Page 21 of Chosen By The Grizzly

“I don’t know. I haven’t seen them since, since…” She bursts into tears.

I glance at Jason, and the pride shining in his eyes gives me strength. “We’ll find them, don’t worry. But we need to leave now—”

A long, throaty purring sound cuts off the end of my sentence. I spin around, look up, and I’m greeted by the sight of two huge grizzlies, staring down at us from the edge of the precipice. My hairs stand on end. But Jason lifts his head and makes a similar sound.

It’s okay. They’re just calling to each other. They’re his buddies.

A moment later, they’re bounding down the steep rockface, and here they all are, grappling each other in rough bear hugs. It’s a scary sight, but I get it—they’re communicating.

At last, they draw apart and one of them ambles over to Lindsay and the other goes over to Ashley.

Ashley gives a little scream, but I shush her.

“They’re here to help you, so please don’t try their patience,” I tell her sternly.

She gapes at me. She’s not used to me being assertive. She’s more accustomed to me dropping my head and letting her insults and criticisms wash over me.

“Okay,” she says meekly. I go over and help her stand up. Her leg looks pretty badly injured. The bear crouches down low and with my guidance, she throws her weight over its massive back.

By the time we’re good to go, Lindsay has already climbed on the back of her furry steed. Right away, both bears head off, turning out of the small clearing like they know exactly where they’re going.

I clamber onto Jason’s back again. A sigh pours out of me. Sinking into his soft fur feels like coming home. I sure hope I’ll get to spend a lot of time with his bear in future.

I expect him to follow the others, but instead, he turns the other way.

“Callie!” Lindsay wails. “Where are you going?”

“You’ll be fine,” I call to her. “When you get phone coverage, call the emergency services, and these guys will do the rest.”

I wrap my arms more tightly around Jason’s neck as he heads into the pine trees. I hear his big nostrils snuffling at the forest floor as he tries to locate Madison and Brittany’s scent. He goes faster and faster. I cling on for dear life as he starts to run, darting in between the trees at breathtaking speed. He’s so agile for a huge bear, never bumping into anything, keeping me safe.

The light is getting low when I spot a pair of pink daisy dukes, barely covering a skinny ass. Brittany. Thank goodness.

Jason ambles up beside her.

“I don’t have time to explain,” I yell above her panicked screaming. “Give me your phone and climb on behind me.”

* * *

Fifteen minutes later,we find Madison. She’s sitting on a tree stump, crying. She’s broken a couple of her horrible purple talons, and her make-up has slid down her face, making her look strangely like a jack-o’-lantern, but she’s otherwise unhurt.

I persuade her to clamber up, too, and now Jason is carrying all three of us. I’m on the front, of course. No way am I letting either of them get near my man.

The sun has set by now, and Jason picks his way through the forest more carefully as darkness pushes out the last of the twilight. It feels like a long time before we arrive at the trailhead. Or maybe it’s just that I’m real impatient to have Jason to myself.

Brittany and Madison slide off his back, falling into an ungainly heap.

“You’ll be okay now,” I tell them.

“Aren’t you staying with us?” Madison demands, a high note of panic in her voice.

“No, I’m staying here.” I shrug. We’ve gotten them to safety. I don’t owe them any more explanation.

Jason makes a long purring sound. I think I’m starting to speak bear already. It means,let’s go home.Longing and excitement pour through me like liquid fire.

After a couple of minutes of walking, Jason stops. Beneath me, I feel something happening. Bones shifting and rearranging. Instinctively, I jump off his back, and a second later, the bear disappears, and here he is again—the gorgeous naked man I met this morning, who I feel like I’ve known forever.

His handsome features are drawn with concern as he looks me over. “How are you doing, baby?”

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