House Of Bears Read online

  HOUSE OF

  BEARS

  A REVERSE HAREM PARANORMAL ROMANCE

  SAMANTHA SNOW

  & AMY STAR

  Copyright ©2020 by Samantha Snow & Amy Star

  All rights reserved.

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  About This Book

  From struggling to even find a match on Tinder to suddenly being desired by four muscle-bound werebears. Life just got very interesting for Holly Smart…

  So it all began when I inherited a house in Oregon from a grandmother I barely knew. This was strange enough on its own.

  But little did I know the house came bundled with a bunch of hunky men who not only refused to leave but insisted I live with them.

  Oh, and they were all shapeshifting WereBears!

  They said, it was my “destiny” to bear a child with one of them and bring everlasting peace to all of the bear clans in the world.

  Sounds crazy right?

  Yet here I am agreeing to it as there is something about these men that is just drawing me in.

  Anyway, strap yourself in as this is where one hell of a freakin’ story begins…

  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

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

  CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

  CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

  CHAPTER THIRTY

  CHAPTER ONE - Holly

  Holly Robin Smart did not like rain.

  In fact, she hated it. Why else would she have spent the last two years hiding out in Southern California where seasons didn’t exist? Most of her family was still in Louisiana. It rained all the time there, though most people wouldn’t think so. It was the worst kind of rain. It came in quick, violent bursts immediately followed by blinding sunshine. It was like living in a sauna.

  Holly took a gap year when she had graduated high school two years ago. The very first thing she did was pack everything into her car and drive to L.A. The moment she had arrived, she fell in love with the city.

  Her gap year turned into a second gap year. She told her parents she was testing out different fields so she could settle on one she really loved before shelling out tens of thousands of dollars for tuition. The truth was, Holly had no idea what she wanted to do with her life. She had a job she enjoyed working as a secretary for a B-list celebrity agent.

  Her parents didn’t think her job would put her on a reliable career path. They’d pestered her and pestered her and pestered her until she finally agreed to register for a few classes. Holly had chosen an affordable college that offered everything online, allowing her to prioritize her job.

  She’d chosen anthropology for her major because it had the smallest of requirements, but to her surprise, she was actually really enjoying it. Learning about different cultures was fascinating but not fascinating enough to make her prioritize her studies over her job. She was finally starting to earn some respect from her boss.

  This week, her boss was having her organize a huge networking event to pick up new clients. Holly was so excited and grateful for the opportunity. It could potentially open so many doors for her.

  Then, she’d gotten the letter.

  She could feel it burning a hole in her handbag in the passenger seat of her car. It was that damn letter’s fault she was driving in the rain right now. She hadn’t stopped since she had left her motel four hours ago. Gas was running low. She’d have to find a station soon.

  Holly couldn’t remember the last building she saw. She’d been on this same, stupid, two-lane road for most of her drive. Nothing but thick, green-gray trees on either side of her, as far as she could tell.

  She cursed the letter again. She couldn’t curse the person who wrote it. It wasn’t polite to curse the dead.

  The letter was dated the day before her grandmother Pearl died. The thought made a chill run up and down her spine. As the road in front of her grew hazier with rain and fog, she pictured the spidery handwriting of the letter.

  My darling granddaughter,

  I bet you don’t remember me. I should’ve made more of an effort to be in your life. I apologize for not doing better. Someday soon, you’ll understand why it had to be that way—

  Two blinding headlights appeared out of nowhere. Holly couldn’t see the yellow lane divider or either side of the road anymore. The beams leaked into the fog, making everything blurry and otherworldly.

  Panicked, Holly clenched the wheel. The oncoming driver looked way too close to the middle of the road. She swerved and immediately skidded on the slick road. She tried to jerk the wheel in the opposite direction, but she’d lost traction completely. With nothing else to do, she slammed on the brakes. Her scream drowned out the sound of the screeching brakes.

  The car stopped suddenly. Holly realized that she’d skidded into a tree. She dented her front bumper. White steam poured out from under the hood.

  “Fuck!” She slammed her hands on the steering wheel. Her horn made half-hearted beeps with every impact. “Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!”

  Movement in the rearview mirror caught her eye. Someone was walking toward her, though the rain and fog were so thick she couldn’t make out much. The figure was tall and broad, so it was probably a guy. Other than that, she had no clue.

  She reached into her glove box and grabbed her pepper spray. After every late-night walk, every dark alley shortcut, and every skeevy bar she’d been to in the last two years, she never used it. She clutched it close and made sure her car doors were locked.

  He approached the driver’s side door. He was so tall she couldn’t see anything other than his dark jeans, gray T-shirt, and red flannel.

