The world explodes in a blast of light and heat.
8
Teddy
The fireball rising from the remains of Lana’s rental SUV sears my bare arms and the back of my neck.
I dive for the ground, whipping Lana around, so my body shields her from the explosion. I cover her with my bulk, my hands tucking her head into my shoulder. The move muffles her screams.
Fiery bits of metal rain down around us. One hits me in the back, and I arch and hiss, brushing it to the ground. My shifter healing can handle any flesh wounds. Lana’s protection is my priority.
Someone must have rigged a car bomb to Lana’s ignition. Either her brother or the assassin he hired. The explosion is over, leaving only the fire crackling along the ruined shell of the SUV and a sharp ringing in my ears.
I grabbed her just in time. There was a moment right before I came out of the trees when I registered that the car smelled strange. My instincts kicked in, and I let loose with shifter speed to save her. It doesn’t matter that she saw my supernatural gifts in broad daylight. The only thing that matters is keeping her alive.
“OMG.” Lana grips my t-shirt, shaking. She’s hyperventilating.
“It's okay. I’ve got you.” I lift off her and cup her face. “You're okay.”
“What just happened?”
“A bomb.”
The whine of a bullet is my only warning. I hunch over Lana, bracing to keep my weight off her as we hug the ground. A black object appears in the sky, hovering above an aspen tree. A drone. It’s shooting at us.
Damn, her stepbrother's going all out. If the bomb didn't get her, the sniper’s drone will.
A bullet ricochet skims my back. I bellow.
And my bear decides he’s had enough. In one breath, I’m human. In the next, I’m a shaggy monster, with enough weight and girth to block Lana from the sunlight and burning air. My shout contorts in my throat, emerging as an inhuman roar.
My jeans and t-shirt are reduced to scraps of fabric littered around us in a radial pattern. Under me, Lana whimpers.
The drone is still armed and firing at will. Time to get the fuck out of here.
I lift Lana in a fireman’s carry and hit top speed. I’m a werebear, and in bear form I’m faster than any creature alive. I have her most vulnerable areas–her head and torso–cradled in front of me, so I can protect her from bullets.
I leap into the forest and crash through the brush. The drone follows, joined by a second one. They’re whizzing through the trees, shooting at us and trying to pin me down. Bullets buzz like angry hornets over our head. I tuck Lana closer and put on a burst of shifter speed. Gotta get her out of here. Gotta keep her safe.
Nothing else matters.
Lana
The skin of my face feels like I’ve been lounging by the pool too long. The stench of burnt metal still lingers in my nostrils. I cough, hacking up smoke. I shudder, pressing close to the big shaggy creature that’s carrying me.
My rental SUV just exploded. I’m pretty sure that’s not covered by the travel insurance. But that’s the least of my problems.
Someone is shooting at me and Teddy. I crane my neck, but I can’t see the sniper. A bullet splinters the tree trunk next to me. I whimper and duck my head. Trees, rocks, bushes turn into a green-brown blend.
The furry monster grunts and tenses, hunching over me as it picks up speed. The wind rushes over me. We’re moving so fast, my eyes are streaming. I whimper and duck my head, hanging onto the fur for dear life. I press my face into the soft shelter of its neck and breath. Teddy’s scent hits my lungs.
Somehow this creature is Teddy. I saw it with my own eyes. One minute he was my surly Viking, racing out of the forest to rescue me. The next he turned into a creature. And not just any creature: a bear. The same brown bear I saw at the summit. It all comes rushing back.
At last, the bear slows. The world comes into focus. We’re in a rocky crevice shadowed by a crop of pine. It’s quiet, blissfully devoid of bullets and explosions. Safe.
Teddy puts me down and stands back on hind legs. And then his form shrinks back down until it's Teddy staring at me. A very naked Teddy, every muscle and colorful tattoo on full display.
“Teddy.” I point a shaking finger at him. “You're a…”
“A bear,” he confirms. His voice comes out a growl that's almost too low to be human. He clears his throat, his gaze intent on me. Normally grey, his eyes flash an eerie gold as they catch the light. “Are you okay? Were you hit?”
I splay my hands over my chest and look down taking inventory. “No, I'm not hit.” I touch my forehead, half expecting to touch a bandage. Maybe I’m in the hospital, hallucinating all this. “What was that?”