”

  Reagan refocused on her surroundings when the elder stopped speaking. He stepped away from them. With a wave of his hand, the small group moved toward the trees. Many of girls began to struggle, some screaming in terror. Reagan followed her father silently, leading the group into the forest.

  She lost track of how long they walked. They appeared to be following the river. When the bottoms of her bare feet were sore, her father came to a stop. It was quiet around them, the others still far behind. Reagan waited to see if her father would speak to her, but he remained silent.

  She took a deep breath, pushing down the dull ache of his rejection, and walked around him. She had only take a few steps when the bushes parted ahead of her. Reagan was vaguely aware of her father’s gasp, but most of her attention was fastened on the massive creature emerging from the forest.

  The bear appeared even larger in the daylight. With darkness to blend into his inky fur, she could see the sheer enormousness of him. Red, glowing eyes fixed on her. Before she could react, he surged forward and clamped the fabric of her dress in his huge jaws. Reagan stumbled toward him, palms out to cushion her fall.

  Her hands collided with the deep fur on either side of his head, her fingers vanishing into the thick pelt. The bear’s muzzle pressed to her belly. His hot breath seemed to sear her skin through the thin fabric of the dress. The shiver that ran through her was only partially fear.

  A moment later, he nudged her hard with his head. Reagan stumbled backwards, away from her father. She stared at the bear in confusion. He took a menacing step toward her, growling deep in his chest. Reagan gasped. She staggered back a few more steps. The bear followed, advancing on her.

  Reagan’s heart pounded. Everything she knew told her not to run, but the bear seemed to be pushing her to do just that. With a last glance around, she realized her father had fled while the bear was focused on her. She turned and ran. The bear charged after her.

  Reagan raced blindly through the forest. Branches tore at her dress as she dodged around trees. Her bare feet stung from the occasional sharp rock she could not avoid. She could hear the bear behind her, crashing through the undergrowth, his breathing loud enough to drown out her own panicked gasping.

  She broke through a line of trees and tripped over a tree root. She fell to the leaf-strewn ground and sc
rambled to regain her feet. The bear’s jaws closed around the delicate skin of her ankle, just tight enough to warn her against moving.

  Reagan gasped for breath, every exhale stirring the leaves beneath her. Her fingers clutched at the ground, as the bear let out a rumbling growl and slowly released her. The wet nose snuffled at the back of her calf.

  Reagan's body shivered, as the bear’s muzzle rose higher. He nosed at the pale, creamy flesh of her leg, lapping at the back of her knee. A strange pleasure seized her. Reagan could not hold back a soft moan when the gentle licking rose to her thigh. The bear’s hot breath caressed the tender skin of her inner thigh, his massive head pressing her thighs apart.

  The soft fur of his face slid higher until she felt steaming hot breath against the most secret parts of her. She cried out in surprised pleasure, as a long, agile tongue slid from the top of her womanhood to the entrance hidden between the plump globes of her backside. Her fingers clawed at the leaf-covered ground as the bear huffed out a hot breath over her moist skin.

  Chapter Four

  The tongue returned, lapping over the soft skin of her inner thighs and bathing the tender flesh between her cheeks. Reagan's body trembled, soft whimpers falling from her lips at the odd pleasure of the wet muscle in such a forbidden place. The tiny furl of her back entrance slowly gave beneath the insistent pressure and the bear’s tongue entered the virgin passage.

  Reagan cried out, thighs tensing as the tongue pressed deeper. Her back entrance stretched, welcoming the wet invader until she felt the bear’s teeth press lightly against her cheeks. Her muscles clenched unconsciously and she groaned. The bear’s tongue felt massive inside the tightness of her body, ripples of pleasure flowing through her with each movement of the wet muscle.

  She could not help squirming, moaning when the bear’s tongue slid out of her back entrance to lap at the dewy wetness gathering on her womanhood. The slick muscle slipped between her folds and grazed something that made her cry out. The bear growled and his tongue found the small nub again, rubbing over it firmly.