Possessed by the Bear Read online

  Red Mountain Bears 1

  Possessed by the Bear

  When world-famous human model Danny Denver receives life-threatening letters, he moves into a remote mountain town to lay low. The last thing Danny needs is to come face-to-face with a rude, growly, but gorgeous werebear who doesn’t seem to know who in the world he is. Dislike soon turns to attraction but Danny realizes he’d bitten off more than he can chew. With an obsessed fan on the loose, can he let romance blossom between him and a certain snarly bear?

  Connor avoids social interaction for a reason. His bear has never been stable and he thinks Danny is bad news, but opposites attract for a reason. Connor soon finds out Danny is his fated mate and the chemistry between them is off the charts. His bear calms down when Danny is around, but can he protect his newfound mate from a persistent stalker who believes Danny is his?

  Genre: Alternative (M/M, Gay), Paranormal, Romantic Suspense, Shape-shifter

  Length: 26,055 words

  POSSESSED BY THE BEAR

  Red Mountain Bears 1

  Fel Fern

  

  Siren Publishing, Inc.

  www.SirenPublishing.com

  A SIREN PUBLISHING BOOK

  POSSESSED BY THE BEAR

  Copyright © 2018 by Fel Fern

  ISBN: 978-1-64010-923-0

  First Publication: February 2018

  Cover design by Harris Channing

  All art and logo copyright © 2018 by Siren Publishing, Inc.

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission.

  All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.

  WARNING: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000.

  If you find a Siren-BookStrand e-book or print book being sold or shared illegally, please let us know at

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  PUBLISHER

  Siren Publishing, Inc.

  www.SirenPublishing.com

  DEDICATION

  To my readers, I hope you enjoy the first book in my new trilogy.

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Felicia Fern works as a graphic designer during the day, and loves penning M/M paranormal erotic romance at night.

  A sadist who loves watching her heroes break their backs trying to earn their happy endings, Fel likes throwing in the occasional dash of the unknown to the usual romantic concoction.

  www.felfern.com

  https://tinyletter.com/felfern/

  https://www.facebook.com/author.felfern

  For all titles by Fel Fern, please visit

  www.bookstrand.com/fel-fern

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright Page

  Dedication

  About the Author

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Landmarks

  Cover

  POSSESSED BY THE BEAR

  Red Mountain Bears 1

  FEL FERN

  Copyright © 2018

  Chapter One

  Danny’s rented Volvo gave a suspicious little wheeze before stopping in the middle of the snow-covered road. He let out a hiss of frustration, teeth clattering as he looked out the windows. More snow covered trees and the outline of the mountain this remote area had been named for.

  He rubbed his chilly hands. The heater hadn’t been working either, but he didn’t have a choice. Danny left the city in a rush, and his agent and publicist told him to keep his head down, so he couldn’t take his usual car.

  The airport car rental place only had this one left. Danny doubted the old blue Volvo could take him far, but the guy assured him it could tackle the winter weather. Funny how the guy didn’t mention anything about the snow.

  Damn, it was freezing here in the Red Mountains, which was much colder than the city. He should have brought thicker clothes. Right now, he only wore a thick sweater, no scarf. Usually, Danny spent his winters in warmer climates, but there wasn’t enough time to book a ticket. He needed to leave the city ASAP, thanks to that threatening letter from an overzealous fan.

  He banged the wheel, letting out puffs of cold breath. Frustration welled inside of him, but he refused to let it get the better of him. Fame might have made him a little arrogant, but it hadn’t been always that way. Danny survived poverty, survived living in the worst part of the city, and survived his mother’s pimps. He could survive one winter in the middle of nowhere.

  Danny took his phone, wincing as a warning told him his battery was at a dangerous ten percent. He opened the GPS, surprised he was close to the town. The cabin he rented was located on the outskirts though.

  “I’m not going to give up,” he muttered. He tried the engine again. Third time was the charm. It let out that strange wheeze again, accompanied by a rumble. Then miraculously, Danny began moving.

  Snow began to fall in clumps. Danny hardly felt his fingers on the wheel. He double-checked his windows to see if air slipped in, but they were shut. It was just that damn freezing. Negative five degrees according to the plane pilot, but it sure felt colder.

  Danny could already imagine sitting his ass in front of a warm fire, in his very own rustic cabin. He only hoped the photos posted on the website looked accurate enough. The dirt cheap price had been a little shady, he had to admit, but he had no choice. Most of the inns in the Red Mountains were at full capacity, and besides, an inn meant being around more people that might recognize him.

  Danny had dyed his original tell-tale red hair to a dull brown, but he forgot to wear his matching brown contacts on the plane. His disguise didn’t work a hundred percent. One stewardess mentioned he looked familiar, but he brushed her comment off. So far so good there. Since landing, no one gave him another glance.

