Released: MC Secret Baby Romance (New Adult Contemporary Biker Romance)

by Casey Elliot

  Her breath stopped at the realization she’d hit a bear. It was wounded and lying face down with its blood mingling with the rain drops. She leaned further forward in her seat until the steering wheel was digging hard into her chest. She had to see if it was alive. For a second, she was sure she saw its great body rise and fall with each breath, but she couldn’t be certain.

  Creeping closer until her nose was against the glass, she looked for a sign that it was alive, but still, it didn’t move. Then, a flash of green hit her through the darkness. The bright eyes of a beast glared at her through the windshield, and she screamed, stumbling backward into the back seat. The bear was awake and it was angry.

  It leaned back with pain in its eyes and growled with Rochelle screaming along with it. Despite all her years living in the wilderness, she'd never seen a wild animal so close. Its claws were digging into the windshield while its teeth were menacing and sharp. She figured one foul swoop to her face would maim her for life. Shaking uncontrollably, she clutched her hands desperately at the leather upholstery.

  Eventually, she let go, but only because she was ripping her fingernails from their beds. The pain was a temporary refuge from the fear and she looked down at her broken nails for a moment, but in that split second, everything changed because when she shifted her eyes back up to the windshield, the bear was moving away.

  Its anger had dissipated and had been replaced with a deep sadness. Rochelle could see the pain in his eyes and his gaze softened just long enough to look her in the eye once again. Then, it shuffled away. It was badly hurt, and as the fear subsided, the young girl was left feeling guilty. She watched the beast limp off the road and into the nearby woods where it instantly became enshrouded in the darkness.

  With the urge to help it, she stared out the window praying that the animal would be ok. Meanwhile, the rain was pummeling the car. She knew she had to escape the area as fast as she could in case her father was on his way, and she felt herself grow cold at the thought. With great trepidation, she climbed back into the driver's seat and took a deep breath. For the first time, she could see the damage done to the front of the car and she gasped.

  "Shit!" she slammed her hands on the steering wheel.

  Taking a quick glance out the window to keep her eye on the bear, she saw its vague outline amongst the trees. It wasn't running away anymore; it seemed to just be.... keeping an eye on her. Something about the vibe it gave off sent a chill down her spine. She didn't understand what it was doing. With her eyes darting between the road ahead and the bear, she felt her heart race, but then, it raced even faster when she saw the bear move.

  Squinting her eyes to see better, she couldn't believe her eyes. It seemed to be moving in the most peculiar way with its giant body becoming smaller. She put the vision down to the trauma of being in the crash and turned her attention back to the car.

  She attempted to start the engine, though she thought it would be pointless, and she soon realized that the car was well and truly destroyed and that she was in serious trouble. Still, she twisted the key in the ignition over and over again to no avail. Leaning back in her seat in defeat, she found herself looking back into the woods to see if the bear was still watching her. It was...

  Yet, something was wrong because it couldn't possibly be the same animal as before, not with its smaller frame and thinner limbs.

  "What the hell is going on?" she slammed the steering wheel once again.

  The tears were running down her crimson cheeks freely as she sobbed. Suddenly, and out of nowhere, the rain began to ease, and within several seconds, it had halted altogether. Rochelle breathed a sigh of relief, as she saw the air around her lighten up with the sound of silence permeating the woods.

  "Thank God," she whispered into the dark.

  Above, the clouds seemed to clear away from the sky and the stars could be seen to twinkle. However, the sudden silence appeared very eerie, and the feeling then grew stronger when the last of the clouds blew away to reveal a full moon. It was shining bright with the craters upon its surface glaring down on the earth. Its white light shone across the front of the car, illuminating the crash's damage and beamed in through the cracked windshield.

  It was then that Rochelle could see her surroundings in almost clear light and was now acquainted with the woods more closely. She felt it at first; the fiery stare coming from the beast. It seemed to burn into the side of her head and, for a long while, she was too petrified to move in case she might die of fright, but there was something so compelling about the bear; something so mysterious.

  She took one final deep breath and began to move her head toward the trees. Moving as slowly as possible, she dreaded the sight that was about to face her. It was then that her eyes connected with the animals’ and she realized it was no beast, but a man.

  *****

  His eyes flashed in the moonlight, as a flicker of his face came into view. Handsome and refined, his features were perfect, but strong. As Rochelle adjusted her eyes to what she was seeing, he was suddenly gone; disappearing into the dense forest.

  "Wait! No!" she called out the window.

  Leaping from the wreck of the car, she dashed after the man with her feet sinking into the sodden mud as she ran. The trees were tightly spaced with wet and jagged branches hitting her as she went. However, the adrenaline was pumping so fast she didn't feel the pain; only the dire need to discover what was happening.

  She wasn't sure where she was running to, but she knew that somewhere ahead of her, the man was running away because she could hear him. The branches and foliage were snapping beneath his weight with the sound of his limp obvious amongst the quickening footsteps.

  "Come back!" she called. "I'm sorry,” she gasped for air.

  Now, deep within the woods, she stopped for a moment to regain her breath, and it was then she realized she had no idea where she was.

