by M J Waverly
"I need to go," Barron said.
Evergreen nodded. "I can take care of this here." She kicked the unconscious Ryan, who had claw marks down his face.
Barron ran out of the door and past one patrol car. The officers swung to the left, almost running off the road. Barron kept running, and when he had reached some dunes in the desert, he transformed.
The air shimmered in front of him, and it was Artemis with some clothes.
"You did good."
Barron dressed quickly in the ranger pants and shirt.
"Thanks."
"What happens now?"
"You go home to Bear Bay with your life mate, and the two of you will begin Bear Bay Sanctuary for shifters."
Chapter 9
Back in Bear Bay, Alaska, at the Broken Toe Cafe, the news played on the television.
"There have been reports out of Scottsdale, Arizona, an elephant-sized is running around the desert."
Homer, Hank, and Leonard Carter sat together and drank their coffee.
"Damn idiot. The hot desert sun makes them mirages." Homer yelled at the television.
Hank shook his head. "Come to Bear Bay, Alaska. That's where you'll find the big 'uns."
Leonard Carter chuckled. Barron locked eyes with his soon-to-be-father-in -law across the cafe counter.
Evergreen reached for his hand and squeezed.
"What are we doing today?" She asked.
"I have a meeting with the designer of the sanctuary, and she's requested your presence."
Evergreen jerked her head back. "Really?"
In the forest behind her family's land, Evergreen and Barron waited by the river bank.
"Why do you think Artemis wants to meet with me?" Evergreen asked.
A woman in a red-checked flannel shirt and jeans materialized in front of them. "Because of your passion for this land, you were selected to become Barron's lifemate and to help him protect it."
Barron jumped up and held out his hand to a shocked Evergreen, who couldn't speak.
Minerva landed on Artemis's shoulder and hooted. "Yes, I know. We'll take care of that this afternoon."
Artemis held out the bear charm with the passion symbol on the side. She placed it in Barron's hand, and then the goddess took Evergreen's hand and placed it on top of his.
Silver magic glowed out from beneath their hands, extending through the forest.
Magic surged through Barron like warm hot toffee. It wasn't an unpleasant experience. "It's the Zeal," he exclaimed.
Artemis nodded and then patted him on the arm. "Good job."
The goddess turned to Evergreen. "The bears and animals that live in this magical barrier will be protected.
"That's wonderful." Evergreen was about to speak but bit down on her lip.
"Speak your words, child. Don't be afraid," Artemis encouraged. Minerva hooted.
"What about Orion Hunter?" Evergreen asked quickly.
Artemis leaned her head back and laughed. "Don't worry about Orion Hunter. I will take care of him." The goddess's eyes glinted wildly.
"I must go. I suggest you take your life mate to this private area near the river I created. You two have a lot to celebrate."
Barron wrapped his arms around Evergreen and drew her close to his body. "You know if you transform into a bear, I can ride on your back."
"What about my clothes? I'll be naked."
Evergreen looked up at him with bright eyes. "And that's a problem? How?"
A burst of magic and Barron shifted as a bear. And a laughing Evergreen climbed upon his back. "So, take me to this private place in the woods."
Afterword
If you enjoyed Passion Bear, check out the third book in the Charmed Bear Series, Spirit Bear. You can find it on Kindle Unlimited. Here’s part of Chapter One
Spirit Bear
While waiting for her meeting in an hour, the store's owner, Kimber Gold, studied the poster of snowboarder, Eli Whitlock, on the Mountain View Sporting Goods Store window. She tilted her head. The extreme snowboarder was so handsome with his rugged good looks. If only she could persuade him to represent their company, Khione Snowboards.
Eli Whitlock had been critically injured a year ago and had fallen off the snowboard competition circuits. Rumors circulated he'd been training in Alaska and was ready to return. He would be an inspiration.
She admired Eli's golden lion's mane hair, dark blue eyes, the color of a clear, crisp winter sky, and his lean, well-muscled body. Something about him was different. He lived in shadows and secrets. She knew and sensed things that ordinary people didn't because of her fairy or nymph blood flowing through her veins. She could understand animals along with other small magic, especially winter weather magic. She had a teensy-tiny bit of Elsa magic happening.
She bit down on her lip, studying all the yumminess that was Eli Whitlock. She heard an owl hooting and then looked up into the tree in front of the store. Kimber bowed her head. "Hello, Mistress Owl. You're out at an unusual time."
"Your name is Minerva. Named after the ancient goddess of wisdom. Very lovely." Kimber smiled.
"You speak to animals." An elderly woman in a long dress blouse adjusted her lacy shawl around her shoulders.
A strong aura radiated from the older woman. This sweet lady was either fae or something more powerful. It would be wise to take time and talk to her because if you didn't respect the crones in fairy tale stories, it didn't turn out well for the protagonist.
Kimber gave a slight smile. "Yes, I can. Is she your companion?"
