Page 85 of Dare To Fall

“I know, and I’m sorry.”

“Sorry?” My lips curl at the word, and I step closer to him, clenching my hands into fists. “Do you think your apology makes what you did better? That I’m going to magically forget what you did? Pretend the bruises you left on my skin never happened?”

His gaze slides away from my face. “Just give me a chance—”

Something hot and unstable snaps inside me. I punch him. My fist bounces off his chest. Eli doesn’t react, which only makes me angrier.

“I hate you.” I hit him again. “Hate you. Hate you.”

I rain blow after blow into his chest, chanting the words. He staggers back a little but doesn’t stop me, doesn’t retaliate, doesn’t even defend himself. He feels solid and unmovable. The fact that he won’t crumble and break the way I did, only drives my fury higher. I punch him until my hands hurt, and the strength behind my blows weakens.

“Fuck you,” I choke out, tears welling in my eyes.

I drop my head forward and rest my forehead against his chest.

Why won’t he break? Why is he still standing?

“Ari.” Eli’s voice is pained.

“Why should I ever give you a chance? I trusted you once, and you hurt me.” Arms encircle me, but I step back, out of his reach. “No, leave me alone.”

Tears blur my vision as I walk away from him. I need space. I can’t think past the primal rage that’s goading me to make him suffer, like he’s made me suffer.

Why is he doing this to me? Does he like seeing me like this? Does he get off on it?

“Ari, wait.”

I ignore his call.

“For fuck’s sake. Arabella.” An arm wraps around my waist, lifting me off my feet.

I dig my fingernails into his wrist. “Get off me.”

“Keep your voice down. There’s a bear.”

His voice in my ear is low, rough with warning. My attention snaps to the trees. And there it is. He’s not lying. Black fur covering its body, the bear is up on its hind legs, swaying this way and that as it watches us.

My fury evaporates, morphing into fear, and I freeze in Eli’s arms. “Oh my god.”

“We’re going to go back toward the cabin,” he whispers, still holding me tight.

“What if it follows?”

“It won’t.”

“And how the hell do you know that? Are you some kind of bear expert now?”

“It’s more frightened of us than we are of it.”

“It has teeth and claws.” I don’t pull away when he releases my waist and grabs my hand. “And it looks hungry.”

He tugs me backward, but I keep my eyes locked on the creature. “Ari, move!”

“We’re going to get eaten alive, and it’s going to be all your fault.”

“Yeah, just add it to the list.”

Chapter 55

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