Page 49 of Bear Strength

“I know,” it feels good to be the one who interrupts him this time.

I take his hands into mine, and place a kiss on them.

“Thank you for sharing this story with me,” I smile. “I know how different all three of you are. And yet, you are the same in so many ways. The three of you aren’t one perfect man. You are three perfect men and I consider myself so lucky, so grateful to be loved and cherished by you.”

“We’re far from perfect,” he shakes his head. “And, honestly, I don’t want you to think we are. You might get disappointed that way.”

“I’d never be disappointed by anything you do or you did.”

“You say that now,” he smiles, caressing my cheek. “Just, believe that we are good men. That’s enough.”

“I know that, I really do.”

“Because, we’ve all done something in our lives we’re not proud of. Wagner’s been in more fights than you can remember. He’s also fucked about a thousand women, in his youth. He had problems with alcohol, with rage, but that’s all behind him. He’s learned from it. He is the man he is today exactly because of those mistakes from the past.”

I look down, trying to make sense of his words. He’s right. We should learn from our mistakes. Otherwise, we are doomed to repeat them over and over again.

“Adrian believes that he has become weaker because of his past. They’ve broken him so many times, and yet, he’s still standing. That in itself, is victory.”

“What about you?” I dare to ask, managing only a slight whisper.

“Me?” he smiles weakly. “I’m no different. I cheated. I fought where there was no need to fight. My father was the clan leader, and like I already mentioned, we have slightly different rules here. We’re civilized, but we’re not ready to give up our connection with the old way of things. That’s what my father believed. I myself am willing to modernize the clan, as you can see. But, he wasn’t. That is what was eventually his downfall. We made the mistake of making an alliance with the wrong clan, a clan which didn’t share the same ideals as us. They betrayed us, and many of us died as a result.”

“Oh, I’m sorry…” I gasp.

“I don’t like to talk about it,” he nods. “I guess, you and I are the same like that. Adrian and Wagner, too. We all have different stories, but one thing binds us, and that is that we became who we are because we overcame what happened. No one is perfect. No is errorless. This is a word Adrian would use,” he chuckles to himself, and I join in. “You just keep going. You face your fear. You fight it. You don’t surrender your whole life to it. Because then, it will swallow you whole. It will swallow you alive, Danica.”

I hear him sigh heavily, as if the weight of the world is pressing upon his shoulders, and there is no one to share the burden with.

“We’re all having breakfast down at the big kitchen. Come join us, when you’re ready.”

“I’ll be there in a second,” I smile.

He just nods, then exits the room. I take the tea and drink it slowly. Adrian was right. My throat immediately felt better. Asfor my voice, that’ll take longer. My headache subsided as well. Maybe I could actually grab something to eat.

CHAPTER 22

Wagner

“I really appreciate you taking me home to get my stuff,” Danica tells me.

She is standing outside her shack. Well, Violet’s really, but from the looks of it, Danica will be staying here a while. That’s great. Having her here is great. Fuck. Sometimes, you need Adrian to expand your vocabulary a little. It’s not only great. It’s fucking amazing having her here.

“Mason said he checked the place out a few times since you’ve been here, but there was no suspicious activity,” I assure her. “Still, better be safe.”

“I think so, too,” she smiles.

Her pony tail sways to the left, then to the right, as she starts to walk over to her car. Those jeans don’t do her ass justice.

“Where are you going?” I shout after her.

“Um, to my car?” she turns around. “Where else?”

I point to my bike.

“Are you kidding me!?” Her eyes widen in shock. She might be a little pissed, too. But, it suits her so well. Nothing prettier than a mad woman. “I’m not riding that coffin on wheels.”

I chuckle at her comment.

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