Gray Back Broken Bear (Gray Back Bears Book 4) -...
Transcript of Gray Back Broken Bear (Gray Back Bears Book 4) -...
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GRAYBACKBROKENBEAR
(GRAYBACKBEARS,BOOK4)
ByT.S.JOYCE
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OtherBooksinthis
Series
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Thisbookwasnotwrittenasa
standalone.
Theauthorrecommendstoread
thesestoriesinorderforoptimal
readerenjoyment.
GrayBackBadBear(Book1)
GrayBackAlphaBear(Book2)
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GrayBackBroken
Bear
Copyright©2015byT.S.Joyce
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Copyright©2015,T.S.JoyceFirstelectronicpublication:
September2015
T.S.Joycewww.tsjoycewrites.wordpress.com
AllRightsAreReserved.Nopart
ofthisbookmaybeusedorreproducedinanymannerwhatsoeverwithoutwritten
permission,exceptinthecaseofbriefquotationsembodiedin
criticalarticlesandreviews.The
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unauthorizedreproductionordistributionofthiscopyrightedworkisillegal.Nopartofthis
bookmaybescanned,uploadedordistributedviatheInternetoranyothermeans,electronicorprint,withouttheauthor’spermission.
NOTEFROMTHEAUTHOR:
Thisbookisaworkoffiction.Thenames,characters,places,andincidentsareproductsofthe
writer’simaginationorhavebeenusedfictitiouslyandarenottobeconstruedasreal.Anyresemblancetopersons,livingordead,actual
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events,localeororganizationsisentirelycoincidental.Theauthordoesnothaveanycontroloveranddoesnotassumeanyresponsibilityforthird-partywebsitesortheir
content.
PublishedintheUnitedStatesofAmerica
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ChapterOne
Thethwack,thwackof
EastonNovak’saxdrivingintobirchlogsechoedthroughthequietclearing.
Inasmoothmotion,hepushedthesplitwoodoff
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intothegrowingpilebesidehimandstackedanotherwidelogontotheoldchoppingblock.Afterswingingtheaxhandlebehindhim,helifteditintheairandblastedthebladethroughthewood.Againandagain,heswunghisaxuntilhehadenoughforacordoffirewood.That
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wasn’tthepointofthis,though.Thepurposewasn’ttoprepareforwinter.Thecoldmonthswerebehindhim,afterall.Itwasearlyspringandhealreadyhadenoughwoodtolasthimamonthofdeepsnow,plusacoupleofcordstosell.
Thepointwastosettle
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theanimalthatsnarledconstantlydeepinsideofhim.Hehadworktodo.Oh,hesawhowtheotherGrayBackslookedathim.Thegirls,Willa,Gia,andGeorgiaweremoretolerant,buthestillscaredhiscrewonsomelevel.
Asheshould.
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Iftheyknewwhatwasreallygoingoninsideofhim,Creedwould’veputhimdownyearsago.
Thiswasn’tworking.Allofthephysicalexertionwasn’tsettlinghimenough.Itneverdid.He’dhavetoChange.Maybefightandbleed,too.Therestlessness
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thatwashedoverhimlatelywassuffocating.Hisbearwasstrugglingforbreathinsideofhim,clawingandtearing.Hedidn’tknowwhatthedamnedthingwasfightingagainst.Andhesureasshitcouldn’ttellanyoneelsewhatwaswrong.Hecouldn’tevenfigureouthisownanimal.
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TheotherGrayBackscalledthemselvesmisfits,butnoneofthemcouldeventouchthebaggagehecarried.
Theflutterofwingssoundedbehindhim,andEastonthrewanarrow-eyedglareoverhisshoulder,butthebranchesoftheoldpinethatshadedhistrailerwere
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empty,saveneedlesandpinecones.
Grittinghisteeth,Eastonpeeledhisshirtoffandwipedthesweatfromhisface.Withanirritatedsigh,hetossedhisshirtontotherailingofthestairsthatledtohisfrontdoor,thenpulledanotherlogontothechopping
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block.Anotherflutterof
wings,andhewasgoingtokillthefuckingbirdwhowasscratchingatthememorieshewantedtokeepburied.No,thememoriesthatheneededtokeepburied,orhisbruinsilverbearwasgoingtoriphimtoshredsonhiswayout.
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Flap,flap,scritch,scratch.
Shewasn’treal.Notreal,notreal.Theravenwasaghost,justlikeTessahadbeenJason’sghost.Thebirdhadlefthimalonealltheseyears,butnowthathe’dadmittedtoseeingTessa,theghostravenwasbackto
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torturehim.Hecrackedtheblade
downthecenterofalog.Flap,flap.“Stopit,”he
murmured.Helaughedasthe
kneehighgrasstickledhisfrailshoulders.