  He doubted the townsfolk in such a remote area would recognize him, even if he happened to be a famous male model. His momma taught him to be humble, so he didn’t usually throw that word around carelessly, but he was at least prominent enough to have a dangerous stalker on his heels.

  Danny blew out a breath as he entered what looked like a town proper. It didn’t look like much, then again, he couldn’t imagine going out often in this unpredictable weather. Danny would get his keys from the owner, drop his stuff off, and drive out to get food, supplies, and thicker clothing. Then he could start binge-watching some TV shows he’d missed.

  According to his best friend, Craig, all he’d been doing was working his ass off. Supposedly, Danny needed a break, to relax and enjoy life a little. Except maybe Danny had been working too much for a reason. If he didn’t take more jobs, then he’d be constantly thinking about Shaun the Prick and wondering what was so lacking in him, that he caught Shaun doing his friend Ernie in their living room doggy-style.

  Not that Ernie and he were friends anymore.

  Danny turned his mind away from Shaun. His break-up was another reason why he agreed to lay low in the first place. Ernie and he ran in the same circles, and he wanted to avoid seeing Shau
n in the same places he and his friends hung out at.

  Not that many of his so-called friends took his side after his break-up with Shaun. Some acted like assholes and said he was asking for it, that a famous football player like Shaun had needs. Only Craig had his back, and Craig promised he might even drive out to the Red Mountains to see how he was doing.

  The location of the cabins turned out to be further than expected, but he finally pulled into an empty driveway which only had one jacked-up truck there. He got out, about to take his wheeled luggage from the trunk, when a gruff, growly voice asked, “Who the fuck are you?”

  He turned, about to explain himself when he took stock of the speaker. Even scowling, the titan with the short black hair and blazing green eyes was a stunner. The stranger must be at least six-foot-five, and a chiseled body peeked out from the thin black sweater he wore.

  Danny glimpsed the V shape of the stranger’s hips, peeking from the low-slung jeans he wore. His mouth went dry, but the illusion shattered when the guy actually growled at him, flashing sharp fangs. He froze. A shifter?

  His back hit the car door. Although paranormals came out fifty years ago, they usually kept to their own. Shifters especially preferred to live with their own kind. Oh, they interacted with humans, but only when necessary.

  The predatory shifters especially, like the wolves, bears, and big cats, stayed in their own pack or pride compounds. The non-predatory shifters had integrated themselves into human society nicely though. Danny had worked with weredeer model before, but talking with Louisa was no different from talking to another human. This stranger, though, seemed capable of emitting some kind of aggressive energy that made him all wary, scared even.

  Hold on a second. Danny refused to let this shifter intimidate him, especially after he travelled so long and far. He was tired, too.

  “Excuse me, are you Mac O’Riley?” he asked, overcoming his initial shock and stomping right up to the snarly and sexy male.

  Don’t think about that, he chided to himself. That was probably just his loneliness talking, because the last time he and Shaun had sex had been what? Six months ago? Even longer? Of course he’d be drawn to the first hot male he’d lay his eyes on.

  “Who’s asking for my brother?” the rude shifter asked, crossing his arms.

  That motion made all the muscles in his arms bulge out. Oh my.

  “He’s expecting me. I’ve leased one of the cabins until February,” he said, pulling out his phone at the same time. He found the agreement he signed online and showed it to the shifter. Danny avoided any sudden movements as the shifter furrowed his brows and leaned by his shoulder to peer at his phone.

  Damn, but the guy wore some kind of sexy male cologne. A hand brushed his fingers for a moment as the rude shifter snatched his phone and examined the document.

  “Fucking Mac, not telling me a thing,” the guy grumbled, shoving the phone back to him. Then the guy looked him up and down. “You sure you can last here until February?”

  Danny glared. Who cared if this man was a shifter who could probably rip him in half without much effort? Danny disliked rude people. “What the heck does that comment mean? You implying something?”

  “You’re dressed all wrong. Plus, you smell like a city dweller to me.” He flared his nostrils, just like an animal.

  Well, this guy certainly didn’t have a clue who Danny was. He didn’t know whether he should be relieved or disappointed. Then again, he had a feeling that even if he was the most famous man alive, this stranger wouldn’t give a damn. It was a refreshing thought, too, because Danny had to face the truth. Shaun and all his ex-lovers only dated him for his fame. They didn’t care about the person underneath. Not that this gruff male was about to romance him anytime soon.

  “Excuse me? What does it matter where I’m from? I’m a paying customer.”

  He and the shifter went into a staring contest for what felt like forever. Even though the man’s green eyes started to turn gold, almost animal-like, he didn’t back down. Danny didn’t have any place to go.

  If he couldn’t stay here, then he needed to scout the other inns and motels in town. If they didn’t have any spare rooms, he’d freeze to death. He didn’t relish driving back to the airport, either, and picking a new location. Danny had never travelled alone before. When he had a job with other models, they’d fly in a group, so he was never alone.

