Page 3 of His Protective Bear

Was that why he didn’t want me? Had I unknowingly scared him at some point?

I didn’t want to rush him, but my bear and I were getting impatient. Being around him… or rather away from him felt like tiny needles were piercing my skin. Still, every time I thought I knew where it came from, the pain moved but never stopped hurting.

I didn’t know how to reach him. I’d tried talking to him. I went to the diner every day he was there, just for the chance to lay my eyes on him. Hoping that day would be the day that he acknowledged us.

“Ehem,” I looked up at the throat clearing. Not that I had to, because I knew who it was.

“You know you could knock,” I said pointedly at my brother Rhys.

He rolled his eyes, “Well, sheriff, shouldn’t you know I was here with all your sheriffy senses.”

I snorted. “Really? Sheriffy? All that fancy college, and that’s the best you got?”

“I’m under-caffeinated, so you get what you get.” Rhys shrugged, walking over to the cupboard where I kept the mugs and grabbing the large white one with tiny bears. It had shown up here one day, and every time Rhys popped over, he was the one that used it.

I watched him as he moved around the kitchen with familiarity. “So what brings you over this morning? I know I’m low on Uncle Rhys’ list of favorite people since our beautiful nieces and nephews were born.”

Rhys glanced behind from where he stood, waiting for the Keurig to finish making him, I sniffed, dark chocolate hazelnut coffee.

My baby brother looked away from me. He shrugged, “Just wanted to be around the not so happily mated and familied.”

“Familied?” I asked, teasing even though his words hit me right in my chest.

“You know what I mean,” he said.

“I do,” I acknowledged. I was happy for Gabe, Austin, and Graham, but at the same time, I wanted what they had so badly. Sage was so close but still seemed so far away. Sometimes it actually hurt to be around my brothers and their mates.

Whenever I saw my nephews and niece, I imagined my kids with them. Growing up together, being as close as I am with my siblings.

“I see you thinking really hard over there. Want to share?” Rhys asked, coming across the island to take a seat at one of the barstools in my kitchen.

I let out a breath. What could it hurt? It wasn’t like I was making any headway by myself.

“I went over to see Sage last night,” I said.

He nodded, “Don’t you see him every day?” Rhys asked.

I nodded, “Yup. But yesterday, he was the one closing up, and—”

“Did something happen?” Rhys asked, leaning forward.

“Not in the way you think,” I rubbed my brow, “I don’t understand how he doesn’t feel it. I think he’s scared of me, Rhys. Maybe that’s why he runs away… I don’t know. I just don’t know.”

Rhys must have moved because the next thing I knew, he was pulling my hand away from my chest. I must have been rubbing it without even realizing it.

“Have you guys actually ever had a conversation?” Rhys asked.

I shook my head.

“Well, that might be a good place to start,” he pointed out.

I nodded. “Maybe I needed to approach him directly. Not at the diner?”

“That could work. But don’t ambush him, okay,” Rhys warned.

“I won’t. Maybe I could go over to his house. He works half a day today.” My cheeks heated because I had just admitted I’d memorized Sage’s schedule.

Rhys snorted, then sighed, “Yeah, right… anyway, maybe he’s shy. Do you remember when Austin couldn’t really scent Nash because he was on meds that messed up his olfactory nerves?.”

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