Page 41 of Beary In Love

As soon as he sent it, his bear boomed with delight at the admission while his human side wondered if he'd said too much.

But her response made both sides purr: "I miss you too. See you tomorrow, Logan."

He leaned back in his chair, his paperwork forgotten. The numbers could wait. Right now, his bear wanted to bask in the warmth spreading through his chest at those four simple words.

Logan was shutting down his laptop when a thunderous crack split the night air, making the windows rattle in their frames. The sound reminded him of that time Julie's water magic had collided with Serena's experimental lightning potion - except this was ten times worse.

"What the hell?" He bolted from his chair, keys jingling in his pocket as he sprinted outside. The familiar tingle of Serena's protective magic that usually hummed along the fence line was conspicuously absent.

As he approached the perimeter, his enhanced vision caught the alterations immediately. The reinforced metal that had gleamed with a subtle purple sheen now looked dull and lifeless. The fence posts that had practically vibrated with Serena's protective spells stood inert.

"Son of a bitch!" Logan ran his hand along the nearest section. The metal felt wrong - cold and ordinary where it should have buzzed with energy. "How did he manage this?"

The animals were getting restless, sensing the change. A chorus of worried sounds rose from the enclosures - clicking, chittering, and low growls that set his teeth on edge. His bear pushed against his skin, urging him to shift, but Logan held back. He needed his human senses right now.

"Easy, everyone," he called out to the anxious animals. "Nobody's getting through tonight."

But even as he said it, Logan knew he needed to call Serena. Whatever Silas had done to strip away her magic, this was beyond his expertise. He pulled out his phone, thumbing through his recent contacts.

A twig snapped in the darkness beyond the fence. Logan's head whipped toward the sound, nostrils flaring as he caught Silas's scent on the breeze.

"Enjoying my handiwork, Steele?" Silas's voice floated from the shadows. "Amazing what a little counter-magic can do."

Logan's muscles tensed, but his voice remained casual. "Gotta admit, I'm impressed you managed to string two brain cells together long enough to pull this off."

"Always with the jokes." Silas's laugh held no humor. "Let's see how funny you find it when everything you've built comes crashing down."

The night air crackled with tension as Silas's massive bear form emerged and crashed through the weakened fence like it was made of paper. His light fur bristled, muscles bunching as he charged straight for the main building.

Logan's shift came naturally, his clothes shredding as his Kodiak form emerged. His bear roared with protective fury as Silas barreled through the sanctuary, knocking over equipment and smashing through the newly built feeding stations.

"Not my sanctuary, you bastard," Logan's thoughts snarled as he intercepted Silas's charge.

The two bears collided with bone-jarring force. Silas might have been slightly bigger, but Logan's bear knew every inch of this territory. He used that advantage, herding Silas away from the more delicate enclosures.

Claws raked, teeth snapped. Logan took a hit to his shoulder but managed to land a powerful swipe across Silas's muzzle. Blood matted their fur as they wrestled, their growls echoing through the night air.

The hawk they'd been treating screeched in alarm as Silas crashed into its enclosure. That sound drove Logan's bear into a frenzy. He lunged, catching Silas by the throat. His bear's thoughts were crystal clear: Nobody threatens our home.

Silas thrashed, but Logan held firm until the other bear went limp in submission. The moment Logan's grip loosened, Silas twisted free and bolted, leaving destruction in his wake.

Logan shifted back, ignoring the sting of his wounds as he assessed the damage to the sanctuary. Broken fences, smashed equipment, scattered supplies - but miraculously, all the animals seemed unharmed.

18

SERENA

The shrill ring of her phone pierced through Serena's dreams. She fumbled for it in the dark, knocking over a glass of water on her nightstand.

"Hello?" She squinted at her bedside clock - 2:37 AM.

"Serena." Logan's voice came through rough and strained. "Silas attacked the sanctuary. Everything's... there's damage everywhere."

Her heart leaped into her throat. "Are you hurt?"

"I'm fine. He ran off."

Something in his clipped tone told her otherwise. She was already sliding out of bed, phone pressed between her ear and shoulder as she grabbed the first clothes she could find.

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