Bearing It All (Grizzly Affairs Book 1) by Magenta Phoenix Page A

neck down over her, until his nose was nearly kissing hers.
    “Don’t be too long. Doyle will have my head if he comes back and you are nowhere to be seen.” He whispered with a boyish grin. Releasing a pent up breath as she laughed softly, looking away she nodded.
    “I’ll just go grab a jacket.” She murmured, pointing her small thumb over her shoulder at Doyle’s room. Fighting against the urge not to run into the adjacent room, she listened as Robert abruptly lowered himself back onto the couch with a manly groan.
    Entering the bedroom, she quietly closed the door behind her. No sooner than the door slid shut, she rushed to the dresser. Throwing the top drawer open, she snagged three pairs of socks. Sitting down on the bed she shoved her cold feet into them as quickly as she could, taking the extra socks, she stuffed them deep down into each boot. Pulling on each boot and tightening the laces as much as her nimble fingers could manage she was able to make the shoes a much better fit than earlier.
    Standing, she searched the room for anything she could lift for later use. On the dresser she discovered a sheathed six inch hunting knife that she quickly tucked down the side of one of her boots. Beside the knife was a simple man’s black leather wallet, jerking it open she found a small wad of cash and one credit card. Shoving that in the opposite boot, her eyes caught a flash of green from behind her. Walking around the side of the bed, she discovered a jacket lying in a heap on the floor, knowing that at some point she’d need it she quickly shrugged it on. The material was thick and warm, while carrying Doyle’s spicy scent.
    Walking to the window, she opened it. She couldn’t prevent her eyes rolling in aggravation when she saw an outer screen preventing her immediate escape. Glancing over her shoulder with apprehension, she turned back to the window with a look of determination. No matter how she gripped it, the screen wouldn’t budge.  Raising her right leg and she gave the stubborn screen a kick, sending it flying out into the side yard.
    With a smile of accomplishment, she crawled out the window with little difficultly. The side yard led down an incline leading away from the cabin. She could only hope that it would lead her to the nearest town. Without thinking, she took off in a light jog through the thick icy powder.
     
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    “Your mother will want you to bring your mate to supper soon, maybe you could…”
    His father’s words seemed to become muted in the back of his mind as Doyle gazed up at the snow sheathed trees. He’d begun half listening to his father as he’d lectured on the importance of preparing Aria for what her life would become now. His father had quickly switched to other important pack matters, never lingering on a certain topic once the information was imparted.
    He wanted to get back inside so much that his bear was using his insides as a scratching post. He hungered for her in every way possible for him to want something. He longed to hold her close to him, to breathe in her scent and memorize it like a priest would all the Holy Scriptures. He wanted to be near her as she laughed at one of his brother’s awful jokes. In just a few short hours she’d become his own personal drug that he refused to quit.
    Like a whipped puppy, his solemn eyes sought out the living room window to taken in another addictive sight of her. His body jerked to a halt when he only saw his brother’s wide shoulders. His bear groaned in trepidation at the lost sight of his mate. Where was she? Stalking past his still speaking father, he all but kicked the front door open in his rush to get inside.
    Looming in the door way, his collection of senses searched out their mate. Her scent was present, but it was faint. Jerking his eyes to Robert, whom was browsing though a magazine with his shoeless feet propped on top of the coffee table, he quickly approached the couch.
    “Where is Aria? I told