Free BearTrapped by Jaide Fox

unhappy grumbles.
    ***
    Indecision took hold with an agonizing grip. Kimber knew she shouldn’t run from the larger predator , that it would only provoke him further , but she had a little advantage with the distance. The possibility to outrun the much larger bear was slim, but she knew she couldn’t fight him on her own. Her only chance was to get ahead, find someplace to hide, and hope like hell he didn’t pursue her.
    Breaking her trance, Kimber whirled around and scrambled up the rocky incline, ignoring the sudden stitch in her side as ever y muscle in her body revolted with surging adrenaline. Snow-slicked rocks tumbled loose, clamoring down to strike around her pursuer as she barreled upward. The sound they made striking against one another created a hollow echo.
    She imagined the beast right behind her, could practically smell its fetid, fishy breath breathing down her neck. Fear and dread heightened her senses to horrific proportions, flooding her mind with images of jagged claws and teeth ripping into her. She used her horror as fuel, pressing forward, feeling tears sting her eyes and her breath harsh in her throat.
    Another roar ripped through the countrys ide. Flinching, she flung a backward glance to see how much time she had left to live. A second bear hurtled toward her attacker, smaller but no less deadly.
    “Braeden!” she said , recognizing him at last. She choked on a scream and bit her knuckles.
    He barreled into the larger, darker bear, forcing the beast to slide down the loo se, gravelly path. Snow burst with the impact , powdering the air like tossed flour. Braeden growled deeply, long and loud as he shoved the aggressor back with his head and shoulder , squaring off to protect his territory .
    He was angling the bear towards the shore, away from the path leading up to her, using his head and shoulders to batter against the other. His foe growled and snapped . When they locked snouts over each other’s faces, Kimber gasped in fear, expecting to see blood. Enormous paws struck chest and s houlders , making horrendous, audible thumps . Kimber’s heart leapt into her throat, as they vied for domination. They were nearly the same size and coloring, making it difficult to keep track of which one was Braeden in the flurry of movement.
    Jerking free, Braeden’s beast stood on its haunches, holding his great paws up to strike his foe down. Now she could see he was smaller than his opponent, imitating a twisted dance of slapping paws and bravado. The rival bear slipped on the shoreline, falling onto his back as Braeden dropped over him. She swallowed a lump in her throat, her insides twisting with dread as t he bear latched onto Braeden’s ear, struggling to push him off. Braeden dug his back feet into the ground, shoving, biting, and twisting.
    Their moves turned sluggish as exhaustion set in—she could see the slowed reaction of the bigger bear as he struggled back to his feet and tiredly hit Braeden, locking jaws one more time before releasing each other. The bigger bear dropped his head, huffing as he slowly backed away from Braeden down the beach.
    Braeden watched him go, breathing in great puffs as his foe—beaten—retreated.
    The blood that roared in her ears finally dulled as relief set in. When the rogue bear was no longer in sight, Braeden approached her. She held up her hands to stop him. “I’m okay. Go get your stuff and let’s head back to the cave.”
    He nodded his great head and rushed down the beach back to where he’d appeared from. Moments later, he returned in his human form, dressed haphazardly with his shirt and cloak askew and carrying a string of fish. The worried expression on his face couldn’t begin to echo the relief she felt seeing him safe and whole.
    “ That was a rogue . I thought they’d all fled the area, but h e must have smelled me cleaning fish up river,” Braeden said when he stopped in front of her. “That or…”
    All she wanted to do was hug him tight