Page 12 of A Bear's Journey

Olivia whirled and closed the distance between them in moments, reveling in the sudden fear on the woman’s face.

“I can hear you,” she said, her voice half a snarl.

The man stepped partly in front of the woman, and Olivia’s could feel him practically bristle, his bear waking up.

“I wouldn’t let you within a mile of my family,” he said, his voice barely civil.

“I’ve heard that feral bears eat their own young,” the woman said nastily.

Olivia felt like she’d been slapped in the face.

“I would never hurt anyone,” she said. She was half-angry and half devastated.

“We all know what you did,” the woman said.

Olivia’s throat started to close, and she could feel unwanted tears right behind her eyes.

She could feel her bear inside her, snorting and growling, asking to be let out.

Don’t prove them right, she thought. Don’t you dare.

For the second time that day, she ran.

She ran past the snack table, knocking off a few cookies, and before she knew it she was running up the stairs and into Hunter and Ash’s bedroom, throwing open the door to their bathroom.

Olivia collapsed in their bathtub, sobs racking her body.

She felt like she could barely breathe as she curled into a ball in the tub, holding her head between her legs.

What if he’s right?She thought. What if I did kill them, and I should be in some mental facility instead of here, ruining Cora’s shower like a lunatic?

Another sob ran through her, and she just let it go, the sound bouncing off the tiles.

I can’t be here, she thought desperately. I can’t be here. I can’t be with regular people, I’m not fit for socializing.

I deserve to be in some burrow, eating grubs and getting cold.

There was a soft knock on the door, and she looked up.

Charlie, her brother’s female mate, stood in the doorway.

“Olivia?” she asked.

“Hi,” said Olivia. She had no idea what else to say.

Without speaking, Charlie crossed the room and stepped into the tub behind Olivia, then sat down, wrapping her arms around the other girl and holding her close.

Olivia lost it, sobbing.

“She’s right, I’m an animal,” she said, pressing her forehead into Charlie’s upper arm. “I can’t even be at a baby shower without wanting to rip someone to shreds, and I can barely talk to other humans...”

She trailed off and sniffled.

“You’re not an animal,” Charlie said, her voice low and soothing. “Do you remember when I found you in that cage?”

Olivia hiccupped.

“Sort of,” she said. Most of her memories from her time as a bear were strong but hazy.

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