Page 65 of Cowboy Bear's Hope

My chest felt tight, like the walls were physically closing in on me, squeezing the air out of my lungs.

This was my fault.

The assistant principal, Mr. Dryden, had stirred up all this chaos because of me.

Rosie, my sweet girl, was probably terrified right now, being questioned by some stranger in a cold, unfamiliar room. And why?

Because I’d had the audacity to say no to his slimy invitations. Turned down all his pathetic attempts to woo me with romantic overtures and coffee dates.

I refused him, and this was his revenge.

The thought churned in my stomach like acid, my pulse racing faster with every second that passed. I couldn’t move. I stood there, frozen in a cocktail of horror, rage, and helplessness.

And then, through the fog of panic, I became aware of something behind me.

A sound.

Low, guttural, and ferocious.

The terrible, angry rumble grew louder, reverberating down the hallway until it filled the space like thunder rolling over a stormy sky. It was a sound so primal, so filled with rage, it made the tiny hairs on the back of my neck stand on end.

I didn’t have to turn around to know where it was coming from.

Dante.

My mate.

I barely had time to blink, let alone react, before the rumble exploded into action.

With a snarl that seemed to shake the very air, Dante surged forward, his fist colliding with Mr. Dryden’s smug, unsuspecting face. The crack of bone meeting bone echoed down the hallway, followed by a gasp—maybe mine, maybe someone else’s.

The force of the punch sent Mr. Dryden flying backward, his body crashing into the cement wall with an audible crack that seemed to rattle the very foundation of the building.

That creepy fuck crumpled to the ground in a heap, groaning in shock and pain, one hand clutching his now-bloodied nose.

Silence fell over the hallway, heavy and electric.

My heart thundered in my chest, but this time it wasn’t from fear.

I turned slowly, my eyes locking on Dante. His chest rose and fell with heavy breaths, his jaw clenched so tightly I could see the muscles ticking under his skin.

His eyes burned with a wild fury, the kind of look that said he wouldn’t hesitate to do it again if Dryden so much as breathed wrong.

And in that moment, all the fear, all the doubt that had threatened to overwhelm me, began to dissipate.

Because Dante wasn’t just angry—he was furious on my behalf. On Rosie’s behalf.

He wasn’t just defending us. He was declaring, loud and clear, that no one messed with his family.

And God help anyone who tried.

Sexy, strong man. Christ, I love him.

“Oh my God!” Principal Jefferson said, her hands covering her mouth as she rushed to see if Dryden needed help.

Just then, the interview room door opened and a small woman with blue hair sticking out of the bottom of her braid came walking out with her hand on Rosie’s shoulder.

“Oh, um, hello. My name is Sybil. Are you Rosie’s parents?” she asked.

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