  “Of course, he’s wearing a fucking flannel,” she muttered. She knew it was the style in Oregon, but she thought she’d get more than fifty miles into the state before the stereotypes started ringing true.

  He knocked on the window, making her jump.

  “If I just ignore him, he’ll go away,” she whispered, nodding to herself. Everything was going to be fine. She wasn’t sure if her car still ran or not, but she’d cross that bridge as soon as the stranger at her window went away.

  “Hey!” He knocked again. “Are you okay in there?” He kept knocking and knocking.

  With a shaky sigh, Holly rolled her window down a few inches. “I’m fine, thanks. You can move along,” she said without looking at him.

  “I don’t think you’re fine.” His voice was smooth, velvety, and sexy as hell. Before she could st
op herself, Holly looked up at him.

  At first, all she saw was his eyes. Intense, gray-green like the foggy forest around her, and breathtaking. It took her a moment before she was able to take in his other features. His strong, square jaw was covered in stubble. Normally, she hated that, but on him, it worked. His skin was surprisingly tan for a place that’s cloudy all the time.

  He must spend a lot of time outdoors.

  His dark, wavy hair was shaggy and glistened with droplets of mist.

  “Your car is in bad shape,” he said.

  Holly flinched. She was staring. “I’m sure it’ll be fine,” she stammered.

  Those gray-green eyes looked so serious. “It won’t,” he said. “My cousin is the mechanic of the family, but I know a thing or two. That thing isn’t going anywhere.”

  “Fine,” she said. “Where is the nearest town?” She immediately regretted those words. Now he knew she wasn’t familiar with the area. She was definitely going to be taken to a cabin in the woods...and not in a fun way.

  “About twenty miles in the direction you were going,” he replied with a sympathetic smile.

  “Fuck,” she muttered.

  “I can give you a lift,” the stranger said. “I don’t mind.”

  “But you were going the other way,” Holly pointed out. “Why were you driving in the center of the road in the first place? That’s why I crashed, you asshole.”

  Maybe insulting the stranger wasn’t the best idea, but Holly always had a little trouble holding her tongue. The one time she had gone to visit Grandmother, Pearl had chastised her for it.

  Damn it, Pearl. This is all your fault. That doesn’t count as cursing the dead. I’m simply stating facts.

  “I wasn’t driving in the center of the road,” he said. “I’ve lived here all my life. I know how to drive on these roads blindfolded. I’m sorry you crashed, but you’re clearly not used to driving in these conditions.”

  “Your headlights were blinding!” Holly argued.

  “Look.” The stranger ran a hand through his hair, knocking some of the droplets loose. “If you want me to call a tow truck, I can. I know the guy who owns the towing service. He’ll give you a good rate. Sound fair?”

  “Fine,” she muttered.

  He pulled out his phone and dialed a number. “Hey, Mac. It’s Johnny. I need a favor.”

  Holly heard a man’s voice through the speaker but couldn’t make out the words.

  “What’s your name?” the stranger, Johnny, asked her.

  “Holly,” she said.

  Johnny gave her a strange look.

  “Last name?”

  “Smart.”

  “Mac, I’m going to have to call you back,” Johnny said quickly before disconnecting the call. “Are you related to Pearl?”

  “She was my grandmother,” she replied. “I’m here for the service and to see to her affairs. Did you know her?”

  “Everyone in Silver Spruce knew Pearl.” His smile was filled with kindness as he talked about Pearl. “She was a real pillar of the community. We’re all going to miss her.”

  “So am I,” Holly said. She left out the part where she never knew Pearl that well.

  “How about this,” Johnny said. “I’ll give you a ride into town. It’s the least I can do for Pearl’s granddaughter.”

  Something about him drew her in. She didn’t understand it, and she couldn’t resist it. Surely, someone who knew Pearl couldn’t be that dangerous, right? It’s not like she had much choice, anyway.

  “Sure.” She nodded. “What about my car?”

  “Mac can still get it for you if you want,” he offered. “I probably should’ve thought of that before hanging up. Your name caught me off guard, that’s all. I wasn’t expecting to run into Pearl’s granddaughter today.”

  “You were expecting me on another day?” she asked with a wry smile.

  “The whole town figured Pearl’s family would be showing up sooner or later.” He shrugged. “Come on, let’s get you to town. I’m Johnny, if you didn’t catch it. Johnny Walker.”

  “Pleasure.” Holly grabbed her purse and her overnight bag and bolted out of the car. His truck, a beat-up old thing that might’ve once been yellow, was parked across the road. Together, they dashed through the rain. Holly was soaked by the time she reached the passenger side. She yanked on the handle. It was locked.

  She had to wait for Johnny to reach across the passenger seat and unlock it manually.