  “Fine,” the stranger said. “Follow me.”

  “Yes!”

  The stranger narrowed his eyes. “Did you just do a fist pump in the air?”

  “Well, yeah. Victory for me.”

  “Savor it while you can. You’re not going to last, little human. Mark my words.”

  “Take it back,” he said. It was childish, but he didn’t care. Danny was cranky, hadn’t had a good night sleep in days, and had gone from living in his nice pad in the city to being in the middle of nowhere.

  “No.”

  Affronted, he poked a finger into the shifter’s broad chest. Big mistake, because the shifter closed his huge and callused fingers over his hand. His pulse raced and his heart hammered against his chest. Heat emanated from the shifter, and he remembered reading somewhere that shifters burned hotter than the average human.

  Danny was freezing. Would snuggling next to this gorgeous male warm him right up?

  Then Mr. Rude had to shatter his fantasy by asking, “What do you think you’re doing? Didn’t anyone ever tell you not to poke a sleeping bear?”

  Oh God. This man was one of those crazy bear shifters he heard about. Bears were more vicious than werewolves, or was it the other way around? He didn’t know, but he did remember reading an article somewhere that bears liked to pick fights all the time.

  Danny took a deep breath. “Proving my point. We humans aren’t weak. You got a prejudice against us or something?”

  “Oh, I have nothing against humans.” The shifter stopped touching him, and he felt stung, not that he hadn’t taken plenty of emotional blows the past few days.

  “So, it’s just personal then?”

  The shifter said nothing. Fine. Whatever. To prove he wasn’t rattled, that he planned on staying until February here, he went back to the trunk of the rental and pulled out his wheeled luggage.

  Chapter Two

  The striking human with the delectable scent seemed to be having trouble pulling out the biggest luggage Connor had ever seen from the trunk of his rental car. Stubborn little human. Connor should just leave the crazy guy, drive up to town, and find his brother Mac. Mac was probably hanging around in Rick’s bar, drinking without him.

  Damn his brothers, Mac most of all, for leaving him to deal with this human who was definitely out of place in this town. Except Connor’s bear didn’t have any intentions of leaving. Strange. His bear didn’t like people in general, constantly fought with his brothers’ bears all the time. Connor knew he wasn’t the definition of stable.

  He’d always been different, even from his brothers, but around this human, his bear was calm, watching and waiting for Danny’s next move. That was the name on the contract he’d seen on Danny’s phone. With a grunt, he helped Danny take his luggage out.

  Danny blinked and mumbled, “Thanks.”

  “This,” Connor said, nodding to the huge-ass luggage. “Only confirms you’re not from around these parts.”

  Danny snatched the handle and extended his hand. “Key to the cabin?”

  “This way.” Danny wore a confused look on a face, but Connor didn’t blame him. He was probably sending mixed signals. He didn’t get it either. One moment he wanted the human gone, the next he didn’t want to leave Danny alone.

  “Why are you suddenly being all nice to me?” Danny asked behind him.

  Since the human insisted on bringing his own luggage, Connor didn’t bother, merely strolled toward the unoccupied cabin next to the one he and his brothers lived in. There were two others, both in disrepair ever since their mom died. After their dad followed a year lat
er, they didn’t bother with repairs. The cabin Danny rented had been empty for months.

  Mac mentioned putting it up for rent on some site, but Connor didn’t expect for a renter to turn up. They kept their parent’s businesses running for sentimental reasons, although the bar that their dad used to run, which Rick took over, seemed to be doing a lot better.

  “You know, when someone asks you a question, it’s only polite to answer,” Danny finally said as they reached the porch. He regarded the human, amused to see Danny dragging that ridiculous luggage up the porch stairs.

  “I’m not like most people,” he answered. Hell, Connor barely spoke to the other townsfolk, and he and his brothers constantly argued most of the time, before resorting to claws and fangs to resolve an issue.

  “I don’t even know your name,” Danny said as Connor opened the door. The cabin was furnished, thanks to Mac and him renovating it a few months ago.

  “Oh, nice. It looks exactly like the pictures. There’s a fireplace too, right?” Danny sounded like an excited child now, leaving his luggage by the door to explore the single-floor cabin.

  “Sure, but there isn’t enough firewood to last you the winter,” he replied honestly. Danny turned to him, blue eyes wide. “I didn’t expect someone to actually rent out the place.”

  “Oh.” Danny’s face fell, and for some reason that felt like a punch to the gut.

  Connor behaved badly with Danny earlier, but he was an asshole to everyone. Why did he let this little human get under his skin? His bear knew the answer to that one, because Danny hadn’t backed away earlier when most people would see he wasn’t entirely in control of his bear and run. Strange human.