Page 30 of Bred By the Beast

After hiking for miles in the extremely rough terrain, she heard faint voices. She paused, hoping they were other hikers like that family they’d come across before. First, she took a drink from her water bottle. Then she moved a bit closer to see who was talking. She saw a UTV and several men packing up equipment. She parted the weeds a bit more and that’s when she knew it was the poachers looking for her. She held her breath, feeling caught between bad and worse. How would she get by without them noticing? But she couldn’t stay put forever.

Poppy couldn’t believe the situation she was in, and didn’t know why her thoughts immediately went to Wilder. He wasn’t her savior anymore, he was a freak, some sicko that trapped and hurt wild bears. No wonder he was out here alone. He wasn’t normal at all.

She started to pull back when an arm came around her from behind, covering her mouth so she couldn’t scream. He was strong and rough. She could barely breathe as he pulled her back into the forest. Poppy kicked her legs, trying to get out of his grip. She dug in her heels but it was no use. He wreaked of alcohol and body odor.

“Look what I have here!” he shouted. “A nosey little photographer.”

The men she’d seen through the weeds only moments earlier came over to them. They laughed and hooted.

“She actually came right to us.”

The man holding her let go and they all circled her as she sat on the ground.

“You’ve cost us our friend,” one of them said. “We should kill you too.”

She didn’t know what he was talking about. Her heart was beating so fast it was hard to catch her breath. This was it. They’d been hunting her for weeks and now they had their chance to kill her. It was surreal. And there was nothing she could do about it.

“Her boyfriend might be nearby. He’ll know where the bear is.”

“The boss said he wants the bear taken alive.”

“Fuck.”

“We have her and that’s what matters. He’ll give us what we need now.”

Her mind raced with ways to preserve her life. She came up empty. The only chance she had was using the memory card against them, but it was in her bag with her camera.

****

Wilder came home from his rounds, young fawn in his arms, and found the door to his secret room open. And Poppy was gone. He didn’t know where she was. Usually, she listened to him when he asked her to stay inside while he was away. It was for her own safety.

Why would she run? He looked inside the room, but old memories came rushing back. He immediately pushed the door closed. There was no way she’ d be able to figure anything out by seeing the room. No way she’ d be able to connect the dots and discover who he really was.

Right now, he needed to find her and talk to her. She was obviously suspicious enough of him to try to open his locked room in the first place. Maybe it was time to tell her the truth about everything. Hiding his true identity forever was no longer an option.

He set the injured fawn down on the dog bed and brought a bowl of water close.

Wilder stepped outside, testing the air. He knew precisely the direction Poppy had taken but it was a while ago as the scent was muted. He’d have to track her in his fur. That was the fastest way to get around the forest. She could be in danger. He had a satchel around his chest with a change of pants, and nothing more. He wanted to find her before dark so she wouldn’t be cold or afraid. That was going to cut it close as the sun was already starting its slow descent.

Wilder squatted down, bracing himself on an outstretched hand as he called to his bear. Within seconds, his bones contorted and snapped as they shifted from human to bear. His body grew, his muscles thickening, and hair sprouting from his skin. His nails changed to massive claws. As soon as it had started, he was fully transformed into his alpha grizzly bear. The shift was often uncomfortable but it was nothing like in his youth. He’d learned to master and control the change with practice over the decades.

He pawed the ground briefly, then bound into the forest.

The closer he got to his mate, the more he could sense her. He was on the right trail, sounds becoming clearer and scents becoming more potent. The poachers were nearby. He’d run nonstop, so he found Poppy just as the sun faded into the horizon. The cover of night would aid him now.

The poachers had her. This was the one thing he’d feared all these weeks. The reason he’d been with her at most times and kept her safely in the house when he was away. She was still alive because he could hear and sense her. She was afraid. That enraged his bear. They didn’t want to see his bear angry, but tonight they would.

He patrolled the perimeter of their camp. They were starting a fire to fend off the darkness. Wilder could see them all perfectly. There were four males. Poppy was sitting against a tree with her hands tied behind her back. She didn’t appear injured.

Although he was grateful she was still alive, he had to wonder why they were keeping her breathing after trying so hard to capture her. She had the evidence, so without her, they were in the clear. But she was still here.

He watched intently, taking in every move they made. Wilder had to remember the lesson from his parents’ legacy. To never underestimate human firepower. He had to wait until they were all away from their guns, even though his instincts wanted him to react without caution.

“We’re wasting our time. Maybe he doesn’t know where it is.”

“He knows.”

They started separating. One headed into the bush to take a shit. With three by the fire, and no weapons in hand, he took the opportunity to save his woman. Wilder bound toward the fire in his fur, immediately swatting one man to the side, sending him hurtling into the trees.