Bearly Ever: An Alpha Werebear Shifter Paranormal Romance (Arcadia Knights Book 1) by Olivia Gayle Read Free Book Online Page B

refused to look at him as he set her back onto her feet, but neither did she run away again. “What the hell are you?” she asked in a low voice, staring at a nearby bush.
    Aidan sighed. “You know what a werewolf is?”
    This time she finally looked at him incredulously. “That wasn’t a wolf,” she said, pointing back the way they’d come. At least, she thought that was the right direction. Her voice sounded shrill to her ears but she didn’t care. “Whatever that was…you were not a wolf, you were…FUCK.”
    He didn’t answer her and Ever started to pace. She had too much nervous energy to stay still now that she wasn’t running, the adrenaline still flooding her system. Her thoughts were too jumbled to form any coherent words so she gestured wildly, indicating size and shape and teeth , and pointing at Aidan.
    But it was insane. Completely, and utterly, insane. He’d said werewolf, which didn’t exist, and yet… “Tell me I’m not hallucinating,” she murmured, sinking to a crouch and covering her eyes with shaky fists.
    “You’re not insane.”
    Aidan’s voice was gentle, but the words did nothing to calm her nerves. “So I really saw you change from a bear back there,” Ever said, still not quite believing the words coming out of her mouth.
    Beside her, the man sighed. “Yes.”
    “Oh, lovely.” Ever’s voice cracked on the second word. Aidan’s words weren’t a comfort, but at least she wasn’t alone in her delusion. Or, maybe it was delusional for her to believe the delusion, when both her eyes and the man in question had told her otherwise.
    Gah. So confusing.
    “Okay,” she said, blinking her eyes open, “so you’re saying that you changed into a bear…” Her words trailed off as she just stared. “Um, you’re naked.”
    “It’s a side effect of the Change, especially as a bear.” Aidan cocked his head to the side, watching her curiously. “Clothing doesn’t usually make it.”
    Well. So apparently modesty wasn’t high on his list of priorities. Noted. Clearing her throat, Ever stood quickly, tearing her eyes off his junk and looking back into his face.
    It was a very human face. So hard to believe it had been a bear at one point.
    “So.” She didn’t know what to say. Either she believed him, or she didn’t. Right then, she wasn’t sure what she believed, but there were other things to worry about. “You need clothes.”
    Aidan looked down at him self, utterly unabashed, and shrugged. “Probably.”
    It was something mundane that Ever’s mind could latch onto. “You have any in the car?”
    She didn’t realize what she’d said until she saw his cringe and remembered the twisted, explody wreck. So much for that.
    Easier to think about a wreck than…yeah. The wreck, think about that. “Okay, then,” she said, moving toward the road. “I’ll find somebody while you stay hidden in the trees. Then we can get you covered and hopefully on our way.”
    “Ever.”
    She paused and looked backwards. Aidan hadn’t moved, and pointed his finger the opposite direction. “Car’s that way.”
    Lovely. Ever said nothing, just turned around and marched the other direction.
    Damn him, if he wasn’t right.
     
    *
     
    Ever managed to flag down a passing motorist and borrow a cellphone to call for help. Neither of their phones had made it; Ever’s had fallen into the car during the crash, and Aidan’s had been crushed. Fortunately, help wasn’t too far away.
    “Wow, you certainly know how to go out with a bang.” The female deputy stared at the wreckage, whistling appreciatively. “That’s not gonna buff out.”
    The flames had been put out quickly enough once the fire department truck had arrived. The officer, who Aidan had introduced as Deputy Mackenzie, had arrived first, and given Aidan a blanket to cover himself with.
    Good. Because Ever hadn’t liked the idea of anyone but her seeing the Sheriff’s junk.
    Which was beyond silly. He wasn’t hers or