Claimed By The Military Bear: BBW Paranormal Shapeshifter Romance Standalone (Paranormal Shifter Romance, BBW Shifter Romance, WereBear Romance)

by Alicia Wild

  She pushed from the bed, feeling upset.

  “You think you took advantage of me? You gave me the option to stop, Barrett. Several times! I didn’t just let you have me, I allowed you! I did it because I know you’re not a bad person! You saved my life!”

  “And that suddenly makes you mine?”

  The words stung and confused her, made her reel.

  “What’s wrong with you?” She asked, her voice falling quiet.

  “Did… did you not want to be with me? Do you not want me?”

  But then he was standing over her, meeting her gaze with one of powerful intent, as if he were restraining himself just barely. It frightened her.

  “You have no idea how much I want you… I wanted you since the moment I saw you when I returned that first day. I wanted you every day and every moment. Don’t you get it? I want you, but I can’t have you. I chose to live out here in this isolated space to avoid this… to avoid losing myself over someone. I wanted you gone. I wanted you so far away because I was scared with how much I want you. But then…” he trailed off, pushing away and collapsing against the bed.

  Melissa watched him, speechless.

  “…But then, you would do things. You’d clean and cook and waited up for me to return. You were loyal, and kind, and stubborn, but mostly, you were so persistent. You helped me with my injury. I kept telling myself to just meet with someone, find a way to get you to leave… I had so many chances to have you leave, to find what I promised you… I couldn’t even do it.”

  Suddenly, Melissa felt cold.

  “You…” She breathed. “You acted this way… you made me stay here all this time because… you didn’t want me to leave?”

  A long and tense silence filled the space between them until Barrett nodded.

  “I kept you here for my own selfishness. I took advantage of you, and you don’t even know what I am.”

  What did that even mean? Melissa pushed away from the bed, her mind spinning with all this information.

  She could have been long gone by now, she could have been somewhere far away, living a life free from her father, free from captivity…

  But he had promised!

  He’s no different.

  A wave of nausea rolled through Melissa’s stomach and she stumbled away, clenching the sheets further around her body as she tried to toss away all the negative thoughts now bubbling in her mind.

  “Being here…” Melissa began through a tight throat, “Has been hard. But, I didn’t hate this. I never hated or resented you… You kept me safe. You became my friend, the only person who accepted and believed me when so many just pushed me aside. You’re not a monster.”

  “What if I was?”

  He voiced and there was a strange calm in his voice that made her feel uneasy.

  “A monster?”

  She shook her head, “You’re not. I’ve lived with a monster for years, Barrett. You may have lied to me but you never caused me the pain he did.”

  “You’re so naïve,” He scoffed before rising to his feet and facing her once more.

  “Don’t you get it?” The look in his eyes made her feel cold.

  “If I hadn’t found you, you would’ve been dead. Your naïvete is what lead you here, Melissa. It should have killed you.”

  Tears burned in her eyes, made her tremble. She felt her chin drop, felt the heat in her eyes crash to her feet. “

  I don’t care…” She murmured. “I don’t care how many times I would have died. I have been dead for years…” she met his gaze and she saw genuine shock in his expression.

  “Being here with you has made me remember how it felt to be alive, Barrett. Now you may regret it, but I don’t. I don’t, you hear me?”

  Feeling overwhelmed, Melissa turned around and escaped out the door.

  All she wanted was to find a different place to be. So she ran.

  Wrapped in a sheet and nothing else should have reminded her to dress, but Melissa wanted to push away the pain Barret’s words had stung her.

  She wanted a moment to clear her head.

  Her hands found the knob of the front door and she pushed out, her bare feet finding dirt and loose leaves easily as she ran out the door and into the woods.

  Sunlight filtered through a haze of gray clouds, breaking through spots of deep blue sky. The weather had turned colder in the time she had spent in the cabin, and her body strained to pursue an aimless chase.

