Page 61 of Cowboy Bear's Hope

“Nurse Brown, what are you doing?” Principal Jefferson asked, and her eyes were pointed with anger.

“You can’t interrupt an interview with Child Services,” she hissed.

“What? Who is that person? Is she from Child Services? What is she doing with my Rosie?” I asked, fear holding me tight in its taloned grip.

“There you are, Nurse Brown. I guess you decided not to join us for the meeting this morning to discuss Rosalind’s latest behavior,” Mr. Dryden tsked.

“You lying, delusional motherfucker. You never told me a goddamn thing about any meeting. Now I demand to know what is going on!” I said, angrier than I’d ever been in my whole life.

Fear for my daughter stopped me when I would’ve throat punched the lying douchebag. I turned my attention to the principal.

“I want Rosalie. Now!”

“Mr. Dryden? Didn’t you say you’d been in deep discussions with Avery about Rosalie’s behavior and that she was fine with you taking charge of it now?” Principal Jefferson asked him.

“What? He never told me a thing and no way would I allow him to be in charge of anything having to do with my daughter!”

“Avery, why don’t we discuss this inside my office,” Mr. Dryden said, leering at me.

I shivered with disgust. Something about this creep made all the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.

“Principal Jefferson, I don’t know what he told you, but none of it is true. Now, I demand to see my daughter right now.”

“Avery!” I whipped my head and saw Dante jogging down the corridor straight towards me.

“Dante,” I said his name, turning in time to be caught by him.

“Rosie? Where’s Rosie?” he asked, looking at me first then at the principal.

“I’m sorry, who are you?” Principal Jefferson asked.

“Dante Bianco, I’m Avery’s fiancé,” he said matter-of-factly, squeezing my hand as if to silence the gasp rising in my throat.

I knew being mates was more to a Shifter than being married, but something about hearing him say that touched me deep inside.

I supposed a lot of little girls dreamed of wedding dresses and flowers and saying I do, and I was no different. But this wasn’t the time or place to ask if he meant it.

“Well, Mr. Bianco, there seems to be some confusion here?—”

“Oh stop. You don’t have to tell this Neanderthal anything,” Mr. Dryden sneered.

“Son, I’d watch my mouth if I were you,” Dante growled.

“Enough, gentlemen. I am sorry but as far as I knew, you were engaged to him,” she said, pointing at Mr. Dryden who stood there looking like he swallowed a bug.

“What are you talking about? I would never!”

“Like hell she’s engaged to that turd!” Dante replied, and I swear, I felt his whole body ripple with power.

“It’s okay,” I murmured, and pressed my back against his front.

He placed his large hands on my waist, his touch steady and grounding. The heat radiating from him seeped into my skin, branding me in a way that wasn’t possessive but protective.

Like he was silently declaring to the universe, She’s mine, and I’ve got her.

That warmth, that solidness, empowered me.

Yes, fear still coiled tight in my chest, twisting and turning with every thought of my child.

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