Free Silent Bear: Paranormal Holiday Shape Shifter Romance (North Pole Book 2) by Ruby Shae

Chapter One
     
    Tracey Johnson pushed open the large wooden door of the enforcer’s lodge and slipped through the tiny opening she’d created. The barn-like interior had several changing rooms, similar to stalls with doors, and a few offices in the back.
    She didn’t see anyone, bear or human, so she walked toward the back of the building. One of the offices boomed with laughter as six men listened to another’s funny patrol story. Something to do with a bear waving at a helicopter.
    The enforcers were polar bear shifters who protected Santa’s Village. They ran patrols around the North Pole and kept visitors away from the nearly invisible entrance into their home. The months of November and December were usually heavy with traffic, but she’d heard rumors there had been little activity since Halloween. The irregular activity didn’t sit well with most of the men, so it was nice to hear them laugh at old stories.
    When the laughter died down, she rapped on the door with one manicured hand. Seven pairs of eyes in varying shades of blue turned to look at her. Every single man was tall, broad and beautiful. Their distinct features made them look like brothers, and each one could easily land a modeling contract. Unfortunately, only one man made her weak in the knees and he wasn’t in the group.
    “Hey guys,” she said casually. “Is Quinn back?”
    One of the men pointed to a stall with the door closed and they went back to talking amongst themselves. She understood their apprehension. Quinn had been in a bad mood for nearly ten years and he wouldn’t be happy to see her. She didn’t care. She didn’t want to see him either.
    She looked around one last time and climbed a stool to look over the stall. She knew he wouldn’t be naked, shifters remained fully clothed during both shifts, from human to animal and back, but she enjoyed teasing him. He was the one man she knew would never take her seriously, and she didn’t want him too.
    “There you are!” she said.
    He looked up, an annoyed expression on his face.
    “What are you doing in here? This building is for enforcers only,” he barked.
    The lodge was their headquarters, but anyone could visit at any time. The building wasn’t off limits to anyone.
    “Santa wants to see you. I volunteered to bring you the message.”
    “Message received, now get out of here.” He spat the words harsher than usual, and for some reason it pissed her off.
    “Quinn Miller, you are an arrogant—”
    “Hey, Tracey. Don’t waste your time on Quinn,” said another voice.
    Her smile grew when Mark, Quinn’s best friend, jumped on the first step of the stool and joined her in looking at his friend.
    “You should know by now that we call him Grumpy Bear for a reason,” Mark flashed a huge smile, and her pussy tingled at the thought of what his mouth could do to her.
    She did know about Quinn’s nickname. It was one of the reasons she’d chosen him to flirt with.
    Quinn glared at Mark, but his friend ignored him, unaffected by the grumpy man.
    The heat of Mark’s arm warmed hers and the smell of fresh fallen snow wafted toward her. He’d probably returned recently from a patrol, though you’d never know it. His perfect physique didn’t show an ounce of fatigue.
    Every shifter had platinum, almost white, blond hair, and at six feet, five inches tall, he towered over her five foot, five inch frame. His heavily muscled, broad chest easily expanded double the width of her, and though he had blue eyes like most of the bears, his were a deep sapphire blue.
    She wanted to drag him into one of the stalls and kiss him until he slid his hard cock deep inside her and took her against the wall. The thought of his big, hard body holding her up and fucking her made her pussy ache with need. She needed to change the subject.
    “Yeah, you’re right,” she said. “I guess that will never change. Santa wants to see you, Grumpy,” she said and then turned toward Mark. “Want to buy