  After running a few yards, Melissa collapsed against a tree trunk, ankle scathing harshly against a rock.

  She let out a small cry, wincing when she checked at the injury and found blood mixing with the dirt in her fingers. She panted, pressing her forehead against the tree trunk and waiting for her chest to stop hurting.

  Did he really mean it? All of it?

  Why would he treat her so coldly if he had wanted her? Why would he push her away instead of take her when she was weak with fever?

  Barrett had opportunities to rip into her body, to claim her as his own… instead he had given her space and even suggested to stop in the heat of passion when her discomfort made him uncertain.

  Still… even though she did like being in the cabin, she had clung to the hope of finding somewhere new and living a brand new life.

  She wanted to follow her mother’s final wish and discover a new adventure outside of caging walls.

  Instead, he had kept her there, kept the truth from her when she had needed answers.

  Was he really different? Were all men like this?

  Was the world that she so desperately wanted to travel really no different from the darkness of that man’s clutches?

  Melissa sighed, brushing away tears with numbing fingers. Her body shook with every chill breeze and after a moment, she allowed her eyes to drift above.

  Her hands found the chain and ring easily beneath her throat. Mom, what do I do?

  Something snapped—a branch—several feet away, and when Melissa whirled around to see she felt the icy cold freeze her blood still.

  “Well, well,” she remembered that grin, had felt it taunt her nightmares for weeks.

  It was the man who wanted to buy her, the man her step-fathered had bargained for her life. His body was dressed in sleek clothes, designed to deal with nature with comfort. He stared down at her, black eyes honing on her like a wolf that found easy prey.

  “I hadn’t expected to find you so soon, Miss.”

  Another snap and Melissa whirled her head in the other direction, feeling horror and panic shut her throat in fear.

  “You little bitch,” her step-father growled lowly.

  Gray hair hanging over his eyes and fingers clenching over a used machete. He looked frighteningly livid.

  “Have you any idea what your little absence has caused?”

  No…

  He turned his eyes away, meeting the other man’s starving gaze with a nod.

  “Grab her. We’re heading back.”

  “No…” Melissa stammered, hysterical.

  “No, no, no, no no… please, don’t,” She tried to scramble away, but her foot caught against the rock that hurt her and she fell back over the earth, her sheet falling open to expose her.

  The taller man—the buyer—let out a whistle of appreciation.

  “You looked good enough to eat.”

  “Stay away from me!” Melissa cried, hands fumbling to gather the sheet and to pull her away.

  Instead, she felt something grab to her hair and yank, she let out a shriek of pain.

  “Who the hell did this to you, eh?” her step-father snarled.

  “You better not be sullied or so help me god, I’ll beat you until you’re useless!”

  “Please, please just let me go!” Melissa begged, tears crashing down her eyes as she tried to fight back, but the fear was too much. “

  Let me go, please!” Something struck her face, whipping her head hard to the side and causing her whiplash.

  “I didn’t come all this wa
y after weeks of searching for your pathetic ass to let you go here.”

  She heard, and she gasped, trying to right her mind. The blow had shocked her, stunned her into a twist of pain.

  “N-no,” she moaned lowly before she felt hands grip under her waist and hoist her up.

  “She’s heavy, I’ll tell you.”

  She heard the buyer huff, sounding amused.

  “We’ll be sure to fix that.”

  Barrett…

  Melissa tried to blink, and found her voice right as she saw her step-father pull a black cover from his pocket. He advanced towards her, yanking her head into the fabric and obscuring her vision.

  A violent shriek ripped through her chest and out her mouth as the black surrounded her.

  Melissa thrashed, throwing her fists and feet in clumsy punches and kicks. She felt her shin connect with something, heard a grunt of pain, before she felt something grab hard against her arm, felt another blow connect with her stomach.

  She collapsed to her knees, the air gone from her lungs.

  She remembered falling to the ground before hearing something in the distance—it was her name.

  “Melissa!” She heard.

