Bear Temptations Read Free

saw that the flashlight’s beam was starting to flicker. As if in turbo-mode, I pulled out my phone, almost letting out a sob when finally seeing the flashing, single red bar. I knew I had to get a move on back to my car, back to the road, otherwise I’d have to sleep here in the ruins of my sister’s tent. Plus, the wolves could come back for me, and there was no way of knowing whether or not the bear would come and scare them off again. As enticed and excited I was the first time around, I wasn’t sure if I was more excited in the heat of the moment, if I actually enjoyed it, or if I was just delighted that I was just being pleasured instead of hurt.
    Slinging my tote bag over my shoulder once more, I turned off my phone to preserve the battery and started walking aimlessly for what seemed like ages, certain that this was the direction my car was in. If nothing else, at least I’d be on the side of the road where other cars passing by could see me.
    It had certainly been at least a ten minute walk, and there was no sign of a road or streetlights or anything. Every sound struck terror inside me, filling me with paranoia that I was being followed again. I jumped at the hooting of the owls and even when I stepped on twigs, causing disturbance in the silence of the wild.
    There’s no point continuing down in this direction, Nicole. It’s clearly the wrong way. So, I headed back in the direction of the camp—or what I thought was the direction of the camp. Admittedly, I probably hadn’t walked in a straight line in the direction I had left in initially. But I knew that if I kept walking down that way, I’d reach nothing. Maybe more wolves. If you’re lucky. I froze. I don’t know whose voice that was or where it came from, it sounded like it came from inside of my own head. Like a thought. But it was my thought—just in a man’s voice.
    Shaking my head at my own naivety, I sped up, swinging my arms at my sides in an attempt to gain momentum. You’re paranoid, Nicole.
    My feet were aching and sore from struggling and being bitten, though my boots did a good job at protecting my flesh from their teeth. Damn you, parents. Why couldn’t you have looked for Mary? Why couldn’t you have at least come with me? But it was no use cursing them, not only because it wouldn’t change anything, but because they were away at a conference together and couldn’t have come even if they’d wanted to.
    I played the situation out in my head during my journey back towards the camp, turning it in different ways, trying to determine what I could have done differently to not be in this horrid situation. Finally deciding this was the best I could do (unless I wanted to invite another guy to come with me at the last minute, which would’ve looked just a little desperate), I felt a little more at ease, trusting my instincts just a little bit more.
    Then I noticed the small flickering warm light in the distance. Is that a campfire? I squinted my eyes to get a better look, but it didn’t help—it was too dark. What laid beyond the light in the darkness didn’t matter, though: it was my only hope. Picking up my pace to a sprint, I ran toward the light as quickly and quietly as I could. I wanted their help if they seemed like normal people but didn’t want them to know I was there if they seemed weird.
    Approaching the beam, it quickly became obvious that it wasn’t a campfire or anything like that. It was a house. Or rather, it was a small cabin. There were actually no lights lit at all; the moon had just reflected off the windows in such a way that it looked like a gleaming ray of sunshine in this utter darkness.
    Through the windows, I could see that the cabin was completely dark. Nothing was moving in there, and I could only hope and assume that it was abandoned so I’d have somewhere safe to stay for the night. Or, if it wasn’t, then maybe I’d get some help! I pointed the dying flashlight towards the cabin’s porch in search