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BOOK SIX
THE
BEARS BABY
A BBW Paranormal Shifter Romance
JADE WHITE
Copyright ©2014 by Jade White
All rights reserved.
About This Book
Ursula always wanted to have her own family but she has never met a man worthy of being the father. Now the biological clock is ticking and Ursula takes matters into her own hands and she visits a sperm bank to get the job done.
However, as the pregnancy develops strange things begin to happen and when wild animals show up at her home she begins to question what is going on.
Ursula has no idea she is actually carrying the baby of Werebear Walter Schumacher and he is the only who can actually save her from the danger she is about to be in...
CHAPTER ONE
It was odd to hear the birds chirp so loudly and lovingly, as though they were unaware of Ursula’s pain. The woman hugged her full form and continued down the green path she knew all too well. A path she wished she didn’t.
It had been a year ago that day that her mother had left her side. It was hard to believe that she would lose her mother so early in her life. She understood that the cycle of life was cruel, but thirty-two was still too young to lose someone so prominent in your life. Her mother should still be here, to see her fall in love, get married, have a family...
Ursula turned down another winding path, passing gravestone after gravestone with a numbness in her heart. It had always been her desire to become a mother, a mother just like her own. She dreamt of days where her mother would play with a little boy or girl who would later grow to call the elderly woman ‘grandma’ or ‘nana’. That dream may have died, but the one of having a child didn’t.
Soon two tall, simple gravestones came into sight, and Ursula didn’t stop until she was at the foot of both. She had lost her father when she was sixteen, and her mother never remarried. Ursula hadn’t taken it well, she had expected that her parents would grow old together, like in the books she read. Like they were supposed to. She’d grown up surrounded by the love of her African American parents and desperately missed their presence. With the passing of her father, and now her mother, Ursula knew that, sometimes, happy endings just didn’t exist.
Ursula took her seat in front of the stones, the words heavy on the tip of her tongue. Sitting there, she felt as close to her parents as she could get.
“Hi Mom, hi Dad...” Her tongue felt heavy in her mouth and she fought back the tears in her eyes. “I’m sorry I haven’t visited in a while. Things have been difficult with work and the like. Darren left for good this time. I know you didn’t like him, Mom. And I’m sorry for that, I should have listened to you... just like all those other times. I guess relationships just aren’t my thing. I really did expect myself to be married by now, maybe with a kid or two... I really thought Darren would give me that, but you were right. He was just as bad as the others, and I should have listened. I really did want the both of you to see me fall in love and get married, but I guess you’ll have to watch from wherever you are now...”
Ursula took a shaky breath, feeling the weight in her chest begin to lift. She could almost feel her parents’ presence there with her, giving her the comfort she needed to heal, and solidify the decision she had been thinking about for so long.
“And that’s why I want you to know that I want to have a baby. I know maybe you wouldn’t approve of having a child on my own, but it would mean the world to me. I know my time is running out to be a mother, and I no longer want to wait for the right man, who might not even turn up. I want to be the kind of parents you two were with me, and I wanted to tell you both before following through with any decisions. I know it’s stupid, I’m a grown woman and can make my own decisions, but I wanted to tell you both before I did anything. I love you, and I know you would love any child I have. I just wish you two could be here to love your grandchild in the flesh...”
Ursula realized she had been holding her breath and let it out, slightly trembling. Telling the gravestones was just as stressful as telling her parents her decision to their faces would have been if they had been alive.
A light breeze tickled her skin and her ears were filled with the rustling of leaves and branches from the bushes and trees around her. Warmth hit her back as light peaked through the slender forms of the branches and lit up her parents’ graves.
Ursula had never been a woman of faith, or a believer in the supernatural, but the warmth of the sunlight that hit her back and the two slabs of stone before her gave her an ease that she had never felt before. It reminded her of the gentle caresses her parents had given her growing up, a feeling that she often missed now . She raised her hand to her shoulder, half expecting her father and mother’s hands to be there, but her fingers only met with the soft fabric of her shirt.
“Thanks Mom... thanks Dad... I’ll make you proud,” she whispered, a soft smile growing on her face. She stood up, feeling both weak and empowered. Tomorrow, she would set up an appointment with the local sperm bank and start a new chapter in her life, a chapter she had always dreamt of, and longed for. She would soon become the mother she had always wanted to be, a mother who would make her parents proud.
*
In the midst of the hectic weeks behind her, Ursula had obtained her mother’s inheritance, purchased a house, and finally paid off the last of what she owed on her car.
Even then, she had been unsure if she had spent the money wisely, but after unpacking the last of her things, she knew it was for the best. Ursula had to move on and start over. This was her chance to make things right, and if she were to begin her life as a mother, it was best to start fresh.
Ursula shut the car door behind her, knowing her thoughts should be on work and the few months ahead, not on the bag of groceries in her hands.
