I keep my eyes on the huge black alpha who’s continuing down the valley. He’s faster and stronger than the others, but Zeus is one hell of a fast stallion and he gains ground on him.
“We got ‘em now, buddy,” I say with a grin as he slopes to the left. Over that hill, there’s nowhere to go.
Zeus pounds his hooves into the earth as we follow the wolf to the side and run over the hill. “Whoa,” I say as I pull my stallion back, skidding to a stop.
The huge alpha is pacing nervously in front of the cliff, which is shaped like a steep bowl all around him. The only way out is through me. And he’s not getting through me.
I jump off the horse, remove my black cowboy hat, and pull my shirt off with one swift movement. I toss it behind me as he lowers his head and growls in warning.
“You and your boys have to learn to stay off my ranch,” I say as I unzip my jeans and yank them off. “This is the third time this week.”
He snarls as I remove my underwear and slap it onto Zeus’ back.
Ever since Adrian’s bear moved out of the forest, the local wolves have been getting more aggressive. I never realized how much Adrian’s bear deterred them, although I’m not surprised. His feral bear deterred everything until Courtney walked in, stole his heart, and turned him into a teddy bear.
The hair on the wolf’s back is standing straight up as he snarls at me. There’s panic in his eyes. He knows what’s coming. He can smell it.
I squeeze my body and let my bear come.
Pain sears through my veins as my body grows, cracking bones and tearing muscle. I get sucked in as my furious grizzly bear explodes out of me with a primal roar.
The wolf starts pacing in terror as he desperately looks for a way out. There’s nowhere to go so he starts digging furiously, kicking up dust as my bear stomps over.
That’s close enough, I tell him. Just give him a warning.
My grizzly goes right up to his face and the wolf winces as he lets out a thunderous roar.
He’s all whimpers and high-pitched cries as my grizzly gives him a warning look, letting him know that if his crew comes back, he won’t be so kind.
All right, I say to my bear. Let’s get back.
We have about five hundred heads of cattle on the ranch and these pups are just looking for an easy meal. Now that we’ve let them know that it won’t be easy, they shouldn’t bother us again.
My bear lumbers back to where Zeus is standing proudly on the top of the hill. He’s slick with sweat after that long run, but he’s dipping his head, looking like he’s ready to do it again.
He’s a good-looking horse. A huge black stallion with the most powerful legs you’ll ever find. But the best part is his personality. The two of us are inseparable.
My bear sniffs the air as the wolf bolts, disappearing into the forest to warn his friends that the Bowen Ranch is off-limits.
Come on now, I say as I start to pull my grizzly in.
He hesitates, whining and whimpering as Zeus watches him curiously. I can feel the longing flowing through him. He doesn’t want to come back in. He wants to go out and find her.
I grab ahold of his essence and pull him as I push my way out. Our body shakes and crunches as it constricts and compresses in size. With a tear, I burst out of him and land on my bare feet.
Zeus turns away, looking bored as I put my clothes back on.
“Nice running, buddy,” I say as I pet his slick neck. He neighs as I put my black cowboy hat on and look around.
It’s springtime with a nice warm breeze on a lightly cloudy sunny day. The leaves are starting to sprout on the trees and the melted snow is creating little streams and small rivers that are flowing down the hills. They should all dry up in a few weeks.
My bear grumbles inside as he settles back in. I think he was hoping for some more action to burn off some of his pent-up energy.
It’s been hard for him lately. It’s been hard for both of us.
My brothers have gotten everything they ever could have dreamed of and it’s making us realize how much we’re lacking.
“I know,” I whisper as he whines while I slip my boots on. “I want to find her too.”
In the past few months, all three of my brothers—Cameron, Julian, and Adrian—have all found their mates. Even Adrian, who was living in the forest like a caveman, found his mate! I still haven’t. I don’t get it. Where is she?