Page 38 of The Bear's Forever Mat
She flung her arms around his furry neck, and when she finished swinging, she’d landed as if he were her own personal pony. She grasped his shoulders and spread out, covering as much of his back as her petite body could manage.
“Don’t do it,” Amber shouted. “Don’t you do anything to my bear.”
What?
What did she say?Cooper’s bear asked in shock.
Busy.
The helicopter landed far enough away to be safe, but close enough that Cooper wanted to curl around Amber to protect her, but she forced his head down and covered his eyes with her hand to protecthimfrom the ice crystals driven by the propeller’s wind.
As the noise slowly faded, Amber adjusted position and Cooper peeked out from under one paw to discover a couple in drab green uniforms approaching cautiously.
Tranquilizer guns at the ready.
Oh shit.
Cooper didn’t move. He’d dealt with this before, and it wasn’t much fun.
“Don’t shoot. Don’t you dare shoot,” Amber shouted, waving her arms even as she stayed pressed up against him. “This is my bear, so don’t you dare shoot him.”
The tips of the guns dipped slightly lower, away from Amber but still possibly targeting Cooper’s backside.
“Ma’am?” One of the rangers. The male looked wild-eyed and a lot more unsteady than his female counterpart.
“You point those guns away right now,” Amber ordered. “This is my bear, and I do not want you hurting him.”
The rangers exchanged glances before the woman turned back to Amber. “Are you sure?”
“Of course, I’m sure. This is my sweet Santa bear. You startled us. We were just out for some exercise.”
Something wonderful slid along Cooper’s spine, and he rumbled involuntarily with happiness. Amber had dug her fingernails into the itchy space behind his ears, and if she kept it up much longer, he was going to roll on his back and give her his belly, it felt so damn good.
The rangers both made faces, but the woman nodded before turning to her partner. “Go back to the chopper and get it ready. I’ll be right there.”
“Yes, Caitlin.” He marched off, gun still held so he could lift it at a moment’s notice if required, glancing over his shoulder again and again to make sure he wasn’t going to get pounced on from behind.
Caitlin folded her arms over her uniformed chest and glared at Cooper as Amber got to her feet. “SweetSantabear? Good grief. I’m amazed my partner fell for it.”
Amber hesitated for a moment before shrugging. “He isn’t going to hurt me, and that’s what it comes down to.”
“I’ll take your word for that.” The ranger eyed Amber. “A polar bear shifter and a human, way out here? You’re headed to Bathurst Inlet Settlement, aren’t you?”
They were found out.
“How do you know that?” Amber asked.
“It’s the only town in the area, and despite your claim you’re just out for casual walk, I know you’re not local. Besides, I think I know why you’ve come.” Caitlin inclined her head toward the helicopter. “I have to get back. My partner’s a human, so I don’t mention shifter business around him. The settlement is just over the rise.”
She eyed Cooper again.
He stayed very still, the instincts of the predator warning him this was not a moment to act rashly.
Amber stepped forward half a pace, clearly comfortable acting as his protector as she put herself between him and Caitlin. “Thank you for being reasonable.”
Caitlin grinned. “Lady, you get points for sheer chutzpah. Safe travels. I’ll see you later today.”
She turned and walked away, the helicopter propellers beginning their rotation once again.
