Guardian Bear: BBW Bear Shifter Paranormal Romance (BRIDES fur BEARS Book 7) Read online

  GUARDIAN BEAR

  By

  Natalie Kristen

  For more books set in Shadow Point

  BRIDES fur BEARS

  Bad Bear (Book 1)

  Brave Bear (Book 2)

  Brash Bear (Book 3)

  Big Bear (Book 4)

  Mail-Order Bear (Book 5)

  Dating Agency Bear (Book 6)

  Guardian Bear (Book 7)

  GRAY BEARS

  Marrying the Bear (Book 1)

  Loving the Bear (Book 2)

  Mating the Bear (Book 3)

  Tempting the Bear (Book 4)

  Taming the Lion (Book 5)

  Embracing the Lion (Book 6)

  Copyright © 2016 Natalie Kristen

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

  No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without the author's written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews. The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. No part of this book may be scanned, uploaded or distributed via the Internet or any other means, electronic or print, without the author's written permission.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are used fictitiously or are the products of the author's imagination. Any resemblance to actual locales, events, establishments or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  About this Book

  Curvy, geeky Lisa Milan has always lived for her work. She is a brilliant scientist, and research is her passion and her life. But when she discovers that her research will be used for dark, diabolical purposes, she is determined to make things right.

  Things take an unexpected turn when she stops at the small town of Shadow Point.

  Lisa intends to just grab some supplies for the road. Instead, she is bustled to a madcap, rowdy carnival wedding by two grandmotherly witches who simply won't take no for an answer…

  Graham Hatfield is mighty proud of himself. He helped plan this awesome carnival wedding for his sister, and now he has every intention of reaping his just rewards. He is the best man, and everyone knows that the best man always gets first pick of all the single ladies at a wedding!

  But when he sees the beautiful, shy stranger standing in a corner by herself, all bets are off.

  Lisa knows she has to stick to her plan and stay focused.

  Time is of the essence, and she can't afford to be distracted by the handsome best man.

  But when she wakes up marked and mated, staying focused just got a whole lot harder…

  * * * * *

  CHAPTER ONE

  Lisa Milan parked her car in front of a row of shops and got out. With a gulp, she placed a protective, possessive hand over her waist pouch.

  The pouch never left her body. Never. She wore her pouch everywhere, even to bed.

  She couldn't let anyone get their hands on her pouch. There were people who would kill to get their hands on the contents of her pouch.

  Lisa winced and released a shaky breath. She thought she had been working for the good guys. Boy, was she wrong. Right now, she was better off not trusting anyone.

  She had to keep moving as far away from the city as possible. Maybe she could find a remote small town that was tucked away in some far-flung corner of the world and assume a new identity. Then she could quietly restart her research and find a way to reverse the effects of the serum she had created.

  Lisa looked around as she walked further down the street. She just needed to find a convenience store and grab some food and bottled drinks for the road. Then she would fill up her gas tank, turn her car around and head out of this little town.

  What was the name of this town again? She wasn't really good at remembering names.

  Ah yes. Shadow Point. She had seen the sign informing her that she was nearing the small town of Shadow Point when she was driving along the highway.

  Shadow Point looked like a modern, bustling little town. There was a lot of construction work going on in the town and a new college had just been set up in Shadow Point. Shadow Point was fast making a name for itself as an up-and-coming college town, and new buildings and businesses were sprouting up all over the place.

  Something about the town made Lisa park her car at the side of a small lane and get out. She wanted to walk down the streets and explore Shadow Point a little more. But as she walked down the street, she noticed something really odd.

  There was hardly anybody on the streets. And all the shops were closed!

  Where was everyone? Shadow Point didn't look like a town that had been abandoned or deserted. On the contrary, it looked like it was growing and thriving.

  And yet, not a single shop was opened. Lisa blew out a rough breath as she peered through another dark shop window. Why were all the shops closed today?

  Lisa continued walking down the quiet street, her frown deepening as she stared at the rows of darkened storefronts and display windows.

  Where were all the townspeople? Did they all have to attend a town meeting or something?

  Finally, she spied a handwritten sign pasted on a store window.

  “Closed for a carnival wedding,” she read aloud. Lisa scratched her head. Were they closed for a carnival or a wedding, or both?

  As she walked past an inn, she noticed the name of the inn and smiled. “Broomstick Inn,” she mused. She wondered if the owners of the inn were witches by any chance.

  She was still staring at the sign when the door of Broomstick Inn flew open and two little old ladies elbowed and jostled each other as they fought to be the first one out the door.

  “Neveah, get your hand out of my face,” the curly-haired old lady huffed.

  “You're standing on my foot! Move it, Glynda!” her friend retorted.

  Still snapping at each other, the two sprightly silver-haired women hurtled out into the street at the same time and crashed noisily into Lisa.

  CHAPTER TWO

  “Oof! What...” One of the women scrambled up and adjusted the spectacles on her nose. “Oh, I'm so sorry! Are you okay, my dear?”

