Bear Unbound: A BBW Bear-Shifter Romance (Shift Your Fate Book 1) by Cara Wylde Page B

it.
    “You don’t have to do this alone,” he whispered.
    “You don’t know my husband.”
    Tyler sighed and ran his hand through his disheveled hair. “I do, Amber. You have no idea…” He bit his lip before he added more.
    He was dying to tell her he had known all along. He had known who Stephan Castell was since the first day she had told him about him. He should have said something then, ten years ago. Why hadn’t he? Had he really thought Stephan wouldn’t be like his father, and his grandfather, and all the men before them? This was all his fault.
    Amber closed her eyes and took a couple of focused breaths.
    “Please, I need some time to think about it. I saw my attorney today and things are worse than I thought. Then, Stephan practically told me he’s been aware of my every move since I came to New York… I can’t deal with all this right now, I need time and space to put my thoughts in order.”
    He wanted to protest, but instead he whispered: “Okay, sweetie. I understand.”
    “Thank you. Thank you so much, Tyler. I…” She was just about to say “I love you” when Rebecca entered the kitchen. “I have to go.”
    “Sure.”
    “Talk to you later.”
    Becca took a sip of tea and scrunched up her nose when she realized it was cold.
    “So, are you ready to tell me everything?” she asked.
    Amber smiled and motioned for her to take a seat at the kitchen table. She took her own cup of tea from the counter and sat down opposite Becca. The story was long and complicated, and she had to finish it before Ava woke up.
     
    ***
     
    The rich scent of wood and moss invaded his nostrils, and the brown bear inhaled hungrily. Oh, how he had missed running through the woods, rolling on the grass and twigs, chasing small animals for fun! He stopped when he reached the edge of a stream and stood up on two legs, head held high so he could sniff the air and check if there was any human around. He didn’t expect to meet anyone this late at night, as he was in the part of the Reservation which was least appealing to hikers, but he could never be too careful. When humans freaked out, they could do some crazy things. Satisfied, the huge bear fell back on all fours and took a long sip of cold water before turning around and launching himself in a new round of running, rolling, and chasing squirrels.
    After talking to Amber, Tyler had finished his work quickly so he could leave his office two hours earlier. Once at his apartment, he threw a couple of clothes into a bag, hopped in his car, and drove up to his remote cabin on the Blue Mountain Reservation. He needed to let off some steam. He needed to be in the middle of nature and let the bear take over for a couple of hours. Since he had tasted Amber’s soft skin and worshiped all her curves the night before, he couldn’t think straight. Yes, he would have loved for her to join him, but on the other hand, he too needed some time to think.
    Tired of running around, the brown bear strolled lazily back to the cabin. The wind was ruffling his fur, and he felt invigorated. It was good to let go from time to time. That’s why Tyler had bought this small cabin in the most isolated part of the Reservation: so he could escape the crowded city when he felt he had kept his bear caged for too long. It had taken him years to control it so well, to tame the beast into submission, and he was pretty proud of his achievement. Only a very well trained eye could have told he wasn’t entirely human. Not even another shape-shifter could have figured it out. And it was all because Tyler had perfected the art of hiding among humans, of behaving exactly like them, of burying his bear so deep underneath his skin that sometimes he could barely even hear the animal’s growls. Then Amber showed up and started messing with his head.
    Back at his cabin, he turned on the small porch and grabbed the clothes he had left on the floor. Entering the cozy living room, he rolled his shoulders and