“Can I see you again?”
“Only if you want to.” Ursula smiled softly. Walter smiled back and kissed her again. “I can’t think of anything better.”
Walter took a step back and off of her porch. He turned around to look at her, giving her a warm smile. “If those dogs bother you again, just call. I’ll be here in a heartbeat. I’ll see you soon, okay?”
Ursula nodded, grinning. She watched him walk to his car and get in. He slid into the front seat and waved one last time before disappearing down the street and into the heart of the night.
Ursula smiled and stepped into her dark house, closing and locking the door behind her. She could still feel the tingle on her lips from when he had kissed her. She brought her fingers to her lips and smiled.
CHAPTER THREE
The months flew by as the days were marked off her calendar. And with each passing week her belly became more pronounced until finally the sixth month mark hit in the middle of autumn.
Ursula hummed to herself, adjusting her shirt over her now rounded belly. Her life before all of this seemed so far away. It was as though she had left all the negativity behind her when she accepted her parents’ death and gave in to her want to be a mother. And now with Walter in her life, things couldn’t get any better.
The dogs that lingered around her home had ceased, but she still caught them at night when they scratched at her doors or made themselves comfortable on her porch after Walter is long gone. What about him scared them away? If they really were vicious, wouldn’t they try fighting him?
Ursula picked up the picture of the two of them on their three month anniversary, both of them grinning from ear to ear. She had learned that he had been down on his luck, both socially and financially. She told him she didn’t care, if he stuck with her despite her pregnancy she could stick with him through his own problems.
So far, so good. Getting to know him in every light had been an adventure, yet she knew there was so much about him she didn’t know just yet. He rarely talked about his past, but from what she gathered he was from the local tribe, but was either kicked out or he left on his own. Ursula guessed the latter. But even if she asked, she doubted he’d tell her. She’d be a hypocrite to hold it against him, they both had skeletons in their closets they’d rather leave behind and that was quite all right with her.
Ursula glanced up at her clock. Walter would be there to pick her up in a few hours for dinner, it never took her long to get ready, but she wished the clock would move faster so she could spend the time with him.
***
Every time Walter entered Ursula’s neighborhood, he was reminded of a movie set. The houses were like cookie cutter homes, all similar and a bit fake looking. But hey, everyone has their own taste.
He pulled up and got out, adjusting the black vest he wore over his black button down shirt. As he got the flowers he hand picked for her and turned to face the house, a growl escaped his lips.
The wolves from before sat next to her door, as though waiting for her to leave. Their noses wiggled, sniffing the air. When they turned to look at him, they darted off and into the woods before he could shout at them to leave.
He didn’t understand what they wanted with a human woman. Walter shook his
head and rang the doorbell. A few minutes crawled by, but he could hear faint music and the sound of movement.
Ursula opened the door, and Walter couldn’t help but smile. She had taken her wavy dark hair out of the normal bun she kept it in, her lips were painted with bright red lipstick that suited her, and a red dress hugged her curvy frame.
“You look beautiful.”
“Ready to go?” Her voice rang with excitement.
“Ready when you are,” he chuckled.
She closed the door behind her and locked it. Ursula turned around and Walter offered her his arm. She gladly took it, beaming, and he led her to his car. The hauntingly beautiful scent that came from her tickled his nose and he stopped himself from deeply inhaling.
Walter knew she had said many times that she never wore a perfume or lotion, but it wasn’t normal for a woman to smell this good. He eyed her stomach. The change wasn’t drastic, but enough to tell that there was a bun in the oven. Walter still wasn’t sure how he felt about the child, not knowing what that’ll mean for him and Ursula when the baby was born. But at the moment, life was good and that was enough for him.
“I hope you like the place I picked out.”
“I know I will.”
She sat in the passenger seat. He closed the door behind her, opened the driver’s side and sat down himself. He took her hand in his, kissed her knuckles, started the car and they drove off.
***
The restaurant was a four-star Italian place known for its veal and homemade meat sauce. Walter had never been there before himself, but he’d read that it was a great place for couples in a serious relationship. He had to admit, he wasn’t the most romantic guy, but he gave himself props for being able to pull off so much the past couple of months despite not having a relationship in years.
He glanced up from his menu at Ursula who was sucked into her own, brows furrowed as though deciding what to eat was the hardest decision she ever had to make.
Walter wanted to laugh, but he refrained and looked back down, but the words wouldn’t connect in his brain. The dogs bothered him. What did they want with her? He wasn’t sure what it could mean. The smell of them around her house had always put him off when he visited. He believed her when she said they weren’t hers, and there was no way they would be.
“I think I’m going to get the chicken pasta. You know what you want?” Ursula set down her menu and closed it.
Walter closed his menu as well. “Probably going to try the veal.”
The waiter came and went. The one thing that Walter highly enjoyed about Ursula was the fact that she could talk about anything and still make it interesting. He never considered himself a talkative guy, hearing her go on about anything brought an amused smile to his face and it made it so easy to talk to her.
“Oof!” Ursula placed a hand on her stomach and Walter leaned over in worry. “You okay?”
