Page 18 of Having the Bear's Baby

The shorter one took a step closer to her, which forced her to take one back. She looked around at the oblivious people passing by. She didn’t think these two would hurt her in public, but she didn’t want to find out either.

“Our names don’t matter,” the taller one said. “We asked you a question.”

“As did I, but you don’t see me being rude to you,” Emma replied, knowing it was probably a bad idea to be a smartass, but she couldn’t help it.

“Did you hang out with Liam the other night?”

She stiffened slightly. How did they know that? And if they weren’t part of the clan, how would they know that? Just who were these two?

“It’s really none of your concern who I was with.”

“We know that you shacked up with Liam all weekend. And we thought we would be nice and warn you about how bad of an idea that is.”

Her mind seemed to freeze up. How did they know all of this? And why didn’t they want her to know Liam? Did it have something to do with him being a shifter and she wasn’t?

She looked between them for a moment, twenty questions going through her head all at the same time. She wasn’t sure what to say. What did someone say to something like this?

She swallowed, really wishing she’d just turned back around and gone inside. She wished she could call up Liam and have him here with her. Liam would know what to do.

“Why are you so concerned with me hanging out with Liam?” she asked, pulling her purse closer to her chest.

“Because he’s bad news. If you hang out with him, you’re going to end up hurt.”

“And how do you know this?”

“Because we know Liam. We belong to another clan, and we know he’s bad news. You hang with him, and you’re going to end up broken and alone.”

Their words sent a shiver down her spine. It wasn’t that she believed them. She figured it was more that if she stayed with Liam, they were going to hurt her.

She trusted Liam and knew from the short time they had spent together that he would never hurt her. She sensed that didn’t hold true with the two standing in front of her.

“Hey!”

She turned, seeing Liam walking toward her. His eyes, however, were on the men standing in front of her. She turned back and noticed the guys looked uncomfortable and quickly turned to leave.

Liam got to her as the guys started walking away, looking like dogs with tails tucked between their legs.

“Leaving so soon?” Liam yelled in a calm voice.

“Who were they?” she asked him, stepping closer. Her nerves instantly started to settle as he looked down at her.

“Just some troublemakers from another clan. Did they hurt you?”

She waved her hand. “No, I just didn’t know who they were. They said they knew you. Who are they?”

“No one important,” he said, wrapping an arm around her and pulling her into a hug. She wanted to press him for more information but sank into his arms instead.

She inhaled his scent, letting it calm the rest of her nerves. She tightened her hold on him, taking a moment of silence. She felt safe in his arms, and whatever the guys were saying was forgotten.

Liam pulled back after a moment and smiled. “I missed you. How was work today?”

She shrugged. “It was fine, rather busy. I missed you as well.”

He smiled at her, holding her close to him. “You know, we wouldn’t have to miss each other if we lived in the same place. Why don’t you move in with me? I know everyone would love that.”

She chuckled, shaking her head. “Liam, we just met a couple of days ago.”

“So?”

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