Page 20 of Hot For Her Bear

She dialed the local emergency number and jogged back to the front.

“Nine-one-one. What’s your emergency?” a nasal voice answered.

“Yes, my mate is getting attacked by another bear,” Saffron cried out. She arrived at her front yard and didn’t see any signs of Dasha and Bishop. Their snarling was now coming from the woods next to her property.

“Your mate is a bear also?” the voice asked calmly.

Saffron wasn’t sure how he could remain cool at a time like this when it came to bear-on-bear violence.

“Yes, she is. Her name is Dasha Prime. The bear attacking her is Bishop Milligan.”

“What? I’m sending someone now. Where are you located?”

She gave him her address and walked toward the woods. She just hoped Bishop wouldn’t harm Dasha.

If Dasha was injured or killed, she would never forgive herself. She picked up speed at the noises from the fight. It didn’t sound too good. Roars, growls, and snarls were all she heard.

“Ma’am, we have an enforcer unit located not too far from you. They should be there in a few minutes.”

“She may not have a few minutes. They’ve disappeared into the words.” Saffron stood at the edge of the trees. A loud crash echoed as if a tree fell. She took off running without a care for her own safety. She had to help Dasha.

“Ma’am, I’m going to have to suggest that you go and wait in your house. The enforcers will handle the situation.”

“That may be too late,” she snapped. Saffron followed the sound of the fight. She almost toppled over a fallen tree. The roots were torn and exposed. It hadn’t stood a chance against two brown grizzlies fighting. They were massive beasts with jaw-dropping strength. “Someone has to help her.”

Saffron disconnected the phone and sped up. The fighting wasn’t too far from her. She feared what she was going to see. Bishop was much larger than Dasha, and he could really do some damage. She came to the clearing, and a cry escaped her lips. The two bears were on their hind legs, battling each other with their sharp claws. They were ferocious, their fangs and mouths bloodied. They were close to a cliff that led to a steep drop into the river that fed into the lake in front of her home.

Saffron’s heart seemed to leap into her throat. She dare not cry out for she knew it could distract Dasha and she didn’t want to give Bishop any more of an advantage than he already had. Saffron looked around to see what she could use as a weapon. She couldn’t stand by and watch her mate lose.

Her gaze dropped to a pile of rocks on the ground.

Look at fate.

Saffron had a mean arm back in the day. She’d played a little soft ball when she was younger. Without thinking twice, she made her way to that pile. There were all different sizes and looked as if they would do damage.

At least to humans. She didn’t know if it would even hurt an eight-foot-tall grizzly bear.

She wondered if she still could throw and hit a target.

“We’re about to find out,” she muttered. Tossing her phone to the ground, she picked up a rock and tested out its weight. The stone was smooth and the size of a tennis ball. Saffron aimed and cocked back her arm, sending the rock flying toward Bishop. It hit him square in the shoulder. “Yes!”

Her celebration was quickly cut short when he turned his fierce eyes to her. He growled, baring his fangs as if to warn her off. Dasha took advantage and swiped at him with her claws, catching him off guard. He spun back to her with a roar. They swiped at each other, and now his back was to the cliff

“I’m not afraid of you. Leave my mate alone!” Saffron shouted. She bent down and grabbed two rocks, one in each hand. They were smaller but would do. She was determined to help Dasha. Her mate would not fight Bishop alone. They would defeat him together.

Saffron got closer and angled herself to where she wouldn’t hit Dasha. She got to the right spot and sent the first rock sailing. It hit Bishop in the face. It stunned him, and he stumbled back a few feet. Saffron took another step and threw the other. She was excited that she appeared to still have her aim. This one hit him square in the chest. His attention was fully on her. He roared and fell down on all four legs.

“Oh, shit!” Saffron backed up, looking around for somewhere she could run and hide. Of course, she wouldn’t be able to outrun a pissed-off grizzly bear. Saffron’s heart raced, but she held his gaze. A low roar shook the ground and almost sent Saffron tumbling.

Dasha.

She rushed toward Bishop and slammed into his side with all of her might. They fell onto the ground, a mix of fur and fangs. They rolled around, viciously snapping and clawing one another.

Saffron searched for something else she could use but came up empty-handed.

Where the fuck are the enforcers?

According to the dispatcher, they weren’t that far away. She didn’t know how much time passed, but it seemed as if it had been forever. Her attention landed back on Dasha and Bishop, and she froze. Dasha had backed Bishop all the way to the edge of the cliff. Her mate now had the upper hand. She rose on her hind legs and towered over the other bear who was on all four legs. She swiped her deadly claws at him, catching him on the face. He shouted and slashed out at Dasha but missed.

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