  Barrett…

  She lifted a hand, weak with effort, to pull at the black fabric.

  “Who the hell are you?!” The sound of flesh striking flesh followed by someone falling made her nearly panic.

  Melissa yanked the black fabric from over her head, wide eyes searching frantically.

  She saw Barrett, dressed in cargo pants and wielding a machete, on the ground was the buyer, groaning. Her joy was short-lived when she saw her step-father lunge towards him, and she screamed.

  Instead Barrett swung to the side, slamming his blade against his opponent’s with a sharp clang.

  “So, you were the reason why that girl was gone?” Her stepfather grunted.

  “What gives you the right to take another man’s property?”

  Barrett snarled, teeth baring viciously, “Who are you?”

  “Oren Beckett,” the older man huffed. “I’m the girl’s father.”

  “Step-father,” Melissa wheezed, trying to find a way to stand.

  “Are you alright?” Barrett asked her, eyes never moving from Oren.

  “I’m okay…” She groaned, feeling tears of pain blind her.

  Barrett flashed her a look before something wild and brutal took over his face. He turned that look on Oren.

  “Bastard,” He snapped. “What kind of man hurts his family?”

  “The kind that isn’t afraid to do what is necessary!” Oren laughed, a harsh biting sound that made Melissa recoil.

  “Get out of my way, you oversized beefcake. Before I skewer you.”

  “Good luck with that,” Barrett snarled before tossing his blade aside.

  Oren watched him, surprised before his expression paled.

  Melissa wiped her eyes, shivering against dirt and scratching foliage. Yet all her movements ceased when she saw the change taking over Barrett’s body.

  His muscles bulged, hands becoming large as follicles of hair thickened and expanded all over his skin. His face elongated as his teeth began to sharpen and extend.

  His hair grew over his head, reaching down his back as his body transformed. In sheer moments, this man was completely taken over by the appearance of a huge beast. Its form was a bear.

  You don’t even know what I am. Barrett’s words echoed in Melissa’s mind as she gasped and pushed away. What if I was?

  Oren let out a shout, falling back as the Bear fell over on huge paws before advancing with a loud roar.

  The shock ebbed away now that the Bear was taking steps forward, swiping huge paws and elongated claws in swift movements.

  A monster…?

  Then, from the corner of her eyes, Melissa saw the buyer rush to his feet, holding high a gun and aiming it at the beast.

  Melissa shrieked, “Barrett, look out!!”

  The bear fell to its paws. Gunfire cracked through the air in an explosion that made her ears ring. Wood from a tree splintered away and the Bear whirled around before lunging. The Buyer let out a scream of fright, gun falling from his hand as he scrambled away.

  The Bear’s massive jaw snapped out, biting down over the buyer’s neck and twisting. Melissa looked away before she could see any more, hearing the Buyer’s voice hitch in a choke before falling eerily quiet.

  Oren let out another cry and when Melissa looked up he was running into the woods. The Bear turned around, it’s maw stained in crimson before it began to give chase.

  Melissa staggered to her feet, crying out.

  “Barrett, no! Leave him!”

  It was too late to call him back, and Melissa tried to run after them.

  In the distance, she witnessed the bear catch up to her step-father. She saw it tackled him to the ground.

  She heard a roar, then a final scream. Her feet ached and her body throbbed with cuts and bruises, yet the frantic desire to get close to Barrett overwhelmed her fear. She hoped that he was alright.

  When she got close, she saw the collapsed figure of her stepfather’s body, and even saw blood over bush and dirt. She gasped and nearly stumbled to her knees, but she pushed forward.

  She reached the bear, landed close to it before reaching out and grabbing its fur.

  Suddenly, its head whipped around, roaring in her face and making her nearly pull away in fright.

  The animal’s growl stopped short, and she saw recognition churn within its black eyes.

  “Barrett,” she whispered desperately, shaking violently against it.

