Lord of the Bears (Wild Ridge Bears Book 1) Read Online Free PDF Page A

footfall and it seemed I’d crossed
over into another world. My red Jeep Wrangler sat parked just where I left it
only ten yards from where we stood.
    “How did you know?” I asked. “I mean, you brought me exactly where I
needed to go.” Relief flooded through me, making me feel lightheaded. I felt
like I might lift off the ground and fly. Until that exact moment, I hadn’t
realized how truly scared I’d been.
    I acted without thinking. I turned to Jax and went up on my tiptoes. I
slid my hand behind his neck and thanked him with a kiss. A simple gesture, one
meant to be light and chaste. But, when Jax leaned down and his hand rested on
my lower back, something lit up inside of me. His lips were warm and wet, and I
sank into him. Air went out of me and my head swirled. His tongue flicked at
the corner of my mouth and a groan of pleasure came out of me unbidden.
    I finally pulled away, took a staggering step backward, and turned
toward my car. It took me a beat to catch my breath. I ran a hand through my
hair and steadied myself. I squeezed my eyes shut, bracing to turn around and
face Jax again.
    “Thanks again,” I said, my words coming out in a rush of air. I
plastered a polite smile on my face, hoping to downplay the heat of that kiss
as I finally turned to look up at him. When I did though, he was gone.

 
    Chapter Four
    Jax
    The bear’s thoughts ripped through me. It took every ounce of strength
I had to turn and run deep into the woods. If I’d been a second too slow, Nora
would have turned around and seen it. The touch of her lips against mine
brought the bear roaring to the surface. I tore through the woods to get away
from her at the same time every cell in my body wanted me to go back.
    Want. Want. Want.
    I drove my fist into the nearest tree trunk, sending bark flying. Blood
poured out of deep scratches on my knuckles. I brought my hand up to my face
and flexed my fingers. By the time I exhaled again, the scratches had already
healed, just leaving caked blood behind. It felt good. Raw. I needed more of
it. I punched the tree again and again until blood dripped over my forearm. But
the wounds healed quickly every time. I breathed in the fresh, crisp air and
waited for the sun to sink below the horizon. I’d let the bear out only when
the sky turned pitch black and I knew Nora was long gone.
    Her scent was everywhere. It seemed to permeate my pores. It didn’t
mean anything. It couldn’t mean anything. She was just a girl. I’d just
been asleep for so long my senses were heightened, my thoughts jumbled. She was
just a girl like all the others…the very kind I couldn’t have. Except, why did
I know her name before she told me? Why had she grown so bold as to reach out
and try and touch a sleeping bear? I pushed those thoughts aside. They’d do me
no good now.
    Tonight, I’d let the bear have his way. I would hunt and forage, get my
fill of the lake trout zipping through the stream at the base of the hidden
waterfall on the north side of the pioneer cabin. Then, I’d feel normal. This
obsession with Nora would go away and I’d be able to think again and plan.
That’s what I needed. A plan. There were those close by who would demand
answers soon. I’d been away far longer than I’d intended. They might not let
that slide. By the time the sun rose again, I’d be a new man and ready to face
the consequences of my choices. Whatever those might be.
    ***
    The next morning, I woke up in a regular bed with clean sheets pulled
up to my chin and the late summer breeze blowing across my chest. It felt like
home for the first time in longer than I cared to remember. This cabin… my cabin.
This wasn’t the small pioneer home Nora stumbled upon yesterday. That was mine
too, or at least, it belonged to my family. But this place, I’d built with my
own two hands from the ground up. The place was tucked away amid the tall pine
and birch trees along the ridge just a few miles to the west of where