Series: Lee Savino
Total pages in book: 68
Estimated words: 66414 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 332(@200wpm)___ 266(@250wpm)___ 221(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 66414 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 332(@200wpm)___ 266(@250wpm)___ 221(@300wpm)
“What? What is it?”
“I just was going to say, we don’t have the money to do it now. But we might. I might.” And I start laughing. The inheritance Allen wanted to get so badly. It’s mine. I guess technically Matthias controls it, but he won’t stand in my way.
Maybe it’s time I claim what belongs to me.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Matthias
I stand in bear form in the woods on the edge of town, staring at the Daisy Day Cafe.
Maisy Maisy Maisy—
I haven’t slept in five days. Haven’t been in human form in as long, either. I stay up all night watching Maisy through her window. I followed her to the cafe, keeping to the forest, so she couldn’t see me. I shouldn’t let myself be seen in bear form, even if half the town knows what I am.
The trouble is, I can’t stay away from Maisy.
Even now, I’m waiting for her to come to the front door to unlock it for the day. Maybe I’ll get a glimpse of her sweet smile as she greets her regulars.
Maisy Maisy Maisy—
I catch the scent of my brothers in the wind. Everest is nearby. He smells like bees wax and honey because of the hives he keeps. He’s been watching over me as I watch over Maisy. But I also scent the peppery smell of the twins–in human form.
I veer to the left and race up the mountainside. I don’t want to talk to them. I don’t want to talk to anyone.
“Catch him, Everest,” Darius yells.
Oh, fuck no. I turn again and run faster, but Everest catches me in a flying tackle. The two of us roll together in the snow. His bear is bigger than mine, but mine is ragey from being deprived of his mate, so he can’t keep me down.
Except then, Teddy and Darius join the fray, pinning me down in the snow.
I bare my teeth and roar. Everest cuffs my ear with a swipe of his giant paw. I roar again. My three idiot brothers ignore my rage, and drag me up the mountain by my arms and legs.
When we get to my cabin, they throw me on the floor inside and slam the door behind them. They leave Everest outside because of the rule we made that he has to be in human form if he wants to be indoors.
Teddy uses an alpha command on me. “Shift.”
I refuse. I’m more dominant than him.
“Shift, fucker,” Darius also uses alpha command.
When I remain in bear form, they exchange a look. It takes me longer to decode the look because I’m in bear form, and my thinking is different, but then I catch the acrid scent of fear, and I understand. They’re afraid for me.
They think I’ve turned feral.
Maisy. Maisy. Maisy.
Maybe I have. I haven’t taken the Moon Cure since Maisy caught me with it in Vegas. Knowing how much it bothered her, I couldn’t take it again.
Which, I guess, leaves me…
Fuck.
I attempt to shift.
The twins try again at the same time, infusing the word, “shift” with alpha command.
It works. I find myself naked on my ass on the cold wooden floor. I ignore the relief on their faces and glare up at them.
“You need a shower.” Darius points toward the bathroom. “Now.”
I try to speak, but only bear growls come out.
The twins exchange another worried look with each other.
Not wanting to deal with their concern or have a conversation with them, I get to my feet and stomp to the shower. Darius is probably right. I haven’t showered in days. I’m sure I smell.
Walking is difficult. I’m not used to walking on two legs, and my feet feel like they’re made of lead. My chest feels like an anvil cracked my ribs and remained there, weighing me down.
This is what it’s like to live without claiming my mate.
Maisy
“I have a grande mocha latte with extra whip for Sara,” I call, and a tall blonde woman approaches the counter. I recognize her from the front desk at the clinic.
“Thanks, Maisy. I also was going to pick up the to-go order for Nancy?”
“Oh it’s right here.” I grab it and hand it over. “Nancy the nurse, right? At the clinic?”
“That’s right. It’s good to see you back.”
“Thanks.” Most of the townspeople know I was gone. They know the Bad Bear Bros were involved too but don’t know the extent of it. Just that there was some bad business I got tangled in because of my dad, and Matthias and his brothers pulled me out.
Matthias. It still hurts to think of his name, but not as bad as it was a few days ago. Like pressing on a bruise or running a finger over a raised scar. The pain is proof I survived.
In the past few days, I’ve made a lot of progress. Daisy and I finalized the paperwork for me to take half ownership of the cafe. I sent thank yous to the Bad Bear Brothers for rescuing me. Hutch actually got me in touch with the hacker named Kylie, who helped hunt me down after the kidnapping. She also dug into Allen’s family, and connected me with the law office that set up the Dankworth trust. I’ve ordered a marriage certificate sent to them, and once they receive it, I’ll come into full ownership of my trust. Most of it is invested, and I intend to keep it that way. I have a meeting scheduled with Paloma to talk about how to make the money grow, and another with Lana, so she can help me with business advice. Everyone’s been fully supportive.