Page 34 of Midlife Animal Rescuer Bear

Cal’s inner bear reared its head with a growl. His eyes narrowed. “What did you just say?”

It was taking every bit of his willpower to keep still. He’d bolted from the sanctuary after reading Melissa’s text, and had sprinted halfway to Melissa’s before he realized he could’ve taken a vehicle. By the time he arrived at her house, forcing down the front door, he’d found it empty. Then he’d headed into the home of the only other person she’d mentioned in that text.

The sight of those taxidermy heads had almost made him throw up. In that moment, two things had clicked in his head.

One: Dale was behind the animal attacks. He was some kind of hunter, and his dog was responsible for the injuries on the carcasses Cal had found.

Two: Dale had Melissa.

He’d only guessed they would be in the woods. And he’d been right.

“Cal,” Melissa gasped.

He shifted his gaze to her and felt a surge of rage. She was bound to a tree, her hands tied at the wrists. Tears glinted in her eyes as she looked at him. Cal ground his teeth together, suppressing the sudden urge to go over to Dale and rip his head off his shoulders.

“You’re going to be okay,” he assured her. “Don’t worry.”

Dale gave a snicker. “You’re outnumbered two to one, Cal.”

“I already called the police.” Cal balled his fists. He still had no idea what the man’s motivations were exactly. But he’d put Melissa’s life in danger. That was enough reason to take him down. “They should be here any minute now.”

The other man’s eyes flashed. “In that case, there’s no time for chit-chat.” He nodded toward his dog. “Leto? Kill this joker for me, will you?”

The dog growled again. Then she lunged.

Cal loved dogs. He’d always absolutely loved them. Just not when they were leaping at him with jaws wide open, prepared to kill.

He leaped out of the way in time, and the dog hurtled past him, skidding to a halt just before she could slam into a tree. She whirled about, snarling at Cal as she prepared to strike again.

Cal glanced at Melissa, whose eyes were wide with fright. Then he looked at the approaching dog.

“Dammit,” he muttered.

He shifted immediately, his clothes ripping off his body as the bear clawed its way out of him. He rose on his hind legs, towering over the dog, and let out a deafening roar.

“What in the hell?” he heard Dale scream behind him.

Leto barked at Cal. Then she attacked again.

This time, he was even more prepared. He swung a heavy paw, hitting the dog right in the side and knocking her back to the ground. She gave a yelp, but didn’t try to get up again.

Slowly, Cal turned. Dale had dropped his blade and was backing away from Melissa, his eyes wide with horror as he stared at Cal.

“What...what on earth are you?” he stammered.

Cal shifted back to human form, standing naked in the middle of the clearing. “I’m a bear, Dale. A grizzly bear. I seem to remember you saying you wanted to kill me.”

He took a step toward the other man, who stumbled backward with a cry and fell onto his backside, holding up a hand.

“Don’t come any closer,” Dale begged. “You’re not a bear. I-I don’t know what you are. How...?”

Cal drew even closer, glowering at the man. Dale had hurt Melissa. At the very least, he’d attacked her, kidnapped her, threatened her life. Not to mention he’d killed countless animals in these woods. A growl rose in his throat.

The wail of sirens in the distance carried into the glade then.

Cal’s jaw tightened. “That’ll be the police.”

***