by Chant, Zoe
Hector laughed. “They’re really cute, Myrtle.” He paused, and she felt him looking up into the sky, following the moths’ flight. “No, they’re beautiful. Really beautiful.”
Myrtle felt her heart glow. “They are, aren’t they? Usually I have to butter people up by telling them about the cute animals that eat them that’ll be hurt if they go, but… aren’t they beautiful just by themselves?”
“They are, Myrtle. They truly are.”
Myrtle could tell that Hector meant it. She snuggled against his side, still holding her phone up.
So maybe I’m like the moths, she thought. Maybe I’m not a model or an athlete or a track star or a prom queen. But I am what I am, and that’s fine by itself.
She closed her eyes briefly as Hector dropped a kiss on the crown of her head.
I’m fine. I’m good. I’m me.
For the first time in her life, the words didn’t sound hollow as she thought them. They beat in her heart, alongside the bond she felt with Hector – along with the hope she had for the start of her new life by his side.
It was a world full of danger and magic; and sure, perhaps it was a little frightening, but Myrtle was certain that together, there was nothing they couldn’t face. She knew as long as they had each other, everything would be perfect.
I can’t wait to see what happens next.
A note from Zoe Chant
Thank you for buying my book! I hope you enjoyed it. If you’d like to be emailed when I release my next book, please click here to be added to my mailing list. You can also visit my webpage, or follow me on Facebook or Twitter. You are also invited to join my VIP Readers Group on Facebook!
Please consider reviewing Hector: Outback Shifters even if you only write a line or two. I appreciate all reviews, whether positive or negative.
Page down to read a special sneak preview of A Mate for the Dragon.
The cover of Hector: Outback Shifters was designed by Isabelle Arden.
More Paranormal Romance by Zoe Chant
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Zoe on Audio
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Special Sneak Preview: A Mate for the Dragon
by Zoe Chant
Special Sneak Preview
The bear showed no signs of backing off. It dropped down onto its forepaws again, splashing water over its thick fur. Then it slowly began to advance.
Holly bit her lip, trying to slow her breathing. Don’t panic, don’t panic, don’t panic, she repeated to herself as she slowly backed away. The bear can probably just smell your food. He’s just curious. He doesn’t want to hurt you.
Maybe it’d met other campers and hikers who’d fed it, or else had easily raidable backpacks or food stores. Maybe it thought Holly was an easy meal ticket.
Maybe I should rephrase that, she thought to herself.
Whatever it smelled in her backpack was an easy meal ticket. Not Holly herself.
The bear is not going to eat me, she told herself. That would be silly. And more trouble than it’s worth.
On the other hand, Holly thought wryly, there would certainly be some good eating on her – she’d hardly make for a light snack!
The bear grunted again – only now, it was more of a growl, revealing its teeth again as it lowered its head. Apparently it had decided that Holly needed a little more convincing to give up whatever delicious treats it smelled.
It was getting impatient. It wanted its food now.
Oh my God, Holly thought, finally feeling her panic break loose as the bear began to run, splashing across the stream toward her. She felt the can of bear spray in her hand and she whipped it out of her pocket, uncapping it clumsily.
“I didn’t want to have to do this, bear,” she said, raising her shaking hand.
But before she could press down on the button, her feet tangled in a tree root, and she came down heavily on her backside.
Oh shit, oh shit, oh shit, Holly’s brain was screaming as she scrambled to recover herself, hearing the bear clear the water and come crashing through the undergrowth on the other side.
Holly closed her eyes as a dark shadow suddenly fell across her. She waited, wondering if this was it, and the next thing she’d feel was the bear’s nose against her skin – or its teeth.
When neither of those things happened, she slowly opened her eyes, frightened of what she might see when she looked up.
But there was no bear looming over her.
There was no bear at all, in fact.
Instead, standing a short distance away from her was a man.
Holy… holy hell.
Holly blinked, scarcely able to believe her eyes.
A man didn’t really even begin to cover it.
It was a broad-shouldered, deep-chested, tall, tall man, his fist clenched by his side, eyes blazing. From this angle, Holly could see him only in profile – but that was more than enough for her to see the squareness of his jaw, the perfect angle of his Roman nose, the tousle of dark hair that fell over his forehead, and the brilliant green of his eyes.
And then there was the fact that he was facing down a charging bear.
Swallowing heavily, Holly forced herself to look away from her mystery savior. The bear, which had been merrily charging its way toward her just a few moments ago, had now stopped dead in its tracks. One paw was raised in almost comic indecision, as if it had stopped mid-step. Its facial expression – if bears could have facial expressions – was uncertain.
The man, despite his size, was still smaller than the bear. And the bear was, well, a bear, Holly thought
, her breath catching in her throat.
But there was something about this man – whoever he was – that exuded strength – strength, and power. Power that could stop even a bear in its tracks.
The bear grunted a little, sniffing, taking a step back.
Suddenly, its easy meal no longer seemed so easy. It was clearly weighing things up: but Holly could see it wasn’t interested in pursuing this anymore. Whoever this man was, he had made the bear think twice. And on second thoughts, it had decided this probably wasn’t worth it.
Giving one last grunt, the bear backed away, its teeth still showing, but its heart clearly not in it. Once it had crossed back over the river, Holly watched as it turned, its massive hairy backside disappearing into the thick ferns it had emerged from.
Her chest burning, Holly let go of the breath she’d been holding.
“Oh my goodness,” she said, shaking her head. Her heart was thumping in her chest. She looked up again at the man who had saved her, only to find him looking down at her with his beautiful, bright green eyes. Oh, my.
“Are you all right?” he asked, and Holly felt a shiver pass along the whole length of her spine. His voice was deep and rich, like dark treacle. She licked her lips.
“I’m fine,” she said, shaking her head. “He just gave me a scare, that’s all. I’m sure he didn’t want to hurt me.”
The man nodded. “Well, maybe not. But it’s best to play it safe with bears.”
Holly laughed a little shakily, feeling foolish. She must look like an idiot, she thought – wandering around here where she didn’t belong, tripping over and being frightened out of her wits by bears. She looked wistfully at the rippling cords of muscle in the man’s forearms. He didn’t look like he’d need to be frightened of anything.