Free The Bear In Me: A BBW Bear Shifter Romance by Amy Star

forest.
                 
    “If they’re hurt down there, they don’t have a day to wait. I can’t wait for the rescue party to try and get there on foot. That storm is going to be here in a matter of hours.”
                 
    “You didn’t answer my question,” Lily said, turning her wide cheeks toward him. She looked worried.
                 
    Sam shrugged and let out a big sigh. “When we’re in Form, we’re a lot stronger and more durable. Technically, if we’re flying low enough over that river, I should be able to…” he paused, “…jump. It’ll be a hard landing, but I can survive it.”
                 
    “No,” Lily said flatly.
                 
    “There’s no other way.”
                 
    “You’re talking about suicide, Sam!” Lily bleated.
                 
    “We protect our own,” he reminded her, “I’ll get us in a flight pattern over the river. You just keep it steady. When I jump, you head back to Trapper Creek and you stay there. Do you understand?”
                 
    “Sam,” she shook her head again.
                 
    He reached over and touched the top of her head fondly. “I’m too stubborn to die.” He said softly, “and you’d kill me twice-over if I don’t fix your plumbing.”
                 
    It was a bad joke, but Lily let out a little sob and nodded, placing her hands on the second steering column as Sam made a last pass and dove in low over the ravine. The river had a straight patch for almost a kilometer, but it was still mind-numbing to be this close to the ground. Trees flashed by dangerously on either side as they hovered meters above the raging torrent. Sam let go of the controls and jumped into the back of the plane, opening the side door. A gust of cold wind slammed hard into both of them as Lily tried to hold the plane steady.
                 
    “Save her.” Lily said once over her shoulder.
                 
    Sam merely nodded and tore off his shirt, already half-transforming. The plane swerved slightly to the left as he turned into the Bear, the extra weight displacing the center of balance, and Lily grunted and tried to correct. Then, Sam jumped.
                 
    He was still only half in Form when he leapt out of the plane, and as he struck the cold glacial run-off he couldn’t help but let out a growling gasp. The torrent ripped at his muscly hide, flattening the dark brown pelt of hair. He growled again, and his muzzle burst from the water as he clawed at the water, trying to tread water. A stone under the water slammed into his side and he let out a moan and dug in with his huge claws.
                 
    In a matter of minutes he had dragged himself onto the shore. The buzz of the plane overhead shook the air and he looked up and saw Lily making a last pass, and saw her smiling in relief through the window of the cockpit.
                 
    He lifted his nose to the air and tested the scents. Smoke, metal. Instinct kicked in and he started to run, blitzing up the bank and into the cool shade of the canopy, his paws tearing up the earth as he ran. Desperation locked into his bloodstream as he ran, huffing every step of the way, his massive lungs filling with the smells of the forest.
                 
    Only one image burned itself against the inside of his mind. Emily .
     
    It took him less than twenty minutes to find the wreckage site. The plane was still intact, but he approached warily. If the hunters were still there, seeing a giant bear would definitely arouse suspicion. As he bore down on the back of the plane he kept sniffing the air. Emily and Al’s scent was present but he couldn’t hear any movement.
                 
    As he rounded the plane his heart sunk – leaning against the side of the plane was Al, and he looked in a bad way. He was propped