Billionaire Bear Shifters A Paranormal Romance Complete Series Boxset - Brittany White Page 0,38

exchanged a knowing look as he led her to the bed and sat her down, squeezing her shoulder in a gesture of comfort. “But there’s something I have to tell you before anything else.”

Alanna waited and sat back against the wall. Nathan puttered around the cabin. He filled a propane kettle up with water and fired it up and brought her an energy bar from his small pantry, correctly assuming she must be hungry. When the water was boiling, he poured her a cup of lemon and ginger tea with some honey and when she drank it, she sighed in relief. It felt somehow so familiar to Nathan, even as Alanna said she’d never been a big tea drinker but liked the lemon ginger.

“What is it?” Alanna said. Nathan grew a small fire in the cabin’s fireplace and then sat down next to her, sighing heavily. “Just tell me. I certainly have a lot to tell you anyway.”

“I know who you’re afraid of,” Nathan said tightly. He clenched his fists in his lap, staring straight ahead. “I know his name is Rawley and that he’s from Utah. I had my brother look up John. He’s good at digging shit up about people. I know Rawley goes around pillaging from lone bears and looking for vulnerable sleuths. I know because I used to run with him. We used to be...friends.”

Alanna fumbled with her mug in her shock and Nathan reached out, righting her cup before she could drop it. She stared at him and Nathan grimaced, shame overwhelming him. He clenched his fists.

“You were friends?” Alanna said. “With Rawley?”

“A long time ago,” Nathan said firmly. “It was when I ran off on my own. I thought whatever I could get on my own would be better than what I’d find with my brothers. I was restless and I felt invincible, I guess. For a while, it was fun. It was lonely too but I told myself I was better by myself, without family to stop me from doing whatever I wanted. Then I met Rawley.”

Nathan glared down at his own hands. Alanna wasn’t getting up and storming off or cowering in fear, but she wasn’t saying anything either. She just waited for him to keep talking.

“I should’ve known he was trouble,” Nathan said, sighing. “But whatever he is now, he wasn’t like that then. He would steal, he would start shit with anyone over anything. But he wasn’t going around hurting innocent people. The day he did, I left. But that’s all I did. I left. If I’d done more, if I’d stopped him, he wouldn’t have found you.” He took a breath and met Alanna’s gaze, speaking gravely. “I understand if you don’t trust me. I don’t know that I would either. But you have to let me help you. If something happens to you because of that asshole I could’ve stopped a long time ago I’ll… Please, Alanna. Please just let me. I’m sorry I ever knew him. I’m sorry I didn’t stop him before he could ever get to you or anyone else, but please...”

Alanna got to her feet and Nathan couldn’t help noticing how shaken she was, her hand trembling as she set her now empty mug on the table. She let her blanket drop to the floor as she marched to the door.

This is it, he thought. It was over. It was too much and she was going to leave.

“I don’t need you to save me,” she bit out. She braced her hands on the door, turned away from him and he felt like his heart was tearing in two as he watched her struggle with herself. “I don’t need you to… I don’t…” She burst into tears and he got to his feet, stalking over to her and wrapping his arms around her from behind. “I don’t need…”

“I’m sorry,” Nathan whispered in her ear. “I’m sorry I ever knew him. I wish I was just… I’m so sorry, Alanna.”

“I don’t need you!” Alanna said, gasping. But even as she said it, she leaned back against him, clutching his arms that wrapped around her. “I don’t...please…please…”

Alanna turned around in the circle of Nathan’s arms. Tears slid down her cheeks, flushed from the cold. Her lips were swollen and pink and he reflexively growled under his breath, his grip tightening around her. Her breath was short and her gaze moved to his mouth, her chest heaving as he held her.

“It...it doesn’t matter. I don’t care, I don’t