Bear in Love: BBW Paranormal Holiday Shape Shifter Romance (Shadow Bears Book 1) Read Online Free PDF

historical architecture had always fascinated her.
    Her brother lived close to the hotel, but she avoided his home and stayed on the main road, window shopping and people watching on the way to her meeting. She bought a latte at her favorite, local coffee shop, and sipped the warm brew as she made her way to the dirt road that would lead her to the Matchmaker.
    The woman lived alone in the woods, and she encouraged guests to experience the hike to her door in their bear form. The Matchmaker provided her service only for shifters, so humans were rarely seen near her home.
    Fiona threw her coffee cup away in the trash can that marked the beginning of the trail, and after she was far enough into the trees, she shifted into her bear form. The change was instantaneous, and she liked the fact that the magic encompassed her clothes. She’d hate to have to strip every time she wanted to explore as a bear.
    Though black bears were smaller than their grizzly cousins, all bears were expected to be big. In her shifted form, she looked no different than any other bear, and it was one of the reasons she’d always felt comfortable as her animal.
    When she reached the house, she saw an elderly woman sitting on the porch. The woman’s white hair was pulled back in a bouncy pony-tail, and when she smiled her whole face lit up. Fiona shifted back to greet her.
    “Hi, I’m Fiona Montgomery.”
    “Hello dear,” the woman said. “Come and sit with me. Would you like some iced tea?”
    “Yes, please.”
    Fiona sat in the chair across from the woman, and poured herself a glass of iced tea. Shifters had a life expectancy of only a few years longer than full humans, but she had a feeling the Matchmaker would outlive more bears and humans than anyone else. For someone her age, she was spry, keen to her surroundings, and she seemed to possess more wisdom than anyone Fiona had ever met.
    “It’s the mountain air,” the Matchmaker said.
    “Excuse me?”
    “Did you know that shifting forms is what makes us live longer than our human friends? I shift every day, and sometimes I stay in my bear form and explore for weeks. Changing forms is our fountain of youth.”
    “Really? I’ve never heard that before,” Fiona said.
    “It’s easy to get caught up in our human lives and forget the needs of our bear. They require fresh air, wide open spaces and balance. Shifting forms daily is good exercise.”
    “That makes sense,” she agreed. “I always feel better after a run, or walk, in my bear form.”
    “But that’s not why you’ve come to visit me today,” the woman said with certainty, effectively changing the subject. “Your friend has gifted you a match, but you’re not ready. You feel it’s too soon after finding out your love was unrequited.”
    “My friend has a big mouth,” Fiona said. She was upset Chelle had shared more than necessary with the woman.
    “She does,” the Matchmaker laughed, “but not in this case. I can see you clearly without her help. Change is on the horizon for the Montgomery siblings. Don’t worry about tomorrow night’s dinner. Things will happen as they should, but you must make sure to meet your brother for lunch in the hotel restaurant at one o’clock.”
    “You won’t tell Chelle, will you? She’ll be so disappointed,” Fiona asked.
    “No, I won’t tell. Now, you must run along. It’s getting late and I have another appointment soon.”
    “Thank you,” Fiona said, relieved. “I appreciate you taking the time to meet with me.”
    “You’re welcome, and don’t worry dear. I can guarantee next year will be better.”
    Fiona smiled and walked to the edge of the trail, and then shifted into her bear form. The woman’s cryptic comments amused her, and she guessed that was the woman’s point. Next year would definitely be better, because if she were still upset over Owen twelve months from now, she’d be a pathetic mess. 
    Back at the hotel, she took another bath, ordered in again, and