Page 45 of Bred By the Beast

Then she’d noticed her yearning for the forest. She didn’t want to go running, because she never wanted to run in her life. What she craved was to feel it beneath her feet. Sink her toes into the world and just bask. Some nights she would dream of running, of feeling the cold air across her furred back, and she felt like this was her child. She didn’t know if she was pregnant with a son or daughter. It didn’t matter.

The other strangest feeling—she was pretty sure she heard either her child’s bear, or Wilder’s. Sometimes the word “mine” whispered in her mind.

She sensed more than she actually heard. Was it Wilder? Was it her child? She didn’t know, she only knew she wasn’t afraid. There was no harm to her.

She put her hand on her swollen stomach and stepped onto the porch, to look out toward the setting sun. It was cold, and usually she would grab a blanket to keep warm, but just recently, she hadn’t needed it. She wasn’t getting as cold as she used to.

Wilder was getting more and more withdrawn as the days went forward. He’d stopped making love to her, even though she knew he woke with an arousal, and some mornings, it was like he would forget. He’d put his hand on her hip, kiss her neck, thrust his aroused cock against her ass, and then his hand would shift, he’d touch her swollen stomach, and it seemed to instantly repel him. She didn’t know how to get through to him, to make him understand that everything was going to be fine. She knew it deep in her heart.

“Your daddy loves you very much,” she said, putting a hand to her stomach. But did he really? Did he regret the pregnancy?

It was getting dark and late. Finally, she had no choice but to step inside their home. She closed and locked the door, and made her way toward the soup. She’d already made bread rolls, and they were still warm, cooling down on the counter.

The dogs were fed. The house was clean. There was nothing else for her to do other than sit and eat, which she did. She decided to not wait for Wilder, and instead, grabbed a bowl and got a nice couple of ladles of soup. She’d been stewing the meat for most of the day, and it was on the bone, so she shredded it off. It was so tender. Then, she added the vegetables back in, with lots of herbs and seasonings. She made her way toward Wilder’s chair and took a seat. This is where she liked to sit when she was enjoying her soup, especially when he wasn’t here himself. She missed him, so very much.

Wrapping the blanket around her body, she snuggled in and ate her food, hearing the old ticking clock. It was so quiet, besides the dogs’ snores, which were just adorable.

Poppy had just finished her food, when there was a sudden booming knock on the door, startling her.

Fester growled toward the door, and Poppy got to her feet. She walked to the kitchen to put away her bowl, and then made her way toward the front door. She knew it was a bear. This was not Wilder, though.

“Let me in,” the male voice said. “I know you’re in there.”

“If you’re looking for Wilder, he’s not home,” Poppy said.

“Fine, I’m looking for you.”

“I don’t know who you are.”

“Open the fucking door now.”

Poppy stepped away from the door.

“Damn it, I just, look, I know you’re pregnant, and I know you’re human, Poppy. My name is Alder, and I’m an acquaintance of Wilder’s.” He said all this from the other side.

He’d mentioned Alder, and that he’d been working with poachers. She put a hand on her stomach.

“I’ve been doing some studying and some research. You’re pregnant with Wilder’s child, and I’m guessing right around now, you’re sensing a whole lot of different things.”

Poppy didn’t like that he seemed to know more about her than even Wilder did. She didn’t trust him.

“Are you afraid? Right now? Are you afraid of me?”

It was on the tip of her tongue to tell him to leave, but she stopped herself and just waited. Was she afraid? No, she wasn’t. Was this her own stupidity, or was this her child’s thoughts and feelings?

“Your instincts are right.”

“You hate humans,” Poppy said. “And I may be pregnant with Wilder’s baby, but I am still human.”

“I know, and trust me, I’m sorry. Look, I had some beliefs but things happened that ... shattered them.”

There was something in his voice that made her open the door, and she looked to see a rather unkempt man. He had a lot of facial hair, and his eyes were bloodshot.

“Did you know what Wilder was when you met him?” Alder asked.

“I didn’t have a clue. He saved me from the poachers because I’d gotten evidence of them killing a bear.”

Alder growled and Poppy stepped out of the way as he brushed past her. She looked at the door, and then toward him, and she pushed the door closed. There was no way to get in touch with Wilder.