Broken Bear(10)

Phoenix studied the woman holding his file. “When can I leave?”

“I don’t think you’re ready; maybe in a few days, another week. When I’m confident you won’t be a danger to yourself.”

“I see.” He knew there was no other way. His bear would get him out of the facility, since the doctor wouldn’t release him. He would have guards positioned at Lily’s door while he was hunting. He’d hire his own damn professional bear guards. Either way, he was breaking out of there tonight. He had plans…plans to take down the man who hurt the woman he’d grown to love. He’d make him pay for what he did.

Phoenix pictured sinking his bear teeth and claws into the man’s neck and shaking him like a rag doll, but only after making him aware it was payback for the damage he did to his angel. There would be nothing left of the man by the time he was finished. He’d be sure of it. The man would cease to exist.





Chapter 14 Lily





Lily shifted in her bed the best she was able. She’d be released sooner than she wanted to be. While she was pretty messed up, they wouldn’t keep her there eternally. She’d be sent on her way, casted up. The problem was, she didn’t want to go home. She didn’t want to leave. And she wanted to stay by Phoenix’s side. Only, when she had an attendant bring her to his wing, there was a problem.

Phoenix was nowhere to be found. He’d gone missing. And it wasn’t based on the doctor’s instructions. People were alerted, the police and staff were searching the wing. They couldn’t figure it out...until they found the busted out window in a vacant room. The only thing that didn’t make sense was the bits of fur that caught on the window. It was fur, not hair. Nothing made sense.

“What do you mean? How could he be gone? He was just here. A patient doesn’t just get up and leave.” Lily panicked. Something was wrong, very wrong. She would have paced if she could. Instead she was left to sit in a wheelchair. Her stomach curdled. He left her. He broke out. He was gone.

She remembered his breezy comment about being released soon. He wasn’t making sense. There was no indication he’d be leaving soon. Sure, he’d made progress, but he had a long way to go before he’d be set free. Only he didn’t wait for them to decide. He apparently set himself free.

Lily closed her eyes, sinking into the loss. Her heart sank lower in her chest. She thought he was hers. She started to believe he was. They’d bonded, but now he was gone. She had nobody left in her world.

A nurse wheeled Lily back to her room. She was unsettled, but unable to go anywhere or do anything. She was trapped like a rat. When two large men came to visit her, the hairs on the back of her neck stood up. Were they here to finish what her husband started? “How did you get in here? Who are you?” Fear laced through her voice. They were brawny and massive, complete powerhouses.

“You’re safe. It’s okay,” one of them said, trying to calm her.

“I’ll scream.” She held up the nurse’s call button. “Come any closer and I’ll call for help.”

“Lily,” they started.

“How do you know my name?” Lily tried to shift back in her bed, but froze with fear. Ice ran through her veins.

She pushed the buzzer and screamed as one of the men reached into his pocket.





Chapter 15 Phoenix





Phoenix didn’t want to have to break free, but there was no other way. He had little to go by, but would find the man if he was still alive, whatever it took. By the time Phoenix was done with him, there would be no question. He’d be dead.

Phoenix was still a little sore from breaking through the thick glass at the hospital. They weren’t regular windows, they were thicker. His fur caught on a piece of jagged glass that cut into him. Thankfully, his heavy coat made the slice more superficial and buffered the jab.

He waited until nightfall to make his escape so people wouldn’t report a bear jumping through a hospital window. It was a risky move, but he had no choice. Phoenix took a heavy fall, but quickly rolled and took off running when he hit the ground. He founded a wooded area not far away, and ran for the safety of foliage and cover. He’d shift back to a man before he went back into the open. No need calling attention to himself.

Phoenix leaned against a thick tree in a wooded stretch. His breathing was ragged. He realized being caged up for so long, he wasn’t as strong as he usually was. He’d have to regain some of his strength and lung capacity. Withering away in a hospital bed had done him little good.

He let out one loud, bellowing call into the night. Letting his bear spirit free, he embraced the familiar feel of his animal form. Sadly, he couldn’t stay this way for long. He had work to do. First things first, he had to protect Lily and go after the man who hurt her.