Page 31 of Claimed By Her Bear

“Let me go,” Shekita demanded. Panic set in, her voice rising.

A few people strolling along the sidewalk on the other side of the street looked their way. Humiliation set in at the thought of someone witnessing her and Bobbie. In the past, Bobbie would only be cruel when they were alone, never in public where people would see. She always created a persona that she was a kind and fun person, when in reality, she was far from it.

Bobbie yanked her harder, and Shekita fell into her. Shekita inhaled and gagged slightly. The stench of alcohol poured from Bobbie’s lips.

She had been drinking.

“You are coming back home with me. I am done with your nonsense. You’ve had your little fun.” Her nails dug into the meat of Shekita’s arm. She practically dragged Shekita over to where her car was parked.

“I’m not going anywhere with you.” Shekita struggled to free herself from the hard grip.

They were drawing an audience from pedestrians in the area. No one spoke or said anything, so she did something she’d never done before. Opened her mouth and screamed, “Help!”

ChapterTwelve

The blood in Pola’s veins chilled at the sound of a scream for help. She paused at the corner of the street and glanced to her right where the scream had come from. She knew that voice. It was her mate, and she was in trouble.

Her gaze landed on a very familiar figure struggling to break free from an assailant.

The beast in her roared, slamming her head against Pola’s chest.

Mate! In danger,her bear growled.

Pola took off running toward them. Her feet ate up the pavement, her shifter genes lending her strength to allow her to move faster than the average woman.

“Get your hands off her,” Pola growled.

Bobbie had Shekita pressed against her car, trying to get the passenger door open.

“This is none of your business,” Bobbie snapped. She looked over her shoulder at Pola. “This is between me and Shekita.”

“That is my mate you have your hands on. I’m going to tell you one more time. Get off of her,” Pola warned.

“Or what?” Bobbie challenged. She spun around to face Pola and took a step toward her. “Am I supposed to be afraid of you, bear?”

“Come here, Shekita.” Pola motioned for her to move beside her, but Bobbie’s arm blocked her path. She snagged Shekita’s arm, coaxing another growl from Pola. Her bear was not happy to see another woman’s hand on her mate. This was a person who had hurt their lover, and her bear was not going to stand for it any longer.

“She’s not yours. She was mine first.”

“And I left you,” Shekita snapped. She tugged, dropping a bag she held. She yanked harder until she broke free and rushed over to Pola who pushed her behind her.

“Don’t ever think about my mate. Don’t contact her, and if I ever see you touching her again—”

“You’ll what?” Bobbie pulled small pocketknife from her jeans. She flipped it open, revealing the weapon.

Pola wasn’t worried about it. Shekita was behind her and safe.

“You don’t want to know,” Pola barked.

“Oh, I think I do. Shekita will never be yours. She was mine first, and I’ll keep coming for her.”

Pola gave a roar and dashed forward. She barreled into Bobbie. The need to protect Shekita overcame her. Shekita carried her mark. The bear in her demanded they prove that to the world.

They fell against Bobbie’s vehicle. Pola gripped Bobbie’s wrist tight and slammed it against the truck. She repeated the motion, trying to get her to drop the knife. There was an audience gathering near them. Pola ignored them, her focus on the person who’d dared to hurt her mate.

Bobbie swung her other arm, landing a punch to the side of Pola’s head. A gasp escaped Pola. She inhaled and squeezed Bobbie’s wrist, raising her other hand to ward off the blows that Bobbie kept landing on her.

“Stay away from Shekita,” Pola ground out through clenched teeth. She was fighting her bear who was demanding to break free. Her animal was going frantic inside her. She wanted to break free to teach Bobbie a lesson, but the human would be no match for a pissed-off grizzly bear.

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