Cursed (Gem Creek Bears Book 6)

By Jennifer Snyder

Sometimes finding our inner strength is key.

All Vada Palmer ever wanted was a family and a place to call home. When she finds herself in the wrong place at the wrong time, that dream is crushed.

Now she’s on the run from someone who claims she’s his.

It isn’t until Vada finds herself at Gem Creek Campground that she begins to feel at peace. The place calls to her, and so does a particular Orsin brother. While Vada knows she shouldn’t get comfortable, she can’t help it, especially once she learns some living at the campground share her secret—they have a bear inside them too.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jennifer Snyder
• Release date: Feb 10, 2023
• ISBN: 9798215655283

Jennifer Snyder

Jennifer Snyder lives in North Carolina where she spends most of her time writing New Adult and Young Adult Fiction, reading, and struggling to stay on top of housework. She is a tea lover with an obsession for Post-it notes and smooth writing pens. Jennifer lives with her husband and two children, who endure listening to songs that spur inspiration on repeat and tolerate her love for all paranormal, teenage-targeted TV shows.To get an email whenever Jennifer releases a new title, sign up for her newsletter a https://jennifersnyderbooks.com/want-the-latest/. It’s full of fun and freebies sent right to your inbox!

Book preview

CHAPTER ONE

My heart pounded as I stared at my cell, watching Stone’s number light up the screen. I knew it was him. It had to be. The same number had been calling me since the night Mark died, even though I refused to answer.

How had Stone gotten my number, though?

I hadn’t given it to him willingly. A bitter taste coated the inside of my mouth as my stomach hardened. I’d never given Stone anything willingly.

Ever.

Sparks of anger shot through me. My mind dipped to a few nights ago—the night Mark died. That must have been when Stone got my number. He had to have copied it from Mark’s cell.

God, Mark.

The anger I felt slipped away as an ache built in the back of my throat. My stomach twisted as clips from the last time I’d seen Mark flashed through my mind. Nausea rolled through my gut, causing bile to rise up the back of my throat. I swallowed hard and wrapped my arms around my knees, drawing them into my chest while I fought against the sensation of breaking apart.

I’d been stupid to think someone like Stone wouldn’t look for me—that he’d forget about me if I left town. I should have known it wouldn’t be easy to get away from him. I should have known how persistent he’d be.

After all, he’d said I was his.

My blood simmered hot at the reminder. The monster inside me paced, confused by my sudden emotional shifts.

My cell continued to ring.

The desire to toss it into the creek pulsed through me, but I didn’t give in. I knew if I did, no one would be able to get a hold of me.

Not even Taylor.

The thought of not being able to touch base with her, to know that she was okay, didn’t set well with me. I needed to stay in contact with her.

She was the only person I regretted leaving behind.

I’d had no choice, though. Leaving Taylor behind had been for her safety. She shouldn’t be around me. No one should.

Not with this monster inside me.

My body prickled with the sensation of feeling rundown, and I wondered if it was as simple as that, or if it was related to the monster inside me. There was no way of knowing. I gripped my knees tighter, waiting for it to pass.

My cell fell silent, and I muttered a few curse words to Stone. I hated this. I hated him and what he’d done to me.

A cough forced its way past my lips, and the familiar sense of panic rushed through me. I tried to shove it away by telling myself it was just a cold. People caught colds during the summer months all the time.

Still, it didn’t make me feel any better.

The sensation of being off wasn’t something I could shake easily. I’d tried. A slight sense of dizziness flipped through me, causing the grassy area I sat in to feel as though it were swaying beneath me. I sank my teeth into my bottom lip.

The monster Stone infected me with was making me sick.

No matter how much I tried to not believe it—to not even think about it—somewhere deep down I knew it was the truth. I wiped the thin layer of sweat across my brow away and sighed. I was feverish, and the heat was getting to me. I thought it would be cooler by the creek—which was why I’d opted to rent an RV close to it—but it wasn’t.

It was still hotter than Hades, even in the shade.

My cell pinged with a new voicemail. My attention snapped to it. I grabbed it and hovered my thumb over the play button, debating if I should listen to Stone’s message—to any of them. He’d called more times than I could count the past few days, but I’d ignored every call and message. Part of me wanted to hear what he had to say, but an even larger part didn’t care to. What did it matter? Listening to his messages wouldn’t change what happened. It wouldn’t change what he did. All it would do is feed my fears and piss me off.

I was scared of Stone, and I hated myself for it. He held power over me.

You’re mine now.

Stone’s words swam through my head, sending a shiver down my spine despite the heat and my feverish body. My gaze dipped to the thick leather bracelet strapped to my wrist. I’d bought it at a gas station to cover the bite mark Stone had given me. While it was perfect for hiding the mark from others, it wasn’t as good at hiding it from me.

