Page 125 of Choose the Bears

“Appreciate that.”

I heard his sigh and knew his mind was churning, just like it always did.

“Come by the house after you sort this out. The dads… they’d like to see you. Things have been tough since they kicked Mum out. You haven’t heard from her, have you?”

So he hadn’t? My smile faded and not for the first time did I wonder what the hell was wrong with Nelly. She had her fated mates and a big strong son, but somehow that wasn’t enough for her. She couldn’t let go of the past, where her parents mistreated her, part of her unable to believe she had it so good. When I came into the picture, I was a lightning rod for the discomfort she would never acknowledge. If she fixed me, she could fix herself.

So where would that leave her now that I’d found my bear?

“Nope,” I lied, for his sake as much as mine. “I’ll be in contact when I arrive, see when works for you, Maddie, and the boys.”

“Do that.”

When the call ended, I put through the next one to Asher. Meet him in the forest by Mount Crawford, he said. This was a long fucking drive. I hadn’t slept a wink and I couldn’t with Dumbfuck rolling around in the back of the truck, so this is whenhuman me would’ve reached for some go-ey to keep my eyes open and my hands steady on the wheel. Instead, the bear flexed inside me. We’d rest when the hunt was over, when this prick was unable to hurt a single woman ever again. Until then, we needed to push on.

I underestimated justhow tired I’d be when we arrived.

My eyes burned, my hands shaking as we rolled along the winding roads around Mount Crawford. I admit all the green of the grass and the pine forests was much more restful than the endless flat plains of dry dirt and scrubby trees of before, but in some ways that was a bad thing. I needed to rest badly, so when I rolled up to the camp ground, I did so gratefully. Hand this prick over and… As I got out of the car, my phone buzzed, letting me know a voicemail had come through.

Coverage was spotty as fuck this far out and I groaned when I saw who it was from. Asher flashed up in my notifications. Should’ve fucking killed this prick when I had a chance in Coober Pedy, I thought furiously as I stomped over to the back of the truck. Phil had been covered over with a tarp so no one could see what I was carrying in the tray, which worked well then, not so much now. I was focussed on my phone, not the tray as I walked around the back of the truck.

So I didn’t see him move.

I definitely didn’t see him swing a fucking wrench at my head, the metal colliding with my skull, knocking me out cold.

“Change of plans…” I heard that dimly as the darkness swallowed me whole. “The foxes…”

The foxes what?I wanted to ask, but that rest I needed. I was getting it now in spades.

“Are you alright, mate?”

It took a while for me to answer when I finally woke up. One long groan, then me writhing against the ground, my hand going to my head and instantly regretting it. Hit in the head, possible skull fracture, the bear informed me in a series of images. There was something almost sheepish in his manner, as if he figured he should’ve seen it coming.

But why would we?

We thought we were returning to the city as conquering heroes, bringing the bad guy to justice, and instead… I blinked, winced, and then forced myself to open my eyes to see a park ranger leaning over me.

“I’m guessing by that head wound that you didn’t just pass out here from having one too many beers?”

“What? No…” I sat up, the whole world spinning, but it didn’t improve when it stilled. No truck, no phone, no fucking wallet, I realised, patting my pockets.

“You were knocked out and had all your shit taken?” the ranger said with a long slow nod. “I’ll call the cops.”

“No, my brother…”

His lips pursed, but he was an older bloke who’d obviously seen a thing or two in his lifetime.

“I’m legally obligated to report this,” he said, pulling out his phone.

“And I will, don’t worry,” I replied, staring into his eyes, feeling the bear push forward. We stared him down, making clear who he needed to listen to. “My brother can come pick me up and take me to the police station to report this.”

The muscle in his jaw flexed as he considered my proposal, then when he nodded, I felt a rush of relief. That barely cut through the pain throbbing in my head, though.

“Yeah, alright.”

He handed over his phone and I tapped in the number I’d memorised by heart, listening to the rhythmic buzzes until Bjorn finally picked up.

“Ready to talk already?”

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