What a Bear Needs (The Wild Side) by Nikki Winter

bellow but it got stuck and crushed when his thumb flicked over her nipple.
    “Quiet yourself and enjoy the warmth of my unyielding masculinity,” he commanded. “We can be angsty and irritable in the morning.”
    “Maddox—”
    He growled low. “For fuck’s sake just have one moment where you aren’t thinking about the worst possible scenario. Have onemoment where your focus is on how good this feels, at this very second. You wanna debate the potential hazards of us in the morning? Great. Fine. Fucking wonderful. But not now, Cree. Not when I’ve spent my nights talking to the moon and wondering when thiswould happen; wondering when I could get you to stop denying that thisis as natural as your next inhale. No rationalizing. No thinking. No contemplative moments. Lie here, shut up, let me hold you and go to sleep. That’s all. No more and no less.”
    She swallowed and closed her eyes. Arguing would get her nowhere. Immoveable. That’s what Maddox was and she had no desire to bring a halt to something that momentarily stopped her inclination to run; so Cree did as he said. Relaxing back into him, she blew out a hard exhale and decided against the worry that was a led weight in her belly.
    “Thank you,” he whispered against her temple before placing a kiss there.
    Responding wasn’t an option with feelings that she’d never thought possible clogging her throat. She only nodded. Nodded and questioned how much longer he’d be here until he caught a true glimpse at what rested inside.
     
    ***
     
    Cree’s gasps were what woke Maddox. The stilted, hard inhales jolted him upwards. Her sleek form twisted in the sheets, hands fisting the material of her too large shirt as she arched away from the mattress.
    “Cree?”
    She shook her head when he reached out, lashes fluttering. “Don’t. Don’t touch me.” Her shoulders left the bed and an animalistic sound burst from her lips. “No. No. No! Not now!”
    He watched in horror as she suddenly cried out, rolling from the bed and onto the floor.
    “Cree!” Maddox scrambled to the other side, reaching for her.
    She wrapped her arms about herself, sweat beading just over her brow as her chest heaved. Her hands clutched at her shoulders and he could see it the moment they began to alter. Cree’s fingers contorted and a groan left her. Claws sprang from her nails as black fur sprouted and soon the pads of her hands hit the floor. Her head dipped low then jerked back up once more. 
    When her eyes opened wide they were no longer human; no longer hers . Bright yellow with hard black pupils, they gazed up at him as she hunched over, her mouth dropping open to reveal distended canines. One word drifted from her in a low, rumbling growl that shook Maddox to his core, “ Run.”
    His grizzly nudged, pushed, trying to get his feet to move but he refused. If he ran now, she’d remember, she’d know that he wasn’t strong enough to face whatever this was with her. So he stood there, he stood and watched as Cree became something else, as it took over and forced its way out. He listened to every cry, every snarl and he never moved except to drop to his knees.
    Cree’s hands fisted as she pounded the floor, sobbing.
    Maddox tentatively angled towards her, pushing her hair back. “Hey. Hey . Look at me, Cree.” She shook her head. “Yes ,” he challenged. “Look at me.”
    Her head rose and she blinked. The hopelessness in her stare broke his heart. He clenched his jaw and grasped one of her hands. “Let go, baby.”
     She tried to turn away from him. “No.”
    “Cree, I’m asking you to trust me. Just let go .”
    “I won’t come back,” she cried.
    “You will,” Maddox growled. “I swear to God, I’ll make sure that you do but you’re putting yourself through unnecessary pain and I can’t keep watching that so you have to let go.”
    Panting, she raised her watery stare. “Don’t make me do this Maddox.”
    “I don’t have a choice, darling,” he