It had been a month since her appointment at the sperm bank, and she was eager to know the results. She told herself she would wait to see if her body would give her natural signs, but nothing had changed for her and the only way now was with the pregnancy test in the bag with her other groceries.
Coming to her front door, Ursula set down one of the bags and rummaged through her purse for her house keys. A sniffing noise startled her out of her thoughts, and she spun around to find a scruffy, brown mutt sniffing at her leg.
The dog looked up at her and wagged its tail, a look in its eyes that begged for Ursula to let him in. She sighed and turned her back. He wasn’t the first stray dog she had seen. It seemed as though strays were everywhere in her new neighborhood. Ursula was unsure if it was common for it to be filled with so many, but there wasn’t a whole lot she could do about it.
Next to the brown mutt was a grey stray, sniffing around her new home. She sighed. With a possible baby on the way, work, the inheritance money, new house and everything, it just wasn’t wise to take on a pet.
Ursula dug her keys into the front door and let it swing in, picking up the grocery bag, and was sure to close the door firmly behind her. Setting the groceries down, she dug eagerly through the bag until she found the pregnancy test and nearly tripped as she raced for the bathroom.
She gave the test time, following the instructions, and letting the stick sit. It was hard to believe that her future rested so heavily on this little thing. Ursula found herself counting the seconds until she knew her fate would be ready.
Ursula picked up the test with unsure hands and nervously glanced at the small screen on the test over. Two pink lines met her vision and she nearly dropped the test. It was positive. She checked it again a second time, and a grin slowly spread on her face, the reality of the situation hitting her.
She was pregnant. She really was pr
egnant. Ursula’s hands found her stomach and stroked the area that would soon grow to house a life, a life that she would spend the rest of her own teaching and nurturing.
That day marked the beginning of the rest of her life, and she couldn’t wait to begin it. She had a new home, a new car, a new life, and she couldn’t wait to explore it further. With the money she had left, she would prepare for her future child and continue to grow the wonderful life she now had.
***
Ursula took out the rest of the cookies she had baked, set them on top of the stove to cool, and stretched until her back made a satisfying pop. Taking off her oven mitts, she placed them on a shelf and walked out to the front of the bakery.
The place was far from fancy, but it made Ursula happy, and that was that. She had a few college students who worked for her part-time, passing out the baked goods that her bakery sold and helping her in the back to make the goodies.
It was past rush hour, and the place was quiet. It was nice to have a moment of peace to collect her thoughts. Ursula scanned the room, watching her employees clean some tables and sweep the floor.
The ringing of the bell caught her attention, and she turned her gaze to where the noise came from. A tall man entered the shop, his eyes looking over the bakery before meeting her gaze. A small smile spread on his lips.
Ursula met him at the cash register and leaned against the counter, smiling. “Just let me know if you find something you’d like.”
The man nodded, his dark shaggy hair falling onto his face. Ursula tried her hardest not to stare, but it was difficult. She’d been in this town for eight years, and knew practically everybody, but this man was a total stranger to her. .
If Ursula had to guess, she’d say he was part of the last of the tribes in the more woodsy area outside of town. He was very brown, made up of lean muscle, and was so tall, he was an inch or two from hitting his head against the door-frame He wore a ripped-up t-shirt with the sleeves cut off, and there were odd-looking tattoos all the way up his arms.
“What’s good?” he asked, shoving his hands into the pockets of his jeans. Ursula couldn’t help but smile.
“Well, not to brag, but I’d have to say everything here is good in its own way. These hands don’t fail.” She lifted her hands to show the flour stuck to them.
The man smiled and Ursula felt herself grin back. She let her hands drop and gently rubbed them against her apron. “My favorite is the chocolate croissant. It’s a family recipe. I used to eat them all the time when I went to my grandmother’s house when I was a kid.”
The man seemed to ponder this and nodded. “I’ll try that, then. If you insist on it being that good, how can I not?”
Ursula felt herself blush, and knew her soft brown face had a rosy glow. A genuine smile tingled on her lips. She grabbed a small bag and picked out the biggest croissant she had and handed the bag to him. The man fished through his pocket, and Ursula shook her head, holding up her hand.
“It’s on me.”
The man’s eyebrows perked up , and he smiled down at her. “Wow... thanks. What did I do to deserve this?”
“Not many come around at this time and, I dunno, there’s something about a new face that makes me feel generous.” Ursula leaned against the counter again, and the man seemed pleased with her answer, an emotion reflecting in his eyes she couldn’t quite pinpoint.
“Well... thank you. I’ll be sure to come in again. You say everything here is amazing, but I think I’ll be the judge of that.” He grinned and Ursula couldn’t help but let out a laugh.
“I’m Walter, by the way.” He extended a large hand to her.
Ursula took it and gave it a good shake. “I’m Ursula. Are you from around here? I don’t think I’ve seen you around town before.”
