Page 88 of Hunny and the Bear

He kept moving toward her, a predatory gleam shining in his eyes as she moved around the kitchen island, desperate to keep as much distance between them as possible. She didn’t know ifshe could outrun him, but if she could stall him, it would give Tank time.

Please, please come back, she wailed in her mind.

“I know all of that, Hunny. Are you really so dense? I killed Natasha for you. Forus.”

Hunny’s heart stilled, all of Tank’s words rushing back at her about just how crazy and depraved Jason was. She’d started to realize it on her own after the clinic, but this … this was complete madness. Not to mention the pain he had willingly put himself through.

To kill his own mate … Who could do such a thing? Who would risk possibly killing themselves in the process? Only a psychopath.

“Why would you do that? You rejected me, Jason. You chose her!” Hunny shook her head in denial, sidestepping further around the island, making sure she kept it firmly between the two of them. He followed her until they were caught in an awkward, twisted dance; her running backward and him chasing after, tauntingly, like a cat stalking a mouse.

“I warned her to leave you alone, Hunny. Even though I cast you aside, I didn’t relish the thought of the mother of my pups coming to harm. But Natasha couldn’t obey. She hated the fact that you were carrying my heirs. That you would always hold some advantage over her. So she came back here to kill you. I couldn’t let that happen.”

Bile rose in her throat. “You knew she was here that day in the woods. That wolf we saw wasn’t the only one …”

“That wolfwas monitoring Natasha for me, to ensure she did what she was told. But she didn’t. She came after you,” Jason scoffed, slamming his fists down so hard onto the kitchen island, the countertop cracked. “I wanted Natasha because she was dominant; strong-willed. But ever since you left me, I’ve come to realize just how beneficial it would be to rule with a submissiveby my side.” His eyes locked onto hers, staring at her in such a disturbed manner she flinched away from it. “You are who I need.”

“I’m mated to Henry,” Hunny answered with a calmness she didn’t feel. She wanted to scream at Jason that she wouldneverbe his again, but he was clearly deranged, and she was afraid of setting him off. What would he do if provoked?

“If I can kill my own mate, I can kill yours just as easily,” Jason said with an abrupt laugh. “In fact, my wolves are taking care of him as we speak.”

Instinctively, her head started to turn toward the doorway, to the last place she’d seen her mate.

Henry—

She only saw the briefest tensing of Jason’s muscles out of the corner of her eye before he launched himself over the kitchen island, heading straight for her. Hunny shrieked in terror, turning toward the doorway leading into the living room with a burst of speed rabbit shifters were known for. She reached for the deadbolt, her fingers brushing against the cool metal.

Jason’s hand wrapped in the hair at the back of her head, a hard arm banding around her chest as he yanked her back and into his arms, pulling her away from the door. “Did you know that Angela, one wolf I’ve gone through great pains to teach obedience, recently discovered her true mate was right here within this very territory?” Jason whispered harshly into her ear, his hot breath blowing free strands of hair into the side of her face.

When she didn’t respond, his grip tightened in her hair and he pulled it roughly. “Answer me,” he hissed.

“I-I didn’t know,” Hunny whimpered, her mind reeling. Jason was too close, his presence a sinister threat. Her mind screamed at her to get away. To protect her kits. To erase his presence fromthis cabin. From her home. From her life. And the only person who could do that was Tank, but he wasn’t even here.

What was more terrifying than even Jason himself was the knowledge that her mate would be here with her if he could. He’d never let Jason near her, never let him get close enough to breathe her air, let alone touch her. But now, this maniac was all over her.

God, please let Henry be okay.

Unfortunately, the sounds of fighting outside had begun to die down, and he still hadn’t charged inside. Where could he be? Her heart twisted, and it hurt to breathe, but she forced herself to relax. If he were dead, she’d feel the mating bond sever. She’d know he was gone, so she needed to hold on. He was alive. She just had to just buy enough time until he got back here to her.

Jason turned them away from the living room and back toward the kitchen, forcing her to walk ahead until he had her pinned against the farthest wall from escape, covering her back with his rigid body.

“I missed you, Hunny,” Jason crooned, rubbing his groin against her ass.

She nearly gagged, bile rising in her throat. Every instinct demanded she fight, that she raise hell to get him off of her. But what if he hit her? What if he hurt her babies? For that reason alone, she remained still, frozen in place by terror and the unknown.

Desperate to keep his mind focused on anything but her body, Hunny asked the first thing she could think of. “Who’s Angela’s mate?”

“That bear traitor.” Jason licked the side of her face, groaning deeply. “Imagine Dante’s surprise when he intercepted a handful of wolves hunting down Natasha right on these very lands, and then found out that one of them was his mate. Poorbastard didn’t know what to do, and suddenly, I saw the future for us all mapped out.”

Hunny swallowed thickly, ignoring the way her voice shook as she asked, “You did?”

“Yes,” he breathed, rubbing his cheek against the side of her head, like he was determined to remove Tank’s scent and replace it with his own. “I told him I’d rape, torture, and kill Angela if he didn’t do everything I demanded.” Jason spoke nonchalantly, as if rape and murder were normal activities he pursued. It made Hunny even more nauseous.

“He folded easily, especially after I promised I wouldn’t hurt you. Then I forced him to keep Natasha in his home until the time was right to kill her. A few days later, I reached out to that pathetic excuse of an Alpha, claiming my mate was here. Demanding a meeting. I let them play right into my hands, but I have to admit, Hunny, I was furious to see that you’d mated someone else. And so soon, too! Naughty girl. You let some filthy fucking bear put his hands on you,his dick inside you,” he grated out angrily.

Jason spun her around so fast the back of her head smacked into the wall. She grunted in pain, wheezing when he pushed his body flush against hers. No care or consideration of the pressure he applied to her stomach. Her eyes stung with tears, and she fought back the urge to sob. Terror consumed her at the thought of what he might do to her and her babies.

Jason molded himself to her, grabbing her face in one large hand and squeezing until she cried out in pain. “When we get home, I’ll replace that disgusting mating mark with the right one and get this rancid scent off you. Then I’ll make sure the only dick you remember is mine.”

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