A Christmas to Bear Read Free Page A

it.
    Of course, around Wolf Rock, one was as likely to run into shifters as actual wolves. As she attempted a few more hops, Aria distracted her mind from the pain by asking herself if shifters ate wounded women.
    As she covered the space between herself and the next tree, she noted silently the distance that stood between herself and the ski hill, which she estimated to be at least eighty feet. And once she reached it she’d have to make her way down without the assistance of strong vertical tree trunks for support. Her only meager hope was that someone would see her and come help. Or maybe send a helicopter for her. And a keg of whiskey. Not necessarily in that order.
    She made another resolution as she inched forward: this was the last time she’d take a vacation alone that involved death–defying activities. Next time, she vowed silently, she’d head to a pillow factory.
    Breathing heavily, she tried to fill her mind with everything but the fact that her leg was toast. Puppies. Flowers. Even her ex–boyfriend. Rage aimed at him would be easier to take than this pain. If only she could transfer her own agony to his lying, cheating ass.
    She hopped again. Next tree. Well done, Aria. Keep up the pace. You can do it. Smile .
    This time the smile came out as a wince. A grimace, really. The sort of facial expression that would repulse men and make women coo in sympathy. But no tears. Not right now. Just the determined facial twisting of a strong, independent woman who’s perfectly capable of looking after herself.
    At the seventh tree she slumped to the ground, allowing herself to sit on the firm earth around the trunk which offered a sort of island for her to rest on, albeit not the most comfortable one. She put her head back, closing her eyes.
    “Do I pray for death or just hope this’ll be a great story to tell my grandkids?” she muttered out loud. Then she laughed. A low, guttural sort of chuckle at the ridiculousness of it all. It was only when the pain came back with a vengeance that she decided to rise again, and she pushed with her hands, trying to lift herself, her back against the tree’s trunk.
    It was then that a sound tore her focus away from the agony. A twig cracked. No, not a twig. Something bigger. A large branch, at the very least. And the snap echoed through the woods, reminding her of the awful sound of a bone breaking. What the hell was that? She slumped down further. Maybe it was help. A search party. A herd of half–naked men with six–packs, come to rescue her from her cruel fate, to place her on a stretcher and massage her, feed her magical drugs and examine her under warm lights before putting a cast on her leg and making sweet love to her… Even one man with strong arms would do. The sex would be a nice bonus, but not absolutely essential.
    “Hello?” she said, her voice more tentative than she’d intended. Then, attempting a confident tone, she added, “Hello, is anyone there? I’m hurt. Could you help me?”
    The source of the snapping replied only by continuing its approach as more branches fell victim to their tormentor. Behind Aria the noise continued in a steady rhythm. Snap….snap…snap.
    Then, a new sound. A sort of huffing. Heavy breathing. Oh, jeez. Maybe there was some perverted old man living in the woods. What were the odds?
    Aria turned to her right, looking around the tree trunk. Nothing.
    To her left now, head twisting around slowly.
    And then she froze.
    The enormous face in front of hers wasn’t human. And it was no wolf come to eat her, though in no way was she confident that she wouldn’t be dinner. The bear’s head was at least twice as large as her own, and its nostrils contracted and expanded with each huff aimed towards her. At last, a sensation to numb the pain.
    Fear.

Chapter 2
    T he polar bear stared into the woman’s eyes, his own cold, deep and dark. He seemed at first only to be interested in her face, enjoying the visual feast as the fearful