Page 13 of Fearless as an Eagle

I stare at him, not sure how to tell them… If I even want to. Finally, I decide they deserve to know. I don't want to put them through what I went through. It's best to get this over with now before they get in too deep and get hurt. Exactly what my brother didn't want to happen.

"It seems you know a little about what happened with Mike, though I doubt Alex told you much. I was going to school a few hours away and one long weekend, I made the drive to see Alex. It had been months since we'd seen each other and I was missing the pain in the ass. He invited me to this party, and that's where I met Mike.

"The booze was flowing, but it didn't water down the instant attraction I felt toward him. He watched me dance for close to ten minutes before he finally approached. He came up behind me and put his hands on my hips as I swayed my ass. I still remember my knees going weak at his touch. Despite my head being fuzzy, I knew as he ran his lips up and down my neck that he was my mate." I pause briefly as the three men around me gasp in shock. Alex definitely didn't tell them that part.

"I won't get into all the details because I have a feeling that would not go over well. But let's just say it thrilled me to find my mate so young. I thought it was the start of my happily ever after. When I came to visit him for winter break, he acted happy to see me. I thought everything was fine. I was actually planning on completing the mate bond after Christmas. But then on Christmas Eve, he came over for dinner at my parent's house and rejected me in front of my entire family.

“That's why I can't…" I wave my hand between the four of us before dropping it in my lap. “I wish I could move on and be happy with the three of you. But I just can't risk it. I'm sorry.” Not waiting for their reaction, I get up and run to my room like a coward.Again.

Mason

She has another mate. And herejectedher? What the fuck is wrong with that idiot? Fuck. No wonder she’s so gun-shy about accepting us as her mates. I would be too. If I thought we had our work cut out for us before now, it’s going to be even harder to convince her we’re not like him.

“Well… That was unexpected.” Riley breaks the silence.

“Honestly, I’m just glad he rejected her before they could seal the bond. Could you imagine having to have that connection to someone you’re not with for the rest of your life? That would be torture. I mean, yeah, I’m sure it hurt her, but it could have been way worse,” I say.

Bennett paces the room muttering under his breath before finally coming to a stop by his makeshift bed and digging around in his things. He stands up with his phone in hand and a serious expression on his face I’ve never seen before.

“Whatcha doin’ B?” I ask him cautiously.

“Calling Alex and finding out who the fuck this Mike asshole is so I can hunt him down and kill him,” he states simply, like that should be completely obvious.

“Uhhh, maybe that’s not a good idea?” I attempt to reason with him.

“Good or bad, it’s the only idea I have.”

“I don’t think that will help us gain her trust, Benny.” He glares at me and I watch him battle with himself over what to do. Finally, he throws his phone on his bed and rips off his shirt.

“I gotta get out of here. If I can’t kill him for what he did to my mate, I have to get this anger out. If I don’t shift on my own soon, my bear is going to make everything worse. I’m fighting just to maintain control,” he grinds out before shoving his pants down and stomping toward the door, and without another word, he’s gone.

Chapter 11

Bennett

Ihavetogetout of here. My skin is prickling with the urge to shift and I can’t be sure I won’t destroy Mia’s house if that happens. The second the door closes behind me, I second guess whether this was a good idea. The storm is in full swing, with snow blowing all around. I can barely see a foot in front of me. My bear huffs in annoyance and I quickly shift before I freeze to death on the porch.

My paws land on the snow-covered porch with a crunch. I’ve been a bear for ten seconds and I’m already covered in snow. Someone could mistake me for a freaking polar bear! The thought disgusts me enough to shake all the snow off before bounding down the steps and slowly making my way through the deep snow.

Thisprobablywasn’t a good idea, but it’s too late now. I’ve let the bear free and now he has to calm down before I shift back. The wind blows snow in my face as I trudge through at least a foot of snow. It’s loud as it whooshes past my head. I keep my nose to the ground to protect my face and so I can smell where I’m going since I can’t see.

Despite the cold and snow, it’s not long before my mind wanders back to the reason I’m out here.She has another mate. And he wasstupidenough to reject her. And now she’s holding that againstus. I can’t let her do that. Besides the fact that we’re nothing like that asshole, she can’t keep to herself out of fear of getting hurt. If the only reason she’s not giving us a chance to be her mates is that she’s scared we’ll leave her too… I chuff in annoyance at the thought. I’m not saying she doesn’t have every reason to be, but it’s not a good enough reason to keep us apart.

Mason and Riley would wait her out. Give her time to come around on her own, but maybe that’s why I’m in this little group of ours. I’ve done just about all the holding back I can do when it comes to my mate. Now that I’ve found her, I’m not letting go. Even if that’s what shethinksshe wants. I’m going to convince her we’re worth the risk.

My paws must have known how long it would take me to come up with that conclusion, because somehow I’m already almost back to the cabin. After I clamber up the stairs, I shift back to my human form on the porch and throw the door open. The wind catches it and it bangs against the wall. Mason and Riley jump up at my unexpected entrance, both looking like they’re ready for a fight. They deflate a little when they realize it’s just me and not some ax murderer.

My chest is heaving as I step into the cabin and close the door.

“You were gone forever, asshole! We were worried sick about you!” Riley berates me as soon as the door is closed and you can actually hear something other than the wind.

“Didn’t feel like I was gone long,” I grumble.

“Yeah, well, you were in a freakingblizzardfor a freakinghour! You could have died!”

“I’m sorry, Riley, I know you were scared, and I shouldn’t have put you through that, but I had to get out of here. I came back as soon as my mind was back in the right place,” I tell him.

“If your mind’s in the right place, why does it look like you’re ready to do something stupid?” he retorts.

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