Tristan was not your entire life,it said.
A wave of anger surged through my veins. “Shut up.”
The bear rumbled low in its throat, then stood on its hind legs, forcing me to look up. It towered over me, a formidable mass of fur and muscle. For the first time I was seeing myself through Tristan’s eyes. A huge threatening bear. I stumbled backwards.
You’re afraid of me,it stated.
“I’m not afraid,” I growled. “I just hate you.”
Then you hate yourself.
I stopped and stared at it, foolishly – almost childishly – hoping the bear would blink first. It didn’t.
You hate yourself, and you take it out on Liam.
The hairs on the back of my neck rose. My fists clenched. “Don’t you dare bring him into this.”
The bear reared its head back and roared, thundering and loud, like a hammer smashing glass.You are a fool!
The force of its voice froze me. The bear dropped heavily to its front legs and stalked towards me. Even on all fours it was massive and intimidating. I couldn’t help but think of Tristan again, and how much fear he must have felt. How much fear thatIcaused.
The bear snapped its jaws and saliva flew from its teeth.
Tristan is gone. It was his choice, and one he made out of ignorance.The bear growled.But now you are the one being ignorant. Liam loves you. Can’t you see that?
My lips curled into a snarl. “It has nothing to do with you. Leave Liam out of this!”
The bear returned my snarl, roaring deep in its throat.It has everything to do with me!It slammed a heavy paw down on the ethereal ground, causing it to rumble. It let out a gruff snort, then stared me furiously in the eyes.Liam isn't just a bear shifter. I’m sure you’ve realized it.
“What are you talking about?” I growled.
The bear narrowed its burning eyes.He’s not simply just a bear, the same as you are not.
My mind’s eye was assaulted with images of Liam. His slight but strong frame, his shorter stature; a phantom whiff of his scent came to me all at once, crashing like a wave. Instinctively, my body grew hot and strength rippled in my muscles. A protective growl rose in my throat before I even realized what I was doing. I stumbled back, startled.
You already know,the bear said.
I did. As an alpha, there was no way I couldn’t have known.
Liam was an omega bear shifter.
I groaned and clutched my head. I’d known all along, but I didn’t want to acknowledge it. I didn’t evenwantto be a bear shifter, much less an alpha bear. And even worse was wondering if my attraction to Liam was because of our biology and nothing more.
Are you that stupid?The bear snarled. Its paws pounded as it stalked forward, and when it spoke its hot breath poured over my face.Liam loves you for who you are, not what you are.
Tristan’s horrified and disgusted face flashed before my eyes for a split second before it disappeared.
“You can’t prove that,” I growled, looking away. “It doesn’t matter if I’m an alpha or not. Tristan left me. Liam could leave me, too.”
The bear lurched upwards so fast I barely registered it. On its back legs, it swiped a huge clawed paw at me, sending me sprawling across the landscape of my mind. A dull pounding sensation shook through my body. I was in shock, but I felt no pain.
When I propped myself up, the bear was towering over me but the fury in its eyes was gone.
Go find Liam before you regret it.
With that, the bear vanished. When I opened my eyes, I was face to face with the floor of my bedroom again. I groaned and got to my feet.
“Go find Liam…?” I muttered. Furrowing my brows, I left the bedroom and staggered to the living room.
