Page 78 of Trusting Her Bear

“I was barely holding it together,” I confess, and her head pops up.

“What? Really?” She blinks rapidly.

“Really. I have a ball of rage, guilt, and insecurities sitting in my stomach,” I snarl.

“Guilt?” She places her palms on my chest. “Insecurities?”

“Little Cub, all this is happening because of me. It’s because of something I did. That makes me feel guilty as fuck. What if I can’t protect you? What if I leave you alone for five minutes, and he finds a way to reach you? I don’t want you to believe him; that I can’t keep you safe.” I do not like admitting any of this.

“You have done everything to keep me safe. You can’t control whoever this is,” she says. “This is what he is doing, not you.”

“Logically, I know. It’s the emotions that are fucking with me,” I grimace.

“Quinn,” she sighs. “You are so strong, but it’s alright to feel those things, even though you are wrong.”

“I’m wrong?” I lift an eyebrow, and she smiles slightly.

“Yes.” Her smile grows.

“My mate would know best,” I concede. I tuck her hair behind her ear. “Do you feel better?”

“I lost it. I thought I could handle it, but when I saw the drawing. . .” She shakes her head. “It brought it all back. I hate that it did.”

“It’s understandable. It was traumatic. It hasn’t been that long ago. Whoever this is knows too much. We have to find them.” As much as I want her all to myself, I need help. “Breeane will be here soon.”

“I heard.” She frowns.

“You aren’t happy about it?”

“It’s not that,” she hesitates.

“Tell me.”

“I don’t want you to worry that I need her and not you.”

“I would never think that. I know you need me, but she is your best friend. She was there through the worst time of your life. She is a comfort you need. I am determined to give you what you need.” I cup her face. “You need friends. I will never keep you from them.”

“Thank you. Thank you for getting me through that.”

“You don’t need to thank me. It was my privilege.” I pull her close and kiss her softly. “After you speak to Breeane, you need to get some sleep.”

“I’m not tired,” she says quickly.

“My closet is too small, baby.” My mind races, hoping to find a way to make her feel safe enough to sleep in my bed.

“I don’t need a closet,” she denies. “I’ll sleep when I’m tired.”

“I need to continue searching while you are with Breeane. My home is about to be invaded,” I grumble.

“I’m sorry.” She drags her fingers over my beard.

I realize I am willing to have the whole fucking town in my home to keep her.

“What is he doing?” Heath asks as he walks around the corner of the house.

“Building a bed,” Micah answers.

“Why?” Heath asks.

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