Bearing the Shifter (Shifter World - Book Four) (Series of 13 Short Stories)
Chapter One: The Black Bear

(DO NOT READ THIS IF YOU HAVE NOT READ BOOKS ONE, TWO & THREE) -Her Shifter Bodyguard / Shifter On Ice / The Shifter Bar-

(This book takes place during the same time as book 3)

-One Week Ago-

Maddy Trenton stood off from the stands as she watched the football game. She’d come to this area for pictures of the wildlife in their natural habitats, but when she’d heard there was a football game, she’d had to come watch. They weren’t a professional team, but they were good, and she was enjoying herself.

Her father had enjoyed any kind of sports when he was alive. Even the underdogs, as he called the college, or other teams who weren’t of professional standards. He’d made a lot of bets in his life, and win or lose, he enjoyed it. Maybe her mother should have made him quit, then maybe he’d still be alive, and her mother wouldn’t be so cold.

Maddy sighed. That’s in the past now. She’d left home a couple of years after her father was killed, and her mother had turned to the bottle—for comfort. Now, she takes care of herself. She may not have the jazziest job, as her mother would say, but she loved it and was happy.

Who wouldn’t be happy to work for themselves, really? And she makes plenty of money to take care of herself.

The crowd cheered, and Maddy looked to the field. The home team scored a touchdown. Everyone started chanting a name, and Maddy looked for the man. She saw the name and number on the back of a jersey and smiled when he turned to the crowd. He looked big and mean—and so delicious.

Rolando Florance grinned as he listened to thecrowd chant. They were down to the last few minutes, and his touchdown put them ahead. If their kicker made this goal, they would win by seven points. If not, oh well, they’ll still win.

A scent caught his nose, and he paused. He’d never smelt anything like it before. He stopped, closed his eyes, and took in a deep breath.

“You smell it too, huh?” his teammate and best friend, Gerald Copperfield, asked as he stopped next to Rolando.

Rolando opened his eyes. “What is it?” he asked, looking at Gerald, who was a shifter as well

“It’s an unclaimed mate,” Gerald said. “I’ve heard of them but never smelled one before. Fuck, she smells good.”

Rolando nodded. “How do you claim an unclaimed mate?”

“Fuck her.” Gerald laughed. “But don’t go cockblocking a fellow shifter. It won’t be good for you.”

Rolando stared at him. “Cockblock?”

“Fuck, man. Haven’t you read books about shifters or other Supernaturals?” Gerald asked.

Rolando shrugged. “Not really.”

“I’ll loan you the two I have—after the celebration party,” Gerald said as he headed off the field.

Rolando nodded as he took in another breath of the scent of the unclaimed mate, then followed his teammate off the field, so their kicker could do his job and they could head to the party.

Maybe he’ll meet her there.

~🏈~

Later that night, Rolando sat in his room with the book Gerald had loaned him. He was reading about shifters and their Fated Mates. He’d never heard of a Fated Mate before. And now, he has smelt one, and he knows what the book meant by not being able to resist. He wanted to fuck whoever it was until she screamed out his name—fuck, even if it’s a dude.

The memory of the scent had his cock so hard it hurt.

He flipped the page in the book and paused. There was a picture of two arms pressed together, their fingers laced, as a glow shined off them.

The Bonding.

“Hmm, looks… sexy,” he mumbled, then chuckled.

“So, I take it you’re enjoying the book,” Gerald said with a laugh as he came into the room.

Rolando looked up at his friend, then down at where Gerald was looking and grinned. “I was remembering her scent.”

Gerald nodded. “Did you get to the part about cockblocking?”

Rolando chuckled. “Yeah, man, I read about it.”

“Not a laughing matter, Rolando. If you cockblock a shifter, they’ll probably kill you.” Gerald sat on the edge of the bed. “Want me to take care of that for you?” he asked, pointing to Rolando’s pants, where his cock pressed against the zipper.

Rolando gave his friend a shove off his bed. “Go replace someone else to suck.”

Gerald laughed as he moved away from the bed. “I guess we’re not a good match, anyway.”

Rolando snorted. He knows his friend is gay, and he has nothing against gays. But he prefers feminine lips on his cock and a nice, warm pussy. If he wanted to fuck an ass, he’d replace a female who’s into ass fucking. Though he knows Gerald, he’s not the kind to get screwed. He’s the one who does the fucking. So yeah, no screwing in the ass for either of them tonight.

“Just remember not to fuck her unless she’s your mate,” Gerald said as he moved toward the door.

Rolando nodded. “Yeah, man, I got it, no cockblocking.”

Gerald grinned. “You sure you don’t want any help….” He laughed as he closed the door before the pillow hit him.

Rolando sighed. He felt restless—like his body was wound up tight. He looked out his window and felt the woods call to him. Rolando set the book down and jumped off his bed. Maybe a run in the woods will soothe this feeling.

He got outside without disturbing anyone in the house and headed to the woods. As he walked, he pulled his shirt over his head. He could easily shift with his clothes on—without tearing them—but he prefers the feeling of shifting naked; it takes him back to his roots.

He stripped out of his clothes, and once in the woods, he shifted. As he ran, he felt one with everything.

~🏈~

Maddy looked around at her surroundings. She was so screwed. Why hadn’t she asked if they had a map of the damn woods? She’s so lost that she fears she’ll freeze to death before anyone realizes she’s missing and goes looking for her. Or she’ll be eaten by the very wildlife she’d come here to take pictures of.

Either way, this is her last night alive. She may as well take pictures so people have something to remember her by.

She came to a stream and stopped when she saw a grizzly bear drinking the clear water.

‘What a great photo op,’ she thought as she quietly lifted her camera from her neck and started snapping pictures.

