Primal Obsession: BBW Polar Bear Shifter Paranormal Romance (Shadowlands Bear Shifters Book 3) Read online

  Primal Obsession

  By Olivia Harp

  This is a work of fiction. All characters and events reside solely in the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual people, alive or dead, is purely coincidental. All characters are eighteen years of age or older.

  © 2016, Olivia Harp. No portion of this work can be reproduced in any way without prior written consent from the author with the exception for a fair use excerpt for review and editorial purposes.

  This title is for adults only. It contains explicit sex acts, adult themes, and material that some folks might find offensive. Please keep out of reach of children.

  Table of Contents

  Primal Obsession

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  Primal Obsession

  Chapter 1

  The road was like a black ribbon laid straight against the wet grass of the Oregon countryside. The mellow engine sound of the SUV was almost hypnotic. Raiden Waller and his nine-year-old daughter, Dee, had left the mountain what, two hours ago now?

  He made sure she ate breakfast as he finalized some pending business before leaving north, towards Seattle.

  Work took him longer than usual, though, and it wasn’t until noon when they left the mountain.

  It was an easy drive, just like always, but he hadn’t eaten a thing since morning, and his stomach rumbled for the second time.

  Dee turned to him from the passenger seat and laughed, her eyes full of happiness. She loved going on those trips.

  “Dad we just ate!”

  Raiden’s stomach rumbled again and he groaned.

  “Junk food doesn’t count, Dee, and it’s past two, already. Don’t you wanna eat?”

  Dee fiddled with her cell phone, saying “hmmm,” pretending she was thinking about it. But Raiden knew the truth.

  “Well if junk food doesn’t count,” she said, “I guess I could eat something.”

  Of course.

  “Like father like daughter, huh? You have to eat to grow up strong, like your dad!”

  “What? No!”

  Dee’s face turned to shock, she looked at Raiden with raised eyebrows and a wide open mouth.

  “What’s the matter?” said Raiden.

  Dee pursed her lips and sank in her seat, thoughtful.

  “Dee?”

  She didn’t turn to him, her eyes fixed on the road.

  “I don’t want to grow up like you.”

  Ouch. That hurt.

  “Why?”

  Now she turned to him, slowly.

  “You’re too big. I’d be a freak!”

  “Did you just call me a freak?” Raiden said, holding his laughter.

  “Daaaaad...” she said carrying the word.

  She always did that, ever since she was a little child, when she either wanted something or his dad was embarrassing her somehow.

  “Dad what? You’re the one who said it!”

  “You know what I mean.”

  “You don’t want to be big and strong?”

  “No, I’d look weird.”

  Raiden laughed.

  “Okay, we’re not stopping for lunch, then.”

  Dee turned to him.

  “We can stop if you want.”

  Of course. Reverse psychology was the oldest trick in the book, and it surprised him that even on this day and age it still worked. He pursed his lips, suppressing a chuckle.

  “All right, dear.”

  They’d been on this road many times now. The nearest restaurant was about twenty minutes away. The Burger Shack. His stomach rumbled again just thinking about it.

  Deedee covered her mouth, giggling as she looked out at the magnificent view of the Oregon back country. He loved them it too, the forest set against a backdrop of mountains. A soothing view if there was one.

  He liked traveling like this. Just he and his daughter, four and a half hours in the SUV, eating on the road and talking about silly stuff.

  Drizzle gathered at the windshield, sliding upwards, as if it tried to go back to the sky again. The scent of rain filled the air and he remembered the old days. The smell was just like this. A smile dressed his face.

  “Dad, do you think grandpa will take me to the Hidden Forest?” Dee said, snatching him to the present.

  “Well, I don’t know, were you a good girl this year?”

  “Daaaad...” she said, “he’s not Santa.”

  Raiden looked at her. She was growing up too fast. In a few years she’d be a teenager, going out with friends, being embarrassed of his dear old dad.

  “I know, buddy,” he said, “maybe he will, depends on the clan.”

  “But he’s the elder! He can do whatever he wants.”

  “No, Dee, being the elder means doing the best for your people, not being an egotist.”

  “What’s an egotist?”

  “A person who never thinks of other people when he makes a decision.”

  “Oh.”

  The Shack was up ahead, but he had lost his appetite.

  He was a fighter all right, a bear shifter from the hardest crew in the country, the White Paws. But Dee going to that once holy place made him nervous. He cleansed it, almost a decade ago. There hasn’t hadn’t been any troubles since then, he made sure of that.

  But Dee was older. She had to go for her initiation. He knew it would be this year.

  It wasn’t a reassuring thought, letting her go near the place that took her mother.

  ***

  Raiden parked his Ford a few yards from the entrance door. Dee jumped out of the vehicle, yelling like crazy.

  “Food, food!”

  Raiden locked his truck and sighed.

  “I thought you weren’t hungry!” he called as he followed behind her.

  She jumped to the sidewalk and looked back.

  “I said I didn’t want to grow so big, dad! I’m a girl!”

