BEARing it All (Wylde Brothers 3)

“You’re blocking what’s mine, and I don’t ever ask twice for something, but I’m feeling generous. So, get the fuck out of the way, or I’ll have no choice but to take you out.” Rook cracked his knuckles, and a sadistic grin widened over his face.

She knew that look. It was one indicating he was itching for a fight, and if he didn’t get that aggression out now, he would exact that violence on her.

Bram refused to move, but none of that mattered, because in the next moment, the sound of a human female screaming pierced the room. The sound of bones cracking, of humans becoming animals, coursed through the air.

Marek and Tank had shifted.

Things were about to get violent, and there was nothing Kenzie could do but warn Bram and try to urge him to leave while he was still alive.

She glanced at the front door, saw a horde of people surrounding it as they watched what was about to commence, some trying to flee frantically.

“Come on, bear.” Rook crooked his fingers at Bram, and she felt her fear grow.

It wasn’t just about Rook being crazy, but something deeper. It made her feel unbalanced, and right now, she couldn’t have any of that. In a move she hadn’t anticipated, Rook charged forward. His face was slightly red from his anger, and she knew since he was showing outward signs of his emotions he was near his breaking point.

Bram used his body to push her farther against the wall, and the possessiveness, the protectiveness that came from him startled her. This male had some strong emotions rolling off him, and they were all for her. How had things gone so wild in a matter of minutes?

And before she could grasp what was happening, Bram was shifting into a massive bear.

The force of his changing into his animal and then charging toward Rook had her pressing her hands against the wall to steady herself. She was motionless, everything inside her frozen as fear and panic took over.

Rook had already shifted, and the sleek black panther and huge brown grizzly bear faced off. Marek and Tank stood in the background, but Kenzie didn’t miss the group of men who emerged from an underground cellar and moved closer to the fight.

They were bloody and torn and looked in the same shape as Bram had when he approached her.

“Oh God.” This was a living, breathing nightmare, and she was right in the middle of it… the cause of it. She hadn’t been quick enough to stop this from escalating. And then the sea of bodies closed in.

Bram roared out so loudly that it had Rook hissing in response. She couldn’t see the two males any longer, not when humans and shifters alike crowded forward until she was swallowed up. She had to get out of here while everything was in chaos, but a part of her wanted to stay to make sure Bram was okay. She didn’t want him getting hurt, even if a huge part of her knew he could easily take care of himself.

She rose on her toes, saw through a few people who’d parted that the two animals were going at each other. Everything around her was one big clusterfuck.

Kenzie started pushing her way through the crowd, but all she could think about was Bram and making sure he got out okay. A quick glance behind her showed him holding his own with Rook, although she didn’t miss the large claw marks that riddled his side or the blood that was a steady trail down his thick, dark fur, dripping onto the floor and saturating the air in a coppery, tangy scent.

She was shoved to the side by a drunken human, and when he righted himself and grabbed onto her, she felt revulsion take control of her entire body. His touch was like acid, and her inner deer started to rise to the surface, ready to sprint away. That really was all she was good for, running away, but a lot of good that did her all these years.

“Let go of me.”

The greasy human’s hand tightened on her arm, and his hot, foul breath filled her nostrils.

An anger she’d never felt came barreling out of her at full speed. The door was only a few feet from her, and this human was keeping her from her freedom. Bringing up her knee, she connected with his dick and felt a sick satisfaction when he cried out in pain and let go of her to cup himself.

“You stupid bitch.”

She may be a stupid bitch, but she would be a free one.

Bram was a fierce male, which was clear as day in just the minutes she spent with him, and she knew he could handle himself—or at least she hoped so.

And then she made it to the door, pushed it open, and felt the cool air brush along her face. It nearly brought her to her knees. To her right was the town of Sweet Water, and to her left was a road that disappeared into nothing. The sky was dark, and all she could see to her left, away from civilization, was the thick covering of trees.