Gators? I grabbed her and swung us both around until her back connected with the wall behind her. I put my forearm across her chest and held her there. “Who the fuck sent you?”
Her eyes grew panicked and she pulled uselessly at my arm. “Stop it, Matt. No one sent me.”
I stayed where I was and glared at her. “Tell me.”
Tears filled her eyes and as she stretched her neck away from me, I saw bruises on her delicate skin. I moved my arm, but gently placed my fingers over the bruises. Looking over her neck, I spotted teeth marks from someone biting her. I cursed and moved across the room. “Are you already mated? What the fuck is going on?”
CHAPTER 7: Matt
My bear roared and fur sprouted along my body. Fury like I’d never felt before overwhelmed me until I had to throw my head back and shake the cabin with a massive roar. When I looked back at her, she was already recomposed with her hands on her hips.
“My ex tried to claim me as his mate. It didn’t work, though, because I’m not his true fucking mate. He just... bit me. After the first time, I guess he was humiliated, so he just kept trying. He was insane. This will fade. I’m not bonded to anyone.”
Her explanation just pissed my bear off even more. “He hurt you?” What kind of an asshole would do something like that?
She surprised me by walking towards me, facing my anger, despite the slight tremble in her hands. “If you’ll sit down and talk to me, I’ll tell you the whole story.”
Not even my brothers would dare to face me when I was in one of my moods. Here was this small human woman challenging me. My bear wanted her. Bad. He wanted me to claim her. But, I was in no shape to be anyone’s mate. Besides, from the way it sounded, she’d already been through too much to have to put up with my crazy wayward bear, or my crazier human. “I’m not sure any of this is a good idea.”
She crossed her arms and stared up at me. “I had planned on just coming here and hiding out for a bit before I left again. That’s all changed now, though. Now I’m staying and you’re going to have to deal with me. Whether you like it or not.”
“Look, lady, I’m not looking for a wife. That ship has already sailed. Right into the fucking bottom of the ocean. So, that’s a no go.”
“What happened?”
I looked down at her big green eyes and felt myself waver. It wasn’t the first time since she’d shown up that I’d felt this, but it was definitely the strongest the pull towards her had been. I could have fallen apart right in front of her like a little child whining and complaining about the way things had turned out after my dad died. About the way I hadn’t ever told him how important the ranch was to me, or how grateful I’d been to have such a wonderful father. What a fucking bitch I was being. “This isn’t happening. I’ve got to go.”
She stepped to the side and ushered me out. “Go ahead, do your bear thing. I’ll be here when you get back.”
Instead of arguing, I stepped around her and walked to the front door. I dared a glance back over my shoulder at her, at the marks on her neck, and then left. I didn’t need anything else on my plate. She deserves to be with a man who can help her through her troubles. I couldn’t help her. I couldn’t even help myself.
I ran through the woods, turning bear as I went, and headed straight to my brother’s place. He was mated and I needed to know what level of hell I’d fallen into. There had to be a way to get out of it, and I was certainly going to try.
CHAPTER 8: Leila
I fell asleep in his bed that night, frustrated and hurt. I knew the hurt was stupid, because I’d just met the big idiot, but I couldn’t help it. Every time he denied it and acted as though I wasn’t his mate, it felt like a little piece of my heart was being trampled. I just wanted to talk to him and explain things, maybe even tell him that my name wasn’t Maggie. Instead, I was alone in his cabin.
The next two days I spent waiting for him to return. Still no sign of him. My hurt had transformed into anger and I was ready to rip him a new one, giant grizzly bear or not.
I’d had my fair share of pacing the cabin alone, so I decided to visit the rodeo that I’d heard about on my trip into town to get a few more things. Normal rodeos didn’t start until March or April, but shifters didn’t feel the cold the same way that humans did, so they started their rodeo in cold as shit February.
I dressed in jeans, boots, one of Matt’s flannels, and a sweatshirt of his. I let my hair do its natural wild tangle of curls around my head before heading outside.
I stood next to the truck for a second and looked around. I couldn’t see Matt, but I knew he was there. I could sense him close by. “Hey, asshole! I’m taking your truck and I’m going to the rodeo. Maybe I’ll meet a nice guy and bring him back here, since you’re not living here anymore. You won’t mind, right?”