“Yes, the baby kicked.” She let out a laugh. He’s an active one all ready.” She lightly rubbed her stomach. Walter sat back in his chair and sighed.
“Now that I think about it, I know you told me the kid was the product of a sperm bank, but I don’t think I’ve ever asked you if you know who the donor is.”
“I just know that the father probably came from a local tribe, so probably tan with dark hair and light brown eyes. Other than that, I don’t know a whole lot. But I am excited to see what the child will look like.” Ursula gave a shy smile.
Walter smiled back, but felt uneasy. It wasn’t really the talk about a baby, he couldn’t quite put his finger on it. From the moment he had met her, she was...
different.
Between her odd, delicious smell and the dogs, he couldn’t quite place how this woman had captured his heart. He had always considered himself a loner, but that had drastically changed in a matter of months.
Between his thoughts and listening to Ursula, a thought slammed into his head and he nearly dropped the glass.
“Walter, are you okay?” Ursula’s brown eyes glimmered with worry, and Walter did the best to give her a smile. He wondered if she could tell it was forced, but that was the least of his worries.
“Yeah, just felt a sneeze coming that surprised me is all.”
Ursula smiled and nodded. Walter memorized the curve of her lips, the round of her nose, the dimples in her cheeks and the way her dark lashes curled up. It was as though she was magnified in his eyes, and it was both hypnotizing and dizzying.
He was the father of her child. He had to be. Her smell, the description of the father, where he came from... it couldn’t be a coincidence. But if that were true, he had put her in serious danger.
Walter’s eyes dragged away from Ursula’s face and
he found herself looking at her stomach. In there, in her womb, it wasn’t an ordinary baby. It was a shifter, like him. A shifter who could turn into an animal that should roam with the tribes that protected them.
His thoughts wandered back to the dogs that lingered near Ursula’s home. He didn’t know how to tell her that they weren’t dogs, but wolves from the tribe he left behind. Now he understood why they were there. They were looking for her. They wanted her baby.
It had been taboo for him, or anyone in the tribes for that matter, to donate sperm. Shifters were supposed to stay in the tribe, be raised among people like them to understand who they were.
And now the tribe must be angry. But how did they know? It was either kill the child or take it from the mother as soon as it was born. That wasn’t much of an option unless Ursula decided to run for the rest of her life, but what would she do when the child discovered what he or she was was capable of?
Walter realized he had clenched his fists and he let go, relaxing his hands and fingers. He wasn’t sure how to tell her, but he knew that right then and there he had to look out for her and the child. He didn’t know what the others were planning, but he wouldn’t let them touch her.
The dinner came and went, and the conversations melted together into a warm glow that Walter knew he would remember for a long time.
Back at her house, he stood on her porch, saying goodbye. But he couldn’t leave, nor did he want to. There was something about the glow of the night that pushed him forward, and he leant down and drew her lips in.
Her arms were around his neck and they disappeared through the door, to her room and onto the bed, he drowned her lips and every inch of her skin in desperate kisses.
Ursula’s hair was sprawled around her head like a halo, her chocolate brown eyes closed behind beautiful lids. Her head tilted and her eyes fluttered open.
He leaned up and kissed her again as their hands wandered, peeling off each layer of clothing until there was nothing left to stop them.
She was warm and soft, a welcoming feeling that Walter wasn’t used to. Ursula was there and everywhere around him, a beautiful mix of brown flesh, a sweet smell and a quiet glow that he lost himself in, with no intent of finding his way out.
If the days and nights were spent like that, Walter wouldn’t mind pretending to be something he was not. He could protect her and the child, they could run away
and be free, not ever having to worry about anyone or anything harming them ever again. And in that moment, Walter understood what true happiness was.
*
The birds chirping stirred Walter from his slumber, and he slowly peeled one eye open. Ursula was in his arms, her head tucked under his chin. Her body was soft against his, and the memory of the night before brought a genuine smile to his face.
He could smell the faint scent of the wolves that lingered around Ursula’s home, and his smile dropped. He had to do something about that, and soon.
The last thing Walter wanted was to leave a warm bed and soft Ursula behind, but he knew he really should investigate further.
Walter gently pried himself free from Ursula, slipped out of bed and quietly put his clothes back on. He searched the room for a piece of paper and pen, and found one in a desk in another room.
He quickly scribbled a message and left it by her bed, leaning down and gently kissing Ursula on her forehead. She stirred and sighed, but was back into a deep sleep within seconds.
Walter smiled and softly chuckled. At the door, he looked back at Ursula and smiled one last time before leaving the room behind, leaving her house and sat in the comfort of his car.
The man eyed the house, but he couldn’t smell the wolves. At least, not anything fresh. But that was good enough for him. He turned on his car, pulled out, and headed for the only person he knew could give him the answers he needed.
***
Isabella Saunders lived in a small cabin a little ways outside of the village. It was covered with moss, and vines grown wild from years of letting nature take its toll.
Hauntingly beautiful with mocha skin, dark doe eyes, and black hair loosely braided down her back, it was a wonder she isolated herself in the first place. Walter knew she could bewitch any man into loving her, but she kept her distance and seemed to prefer her solitude.
