Page 35 of Their UnBearable Destiny

“A mate,” Alfonse shot right back, “that she refused. She sent you away, Uberto. Have you forgotten the last ten years?”

“You know what’s between us, Alfonse. Emiliana and I have spoken to you about this.”

“And that was fine when you were both young and immature, but Emiliana can no longer hide behind her youth. She must have a mate.”

“She has one,” he growled and forced his body under control. That he needed answers more than blood was proof that he was managing to keep hold on his temper. “She has me.”

“And yet, she refused you then. And the town saw your rather chilly reception by my daughter, Uberto. Bow out gracefully and save your family the embarrassment.”

Shrugging off the meaty hand of one of the many men in the room, Uberto managed to extricate the rest of his limbs from the men he had once respected. “This circus is your doing, Alfonse.”

Uberto felt the anger rolling through his veins, the burning air in his lungs threatening to boil his body from the inside out.

Someone set a restraining hand on his shoulder and Uberto stepped away, turning to meet Renaldo’s curious gaze. The other man was enjoying the show, at least that’s what his dark gaze revealed.

“I’ve heard of you, Orsetto.”

Little Bear.

And within him, Uberto’s bear wanted to go paw to paw with Renaldo. He would show the other man the punishment for poaching in Santa Biago.

“You abandoned your home and your mate. Why should anyone care what you claim to be yours.”

“She is mine.” He turned back to the assembled group. “How many of you knew this was going to happen?”

The room stilled and remained as such until the only noise that Uberto could heard beyond the roar of blood pulsing in his ears was the hum of the nearly antique soda machine in the corner.

Uberto felt his claws push free of his fingertips, and fur pushed out of his skin as his shoulders broadened and his muscles thickened.

He saw fear in a few eyes and smelled the rancid scent from others.

“Who knew?”

Three men who stood with Alfonse, but half a step behind him, raised their hands.

The one with the most silver in his hair seemed determined to speak. “We’ve had ample time to speak of it, Uberto. Ten years have been lost while you’ve gallivanted across the ocean. Do you realize what a precious gift she is?”

He growled. “This ‘gift’ you speak of,” he struggled not to bellow the words at them, “is a person. A woman who won’t appreciate being treated as chattel.”

“We have no choice, Uberto.” Alfonse stood with his arms folded over his chest. “We’ve had fewer and fewer shifters born into our valley through the generations. There was a time a little more than a hundred years ago when the bears outnumbered the humans in this corner of the world.

“Those that mated with humans, lowered the numbers significantly.”

Uberto understood the basics of the genetics involved, but what mattered now was the insane suggestion that his mate take another man in his place. “She wears my mark.” He turned to Renaldo. “How can you ignore that?’

He shrugged. “The same way your ‘mate’ has been able to turn her back on your mating.”

Renaldo’s eyes swept the crowed and Uberto did as well. If anyone had told him a few hours earlier that his entire future was going to be called into question, he would have laughed at the insanity.

And yet, after he’d heard what Emiliana’s father had planned for her, he felt as though his world had turned him upside down and hung him high enough that he’d never get down without cracking open his skull.

Straightening himself to his full height, aided by the thick press and stretch of his ursine muscles, Uberto glared at the assembly. “This will not be decided today! I will speak with my brother tonight and I’m sure Salvatore will have something to say about your ridiculous idea.”

Alfonse seemed unconcerned with the idea.

“And there is one other person that should have been told of your plans ahead of time.”

Alfonse made a vague gesture toward Renaldo. “Their brother Valerio would likely see the importance of this idea. He is the one of those that act as a healer amongst our people. I doubt he’d let his brothers rush of emotion affect him beyond reason.”

“My brothers love their mates like the air in their lungs. If you believe for an instant that they would be in favor of my own mate taken away, you truly have lost sight of the world around you.

“But I was referring to your daughter, Alfonse. You haven’t told her of your plan, have you?”

He shook his head. “I’m the one who has seen her waste away waiting for you to take her in hand.”

Uberto felt his stomach twist into a knot at the other man’s words. “I can see why she feels the way she does. How can you say you love her and treasure her and then discount her own feeling and the soul within her body?

“I will speak to Emiliana tonight, Alfonse. I suggest-”

“You?” he scoffed. “You want to suggest what?” The older man glared at him. “And what makes you think I would care about your plan. It will never happen.” Uberto walked toward the front door of the bakery. “But I suggest you take tonight to think about what you will tell your daughter when you reveal that she’s little more to you than a bargaining chip.”

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