5. Rosalie

5

ROSALIE

H oly shit, Cooper is a fucking bear ! My knuckles are white from where I just gripped the chair. I've gone back and forth all day over whether he had a legitimate delusion or if it was some kind of extended joke that just wasn't funny.

I almost laughed when it got dark outside and he started making these pained sounds and contorting in all kinds of weird positions. I was about to say, "Ha, ha, jokes over. You got me." when his body parts started to actually change .

At first it was a ripple, almost like his skin was a blanket that a small animal was crawling around underneath. And then fur started to sprout. There were awful cracking sounds and groans of genuine pain. His eyes glowed. Claws extended, teeth lengthened into fangs, and a few minutes later, he was a fucking bear!

He reared up on his hind legs and for a moment I thought he was going to attack me, so I screamed. Then he left the cave—maybe to hunt like he said he'd do earlier.

Shit. Shit. Shit.

My brain is stuck on a loop right now. He was serious. And… plot twist… not crazy. The entire day I've been stuck with this guy trying to manage and appease his possible mental illness, not once did I really think he was an actual bear. I guess that thing last night with him cuddling with me wasn't a dream after all. Clearly I'm the delusional one here—or just in deep denial.

As soon as I process all of this, the truth of my reality comes crashing into me. He thinks I'm his mate. He plans to bite me. He plans to keep me his captive until and unless I let him bite me… and turn me into a bear like him?

No. I can't. I don't want to be a bear! I can't handle what he just went through. I definitely can't do it three nights a month for… centuries. No. Fucking no. I have to get away from this guy right now!

I wince as I struggle to a standing position. I've been trying to rotate my ankle, to keep it moving throughout the day, but it still hurts like hell when I stand up. Pins and needles shoot through me. And even so, I know that this pain is nothing like what the change into his animal form causes. Cooper is the one guy who actually might be able to understand the pain of childbirth. But women don't give birth three times a month for the rest of their lives! Nope. I am out!

I cannot let him bite me. I can't let him make me a bear. I feel unhinged just thinking these thoughts. And vampires are real, too? Jesus. What the fuck is this reality? How have I gone my whole life not knowing any of this existed?

As I move around the cave I'm relieved that actually I think my ankle is a bit better. Maybe that stinky salve really does work. I pick up my cell phone, praying to get reception.

But, no. Of course not. Why would I need to call anybody out in the middle of the woods! Maybe I can take it and go outside… maybe there's a patchy signal somewhere. But he'll be back. How long does it take to hunt? Probably not that long.

I'm pretty sure he's not going to bite me tonight as a bear, but when? How long is he going to give me before he does this? And not only that, he intends to tie me to him for life. What if I wanted to be single? Serious question. What if I wanted my own house and a hoard of cats and just to be left alone!

I have goals. I have shit to do. I do not have the desire to be some bear shifter's life mate. Oh my god, am I going to give birth to a bear cub? Why did I have to twist my fucking ankle? It's such a cliché. It's always the ankle.

I start going through cabinets and drawers not even knowing what I'm looking for. Maybe a weapon? I probably can't do much to him tonight in this form, but maybe when he's human again? I mean I have the bear spray but I doubt that would be as useful on him as it would a normal bear. Still, I could try.

Even if I do find a suitable weapon, I'm not sure I can bring myself to kill him, especially not after he saved my life last night. But if I can find a way to incapacitate him, maybe I can escape. Because I'm sure once he gets me to his actual normal home, he's going to have a much better way to keep me prisoner, and I'm going to have much fewer opportunities to escape.

And now I'm crying with relief because I just found a satellite phone, and it has juice. He must have brought it up with him in case he needed to call someone out in the middle of the woods.

"911, what's your emergency?"

"Hi, I'm lost out in the Cherokee National Forest. I've got an ankle injury, and I need help."

"Are you bleeding, Ma'am?"

"No, it's just a sprain."

"Keep your phone on. We are tracking your coordinates."

I grab my bag and slip my useless cell phone and the bear spray back into my pocket and then limp out into the night.

I move slowly through the trees, trying to find a more open spot. They'll be sending a search and rescue helicopter probably, and I want them to be able to see and get to me easily—especially since Cooper could return at any time.

Half an hour later I hear the whir of the blades and see the giant spotlight. I wave my hands back and forth at them to make sure they see me.

"Just stay where you are, we're coming to get you," a voice says out of a megaphone.

Oh thank god.

But then I hear a soft growl. I turn and there he is. And he's got… wrapped deli sandwiches in his mouth. I thought he was going to hunt, like… a rabbit or a deer or something.

"Cooper, please. Just let me go. You can't take me now. They've already spotted me. If you drag me off they'll chase you, too. You think they don't have tranquilizer guns? You think they aren't prepared to deal with wildlife out here? And what if they find out what you really are? I won't tell anyone, I promise, if you just let me go."

Who would believe me anyway?

He drops the sandwiches on the ground and chuffs softly back at me. I could swear he's trying to talk… like he's trying to reason with me. He takes a few steps forward, and I hold up a hand. "Stop! No! Let me go! This will not end well for you if you try anything. Accept defeat. They'll take you out with a tranq gun and I'll tell them what you are myself, I swear to fuck I will. I'll do whatever I have to do. Don't put me in survival mode, Cooper. Just… don't."

He sees the people getting closer to me, and he knows I'm right. He looks… hurt. I am not going to feel sorry for a man who wants to keep me his prisoner and doesn't give a shit about what I want.

He growls again and then finally backs away into the shadows of the forest, and I let out the breath I didn't know I was holding.