Mating Season Read Online Free PDF Page B

us. They destroyed our bodies slowly from the inside out. To survive, our leader, Nanook, saw that we needed to become one with a life form of this world. He chose the largest of the land predators, the great frost bear, and asked the bear's spirit to join with his. My people merged with the mighty predators to become a new race, one who wears two skins."
    "Wait a second.” Gilby leaned over the table. “You're saying you are a Child of Nanook?"
    "Yes.” She thought it was obvious. Then again, perhaps the scent-blindness of the villagers had masked the truth from them.
    "You didn't change into a bear outside,” Koll said. “The Children of Nanook are supposed to be men and women inside and bears when they step out."
    It was Shila's turn to grunt. “Indoors or out doesn't matter.” Except she didn't like being enclosed when she was on four paws.
    "But you're saying you turn into a bear?” Gilby sounded skeptical.
    She nodded.
    A few people chuckled, but their laughter sounded strained. All around her, a variety of expressions passed over everyone's faces.
    Koll didn't say a word. When Elli motioned him over, he went to her and hunkered down to face the old woman.
    "Take good care of her,” Elli told him. “The Children of Nanook should be treated with respect."
    He simply agreed and looked back at Shila over his shoulder.
    The way his nostrils flared made her shiver in anticipation. So far, Koll had taken very good care of her.
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Chapter 3
    "So you turn into a bear?"
    Koll studied Shila as they walked through the snow to his house with Greyfell trailing them. There were no flakes falling right now, but the wind cut through his coat and made him shiver. He couldn't believe she looked so comfortable in the cold. She didn't even have her hood up.
    "I said so,” was her only response.
    Although he didn't believe her for a minute, he didn't have the heart to call her a liar aloud. Especially not after she'd forgiven him for not knowing her name. His manners might be rough, but he did have some. Even an idiot knew to get a woman's name before bedding her. Yet somehow, while he'd spent the day making love to her spectacular body, the thought had never crossed his mind. To be honest, thinking hadn't been a high priority, not when there was so much to feel.
    Now he wanted to get to know her better. If she liked to pretend she was some kind of mythical shifter, then he'd play along.
    "If you can become a bear, why were you running on two feet when I found you?” he asked.
    "To help disguise my scent and throw off Tartok and Cikuq. I swam a great distance in my bear form and carried my clothes and snowshoes in my mouth.” She sounded perfectly serious. “When I couldn't swim anymore, I climbed onto the ice, dressed, and ran."
    "And you haven't turned back into a bear since then because...?"
    She stopped and leaned in to brush his mouth with a teasing kiss. “Because then I couldn't be with you."
    Who was he to argue with such logic? With a hungry growl, Koll ducked his head to capture her lips more fully. She parted them in welcome, allowing him inside where the taste of her went straight to his head.
    The feel of her tongue darting into his mouth in return had him panting. So did the way she clutched the front of his coat with both hands, as if she'd never let him go. His cock swelled beneath the leather and fur of his clothing, begging for another foray into the tight haven of her pussy. He broke the kiss so he could order her inside.
    Shila didn't give him a chance to utter the command. With a hard yank, she pitched herself backward, causing him to fall with her. She landed flat on her back with him on top. Koll barely caught his weight in time to keep from squashing her with his heavy frame.
    Then she rolled out from under him. Rolled and tossed and giggled as she played in the snow.
    "Come on,” she demanded.
    She had to be kidding. It was freezing out here, and he wasn't some sled pup