Page 57 of My Unbearable Mate

Edgar’s declaration made Clover’s magic disappear.

At full throttle, it had been an ethereal cloud of iridescent, super-charged, swirling cotton candy around her. But his statement brought it to a dramatic halt, which was saying something since this was Clover, and dramatic was part of the package. But it retracted as if she swallowed it.

And took all the air in my lungs.

Fuck. Had she played me like a violin? Made me think things would be different this time, got me to lower my defenses, just to bring me back to the scene of the crime and reject me all over again?

Would you change anything about the last week you spent together? my bear asked.

Hell no. I might have considered Edgar a brother in the past, but he was about to find out there was no way I was leaving this land without my mate. I hoped it wasn’t a lesson I’d have to teach him the hard way.

Clover turned to him, the last traces of magic turning to pure growl as she put her hand on her hip and cocked a brow at her alpha.

“Are you fucking kidding me?”

I should’ve been the bigger bear and held in my laugh. But I wasn’t. The glares of my former clan felt even better.

Edgar let out a quick growl, intended to make me shut up. I really wanted to get out of here without having to fight him. We needed to stay, talk to people, figure out exactly what we were dealing with when it came to this clan, but that would never happen.

No matter what happened next, the truth would reveal itself. It was guaranteed to be stark and ugly, and I wasn’t sure Clover or I were prepared for the fallout.

Edgar turned his attention back to Clover. “The last thing I’m doing is kidding. That bear abandoned his clan in a time of chaos. You must have known when you rejected him that he could never lead this pack into the future. For you to take him back, for us to forget the wounds he inflicted on his own kin, would make this clan weak.”

My bear bristled at his assessment of my actions, but I would’ve looked even weaker if I’d stayed. There was no way I’d be made alpha when my mate claim had been rejected.

Clover rolled her eyes. “We’re already weak. You had no idea I got captured by another clan. Because if you did, you would’ve saved me. But Bellamy was the one who found me.”

Edgar’s eyes darkened. “No, I didn’t know.”

She raked her gaze over him, sizing him up. He had a good foot and a half on her, like I did. But right now, my mate was a force to be reckoned with. Her magic hadn’t disappeared. It had just taken a very different form.

“So that means you probably have no idea that Nana begged me to ask for Bellamy’s help with this.” She grinned as he snarled in confirmation. “Believe me when I tell you it was the absolute last thing I wanted to do.”

She turned to me. “Sorry, Bell, a girl can admit when she’s wrong. I told Nana I thought we needed to tell Edgar, because he’s our alpha. Do you want to know what she said about that?”

“Clover,” Shirley warned.

“She said Bellamy’s the only one with the resources to help you.”

Now Shirley joined Edgar in indignation.

That cotton candy sparkle was back. “And don’t worry, Nana, you’re not the only one who thinks Edgar’s a weak alpha.”

“You’re treading into very dangerous territory.” Edgar’s voice was pure growl. “There will be repercussions.”

“Probably, but none of this will matter because in a few minutes, Bellamy and I will be back on the road. I won’t go as far to say we’ll be talking some serious shit about this encounter, but he’s got to be wondering as much as I am why Nana didn’t want your help when an important clan relic has gone missing.”

Edgar pursed his lips together. “You’re not leaving.”

She scoffed. “Watch me.”

Heat rolled off his body. “You’ll have to get through me first.”

The only reason my mate let him have the final word was because he roared, dropping to his knees as his bear burst through his human form. He’d always been an impressive animal, and an even better fighter.

He barely had time to strip his clothes away before his body expanded, and fur rippled into place where skin had been moments before. His face transformed, and those massive jaws opened, revealing sharp, ragged teeth before letting out a roar that shook the foundation of every house in the village.

Shift complete, his black eyes glittered, gaze squarely on Clover. Her mouth dropped.

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