Page 32 of Wild Reckoning

“Bear!” Ethan shouted excitedly.

Stewart gasped, stumbling back as he grabbed Ethan and shot around the bed.

“Pay whiff Bear!” The toddler cried.

Killian let out a low growl, the sound rumbling through the room, his vision darkening as his bear tried to stay upright, tried to protect. But the blood loss was too much, the room tilting, spinning, the world fading to black as he collapsed, his massive form hitting the floor with a heavy crash.

Chapter Eight

Holy. Mother.

Stewart stood on the other side of the bed, clutching Ethan’s back to his stomach. His nephew was dangling from his arms, but Stewart was too stunned to readjust him. His heart thudded against his ribs, and his breaths came in shallow bursts as his brain tried to process what he was seeing.

He was too shocked to do anything.

Ethan cried, his tiny hands reaching toward the massive form sprawled on the floor.

“I need a fricking drink,” Stewart muttered. Killian had told him he was a bear. Stewart had maybe, sorta, believed him—the claws had been very real—but to see the bear not ten feet away… The sight was almost too much to take in. The moment pressed down on Stewart’s chest.

Ethan wiggled until Stewart lost his grip. Hanging on to a writhing toddler wasn’t easy. His nephew fell to the floor, but before Stewart could grab him, Ethan raced around the bed, heading straight for the mammoth bear.

The kid was fast.

Stewart gave chase but stopped short when he reached the animal. The sheer size of Killian’s shifted form up close was overwhelming. Its fur was a deep, mahogany brown, the texture appearing thick and slightly matted, with a rich, musky scent that filled the room.

“Get back here!” he shouted in a frantic whisper, pointing at the spot in front of him as if Ethan would obediently return.

“Bad man hurt Uncuh Kill.” Ethan’s voice quivered with emotion.

“I know, tater tot, but—Don’t you dare climb—” He stared in disbelief as Ethan wriggled his way over the bear’s massive shoulder and snuggled into its thick neck fur. Now his nephew lay there, gently petting the deadly beast, like he was comforting the animal. The sight of the toddler’s small hands, barely visible in the sea of thick fur, sent chills racing down Stewart’s spine.

“You are so grounded, mister.” Stewart kept pointing to the spot in front of him, his finger jabbing the air repeatedly as if poking something bouncy.

The bear was wounded, and Stewart had no clue if it would know who Ethan was or turn the kid into an actual tater tot.

But who in the hell should he call? An ambulance or a vet? The police or animal control?

Too bad he didn’t have Quinton’s phone number. Stewart could drive Killian’s SUV, but he wasn’t leaving the bear behind, and Ethan clearly wasn’t either.

However, the animal was too big to haul out of the bedroom, let alone down the stairs and into the vehicle. Stewart doubted it would even fit. The grizzly had to be close to 700 pounds.

“Wait. He said not to be afraid of him,” Stewart said to himself while pacing. “Killian was clearly referring to his bear. Even so, I’m not trusting my three-year-old with a beast the size of a small car.” He stopped and pivoted toward his nephew, ready to demand that Ethan come to him when he saw the toddler had fallen asleep, his soft breaths muffled against the bear’s fur.

Ethan was curled into a bear.

Those were six words Stewart never thought he would say or even think. He was positive Killian wouldn’t hurt Ethan. The guy seemed to genuinely care for the boy.

But a bear… He had to admit the bear had Stewart ready to mount a rescue mission to get his nephew to safety. The oversized furball possessed lethal claws and teeth.

“Killian!” Ryker shouted.

Stewart screamed, stumbling backward when Ryker rushed into the room. He tripped over Killian’s furry back legs and landed on his ass.

“What happened?” the guy demanded, his eyes wide, taking in the scene. “Why is the front door hanging wide open, and why do I smell blood?” He hurried to Stewart. “Were you hurt?” The guy spun, his gaze darting around the room. “Where’s Ethan?”

Ryker was moving too quickly, spitting his words bullet-fast, and he was giving Stewart an even bigger migraine.

“Please, hold still for five seconds. You’re acting worse than Ethan when he’s had too much sugar.”

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