Eastonblinkedhard
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andslammedtheaxdown.Hecouldn’tdothisagain.Nottoday.
Flap,flap.“Leavemealone,”he
growledout.Dadpickedhimup
andswunghimaroundandaround.EastonlaughedlouderasDadtickledhim
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andraspedhisbeardacrosshisface.SillyDad,alwaysreadytoplay.
“Dinner,”Momyelledfromthefrontporchoftheircabin.Mom.Home.Safety.Everythingwascherry.Mommadeapiefordesert.Thesweetsugargranulessmelledsogoodon
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thewind.Sugarandwheat,andhisstomachgrowled,readytoeat.
“Myhungrylittlebear,”Dadsaid,tuckinghimunderhisarmandtrompingthroughthetallgrass.
Eastonsmiledupatthetreebranchwherehisravensat,watchinghim.Her
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headwascocked,andsheblinkedslowasDadcarriedhimupthestairs.Eastonwavedjustbeforethedoorclosedbehindthem.
Hungrylittlebear.“Isaidstopit!”
Easton’slegsbuckledunderhimashedroppedtheax.
Flap,flap.
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Withasnarl,hepulledhisknifefromthesheathonhisbeltandturned.Inoneswiftmotion,heflippedthebladeandthrewitatthebranchwheretheghostravensat.Theknifesunkintothebark,andtheflappingofwingsfilledhishead.Shewasgone,butasingle,shiny,
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blackfeatherfloatedthiswayandthatinfrontofthetrunkofthepine.Eastondrewbackinhorror.“You’renotreal.”
Shewasn’t.Couldn’tbe.
Helurchedforwardandpickedupthefeather.Itfeltrealenough,softandlight.Smoothasheranhis
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fingerdownthelengthofit.Thefeatherevensmelledlikeher—hisraven.Chillsblasteduphisarmsashesearchedthebranchesabove.
Hewouldhavetoburnherthings.
Hewouldhavetosetfiretothetrinketshecherishedthemost.
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Chestheaving,Eastonclimbedthestairstohistrailerandthrewopenthedoor.Hekeptthegiftsshe’dbroughthimunderhisbedinanold,plastictacklebox.Eachsectionwaslabeledwithayear,andfilledwiththetinytreasuresshe’ddroppedinplacesforhimtofind.
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Hesanktohiskneesandyankedthelidopen.Hairberets,rubberbands,paperclips,andanythingsmallthatglintedinthesun.Thelastcompartmentwasempty.
Eastonswalloweddownthelossthatfilledhimandpressedthefeatherintoit.
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Shewasaghost,andhecouldn’tkeepher.Notanymore.Heowedittohiscrewtomoveon.
Everytrinketheldamemory,andhewouldhavetowatchthemburn,onebyone.
Nottoday,though.Todayhewasn’t
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strongenough,butmaybetomorrowhewouldbanishtheghostraven.
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ChapterTwo
Itwashim.AvianaKingclutched
herarmtohermiddle,wishingforthepaintostop.
Asobclaweditswayupherthroat.
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Itwashim.Herbear.Easton.
Easton,theoneshe’dgrownupwith.
Easton,theoneherhearthadlatchedonto.
Easton,theboywhobroke.
Ithadtobehim.Hiseyeswerethatsamebright
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greencolorshe’dneverseenonanotherperson.Helookeddifferentnow.Harder.Feral.Hefeltdifferent,too.Scarier.Thepowerthatrolledfromhisshouldershadwashedoverherravenformandterrifiedher.Herfeathershadlifteduncomfortablyfromherskinjustbeingthatcloseto
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him.Now,hewasoneof
thewildbearsherpeoplespokeof.Oneofthedangerousones.
Tearsblurringhervision,shestudiedthelongsliceunderherarm.Bloodstreamedfromitlikeacrimsonriver.He’dbecome
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betterwithblades.Muchbetterthanwhenhewasaboy.
Shehatedthebears,butsheenviedtheirhealingabilities.Ravenshiftersdidn’trepairthemselvessoeasily.
Eastonhadhurther.Clutchingherarm,
shecurledinonherself,
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nakedinthewoodsandmiserableatthememoryofhiswildface.
Thesweetboyshe’dknownwasgone.
