The Bear Comes Home For Christmas: BBW Paranormal Romance

by Zoe Chant

  “I hope you don’t think that was a bit… fast,” Hazel said to him, her fingers playing in his hair. “It’s just that I… well, I never felt such a connection with anyone else before.”

  Del raised his head, looking at her. With her cheeks still flushed and sweat still making tendrils of her hair curl over her forehead, she had never looked lovelier. He leaned down to kiss her.

  “Of course not,” he said, when they broke apart. “You’re my –”

  Del broke off suddenly, realizing what he’d been about to say.

  You’re my mate.

  The thought was like a splash of cold water.

  He had to tell her. He had thought to himself that he had to tell her before they slept together – so that she would be truly free to make a choice as to whether she wanted to continue. But he’d broken that vow – all because he hadn’t been able to resist her.

  Her lips on his had driven him wild, his desire for her – and hers for him – making him utterly forget himself. But now, he had to tell her. Immediately.

  “Hazel…” he said, sitting up a little on his knees. “We need… I mean, there’s something I need to say to you.”

  Hazel yawned, blinking up at him. “Can it wait ‘til we’re back at the cabin?”

  “I don’t think it can,” Del said, as much as he wanted to just lean down and kiss her again, to fill his senses with her scent, her taste, her everything…

  “All right,” Hazel said, a little reluctantly. “What do you need to tell me?”

  “It’s not exactly the easiest thing in the world to explain,” Del said.

  “You’re married.” Hazel’s voice was flat. “Right?”

  “What?” Del looked at her in amazement. “No – not at all. I promise it’s nothing even slightly like that. It’s… well, I don’t think it’s something any other guy might have told you before.”

  Hazel’s expression was guarded. “So what is it?”

  “It’s – well, how can I put this? The fact is that I have an ability to –”

  Just as the words turn into a bear were about to pass his lips, a cold shiver ran down Del’s back.

  He paused, confused, before the reason hit him: a new scent was flooding his nostrils.

  It wasn’t Hazel’s sweet scent, or the crisp, clear smell of snow and earth.

  It was dark, earthy and rank.

  It was the smell of a bear – a large, hairy, male bear.

  “Del?” Hazel’s voice was soft as he looked away from her, staring out the window of the car.

  Against the white of the snow, the lumbering shape of the huge bear coming toward them was clearly visible.

  Shit, Del thought, his mind spinning. Of all the times!

  Most people thought all bears hibernated over winter, but Del knew better. Some large grizzly bears, who could hunt deer and other animals for their food over the cold months, stayed awake, eating meat until their other sources of food returned in spring.

  But if they could find easier sources of food than running after deer, then of course they would.

  Del’s blood ran cold. The groceries.

  Bears had an uncannily good sense of smell – much better even than wolves. They could trek miles and miles over land if they smelled food.

  And clearly, that was exactly what this one had done.

  Del cursed himself for being overtaken by his desires. His own bear was now standing up tall, sniffing the air, and growling aggressively.

  Protect your mate, it snarled.

  Bears weren’t often dangerous to humans. But this one was probably hungry. It might be willing to attack if it thought they were getting between it and a feast.

  “Del? What’s wrong?” Hazel asked again. She turned her head, following his gaze, and gasped. “Is that a bear?”

  Del nodded. “Yeah. It probably smelled the groceries and thought it’d come take a closer look.”

  “Is it dangerous?”

  “It might be,” Del said. “It depends on how hungry it is.”

  “Can… can it get inside the car?” Hazel asked, fear making her voice rise.

  “It can sure as hell try,” Del said. But I don’t intend to let it.

  The bear was huge – but Del knew he was bigger. And he was protecting his mate. Nothing could stand up against a shifter who was intent on protecting the only thing that mattered to them, in the end.

  My mate. I’ll protect her, no matter what.

  The closer the bear got, and the more its scent filled his nostrils, the more pure instinct gripped him. His bear was roaring, infuriated that another male bear would dare to even come anywhere near his precious, precious mate.

