Page 19 of My Forever Bear

“Syd, no!” I rush out, seriously hoping she's not already on the way out to her car. When Sydney gets an idea in her head, she'll go through with it come hell or high water. “You don't need to come here. At least let me figure out if I even want to stay. I don't want to bombard Kiernan with my crazy sister yet.”

A shocked gasp hits my ears. “Crazy? Okay, rude.”

“You know I love you.” I manage to get the words out between giggles.

“Fine. I won't come… yet. Plus, I don't think my boss would give me any time off right now. Listen, sis, the whole situation might be a little unorthodox, yes. But Wren, isn’t this what you’ve been waiting for? Something different and exciting andwild.Fuck, I’m a little jealous. Do you want to stay with him?”

My eyes trail to Kiernan. He’s deep in conversation with a large man who just pulled up in a rusty red pickup truck. My stomach flutters when I think about staying with Kiernan.

“As crazy as it sounds, I think I want to stay and see where things go. I don’t know how to explain it, Syd. He feels safe. He feels like home. My mind stops racing when I’m around him, all the tension leaves my body. He has this calming effect on me. Am I nuts?” The last few words come out as a whisper.

“No, Wren, you’re not nuts. You’ve been through a lot recently with Chris and losing your job. A job you hated, might I remind you. Chris did a number on you, too, girl. He was borderline emotionally abusive, always tearing into how you looked. I say, if Kiernan builds you up, supports you, and cherishes you, then stay, Wren. Stay, and see how happy you can be.”

I clear my throat and wipe a stray tear. “Damnit, Syd. Why’d you have to get all deep on me?”

She chuckles softly. “Because, big sis, I love you and I want the best for you. If that’s Kiernan, then take that sexy bear man by the… ears? I don’t know. Bears don’t have horns, but you get what I mean.”

A laugh bursts out of me. “I love you, too, Syd. Thanks for talking me through this.” Blowing out a breath, I make up my mind. “I’m gonna stay.”

Stepping away from Wren, I turn toward her car, giving her some privacy as she pulls out her phone. She has a sister. They seem close, but I'm curious about their relationship. If she's important to Wren, she's important to me. Simple as that.

Reaching into my pocket, I grab my own phone. Rounding the front of Wren's car, I survey the damage. Fuck. Someone really wanted to send a message.

I hit Reese's contact and wait. He picks up after the fourth ring.

“Yeah,” he grunts.

“We have a problem.”

“You mean like you disappearing on me yesterday?” His deep voice bristles in my ear.

“Man.” I rub a hand through my beard, scratching the short hairs. “I already apologized,” my voice coming out more of a whine than intended.

“Through text,” he gruffs, clearly not happy with me.

“Reese, she's my mate. I can feel it. It's like she's already wrapped her hand around my heart and ripped it out of my chest. I need to do everything to get her to stay.”

“I know, Kiernan. I get it. So what's the problem?”

“I drove her down to the trailhead this morning and when we got here, her car was vandalized. Some asshole smashed her windshield and slashed the tires.” I relay the scene to him, even mentioning the part aboutWHOREbeing keyed on the side of her car.

“Shit,” he spits out. “And she doesn't know who did it?”

Shaking my head, I respond, “No, she was shaken up pretty badly. She's on the phone with her younger sister now. Can you bring ol’ Bessy and give her a tow?”

“Don't call my fucking truck that! Asshole! I'll be there in a few.” And then he hangs up on me.

“Love you, too,” I chuckle to the dead line. He hates when I make up names for his old rusty truck.

Slipping my cell back into my pocket, I look up to find Wren staring. She smiles and waves her hand. I give her my best panty dropping grin before turning back to her car.

The next few minutes pass as I search the area around her car. Nothing. No trace left behind by the asshole who wrecked her car.

Taking a deep breath, I scent the air. My nose twitches, but nothing smells out of the ordinary. Scent’s probably grown cold with the amount of time between this morning and the attack.

Gravel crunching under tires hits my ears. I whip my head up, sighing in relief when I see Reese's rusted truck pull into the lot. Flagging him over, he pulls to a stop, brakes squeaking. With a dip of his chin, he rolls his window down.

I keep Wren in the periphery of my vision at all times; not wanting to risk anything happening to my mate.

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