Read The Right to a Bear's Arms (A BBW Shifter Romance) (Wolf Rock Shifters) for Free Online Page A

me.”
    “And is she bigger than you?”
    “A little. But the problem is she can shift and I can’t.”
    “Well,” said Colson, “You’ll be able to shift soon enough. And you’ll be…what? Let me guess. A coyote.”
    The little boy laughed. “No,” he said, biting his lower lip.
    “An emu!” said Zoe, enjoying the playfulness and beginning to relax. Children always managed to soothe her, somehow.
    “No!”
    “A koala?” asked Colson.
    “No.”
    Just then, a spotted cat came upon them, sprinting out of the woods, and lunged playfully at the boy.
    “Oh, a cat is it? I like cats,” said Colson.
    “Do you?” asked Zoe, wondering if this was a new development.
    “I do, very much,” he said as the children ran off, the little boy still laughing. When they were out of earshot he added, “I like pussies,” sending a quick wave of pleasure through Zoe which seemed to shoot straight to the cat between her legs.
    Colson stood in front of Zoe and looked down at her face in the pale light. He put his hands on her waist and pulled her to him.
    She gasped, realizing that he intended to kiss her. Though every part of her wanted to be kissed by this man, who seemed honest, good, and so fucking sexy, she pushed him away.
    “No,” she said. “I can’t. I’m sorry.”
    With that she shifted and sprinted off into the woods, her dress trailing behind her.

Five
     
     
    Colson waited until the next morning to seek out the panther who’d evaded him at the fair. Something in him felt protective of her. Though she was strong; probably even more so than he was, he wanted to see that she was all right. Even at the risk of making her angry.
    The fair had emptied out as dawn approached and the tents were mostly quiet, though some were occupied by sleeping, shifted animal forms awaiting the next night’s activities. The spirit bear padded through the area quietly, wanting to pick up Zoe’s scent again. But it wasn’t until he came to the now extinguished pathway of lights that he smelled her. There were so many other scents and trails that it was difficult to discern hers, but by now he knew it well. As his nose picked it up he felt a rush of endorphins take him over. The desire that he’d felt the first time he’d seen her hadn’t abated. If anything, he wanted her even more now. This, he knew, was going to be difficult.
    He traced her scent through the woods, weaving quietly in and out between thick tree trunks.
    She’s concealed herself well, at least, he thought. Anyone who might be after her would have a hard time of it.
    Finally her smell grew stronger when he came to one particular tree, and he sniffed it, standing on his hind legs and leaning two paws against the thick trunk while he sniffed. Yes, this was the place. She’d spent the night above him.
    He looked up, but all he could see was the multitude of tangled branches overhead. He was a relatively good climber, but didn’t want to terrify Zoe or to create a threatening situation by invading her hiding space. Besides, he’d tracked her once and could do it again if necessary.
    He walked away, heading back towards the road and his truck.
     
    ***
     
    Zoe saw the pale bear below. He paced around her tree and sniffed it, looking up towards her. But, concealed among the thick tree limbs, she felt confident that he wouldn’t come near. Surely he knew better than to do that. And if he didn’t, she thought, he’d be in for some pain. He should have figured out by now that she was trouble.
    She found her emotions a mix of irritation and pleasure at his atten tions. He should leave her be. She was damaged, and she’d told him to stay away, for God’s sake. She’d told him how she was. Well, sort of. He should have figured it out, anyhow.
    When she was confident that he’d gone, she stood on the thick branch which easily supported her weight and stretched, her cat-spine feeling the full extent of the pull as her front legs extended out in front of her.