Page 26 of Beast Bear

Desperation gnawed at him. He had already lost his job and every shred of trust from the academy. Now he faced the reality that Serena wanted nothing more to do with him. His bear stirred in the pit of his stomach, fueled by the devastation he felt. He tried to keep it under control, but heartbreak and rage merged into a single wave of emotion he couldn’t contain.

A strangled roar tore from his throat. It echoed through the clearing, sending birds fluttering into the sky. In that instant, his body convulsed. Fur erupted across his arms, and his hands morphed into massive paws. There was no chance to hold it back. His mind teetered, caught between human thought and animal instinct.

He lost all human awareness the moment his paws hit the ground. His ears rang with the sound of his own labored breath.He lunged away and tore into the forest. Branches and thorns raked across his thick fur, but he felt nothing beyond the raging need to run and destroy.

He charged through the undergrowth, chest heaving with wild fury. A sudden movement near his paws caught his attention, and he spotted a cottontail rabbit bolting for the cover of a fallen log.

He threw his weight forward, muscles bunching as his powerful form collided with the terrified creature. The rabbit let out a high-pitched squeal and tried to twist free, but his claws pinned it to the ground before it could escape. Its frantic kicks scuffed the earth, scattering leaves and dirt.

Theo felt a jagged rush of triumph at its helpless struggle. His jaws closed over the rabbit’s back, and he bit down hard, warm blood flooding his mouth. He tore into the fur and flesh with brutal, animalistic force, the taste of fresh kill igniting a dark hunger within him.

With each desperate twitch of the dying rabbit, he felt himself slip further into the beast. Every rip of sinew and every ragged breath fed the savage frenzy that seized him. The hot spatter of blood across his muzzle drove him deeper into a raw, primal state that shattered any last trace of his humanity.

Adrenaline pounded through his veins, and he continued his mad dash through the woods as the day faded into dusk. He felt no pain, only a dull ache of loss buried in the animalistic frenzy. Each step took him higher into the mountains, where the air grew colder.

By the time full night fell, his limbs trembled from exhaustion. He stumbled across a shallow cave near a rocky outcrop. Theentrance was low and dark, but it offered enough shelter to satisfy his instinct to hide.

He stepped inside and collapsed against the cold stone, fur still bristling. A heavy, haunted feeling pressed on his mind. Some corner of his consciousness recalled the life he had known only hours ago. As the moonlight slipped into the cave, he closed his eyes, uncertain if he would ever be able to reclaim the man he had been before.

Chapter

Twenty-Nine

The next morning,Serena spotted a police officer walking into the administration building as she passed. Her eyes were gritty from crying, and her bandaged shoulder still ached from Theo’s claws. Inside the medic bay, Alicia stood by a small counter, reviewing supply lists.

“You look like you barely slept,” Alicia said, looking up from the clipboard. “I’m surprised you came in at all after what happened with Theo.”

Serena set her bag down and forced a wan smile. “There’s too much to think about,” she said. “Not sleeping made more sense than tossing and turning.”

They spent the morning tending to a few trainees who came in with minor sprains or bruises. Serena tried to force her mind onto medical protocols, but her thoughts roamed to Theo.

Midway through their shift, Alicia guided Serena to a quieter corner of the bay. “I want you to hear it from me before the rumors get out of hand,” she said, voice hushed. “The policedidn’t find Theo’s prints on any of the gear they found in Theo’s supply closet or cabin.”

Serena’s heart gave a sudden jolt. “So… he’s not wanted for the sabotage?” she asked, almost afraid of the answer.

Alicia shook her head. “They aren’t treating him as a prime suspect at the moment. But the academy staff… you know how they are. They think he orchestrated everything and somehow wore gloves or wiped the prints. Their minds are made up. You saw how he lost control. That made people assume the worst.”

Serena gripped the edge of the counter. “I can’t help but feel I’m partially responsible. I saw those parts before the inspectors found them. I knew they were from an anchor kit. I should have said something.”

Alicia gave her a sympathetic look, eyes full of concern. “He’s your mate,” she said. “I’m sure it’s not easy to reconcile that with what happened.”

Serena felt tears threaten again, but she blinked them back. She spent the rest of the day staring at the clock between treating minor ailments and organizing supplies. Her mind spun with guilt for doubting Theo, anger at his wildness, and confusion about the evidence. She questioned her own judgment. She told herself she had promised never to let anyone control her or threaten her. Yet maybe she was the one who misread the situation. She hated how torn she felt.

At the end of her shift, Serena wiped down a table, her motions mechanical and her focus somewhere far away. Her phone rang abruptly, jarring her. She picked it up, seeing her mother’s name on the screen. Immediately, her stomach tightened.

“Mom?” she answered hesitantly. Her mother’s breathing came in rapid gasps.

“Serena,” her mother began. “Your father… there was an accident.” Her voice broke on the last word, and a wave of static filled the brief silence. “He’s in the hospital. The doctors say he might not… he’s in critical condition, Serena.”

Serena’s hand flew to her mouth. Her father’s image, tall and commanding, rose in her mind. “How… what happened?” Her voice sounded small in her own ears.

“They said he crashed,” her mother said, voice trembling. “He was flying, and something went wrong. He fell from a great height. The doctors… they aren’t sure if he’ll last the night.”

Serena leaned against the wall, her breath stolen by this new wave of dread. The events of the last day had already stretched her to breaking. Now she felt the floor spinning under her feet. “Mom… I… I don’t know what to say.”

“Come if you can,” her mother whispered, trying not to break down. “It would help me to have you here. I know things haven’t been easy, but I had to tell you.”

The call ended soon after. Serena stood there, staring at the phone as tears ran hot down her cheeks. In less than twenty-four hours, she had gone from the hope of a mate bond to the horror of a savage meltdown, and now to the news that her toxic father could be dying. She swallowed hard, trying to steady her breathing. Alicia came around the corner, eyes widening with concern.

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