"Yes." The woman held out her hand, and the owl landed on her arm.
The owl hooted and lifted her wings.
"I agree. How rude of me?" The woman smiled indulgently at the owl. "Would you like to select my wares?" She waved her hand over her silver jewelry laid out card table covered with purple velvet.
Kimber knew this could be a test, and she had been raised by her pagan mother and fae-blooded father to honor her the old ways as her parents called the magical path. "Yes, I would like to see your wares." She walked over to the table, filled with bear-shaped charms.
"Look at all the bears," Kimber exclaimed. They were all different shapes and sizes with different symbols engraved on their sides.
"Which one are you drawn to?" The woman's soothing voice sounded tranquil and hypnotic-like water flowing in a stream.
Drawn to bear with a snowflake symbol, Kimber picked up the bear charm.
"Spirit Bear." The older woman's eyes glinted with a bright sparkle. "You will open his soul."
"Really? Who?" Kimber held the charm, and something like bubbles zinged through her.
The mysterious woman pointed down the street. "Here, he comes."
"Here, who comes?" Kimber turned and didn't see anything but cars, but when she turned around, the woman, the owl, and her velvet-lined table filled with charms had disappeared.
Still grasping the silver bear charm with the snowflake symbol, Kimber blinked. "She'd experienced an encounter with a magical being." She opened her hand.
Talking on his cell phone, a handsome man with a mane of blonde hair and a concerned expression stood beside Kimber. "Dad, I'm fine. I have to go." He ended his call. "Are you okay? Do you need a doctor?"
"Yes. Yes. I am." She stared at the space where the woman had been, trying to process the experience and its meaning. "Did you see a woman selling charms?"
He arched an eyebrow. "No. I didn't. You look as if you're in a daze. Should I call someone for you?"
Shaking her head, Kimber looked up at the man's face, and she recognized him. "I know you. You're Eli Whitlock." She pointed up at the poster on the sporting goods store and then back at him. But, she saw the overlay of a bear's face looking back at her. Her mouth dropped open.
A deep, growly voice echoed in her mind. "You belong to me."
And then the bear image disappeared.
Eli Whitlock backed away. "If you think you'll be okay, I have to go. I'm meeting someone, and I d
on't need to get involved with someone who could interfere with my training." He opened the door to the sporting goods store and then entered. The door closed.
How rude! The bear charm burned Kimber's palm. She couldn't find her voice, but in her mind, she wanted to grab Eli Whitlock's hand and give her pitch. I need to speak to you about representing our snowboarding company. Her brother, Justin, would insist she make a pitch despite the athlete's rudeness. She believed in their snowboards.
Immobilized by a mixture of fear and indignation, Kimber stared through the glass window and watched as Eli Whitlock wandered through the snowboards and bicycles and then climbed the stairs to an upper level. Should she go in and find him? She stared down at the bear charm in her hand. The snowflake pattern seemed to glow. Don't. If you don't get your emotions together, you'll make it snow.
Should she follow Eli Whitlock?
"Yes, follow him." A growly voice echoed in her mind. She blinked. She'd never had that think-thought voice before.
She entered the store and tried to find Eli Whitlock. But he was nowhere to be seen. She checked in with Johnny Campanelli, the store owner's secretary. He was in a meeting, but he would see her as soon as it was over. Kimber had hoped to see Eli Whitlock one more time, at least, she could try and make a pitch. It was as if he'd disappeared when he entered the store. His words, 'I won't let anything interfere with my training,' played over and over in her mind.
"Johnny can see you now." The secretary guided her to the sporting goods owner's office.
Kimber sighed. She wished she could be braver when it came to pitching for the company. At least, she'd met the nice lady, who gave her the bear charm.
About the Author
M.J. Waverly writes quirky shifter romance and cozy supernatural mysteries. Check out her website at www.mjwaverly.com
Check out Season’s Greetings, a free holiday short story featuring Artemis as she spends the holidays with her friends at the Stag Head Bar on the edge of the galaxy.
Also by M.J. Waverly
Havens Renaissance Faire Short Story Collection
Huzzah! Can four dragon shapeshifters find their mate at The Havens Renaissance Faire? Join Soren, Liam, Mac, and Zed in the magic and revelry of the faire as they seek their heart's desire in this short story collection.
Run From the Dragon
Lord Rigel Maddoc has a problem.
Samantha, his lifemate hates dragons.
Rigel is a dragon!
Christmas Magic features a short story, Winter Wonder Bear about Artemis as she helps a bear shifter reconnect with his lifemate.
Ho! Ho! Ho!
Santa Claus, here. I'm sneaking away from the North Pole to bring Christmas magic to those who might have lost their way this holiday.
Some people need a map. Some people need a nudge. Some people need a push off the cliff.
Join my friends and me in our adventures as we spread Christmas Magic around the world, to another realm, and the solar system.