Free Big Bear: BBW Bear Shifter Paranormal Romance (BRIDES Fur BEARS Book 4) by Natalie Kristen

tail.
    Nick refused to give up. He wasn't going to lie down and die. Not when his mate was still in danger.
    He clawed his way across the forest floor as Sinclair lunged for Zoe.
    He saw a flurry of feathers and white fur, and he tried harder to reach them but they seemed to be receding from him.
    As his head hit the ground, Nick heard angry roars and voices coming towards them.
    His ears pricked up. He recognized those roars.
    “Josh, Jax...”
    Nick looked up just in time to see the twins bursting through the trees.
    Josh and Jax shifted into their bear forms simultaneously and attacked Sinclair together.
    The Carlan twins were powerful bears, but Sinclair was a formidable fighter. He had an arsenal of deadly weapons—his venom, his sharp, saber-like fangs and claws.
    But Josh and Jax worked as a team, a unit. The twins could read and anticipate each other's moves, and they used their wits against their common enemy. Zoe aided them, attacking Sinclair from the air. When the tiger leaped up and tried to claw at her, she drove her talons right into Sinclair's eyes.
    Quick as lightning, the twins pinned Sinclair down. Zoe stood over Sinclair and pressed her talons over his heart. She didn't give him any time to struggle. With a shrill, pained cry, she dug into his chest and tore out his heart.
    Nick tried to keep his eyes open as he started shivering uncontrollably. He suddenly felt very cold, and so very tired.
    Hands supported him, and he blinked up to see Gramma and Ne-ma bending over him.
    He blinked again. Was he hallucinating? “Gramma, Ne-ma…?” What were the two little old ladies doing here in the middle of nowhere?
    “Shhh,” Gramma said. “Don't speak. Breathe as slowly as you can. Don't let the venom spread so quickly.”
    Ne-ma gestured frantically to Zoe. “Come here, Zoe. Oh my, you are so beautiful. I saw a griffin once when I was a little girl...”
    “Neveah!” Gramma yelled. “Focus!”
    “Right, right. Sorry. Zoe, give me that tiger heart. Don't drop it. Careful now,” Ne-ma instructed.
    Nick opened his eyes and saw that Zoe had shifted back to her human form. She held him tightly with her bloodstained hands and bent to kiss him.
    Her tears fell and splashed onto his cheek.
    Nick tried to reach up and dry her tears but he couldn't move a muscle. He smiled at her tenderly.
    I love you forever.
    Jax and Josh crouched beside him. They had shifted back to human, and there was blood on their hands and faces.
    “Don't you close your eyes, Nick,” Josh growled at him. “Don't you dare close your eyes! We'll get you to the hospital. Come on! Let's go!”

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

    Nick inhaled a sharp, noisy breath and his eyes flew wide open. He stared up at the bright light above him and wondered for a moment if he was seeing that famed light that everyone was supposed to see at the end of the tunnel.
    Well, if he saw the light, that meant that he had lived a good enough life and would now be going to a better place…
    Except—he didn't want to go to a better place. He was perfectly happy where he was. In fact, he had never been happier. He had found his mate. They would build a beautiful little family and live happily ever after.
    “Nick! Nick, you're awake!”
    “Doctor! Someone call the doctor!”
    “And the nurse...”
    “Zoe is a nurse, dumbass!”
    Nick winced at the bombardment of loud, excited voices. A circle of faces appeared above him. The circle broke up when Zoe pushed forward and captured his face in both her hands.
    “Zoe...” He called out her name in a hoarse whisper.
    Nick surprised himself with his strength as he gripped Zoe tightly to him. A flood of emotions crashed over him. He had never felt so blissful, grateful and relieved in his life. Life, glorious life! He was alive! And he had his brave, beautiful mate in his arms.
    Zoe dried her eyes quickly and smiled at him. He saw that there were dark circles under her eyes, and she looked gaunt and pale. She looked like she