Page 17 of Stuck with My Bossy Protector

We continue to trudge through the snow, moving farther away from the bear with every step. I look back a few times and don’t see it. “I think he’s gone,” I whisper.

Noah doesn’t answer immediately but focuses on the path ahead. Finally, he slows and looks back, squinting into the distance. “I think you’re right,” he says, a sigh of relief escaping his lips. “But let’s not celebrate just yet.”

We continue our trek through the icy wilderness, now moving parallel to our original path, but in the woods. Snow constantly falls from the branches, lands on my head, and slides down the back of my neck. I don’t have the energy for anything except forcing myself to keep moving. The creak of the trees and the dim light add to my growing sense of despair.

“I need to use the facilities,” I tell him. I had been holding it for too long, and now that the bear threat is gone, I have to go.

“Now? Really?”

“I’m sorry, but it’s not like I can just not go.”

He shakes his head. “Great.”

“Go on ahead. I’ll follow in your footsteps. I just need to pee.”

He grumbles, “Fine, I’ll wait.”

I walk deeper into the trees, wanting a moment of privacy. I pull off my gloves to unfasten my pants. Despite the gloves, my fingers are stiff and clumsy. I struggle to undo the button. I manage to get it undone, but my body feels disjointed. The cold is starting to take a toll.

Just as I’m finishing up, I hear a branch snap. “I’m not done,” I shout, assuming it’s him.

But then I hear his voice from the opposite direction. “Hurry up!”

My heart skips a beat as I zip up my pants and look around. That’s when I saw it—a black bear. It’s not twenty feet away, staring right at me.

For a moment, I freeze, my mind racing. The bear huffs and takes a step forward. I know I need to do something fast. I glare at the bear, trying to use telepathy to make it go away.

“Noah,” I call out quietly. I don’t want to alarm the bear.

“Noah!” I say again, hoping he’ll understand the urgency in my voice.

“What is it?” He sounds irritated, but I don’t have time to explain.

“Bear!” I call out, my voice shaking.

He bursts through the trees, eyes wide as he spots the bear. “Don’t move,” he says, his voice low and calm. “Just back away slowly.”

I really want to go home. But then I remember a young woman was murdered in my bed. Home isn’t any more secure than the Alaskan wilderness. I long to feel safe. I don’t want to keep looking over my shoulder. The urge to drop to the snowy ground, curl up in a ball, and bawl my eyes out is strong.

Chapter eight

Noah

Ihear Mia say my name, her voice deadly calm. That tone sends a chill down my spine. Something is off. I tread carefully, making my way to where she disappeared into the trees. As I approach, I spot the bear before I see her. It’s a black bear watching Mia intently. In the grand scheme of things, I’m glad it’s not the grizzly, but a bear is a bear.

“Don’t panic,” I tell her, keeping my voice steady.

She scoffs. “I know better. I just didn’t want you to do anything stupid and anger it.”

I clap my hands loudly. “Go! Get out of here!”

The bear doesn’t move. It just stands there, almost defiant. I clap again, louder this time. “Go! Get!”

“Go!” Mia shouts, waving her hands in the air. “Get out of here!”

For a tense moment, it seems like it might not budge. But then, with a huff, it turns and saunters off into the forest. My relief nearly takes me to my knees. That had been close. I am about sick of the bears.

“The warm weather last week must have brought them out,” I mutter, more to myself than to her. “We need to be careful. They’re hungry.”

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