The large bear looked up, and her heart fell to her knees. He looked straight at her and let out a roar that almost had her pissing her pants. She started to back away, then remembered something she’d read about bears. Don’t run; they’ll chase you. What was it the book said? Oh yeah, drop and pretend to be dead.

‘But does that really work?’

Fuck, if she didn’t try it soon, she won’t have to pretend. Before her brain could decide what to do, the bear bounded across the stream and ran straight at her. But before the bear got to her, a black bear jumped from the bushes and snarled at the grizzly.

The grizzly roared as he stood on his hind legs. The black bear reared up on his hind legs and swatted at the grizzly with his sharp front claws.

Maddy watched with wide eyes as the two bears fought. Without realizing what she was doing, her finger started clicking her camera, taking pictures of the fight. The black bear roared and came down on the grizzly. Finally, the grizzly gave up the fight and ran back across the stream, disappearing into the woods.

Maddy froze when the black bear turned to her. But instead of fear, she felt safe when she looked into the silver eyes of the black bear.

But even so, it’s a bear!

So, when the bear moved toward her, she took a step back, then another. When she tripped over something and fell on her ass, the bear picked up speed—as if it was concerned.

A bear concerned over a human?

When the bear got to her, she was lying on her back, trying to pretend she was dead. Her eyes were closed, and she was trying to control her breathing, so it looked like she wasn’t breathing, but that was hard when she knew the bear was so close. She felt paws on her arms. Then a tongue on her cheek?

Maddy opened her eyes and looked into the silver eyes of the black bear. She blinked a few times, but the bear didn’t disappear.

Then, right before her eyes, the bear started to shift. And soon, there was no longer a large black bear over her but a very naked man with the most beautiful dark chocolate skin. His silver eyes bore into hers, and he said one word, but the word scorched her soul.

“Mine.”

Then he was kissing her, and everything around her disappeared. Only this man, this shifter, was here. A very naked, gorgeous shifter. When his head lifted from the kiss, she studied his face. He was like a dark Adonis. His body was toned, his face chiseled as if the Gods themselves had sculpted him. His thick hair was cut short, and she ached to slide her fingers through it.

“I smelt you at the game,” he said, staring down at her. “I read about you. But I didn’t let myself think for even a minute that you were mine.”

She sucked in a breath at his words.

“Do you feel it too?” he whispered.

Maddy didn’t have to think about what he was asking. She’d felt it when he was in his bear form, so yeah, she felt it. So she nodded.

He grinned. “Do you know what we have to do now?” he asked as he moved her dark hair from her face.

She shook her head.

He continued to grin as he leaned forward. “Let me give you a clue,” he said.

Then, before she knew what was happening, she was naked from the waist down, and he was in her so fast she cried out.

She wasn’t sure if it was a scream of pain or pleasure, probably both. He was huge and stretched her so wide she couldn’t breathe.

He groaned loudly as he filled her. “Fuck, you’re tight.”

“Oh, God,” she moaned.

He pulled her camera off her neck and gently set it off to the side on the grass, then took her mouth in an amazing kiss.

“I didn’t know you existed, but I feel like I’ve waited forever for you,” he whispered as he started to move inside her.

“Oh my God!” she cried out.

“Now that I’ve found you, I’m never letting you go,” he said, nipping her throat.

God, she didn’t want him to let her go. This was the best sex she’d ever had. Not that she has a whole lot to compare it to.

“What’s your name?” he whispered in her ear.

Shit, he’s fucking her brains out, and they don’t even know each other’s names.

“Ma-Maddy.” She whimpered when he turned his hips and pressed against a G-Spot she didn’t even know existed. “Fuuuuck!” she cried out.

He grunted. “That’s good,” he said as he closed his eyes.

“Wha-what’s your name?” she stuttered.

He looked at her, and the brightest smile appeared across his face, taking all the breath from her body.

“You were at the game tonight. I thought you knew who I was.”

She shook her head. “I’m not from here. Only came to take pictures of the wildlife here, heard there was a game, and couldn’t resist.”

“Like sports, do you?” he asked, then kissed her again.

“Yes,” she breathed when he let up from the kiss.

He smiled again. “I’m Rolando. Rolando Florance.”

Her eyes fluttered as she stared up at him. “You mean. I’m actually fucking the superstar of tonight’s game?”

He chuckled. “I guess you can say that.”

She moaned as she lifted her hips up to greet his.

Rolando moaned when she lifted her hips. God, she’s amazing. When he’d seen her watching the other bear, he’d smelt that she was the unclaimed mate they’d smelt earlier. He’d felt a pull to her but wasn’t sure what it meant. Then, when that grizzly went after her, he’d felt it his duty to protect her—like she was his.

When he’d turned and looked into her eyes, it had all come crashing down on him. He’d gotten so dizzy and turned on at the same time that he’d known she was his.

And he had to claim her right away.

Luckily, she’d felt it too, so he didn’t have to wait, as the book had said. Because if a shifter raped their Fated Mate, she or he would hate them, and that would risk everything the Fated Mates were meant to have together.

And fuck, she feels incredible. And she’s so beautiful. He’s one lucky son of a bitch.

“Rolando,” she cried out as her body tightened and her pussy clamped around his cock.

“Ah fuck,” he moaned. He’s so close. He needs to start the ritual. “Maddy.” He groaned as he reached for her hands.

Maddy moaned when Rolando laced his fingers with hers. When he moved their hands above her head, she didn’t mind. It was actually very sexy. She watched him press his forearms to hers and press her arms to the ground.

“I don’t know how much this is going to hurt,” he said as he kissed her.

Maddy’s eyes opened wide at his words, and fear slid through her body as she started squirming, trying to free herself from him.