Free Claimed By The Military Bear: BBW Paranormal Shapeshifter Romance Standalone (Paranormal Shifter Romance, BBW Shifter Romance, WereBear Romance) by Alicia Wild Page A

looped around her neck and around the small ring, tying mother and child together. And now, as Melissa ran through dark woods and ominous shadows, her hand clenched around that meek little band and found her courage.
    Melissa had had enough for that man’s cruelty. Twenty seven years of life, and Melissa finally grew into her legs, and her legs were strong enough to spirit her away.
    “The girl belongs to me,” that man had said.
    “I will not sell her so easily.”
    The words were quiet, and Melissa had feared being caught that evening when fate through a decision into her path.
    Through a crack in the door, the young brunette saw the face of a smirking man, dressed impeccably and smelling of something sickeningly sweet.
    “You carry debts, Oren. Many that could be forgiven. She’s a beautiful woman now, and that sort of beauty would best serve us in one of our many estates.”
    “She’s plain and boring,” that man grunted.
    “Why not take something else?”
    “You could always pay your debts with your life.”
    Fate pressed urgency in Melissa’s chest. “You? Or the girl…? Which will it be?”
    Melissa did not wait for an answer, the ring burned against her palm.
    She turned and, as quiet as she could, escaped.
    She had nothing to her name. No prospects. Not even a shred of hope that anyone could help her. Yet she could feel fire and hatred burn inside, stiffen her neck from bowing to vicious wishes and allow a clarity in her mind she had not allowed herself since Aaron was ripped away.
    Melissa let her feet take her far and deep into the woods, biting back sobs of pain and fear as her hair flew like brown ribbons behind her, and urging her weary body to continue to take steps away from that evil man.
    She had no idea for how long she ran for, knowing only that she had to keep pushing. Her body was not athletic, nor was it thin.
    Years of living passively made her muscles burn and clench uncomfortably, made her skin feel heavier than before, yet Melisssa knew better than to stop.
    The light of day was gone, and the trees loomed thickly above her. Black branches sliced through whatever moonlight tried to filter through, leaving her in pitch darkness and the sound of her only breath.
    Her body was shivering, the jeans over her legs rubbing against cold bitten skin, her shirt damp with sweat. Even her favorite wool coat could do nothing to push away the chill.
    Heaving, Melissa stopped by a tree, nearly tripping over a bush. She collapsed against the trunk, hands scraping over the wood as she tried to gather her breath.
    A new wave of agony washed over her, forcing her heaving gasps to morph into half squeezed sobs. Her head felt tight with anguish and with a grunt of effort, Melissa pushed herself to her feet. She couldn’t just fall now.
    But where should she go now?
    Deeper into the forest? Deeper into an unknown that offered nothing but the risk of death?
    A bitter thought flicked behind her eyes, making her glance down at the scratched skin of her palms.
    Perhaps that’s all that’s left for me…
    And then she felt it. The cold surface of her mother’s ring shift over the shivering skin of her chest.
    No…
    No she couldn’t give in now. Her mother would never forgive her if she just succumbed to hatred and anger, sadness and sorrow. She would survive this. No matter what.
    Biting down on her lip, Melissa pushed herself away from the tree. She would survive. Straightening her shoulders, the young woman began to walk ahead, feeling determination rise beside her constant worry of the dark. She was almost prepared to shove it completely aside until something changed.
    Melissa felt her skin tighten into attention, a hyperawareness that made her feel like she was being watched.
    Adrenaline rushed through her blood, making her turn around and try to see in the dark. Her pupils were blown under the panic, the fear that something was out there and caught whatever light it could into something dangerous. And