Theflutterofbirdwingsdrewagaspfromherlips.Whenshelookedupintotheevergreencanopy,itwasonlyawoodpecker,nota
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raven.Still,itwasastarkreminderthatsheshouldn’tbehere.Thiswasagainstalltherules,andifherpeoplefoundoutshewassoclosetothebears,she’dbeshunned.
Avianastood,ignoringthejoltingpaininherarm.Herpileofclotheswasneatlyfoldedovera
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youngtree’slow-hangingbranchtokeeptheforestfloorbugsfromthem.
Shedressedquicklyandjoggeddowntohercarthatwasattheendofadeertrailshe’dfollowedin.Shedroveatrustywhitesedanwhoseeasilymuddiedcolorandshoddysuspensionwere
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notmadefortherockyterrainandpothole-riddledroadsinthesemountains.Moreproofshedidn’tbelonginthewoods.Notanymore.She’dbeenrippedfromthemlongagoandhadfoughttoothandnailtomoveon.
Anddammit,she’dledagoodlife.Asafeone
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withfriendsandfamilyandadventures.She’dneverwantedforfoodorclothing,andshe’dbeenabletofollowherdreamsofbecomingaschoolteacher.Sowhyhadn’tshebeenabletostopthinkingaboutEastonafteralltheseyears?
Withalong,steadying
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exhalation,sheslidbehindthewheel.Sheturnedthecararoundandheadedforthemainroadthatwouldleadtoherchildhoodhome.
He’dbeenhereallalong.She’dgonebacktohisterritoryonceacoupleofyearsago,butithadbeenapparentEastonhadleftit
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longago.She’dbeenriddledwithsuchguiltwhenshe’dleft,shehadforcedherselftostopsearching.Itwasthepromiseshe’dmadetoherfather.Thefirstpromiseshe’deverbroken.
Evennow,anotheroverwhelmingwaveofremorsewashedoverher.
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Avianagrippedthesteeringwheelandwilledherselftostopfeelingbad.Ifanything,seeinghimlikethatwasforthebest.Nowshecouldstopthinkingandobsessingabouthim.Shecouldstopimagininghiminhisadultform,fantasizingthathewasashappyandfetchingas
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she’dthoughthewaswhentheywereyounger.
Now,equippedwithhisangrysnarlandthevitriolwithwhichheflungthatknifetokill,shecouldgetoverhim.ShecouldmoveonandacceptCaden’sproposal.She’dalreadyquitherjobathisrequest.Allthatwasleft
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todowassayyestothesmallceremonyhe’dproposed.Shewasofbreedingage,andCadenhadbeenkindtoofferheraplaceathisside.
Shewaslucky.Hewashandsomeandcunning,andhisproposalhadbeenhighlysoughtafter.Hewasperfectlynice.Perfectlynice.
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Shecouldbearhimchildrenandraisethem,createtheperfectnestforthefamilyshewouldbuildwithCaden.
Herlifewouldbeeasy.
Herlifewouldbeplanned.
Anothertearrolleddownhercheek.
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Herlifewouldbeperfect.
Aflawless,emotionlessexistencebecauseshe’dgivenherheartawayyearsagotoabrokenboywithasilvergrizzlyinsideofhim.
Andnowthatboywasdead.
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Afterdrivingmilesofwindingbackroads,Avianapulledhercartoastopinfrontofthecabinshe’dgrownupin.Itwasabandonednow,butthehousefromhermemorieswasbeautiful.Momhadsetupsummerrosegardensallaroundtheporchandhung
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pottedplantsfromtheraftersovertheporchswing.Insidehadbeensmall,buttidyandcomfortable.Ithadbeenahome,andoneshe’dconnectedwithmorethananyotherthatfollowed.
Now,thelogsthatmadethewallshadfadedtograyandsplintered.Thethick
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groutbetweenthelumberhadcrackedandchipped.Theroofsagged,andonthenorthside,mosshadgrownoverthewoodenshingles,givingitthelookofafairycottage.Someofthewoodenfloorboardsweremissingandsplitonthefrontporch,andtherailingwasbrokenand
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saggingofftheside,butthatdidn’tbotherherasmuchaswhathadhappenedtotheinside.
Leaksandrothadruinedallofthefurnitureherfamilyhadleftbehind.Theplumbingdidn’tworkanymore,andherparents’bedwasnothingbutsoft
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woodenshardsinapileontheirbedroomfloor.Theplacesmelledmustyanddank,andthelackofelectricitymadestayinginthisplacerough.Thewindowshadbeenbroken,andseeingitlikethisnow,thecozyhomefromherchildhoodmemorieswavered.
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Asachild,she’dfeltsafehere.
