Red's Bear (Erotic Shifter Fairy Tales) Read Online Free PDF Page A

your wonderful sweet butter to
slather on the bread while you’re at it, please.”
    “I sure will.” She winked at him and moved toward the
kitchen.
    He turned and stared out the window. There really
wasn’t any need for anyone to remind him that the First Frost Moon was coming
up. Everyone in town was abuzz about it. People were already moving stands and
tents into the field on the far end of the park. It was the most exciting time
in Den for all residents.
    On Sunday, his father, as the mayor of Den, would be
making a speech officially closing down Den for the week of the festival. There
would be games, shows, cookouts, family picnics and people selling various
foods and items that they had made during the year. All of it just celebrated
who they were as Weres.
    There were not many visitors to Den, but blocking off
all the outside roads that led to town kept anyone from ‘happening by’. He
chuckled to himself as he thought about how the cinderblocks had not been a
barrier to Theo’s mate ending up in their town. Presently his friend and his
family were out of town visiting Theo’s mate Riley’s family.
    Through the diner window, he watched all the families
and couples moving about the town and felt a deep ache in his gut. They
appeared happy and content, as the male and female Were-bears made eyes at each
other or walked with arms linked as kids followed behind. This week, the
festival, was all leading up to one thing–the Bear Run. It happened the last
night of the festival. All of the eligible female and male Weres ran through
the woods in hopes of finding their life mate. The females would scatter
through the forest and the males would give chase, allowing their noses and
hearts to lead them by the scent of the one the Great Spirit meant for them.
    Rarely was there ever a mistake. Rarely was there a
Were-bear who just selected one that was available without the soul tie. However,
that would be the case for him. He wasn’t looking forward to it.
    “Hey, Cord.”
    He picked up on her scent before she’d spoken.
Hibiscus. That’s what Marcella’s smell reminded him of. The floral woodsy aroma
wasn’t offensive, just notable. Since she was frequently around, he picked up
on it quite often.
    “Marcella. How’s your day going?” He brought his gaze
around to her. At five-five with a small frame and dark brown straight hair,
the Asian woman was a small brown bear, but one of the quickest females in
town. 
    Her cheeks tinted, but she didn’t take her eyes off
him. “Very well now. You mind if I join you or are you expecting company?”
    He didn’t want to encourage her. He knew she was
interested in him. Over the years since he’d returned from his wandering time,
she’d let him know that she was available and attracted to him. They’d messed
around a few times in the past, but for him there hadn’t been any connection.
During the last time, she’d asked him to bite her and it had been like a bucket
of ice water tossed in his face.
    Not yours. His bear had screamed within him.
    After that encounter, he’d let her know that he wasn’t
ready for a commitment yet and she should consider that being around him might
be keeping her life mate away. Last run he’d gone away for a month surrounding
the festival hoping she’d participate and someone would claim her. No such
luck.
    “Not expecting anyone. Just came in for a quick lunch.”
He owned Digging Deep Landscaping, even though his warehouse was in town, he
spent most of his time working on jobs with his crew. When he was able to get a
meal in at Gobi’s it made his week. However, it made avoiding Were’s he
preferred to stay away from a little more difficult. Like Marcella.
    Sliding into the seat on the other side of the booth,
she gave him a small smile as she beguilingly tilted her head. “I’ll just keep
you company.”
    “If you want.”
    “So, are you looking forward to—”
    “Here you go, Cord. A nice steaming bowl of soup,