His Human Mate (A werebear story)

Chapter 3

I had no money, no ID, nothing but the clothes on my back and a small duffel bag with enough clothes to last a week. That's all I had when I left my parents and that nightmare of a life. But it didn't deter me, I was scared, sure, but I was determined. I knew it wouldn't be easy to forge my own way, especially since I didn't have any skills that weren't taught to me at home. I'd never been out of my parents house, except for the weekend of my 16th birthday.

I knew I was in California, Beverly Hills to be exact and I knew I needed to go west and get as far from my life as humanly possible. So I hitched my bag on my shoulder and set off away from everything I had ever known. I hitch hiked, bumming rides from strangers. My fear of men had at least stopped me from accepting rides from the opposite s*x. Women were the ones I trusted, and women were the ones I took rides from. It took days just to get out of California.

My first stop had been a small town just inside Nevada. I found a small dinner and managed to sweet talk the manager into letting me clean tables, sweep and take out the trash in exchange for a meal. Sleeping was something I was scared to do. I didn't have money or ID, I couldn't rent a room so I found dark places in public parks to try and grab a few hours here and there. But those first few months were pure torture, though they showed me what I was capable of. Because no matter how bad it got living on the streets, it was still better than being at my parents.

I spent 6 months bumming rides and working odd jobs just to be able to eat. But eventually I made my way into Montana. I immediately fell in love with the state. The landscape was breath taking. The rivers and mountains felt almost like home. So I decided to try and find a place to settle there. I found a small town, Grizzly Falls, and took a chance.

I had gotten really good at talking my way into jobs, and had saved a few bucks, enough to rent a cheap motel at least for a couple of nights while I looked for a job. The Grizzly Inn was a dump, but the rooms were cheap and they didnt ask for ID. The bedding was questionable, however they had hot water. I knew I couldn't waste my time, as my funds were low and I needed to find a job as soon as possible, so after settling in, in my room, I showered and changed into a pair of tight fighting blue jeans, a tight black tank top, and slipped my black boots back onto my feet. My clothes were designer, but they were casual. I took my long blonde hair and tied it in a loose, high pony, and wore no makeup. I'd never used makeup in my life, and wouldn't even know how to apply it. Besides I didn't need it. If there was one thing in the world that I knew, it was that I was a knockout.

I stood at 5'9", my blonde hair was straight and fell to my hips. My blue eyes were lighter than your average blue and big. My skin was flawless, and I had the body of a bikini model. Men were drawn to me, I had discovered this over the past months while I was struggling. Rich men. Poor men. It didn't matter if they were single or married with their wives right beside them. I was like a magnet and they all stared, or tried to grope or proposition me. Every single one. I hated it. But I knew I could probably use it to my advantage when trying to find a job.

The bar across from the Inn looked like it was busy, somewhere all the locals would go after work and the weekends. Seemed as good a place as any to start. I knew I wasn't old enough to serve, but I didn't have ID and I didn't look 18. I was often mistaken for being in my mid 20's and I hoped that would be the case here.

With one last look in the mirror I made my way over to The Triple G Bar and Grill. As I approached the doors I straightened my back, lifted my chin and took a deep breath. I looked confident, I felt confident. Pulling the doors open I was greeted to the sounds of loud music, pool sticks hitting balls, and men and women alike shouting and laughing. I beelined straight to the bar, confidently strutting across the room. I could feel every pair of eyes on my as I did, but I ignored them. They weren't why I was there.

Behind the bar stood a tall, and I mean tall, bear of a man. He was 6'8 at least, and had long dark hair tied back in a messy bun, his face, what I could see behind his beard was handsome. Everything about the man scream mountain man, rugged. The kind of man who could toss you over his shoulder and never break his stride. Beneath his tight white t shirt were muscles that he definitely didn't get from a gym, I could imagine him out in the woods, axe in hand chopping down trees. His jeans fit snuggly, accentuating the tree trunks he had for legs and his bulge held little to the imagination. I could see tattoos covering ever inch of his exposed skin, except for on his face. If i had to guess, his skin would be covered beneath his clothing as well.

I felt lost as I looked at him. I had never before felt attraction to anyone of the male species, but this man before me had me almost going weak in the knees just by looking at him. I watched as he wiped his very large hands on a white bar rag before he set it down, his brow lifting in amusement as he cleared his throat. "Help ya Missy?"

I swear the sound of his voice was like magic. My stomach clenched at the sound and my panties instantly dampened. This had never happened to me before. I wasn't physically attracted to men, ever. But one look and 3 simple words from this bear of a man and I was ready to strip naked and let him ravage me. I blinked, shaking my head to clear those thoughts from my mind. No. I couldn't, I wouldn't, think that way. I plastered on a sweet smile and leaned against the bar. "Actually yes, you can." I let my eyes roamed around the bar a moment before looking back at the man. "You know where I could find the boss? I'm looking for a job."

The man leaned forward and I swear I saw him sniff the air between us, his eyes looking like they lit up as he looked at me. "I'm the boss. I'm Garrett." He reached a hand out to me to shake and I took it.

The moment our hands connected my heart started to race and I swear I felt an electrical shock run up my arm. "Morgan." I snatched my hand back, putting it in my back pocket. Trying to look casual. Like his touch hadn't affected me.

"You're hired. Can you start now?" I straightened and blinked. I hadn't heard him right. I couldn't have. Who hires someone that quickly? He must of seen the confusion on my face because he continued. "People don't come here often. We're a quiet town, not a lot of outsiders and something tells me you need this, you wouldn't be here otherwise." His voice was gruff and deep, but smooth. Velvety and it sent shivers down my spine. I could get lost listening to him speak if I wasn't careful.

I nodded my thanks, grateful, even if I was a little skeptical. But I wasn't about to turn it down. I had come in here for a job. He grabbed a couple of beers, opened them and set them on a tray before sliding them towards me. "These go to the fellas at the pool table." He nodded his head in the direction and I thanked him before picking them up and making my way to deliver the beers.

To be continued