Free Mandy's Story by D'Elen McClain Page A

responsibilities to see I am
happy and content. Then and only then will you earn my
respect.”
    She saw his hand coming in to grab her,
but took a quick leap back. The stupid bear probably thought he
would be kissing her again.
    His deep-throated growl only inflamed
her temper more. She turned away and started running. She didn’t
hear him behind her and after she found herself deep in the woods,
she stopped. Of all the insufferable, pig headed, misguided beasts,
Honey was her jackass of a mate. She knew she could find her way
back to the cabin, so she decided to explore on her own.
    “ Psst.”
    Mandy stopped and looked around. She
spun when she heard a laugh behind her. A small child stood
slightly behind a tree. The boy looked like a refugee in torn
clothes with choppily cut, too long hair and dirt smudges on his
face. “Oh, um… hi. Who are you?”
    His small chest swelled. “I am
Patreous, son of Tyboll the Terrible.”
    It was such an outlandish way to
introduce himself that she had to fight back laughter. “Well
Patreous, son of Tyboll the Terrible, I am Mandy, mate to Honey the
Hell Spawn. It’s nice to meet you.”
    He looked her up and down. “You’re
small for beastkind.”
    “ I was thinking the same
thing about you,” she quipped back.
    “ But I shall grow to be
ten times your size and use my paw to swat you like a fly.”
Patreous’s hand flew through the air in a swatting
motion.
    Mandy rolled her eyes. These darned
bears became insufferable at a very early age. “Hell Spawn
mentioned you like to run.”
    “ My father says you’re
just a lowly wolf. I can run much faster than you.”
    Well, apparently Tyboll the Terrible
was on the same page as her mate and she shouldn’t be surprised.
“Then let’s make a bet. If you can’t beat me back to my cabin,
you’ll let me trim your hair.”
    “ Stupid woman, of course I
shall win. What do I get as my reward?” He looked at her as if she
were a flea.
    Mandy held back her frustration at his
condescending attitude. He was, after all, only a child. “Homemade
chocolate chip cookies.”
    “ Do you wish a head
start?” Even smaller than her, he managed to appear like he was
looking down his nose.
    She decided to take the arrogance out
of this pint-sized chauvinist by winning their race. “No. Do
you?”
    Mandy fought laughter when his look of
superiority turned to disgust. She removed her clothing. Patreous
did the same, and then they both shifted. His bear was larger than
Mandy’s wolf, but she knew it would be her best
advantage.
    “ You are a smelly wolf.”
The imperious words shot through Mandy’s head.
    “ And you are a stinky
bear. Why don’t you give the signal to begin the race?”
    He made an obvious sound of bear
disgruntlement before his countdown. “Three, two, one.”
    They both took off.
    Mandy wasn’t as familiar with her
surroundings and she realized the bear had an advantage. She
stretched her legs and stayed a few feet behind Patreous as he led
the way home. Finally, they shot out of the trees into a clearing
and she put on a burst of speed she’d been holding back. With a
giant leap, she landed on the porch and a split second behind her,
Patreous made his final jump.
    She shifted and held her side as she
tried to keep her breath. “I won,” she said with glee.
    Patreous breathed hard, but stayed in
his bear form. “You cheated,” he said into her mind between gulping
breaths.
    Faked outrage entered her voice. “Why
you sniveling cub… I did not cheat.”
    A roar sounded from deep in his chest
and Mandy couldn’t help herself. She started laughing.
    The broken cabin door moved aside and
Honey came out looking irritated. “I’m afraid to ask what’s going
on.” He gave the small bear a pointed stare.
    Patreous moved back off the steps of
the porch, his head hanging low. “I’m sorry, Honey the Hell Spawn.
I need to go home.”
    Mandy advanced on the young bear. “Now
wait just a moment. You must pay your end