Walter seemed uneasy and he let his hand drop. “You could say that. I don’t often get out a whole lot, I saw this place and realized I’ve never been in, and figured I should give it a shot.” He paused and looked down at her. “And, I’m glad I did.”
He glanced up at the clock on the wall and sighed. He grimaced, but it ended as quickly as it had come, leaving Ursula wondering what had gone through his mind.
“As much as I’d love to stay and chat, I really should get going. Thanks again for the croissant. If I see you again, I will definitely let you know if it’s as amazing as you say it is.”
He headed for the door and flashed her a grin. Ursula smiled and waved. “Sounds good. Have a nice day!”
The man was out the door and around the corner before she could let out a sigh. An odd guy, but really sweet. She hoped that he would become a regular, it would be nice to get to know him
Ursula glanced around the bakery again at her employees and the stragglers that stopped by for a doughnut and some coffee after work and sighed, a smile still on her lips. A new face would do wonders to this place, and would be another amazing addition to the new life she had started.
*
Ursula leaned over her sink and spat out the rest of the toothpaste. She turned the water on and let the two liquids combine and wash down the drain in a spiral. Turning the tap off, she reached for a towel and dried her mouth and face.
She sighed and entered her bedroom. It was a relatively cold night, but she was comfortable in her plaid purple and black pajama pants and black tank top. Her muscles ached and the idea of bed was more than appealing.
Climbing into the warmth of her sheets, Ursula turned off the light and lay down, another sigh escaping her lips. She expected to have her usual thoughts before bed —work, her mother, the baby, but instead, she thought of the face of her handsome new friend.
The sudden thought made her blush, but she didn’t stop thinking about him. She tucked her arms behind her head and wondered if he really was from the local village. If he was, why would he be visiting town?
She didn’t know if any of the tribes-people came into town. She never really saw any when she visited the shops or downtown. She knew of one trading store that was owned by an old man from the local village, but she had never talked to him personally. Then again, she wasn’t sure if anyone really did.
Ursula imagined his strong arms and his shy smile, and blushed a little harder. Walter really was good looking, someone she knew she wouldn’t mind getting to know better. He was sweet and seemed like he would be different than her past failed relationships. But would he be interested in a pregnant woman?
Ursula turned onto her side and snuggled her head into her pillow. She closed her eyes and let the sounds of the night drift her off to sleep. But as she began to fade away to her land of dreams, scratching noises shook her awake, and she drowsily lifted her head.
She listened carefully, but the noises had stopped. Was it her imagination? Ursula rested her head back down on the pillow and closed her eyes, only to open once more. No, she wasn’t imagining it.
Ursula slowly slid out of her bed, opened her door and poked her head out into the hallway. The noises grew louder, and her curiosity was replaced with a slight sense of fear.
She shakily inched her way down the hall until the noises led her to the front of her home where the noise was the loudest. Ursula reached over and grasped her car keys, ready to use them to scratch or stab if the noise was a potential burglar.
Ursula tiptoed to her front door. The noise was starting to sound like nails against wood. She peered through the closed blinds, and there she saw the faint outline of the dog from earlier.
She stepped back but stopped when she heard another similar noise towards the back of the house. She went to the source of the noise and, to her horror, discovered that the other dog she had seen was also scratching at the back door leading to her backyard.
Ursula threw away the idea of being quiet. She ran to her bedroom, locked the door, picked up her phone and phoned animal control. She waited patiently, hoping someone would pick up at such a late hour.
Just as she began to lose hope, a rough male voice answered. “Hell
o?”
Ursula quickly brought the phone to her ear and tried to calm her racing heart. “Hi, animal control?”
“What’s the problem, lady?”
Ursula frowned at the gruffness of the man but shook it off. “Hi, there are two stray dogs at my front and back door, and I was hoping someone could come over and handle this. They’re freaking me out.”
There was some muttering on the other end that Ursula couldn’t quite comprehend. Then the man said, “I’m on my way, I’ll be there soon.”
Before she could say anything else, he had hung up, and Ursula stared at the phone. She was too tired and frightened to be angry about it now, but she made a mental note to check out the man’s name to report him to whoever his manager was.
Ursula decided to get dressed, leaving her pajamas on the floor, and turned the lights on as she moved down the hall and back into the living room. She sat on the couch and waited, keeping track of the noise the two dogs made, ready to bolt or fight if they somehow found their way in.
She stared at the clock and her mind began to wander. Suddenly she realized that the scratching noises had stopped, and she felt even more frightened than she had before. Where were the dogs?
Ursula got up. She was shaking. She moved slowly and listened as quietly as she could to the house around her. But she was met with eerie silence.
The ring of the doorbell echoed, and Ursula nearly jumped out of her skin. She took a deep breath to calm herself. At first she was angry that someone would bother her so late at night, but then she remembered it was probably animal control.
She tiptoed to the front door and peered out the peephole. Outside, she could make out a figure of a man. He was dressed in the local animal control’s uniform, and she sighed, relieved.
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