Page 45 of Bear in a Bakery
“Sweet, sweet Allie.” His hand slid up her throat to grip her jaw in his palm. Leaning his other arm into her chest, Blake stepped into her so his body blanketed hers.
“Blake, no!”
She knew struggling and pleading would do nothing to redirect him. Blake needed his ego stroked; needed to be validated in some way. If she listened to him spout off and then petted his ego a little, he’d let her go. She remembered what Dax had said about Blake being less than a Beta bear. He was small and powerless on the bear shifter chain of prowess. It’s why he’d never been in a hurry to take a wife—his genetics weren’t desirable like those of an Alpha bear. Nature didn’t care if he mated or not, but an Alpha bear like Dax? Nature put the pressure on, gave him the best selection of mates to choose from.
Dax. Who was probably picking through an impressive selection of women right now. Women who’d be more than willing to take his superior genetics into their wombs and make him beautiful babies.
Babies that should have been hers.
“You pathetic little bear.” She spat before she could stop herself. “You’re at the bottom of your pack’s hierarchy, which is why your such an angry, mean little asshole.”
Blake jerked a little as if she’d affected him.
“Don’t even get me started on the sad size of your dick.” God, what had come over her? Allie’s body pumped with the force of her anger. It was almost as if she could feel resolve steeling inside her. Enough! Enough of all this shit.
Blake’s hand snaked to her throat. He squeezed, forcing her airway closed. Allie grabbed his wrist with both hands, raking her nails over his skin. Blood wet the tips of her fingers as she scratched hard enough to rip his flesh. Pressure ballooned inside her head, her chest spasming with the need to draw breath.
“Bitch.” Blake hissed.
A roar cut through the air and the ground trembled. Her eyes rolled to the side where a shadowy flash played in her peripheral. Dax ripped off his shirt, his jeans dropping to the ground as claws arched from his human fingertips, flashing in the light.
The world went fuzzy, blackness quickly closing in. She reached for Dax, her hand trembling, begging to reach him.
Right before she fell to the ground.
Chapter Fifteen
Allie’s eyes opened, and it was all the reassurance Dax needed to know she was okay.
Baring his teeth, he cranked his neck to the side and let the shift claim him. With a powerful shake, his body popped and stretched from human to bear. Dropping onto all fours, he watched as Blake’s body twisted from left to right, his bear slower to morph. Massive paws burst from his human hands, a midnight black coat covering the rolling body. Even in his shift, Blake was smaller and no doubt weaker.
How the man thought he was going to win this fight was beyond Dax.
Dax roared up, standing on his hind legs and stretching to a full seven-foot height. All his senses were more alert. He sensed it all—the rapid pound of Blake’s heart and the ripe scent of his fear and anger. Allie’s sweet breath and the soft swish of her pulse that said she would be all right.
Blake rushed Dax with unexpected quickness. Their bodies came together with a quivering clash. Dax wrapped his front legs around Blake, twisted and threw the smaller bear to the ground. He waited until Blake righted himself, rose on his hind legs again and bared his teeth.
