Page 8 of His Protective Bear

I stood and kept on walking till I got to the cliff that created another border of our property, at least at this point. My cousin Simon’s parents and his two older brothers, who were alphas, lived just over the cliff. I looked down at the rocky waters below, and for the first time in my life, I wasn’t afraid.

And I knew what fear felt like. I lived with it daily. Fear was an old friend. One I’d tried ditching but could never quite manage. I should be terrified of falling, but it was the one thing that didn’t scare me. If I fell, it would be over. That gnawing loneliness and the endless abyss that were my fears would be no more.

My chin dropped to my chest as tears slid down my cheeks, and shame washed over me for even having that thought. I would never do that. I took a step back from the cliff edge. Ever. My parents… my younger brother. I had a lot to live for. Even if I would spend my life alone.

My fist clenched, and I wanted to hit the alpha. It wasn’t Hunter’s fault. You’re the only one responsible for your actions.

It wasn’t dad’s fault for being gullible and sharing that information when the nosy alpha came around. I knew my dad wasn’t malicious in sharing. He’d only ever protected me.

The sheriff didn’t matter. He was nothing to me. I was safe and healthy, and I refused to let alphas like him make me feel insecure about myself.

Never again.

He was nothing to me. Nothing.

Chapter 4

Hunter

I really should have skipped out on family dinner, but I didn’t even have the excuse of work to keep me busy. And knowing my family, they would all show up trying to find out what was wrong.

Especially Rhys and Cooper. Heck, I was almost certain that my brother-in-law had already told Graham. Those two, hell, all the couples in my family were attached at the hip. Even my parents and grandparents. After all that time together, they still looked at each other like they weren’t quite sure how they existed. Like they were magical. They touched each other constantly. Kissed regardless of who watched.

My heart clenched because I wanted that. I wanted my mate to be here with us. Sitting beside me where I could pull him into my arms.

The usual noise of family dinner went on around me, but I tuned it out.

I hated to think about what Sage had been through. How difficult life must have been for him. I wished I could have been there to shield him from all of it.

I wanted to kick myself for not trying to approach him back in high school. I’d scented him my senior year in high school, but he’d only been a sophomore. I’d done my best to give him space even though I couldn’t quite stay away.

Thinking back, it explained why he’d always looked miserable in school. But he’d always had one person with him. I closed my eyes, trying to recall his cousin, an omega too, although I didn’t remember his name.

His two older cousins, the twins Chris and Nick, always seemed to be around him, too, like they were protecting him, which now made sense.

I’d tried to give him space to grow. We didn’t always scent our mates early. It had something to do with the pheromones and maturity… so when I had, I wanted to give him time to do the same. I didn’t want to press my claim or force him to accept our bond till he was ready.

Maybe I should have pressed. I could have protected him, spared him from whatever had put that wary watchfulness in his eyes.

I was lost in thought when I felt a nudge. To my right, I found Kian’s eyes on me. “Penny for your thoughts?” my brother Gabe’s mate asked. I couldn’t help smiling at him. Kian had blossomed since he’d come here and mated with Gabe. The shy man that arrived on the ranch wasn’t the fierce one we knew now.

He took care of all of us, not just Gabe.

“I was just thinking,” The noise around the table quieted as I spoke loud enough to get everyone’s attention, “Which of your senses do you think would be the most difficult to live without?”

I met Papa and Dad’s gaze and then Austin, Gabe, Rhys, and Graham’s. “And do you think it would change how you lived if you lost it?”

“Is this only for the shifters in the room?” Cooper asked.

I thought about it and shook my head, “I guess not, even though we have stronger senses, I mean in general.”

“My first question would be, was I born without it?” Kian said.

“Why would that be the first question?” I asked.

“Well, I suppose if I never had it, I would never know what I was missing. I would have learned to live without it.” Kian continued, “I won’t say I couldn’t miss it because I think you would think about how much easier life could be if you had it,” his voice was thoughtful, “I don’t know, I think it’s one of those situations you can’t know where it hurts without walking a mile in the shoes.”

I nodded, processing his words.

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