Big Bear: BBW Bear Shifter Paranormal Romance (BRIDES Fur BEARS Book 4) (8 page)

“Hey, I'm talking to you, Sinclair!” she yelled. “Let me go! I can't shift, really I can't. I have never shifted in my life!”

Sinclair didn't appear to be listening to her. He kept absolutely still and kept staring straight ahead.

Sinclair didn't move at all, yet the air around him seemed to be rippling.

Zoe gasped as his body slowly began to grow broader. His black hair turned snowy white and white fur raced up his arms and neck.

There was the sound of snapping bones and Sinclair dropped to his hands. Only they weren't hands any more. They were paws, powerful, massive paws.

Zoe made a strangled sound in her throat, unable to even breathe or blink.

A massive, mammoth white saber-tooth tiger stood before her, snarling and salivating. She'd thought that he would be about the size of an ordinary lion or tiger in his animal form, but he was much larger than that. On all fours, he was almost eye to eye with her.

She heard a roar, and her entire body shuddered.

“No, no, no,” she whispered. “Nick...”

Nick roared again, and she could hear and feel his intense fury and pain. Her mate's explosive emotions slammed through her, and she had to bite back her own anguished cry.

She wanted to scream, but she knew that her scream would only cause Nick to charge heedlessly into danger for her. She wanted him to leave. The monster in front of her could easily take down a bear. Of that she had no doubt.

She saw Sinclair's canines push out further. With a single bite, the saber-tooth tiger could easily tear into a belly and disembowel its enemy with those deadly, saber-like teeth.

Zoe watched Sinclair's long, curved claws glint menacing as he slid silently between the trees. His tail wound around a tree like a snake, and he vanished into the shadows.

Just a flash of white and he was gone.

Zoe could feel her blood pounding in her ears. She had to warn Nick. But how? Time was running out.

Sinclair was already in position, readying for the kill.

Nick bolted from the work site as the guys were packing up. He just drove like a demon, narrowly missing Gramma and Ne-ma who were crossing the street and sped straight out of Shadow Point.

Nick could feel his claws digging into his palms as he let his bear take over. His bear had reared up as soon as it sensed its mate's distress, and the beast was on the verge of ripping out of his skin. Nick maintained his human form, but his senses were now fully feral.

He trusted his bear to find Zoe. A bear could track its mate for miles and it would never give up the search. The mate bond was permanent and unbreakable.

He could feel his mate's panic and pain, and he floored the gas pedal. His bear roared in his head, urging him along the long stretch of highway. The woods flanking the highway grew denser and Nick scanned the trees, sniffing the air for his mate's scent.

He finally caught her scent on the wind, and he immediately stomped on the brakes. His car spun to the side of the road as he charged headlong into the woods, his bear ripping from his skin as he ran.

He could scent her clearly now. But there was someone else with her. Another male, another shifter.

Nick moved swiftly between the trees. Zoe was just ahead, and he could detect a change in her scent. His mate was frightened, angry, and in pain…

There was a flash of white fur above him and Nick jerked his head up quickly. He caught a glimpse of long, curved fangs just before a huge, powerful body landed on him and sharp claws raked across his face.

Roaring, Nick managed to wrestle the enemy off and rear up. Those lethal claws had ripped the fur and skin from his face, narrowly missing his eyes. Blood was dripping steadily onto the ground at his feet. Nick chuffed and spat out a mouthful of hot, fresh blood.

Realizing that he was dealing with a very skilled, deadly predator, Nick whirled round to face the enemy.

His eyes widened at the sight of an enormous saber-tooth tiger in front of him.

He watched the white saber-tooth tiger warily. The creature was gigantic, and its claws and canines were curved at the perfect angle to sever arteries and inflict maximum damage to flesh and muscle. It moved like a phantom, silently and swiftly. It was the perfect killing machine.

There were rumors that there was an unknown number of saber-tooth tigers still in existence. Nick had never seen a saber-tooth tiger before, and he definitely never expected to encounter one in his life.

The saber-tooth tiger watched him with narrowed, calculating eyes. Nick tested the creature's scent as he stared into those cold, shrewd eyes. With a jolt, he suddenly recognized the scent and remembered just where he had seen those eyes.

He remembered the man's name and snarled.
Sinclair.

Sinclair had tried to outbid him at the auction. By a lousy dollar. Nick had eyed the man with open hostility and contempt. And he had been fully prepared to fight Sinclair to the death that night.

Nick unsheathed his claws fully. He glanced over Sinclair's shoulder and saw Zoe. She was tied to a tree but he could see no wounds on her body.

Zoe managed a brave smile and a nod.
I'm okay
.

Nick released a slow breath and flicked his eyes back to Sinclair. Sinclair growled low but he didn't move forward. Instead, he seemed to be inching backwards towards the tree. He was making sure that he had Zoe within striking distance.

Sinclair's real target was Zoe. He wanted something from Zoe. And he was going to hurt her real bad.

Nick had never fought a saber-tooth tiger before. Sinclair was a lot bigger than the feline shifters in Shadow Point. He was stronger, faster, more violent and vicious.

Sinclair blinked slowly, his large, white body blocking Zoe from Nick's view.

Without warning, Sinclair turned and slashed his claws down Zoe's chest.

Zoe's scream was like a knife through Nick's heart. Nick roared and charged Sinclair, his jaws gunning for the tiger's throat.

Through the red haze clouding his vision, Nick saw the glint of Sinclair's claws and fangs. Nick could scent his mate's blood under the monster's claws, and it drove him blindly forward.

Mad with rage and pain, Nick tasted fresh blood in his mouth. Not all the blood was his. Nick bit down hard and saw a satisfying splash of red across the saber-tooth tiger's pristine white fur.