  The two little grandmothers helped Lisa up and apologized profusely. “It's all your fault, Glynda. You should have watched where you were going!”

  “Me? You were the one who sat on this nice lady here...”

  “It's okay,” Lisa said hurriedly. “I'm fine. Really.”

  Two pairs of bright, kindly eyes fixed on Lisa. “Hello! I don't think we've met. Are you new in town?” Without waiting for Lisa's reply, the curly-haired woman went on cheerfully, “Welcome to Shadow Point! I'm Gramma. And this is Ne-ma,” she added, gesturing at her friend.

  “Hi, I...I'm Lisa,” she stammered, squirming a little as Gramma and Ne-ma regarded her with interest and curiosity. “I...I'm just passing through. I needed to get some food and supplies, but all the shops are closed. I was wondering...”

  “Of course they're closed,” Ne-ma said. “Everyone's going to the carnival!”

  “There's a carnival in town?”

  Gramma and Ne-ma chuckled. “It's not just a carnival,” Gramma hooted. “It's a wedding!”

  Lisa's eyes rounded. “A wedding…?”

  “Yes! It's Penelope and Damien's wedding! And everyone's invited! Come along!” Ne-ma grabbed Lisa's arm and started steering her towards the town center.

  “But I...” Lisa spluttered.

  “You have to come! There's a wedding
cake pinata and a big bouncy castle!” Gramma said excitedly, taking her by the other arm. “There will be lots of games and a beer drinking competition...”

  “We don't want to be late,” Ne-ma said. “We want to try all the games!”

  Waving away her protests, Gramma and Ne-ma propelled her unstoppably towards the carnival. Lisa felt as if she had been swept up in a powerful hurricane. There was simply no stopping Gramma and Ne-ma. Finally, Lisa decided she should just stop struggling and resisting. Resistance truly was futile in this case.

  Gramma and Ne-ma seemed to know everyone in town. As the two exuberant grandmothers hurried down the street, they called out cheery greetings to everyone they met. It was obvious that the two elderly ladies were very well-liked and respected by the townsfolk in Shadow Point.

  Indeed, it was hard not to like the two bubbly, energetic little old ladies. They were warm, witty and they made her feel welcome in the small town. The two of them chatted non-stop to her as they led her towards the noisy, crowded town square. By the time they reached the carnival, Lisa learned that Gramma and Ne-ma were the owners of Broomstick Inn and they had four burly grandsons who were all bear shifters.

  “We're here,” Ne-ma told her once they reached the carnival. Gramma and Ne-ma untangled themselves from her and stepped away. “We're going to the front so we can be the first in the bouncy castle. Enjoy the wedding and the carnival!”

  Lisa looked surprised. They had been so tenacious and insistent in getting her to the carnival. But now they're just going to leave her to her own devices. Once their backs were turned, she could just leave the carnival and hurry back to her car. She would be out of Shadow Point before they even realized it. She wasn't intending to stay anyway...

  “Free will,” Gramma said quietly. “We hope you'll stay. But we can't force you to stay.”

  “Sometimes, it's safer to stay than to run,” Ne-ma added, putting a hand on her shoulder.

  Lisa opened her mouth. How did they know that she was running?

  But before she could utter a word, Gramma and Ne-ma had disappeared into the crowd.

  CHAPTER THREE

  Graham Hatfield grinned as his sister, Penelope recited her wedding vows. She was getting married to Damien Ken, his colleague, friend and one of his best buddies. He couldn't be happier for them. Damien and Penelope were so different in character and temperament, but they were so perfect for each other.

  Penelope was the owner of a dating agency, and so far, Graham had successfully resisted and repelled all her attempts to match him up. “You're a great matchmaker, Penelope,” he always told her. “But I'm not looking to be matched and mated. Why tie myself down to just one woman, when I can have so many other women?”

  Penelope had rolled her eyes and smirked. “That's what you say now, baby brother. But just you wait. When you meet your fated mate...”

  “Not gonna happen,” was Graham's standard reply.

  Graham knew it wasn't easy for a bear shifter to find his mate. Some bear shifters lived their whole lives without ever finding their fated mates. Some remained incorrigible flirts and playboys well into their old age, dating and bedding scores of women. Others became temperamental and eccentric as they slowly lost their minds and their will to live.

  For now, Graham relished his freedom and his footloose, fancy-free lifestyle. He could date and sleep with all the women in the world, and he didn't have to commit himself to anyone. He could have his cake and eat it. And right now, he was going to eat all the cake he could lay his hands on.

  He was the best man at his sister's wedding, and everyone knew that the best man was a chick magnet. He would have his hands so full of females later, he wouldn't even know where to start!

