Page 10 of Bear It All
Putting distance between myself and the group was my main priority, so I arranged to have my room switched to a different wing. I wanted nothing to do with them anymore, especially knowing they had hurt Freya. The hardest part of my plan was respecting her request for space. I would give that to her for the moment, to a degree.
Regardless of the forced distance, she was always on my mind. That week, instead of eating at my usual table or hanging out in the courtyard, I went to the library instead. My mate liked to be outdoors; her connection to nature was palpable. I didn’t know a weed from a flower, so I decided to brush up on my herbology.
Balor had a black eye from my punch, but still didn’t seem to take what I had said that night seriously. When I passed him or Kris in the hallway, they shouted or waved, but I just ignored them. They didn’t exist for me anymore. If they did, I would have to take more physical action. The thought that they had seen her naked, posted pictures of her, had a growl lodging in my throat.
The only thing holding me back from letting them have it was the blowback it might have had on Freya. I had acted on my own urges enough, andI needed to take my mate into consideration. My father called me later in the week to let me know all ties between our family and Bianca’s had been severed.
William Harrington was demanding an explanation, but my father directed him to Bianca. I knew she had been trying to find me, corner me, but I couldn’t stand to be near her, breathing the same air.
As for Freya, I kept an eye on her, but at a distance. I made sure she always made it to and from her classes without any confrontations. I didn’t go to bed until I knew she was safely in her room. I even found myself sneaking out in the middle of the night to stand outside her door, making sure I heard the steady breaths that indicated sleep.
My mate liked to wander the grounds alone at night, and it terrified me. A week passed in that fashion, and my bear was howling for her, desperate for a brief interaction. From the little reading I had done so far, I decided getting her a small succulent she could keep in her room without worrying about sunlight would be a good place to start.
I found the groundskeeper, who helped me pick one out and showed me the proper way to pot it. My bear, not one to be outdone, caught a giant salmon he wanted to present to his mate. He was a bit miffed when I got permission to use the kitchen to cook the salmon properly and put together a full dinner for Freya. She had avoided the cafeteria most of the week, and both my bear and I were concerned abouther.
With a sense of anxiety I had never felt before, I left my presents outside her door. I leaned against the wall, inhaling her scent. Knowing she was there, so close, but still so far from me, was infuriating, but it was my fault we were in that position. I knocked loudly, then swiftly walked away so she didn’t see me.
From my spot around the corner, I watched as she opened the door, warily popping her head out before spotting the items at her feet. A sweet blush bloomed on her cheeks as she took in the plant and meal before she scowled at herself. I was afraid Freya was going to leave it outside, but I howled in success when she took it back into her room with her.
That was enough for the moment. I would watch over my mate, feed her, and do whatever I could to make her happy. I would cut down anyone who came between us, anyone who came for her. Most importantly, I would protect her from myself until she was ready for me. For the reality of us.
Chapter 11
Freya
Mikhail had listened to me, and I hadn’t seen him all week. At first, I was avoiding him. Then, to my shock, I realized I missed him, a part of me aching for him. A week before, it had felt like everywhere I turned, he was there, but suddenly, it was as if he had vanished. I even went so far as to walk by his dorm to catch a glimpse of him.
When I passed by the room I had woken up in, memories of Mikhail’s body wrapped around mine flashed through me. Just as I was about to knock, the door opened, and a different fourth-year exited the room and locked it. Confused, I returned back to my wing, feeling even more lost.Why am I so upset? Why does it feel like a part of me is missing?
Then, the gifts began arriving. Small plants clearly ripped from the ground and carefully repotted in an adorably sloppy manner. Delicious, freshly cooked meals the cafeteria never would provide, always beautifully plated and high in nutrients and vitamins. The warmth that spread through my body when I opened my door wasundeniable.
Even though I couldn’t see him, Mikhail hadn’t forgotten about me. I was starting to regret telling him to leave me alone. Halloween was upon us, and all of Bartholomew was buzzing. There were several events going on after hours, and my interest in attending was surprising, even to me. For once, I wanted to go out, pretend like I was just a regular university student, and have fun. Maybe get a glimpse of the man who consumed my thoughts.
As the sun set over the castle gates, a thrum of energy rushed through me. Digging through my closet, I pulled out the green dress my mother had gotten me as a present. I’d never had the occasion to wear it, and an idea formed in my head. It was full-length and low-cut. The built-in corseting made my waist look tiny and emphasized the swells of my breasts and hips. The color made my eyes pop and my skin glow.
Taking more time than usual, I did my makeup by drawing flowers and vines around my eyes before carefully putting on dark lipstick. Once outside, I instantly felt better. As I walked through the grass, I called to the surrounding flora as I passed. They eagerly wrapped around me and through my hair until it was hard to tell where they started and ended.
I looked like a walking Mother Earth, and I felt beautiful and powerful. Once I moved into the woods, the crowd grew denser. There were groups of people all over the place, talking, dancing,and other things. Under the shroud of darkness and surrounded by students, all in some form of disguise, I found comfort.
Clinging to the shadows, I could move through the crowd, manipulating energy as I saw fit, slowly dispersing the pent-up magic raging inside of me. I had never felt more alive in my life. Walking along the writhing bodies, I felt free, hidden among the sea of people. All of a sudden, the bonfire in the center sprang to life, flames leaping in my direction. I was afraid I had accidentally set it off.
Stumbling back, I was stopped by a cluster of bodies. I turned around to find Kris and Balor looking down at me. Balor looked worse for the wear. He smelled like alcohol, and was holding his stomach. His face looked distorted, a mottled bruise the color of an overripe avocado surrounding one of his eyes.
“Well, look what we’ve got here! The little human who’s got Mikhail’s tail in a knot.” Kris pulled me toward him, yanking me closer until I could smell his rank breath.
“What lies did you tell Mik? He cut all of us off. Went so far as to get our families nearly exiled,” he said angrily, the laid-back surfer boy attitude dropping away as the predator shone through.
“Maybe she’s just a good piece of ass. A bit thick for my taste, but I’d be willing to take one for the team,” Balor replied. His eyes swept over my body, making me feel exposed and dirty.
“Get off me.” My words were strong and clear,anger and fear vibrating through me. I yanked my arm out of Kris’ grip, only for Balor to swing behind me, trapping me between their bodies. At that point, we were far off to the side of the party, not clearly visible unless one walked up on us.
“What, you think you’re too good for us? Gonna be a cock tease like that cunt, Ada? Except she has Carmichael to protect her…Who’s coming for you?” Balor hissed, pinning my arms behind my back.
He was stronger than I expected, and my struggles only caused him to tighten his hold. My arms were locked at an uncomfortable angle, thrusting my breasts up as Kris walked closer to admire the view.
He pulled a knife out of his pants, and the first real flicker of fear ran through me. As he finished circling me, he finally came to a stop once we were face-to-face.
“That dress looks a bit tight. Think you might need room to breathe, yeah?” he asked with a slimy smile.
