Page 7 of Wrong Turn, Right Bear (Beartastic Summer of Love)

SEVEN

THEO

I was on a high as I waltzed into my room. No blisters or grazes could dampen my mood. I should have been exhausted but I paced the room as if my veins had been injected with caffeine.

Needing fresh air, I opened the windows and almost changed my mind as a gust of wind ruffled the curtains and I shivered.

The ever present gushing of water in the river formed a backdrop to the sky dotted with stars.

Then there was the dark patch of woodland to my left and to the far right, part of the hotel car park.

But I braved the night and the accompanying breeze and took deep breaths of the air that wasn’t laden with pollutants and noise of the city. I studied the stars and wondered if Ash was staring at them too.

My gaze alighted on the few cars and I strained to see in the gloom but Ash’s truck was parked there, his company name Ash’s Outdoor Escapes emblazoned on the side.

He was still here. My heart sped up and because I was buzzing, I skipped down the stairs and raced from the lobby into the carpark. I did a 360 but Ash wasn’t here. A dull ache of disappointment sat in my belly.

“Are you looking for Ash?” One of the staff headed to their vehicle said over their shoulder. “I saw him going around back.”

I thanked the guy and sped around the side of the hotel. It was well lit and I wasn’t venturing into the deep dark woods, so I’d be fine. Through the windows, I spied Bert and Angela who I’d met yesterday when I arrived playing cards with another couple.

Okay I was fine. The moon was shining above and lighting my way and the lamps on the perimeter of the property were shining brightly. I avoided the gloomy patch of darkness to my left. I wasn’t going there and I doubted Ash was either. What would he be doing in the forest at night?

A movement ahead of me sent a jolt to my heart.

I gulped in huge mouthfuls of air and peered through the night.

It was Ash but… but what was he doing? Removing his clothes.

Oh did he commune with nature under the moon?

Made sense I suppose as he was an outdoorsy guy and spent most of his day not confined by four walls.

I wasn’t at one with anything though I’d like to be…

with his ass. While he was facing away from me, the moonlight kissed his butt and I clutched my shirt.

It was a thing of beauty that behind of his, but I silently urged him to stay where he was.

I wasn’t following him into the woods. That wolf might still be there.

My gaze was fixed on Ash but he must have fallen because I couldn’t see him any more. What? I blinked and squinted some more. Oh gods, no, there was something big and dark rearing up in his place. Shit, was that a… it couldn’t be… that wasn’t right. My eyes and brain were playing tricks.

A bear! I opened my mouth to scream or to shout Ash’s name but nothing came out.

It was similar to those dreams where you ran but never got anywhere.

I froze, unable to move or speak because another creature was wending its way toward the bear.

A wolf. Perhaps the same one that confronted me today.

If the wolf attacked the bear, who would win?

But another wolf was behind the first one. This one was smaller and while I hadn’t caught a glimpse of the one in the woods earlier, I was certain this was the one. A young one and the other one his Mom or Dad?

The three animals faced one another and the younger one hung his head. The poor baby. Was he going to be punished for something he did? Ash had said he would deal with the wolf but he’d vanished .

Please tell me I’m not about to witness a murder.

And was Ash an animal whisperer and wild animals obeyed his commands?

The wolves were nodding their heads but gods my heart couldn’t cope with wild animals conducting a meeting at night in the forest. Is this what they did when humans weren’t around?

Just like earlier, I wasn’t sure if I left, would they pick up on my movement and come after me? The lobby door was around the other side of the building and yes there was a back entrance, more than one, but they’d be locked from the inside, especially as the restaurant was now closed.

My mind buzzed back and forth as to what to do but one blink and another blink and the three animals were no more. In their places stood three naked guys, one of them being Ash.

I opened and closed my mouth like a fish. They weren’t there a minute ago. What the f…ing F was going on? I stepped back and a twig or leaf crunched under my foot. Three heads swung in my direction. But despite my confusion, I was interested in Ash’s cock and wowza it was big.

“Theo!” Ash told me to stay where I was but my legs got the message to move and I took off.

Unless they were going to charge into the hotel naked, I had a three-second start.

I took the stairs, two at a time and locked myself in the room, leaning against it in case…

maybe the bear and the wolves were after me.

Shit the window was still open. I slammed it and pulled the curtains before jumping into bed and pulling the bedding up to my chin.

It had been a bad idea coming here. Blisters and scrapes were insignificant but wolves stalking me and animals who turned into men… I couldn’t explain that. It wasn’t a trick of the light or my imagination. I wasn’t hallucinating.

I shrieked at a loud banging on the door. Damn, I could have pretended I was asleep. Well, not really, as I’d been awake minutes earlier.

“Theo, I know you’re in there.”

Nope, he didn’t. He was guessing. Shoot, no, I’d just squealed so he knew I was here.

“Please open the door and let me explain.”

Explain what? I stuffed the duvet in my mouth—which was kinda gross—to stifle a laugh, nah more an hysterical cackle.

There was no explanation for what I witnessed and as soon as it was light, I was packing my bag and heading home.

And if the nightmares I’d suffer tonight could stay in the hotel and not follow me home, that would be good.

I hoped the universe was listening to my plea.

“Go away, Ash.”

“Nope. I’ll sleep outside your door if I have to. ”

“Please leave me alone. I’m done with this place and cutting my vacation short.”

“Theo I can’t stop you leaving but I can explain what you saw tonight.”

“Doubt that.”

There was an extended silence and I wondered if he’d left. My heart sank because I’d never see him again. It was for the best but I’d like one last glimpse.

“Fine, I’ll show you. Stand at your window and watch.”

“I did that, the watching bit and I’m not certain what happened, but I’m not interested in seeing it again.”

That was a fib. I was scared but also curious. There was no explanation for what I’d seen and I’d like one that sort of made sense.

“I’m a shifter, Theo, as is Chuck and most of the town residents. We have an animal inside us and we can shift between animal and human form.”

“What? Like a werewolf? He was telling tales and expecting me to swallow them but it did make a sliver of sense. No, that was crazy talk. Werewolves and shifters were fantasy.

“I’ll be downstairs in a minute.”

The seconds ticked by as I sat in the bed.

Not looking. I’m not moving from here. No. Nope. No way .

I got up and ran to the window, opening it and shivering at the cold I’d ushered in. Wrapping my arms around myself, I leaned out and Ash waved. He removed his clothes. Now I got a second look at his dick. Hmmm I wished I could have had that in me before I scuttled off home.

He fell onto all fours and thick dark hair or maybe fur rolled over his skin. Oh no it was happening again. The bear! He reared up and I remembered bears could climb trees. If he clamored up the side of the building, I was taking my bag and running.

But the hair on the beast vanished inch by inch as if someone was rolling up new turf and the claws and muzzle and ears disappeared, replaced by the Ash I knew. He donned his clothes and walked out of sight.

He couldn’t leave. He couldn’t do that. It wasn’t allowed. I needed details and maybe a brain scan to make sure I didn’t have a tumor that was affecting my vision.

The knock at the door had me racing toward it. But I sensed my understanding of the world in which I lived would change if I opened it.