Page 10 of Stranded With An Insatiable Shifter

I haven’t seen one person this whole time.

“It’s okay,” I say, quickly jumping into problem-solving mode. “You’ll prepare a bag and tomorrow morning, you’ll start the long hike back into town.”

I can bring a tent, some food. It might take two or three days to walk back, but I’ll be okay. I can do it.

It could be worse. I could be walking uphill.

I start to relax a little. A long hike like that might even be fun. It will be another adventure.

From there, maybe my new friend Earl can help me get back up here with a battery booster. It’s going to be fine.

I grab my last beef jerky—I’ve been saving it—crack it open, take a bite, and head outside.

I step onto the ground and walk around the bus to look at the mountains with a smile. “You’re stuck with me for one more night.”

The mountains answer back with a low deep grumble.

A shiver races through me and all of the hairs on the back of my neck rise.

I yank my head around and gasp when I see a large brown mass walking out of the thick forest.

“No,” I whisper when I see the size of the bear. It’s a grizzly. A male. A massive one.

His intense brown eyes are locked on me as he picks up speed, rushing over. He lifts his head and smells the air, not slowing down for a second.

“Shit, shit, shit,” I say as I desperately look around, wondering if I have time to run around the bus and get to the door.

He moves so fast that the option is taken away from me. He’s on me in no time.

I drop to the ground, still clutching the beef jerky, and crawl under the bus with my heart pounding.

The bear’s huge paws come stomping over and he stops beside the bus. I can’t see his face, just his thick hairy legs. Those long black claws sink into the soft dirt as he snorts.

“Oh god!” I gasp when his head lowers and he looks at me with a grumble that I can feel in my bones.

“Take this!” I shout as I throw my beef jerky at him.

He recoils as it hits his forehead, and I take off. I roll to the side, popping out on the opposite side of the bus, and race to the door.

He comes sprinting around the bus to get me, grunting and snorting as I yank open the door and rush inside. I slam it closed and run to my bedroom.

“You’re okay,” I say to myself as I crawl onto my bed and look out the back window. “He can’t get you in here.”

I hope.

I’m looking everywhere for him, but I can’t see him. I know he’s still there. I can feel his presence.

My cheek is pressed against the window as I try to see if he’s beside the bus when his giant head suddenly pops up in front of me. I scream and yank the curtains closed.

He’s standing on his back legs, trying to find me.

The grizzly lets out a frustrated roar and then drops back down. I can feel the bus rocking as he lets go.

“I’m safe in here,” I tell myself as I start pacing up and down my skoolie. “Last time I checked, grizzly bears don’t have opposable thumbs to open doors.”

I just have to wait him out. He’ll eat the last of my beef jerky, get bored, and then move on. Eventually.

When the initial fear simmers down, I sit at the window and watch him wandering around my camp. He’s big and scary, but he’s also beautiful.

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