  “Sorry about that.” He grinned from behind the wheel. “I like old stuff.”

  “Clearly.”

  As she climbed into the truck, he eyed her purse and her small bag.

  “Is that all you have?”

  “I’m not staying long,” she replied.

  “You might be staying longer than you realize.” His words put a chill in her blood.

  She must’ve been making a face because he immediately started laughing.

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t realize how creepy that sounded until I said it. What I mean is, it might take a few days to get your car back in shape.”

  “Oh,” Holly said, relieved. “Yeah, you have a point.”

  Johnny started up his truck, which sounded like a small jet rather than a car. He pulled a quick U-turn in the middle of the road. Impressive, with the roads so slick.

  Holly watched the trees grow taller and thicker as they drove toward Silver Spruce. As they drove in silence, she envisioned the letter in her purse.

  My darling granddaughter,

  I bet you don’t remember me. I should’ve made more of an effort to be in your life. I apologize for not doing better. Someday soon, you’ll understand why it had to be that way. This will come as a surprise to you, but I’m giving you my home. You only saw it once, when you were six, but I think you liked it.

  You can sell it if you want, but I don’t think you will. I know that might sound odd, but I have a way of knowing these things. It’s one of the perks of living past your ninetieth birthday.

  The town of Silver Spruce is unlike any other place in the world. I’m sure it’ll draw you in just as it did me.

  The house, affectionally called Moonrise Manor by the locals, is special just like you. It’s hard to explain in writing, but you’ll know what I mean as soon as you get there.

  I’d tell you more, but I’m afraid you’ll think I’ve gone senile and dismiss the contents of this letter. You’ll understand everything soon enough. Be brave. Be smart. Be strong. I’m not likely to see you again.

  All my love,

  Pearl

  CHAPTER TWO - Holly

  The town of Silver Spruce literally had a Main Street. Holly didn’t think towns still had roads called Main Street anymore. That only existed in TV shows set in quintessential small towns that were really sets. Silver Spruce made all of those sets look like crap.

  “Is the general store called General Store?” Holly asked.

  “No,” Johnny scoffed. “It’s called Griz’s General Store.”

  “Of course, it is.” Holly laughed.

  “That diner over there.” Johnny pointed across the cramped cab. “Best meatloaf you’ll ever have in your life.”

  “Is that so?” she asked, not looking. As cute as the town was, Holly wasn’t interested in general stores and meatloaf. All she wanted was to get to her grandmother’s house and figure out what the deal was with her cryptic letter.

  “I swear on my mother.” Johnny laughed. “Best French fries, too. You know the good ones where they’re crispy and golden on the outside and soft on the inside but not so soft they’re mushy? That’s what they serve at Robeline’s Diner.”

  Holly knew exactly what kind of French fries Johnny was talking about. Picturing them made her mouth water. She’d skipped breakfast that morning. The only thing she’d put in her stomach since she’d woken up was some really bad iced coffee. She didn’t even finish it.

  “Hungry, huh?” Johnny gave her a knowing smile. “Describing the French
fries always makes people hungry. How about a pit stop?”

  As tempting as it sounded, Holly just wanted to get to her grandmother’s house, get the affairs in order, and get back to her life.

  “Maybe some other time.” She didn’t want to be outright rude to Johnny, especially after he went out of his way to help her.

  “Look,” he sighed, “Pearl was a pillar of the community. A lot of people were affected by her death. I bet seeing you would cheer people right up.”

  “Seriously?” Holly blinked in surprise. She had no idea her grandmother was such an important town figure. “I’m not sure what I could do to make people feel better. I barely knew Grandmother Pearl.” A twinge of guilt spread through Holly’s chest. She should’ve reached out to Grandmother Pearl more.

  “I know it sounds weird,” Johnny nodded, “but trust me.”

  “You do realize we’re strangers, right?”

  “Pearl raised me more than my own parents did.”

  Holly tried not to let her shock show on her face. She had no idea! Yeah, communication between Grandmother Pearl and the rest of the family was sparse, but you’d think something like that would’ve come up at least once.

  “I had no idea,” Holly murmured. “I can’t believe I had no idea.” Now, she felt like a real asshole.

  “Yeah, let’s go by the diner.”

  “Fantastic!” Johnny shot her a smile that made her heart do a weird flutter.

  This day had gone to hell, but there was no denying he was a handsome man. That was just an objective fact.

  “Our timing couldn’t be better. In a town as small as this, everyone is more or less on the same schedule. Just about every shop owner closes up and heads to the diner around this time.”

  “Great,” Holly said through gritted teeth. Being paraded in front of the whole town as Pearl Smart’s granddaughter was the last thing she wanted to do.

  Do it for the French fries, she told herself.