  Scrambling his way out of the car, Del felt the cold wind against his skin, the snow under his feet. His bear was pushing its way to the surface, determined to keep his mate from danger.

  The bear, now only a few feet from the car, paused in its progress to sniff the air, obviously not quite sure what to make of him.

  Del growled.

  The other bear was immediately on alert. Snarling, it reared back on its hind legs in a fearsome display, opening its mouth to roar.

  Del didn’t even think about what happened next. A large, aggressive bear was near his mate. There was nothing to think about.

  Instinct took over him entirely. In the next second, massive claws sprouted where fingers had once been, his hands becoming huge, padded paws. His skin changed to thick brown fur, covering his body completely.

  Despite how unused he was to shifting these days, it was all over in a moment: where once his human form had stood, the space in front of the car was now utterly blocked by the enormous, fearsome body of his bear.

  Enraged, he let out an earthshattering roar that seemed to fill the empty space around them with fury.

  My mate! Mine!

  The other bear snarled, hesitating. But then, clearly, the thought of the easy meal overcame it, and it dropped back down onto four legs, hunching its shoulders defensively. It was ready to fight.

  Del approached it, his teeth bared, head lowered. His huge shoulder muscles bunched, preparing. He would fight until his last breath to protect his mate if he had to, but he hoped the bear would simply decide this wasn’t worth it after all, and tuck tail and run.

  It seemed like this wasn’t going to be his day – the other bear was very big, and very aggressive. It clearly didn’t like the idea of backing down.

  Del gave it one last chance to sidle away without a fight, walking slowly on his huge paws toward it, growling out a warning. But the bear didn’t take it. Instead, it met him, step for step, making its own slow way toward him.

  In a flash of teeth and fur, Del stood up, swiping with his powerful arms, trying to land a devastating blow on the bear’s shoulder or belly. It was slightly slower off the mark than him, growling as Del’s claws raked into its body. But it didn’t take long for it to start fighting in earnest, its teeth snapping at Del’s sensitive snout, trying to flip him over on his back and get at his relatively unprotected belly.

  Del shook himself free of its grip, roaring again. His paws rained blow after blow down on the intruder, claws penetrating the thick layer of protective fur, his teeth closing around its nose.

  The bear grunted in pain, trying to shake Del’s teeth out of him, but Del was relentless. A shifter protecting his mate couldn’t be beaten so easily. He was fighting for the most important thing in the world.

  His grip on the bear’s snout secure, Del slowly began to push forward, using the whole of his massive weight to tip it off its balance and make it tumble over in the snow. The bear struggled against him, but it was clear it was tiring. Del was the bigger bear in any case, stronger and more powerful. Slowly, he could feel the other bear beginning to slide over, losing its footing.

  It roared as it fell over onto its side, and Del was quick to press his advantage, pummeling with his front paws at the bear’s sides and stomach. It scrambled up, snow flying in all directions, some of it
stained with red blood.

  The interloper clearly knew when it was beaten: twisting away from Del and scrambling to its feet it took off the way it had come, galloping at full speed back toward the forest, all thought of food forgotten.

  Del stood tall on his hind legs, bellowing at its rapidly departing back, making sure it understood that it could expect more of the same if it ever came back.

  The bear, somehow, seemed to speed up its pace as Del’s roar followed it up the hill and into the trees. It was clear it had gotten the message. A low growl of satisfaction filled Del’s chest. His mate was safe. He had protected her.

  My mate…

  The reminder of Hazel suddenly filled him with confusion. His bear was triumphing in its victory. But his human consciousness suddenly crashed into his brain, stopping the celebration cold.

  My mate. Who doesn’t know I turn into a bear.

  Or… at least, didn’t know he turned into a bear. Turning around fearfully, Del supposed, she definitely knew now.

  Hazel’s face through the glass of the window was pale, her hands raised to her mouth in a gesture of shock.

  Horror filled him.