  The place was almost empty. Just a couple of tables occupied on the old, rustic burger joint. Dee ran and sat on a booth near the corner window. The highway to her left.

  That was her job. She secured a table while Raiden stepped to the counter and ordered a Big Yukon. Double bacon, half pound meat with everything. His mouth watered at the thought.

  “Dee,” he shouted looking at the menu on the wall, “what do you wan—”

  He turned and crashed against a woman who walked behind him towards the exit. He reached out to grab her as she fell, but she slipped away, holding on to a big camera on her hands.

  She hit the floor and her purse snapped open, spreading all its contents around.

  “I’m sorry, I’m sorry,” Raiden said, still surprised he didn’t see her.

  He gave her his hand to help her up and just as she grabbed it he felt his heart skipping a beat.

  She was the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen. Her auburn hair dropped down to her shoulders. She stood up and he couldn’t help taking a brief glance at her wide hips and full chest, delineated outlined by her modest, semi-loose clothing style. Everything about her was perfect.

  Her smile almost made him gasp, but he knew she was smiling out of embarrassment.

  Then she saw him too and turned away, blushing. Focusing on picking up her stuff all over the floor.

  “I didn’t see you there, I’m sorry.”

  She let go of his hand. They held each other for a fragment of a moment longer than necessary. Her skin was soft, delicate.

  Raiden’s bear growled inside. A low, long growl.

  It w
as a kind of grumble that hadn’t been uttered in almost ten years.

  But Raiden shut it down immediately, fuck no, you’re not doing this.

  “Let me help you with this,” he said as he gathered her belongings.

  “Thank you,” she answered, still collecting all of her stuff.

  Her sweet, radiant voice made his bear growl louder.

  He had to turn a bit to the exit door to hide the bulge on his pants. Who is this woman?

  “My mind was wandering, it’s my fault,” she said.

  “Nah, I shoulda been more careful, miss...”

  “Bennett. Cassie Bennet.”

  He nodded and smiled, subconsciously looking at her left hand, somehow being happy at seeing it bare. She wasn’t married.

  She picked up her lipstick, and small cases that must have been make-up.

  Damned if he knew what women carried in their purses. At least she didn’t carry a pad or something more personal. He didn’t want her to feel embarrassed.

  “I’m Rai—”

  “Here!” Deedee said, giving the woman —Cassie— a small, black box.

  “Oh, thank you!”

  “What is it?”

  “Deeandra, don’t bother the lady, she was on her way out.”

  “Oh, it’s no bother,” she said, looking at Raiden with a smirk, “it’s a spare battery for my camera. You saved me from losing it.”

  She looked inside her purse and started counting things.

  “Cell phone, camera, memory cards...” she made sure nothing was lost, “I guess everything’s in here.”

  Raiden towered over her. She was so small beside him, the top of her head didn’t even reach his shoulders.

  “Well, I guess that’s me,” she said, “thanks for your help...”

  “Raiden,” he said.

  “Raiden,” she repeated, and his bear roared inside. His skin filled with goose bumps, his chest was on fire.

  The sound of his name on her lips was almost too much to handle. His cock threatened of ripping apart his pants.

  But he nodded slowly, keeping his cool, there was a war raging inside of him but no one could notice.

  “All right,” he said, hiding the soft growl of the beast inside him as best as he could, “glad to have met you Ms. Bennet.”

  “Oh, just call me Cassie, no need for the formalities now that—”

  “Are you a photographer?” Dee said.

  She put a strand of hair behind her ear as she looked back at Deedee, but it was too much for Raiden. He had to use all of his strength to keep his bear from flaring up again, or worse, coming out. You stay down, mother fucker.

  When was the last time his animal had acted like this?

  “Yes I am,” she said, delighted at the child.

  “Can I see your pictures?”

  “Deeandra, leave the lady alone. I’m sorry Cassie,” he shrugged, “kids...”

  “No problem at all. Maybe some other time, Dee?”

  “Oww...” Dee pouted, then immediately grinned, “okay!”

  Raiden’s body was on fire.

  As Cassie walked away, he knew he never would have made it if Dee wasn’t there to keep him focused and in control.

  God damn. Her curves, her full lips, rounded ass and plumpy breasts almost got the better of him... and his bear.

  But it was her hazel eyes, her beautiful, happy face and her voice that did him in.

  He sighed in relief. That was the end of it, she was gone and he could now concentrate on the only girl he needed in his life: his daughter.

  Chapter 2

  Cassie drove in silence, submerged in her thoughts.

  She had to check if everything was set for the big night. Yes, she was gone for only a day, and the people organizing the fund raiser were professionals, but she wouldn’t leave anything to chance.

  She made a mental note of all the tasks left to do after all the pre-production started. It’s nine things. If I remember I need to do nine things, I’ll remember what those things are.

  She hoped.

  After pre-production was done, she’d start with the press kit photos.