Asanadult,shefeltvulnerableandexposed.
Shewouldn’tbeherelong,though.Justanothernight,andshe’dgobacktoRapidCityandgiveCadenheranswer.She’dkepthersuitorwaitingforayear.
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Longerthanshehadanyrighttomakeanymanwait.Shewasn’tplain,butshewasnobeauty.Herjokesmadeherpeopleuncomfortable.Herhumanfriendsattheschoolshe’dworkedathadlaughed,butshewasineptatdecipheringbetweenpitylaughsandgenuine
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amusement.Cadenwasagoodman,andshewasluckyhe’dofferedtogiveherahome.
Maybeifshejustkepttellingherselfthat,itwouldfeeltrue.
Avianatookadragofthemustyairinsidethedoorandshookherhead.This
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placehadgonetoruinwithoutsomeoneheretokeepitalive.
ItremindedherofEaston.
Anotherwaveofdisappointmentcloggedherthroatassheopenedherlaptop.Thirtypercentbatteryleft,butitwasenoughtosay
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goodbyetoEastoninherownsillyway.
ShemadehercellphoneintoahotspotandpulledupCoraWright’spro-shifterWebsite.Thiswaswherethiswholeadventurehadstarted.Therewasalinktoalistofregisteredbearshiftersinthecountry.
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Thiswaswhereshe’dfoundEaston.Howcoulditnotbehim?She’dnevermetanyoneelsewiththeuniquename,andhewasabearshiftertoboot,registeredwithacrewofnotoriouslyviolent,aggressive,unsavorybearscalledtheGrayBacks.
Sheskimmedthrough
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hisregistrationinformationagain.Six-two,leanbuild,greeneyes,darkhair.Silverbear.Surname:Novak.Shehadn’tknownthatfrombefore.
AvianaNovak.Stopit.Shewasdestinedto
bepairedwithCaden.She
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wouldbehisperfectmatch.Everyonesaidso.
Fromthere,sheclickedovertoJasonTrager’ssocialmediapage.NoneoftheotherGrayBackshadoneshecouldfind.
AjoltofshockzingedthroughherasapictureofEastonshowedupatthetop
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ofhisfeed.Init,EastonstoodinbetweenJasonandawomanwithmedium-lengthredhair,obviouslydyedandstraightenedsothoroughly,itspikedoutofahighponytail.Theywereallsmiling,evenEaston.Hiswassmallerthantheothertwo,andalittlebewildered,butitwasthere.
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Avianafrownedandtriedtoconnectthisfacewiththeferociousonehe’dwornwhenshe’dseenhim.
Underneaththepicture,Jasonhadtypedhashtagsammysbar,hashtagcteamcocaptains,hashtagwillawonka,hashtagreleasethebeast,hashtag
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beastonbromance.Beaston?Thenickname
certainlyfitthemonsterwho’dcutherwithaknifetoday.
Heseemedtohavefriendsifthispicturewasanythingtogoby.Avianaleanedbackinherchairand
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crossedherarms.Shesquintedathissmile.Hewasveryhandsomewithhisfacerelaxedlikethis—moreliketheboyshe’dknown.Sowhydidheliveinatrailerseparatefromhiscrew?She’ddoneherspyingonthem,andtheGrayBackslivedagoodthreehundredyardsaway.
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Anditwasplainasdaythemanwasfightingsomemightybigdemonsthewayhewaschoppingthatwoodsorelentlessly.Aterrifyinggrowlhadbeenconstantinhisthroat.
Butthenagain,she’dseenwhathappenedtohim.She’dcomeherehopinghe
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turnedoutokayaftereverything,buthehadn’t.Thecircumstancesofhislifehadturnedhimintoamonster.
Shewasdisappointed.Thereitwas.Okay,
shewasdisappointedthathehadn’tbeenstrongenoughtofindhappiness.TheEaston
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she’dknownwasinvincible.She’dcomeherein
hopesshecouldconvinceherselfhehadturnedoutallrightdespiteallthatshitthathadhappenedtohim,buthehadn’t.AndnowshewouldhavetogobackandlivethisemptylifewithCaden,andallthewhileshe’dwonder
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whatif?Whatifshe’dbeen
abletostickaroundforhimwhentheywerekids?
Whatifshe’dcomebacktofindhimearlierbeforehe’dturneddark?
Whatifshe’deverrevealedherselfasaperson—arealfleshandbonefriend—
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insteadofjustanattentiveraven?
Whatifshewasthereasonhewassolostnow?
Herlowbatterysignalflashedandthescreenwentdark.
