Page 33 of Hunted

I was not as honest as I should have been about who I was, and how much harm my dad could have done to this pack if he’d found me here.

I smile at him. “About how things worked out.” I rest my hand on my belly. “And I can’t wait for this little one to be born so I can stop panting like a dehydrated dog and looking at stairs and seeing the devil.”

He laughs. “Thedevil?”

“Maybe not theactualdevil.” My smile fades as I look at him. “I thought when I met Shane, it would be the start of the life I always dreamed of, but it wasn’t. It was meeting you.”

Who’d have thought meeting your fated mate would be the worst day of my life and leaving him would mark the beginning of the life I always wanted?

He draws me close and kisses the top of my hair. “You’re going to make me cry, love.”

“I bet you never cried a day in your life.”

“See, that’s where you’re wrong, I have?—”

Mack jerks to a halt, his eyes in the distance.

Frowning, I turn to see what caught his attention and wish I had never agreed to this walk in the first place. This forest, which I love, despite Shane’s mate, Bree, nearly killing me in it, is suddenly not appealing for another reason.

“Is that a bear?” I whisper so quietly that I barely hear myself.

It is. I don’t even know why I’m asking.

No. I know. I’m hoping that I’m just imagining this.

It’s not as big as I thought a bear would be, given this is my first time running into one. This bear is maybe 6’6 tall and medium size, not hulking at all. The fact that it’s downwind explains why neither of us smelled it, but it’s still nearly twice the size I am, and I heard bears can run fast.

I am not at the running fast stage of my life. In fact, I’m not at the doing anything fast stage of my life. Except panting.

Mack draws me back as he steps forward.

It’s a tiny movement, but a rumble vibrates from the black bear’s chest.

“Back the way we came, Aerin,” Mack says in a voice as quiet as me.

I’d fully embrace that idea if Mack wasn’t stepping toward the bear.

“But…” I snap my mouth shut and gulp as the bear turns to face us.

Mack nudges me back. “Slowly back up, love. I’ll stay here and make a loud noise if it comes close.”

That doesn’t sound like a good idea. In fact, it sounds like a downright terrible one.

“Why can’t you come with me?” I whisper.

“Because I need to keep you safe.” He speaks out of the side of his mouth. “And I will. Go. Black bears are shy. Loud noise usually chases them away.”

The bear takes a step toward us.

I yelp when Mack growls loudly.

“It doesn’t look the least bit shy to me,” I whisper as the bear ambles closer.

“Go, Aerin,” Mack softly orders.

“But I?—”

“You take care of Thumper. Let me take care of you, okay?” he asks, still not turning to face me.

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