Page 59 of Bear and Book

I didn’t even know who the hell he was at first. Some smug, naked bastard strolling out of Elias’ hallway like he belonged there. Like he owned the space.

My bear surged, claws scraping against my insides, demanding blood. Every instinct in me screamed threat.

It was worse than that, though. The sight of him pissed me off. Jason wasn’t just an intruder in Elias’ space. He was an insult. I couldn’t think past the molten anger boiling in my chest.

Couldn’t hear anything but the low thunder of my own growl vibrating through my ribs. My fists clenched so tight my knuckles cracked.

I hadn’t felt this mad since Addie.

That night came back in a flash, sharp as glass. Some asshole at a bar had put his hands on my sister, ignored her telling him off.

By the time I got to them, his hand was already sliding lower, and I’d seen red.

I didn’t just hit him. I broke him. Sent him to the hospital with enough injuries to make sure he wouldn’t walk right for months.

And that was the final straw for my clan. They’d tolerated me for a while, tolerated my temper and my mistakes. But that? Protecting Addie in the only way I knew how? That was the end.

I willingly left so I wouldn’t cause my family any further problems.

My breath came harsh and uneven as I stood there in Elias’ apartment, fighting not to repeat history.

Rash actions had consequences, and I knew it. I knew it. But gods help me, the only thing I wanted in that moment was to wipe that smirk off Jason’s face with my fists.

I hated him the instant I saw him. The way his eyes lingered on Elias, like he was some possession left behind, waiting to be claimed again. The sheer audacity of it made my blood boil.

So this was Jason. The shifter responsible for the scars on Elias’ heart. The reason Elias kept his walls so high when I first met him. The bastard who left Elias so guarded, so cold, so scared to let anyone in.

And then Jason opened his mouth. “Figures you’d fall for a big teddy bear to lick your wounds. Tell me, does he roll over when you scratch behind his ears?”

My vision tunneled. I actually felt the heat rising behind my eyes, the sharp snap of my bear pushing, demanding, to take over. I wanted to rip his throat out.

Wanted to put my claws through his chest and make him pay for every single second of pain he’d left on Elias. But then Elias, who was still gripping my arm. did the unexpected.

Elias stepped forward.

“You’re pathetic, Jason. Whatever you thought you’d find here, it’s gone. You don’t get to have me anymore. And you sure as hell don’t get to disrespect the man I love,” Elias said.

Everything inside me stuttered.

Those words “the man I love” hit me like a blow, but not the kind that hurt. It cracked me wide open, yanked me back from the edge. I sucked in a sharp breath, eyes snapping to Elias.

Elias was flushed, furious, but he meant it. I could feel the truth of it through the bond humming faintly between us. It was enough to steady me. Enough to remind me that this wasn’t just about my anger.

This was about Elias.

I squared my shoulders and faced Jason, my voice low and edged with the growl my bear couldn’t contain. “You heard him. Get dressed or get out.”

Jason blinked, clearly rattled, but his arrogance came back quick. He sneered at me. “Or what? You’ll make me?”

I parted from Elias then, though I felt his fingers twitch like he wanted to hold me back. He looked worried, but I forced myself to give him a small, reassuring glance.

This wasn’t about losing it. This was about making sure Jason understood exactly what line he’d crossed.

When I turned back to Jason, my bear was already pressing against the surface, my nails threatening to lengthen into claws. I let some of it show.

My growl rolled out, sharp and cutting, my body thrumming with the need to strike. Jason stood his ground at first. I could see him testing me, weighing whether I was bluffing.

I took one step forward. His eyes flickered.