Page 26 of Midlife Animal Rescuer Bear

His brows knit closer together. “It’s much better to wait before leaping to conclusions about shifters.”

Something about the way he said it made her wonder if he was still talking about the issue at hand. “Well, forgive me for not automatically trusting something I couldn’t even begin to—”

“Shh!” Cal raised a finger to his lips, silencing her instantly. His blue-gray gaze flickered from her to their surroundings. “Did you hear that?”

Melissa frowned at him. What on earth was he talking about?

Then she heard it, too. It was the sound of a twig snapping, and then another. From somewhere to her left, someone—or something—was approaching. Melissa’s breath almost caught in her throat. As she watched, the leaves shifted, and an animal stepped out into the glade.

“It’s a wolf,” she gasped.

The wolf drew even closer, its dark eyes darting from her to Cal. Its hackles were raised, its fur as black as its shadow. Claws extended from its paws, sinking into the earth with each step. Its snout parted with a growl, revealing rows of jagged yellow teeth.

“That’s not a shifter,” Cal said.

Melissa didn’t doubt that. There was something feral about the creature that she hadn’t seen when Cal turned into a bear in her presence ten years ago. The wolf’s gaze landed on her again, and she felt her heart slam into her ribcage. Could this be their killer?

Somehow, she knew it wasn’t. This was a regular wolf. A regular, hungry-looking wolf.

“Maybe we shouldn’t have come out here,” Melissa breathed.

The wolf took another step closer; its eyes locked on her. And then it lunged.

Chapter Eleven

“Give Us Another Chance”

For a shifter, Cal didn’t think he had very quick reflexes.

He’d almost gotten gored by a charging bull at the sanctuary six years ago. More than once, he’d gotten hit in the head by a beer can Henry had thrown at him. And ten years ago, when Melissa took off from their wedding, he’d all but remained frozen to the spot for a full minute before trying to go after her.

But the second the wolf attacked, something in him snapped. The next thing he knew, he’d thrown himself at the creature, slamming into it before it could reach Melissa. Man and wolf hit the ground, rolling a few feet before crashing into a tree.

“Cal!” Melissa cried.

In a heartbeat, the wolf was back on all fours, standing over him. Cal’s heart hammered in his chest. Right now, he’d found himself in a rather unfavorable position. At any second, the wolf could strike, sinking its jaws into his neck. And then what would happen to Melissa?

The thought of her alone and in danger twisted his insides almost painfully. He gritted his teeth. There was only one way to protect himself and her.

The wolf stepped toward him, snarling menacingly.

And Cal began to shift.

Fur sprouted from his skin, covering his face and arms, and he felt his ears slide higher up on his head. His body expanded, his clothes ripping at the seams. Cal’s fingers extended into claws; his teeth sharpened, his face elongating into a snout.

In seconds, he’d shifted into a fully grown grizzly. He rose on all fours, towering over the wolf, a deep growl emanating from his throat.

The wolf growled back, standing its ground. Its gaze darted between the bear before it and the woman standing a few feet away, and for a moment, Cal thought it would attack her again. He stepped toward the wolf, preparing to strike if needed.

After what felt like an eternity, the wolf backed away, turning and heading out of the glade.

“Oh!”

Cal turned. Melissa hadn’t moved from where she’d been standing a moment ago. She looked unhurt, but her eyes were wide with terror, her hands trembling by her sides. Cal glanced in the direction the wolf had headed. The threat was over. Why was she still...?

Oh.

“C-Cal?” she stammered.