“I don’t know who the father is, but all I’m trying to do is protect the shifter.” Walter watched the witch-midwife anxiously mix herbs together, most likely medicine for someone in the tribe. “How do you know the kid will even need help from the tribe?”
Isabella turned to look at him over her shoulder, her beautiful face drawn in a glare.
“Walter, how could you say such an ignorant thing? Imagine growing up in normal society and all of a sudden you... change. Into an animal. No one is going to accept you, no one is going to understand you. It’s how it is. Humans are judgmental, ignorant creatures that could never begin to fathom our kind. And I refuse to let one of us be abandoned once the mother discovers the monster her child is.”
Walter couldn’t help but cringe. Isabella nodded, satisfied, and turned back to her work. As much as he hated to admit it, Isabella’s fear was understandable. Children who were not told at a young age of what they were, often grew up isolated and in fear, some leaving the tribe, no one really knowing where they had gone.
“I still want you to leave her alone.”
Isabella turned around and gave him a long look.
“I’ll tell her myself. I just need some time to figure out how to explain the situation. Give me a few weeks, okay?”
Isabella’s glare vanished. She stared at him for a moment, then her eyebrows drew together in disgust. “You’re in love with her.” It wasn’t really a question, but rather a sharp accusation that stung every fiber of his being.
Walter scoffed, a little too late. “Isabella, don’t joke about that. I’m not in love with her, I just don’t think it’s right to mess with a human and her child, even if it is one of ours.”
Isabella’s eyes narrowed, and Walter did everything he could to not tear his gaze away. He had never considered himself a bad liar, but it was as though Isabella could see everything. “Well, if you’re done staring at me, I need to get going.” Walter broke eye contact and he looked down at his wrist, even though he didn’t wear a watch. “It was nice talking to you, Isabella. If you need me, you know where to find me.” He nodded and left before she could say anything else.
As he exited the cabin and closed the door, he turned to find himself eye to eye with the chief of the tribe, most likely coming to pick up his medicine. Both men stopped in their tracks and froze upon seeing the other.
Walter awkwardly coughed into his fist and averted eye contact. “Hi, Dad.”
The man nodded. “Walter, it’s good to see you again. It’s been a long time.”
“A few years now, I think.”
“Longer than that. You should visit more often. I know it’s... not what you want, but you know you’re still welcome here. Welcome home.”
Walter didn’t want to look up at him. He knew how sad his father would look. It was bad enough that he had left behind a place he used to call home. But it was worse that, even though he had turned his back on the people he knew he should both protect and love, they still would welcome him back with open arms. Still, deep down, Walter knew it was only because he was meant to be the next chief. If he weren’t the chief’s son, he would be gone for good. He didn’t know if it was a curse or a blessing. Or both.
“No, Dad. I told you I’m not going back. I’m sorry, but it’s how it is. I’m happy to see you, but I’m sick and tired of the ways and rules of the tribe. You know this.”
Walter brushed past him and headed for the path that led to where his car was parked.
“I miss you, son.” The pain in his father’s voice was strong enough to make him shudder. Walter felt himself tremble. From fear? Worry? Nerves? He wasn’t entirely sure, but the talk hadn’t gone the way he wante
d with either Isabella or his father.
Sliding into the driver’s seat, Walter stared at the trees in front of him, his heart still pounding in his chest. For the first time in his life, Walter had no idea what to do.
***
The ringing of the telephone line made Walter nervous. Part of him wanted to hang up and hide in his room for the rest of his life, but the other, most reasonable, part knew he needed to tell her. Everything.
“Hello?” Ursula’s voice echoed in his ear, and Walter almost dropped the phone.
“Ursula?”
“Hey, handsome! Where did you run off to?”
“Sorry, I had a... doctor’s appointment I forgot about.
“It’s completely okay. Thanks for leaving me the note. It made me smile.”
Walter felt himself smile. “I didn’t want you to think I was deserting ya or anything.”
He could almost hear the grin on her face. Why couldn’t life just be like this? Happy, simple... but the memory of Isabella flashed back in his mind and he stopped himself from sighing.
“Hey, could I come by your place tomorrow? I know it’s late now, but I need to talk to you about something.”
“Yeah, that’s fine. Everything okay?” He could hear the concern in her voice, and it made him flinch.
“Yeah, everything is okay. I just have some news is all.”
“From the doctor?”
Walter swallowed the lump in his throat. “Something like that.”
He could hear her nod. “Sure, that’s fine. Come on over around... how about noon? Then I could make some lunch for us.”
Walter smiled weakly. “Sounds great, I’ll see you tonight, okay?”
“Sure, sounds great. Bye!”
“Bye!” I love you. Walter stared at the phone after Ursula had hung up. What had just popped into his head just then? I love you? Did that seriously just happen?
But Walter knew it was true. He really did love her. He had lied to not just Isabella but also himself. And the truth stung. He didn’t want to ruin what he had with her, but could they really run from the tribe? Probably not, but that wouldn’t stop him from imagining a life with Ursula, and without the fear.
Simply Bears: A Ten Book Paranormal Bear Shifter Romance Collection Page 54