  As quickly as he could, Del shifted back into his human form, his massive shaggy body shrinking rapidly, his paws becoming hands once more. He stood naked in the snow.

  “Hazel…” he murmured, his voice sounding strangled even to his own ears.

  Hazel simply stared at him, eyes wide.

  After a moment, she crawled forward, opening the car door with shaking hands. She peeked out, eyes filled with fear.

  “D-Del?”

  Del’s throat felt tight. “It’s me, Hazel,” he said, the only words he was able to get out. “It’s still me.”

  Hazel looked like she might, at any moment, crawl fully back inside the car and slam the door behind her. But for now, she was sitting with the door open, staring at him.

  “Did that just happen?” she said, after a moment or two. “Am I… am I dreaming?”

  Del shook his head, holding his arms out in a pleading gesture. “No. It’s all real. I promise you.”

  “Is this what you wanted to talk to me about?” Hazel asked, her voice a little sharp. “The fact that you can turn into a… a bear?”

  Del nodded helplessly. “Yes. You see what I mean now, about how it’s not the easiest thing to explain. But I didn’t want to keep this side of me from you – I’d never lie to you. And I’d never hurt you.”

  Hazel was silent for a while. “So… it’s something you have control over, then?”

  Again, Del nodded. “Even when I’m a bear, I can still control myself. I don’t just turn into a beast, unable to tell who’s my friend and who’s my enemy. And I promise you, I’d only ever use my bear side to protect you.”

  Again, only silence greeted him for a time. “So… is this like a werewolf? Were you bitten by a bear on a full moon?”

  Del shook his head. “No. I was born this way. My father was a shifter. But my mother wasn’t.” He swallowed, wondering how he could make this easier for her to understand. “It was part of the reason we had this cabin – so he would have somewhere safe to shift. After he died, my mother had to sell it to pay our debts, but I bought it again, so I’d have somewhere I could be the bear without frightening anyone. That’s the last thing I’d want to do. My shifter ability is just part of who I am.”

  Hazel didn’t say anything for a long time. She was biting her lip, looking down at the snow. Del couldn’t tell what she was thinking.

  His bear didn’t understand what the problem was. It grunted mournfully, confused as to why his mate seemed frightened and upset.

  Doesn’t she know we protected her? it asked him. Doesn’t she know we love her, and would never harm her?

  Of course Hazel didn’t know that, Del thought. But he couldn’t explain that to his bear. It just didn’t understand.

  “Hazel…” he started to say, taking a step toward her.

  Hazel started back, gasping. The gesture sent a sliver of unbearable pain straight into Del’s heart.

  His mate was frightened of him. His chest felt hollow, as desolation swept through him. He’d wanted to tell her, but instead, he’d scared her by shifting, and then immediately getting into a vicious fight.

  It couldn’t have been a fun thing for her to watch.

  To say the least.

  “Hazel, I’m sorry,” Del said desperately. “What can I do to show you that… that I’ll only protect you? That you’re the most precious thing in the world to me?” He swallowed heavily. “That you’re my mate?”

  Hazel’s eyes shot back up to his face, large as saucers. “Your… your mate? What does that mean?”

  Del had never had to explain this to anyone before. “A shifter only has one mate in all the world. The person they’re fated to be with. The bond is instant, and it can’t be broken.” He looked at her, begging her to understand. “I knew it was you, the second I saw you. Everything we’ve felt towards each other… it’s because of the mated bond.”

  Hazel’s mouth had dropped open. “So… the attraction I’ve felt… the… the way you make me feel…”

  Del nodded. “Yes. You’re my mate, Hazel. The one I’m meant to be with. And I’d never, ever hurt you, in any way.”

  “And… this is for life?”

  Del inhaled slowly. “Yes.”

  Hazel’s knuckles on the edge of the car door had gone white, her face pale.

  “I… I need to think about this,” she said quietly. She blinked, looking down into the snow. “Would… would you take me up to the cabin I hired? I don’t think it’s far. But I just need a little space right now.”

