Page 5 of Bred By the Beast

“A cave?”

“We’re not going to make it to my cabin. This is safer and the poachers won’t find us as we’re off the main path, and they can’t see in dark caves. They also won’t be able to sense us.”

“They’re poachers, can’t they sense everything?”

“They have their limitations,” he said.

She wanted to growl and demand to be taken somewhere else. This was horrible. There were probably bats and bugs and wild animals in there. What was the point of complaining, though? She was in no position to make any demands. He was the one in charge, not her.

Wilder could have left her in the hands of the poachers. He was keeping her safe, and she was grateful he showed up when he did.

****

Wilder liked the way Poppy smelled. He also happened to like her name. She was beautiful, just like the flower. But he knew she was terrified of the cave, as most humans would be.

She sat opposite him, and he refused to build a fire. It helped that he had a perfect visual of her. Every now and then, she’d close her eyes for long periods of time. She kept wrapping her arms around her knees, as the temperature was starting to cool.

“Come here,” he said.

She jerked her head toward his direction, but she didn’t look straight at him. It was kind of funny because she didn’t know where he was. Her other senses were becoming magnified.

“What?”

“You’re cold, and rather than do this on your own, why don’t you stop being stubborn and come here? I’m not going to attack you. I could have done that already, or left you to the poachers.”

She pressed her lips together, and he knew he was irritating her. She looked so cute when she was irritated and scared. He wouldn’t let anything happen to her.

Wilder didn’t like the fact that his bear wanted to be closer to her. The moment he let her go so they could walk into the cave, he sensed his bear was not happy. He didn’t understand this. He’d never been attracted to humans. He hated them. They were destructive, entitled, and disgusting.

There was nothing disgusting, entitled, or even destructive about Poppy. He liked her. There was a fire inside her that reminded him of a female bear. He had a feeling if Poppy had babies, she’d be a fierce momma bear. She’d go to the ends of the earth and fight to the death for her babies.

Wilder couldn’t tear his gaze away as he looked at her, imagining her pregnant with his cubs. She’d look stunning with her tits larger than they already were. He wanted to reach out and touch her, but he held himself back and waited.

Poppy let out another shiver. Was she going to be stubborn? Another human trait.

“Okay, you’re right. Thank you.” She stood up and took a tentative step forward, holding her hand out, and he took it.

If he wanted to give her a fighting chance, he could light a fire. If the poachers came, the cave was large enough, he’d be able to take them on. However, he heard the poachers moved right on by, and it also meant Poppy needed to rely on him just a little longer. She let out a gasp, and he pulled her in close.

“Please tell me it’s you?” she asked, “and we’re not in a cave with another weird creature that’s going to eat me?”

“You clearly watch too many horror movies.”

“Not intentionally. As a kid, I did. I thought it would be cool and then I realized I absolutely hated them, and they’ve made me afraid of the dark ever since. This trip was not my brightest idea.”

“You’re afraid of the dark?” He felt a sweeping wave of protectiveness wash over him.

“Didn’t I mention that? Well, I’m terrified of the dark. Always have been.” She let out a shiver. He pulled her between his legs and wrapped his arms around her, allowing her to rest her head back, but she stayed perfectly still and wouldn’t relax.

“You can rest,” he said.

“What if there are rats?” she asked.

“There are not, and I will make sure nothing comes close.”

“Are you sure there’s nothing else in this cave?” she asked.

He chuckled. “There’s you, me, and spiders, possibly a few bats.”