I look around wide-eyed and we’re surrounded by bears. Sayer’s black bear tries to get in front of me, but I shake him off. No one else is going to die tonight because they’re protecting me.
All the Eater bears focus on Sayer and I want to help him, but Solos has his eyes set on me. He’s a big brown grizzly staring me down. He starts toying with me, acting like he’s going to charge me and then backing off. The torment is worse than if he just charged me. My bear is tough, I’m tough, but he’s bigger and stronger. I can’t help but think of Ronan. I shouldn’t have left. I was holding back with him and I should have told him how I feel. Instead, I left and now I’ll probably never see him again.
Chapter 13
Ronan
I hate fighting with my dad. You never win when you fight with the president of the MC. He makes it known that it’s “his way or the highway.” But not on this. I’m not giving up on this. I just found Bree and already I’m mated to her. She may not know it, but that’s what this is about. I’m not going to let anything come between us.
“Ronan, you’re throwing away your club, you’re disobeying your leader, for what, for some pus…”
I shake my head at him. “Don’t say it, Dad. I’m telling you to not say it. She’s not some pussy. She’s my mate.”
The old man gasps and stares at me in disbelief. But I just continue. “That’s right, Dad. She’s my mate. We’re mated and there’s nothing you or anyone else can do about it. Nothing, not even this club, will stop me from protecting her. Not now… not ever.”
Deator stands up to his full height and flexes his arms in front of him. This tactic works on the majority of the crew, but not on me. No, I’m twice my dad’s size and not afraid of him.
He starts yelling at me and the first thing I think is, Well, this is new. The quiet man that’s always in control has lost his temper the first time someone bucks his authority.
My mom comes running in. “Deator, what is wrong with you?”
“This”—he points at me—“this ungrateful asshole is what’s wrong. I’ve given him everything in life and this is how he repays me…”
He goes on and on, but I barely notice. My heart starts to race. It’s beating so fast, I can’t wrap my head around it. I can’t focus on the room, or my parents, who are still arguing. I drop to my knees, my hands on the floor. The pain in my chest is the most intense feeling I’ve ever felt in my life. I’m dying, that thought crosses my mind, but quickly I realize that’s not it. It’s not pain that I’m feeling; it’s Bree. She’s hurt. My eyes are closed and I see flashes of the forest, bears fighting. In an instant I know exactly where they’re at. Solos has Bree’s bear pinned to the ground, blood pouring from her shoulder, and they’re all circling her. And Petey, Petey is dead, his empty eyes staring back at me.
I fight to get up, to stand on my own two feet, but I can’t. I start to stand and quickly tumble back down.
“Ronan, oh God, Ronan, are you okay?” I hear my mom’s voice, but I can’t focus on that. Not right now.
Deator hollers for Kass to get the men and he comes near me. His hand on my back has me pulling from him. I’ve breathing heavily, knowing I have to get to Bree. I just have to.
I mutter the words, “Bree needs me.”
In my human form, I don’t have the strength to move. Our bond is so strong I can feel her pain, but I can’t fight it like this, not in my human form. I know my bear is the only thing that is powerful enough to handle it.
I shift right in my dad’s office, my clothes, torn to shreds, falling to the floor. I destroy the room getting out of it, but I don’t care. I pass my brother and the crew and without question I run toward the forest, the quickest route to Bree.
I can hear the sound of twigs breaking under my feet and my fast-paced breath is filling my ears. But it’s more than just mine. I look to my right and my brother is running with me, keeping pace if not faster than me. I look to my left and Bruin, Johnny, Koda and a few of the others are with us too.
Determined, I run faster. I have to get to her. It’s not an option anymore. I’m afraid of what might happen if I don’t get to her in time.