Heat Wave (California Bears #1) Read Online Free Page A

And now, he had to go find her—save her, before it was too late.
    “Get on!” Rogue roared at Marlow. Marlow’s body stiffened as she hesitated to get on the back of the bike. Then she took a deep breath and hopped on. They blazed down to the dark L.A. streets, swerving through traffic and speeding through red lights.
    Rogue growled to himself. “Callie, I’m coming.”

Chapter Nine
    E verything smelled like dirt and it made Callie twitch her nose. Callie stomped her bare feet in the grass as she struggled against her restraints. Charged looked out ahead, devoid of emotion. Two hulking werebears, Strike and Savage, crunched on fish bones. One of them came lumbering towards Callie with lustful eyes. Hot drool watered from his mouth.
    Callie, with her wrists tied behind her back, tried to shove him away, but the giant bear fiercely nuzzled its nose against her warm breasts and then stuck out its sopping wet tongue and licked her face.
    “God, you have the worst breath!” Callie squealed, getting sick of werebears or were-whatevers already.
    “I think I see something out there,” Charge said seeing a light break on the horizon.
    Strike and Ravage shuffled around with their jaws turned up in a snarl.
    Suddenly, the lights disappeared in the dark.
    “What kind of game do you think you’re playing, Rogue...” Charge grunted glowering into the night.
    Charge then hit down on the earth hard and roared in the air. Dark black fur pierced through his skin and claws violently grew out of his nails. Charge brashly sniffed the air—now completely transformed as a werebear. He stalked through the dirt seeking out any scent of Rogue on his territory.
    “ Coward !” Charge ferociously growled. “What are you hiding for? Do you want to save your precious bitch or not?”
    Suddenly, a brown blur vaulted out of the darkness, pouncing on top of Charge and knocking him over. Charge whirled around, lifting his shaggy arm and slamming his paw heavy against the earth. Rogue barreled out of the way and roused up to his haunches.
    “We don’t have to fight Charge, just give me Callie and I’ll never cross into your territory again,” Rogue grunted, fixing his gaze onto Charge.
    Rogue knew that he had to watch his back, or Charge’s clan would try to ambush him.
    “There’s only one way out of this Rogue. It’s either her life—or, yours,” Charge laughed in the pit of his heavy stomach ready to attack Rogue at any moment. Rogue now saw there was no reasoning with his enemy, and he had to fight him to the death.
    Rogue trampled towards Charge and gripped his back with his claws. With a forceful rip, Rogue snatched out a chunk of Charge’s fur when he bit down on his back leg.
    “ Rogue !” Callie blurted out, recognizing his dark red eyes.
    Marlow stayed close to the ground, straying towards Callie so she could untie her. She, too, noticed the two bears circling around her best friend and keeping watch. An idea came to Marlow’s head. She scooped up a few rocks and then tossed them out in the dirt.
    The bears’ ears twitched. And one of them quickly nodded to the other, giving the bear permission to check out the noise. In that second, Marlow hoisted up a rock and hurled it at the back of the remaining bear’s soft furry head.
    The bear collapsed over on its side—out like a light.
    “Marlow...” Callie started to shout, but her voice softened when she saw her best friend press her finger against her lips.
    “You’ve got to keep quiet, okay? We’ll get you out of this...” Marlow whispered untying Callie’s ropes.
    Meanwhile, Charge and forced Rogue on his back, thundering all of his weight on Rogue’s chest.
    “Guess, this is one stunt you won’t be able to fight your way out of?” Charge growled with a wicked grin spreading across his wet hot muzzle.
    Slowly, Charge lifted his heavy paw. Again, he moved to lash Rogue one last time across the face.
    Rogue rammed his back legs into Charge’s low hanging