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

was not the sort of man who forced himself on women, and this was not a woman to be pressured. She reminded him of a wild animal; terrified enough to stand back, frozen, but aggressive enough to defend herself if she needed to.
     
    ***
     
    Zoe had learned to manipulate men at an early age, out of a sort of necessity. Her ego had been trampled by an early rejection by her parents and in order to rebuild it, she’d relied on attention from men. But she wasn’t an easy girl; in fact she never let anyone get close to her emotionally. In her desire to protect her innermost workings she had built a hard wall around her heart which meant that she saw others merely as tools to get what she wanted.
    Colson was just such a tool. A man with a truck. A bear with a truck, even. The only complication was that he was a very handsome tool, and seemed like a kind one as well. It was harder to use someone mercilessly if they were attractive. Something in Zoe felt drawn to him, as though there were a thread attached to him, pulling her towards him. But she knew that she had to maintain her distance, and to say good-bye when they reached their goal. She needed to sort her life out and complications weren’t in her plan.
    “Look, Zoe,” said the young man as they drove, “Wolf Rock’s about another half hour away. When we get there, let me buy you some shoes so that at least you can walk. I’ll take you for some dinner and then maybe we can find you a place to stay for the night.”
    “Oh, I couldn’t accept. That’s very generous, but I can’t pay you back yet.”
    “Doesn’t matter. Just…let me help you.”
    “Thank you, Colson,” she said, her face turned to look outside again. “You’ve helped enough.”
    “ All right then,” he said, “But before we’re done the drive, maybe you can explain to me why you didn’t tell me you’re a shifter.”

Two
     
     
    “How did you know?” Zoe asked.
    She felt annoyed, as though this man had somehow deceived her, when in fact it was her own failure to deceive that caused any genuine disappointment.
    “I just know. I’ve been around shifters all my life. If nothing else, you smell.”
    “Gee, thanks.” She looked out the window, gritting her teeth.
    Colson laughed. “I’m teasing. But you know what I mean. Humans have a distinct smell. Not nearly so interesting. But even if I hadn’t picked up on your scent, I knew when you touched me.
    “How? ”
    “I just knew. Shifters have a different sort of energy to them. I suppose my instincts kick in when I’m around them.
    “I don’t know about that. I suppose you’re right, about the energy thing.”
    “You suppose? Zoe, are you telling me you haven’t spent time with shifters?”
    “ No, I haven’t. Not a lot of them, anyhow. I was adopted.”
    “Oh.”
    “It is what it is. My parents got rid of me because I was a freak and someone else took me in.”
    “It happens. But I’m sure it wasn’t because you were a freak. One of your parents must have had the genes. They wouldn’t see you as something to discard.”
    “I don’t know. I never got to know them.”
    Colson looked over at her.
    “I’m sorry,” he said. “Well, t hey missed out.”
    “Thank you for saying that.”
    “And your adoptive parents? Are they nice?”
    Zoe went silent now, and Colson felt that he’d delved even further into unwelcome territory.
    “I’m sorry,” he said. “I didn’t mean to…”
    “It’s all right. They’re nice. They’re fine. But they never understood me, and I never felt at home, not really.”
    “So what are you? What’s your animal, I mean.”
    “My animal? I…” Zoe considered her answer for a moment. How much should she tell him? When she’d decided that there was no harm in it, she said, “My animal is everything. All over the place. I can change into a mouse or an elephant.”
    “Oh man. So you’re a shape-chang er. I’ve heard of your kind but never met one.”
    “Yes. Like I said, a