Page 2 of Hunny and the Bear

There, peeking out halfway from the neck of his t-shirt, was a bite mark. Amatingmark.

“What is that?” Hunny asked faintly, cringing at how distraught she sounded. If she wasn’t in such shock, she would have rolled her eyes at her own question. Instead, she uttered forlornly, “Jason, w-what have you done?”

But she knew what he’d done, didn’t she? He’d mated someone else. The truth was clear to see. The proof right there in plain sight. He’d kept Hunny here in his cabin like a dirty little secret because that’s exactly what she’d been. Not a revered mate, but a lustful shame. A guilty pleasure.

Her breath hitched and her hearthurt, a physical ache that had her pressing her palm to her chest, rubbing hard over her wounded organ as if it would help ease her pain. But it didn’t help, and she suspected nothing would.

“You know what I’ve done.” Quietly, Jason stepped into the cabin, his powerful frame filling the doorway. Hunny retreated a step, her legs like jelly as she fought to keep from sinking to the floor in misery. He took a deep breath. “I’ve mated an Alphafemale from my pack. Someone I’ve had my eye on for a few years. She’s the perfect Luna.”

Tears pricked Hunny’s eyes as she looked up at Jason, her nose stinging as she fought to keep them from falling. “But I’m your true mate. Fate decides who is perfect for you, and it’sme.”

Why can’t he see that?

Jason snarled, taking a menacing step toward her. His words laced with venom, he spat, “Fate gave me a weak female. A rabbit shifter, and a submissive one at that.”

She flinched as if he’d struck her, her gaze dropping to the bite mark on his neck once more. It taunted her, and nausea rolled through her stomach. “Submissive doesn’t mean weak,” she replied softly, but her voice wavered, all but proving him right. She felt weak. Useless.Used.

Broken.

Jason scoffed, the sound grating on her soul. “You can’t even look me in the eye as you say that, Hunny. How could you ever discipline a member of my pack if you can’t even stand up for yourself?” He shook his head. “Natasha was the perfect choice for my Luna and my mate. Consider this my formal rejection.”

“Why?” Hunny snapped, spinning away from him before she did something pathetic, like fall at his feet and beg him to reconsider. She wanted to run from the cabin, to jump into her truck and drive the hell out of this state. To get as far away as possible. But fleeing the cabin meant brushing past Jason, and she didn’t want to be anywhere near him right now.

God, why had she ever felt like Montana was home? This place was nothing to her. She didn’t have a home; she hadn’t since her parents had died. And now, all she’d have of this place were memories of how completely her heart had shattered here. She regretted ever stepping foot in these mountains.

No, that wasn’t exactly true. Her hand slid to her belly protectively. She’d have a kit, someone to love and cherish; evenif its father couldn’t do the same for her. That was enough to make this last month worthwhile. It had to be.

Jason sighed in resignation. “I’ve told you why.”

“No, I mean, why did you bring me here? Why did you lead me on for weeks? Just to use me for sex?” She bit out the last question through her teeth, some of her sorrow fading as indignant fury replaced it.

“Of course not.”

Reaching the bed, Hunny spun back around to face him, content with the distance she’d created. “Then why lead me on? Why do any of this if you never planned to mate me?”

“Because I couldn’t just let you go,” Jason bellowed suddenly, his features twisting with rage. A second later, he schooled his expression, leaving Hunny to wonder if she’d noticed anything amiss at all. “I’d already made promises to Natasha that I couldn’t back out of,” he continued softly, the scent of his regret filling the air. “From the moment we met, it was already too late.”

“Oh, bullshit,” Hunny scoffed, running a hand through her hair. “You talk about me being weak, but it’syouwho’s weak,“ she declared vehemently. “You might have made promises to that female, but when you invited me here, when you fucked me within minutes of us meeting, you made promises to me, too. You were just too much of a coward to act on them. Don’t blame the submissive for your shortcomings.”

Jason’s nostrils flared with anger. Inhaling, he stiffened, gaping at her in shock. “You’re pregnant.”

Hunny swallowed past the lump in her throat. “Yes. I just found out tonight.” Not that it mattered. He’d made his choice already.

“Pregnant,” Jason whispered with a shake of his head. “I don’t believe it.”

Welcome to the club, jackass.

He took another step toward her, and then another. She straightened her spine as he pushed into her space, refusing to cower. Dropping his head to her neck, he inhaled, his nose lightly roaming over her skin. He shuddered then, wrapping an arm around her waist and pulling her flush against him. “You always smell so good,” he groaned. “I can’t get enough.”

“Well, you won’t need to think about my scent anymore. I’m leaving here as soon as possible.” She was already planning her next steps, calculating how long it would take her to leave the state. Luckily, she’d moved so much in the last few years that it was more or less second nature at this point.

She just needed to walk out—to push him away; she wanted to more than anything. But her body betrayed her, and she dropped her forehead onto his chest, sinking into his embrace. Every time he held her, it always feltright. Magnetic, almost.

Only now, his scent was wrong, and his touch didn’t bring her any comfort. It just hurt.

“You could stay,” he began softly, his breath tickling her flesh. “I’ve marked Natasha, but I don’t love her, Hunny. I don’t want her like I want you, and she doesn’t need to know about us. Stay here in this cabin, and we can raise our pup together.”

“Excuse me?” Hunny asked in dismay. He expected her to live like this for the rest of her life? To take the scraps he offered and be content as the other woman? That wouldneverhappen. She flattened her palms onto his chest and shoved, but he didn’t budge an inch. “Let go.” She pushed at his chest again. Jason ignored her, his arm tightening around her waist. His lips landed on her neck, delicately skating over her flesh.

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