Page 35 of Bred By the Beast

Poppy shook her head. “I’m serious. Whose room was it?”

“Mine.” He held her wrists, and she didn’t pull away. No more jumping to conclusions.

“I didn’t want to kill a deer, a hiker, or someone’s dog because I couldn’t control myself yet.”

“What are you talking about?” she asked. This was not sounding good, and she found herself holding her breath.

“Since I was thirteen, I locked myself in here every full moon. I couldn’t trust myself. Couldn’t control ... my bear.”

“You had a bear?” So, she was right. He was hurting wild bears in here.

“No, Poppy. I am a bear.” He looked down at her, no hint of humor in his voice.

Why was he saying dumb things like this. Was he crazy?

The sound of breaking glass had him pulling away.

“Smoke,” he said.

She smelled it, too.

“Get the fawn and the dogs in here. Understand?”

She nodded rapidly, rushing out after him. The smoke was pouring into the living room. All his beautiful antiques and plaid furniture, everything he’d built was going to get destroyed. She felt fear and anger and sadness all while madly ushering the animals back to the safe room.

Wilder threw something back out the window. He had no weapons. How would he stop them from coming in and killing her?

There were gunshots outside and she screamed, scaring Milly. She scooped her with her other arm and carried her the rest of the way. Once she settled the fawn and the three dogs safely in the room, she sealed them inside by closing the heavy door. Poppy put the key in her pocket. She returned to the melee. The men were trying to get inside.

“Oh my God, Wilder.”

They were breaking down the front door, the frame was splintering and giving way. Then the entire door fell inward, crashing down on the wooden floor with a heavy thud. It was hard to see with the smoke and darkness. One of the men took a step inside and immediately shot Wilder. He grunted. She screamed so loud she startled herself.

“Wilder!”

Poppy started to run to him but he held out his arm barring her way. “Stay back! Stay behind me.” Then he turned around to look her in the eyes. “Whatever you do, don’t scream.”

He was bleeding, his shirt stained red, blood dripping onto the floor. She couldn’t lose him. The same poacher aimed his gun in her direction, but Wilder rushed forward, struggling to disarm the man. Other men started pushing into the little house to help their friend. Wilder was outnumbered and gravely injured.

Then everything changed.

Wilder squatted down, yielding, or so she thought. His shirt started to rip, right down along his spine, his back changing, growing. He slowly began to rise, not because he was standing up, but due to his size. Hair began to replace skin, and the energy in the room changed. Within seconds the huge grizzly she’d seen by that campfire was standing in the living room.

And he was angry.

****

Wilder bound forward, using his immense size and strength to overpower the human males. He slashed and tore with claws and teeth, not holding back because he was the only thing between them and his mate. None of them would be left alive to be a threat to her again.

His wound was already stitching together, the shift aiding in his healing. If he’d stayed in his skin, the gunshot could have killed him. Right now, no pain in the world would stop him from protecting Poppy.

The room became quiet. Only the scent of gasoline and smoke wafting in the air.

He’d killed the men who’d entered his home, their bodies lifeless, and there was no chance they’d survive their wounds. His bear was still hyped up on adrenaline, grunting as the bloodlust overpowered him.

Then a voice came from outside in the darkness.

“Wilder. I know who you are.”