He nodded in understanding. “It was only fair that you know.” His heart slid into his stomach, crumbling into ash.
Lily’s body shook as she started to cry. “I don’t want to leave you. I don’t know what to do. I’m scared, Phoenix. You have to understand. This isn’t my world. This isn’t normal.”
She was pleading her case, not even sure why. She didn’t understand what it meant to be half bear, or what it meant to their relationship. She didn’t know when he’d be a man, when he’d be a bear. If he’d be a danger to her at any time. Even living in town would frighten her. There were other shifters nearby. He said Jett and Hunter were bears too. What if there were more? What about his brother? She remembered his large size and how much he resembled his brother. The entire thing overwhelmed her. Lost, she had no idea what to do. She didn’t want to leave the man she loved, and yet she didn’t want to be in love with an animal. It was weird, grotesque, wrong. Wasn’t it? None of it made sense.
Phoenix paced the floor. “I don’t know what else to tell you. All I know is that you came into my world. You changed my life. You saved me. You offered me salvation when all I wanted to do was die. I can’t imagine you not being in my life. You’ve become my heart and soul.”
His words washed over her. That was her Phoenix. That was her man. But what of his other half?
“Lily, please, consider giving this a chance. I know it’s not what you were expecting, but we can make it work. Plenty of families do. You just have to trust that nobody is here to hurt you. We’re not violent. We’re simply part of nature. It’s how we were made.”
He sounded so...rational. And yet, he was a fucking bear. He was part animal. How rational was that? Her head was spinning faster than she could keep up with. Her entire world came crashing down at her feet.
Chapter 22 Lily
Lily had nowhere else to go. She couldn’t go home. She didn’t ever want to go home again. She knew her husband was dead, but stepping foot back on the property terrified her. Her home no longer offered her comfort; it was simply part of a nightmare.
Lily wanted Phoenix to be who she thought he was, not who he truly was. She wanted the Phoenix she sat by, and the one who made her feel safe. She didn’t feel safe. She was scared. She didn’t believe he’d hurt her, but how could he not if he was a bear? He had claws and teeth. She shuddered and tried to push the thought away, but that’s hard to do when two large men were looking at her.
“I’m going to give you some time,” he said, pushing his hand through his hair. “Jett will be here with you. You’re safe.”
The very man that stood at her hospital door guarding her now left her feeling cagey. “Don’t leave,” she said in a panic. “What if he...turns into a bear?” She whispered the second part.
“We control when we change. It’s rare to just shift without thinking about it.” Phoenix paced before her. “Do you want me to go? Or do you want me to stay? I’m not really sure what would make you feel better. I know this is difficult, but you had to know, obviously. I had to tell you.”
“Don’t go,” she squeaked out. Truth be told, she felt safer with two bears than with one. That way if one turned, the other could help her if she needed to escape. The thought of a bear jaw crushing her thigh, or clawing at her throat...of blood...a chill went through her. She needed to leave this place. It wasn’t safe here. It wasn’t safe at home and it wasn’t safe here. She had no idea where to go.
Phoenix sat and watched Lily. “I love you. That hasn’t changed. You’ve become my entire world. I want to hold you in my arms and comfort you, and yet you look at me like I’m a monster. It’s breaking my heart, and yet how can I not understand?”
She couldn’t hide her twitchy fear. She never meant to hurt his feelings, but how did he expect her to react? This was huge. This was unlike anything she’d ever experienced. She still couldn’t grasp it was real. Yet it was. She kept repeating that over and over. This is real.
Walking away from Phoenix would be the hardest thing she ever had to do, though fear wouldn’t allow her to stay. There was no way she could get comfortable. There was no way she could be with him that way. Her heart plummeted to the floor. It was over. She knew she’d have to leave.
Chapter 23 Phoenix
Phoenix swallowed hard, trying to force the lump in his throat down. He had visions of making love to Lily, but when she walked out the door, he knew she wasn’t coming back. She was jumpy, afraid of him and Jett, and afraid of the town. This wasn’t her world. It was silly of him to think she’d accept it as if it was normal. He just hoped…