Page 36 of Goldie and Her Bears (Dirty Paranormal Fairytale Haremlan 3)

“You can’t honestly believe that,” he said, sounding appalled. Whatever, I gave up giving a shit about this conversation fifteen minutes ago.

“And what if I do?” I asked, staring him down. “Do go on and tell me how the high and mighty Chase would do.”

He shook his head. “Fuck you, man. I’m in here trying to repair the damage you caused. If this is the stance that you want to take, then I’m clearly wasting my breath and time.”

I sighed and thrust my hand toward the door. “Then go. See if I care!”

“You know what?” Chase shouted, throwing his hands into the air. “Fine. I’m done. Especially since you are so hell-bent on destroying every single thing we have worked hard to build for ourselves. You can wallow in your self-pity all alone. I’m better off leaving. You can clean up your own messes from now on.”

“Good riddance, you damn fool,” I snapped.

“Congratulations, you successfully pushed away everyone who cared about you,” Chase said as he walked toward the door. “I hope you are happy now.”

Anger boiled through my blood. I wanted to shift again. It was harder to fight this time. Everything within me wanted to raze the damned cabin to the ground so no one could ever stumble across it again.

He was right in a way, even though he never came right out and said those words exactly. I was better off alone. And I still had my little cave to live in. If this was the life he and Jasper insisted on having, then so be it. I was done too. I had enough of their tantrums and feelings and neediness.

They could fall on their faces for all I cared.

I growled and stormed out of the room. My vision started to blur. My bear pushed against my frame, desperately clawing at me to be freed. I clenched my hands into tight fists and stomped down the hall and toward the front door.

All Jasper and Chase had done was prove me right from the start.

I was better off alone.

Once I reached the front door, I pushed the screen out of my way. It slammed against the side of the house as I took a step onto the porch. I settled my gaze on the woods as movement from the corner of my eyes caught my attention.

I turned and met Cassie’s gaze. Her bright blue eyes were wide and filled with fear. My heart skipped a beat as guilt tried to force its way through to me. I shoved the sensation down and glared at her. This whole mess was all her fault. If she hadn't trespassed into my home and my bed, none of this bullshit would have happened and I would still have my brothers. She stole them from me, and they sided with her.

My bear stretched against my frame again. I had to get away. But there was something about this girl I couldn’t shake either. I needed to give her one last opportunity to come clean with me. Then I was done.

I hated the things she made me feel. I hated her. I hated every God-forsaken thing in my life.

Worst of all. I hated myself.

17

CASSIE

The screen door swung open, slamming against the outside of the cabin. Kai immediately stepped through. His eyes searched the woods for something before settling on me. Instantly, his brown eyes darkened to black. His jaws clenched and his hands formed fists at his sides. His long blond hair was a tangled mess as it dangled around his shoulders.

When my eyes returned to his, he growled. “I hope you’re happy now.”

My lips parted. I took in a shuddering breath. I barely shook my head as confusion settled over me. I wasn’t sure what prompted him to gaslight me like this. Was something said to him about me while I was out here?

I wasn’t going to ask. My very presence was enough to set him off. I didn’t want to encourage further assault by speaking to him. Not again. In fact, if I had a choice, I wouldn’t speak to him ever again. The idea wasn’t very realistic of me considering I was currently trapped in his home. It was hard enough to bear being in his sight much less speaking to him.

He huffed and nodded. “And now you have nothing to say for yourself. Unbelievable.”

I scoffed. Right. Well, screw not talking to him. I wasn’t going to stand there and be treated like this. The nerve of this guy. Who the hell did he think he was? He certainly wasn’t my superior or any sort of authority figure in my life. Hell, the only thing I did was pick the wrong bed to sleep in. Never mind I picked the wrong cabin to stumble into just to save my own skin.

He might have hated me from the moment he met me, but he wasn’t exactly my cup of tea either.

I said, “My entire world just got flipped upside down no thanks to you. And you’re still accusing me of whatever it is you think I’m doing. Why? I have done nothing to you. I have done nothing to deserve this treatment from you.”

“How else do you explain showing up at my house where Jasper lived?” he snapped.

“Why is it so hard for you to believe it was a coincidence? I came out here looking for my family’s cabin, you fucking asshole! I didn’t ask to be trapped in your house. I was trying to leave! But no, you were the dumb ass who carried me all the way back here. So why don’t you do us both a favor and decide what it will be. Despise me or don’t. But if you’re going to despise me you had better have a damn good reason, and with proof outside of some ridiculous half-baked idea I’m an all-powerful witch. Because, buddy, if I was, I probably would have zapped you into oblivion by now. At least then I wouldn’t be stuck in a place where I wasn’t wanted and forced to endure your hatred.”

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