“Burton is alive and well,” Greaser says, clearly loving this. “And wait until he finds out where the Dixon boys are hiding. He’s going to be salivating for his chance to get even for what you assholes did to us.”
“He’s only going to find out if you guys roll out of here,” Jacob says as his body starts to swell up. “We’ll just have to make sure that doesn’t happen.”
My stomach drops as I watch him shake violently. A loud tear rips through the air as an enormous Kodiak explodes out of him. The bear throws his head back and lets out a roar.
Easton, Roman, and Cameron being to phase as well. My eyes are locked on my man as his body convulses and shakes. Oh my God… My hands are shaking as I watch a vicious Kodiak bear burst out of the man who was inside of me last night.
The bear turns and looks at me. His brown eyes have a softness to them that looks so familiar. It’s the same possessive loving look that Cameron gives me. He’s in there looking back at me, I can tell.
That softness melts away into fury as he turns back to the wolves who are starting their bikes and trying to escape.
The four bears rush forward and leap on them, swiping paws and gnashing teeth. Cameron’s bear heads straight for Greaser as his brothers and cousin stop the others on their bikes by knocking them over or biting the tires so they can’t get away.
Greaser rolls out of the way of Cameron’s furious jaws and he phases into his wolf. The wolf is big, but he’s got nothing on my protective bears. Even six to four, they’re outmatched.
It’s chaos and whimpers and tufts of fur flying in the air as the men phase into their wolves and fight back.
Moose stands his ground, growling at the chaotic scene as he protects me from the killers. I can tell he wants to get in there and fight with his owners, but I’m glad he stays with me.
Cameron’s bear is as intense as he is, lunging on one wolf after another. One wolf whimpers as the giant Kodiak sinks his teeth into the back of his neck and throw him into the parked bikes.
Two wolves leap onto Jacob’s bear and he lets out a murderous roar before grabbing one of them in his jaws and tossing him. He swipes at the other one with a huge paw and slams him into the dirt.
I hate all of this fighting. I didn’t want this.
The last thing I want is for my new friends, especially Cameron, to get hurt or to get into trouble with the law.
Before I can talk myself out of it, I run into the middle of the fight and scream at the top of my lungs. “STOP!!!”
All of the animals pause and look at me in shock.
“I won’t run the article!” I shout. “Please stop fighting. I won’t run it. I’ll drop the story, I promise!”
The wolves take the distraction as an opportunity to run back to their bikes. They quickly phase back into their human forms, looking all bloody and beaten up as they climb onto their damaged motorcycles.
“Don’t!” I shout as the four bears go after them. “Just let them go. It’s over. I’m dropping the story.”
The bears stop and watch the bikers escape with a warning in their eyes. I can tell what they’re communicating—Come back and we won’t be so nice next time.
Greaser is the only one left. He revs the engine of his Harley as he glares at me.
“This isn’t over,” he says in his high-pitched voice. “Dylan Burton always finishes what he starts.”
Cameron’s Kodiak rushes forward, but Greaser peels away, leaving a cloud of dust behind him. Cameron’s bear chases him for a bit and then lets out a frustrated roar that gives me a deep shiver all over.
With the immediate threat gone, the bears eventually start to relax. Cameron’s Kodiak is huffing angrily as he storms back over but then his eyes soften when he sees me.
I start to panic as he walks over. Deep down, I know he’d never do anything to hurt me, but it’s still intimidating to see a full-grown bear approaching. He steps right up to me and licks my cheek.
“Hello,” I whisper to him as he digs the top of his head into my stomach, wanting to be pet. His head is huge. I slowly sink my hands into the scruff of his neck and he starts to breathe nice and slow as I scratch him.
Jacob phases back first and then Easton and then Roman.
I can tell that Cameron’s bear doesn’t want to let him out. He wants to stay out here with his mate for a little longer.
Finally, he gives in and begins to shake as he phases. Cameron explodes out of him, looking smoking hot without a stitch of clothing on.