His Teddy Bear

I need to get laid. The pulsating thought—make that carnal need—brought him to the town’s bar tonight of all nights. His cynical side wanted to snort at the expectancy imbuing the air inside the crowded tavern as folks from all around gathered for the yearly spectacle known as the Were-For-All. All across North America, shape-shifters of all castes were meeting up at designated bars and halls for a night of dancing, drinking, and, for a lucky few, finding their one. Reece’s intention was much simpler—sweaty, hardcore sex. And not the vanilla type of fun that could be found with a human female. He craved some hard pounding, nails raking down his back sex, and only another shape-shifter could handle that need.

Not that he told his grandmother that tidbit. How could he when her eyes lit up at his mention of his destination? She hadn’t lost hope he’d find his mate, even though he’d reached the ripe old age of thirty-five. Truth be told, Reece kind of hoped he’d find her too—having a welcoming wife waiting in his bed after a hard day’s work had its appeal—but having spent years watching his buddies fall in love—with sickening puppy dog eyes and whipped attitudes—he both dreaded and ached for it.

But it looked like this wouldn’t be the year he found his one. None of the females in attendance grabbed his attention or made his wolf howl. Not that he really cared, or so he lied to himself, as he sat at the bar with some of his packmates, tossing back whiskey shots. His vantage point allowed him to look over, and in most cases, dismiss the females in attendance—too young, too old, too chunky, way too ugly, married... Reece could afford his picky attitude. At six-feet-three, muscled, and with a face more handsome than Brad Pitt’s according to the ladies, he ultimately decided who would grace his bed.

Reece had his eye on a shapely blonde he hadn’t tasted before when the outside door opened and a scent wafted in that roused his slumbering beast. His wolf shook itself awake in his mind and, with a mental yip, demanded Reece explore the newcomers. Intrigued at his wolf’s unusual behavior, Reece inhaled deep and a sweet aroma tickled his nose—and stirred his cock—a delicious blend of ivory soap, cherry lip gloss and woman. My woman. The realization almost blew him away even as his prick hardened and his wolf growled in anticipation. So many years he’d waited and wondered, and now, at last, in walked the woman who’d not only take care of his sexual needs, but also bear his pups.

Time to meet the lucky lady.

Reece took a deep breath, surprised at his nervousness—It’s just a woman—and turned to meet the female he’d take as his own. My mate.

He spun around slowly on the barstool, ignoring the question from the packmate at his side. His eyes scanned the entrance to the bar where a group of women stood, milling about and laughing. They appeared a mostly attractive bunch, tall and slender with hair varying shades of the rainbow. But as he scanned their ranks, he spotted a shorter form with cropped hair bobbing among them. He frowned and directed his attention back to the model type beauties, trying to pinpoint which of them was about to become the lucky recipient of his cock, but to his annoyance, his eyes kept returning to the barely visible, squat one. Don’t tell me my mate is going to be some midget? Given his stature, he’d always dated—and fucked—women with a bit of height. Surely fate, or whatever force guided mates together, wouldn’t be so cruel as to pair him up with someone too tiny to accommodate?

Whatever his thoughts on the matter, his wolf pulsed beneath his skin, its excitement making it fight for control. Reece tightened his leash on his inner beast and mentally commanded it to settle down. While the place was packed with shifters, it was considered bad form—not to mention juvenile—to lose control of one’s beast in public, no matter the reason, or tasty scent.

Chastised, his wolf settled down with a whine. Reece slid off his stool to walk toward the gaggle of women.

“Hot damn, I think Reece is about to get collared.”

Reece ignored the jibe of his pack brother behind him and the laughter of the others as they made fun of his predicament. He couldn’t blame them for their humor given his ribbing at their expense when they’d met their mates and turned into pussy-whipped puppies. Not that he’d allow that to happen to him. He had more self-control and pride than to allow a woman to lead him by the nose, mate or not.

He reached the outer edge of the group of women and his wolf growled at the unmistakable aroma of bear. He lifted a brow in surprise. The only bear groups he knew of lived in the Rockies, and from his understanding, they only ventured forth rarely, preferring the company of their own kind.

The chattering subsided as he scanned each of the women’s features, knowing even as he did that the one he sought hid behind the outer ring. As if commanded, the minor sea of females parted, revealing the short form of the woman with the glossy cap of hair that he’d seen from the crowd. His beast yipped in excitement, but Reece groaned in disbelief.

No fucking way. My mate’s a chubby?