  “Barrett, please…”

  Something passed through its eyes, and the more she looked into them, the more she could see human emotions.

  Surprise, fear, shock, relief…

  It looked away, before shuddering against her hands.

  Melissa dug her fingers tighter, worried something was wrong.

  Instead, it began to change, its huge body returning to a familiar shape and familiar heat.

  She could feel the transformation against her hands, and she couldn’t hold back the gasp of amazement, as she hardly believed what she saw.

  “Melissa…?”

  She heard, the voice low and rich and almost animalistic but familiar.

  When he looked back up, his face was familiar and his skin felt like how she had memorized.

  “You’re okay,” she breathed, jumping against him and wrapping her arms tight around his neck.

  “Barrett…oh, Barrett.”

  Her mouth found his skin and the urge to kiss him took force, making her plant and chart kisses against his skin once again.

  She felt his lips beneath her, felt him take her affection in frozen silence before he was breathing again and holding her close.

  “You’re not…” he began, “You’re not scared of me?”

  “Idiot,” Melissa laughed, sniffing back hard as she met his lips with hers again and again.

  “Why would I be scared of the man who saved me?”

  His grip on her skin tightened, flushed her tight against his chest in a desperate hold that nearly took her breath away.

  The following kiss he slammed against her mouth did, and they both fought for air as their bodies collided with need.

  Pain burned against her stomach and Melissa let out a sharp hiss when he pressed too tight.

  Instantly, Barrett was pulling away, his eyes trailing down her naked skin and finding the bruises the fight had left over her.

  “You’re hurt,” he said, worried.

  “I’m fine… I’m fine now.”

  She shook her head before taking his face within her palms. Her mother’s ring was pressed tight between their skin and Melissa could feel warmth even in the harsh cold.

  “I’m sorry I ran… I’m sorry.”

  Barrett was shaking his head.

  “No.”

  He denied.

  “This was all my fault. You wouldn�
��t have gotten hurt if I had just kept my promise.”

  “I don’t care about that anymore,” Melissa insisted.

  “I don’t. Because you’re here. You protected me. You kept me safe. You’re a good man, Barrett.”

  “But I’m not a man, Melissa…didn’t you see?”

  He nearly pulled away. “I’m a monster. I nearly hurt you.”

  “But you didn’t,” she insisted.

  “I may be naïve, but I know ‘good’ when I see it. I know you. The only monsters are the men who hurt me. I don’t see a monster… the man I love isn’t a monster.”

  Her confession shocked him, it even shocked her.

  But before she could even think about backpedaling, Barrett was crushing her against him, mindful of her injuries but desperate.

  His lips rammed against hers, filling her with warmth and the desire to be closer to him.

  “Let’s go home,” she murmured against his lips.

  He smiled against her mouth.

  “Let’s go home.”

  He agreed before gently lifting her in his arms and pulling her through the gnarling trees around them.

  --

  His touch was gentle beneath the warmth of the fire, and each sweet caress made Melissa shiver with anticipation.

  His lips trailed over her skin, finding the bruises around her body and giving them special attention with healing ointments and careful massaging.

  Melissa stroked her fingers through his hair, watched him with a full heart as he dressed her wounds and kissed her pain away.

  Gingerly, he brought her to his room, laying her over the mattress before following her curves with hungry eyes.

  Melissa squirmed beneath his gaze, feeling hot and desirable as he stared.

  “You’re beautiful,” he said with a smile.

  “You’re amazing,” she replied with a grin.

  He rolled his eyes, but his smile never wavered as he ducked down to press a reverent kiss to her navel.

  Melissa shivered at his touch, felt each bit of skin stand to attention and react harshly at his breath fanning over her, his gaze piercing her.

  “Thank you,” he breathed before meeting his lips against one of her breasts.

  She trembled, her hands fluttering against his muscles, her legs parting for him.

  “For what?” She hummed, curious.

  He bent down and gathered her lips into his own.