Page 5 of Mated to Four Bears

“No, don’t worry.” I shook my head quickly. I couldnotface that asshole right now. “I don’t want to speak with him. I don’t even know where he is anymore. I just want to go home.”

For a brief moment, I wondered if I might be getting through to him. His eyes were softening, his shoulders rolling down alittle. I didn’t feel like he wanted to rip my head from my shoulders anymore.

But then a flash of anger crossed his face and my nerves got the better of me. If he reached back and took out his hand cuffs, I was screwed. My head was all over the place, taking my thoughts on a joy ride. How the hell was I going to get out of this?

“Listen, Samantha…” God damn it, there it was again. I was afraid of this man. I wasn’t supposed to enjoy the way he said my name. “You have left me in a quandary here. I don’t know what to do because youdiduse magic in an unlawful way—”

“It won’t happen again,” I promised desperately. “It really won’t. I’m going to get my life back on track tomorrow. I won’t be an issue for you again. This isn’t going to become a habit or anything like that. This is just a one-time thing.”

I wasn’t a typical trouble maker. Surely, he could see as much. I was just in the middle of a very desperate time. Had he ever struggled? Had he ever been through bad times? Did he at the very least have a heart in there somewhere?

“Yeah, I understand that, but there is money involved, and that isn’t something I can just turn my back on. You have to understand that, it’s the law.”

William tapped his chin thoughtfully. I could almost see the cogs turning in his brain. I pleaded with my eyes. I wasn’t the best at giving that puppy dog look, but if I ever needed to pull it out of the bag ever, it was now.

“Iwillpay it back,” I promised once more. “I wouldneveruse my magic to steal. That isn’t who I am. I havealwaysfollowed the Code of Magic. Until now. I’ve been pushed in to a corner, that’s all.”

Anger flows through my veins. This was all because of fucking Antonio. I wanted to wring his neck. The worst part was knowing he didn’t even give a shit about me now. He probably didn’t even remember my existence after ruining my life. I barelyeven noticed that my fists had curled up by my side until I spotted William’s eyes on them.

Shit, I didn’t want to look like I was about to punch him. Then he might really have to arrest me. I was tryingnotto give him a reason to come closer to me. I forced my hands to unfurl and to hang by my side while he hopefully decided to trust me.

“I’m going to pay the money back for you,” William suddenly announced after a moment of thought. “Then it isn’t something extra hanging over your head. About ten dollars, wasn’t it? I’ll drop it somewhere behind the cash register, where only he can find it. Problem solved.”

I was shocked. Admittedly, that did make life easier, but I didn’t want to be indebted to this man either. I didn’t want to owe him anything, because that would almost be worse. I could pay back the store as soon as possible, buthim…he was different. “I don’t…”

“And since I don’t want to leave you hanging high and dry until you manage to get your life back on track, I’m going to give you something as well.”

I shook my head. There was no way I’d take more money away from this guy. Sure, he was handsome, but he was also intimidating, and I didn’t want to have to see him ever again if I could help it.

“I don’t need anything, thank you.”

He didn’t seem to hear me at all. He dug out his wallet and fished inside. Even though I was a little bit tempted, mostly I was just fearful. Not only because I didn’t want to owe this man anything, but also because this could have easily been a trap to arrest me. His words might have all been a lie.

I didn’t knowwhatto do, but I could feel my flight or fight instincts kicking in.

4

SAMANTHA

Flight won out and I took off at the speed of light. My feet pounded hard against the concrete of the sidewalk as I raced off without even looking where I was going. Of course, I still wanted to go home, but I couldn’t. I couldn’t have this man following me. I didn’t want him to know where I lived or he might take it upon himself to harass me more, to find out if stealing was about to become my new life.Asshole,I thought angrily as my eyes started to blur with exhaustion.

I thought he felt sorry for me.It really seemed like he did. His eyes flashed with sympathy, I was sure of it. For a moment it appeared like he was going to let me go. He even offered to pay off my debt and pretended to give me money, but it was all a trap. He wanted me locked up and out the way.

“Hey there, little lady!”

Who the hell was that? I glanced around and locked eyes with a drunk guy leaning up against a bar with a pint glass barely in his hand, spilling liquid on himself. But he was too wasted to notice.

“You want to come and have a drink with me?”

I had to admit, I considered it just for a moment. Not because I wanted to drink with the grubby little perv who had probably tried to pick up other women out on the streets, but because that bar could have been a good place to hide out. If I could keep out of sight from William long enough, surely, he would give up on looking for me and move on.

I couldn’t believe I was being treated like the worst criminal in the city. There had to be other people who needed to be caught by William.

But my Spidey senses started to tingle like crazy. I got the sudden strange feeling that this wasn’t just any old gross perv. This was someone dangerous. I backed off, figuring I would much rather take my chances with William.

“Fuck off you,” I growled. I didn’t know how much power my words would have, but I hoped I keep him from trying to get near any other women tonight. “I know all about you. You’re bad news. Why don’t you just go home and leave everyone alone?”

The perv tossed his head back and laughed, a strangled sort of sound that emanated from the pit of his belly. He made me feel sick, made my skin crawl. This really was turning out to be the worst day of my whole God damn life.

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