Grumpy Special Ops Bear: Episode 3: Bear Elite Shifters, #3

Chapter 1

Trinity

Air rushed against my face as I dived from the airplane. It was cold, but it didn’t bother me as I fell through the sky. I laughed and yelled with delight as I soared in the air.

No wolves were up here trying to kill me. No desirable men were turning into killers. Nothing but danger-free air and birds to keep me company. I wanted to stay here forever, to just keep falling and never hit the ground.

But the second I touched down, I knew there’d be pain. That was the last thing I wanted to think about right now.

The past few days had been worse than anything I’d ever been through in my entire life. I was being hunted like nothing more than an animal, and then there was the mystery of why these particular monsters wanted me.

No, I didn’t want my reality.

I wanted my dream to go on forever, but something shifted beside me, and I felt a sudden flood of warmth. The last bits of sleep slipped through my fingers, and I landed back into my injured body.

Still exhausted, I slowly opened my eyelids and nearly jumped out of my skin before I remembered why two grizzly bears and a polar bear were keeping close company beside me.

Fergus? I inquired.

The grizzly bear nearest raised its head and grunted quietly. I didn’t think bears could smile, but this one did. His bulk was wrapped around my side, and his massively gigantic head was right beside mine.

Eventually, I hoped, I’d get used to seeing them in this form. Maybe one day.

I quickly figured out that Grant, with his stark-white fur, was the polar bear, and Cutter was the other grizzly. Both weren’t far away, their backs toward me as they faced the surrounding trees. But this clearing was different.

Did we move campsites?

Fergus’s furry head bowed in response.

Guess the wolves were getting too close for comfort. I grunted, trying to sit up.

Fergus made a low, guttural sound in his throat when I winced in pain.

I’m fine, promise. Just stiff as hell and need to move a bit.

Fergus growled, and I felt the rumble go through his chest and down my back. It tickled, so I laughed until he tilted his head at me with confusion in his eyes.

What? I’m fine but in no shape to do anything crazy.

Fergus supported my back with his bulk until I was upright, leaning against his hulk of a shoulder. Speaking of shoulders, mine throbbed, and I could feel the stitches in my skin. It freaked me out, but I wasn’t about to admit it to this pack of bears.

Wait, do they even call themselves a pack?

Maybe it’s something else altogether? I probably shouldn’t confuse them with wolves.

Fergus nudged me gently, and I glowered.

Just thinking about you is all. You know, about what all this shit means… I trailed off as I stared into his blue eyes and sank deeper and deeper into their mesmerizing depths. His eyes were filled with strength, courage, and… sadness?

I desperately wanted to know what he was thinking and feeling right then. Our kiss had told me he found me attractive, and he was obviously willing to risk his life for me.

But why?

He plunked his head onto my lap. My fingers dug into his soft fur before I stroked him methodically. He huffed deep in his throat, and the sound made my womanhood pulse.

So do we have a plan, or are we just going to keep hiding out in the woods? I finally forced myself to ask just to break the building sexual tension between us.

For a moment, I assumed Fergus was going to ignore my question, but then he slowly got up, making sure I could support myself. His enormous form lumbered away, and I heard a gigantic roar that turned into a man’s groan. I couldn’t see anything through the trees, but a moment later, a black-clad Fergus came back to the fire. His whole body was pure rippling muscle, and he had to be at least six three.

Damn, he’s gorgeous. Just plain fucking gorgeous.

His dark brown hair was short. His features intrigued me—from his chiseled cheekbones and painfully hard jaw to his searing blue eyes, which made me so horny I wanted to tackle him and ride him like a bucking bronco.

I tried not to get all nervous like an infatuated schoolgirl as he sat beside me with his shoulders completely dwarfing mine.

Sometimes I forget humans can’t communicate like we do. He nodded to the other two bears. It simplifies things.

You can talk telepathically?

He nodded slowly. As a bear clan, we hold a strong mental connection that unites us as one. He stoked the flame. Are you certain you want to know what the plan is?

Yeah, I’m assuming you fur balls have one.

Fergus raised his brows at me. That’s the best you could come up with? Fur balls?

The other two bears both turned. Grant shook his head as Cutter snorted. But I only grinned wider.

Yeah. Give a girl a break, all right? I’m tired and injured. I scrunched up my nose. And I need to wash myself, like stat. I smell like death warmed over. So what’s the plan?

Honestly, we’re still trying to put all the missing pieces together. We have questions, and until I know everything, we’re going to keep you alive since you insist on staying here with us.

My eyes narrowed suspiciously. You’re the one who told me he’d keep coming after me.

Yes, I did.

Why would he come after me? I snapped, losing patience.

He hesitated, and his gaze went to my arm. The one with the birthmark.

I rolled up my sleeve and stared at it. It’s an ugly birthmark. It has zero to do with this.

He sighed heavily. Actually, it has everything to do with why you’re being hunted.

I stared at the mark and then ran my fingers over it. How could it have anything to do with what’s going on?

Why were you asking about me being an orphan? I asked quietly, not sure if I really wanted to know the answer.

He moved a finger over the birthmark. My body twitched at the caress. A piece of me never wanted his touch to stop.

What the hell is happening to me?

I’d never felt like this around any man before, and this wasn’t the time to be falling for Fergus. Besides, love was a distraction, especially when I didn’t know what was going on.

His fingers caressed my skin as he gazed at me. This sign represents something from our world.

My stomach churned. Am I, like, marked prey or something?

Fergus laughed gently. Actually, it’s the other way around.

My brows furrowed as I glanced at the mark and then back up at him. You’re supposed to be my prey? My heart raced. How in the world would that work? I’m pretty sure you could kill me with one swipe of your giant-ass paw.

He joggled his head. Normal people don’t smack bears in the face, Trinity. I think, subconsciously, you know what you are, what you’re supposed to be doing. I think your mind has been trying to tell you, but you’ve probably been fighting it your whole life. Plus you’ve never had someone to guide you.

I sat up straighter and tried to get ahold of the reality that was quickly slipping from my grip.

What Fergus