Page 15 of My Unbearable Mate

“Was?” Brad said.

“I offered my claim, and she rejected me.” It never got easier to say, especially as the guys each let out a low whistle. “A woman like Clover can never be claimed. Not even by a bear that should’ve been alpha. But I was young and stupid and I thought love and tradition could be enough for her.”

“What happened after she said no?” Beau asked.

“I left. In a hurry.” I didn’t often talk about this part. “I couldn’t face anyone in my clan after they’d all watched the woman who was supposed to be fated to be mine humiliate me. I left. Joined the Army, which was where I learned to do what I do, but I wasn’t ready for someone else’s rules after my own had failed me, so I only stayed for one tour. I met Barrett right after his clan got displaced, and we’ve been working together ever since.”

Brad leaned forward. “We don’t have to take this job, boss. We can tell Shirley the truth. That her clan needs to find another way to solve their problems.”

“You want me to tell my clan healer I think she’s a liar?”

“Maybe it’s about time someone does.” Beau shrugged.

Again, he wasn’t wrong. “Problem is, the chosen ones were so secretive about the clan’s magic, that she could be telling the truth and I’d be making a fool out of myself. Again.”

“No. They should’ve fought for their alpha. You don’t owe Clover Crowley shit.” Beau studied me. “You’re still not over her, are you?”

“I have a lot of complicated feelings about the woman.”

“Can’t blame you there.” Brad chuckled. “She seems like a force of nature. Not someone you can easily walk away from.”

“That’s for sure.” I sighed. The guys were right. I was so close to saying fuck it and turning the truck around. Going back to the office and tackling the growing list of cases that needed our attention. But I wasn’t a “fuck it” type of bear. “I’m doing this for me. I want the truth.”

Brad clapped his hand on my shoulder. “We’ve got your back, boss.”

“Fuck yeah, we do.” Beau leaned forward and pointed. “Slow down. I see something on the side of the road.”

We pulled up behind a red sports car that fit the description of Clover’s car. From the angle, it looked like it had unexpectedly veered off the road. My heart pounded as we got out of the truck.

The car was abandoned.

“It’s unlocked.” Brad’s face lit up as he opened the passenger side door. “Purse is still here.”

Not a good sign. The driver’s side was open too.

Her scent hit me in the face the moment I moved inside. I let myself indulge in the aroma of sweet vanilla and fresh cut grass. But it was short-lived. She didn’t mean to leave her car here. She’d never leave her purse behind.

I slid the seat back and hit the ignition button. It started, which meant her keys had been left in her purse.

“Levels are good,” I said. “This wasn’t car trouble.”

“I smell bear.” Beau waved his hand in front of his nose. “Stinks like a lot of them.”

“Yeah, I do too.” I growled. My animal would come quick. “But I can scent her. Follow me.”

I barely made it out of the car before my bones began to snap and fur burst through my skin. I was on all fours, all bear, following Clover’s scent and pure instinct. Beau and Brad shifted and fell into line behind me.

For the first time in a far too long, I felt like the alpha I was supposed to be.

I was a bear possessed, under the influence of that delicious scent that was still my favorite, but I couldn’t let my complicated feelings for Clover get in the way of getting this job done.

I was a bear. She was clan. It was my duty to protect. On paper, it was simple. But in reality, nothing with Clover was. And the locket made it even more complicated.

What was Shirley trying to hide?

“How are you doing, boss?” Brad’s voice startled me back to reality. The guys flanked either side of me. “I’ve got to admit, I’ve lost the bear scent.”

“Me too,” Beau added. “But I never scented Clover.”

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