Bear's Heart: BBW Paranormal Shifter Romance (Bear Heat Book 5) Read Online Free Page B

blew out the ten candles on his birthday cake. She
had baked the cake herself, and it was in the shape of...a bear. She
had bought a teddy bear for Luke with her own pocket money when he
was a tiny tot. Boo was Luke's oldest toy. The ragged, rugged teddy
bear sported stitches across his tummy and rump, and he was missing
an eye but Luke still kept him around. Jade had baked the cake to
celebrate Boo in his heyday.
    It was Luke's birthday, but
he had made her a small present. A hair clip. They had always been
close, and Luke was a sweet boy.
    She still had the hair clip.
She kept it in a box with her earrings and other accessories. Luke
had been crazy about spiders at that age, so of course he had
skilfully and proudly fashioned the hair clip into the shape of a
spider. Jade smiled at the memory. She had worn it once just to
show her appreciation, but she hadn't felt too comfortable wearing a
spider in her hair. She thought it looked rather silly. But now
that she thought about it, the hair clip was kinda cool. Maybe she
should take it out of the box and wear it again. Not to work, but on
a date maybe?
    Jade let out a small laugh.
    Now she was really letting
her imagination run wild. She hadn't been on a date in God knows how
long. Her last relationship had ended three years ago, about the
same time her parents passed away. Luke had been building a solid
career for himself in the city police force, but he had rushed home
when she told him that their mother had suffered a relapse. Their
mother had won her battle with cancer years ago, but the disease had
reared its ugly head again and this time, with her advanced age,
cancer had emerged the victor in this final battle. Barely a month
after their mother passed away, their dad had a heart attack. Luke
had extended his leave and stayed with her for more than a month.
She cried almost every day, and he was worried for her. But she had
finally pulled herself together and told him to go back to the city.
He had a good, meaningful job, and she had to get her life back on
track. She still had her job in the restaurant, and she would take
care of their family home.
    She threw herself into her
work in the restaurant and her household chores. All her
relationships had gone nowhere, ending in tears and heartbreak.
Frankly, she was sick and tired of all the drama and lies. She just
wanted some peace and quiet, and if that meant she would remain
single for the rest of her life, so be it.
    Jade continued tapping the
rock intermittently as she let her thoughts wander. She would think
about her past, her future, everything except her present
predicament.
    She thought of her brother.
Luke had always been a bright boy. She knew that he would make
something of himself when he left their small town and moved to the
city.
    He had been doing so well in
the police force. He had struggled to come to terms with his Change,
but now, he was doing fine in the Black Bears Group as well.
    Jade had met some of Luke's
clan members. They were all warm, friendly and welcoming. She had
even spoken to his mentor, Dylan, over the phone.
    Jade remembered that deep,
baritone voice well. Dylan had assured her that Luke was making
excellent progress and doing really well.
    “Dylan,” she
murmured absently. She hadn't had the chance to meet him face to
face. She had been so busy with the sale of the house, packing,
moving to the city, finding a job. Everything had been done in such
a rush she hardly had time to catch her breath.
    Jade cocked her head at the
faint scratching sound above her. Was someone there?

CHAPTER
TEN

    “Hello...” Jade
called out weakly and coughed.
    The scratching sound
intensified.
    “Hello...h-help...please
help me...” she wheezed. She could hear a grating sound, like
something heavy being dragged across the ground. She waited, her
heart pounding furiously.
    Had someone heard her? She
spat out the sand in her mouth and tried to call out again. But her
throat felt too dry.
    “Hello!