Page 7 of His Protective Bear

I got out of the car, grabbing my messenger bag out of the passenger seat. I stifled a yawn as I trudged up the steps, but then something tingled up my spine, causing me to pause and look around. There was no one there.

I shrugged it off and walked into the house, down the small foyer that opened straight into the living room, and my body froze when I saw who sat with my dad.

For fuck’s sake, had the alpha actually come to report me to my father? How nosy could he be? He wasn’t one of those alphas that thought omegas were incapable of doing anything, was he? Everyone knew about Nash, his brother’s mate that was building the new development in town. Not to mention his own father.

When I met my dad’s gaze and raised a brow trying to ask him what was going on, a guilty look flashed on his face, and my stomach dropped. He wouldn’t.

Dad looked away, refusing to meet my eyes, and I felt like I would be sick.

“How could you?” I whispered, not even bothering to look in Hunter’s direction. “Why would you tell him? I can’t believe you would do something like that, dad.” I hated the crack in my voice. It pissed me off, but my stupid voice sounded like I was about to cry.

Hunter stood up, but I didn’t even look his way. “It’s not his fault,” he said, “I kind of dragged the information out of him. Please don’t blame him.”

I didn’t acknowledge his words. “You shouldn’t be here. What are you even doing here?” I snapped at him. Even though the stupid butterflies in my belly didn’t agree. “I told you everything was fine. Why can’t you mind your own business.”

“I just came to—” Hunter spoke, but I put my hand up. “I don’t care why you’re here. I told you I was fine yesterday. You had to come to report me to father like I’m some child. Wasn’t it bad enough you talked down to me?”

“I just wanted to talk to you,” Hunter started again.

“Well, I don’t want to speak to you, and I haven’t committed any crimes since the last time I checked, Sherriff which means I don’t have to talk to you. I don’t know what head games you’re trying to play, but they won’t work. Don’t think I haven’t noticed you showing up at the diner all the time, ordering pies and things you can get at your brother’s cafe. Whatever trick or joke or,” I growled, “whatever this is. It won’t work. I’m not interested, so just leave me alone already.”

With that off my chest, I walked as fast as my legs would carry without actually running out of the room. I slammed my bedroom door for good measure. Even though it was a little childish, I didn’t care.

Why wouldn’t the stupid alpha let me be? It felt like every time I turned around, there he was all alpha-y… and muscled and hot… for fuck’s sake, Sage!

I paced back and forth across my room. He wasn’t hot. His face was stupid. Very mature. I was glad I hadn’t once looked him in the eye because now that he knew, I bet the only thing I would see there was pity. I didn’t want his stupid pity. He could shove it where the sun didn’t shine for all I cared.

I was livid. This was my life. My business. And it had absolutely fuck all to do with him.

It felt like the walls of my bedroom were closing in on me. Why couldn’t he have left well enough alone? Why did it have to be him that was there yesterday? Why couldn’t he have just stayed as eye candy that was just out of reach?

“I don’t want him,” I muttered fiercely.

Liar!

I growled and stormed out of the room, going back downstairs; I needed air, and the house felt like it was trying to suffocate me.

I tried to go out the back, but Dad called my name. I sighed and followed his voice to the kitchen. My stomach clenched when I saw Dad was alone, and I called myself twenty kinds of an idiot for being disappointed that he’d left.

“Son, can we talk about this?” my dad asked as soon as I walked in.

“I’d rather not,” I said, folding my arms against my chest. “I think you’ve talked enough for today.” I hated being rude to my Dad, but I couldn’t believe he would betray my trust like that. He knew how I felt about people knowing. What would happen when they found out? And what I’d been through.

I swallowed and shoved the door on those memories shut as hard as possible.

“I don’t understand,” I swallowed down the tightness in my throat. “Why did you have to tell him? I can’t believe you did that.” I trusted my parents with my life. They were always there for me. Never ever made me feel like I was less than, so why would Dad break my trust like this.

“Son, If you would just let me explain—”

I sighed, “I love you, dad, but I just need some time to think.”

I didn’t wait for a response; I turned and left out the double doors that led to the patio and down the steps. I kept walking until I got to the brook that ran along the far property line. It was peaceful, and the sound of the water rolling over the stones down the stream soothed my soul.

I sat on the rock facing the mountains and took several deep breaths trying to center myself. Something inside called to me to glance back toward the house. In the distance, I could see his car, parked there like he’d stopped and was waiting for something.

Not for you. Probably got a phone call or something.

I pressed my fist against my eyes and sighed. Of all the alphas in Asheville, I had to notice him. Every time he was close, my bear purred or yipped. And I wanted to jump in his arms or something equally stupid. Why did he make me wish for things I’d come to terms with never having? I knew better than to notice someone like him. If anyone was the definition of out of my league, it was Hunter.

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