Page 30 of Having the Bear's Baby

She headed into the cabin to find her phone.

“Hi, Doug,” she said when he answered. “I’d like to take another week of vacation.”

“That’s not possible right now, Emma,” he replied coolly.

“But I’m owed another two weeks,” she said. “I never take time off, you know that.”

“You can’t just take time whenever you like,” he replied. “I need you in here.”

“It’s not possible?” she said, feeling hot. “I’m owed more time, and I want to take it.”

“And I’m your boss, and I’m telling you I need you next week,” he replied angrily. “So get back from whatever you’re up to and do some work like a good girl.”

Emma saw red. She was livid. How dare he talk to her like that. He had always been a bit of a jerk, but this was too much. “You know what,” she said through gritted teeth. “Screw you, and screw your job. I quit!”

With shaking fingers, she pressed the red icon. How dare he, she fumed. She’d always toed the line before, even when he’d been an asshole. Something about being with Liam had empowered her. She realized she would never allow anyone to walk over her again. She was worth more than that.

She went to tuck her phone into her bag, and her fingers brushed against something. A piece of paper. That shouldn’t be there, she thought.

She pulled it out. It was an envelope with her name on it. That man’s such a softie, she thought. Sending me love letters.

She tore open the envelope and stopped short, cold fear rising from her belly. The note was a threat. Stay away from Liam if you know what’s good for you!

How had it gotten in her bag? Her eyes flitted nervously around the cabin. Was there someone here with them? The place suddenly went from feeling like a safe haven to a trap. An isolated cottage in the middle of nowhere. Was she being watched even now? Someone hiding in the shadows, waiting to see her reaction?

She felt like she was frozen to the spot, a deer caught in the headlights. Her eyes swiveled to the open patio doors. She had to get to Liam. She had to show him the mysterious letter. Without a thought, she bolted for the door, calling Liam’s name as she ran.

She got out to the yard, but she couldn’t see him. What if they’d already gotten to him? “Liam!” she screamed. “Where are you!”

He arrived at a full run around the side of the building. “What’s going on?” he cried, his head swiveling around, looking for the threat.

She waved the piece of paper at him. “Look,” she said. “Look at this! Someone’s been in the cabin. This was in my bag!”

Liam took the note and read it, a low growl rising in his throat.

TWELVE

LIAM

Liam watched Emma walk into the cabin to call her boss. He loved the way her ass wiggled as she walked. He felt content as long as he was with her, protecting and watching over her. Life was good here with Emma, no matter what.

He still hadn’t broached the fated mates thing, but he felt like they were a lot closer to one another now. Maybe later, he would talk to her, or maybe tomorrow. The thought of her reacting badly was preventing him from speaking his mind. He didn’t want to scare her by being too forward.

In his mind, there were no doubts. She was perfect for him. She had proven to be a good companion. She loved going hiking and swimming. In fact, he hadn’t found a single thing that he liked, and she didn’t. He’d always been a little skeptical about fated mates. He’d considered it a romantic concept that other people had, but in reality, it was a bit of a fairy tale. A nice story to tell the kids.

He had not been prepared for the wave of emotions that had overcome him when he met Emma. It had shocked him how powerful the pull toward her was. He couldn’t get enough of her. Shaking himself from his reverie, he decided he should call Alex and check that everything was okay. He found a quiet spot on the side of the cabin overlooking the forest.

“Hi, Alex?” he said. “How’s it going?”

“Hello, Liam. It’s been a quiet week,” Alex replied. “The threats have been coming from Adam, the Alpha of the Granada clan, just like we thought.”

“Damn,” said Liam. “Won’t the guy back down? He’s always pushing. If he’s not after more land, he’s after my clan members. And now this.”

“I know. He’s a pain in the ass,” said Alex. “He’s always been jealous of our clan. He just can’t seem to get it into his head that we’re better and stronger than his clan.”

The threat of the Granada clan had been around as long as Liam could remember. When he was a kid, it had been the old leader who had been a bitter rival of his father. From early childhood, he could remember them attacking and harassing his people.

In fact, there was a family story that his great-grandmother had been a Granada clan pack member. She had been stolen from the rival alpha by his great-grandfather. According to passed-down family history, that was what had started this ancestral battle.

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