Page 16 of Grumpy Special Ops Bear: Ep. 2
“You were traveling with one of our targets. We had to know who you were and if and how you were affiliated with Price’s pack.”
Trinity glared at me. “Do I look like a fucking wolf?”
“No, but I had to be sure you weren’t working with him.”
“Fine, whatever. I’m out of here.” She got to her feet and started making her way, slowly and painfully moving away from me and the campfire.
This woman is just plain stubborn.
“Where are you going?”
“I’ve had enough of shifters and wolves and bears, oh my, to last me a damn lifetime. I’m getting my ass home.”
“And you’re going to do it on your own?”
She glanced back over her shoulder. “How else would I do it?”
“Fine, leave, but you haven’t made it this far on your own,” I growled, growing more agitated by the second.All I’m trying to do is help. Why does she have to be so damn stubborn?
Trinity stopped and turned all the way around to stare at me. “What do you mean? I haven’t been eaten yet, have I?” She jammed her hands onto her luscious hips.
I shifted my gaze up to her face, trying to steer my mind away from the sudden urge to body-slam her onto the ground and fuck her into submission. “Who do you think saved you the first night you ran off?”
She shook her head. “I wound up in a cave. That’s what saved me, asshole.”
I sighed heavily. “Do you remember how you got to that cave, darling?”
She nodded, and then she stopped when she realized… she did not know. Her eyes locked on mine.
“I don’t need your help, Fergus.”
“Yes, you do, Trinity. Now, sit down and let yourself rest.”
“No,” she snapped. Then she turned and walked off again.
“I hauled you into that cave,” I called out. “And last night, Price and his pack would’ve caught you had I not destroyed your campfire, covered up your tracks, and made sure my bear’s scent—instead of yours—was all over that cliff.” I stood when she stopped walking again. “You can’t do this alone, Trinity. Let me help you.”
She turned around and stared at me. “Why are you protecting me? Why would the fucking government care if I lived or died?”
I walked toward her until we were barely a foot apart. I was drawn to her, and the bear in me cried out for a connection, to feel her skin beneath my fingers, but I resisted. “They don’t, but I do. You walked right into the middle of something that is far greater than just a Hunt.”
Her brow furrowed as she swayed on her feet. I knew she really needed to sit back down, but I didn’t want to tell her that. She was too strong-willed.
“Price told me they wanted to kill me.”
“He lied.”
I could tell there was a fight going on in her mind. Part of her wanted to stay, but part of her felt it would be weak to give in. She took one step backward and then another. When she turned away, I reached out and grabbed her arm.
She stopped. “Let me go.”
I didn’t want to. I wanted to pull her close in my arms and keep her there, but I let go anyway. And in that second, I saw a distinct mark on her forearm.
“What is that?” I asked, pointing to it.
She shrugged. “A birthmark. Why?” She looked at me suspiciously.
“You were an orphan, right?”