  She spun around on her heels, as her feet stuck into the mud. All around her looked identical and she soon found she didn't know which way she was running or what direction she'd just come from.

  "Oh God, Oh God, Oh God," she slapped her hands to her face, as the desperation of the situation dawned on her. "Oh…… No," and the tears started again.

  For a crazy minute, she felt as though she was somehow being persecuted or punished for running away from home. I should never have ran away. I'm such a terrible person. The thoughts wouldn't leave her mind. However, after a short while, her mania slowed down, as she heard a rustling ahead of her. The fear returned. She dug her fingernails into the palms of her hands and held her breath with her eyes wild and staring.

  Again, the rustling sounded as though I was just ahead of her. She hoped it was a small animal; something cute hopefully like a squirrel or a fox, but she knew from the sound of the steps it was much bigger.

  "Hello?" she called into the night; hoping there'd be no reply.

  "Be quiet," came a gruff response, "or they'll hear you."

  Rochelle's blood ran cold. She remained rooted to the spot with her limbs trembling in fear, as she listened to the steps coming closer.

  "Who- who- who are you?" she stuttered with her lips quivering out the words.

  Then, she saw him; the tall man with the statuesque physique. His hands were clutched to his side and he was bent slightly at the waist, as he staggered.

  "You hit me kinda hard there, didn't you?" His voice was deep and gravely.

  "I hit you? But, I hit a bear....didn't I?"

  "Does it matter?" His breath was labored. "Whether I'm man or beast, you still hit me."

  It was then she noticed how much pain he was in and instinctively ran to his aid. A large cut to his forehead was bleeding heavily while he held onto his ribs.

  "I think you broke something," he pointed to his side.

  "Well, if it’s any consolation, I think you totaled my car."

  "No..." his voice was stern. "That's not helping."

  She looked up to his face and saw there was a
cheeky glint in his eyes, despite the fact he was in agony.

  "I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to sound so….," she slid an arm around his waist to help him stand. "It's just this night has been...crazy."

  "Tell me about it," he winced in pain.

  "You probably didn't help yourself by running with a broken rib," said Rochelle.

  "Who are you? My mother?" the man responded caustically.

  An awkward silence hung between them as they decided what to do next. Rochelle was confused by everything that had taken place and her head was fuzzy; her thoughts unclear.

  "What are you even doing out here?" she asked as she looked him up and down.

  There was something about the way he dressed in his immaculate clothes that showed he wasn't a wild woodsman or a hermit.

  "I live out here," he pointed into the distance, "If you'd care to walk me home."

  *****

  For a long while, they walked in silence with Rochelle clinging onto the muscular man. Every few minutes, he'd have to stop with the pain blazing up his side, but then, he'd breathe it out and be eager to get home.

  Meanwhile, the young girl was still in shock and was merely going through the motions, as the events unfolded before her. Occasionally, she would let her mind drift away, as she imagined she was in a bizarre dream, but at other times, she could smell the earthen musk coming from the man beside her, feel his grip around her body, and knew he was real.

  Yet, although he was badly injured, she couldn’t' stop herself from looking at him, taking furtive, cheeky glances at his body when the moonlight fell upon him. There was something so distinguished about him, so enigmatic, but she couldn't articulate it. She'd never met a man like him and she needed answers, but whenever she tried to talk, her mouth would dry up and she'd have forgotten what she wanted to say.

  Soon enough, a clearing formed ahead, as the thick trees and bushes gave way to a groomed and grassy landscape. In the distance, a fox cried and somewhere even further out in the forest, the birds were beginning to wake. As Rochelle looked up, she could see the dark sky morph into a light grey and she knew the morning had begun. Where did the night go? She wondered, as she tried to remember the last few hours.

  "Well, this is it," the man wheezed. "Home, sweet home,"

  He reached out a hand and gestured into a small patch of rose bushes.

  They seemed so out of place amongst the wild plants that were lined up in immaculate segments. Just behind him lay a paved lane, which led up to an ornate and wooden front door. It was the entrance to a small, but magical looking log cabin and Rochelle blinked, as though she was seeing things. To her, it looked like a film set, but to the man, it was just his home.

  "I guess you better come inside," he pulled away from her.

  As he left Rochelle's side, she found herself sad to feel him detach from her. He was warm and felt like a certain kind of protection, regardless of how strange he was. Pushing open the door, he let her inside, and as soon as she entered, she felt safe.

  The man, on the other hand, appeared to be on the brink of collapse and he stumbled down the hall before collapsing on a couch. By the time Rochelle reached his side, he was already asleep. Finding herself in this mysterious house, she wasn't sure what to do next. All she knew was that she didn't know where she was and that the man in front of her was injured… and it was her fault.

  Lifting his feet up onto the sofa and removing his boots, she did her best to make him more comfortable and propped his head up on a cushion.

  "Here, that'll feel better," she whispered. Although she knew he couldn't hear her.

