Page 26 of My Forever Bear

And the way he worships my body, telling me that I’m beautiful and sexy. For the first time in my life, I finally feel those things about myself. The few extra pounds I carry and the stretch marks that mar my pale skin no longer matter. Kiernan has helped reverse all the damage Chris did to my self-confidence. I know I need to come clean and tell him about Chris before we can cross that final hurdle in our relationship.

The chime of an incoming text on my phone breaks me out of my thoughts.

“Kier?”

“Yeah, Lilac,” he responds from where he’s making dinner in the kitchen. The corners of my mouth pull into a small smile at the nickname. He says I smell like lilacs, but I’ve sniffed myself and I don’t smell it. Must be a fated mate's thing.

“Can you check my phone? It’s plugged in on the counter. Syd said she'd text me when she got off work at the diner.”

Kiernan places a pan of chicken, veggies, and potatoes in the oven.Mmm, it smells delicious.After rinsing his hands, he grabs my phone off the charger and enters my passcode.

“What did she say?”

Instantly, the easy smile drops from Kiernan’s face; his brows draw up as his eyes glare at my phone. The muscle in his jaw clenches hard enough to break glass.

“What is it?”

“It’s not Sydney. It’s an unknown number.”

My stomach plummets, a cold sweat pricking at my skin. Only one person texts me from an unknown number.

I quickly stand from the couch and approach Kiernan. With a shaking hand, I take my phone from his grasp.

Unknown:You think anyone else is going to want you, Wren? You’re used goods. Nothing but a stupid, fat whore. He doesn’t want you. He’ll get tired of your fat ass and stretched-out pussy, then you’ll come crawling back to me.

My gasp cuts through the silence. Tears sting my eyes. Chris has never been this blatantly cruel. His words slice through me, pain lancing in my chest like I’ve been stabbed by a knife. Deep down, I know he’s wrong, but I can’t comprehend that right now.

“Who sent this?” Kiernan’s voice is cold and detached.

“Kier, please.”

“Who. Sent. This?” Each word is a fierce growl. I’ve never seen this side of my mate. The veins in his neck protrude and pulse as he grinds his jaw. Fiery dark eyes meet mine, burning with rage; not the familiar warm whiskey pools I’ve come to love.

“I’m pretty sure it’s from my ex boyfriend, Chris.” A broken sob rips out of my mouth as tears drip down my face. “I-I blocked him, but he keeps finding ways to get through.”

“Motherfucker! He’s dead!” I jump back at the roar that comes from Kiernan. He’sneverbeen this angry before. My brain rushes to the conclusion that this is when the truth about Chris comes out and Kiernan finally sees me as a pathetic waste of space, sending me back where I belong.

My body is shaking with rage. In my mind, my bear stands on his hind legs, letting out a menacing roar, sending vibrations through my whole body. Her ex.Thisis how he talks to her? What the fuck?

A sniffle comes from beside me, drawing my attention to Wren. Tears are streaming down her face.Fuck.

“Lilac, baby, I-I’m sorry,” I say gently as I reach for her. She flinches and takes a step back.Double fuck.

“Wren,” I try again, “I’m sorry I blew up. I’m not angry at you, baby. Never you.” I raise my hands slowly, gently placing them on her shoulders, giving her plenty of time to back away. She doesn’t. She crashes into my chest, burying her face against the soft fabric of my worn t-shirt.

“I’m sorry, Kier,” she hiccups, her voice muffled against my chest. “I should have told you about him. But I was afraid.”

I rub gentle circles on her back as her breathing calms. The slight tremors from her sobs slowly dying. Sliding my hand into the hair at her nape, I tip her face to look at me. Slightly puffy, red-rimmed eyes stare up at me. Her nose is red and tear tracks stain her face. Even like this, she’s the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.

“Look at me, mate, and listen closely,” I say gently, looking deep into her watery blue eyes. So full of sadness, when they’re normally bright with happiness, joy, and… evenlove.

“You have absolutely nothing to be apologizing for. He’s wrong, Wren. You are amazing, baby. In the short time that you’ve been here, you’ve wiggled your way into all of our hearts. Tyler can’t shut up about how much he adores you. You’re probably his best friend,” I tell her with a playful eye roll. Her mouth lifts up at one corner, giving me the courage to keep going.

“You’ve been so patient with Reese’s grumpy ass. He stops by the greenhouse almost every morning to see you, doesn’t he?”

She nods.

“You think he’s there to talk to Tyler or me? Fuck, no, Lilac. He’s there to talk to you. To stand in your light and see that gorgeous smile of yours. You’ve gotten more words out of that man than any of us.”

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