I could still see it—all angry and red—through the thick bracelet as if I wasn’t wearing one at all.

My teeth clenched together as my gaze dipped to the creek. I wanted to rewind time. If I could, I’d stop myself from going to Mark’s that night. I’d keep myself from being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Then, none of this would’ve happened and I’d be home.

Home?

Had the Chambers house been my home? I’d only been there four months. Granted, four months was longer than I’d made it at some of my other foster homes, but four months was nothing in the long run.

It was a brief blip in time.

Still, the Chambers had been decent to me. Most people weren’t willing to take in teens. All anyone wanted were little kids. I’d been raised in the foster system, so I knew how it worked.

Something warm, yet cold hit my bare shoulder with a splat. I froze, knowing immediately what it most likely was—bird crap. I inhaled a deep breath before looking. Sure enough, a fat glob of white bird crap decorated my right shoulder.

Freaking awesome, I grumbled.

My gaze drifted around, searching for a leaf that didn’t look like poison ivy to use to wipe it off. There was nothing besides blades of grass and a few twigs. I shimmied closer to the creek and scooped water into my hand to splash on it. The water was cool against my heated skin, soothing even.

I was getting worse. I knew this, but I still hoped my body would fight this monster off and win.

My cell chimed with a new text, and I grew stiff. Was Stone texting me now? He hadn’t before, but maybe he’d reached his boiling point with me not answering his calls. I didn’t know much about the guy. I’d only met him twice.

All I knew was that Mark had owed him money. He was scary. And he was capable of unspeakable things. Also, there was literally a monster inside him.

I didn’t know anything else.

I wiped my hands on my shorts and stepped to where I’d left my phone in the grass. My heart hammered as I bent to pick it up, but the hammering stopped when I noticed Taylor’s name instead of Stone’s.

Happy Birthday, Vada!!!

I smiled at her text. My smile grew over the next few seconds as she blew up my phone with birthday associated emojis.

God, I missed her.

My throat pinched tight with the threat of tears, but I forced them away. I couldn’t cry, because if I started I might never stop.

How had she remembered it was my birthday when even I hadn’t?

It was hard to believe that today I was eighteen. I’d been counting down to this day since I was old enough to know how. Being eighteen meant I was no longer legally obligated to stay in the foster system. It meant I could finally be free to live the life I’d always wanted for myself. I coughed again and was reminded that the life I’d always dreamed of having was still out of reach.

Thanks to Stone.

While I might be free from the foster system, I doubted I’d ever be free from the monster he’d infected me with. Tears pricked the corner of my eyes. I blinked them away, refusing to cry, and tapped out a reply to Taylor.

Thanks, T. How are you? Mrs. Chambers treating you okay? - Vada

I chewed my thumbnail, waiting for her response. Leaving meant Taylor would now be the oldest kid in the Chambers household. While I hated it for her, I also knew the Chambers were better than most foster parents she could be paired with. With them, all you had to do was earn your keep without giving any sass.

The problem was that Taylor was sassy.

She was new to the foster system and had recently turned thirteen, which meant she thought she knew everything. She hadn’t been in the system long enough to know when to be thankful for a family like the Chambers or when to keep her mouth shut so they’d keep her.

Being in the system my whole life, I’d learned that harsh reality at a young age.

Which was why I knew when my caseworker placed me in the Chambers household that I’d do whatever they asked so I could stay until my eighteenth birthday. I’d been there four months and had only been days away from accomplishing that goal when I left.

Yeah. I’m fine. I mean, I miss you, but I’m fine.

My shoulders sagged. I hated I’d left her behind. She was a good kid. She’d gotten to the Chambers a month after I had. We’d shared an attic bedroom and immediately felt like sisters.

I know. I miss you too. - Vada

A rush of heat spread through me, causing even more beads of sweat to break out across my skin. My clothes stuck to me in places they shouldn’t, and I felt like I might be sick. I made my way to the creek again and slid my sandals off. Then, dipped my toes in. Cool, rushing water greeted me, and I swore the monster inside me sighed with relief at the same time I did.

It was an odd sensation. One I wasn’t sure I liked.

Did you make it to where you wanted to go?

I pulled in a deep breath and glanced around. My lips quirked into a slight smile as I took in the scenery.

Yeah. I did. - Vada

Good.

Did the Chambers find my note? - Vada

While I hadn’t said much in it, I’d at least thanked them for everything they’d done for me the last few months. They already knew I’d made plans to leave town and head farther south once I turned eighteen. It wasn’t something I’d kept a secret. In the letter though, I lied and told them an opportunity had presented itself and I’d taken it.

Taylor knew the same story. I hadn’t given her any details of my true reasons for leaving to keep her safe.

I hated that I’d left