Too Much To Bear: BBW Shifter Romance (Shifters of Spellholm Forest - The Bears) by Harmony Raines Read Free Book Online Page B

caught up with Beck, he was dropping down into a small valley. There was the sound of a stream running nearby, and the trees thinned, small saplings growing in the spaces where large oaks had once stood. This area had been cleared, old stumps of trees that had been cut down many years ago, now all covered in moss.
    "Is this it?" Jenny asked.
    "That depends on what it is."
    They all turned, even Beck as a bear, had walked straight past the old woman sat statue like on an old stump not too far away. Jenny felt her heart pounding in her chest, and wanted more than anything to leave. A shudder passed through her, and then all at once Beck was beside her, a little in front, placing himself protectively between her and the old woman. Her fingers curled into his fur, and the bear stiffened, and then relaxed into her, his big solid body pressed against her leg.
    She grinned, and rose to stand in front of them. "Now, why are you here? I'm old and don't like being disturbed."
    Paris spoke first. "I've come to ask if you can tell me whether or not I will change when I come of age."
    Cocking her head on one side, the old woman studied Paris closely. "And what do you offer in return?"
    "Oh. I didn't think of that. What do you normally charge?"
    "You must have read the fairy tales about how these things go. It's your choice, either your soul, or your first born child." The old woman still fixed Paris with her old wise eyes.
    "I...I didn't realise."
    Paris looked at Jenny, who in turn looked down at Beck, whose bear body was vibrating. Then she relaxed. "She's joking, Paris."
    The old woman burst into laughter. "I had you though, didn't I? If you hadn't had him with you, I could have had some real fun with this." She pointed at Beck. "But you've been here before my boy, haven't you? Listen, I'll go put the kettle on, while he changes into a form that will fit through my door. I don't mind the smaller ones in my cottage, but bears can do so much damage."
    She hobbled off, her legs stiff. Jenny wondered how long she had been sat on the stump. Maybe she had known they were coming, that thought chilled her. Maybe her parents were right not to question the future. A soft nuzzling at her hand took her mind away from the many questions she had, and back to her bear.
    "I'm going to out Beck's clothes behind those bushes, they're not very thick, but we can look the other way," Jenny said.
    Paris looked a little shocked, and Jenny wondered if she were regretting coming after all. However, she nodded, so Jenny pulled Beck's clothes out of her bag, and set them down for him. Promising herself she would not look, she went back to Paris, where they stood staring at the little cottage, both lost in their own thoughts, while the air buzzed as Beck became human again.
    "Ready?" he asked. "Last chance to back out."
    "Paris?"
    "I need to know. Even if she can't tell me about the change, then she might at least have knowledge of my father. We've come this far, I'm going in. But if you want to stay here, it's OK."
    "No. I'm with you. Beck?"
    "Not letting you out of my sight. And I want to hear what she has to say."
    Jenny remembered the old lady’s words. "You've done this before. Asked her advice?"
    "Yep. Don’t to take everything she says literally. It can mess with your life."
    Jenny wanted to ask more, to find out what he meant, but a shout from inside the cottage proclaimed the tea was ready.
    Beck took the lead, heading down the small incline to the wooden cottage. He pushed the door open, and went inside; Jenny went next with Paris behind. It was darker in the small hallway than it had been outside, the gloom making it hard to see until their eyes had adjusted. The air was thick with the smell of drying herbs, and along the walls little glass bottles lined rough wooden shelves. In days long ago Mother Hart would have been burnt at the stake for witchcraft, thought Jenny, trying to make out the scrawly writing printed on the labels.
    "Come in, come in,"