  Despair curled in Del’s chest, but he nodded. “Of course.”

  Chapter Seven

  The next morning, Hazel sat on the couch in her own rented cabin, her feet curled up underneath her, a mug of coffee in her hand.

  All she’d been able to think about was Del – and his absence. It seemed impossible, but somehow, her bed had felt completely empty without him. She’d longed to feel his arms around her, the way he’d embraced her after they’d made love in the car.

  Time and time again, she’d shaken herself, asking What’s wrong with you? He turns into a bear! That’s not normal!

  But it seemed that her rational mind had been completely overtaken by the parts of her that could only focus on the way he’d made her feel – how her heart had jumped at the sight of him when she’d opened her eyes to find him looking down at her sleeping on his couch.

  He said I was his mate, she thought, sipping her coffee without tasting it. But… how can I know what that means?

  Del had done exactly as she’d asked him to the entire journey up here: he’d helped her carry the groceries, and left with only a quiet goodbye. He hadn’t tried to talk to her any more about what his ability to turn into a bear meant for him, or about the fact that they were mates, as he put it.

  She was grateful for that.

  What she needed now was time and space to think.

  Try as she might, however, her thoughts kept chasing each other in circles, round and round, with no end in sight.

  One moment, the thought of the devastated look in Del’s eyes as she’d flinched away from him filled her thoughts – but then she was back to picturing the vicious way he’d fought with the other bear. True, it had been to protect her, but the sight of such a massive beast tearing strips off the fearsome predator had been… well, she wouldn’t have been in her right mind if it didn’t give her a moment’s pause, she thought.

  But then, a second later, the memory of Del’s lips on hers, his fingers on her skin crashed over her again, and she was lost in phantom sensations, wishing he was still here with her now, kissing her, touching her, making her feel more alive than she had done in months. Maybe even years.

  She just didn’t know what to do.

  Briefly, she considered calling Leeane. Her boss and her friend was the most level-headed person
she knew. She was always full of good advice, and exactly who you wanted on your side in a crisis, emotional or otherwise.

  Hazel wondered if it would be the right thing to do – after all, Leeane would have her own things to deal with. She had a large family, an organization to run, and who knew what else besides. Would she really have time to sit there and sort out Hazel’s love life?

  And then, there was the other matter: how exactly could Hazel describe what the problem was?

  Well, Leeane, the thing is, I met a guy I thought was amazing, but then as it turns out, he can become a bear at will, and I’m just not sure how I feel about that.

  Leeane would assume she’d gone nuts after all, despite her vacation.

  What was becoming more and more clear, however, was that she was getting nowhere on her own. Every passing second only made her feel more and more confused.

  Perhaps a familiar voice would be helpful, Hazel thought. She didn’t have to tell Leeane what was going on, or ask her for advice about Del. Maybe it would just be comforting to know that the world outside the cabin was still exactly as she remembered it, before she’d discovered the existence of men who could turn into bears.

  Without pausing to think better of it, Hazel scrabbled around in her purse for her phone, finding Leeane’s number in her contacts list.

  As ever, Leeane picked up promptly.

  “Hazel! What’re you doing calling me? Shouldn’t you be knee-deep in snow by now, enjoying your vacation with… Charles, isn’t it?”

  Hazel resisted the urge to roll her eyes. Leeane had never quite approved of Charlie – with very good reason. All the justifications for his bad behavior that Hazel had given her now seemed extremely foolish. She should have listened to her from the beginning.

  “Well, I am knee-deep in snow, that’s for sure.” She paused, biting her lip. “But if I tell you that Charlie stood me up, you promise not to say ‘I told you so’?”

  “He stood you up? For your Christmas vacation?”

  Hazel could practically see the flames in Leeane’s eyes.

  “If it helps, I told him where he could stick it, and that he was never to call me ever again,” Hazel said quickly. “Plus a few other choice words besides. We’re well and truly broken up.”