But Sinclair managed to twist out of his jaws. With a powerful leap, Sinclair landed on Nick's back.

Nick tried to fling him away, but Sinclair dug his claws deep into Nick's flesh. Nick turned his head to snap his jaws viciously at the saber-tooth tiger and saw those terrible, curved fangs plunging towards his neck.

The tips of those lethal fangs were glistening, and a drop of viscous, milky liquid oozed from one of the fangs.

Nick jerked and convulsed violently as those deadly fangs tore into his neck and pushed deep into his artery.

Zoe's scream seemed to be coming from a vast distance, echoing dully in his mind.

Nick tried to make his way to her but his legs didn't seem to be working. He staggered back and collapsed on his side.

The pain was excruciating, but Nick couldn't even summon up enough strength to roar.

An icy chill was invading his veins, paralyzing his body. He was aware that blood was oozing from his nostrils and mouth.

He sucked in a forceful breath. Even breathing was difficult. It felt like his ribcage was crushing his lungs.

His brain fought valiantly, refusing to shut down.

Venom
, his brain screamed.
There's venom in those fangs!

The saber-tooth tiger had not only survived, it had evolved through the ages. Not only had its claws and teeth grown longer and sharper, it had developed venom glands as the species fought to survive among other predators. Those saber-like fangs weren't just used for slicing and tearing. It could inject venom into its prey.

The saber-tooth tigers had difficulty increasing their numbers, but they had evolved to such an extent that they were now extremely difficult to kill. That was how they survived.

Nick shook his head, trying to stay conscious. He struggled to regain his focus and fight back. Raising his paw, he slashed wildly through the air.

Everything seemed to be waving and weaving around him. The trees writhed and contorted into strange, bizarre shapes and shadows swirled and screamed all around him.

He could hardly see any more. But he could still hear the leaves screaming above him.

Those leaves...they sounded just like Zoe…

Blood vessels were bursting one by one as the venom spread through his body.

Blood and foam spewed from his mouth. His bear roared in agony as it lost the fight and receded.

Nick felt weaker and more exposed in human form. But he refused to give up.

Using all his remaining strength, Nick forced his eyes open to look at his mate.

“Nick!” Zoe cried. “Nick...!”

Zoe was screaming for him. She was screaming and sobbing, and calling his name.

She needed him.

Nick spat on the ground and struggled to push himself up. He wasn't leaving Zoe alone. He would not let the venom take over his body. He would fight for his mate, and he would fight to live.

Nick raised his head and saw Sinclair prowling towards Zoe. Zoe was screaming and twisting frantically, trying to free herself from the ropes.

There was a sudden loud cracking sound, like bones snapping, and Zoe let out a terrible, deafening screech. She screamed in pain as her shape began to contort and change.

Nick tried to drag himself to her to protect her. His mate was in pain and in danger.

Sinclair shifted swiftly back to human form, but his fangs and curved, deadly claws remained. His eyes gleamed as he watched Zoe shift into her animal.

The ropes binding Zoe were beginning to fray as Zoe grew in size. But Sinclair had his claws poised over her chest, right over her heart.

Nick snarled. He would stop Sinclair. With his last breath, he would stop the monster from hurting his mate.

The ropes around Zoe snapped and Zoe raised her arms. But instead of arms, they were...wings. Magnificent, enormous, feathered wings.

Nick started at his mate in awe. He should have known. Zoe's dad was half eagle, and her mom was half lion. It wasn't impossible, but it was very, very rare. Only one in a million matings between an eagle and a lion produced a griffin.

His mate was a beautiful, majestic griffin.

Zoe spread her wings as the final rope snapped. Sinclair roared and stabbed his razor sharp claws towards her chest, aiming straight for her heart.

Nick reared up and threw himself at Sinclair. He might be in human form but his human body was broad, hard and heavy enough. He used his entire body weight to pin Sinclair to the ground and keep him there as Zoe spread her wings and soared into the air.

Zoe shot up above the trees then dived back down, landing silently on her hind legs. The top half of her body was eagle, while the lower half was lion. Her feathers and fur were the same rich, tawny color and her eyes were fully golden.

Nick gasped as claws raked across his body. Sinclair had shifted back to his saber-tooth tiger form. Nick tried to stop him, but he only managed to make a weak grab for the tiger's tail.

Nick refused to give up. He wasn't going to lie down and die. Not when his mate was still in danger.

He clawed his way across the forest floor as Sinclair lunged for Zoe.

He saw a flurry of feathers and white fur, and he tried harder to reach them but they seemed to be receding from him.

As his head hit the ground, Nick heard angry roars and voices coming towards them.

His ears pricked up. He recognized those roars.

“Josh, Jax...”

Nick looked up just in time to see the twins bursting through the trees.

Josh and Jax shifted into their bear forms simultaneously and attacked Sinclair together.

The Carlan twins were powerful bears, but Sinclair was a formidable fighter. He had an arsenal of deadly weapons—his venom, his sharp, saber-like fangs and claws.

But Josh and Jax worked as a team, a unit. The twins could read and anticipate each other's moves, and they used their wits against their common enemy. Zoe aided them, attacking Sinclair from the air. When the tiger leaped up and tried to claw at her, she drove her talons right into Sinclair's eyes.

Quick as lightning, the twins pinned Sinclair down. Zoe stood over Sinclair and pressed her talons over his heart. She didn't give him any time to struggle. With a shrill, pained cry, she dug into his chest and tore out his heart.

Nick tried to keep his eyes open as he started shivering uncontrollably. He suddenly felt very cold, and so very tired.

Hands supported him, and he blinked up to see Gramma and Ne-ma bending over him.

He blinked again. Was he hallucinating? “Gramma, Ne-ma…?” What were the two little old ladies doing here in the middle of nowhere?