  Graham straightened up and glanced around smugly. This carnival wedding was his idea, and it was the awesomest idea ever! The whole town had turned up for the wedding, and the townspeople had all helped to plan the carnival and keep it a secret from the bride. The look on Penelope's face when she arrived at the town square with her bridesmaids had made it all worthwhile. It was a small carnival, but it had everything. There were food stalls, game booths, a carousel and a grand bouncy castle. Balloons bobbing above the castle spelled the names of the bride and groom: Penelope and Damien. There was even a pinata in the shape of a wedding cake hanging in front of the castle.

  Once Damien and Penelope finished saying their vows, Graham picked up the colorful pinata stick and handed it to them with a grin. “Break the cake!”

  Graham chuckled and strolled away from the bouncy castle as the bride and groom leaped into the giant inflatable castle with excitement and wild abandon. Gramma and Ne-ma were the first to join the newly-weds in the bouncy castle. Many wedding guests took off their shoes and started piling into the castle while children squealed and shrieked as they grabbed the candies that had spilled out of the pinata.

  Graham walked past the games booth and saw his work mates fighting over a stuffed toy that one of them had won. Those guys were loud and boisterous, but when there was work to be done, everyone hunkered down and did more than their share. Graham was proud to be part of the crew at Beck's Builders. Beck's Builders was a reputable renovation and building company in Shadow Point, and they always made sure they delivered quality work to their clients.

  Graham tensed suddenly when he sensed someone watching him. Turning around slowly, he scanned the crowd, his bear growling and pushing agitatedly under his skin.

  He saw her in a heartbeat.

  His eyes met a pair of wide, brown eyes across the carnival grounds and his world shifted.

  A curvy, dark-haired woman with large, chocolate brown eyes was standing by herself in a corner. She blinked but couldn't look away from him as he walked towards her.

  He didn't stop for anyone and people hurriedly edged out of his way as he just kept moving in her direction. He couldn't get to her fast enough.

  At last, she stood just inches from him, staring up at him with a startled, confused expression on her face.

  “Hi.”

  CHAPTER FOUR

  Lisa sucked in a breath when she saw the best man walking towards her. She had watched the bride and groom exchange their vows in front of the big bouncy castle with both amazement and wonder. She had never ever seen a wedding like this before.

  The bride looked radiant and beautiful, and the groom's face was glowing with pride and happiness. But her gaze kept returning to the suave, handsome best man standing beside the groom. The best man was tall, with short sandy hair, hazel eyes and a sexy, devastating smile. His tuxedo stretched perfectly across his broad frame and he looked so happy and proud when he hugged the bride and groom. Was he the brother of the bride? Lisa detected a slight familial resemblance, but she was never very good with names and faces.

  The best man was coming towards her. Lisa glanced behind her, but there was no one there. He was looking right at her, ignoring all the other women who called out to him and winked at him.

  He simply kept walking towards her, stopping for no one. It was like he didn't even notice all those other women.

  “Hi.”

  Lisa's knees almost buckled at the sound of his deep voice.

  “Hi,” she squeaked.

  “I'm Graham Hatfield,” he said, extending his hand. “I'm the brother of the bride.”

  “Lisa Milan,” she stuttered, putting her hand in his.

  “I haven't seen you around,” Graham said, holding her hand and gently pulling her closer to him.

  “I'm not from Shadow Point. I...don't know anyone here.”

  When he raised a brow, she added hurriedly, “I was driving by, and I was just trying to find a gas station and a shop that was open. I bumped into Gramma and Ne-ma...”

  “And they insisted you come for the wedding,” Graham finished for her with a smile.

  “Yeah. I tried to tell them that
I was just passing through and I'm not part of the town, but they said everyone's invited.”

  “Everyone is invited,” Graham said. “A wedding isn't just for the happy couple. Such a happy occasion should be celebrated with as many people as possible.”

  Lisa was about to reply when she caught sight of Gramma and Ne-ma shooting high into the air from the inflatable castle.

  She gasped and pointed. “Gramma, Ne-ma...”

  Graham turned and saw Gramma and Ne-ma whopping gleefully as they bounced from the castle and sailed towards the clouds. They somersaulted and punched their fists triumphantly as they out-jumped all the kids and performed gravity-defying stunts in mid-air.

  “Those witches really know how to have fun,” Graham remarked with a chuckle.

  Lisa blinked. “Witches?”

  “Yup. Gramma and Ne-ma are witches,” Graham said matter-of-factly. “Their grandsons are bear shifters.” He eyed her curiously. “You do know that the majority of the population in Shadow Point are paranormals, right?”

  Lisa nodded once. “I know there are some towns that have more paranormal than human residents,” she mumbled. “I just...never visited one.”

  “So you've always lived in a big city.”

  “Big city.” She gave a short, harsh laugh. “Big city, small minds,” she said angrily under her breath.

  “What?”

  “Nothing.”

  But Graham was still looking at her intently with those piercing, hazel eyes.

  Lisa cleared her throat and tried to smile. “Are you a shifter, Graham?”

  “Yes.”

  “A bear shifter?” she guessed.

  “Yes.”

  She exhaled very slowly. Finally she forced herself to meet his intense gaze and said, “Can I ask you something, Graham?”