  He grunted in response, as though he could sense her from somewhere far away in his dreams. Rochelle smiled at him before exploring the cabin for water and a cloth, and then she set about cleaning his wounds. As she dabbed cold water on his brow and cleaned the cut, she once again saw how handsome he was. His hair was dark brown and thick while his features were soft, but prominent. If she'd seen him in another setting, she would have thought he was a prince, but what could he possibly be doing living out here? She glanced around the cabin once again for answers. Maybe he's a reclusive rock star? She reasoned; or an actor that just wants his privacy perhaps? She settled on these outlandish explanations, as she cleaned his face, and then she moved to lift up his shirt.

  Her hands were shaking as she pulled at the edge of the fabric. She felt as though she was doing something intrusive and wrong eventhough she just wanted to help him. As she pulled up the shirt to reveal his muscular body, she could now clearly see the damage she had inflicted with her car. With a heavy heart, she gazed at the purple bruises that were quickly forming on his skin and she knew that she'd broken at least one of his ribs. But, her attention was soon distracted by the sight of his tight abs. She felt herself staring a moment too long, and then she shook her head to rid herself of the naughty thoughts before lowering his shirt.

  Outside the cabin, the sun was beginning to rise through the trees and she could already feel its warmth, as it beamed through the windows. Eyeing a comfortable looking armchair by the fireplace, she slumped into it and yawned. The night had taken a toll on her and she was now exhausted. Feeling her eyes grow heavy, she vowed to stay awake in case the man needed her help, but the more she tried to remain alert, the more she felt her head grow heavy.

  It wasn't long until she rested her head against the arm rest and fell into a deep and peaceful sleep, as the sun shone down on her face.

  *****

  Rochelle's father, Sheriff Redshaw, was standing at the kitchen window watching the morning spread across the sky. Despite the beautiful weather, he felt dark on the inside; as black as the deepest hole, and he shivered. He was examining the tire tracks his daughter had left in the dirt as she sped away. He always knew the day would come when she'd run away. She was nineteen after all, and if she was anything like her older sister, she'd be real trouble.

  "God damn insolent child," he smacked the nearest chair with the back of his hand in anger and regretted it.

  Holding onto his stinging fingers, he grimaced as he looked out the window once again. He'd called her bluff and expected her to come hurrying home as soon as she got scared, but it was almost midday and she still wasn't back. Either she'd blossomed into a brand new person overnight or something had happened. Rochelle wasn't anywhere near as worldly as the other girls from school, so her father couldn't imagine where she could be. He also knew that her gas tank was almost empty and, out here in the middle of nowhere, she couldn't have gotten far.

  The more he thought about it, the more he wasn't sure whether he should be angry or worried. Behind him, he heard the shuffling footsteps of his wife as she approached with a coffee in her hand. She placed it down with a clunk and watched the steam drift up into the sunlight. Then, she sniffed and she felt her husband's angry eyes on her.

  "For Christ sake's woman, why are you crying again?"

  "I'm sorry. It's just that....this isn't like her," she sniveled into her sleeve.

  "Kids eh? You feed them, clothe them, give them everything you got and they treat you like this," he flung up his arms and gestured outside. "God damn teenagers," he huffed before picking up his coffee.

  He turned to continue his tirade, but soon noticed his wife had disappeared and he caught a glimpse of her hurrying up the stairs as quiet as a ghost.

  "Always cryin’," he shook his head. "Women...." and he clutched his forehead with his meaty fingers.

  It was then, in this moment of despair that he decided what to do next. Reaching out to the kitchen counter, he went to pick up his phone, but as soon as he unlocked the screen, he noticed he'd picked up Rochelle's cellphone by accident.

  "She doesn't go anywhere without this," he frowned in thought.

  Reaching for his own phone, he tapped his deputy's name and waited with baited breath. He answered on the third ring.

  "What the hell took you so long?"

  "Sorry boss, my phone was in my pocket."


  "Always an excuse for everything," Redshaw rolled his eyes. "But anyway, I need you to do something for me and fast."

  "Anything?"

  "Find my daughter."

  "Anna?"

  "No, my youngest, Rochelle."

  "Rochelle's missing?" the deputy sounded shaken. "How? What happened?"

  "Never you mind about my family's business," the sheriff dismissed him. "You just head on out to the main road and see if there are any signs of her. She drove outta here late last night….. Couldn’t have gone far,"

  "I'll be right on it," the deputy nodded as he spoke.

  "Thanks Terry," and the sheriff hung up.

  *****

  When Rochelle woke up, she had a stiff neck and her thighs felt as though they were on fire. She couldn't remember the last time she had to run anywhere and she hadn't walked that far in her life. As she sat up straight, she winced at the way her spine cracked.

  "Urgh," she clutched at her neck.

  "Morning!" the voice seemed as though it was singing from the kitchen.

  She looked around the cabin and tried to remember what happened, and once again, she looked over the cabin for clues as to who the man was. The place looked so different during the day. You could almost mistake it for an ordinary bachelor pad - almost. Above the fireplace lay a gruesome reminder that she was not in an average person's house. On the wall lay a wolf's head mounted onto a plaque. This wouldn't be anything out of the ordinary in this part of the country if it wasn't for the other macabre trinkets that were lined up beneath it. Bones of all varieties were immaculately filed away in size order, and between each bone lay a tooth.

  "What the-?" she jumped up to get a better look.