Read Idle Bear: BBW Paranormal Shape Shifter Romance (Bear Mountain Book 4) for Free Online

on."
    “You know his secret, don’t you?” His silence told her everything she needed to know. “You can do it, too, can't you?”
    “Yes. I’m a bear, too," he nodded.
    His affirmation pushed her to move again.
    “Take me to see him, or I’ll find someone who will,” she threatened.
    “Relax. I’ll take you. Who knows? Maybe it will help him see how ridiculous he’s being.”
     
    ***
     
    Sara jumped out of the squad car, with Gage close behind, and raced up the stairs to the door of Aaron's hotel room. He opened the door quickly, clearly expecting to see the sheriff alone.
    “What are you doing here?” he barked.
    “I came to see you,” she said, and walked past him into the room.
    “Why did you bring her?” he asked Gage in the same accusing tone. “What part of ‘I don't want to see her again!’ didn't you understand?”
    “Careful,” Gage warned, and Aaron relaxed slightly. “I relayed your message, but she'd be here whether I helped her or not. I figured I better give her a ride, you know, since she's been shot and all.”
    She saw Aaron visibly pale at the mention of her being shot, and her heart filled with hope. Whether he wanted to admit it or not, he cared about her wellbeing. Maybe she could convince him to stay.
    “Thank you for bringing her,” Aaron bit out.
    “You're welcome,” Gage said, pointedly. “I'll be outside.”
    When Gage left them alone, she looked around the room. Except for his backpack, the room lacked any sign that someone had stayed there for nearly three weeks.
    “Going somewhere?” she asked.
    “Yes, I have to leave.”
    “Why? Because of what happened in the woods?”
    “Yes. I lost complete control. I'm sorry you had to see that.”
    The defeat in his apology tightened the band around her heart. He was giving up without giving her a chance.
    “I'm not,” she said, honestly. “You have an amazing gift.”
    “Gift?” he laughed dryly. “You're delusional if you think changing into a bear is a gift. I'm cursed, Sara. I was born a shifter, and I'll live out eternity as one. It will never go away. I've tried so hard to control it, but I can't control it around you. Today you think it's amazing, but when the shock wears off, you'll realize how disgusting I am.”
    “I'd never think that,” she said. She took a step closer to him and linked her hand with his. “I know you've been hurt before, but I'm not her. Trust me, Aaron. You don't have to hide from me. I love you. Please don't go.”
    He squeezed her hand, and in that one, fleeting moment she thought everything would work out. In the next moment, he broke her heart.
    “Ugh, what is wrong with you?” he asked, disgusted. He pulled his hand out of hers and crossed the room, putting as much distance between them as possible. “I'm an animal, Sara. I know you like to fuck every man that comes through town, but are you so hard up that you'd fuck an animal?”
    His hateful words left her speechless, and the shock of his attack left her immobile. Tears filled her eyes as she realized what they shared meant more to her than it had to him. Their attachment had been visibly one-sided.
    “I…,” she cleared her throat. “You’re right. I am delusional. I fooled myself into thinking I meant something to you. Please excuse me.”
    She opened the door and ran past Gage who stood on the other side. He called her name, but she didn’t look back or slow down. She raced out of the hotel parking lot and ran home. As she raced up the steps, Gage stopped his patrol car in front of her house, but he didn’t intrude or humiliate her further by trying to apologize for his friend. He drove off once she entered the building.
    She locked every door, raced upstairs to her darkened bedroom and collapsed on the bed. Her sobs filled the room, but she didn’t try to stifle them. She allowed herself to cry for her loss, and then vowed to never cry over Aaron—or any other man—again.

Chapter Five
     
    Aaron would never