Page 21 of Flare
Emily’s clothing was permeated with the unmistakable scent of an unknown male bear shifter. And it bore the distinctive possessive musk of a mating bond.
It hit him like a physical blow, so unexpected he tensed and actually took a step back, freeing himself from her embrace.
Ward’s bear recoiled as well, confused and angry in equal measure.She was ours! And another has claimed her!
Ward saw her bewilderment at his reaction and forced his expression into something neutral.“Yeah, it’s been a while.” He forced himself to smile at her.“It’s, uh, good to see you again.”
She nodded, a shy smile playing at the corners of her mouth.“Same here. Maggie told me you’re a carpenter now? And a firefighter, too?”
“I volunteer for the fire department, yeah.” He shoved his hands into his jeans pockets, fighting the urge to turn on his heel and march out of the room.
Disappointment tore at his insides, as if he’d eaten ground glass. She was mated.
HisEmily, the one he’d spent all of high school dreaming about, the one whose laugh had haunted him through two failed relationships.
And she belonged to someone else. Someone who clearly didn’t deserve her.
Meanwhile, some part of Ward not currently spiraling with disappointment kept talking like a normal human being, thank God.
“…after graduation, I went to Boise for training—Boise State’s got a good tech program for construction management. Did a two-year trade track at Idaho College of Art & Design while I was there. Specialized in traditional woodworking, which, uh, got me an internship with Nick Evans up in Montana before theReviving Snowberry Springsshow started. I fell in love with restoration projects. Now I bounce between working on new construction for Dad’s cousin Tyler, and doing restoration jobs.”
Too much information, Ward, he told himself. He knew he was babbling.
Inside, his bear paced furiously, snarling against the scent of another male’s claim lingering on Emily’s skin. Ward fought to maintain a pleasant expression even as his blood simmered and his muscles tensed, and his bear howled he shoulddo something. But what?
She wasn’t his. She’d never been. And now she never would be.
“That sounds amazing,” she said.“I always knew you’d do something with your hands.”
“How about you?” Ward managed.“Maggie told me you’re still living in Spokane.”
He hid a wince as Emily suddenly looked distressed.Fuck.
“I’mdonewith Spokane.” Emily took a nervous sip from her bottle.“Anyway, I ended up getting my business degree from WSU. Was going to go straight into an MBA, but I figured I should work for a few years first, get some experience and save up a bit. I landed a job with a big real estate developer in Spokane a couple of years ago. Seemed like a dream opportunity, but… uh, it didn’t work out.” Her fingers tightened around the bottle. She looked away, just for a second, before offering him another too-bright smile.“So, I’m hanging out here while I plan my next move.”
Ward’s jaw clenched. What the fuck had Brunborn done to her? And how the fuck had he claimed Emily as his mate? After what that asshole had tried on Maggie, how was it fair that he’d apparently moved onto Emily?
“Well,” he said, voice rough with the effort of restraint,“Bearpaw Ridge is lucky to have you back. How long are you planning to stay?”
Before she could answer, Grandma Elle announced,“Dinner’s ready. Everyone to the table.”
Ward let himself be swept along with the tide of family members exiting the living room and heading down the long hallway to the huge dining room at the back of the house.
He seated himself next to his older sister Ellie, directly across from Emily. Uncle Dane and Aunt Annabeth were to his left. Maggie and Cade, with D.A.’s high chair between them, sat to Emily’s left. Mom and Dad took their usual places at the foot of the table, with Grandma Elle and Grampa Justin presiding at the head.
The food was passed, plates were filled, and conversation flowed around him. But Ward barely tasted a bite. Every cell in his body was tuned to Emily—the way she tucked her hair behind her ear, the slight tremble in her hand as she passed the salt, the careful way she answered Dad’s questions about her job in Spokane, and why she’d left.
“…so that’s when I decided I had to get out of there,” Emily was saying, her voice soft but steady.“I couldn’t stay with someone who treated me that way.”
“Did hehurtyou?” Ward’s hand tightened around his fork, the metal bending in his grip. The bear inside him surged with protective rage, a growl building in his chest.
It was inconceivable that a shifter would try to harm their mate. The drive to protect was simply too strong.
What the hell is going on with Andrew Brunborn?Every instinct screamed at Ward to go find Andrew and tear him apart.
“No!” Emily protested. Then she added,“Not physically, anyway. He… I just kept having to make myself smaller around him and his family. Especially his grandmother. She treated me like a gold-digger. She’ll probably be overjoyed to hear we broke up.”
Ward stared at Emily in disbelief.Break up?There was no way in hell Andrew could ever“break up” with his bonded mate.Don’t tell me she doesn’t know he’s a shifter? Was he really stupid enough to keep it a secret from her?