  She tried to concentrate but her mind kept going back to the restaurant. To that huge hunk of a man.

  She’d never met anyone like him, it’s like he had the best elements of a soccer and football player. Impossibly tall, lean muscles everywhere, and gray eyes that almost melted her panties.

  My gosh, how old are you? Sixteen? You only saw him for a minute!

  But hot darn, was he the embodiment of a Greek God. She might have to remember him when she got... lonely at home.

  He’s going north, who knows, maybe he’ll be at the fund raiser and I’ll see him again...

  Then she rolled her eyes. Yeah, right. A man like him and a woman like her. He was good looking and incredibly fit.

  That was her problem. She liked guys that were way, way out of her league. There was no chance a man like him would ever lay eyes on her that way.

  Besides, he had a daughter you ass, he’s a married man, obviously.

  That was enough to take most of those thoughts out of her head.

  She sighed, and heard her phone ringing in her purse.

  She used her right hand to fish it out but everything was out of place, so it took her three rings before she could answer.

  It was Paulie. She put on a special song so she would know beforehand. Business calls were always a priority, even if she was away and his assistant managed the business practically better than her.

  Paulie was perfect for administrative stuff, she was the creative one of the team.

  “Cassie, the Hasserton’s called again. They said they want you for their grandchild’s party this year.”

  “We already talked about this, Paulie, I don’t do children parties anymore—”

  “They want to pay twenty-five hundred dollars, that’s why I called.”

  “Yikes, they said that? Two-hour photo event, as usual?”

  “Yes.”

  Darn it. She’d already told them that she couldn’t do it. She was busy that day. And now they pulled pull this. It was flattering, of course, paying that much, but she couldn’t help but feel annoyed.

  They knew she was a professional, and still, they tried to bribe her into dropping the non-profit.

  “Can you go?” she asked Paulie.

  “No, they want you. They want the artist.”

  “Paulie you need to sell yourself better, you’re as good as me—”

  “That’s a lie, darling, and you know it. Besides, I’m having brunch with David that day and have you seen that man? There’s no way I’m saying no to him. I’m sorry, it’s on you, this time.”

  She turned on the windshield wipers and the headlights. It was midafternoon but the sky was full of clouds.

  She shook her head.

  “Tell them no, I can’t. We can send another photographer if they want.”

  No answer.

  “Paulie?”

  She heard static for a brief moment, then Paulie’s voice broke through it, distant and hard to understand.

  “...hear you... there?”

  Darn, signal’s breaking up.

  “Paulie tell them no!” she shouted, “It’s a no, Paulie.”

  She looked at the screen, to see if the call was still on. No problem there, apparently, one minute and two, three, four seconds... she put the phone back on her ear.

  Static again.

  Paulie’s voice came through.

  “It’s a no,” he said, half asking, “it’s a no.”

  He said, half asking.

  “It’s a no, exactly. I’ll try and text you, see if that works.”

  He said something but white noise made it impossible to understand. Then the call was cut off.

  Darn.

  She tried texting him but it was impossible. She was in a dead zone apparently. I hope he heard me.

  Something exploded just behind her, her Toyota jolted left and r
ight almost making her lose control of the car. Her phone flew and crashed against the ceiling and passenger’s window as her hand bolted to the wheel. She pressed the brake pedal hard and fast but the wet pavement was against her and the car skidded and half turned on the highway.

  Everything was still.

  Everything but her heart.

  It was going a thousand miles per hour, her body tense. Every second lasted an eternity. Then she realized she was holding her breath.

  She took a deep breath and looked outside. What the hell just happened?

  Sunset was still a few hours away, the green forest and grass beside the road were sole witnesses to her accident.

  If you could call that an accident.

  I mean... nothing happened.

  Then she calmed down a little.

  What the heck was that?

  She turned back but saw nothing, just the road. Then she realized. She was stopped in the middle of the tarmac. Any other distracted driver would crash with her. Now that would be bad luck. And she wasn’t short on that.

  Little by little, she released the brake pedal. The car started a slow crawl to the side lane. Her heart was still racing, and the face in the mirror looked as pale as ever, dots of sweat sprinkled on her forehead and nose.

  She turned the car off.

  The sudden realization of her dying a lonely, stupid death while sending a text message that couldn’t be delivered washed over her.

  Really? You were texting even after you saw there was no signal, you idiot!

  She yelled, half out of fright, half out of frustration.

  She let it all out and as she did, her brain started thinking straight.

  She opened the door and got out. There was no one on the road, nothing for miles and miles. She walked around the vehicle and there it was.

  The rear tire was flat, almost completely destroyed.

  She went inside and found her phone beneath the passenger’s seat.

  She sighed in relief, the screen was intact.

  Still no signal, though.

  No way to get help.

  Okay, no problem. She’d do it by herself. Just change the tire and leave. Easy!

  But how exactly do you do that?

  Chapter 3

  Dee was falling asleep in the SUV. She ate a lot of nuggets and fries and was now quietly drifting away, her belly full.