“No,”shewhisperedasEaston’sslightlybaffledsmilefadedtoblack.
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Shecouldn’tgonow.Avianashookherheadandclosedhereyesatthethoughtofleaving.Easton,orBeaston,wasterrifying.Hell,hisentirecrewbroughtshiversupherspine.Bloodthirsty,violentapexpredatorswhoobliteratedeverythingintheirpath.They
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wouldeatapeacekeepingravenlikeherforbreakfastandpicktheirrazorteethwithherbones.
ButEaston’slifewasnowmoremysteriousthanithadeverbeen,andshehadtoheedwhateverwasdrawinghertohim.
Shewouldseethis
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thingthrough.Shehadto.Becausealifeofwhat
ifswasnolifeatall.
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ChapterThree
Eastonpulledhis
knifefromthesheathathishipandcutinoneswiftmotiontheziptiethatboundatrioofthickcableloops.
Mattwatchedhim
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thoughtfully.Hedidthatalot—triedtofigureEastonout.Itwasannoying,butthenagain,everythingwasannoying.
Mattshiftedhisweightandleanedbackonthegiantstackofprocessedlogsbehindhim.“IbettherealreasonClintonleftis
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becauseyounevermadeaknifeforhim.”
Eastonhuffedalaughandshookhishead.“Clintonleftbecausehe’saD-teamdick.Hisbaddecisionshadnothin’todowithme.”
“Thinkaboutit,”Mattsaid.“Hebeggedyouforonefromthefirsttimehefigured
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outyoumadethem.Maybeifyougavehimaknife,he’dcomebacktotheGrayBacks.”
Eastonlookeddownatthelong,sharpbladeoftheknifehealwayscarried.Hehadn’tmadeClintonaknifebecausehehadn’tdeservedtheeffort.Willa,Gia,and
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Georgiahad.Eastonranfromthe
housetotheshedwhereDadwasworking.Inthebranchesofanoldaldertree,theravencawed.HegrinnedandwavedtoherasheblastedhislittlelegsfastertowardDad’sworkshop.
Shakinghisheadto
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wardoffthememory,Eastonsaid,“Clintonwon’tevercomeback.Hedon’tbelongwithus.”
“Wheredidyoulearntomakeyourknivesanyway?”
Inaflutterofwings,theravenswoopeddownfromthetoweringalderand
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landedonthesplinteredwindowsilloftheshed.Eastongaspedashegottoseeherupcloseforthefirsttime.Slowlyandcarefully,hepaddedtowardthewindow.Shewascarryingsomethingshinyinherbeak,andwhenheapproached,shesetasmallbentpaperclipdownon
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theledge.Hethoughtshewouldflyaway,butshedidn’t.Sheonlywatchedhimwhilehepickedupthesmallgiftandturneditinhishands.
“Thankyou,”hewhispered.
“Thatravensurelikesyou,”Dadsaid.Hewasleanedagainsthiswork
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benchwatchingthebig,blackbirdwithhisarmscrossedoverhischestandhisheadcocked.
Eastonlookedatherproudly,soclosehecouldalmosttouchher.Pocketingthepaperclip,hesaid,“She’smybestfriend.”
Asoftsobwhipped
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aroundonthebreeze,easyforhissensitivehearingtopickup.
“Mom’scrying.”Dadnarrowedhis
eyesandturnedhisbacktocontinuesharpeningathinknifeblade.“Well,letherhavesometimealone.She’llgetoverit.”
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Eastonsidleduptothetableandfingeredasetofclamps.“What’swrongwithher?”
Withasigh,Dadturnedandsquatteddowntoeye-levelwithEaston.“Son,yourmomma’sgoingtohaveanotherbaby.”
Asmilespreadacross
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Easton’sfaceashethoughtofabrotherorsistertoplaywith.Anothersobcarriedonthewindfromthehouse.Hefrowned.
Dadruffledhishair.“Yourmomma’sscared.Shefanciesshehasthesightandcanseeherfuture.Shethinksthebabywillbehardtohave,
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butshe’sjustbeingemotional.Humanwomenarelikethat.Softandfulloftears.”
“Shedoesn’twantthebaby?”
“Shewill.”Dadstoodandblewonthenewlysharpenedbladeoftheknifehewasmaking.
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ButEastonknewallaboutbabies.Theyhadraisedpigsallhislife,andhe’dseenhowtheboargotthesowswithpiglets.“IfMomdidn’twantababy,whydidyouputoneinher?”
Dadtossedhimahardlookandwentbacktoexaminingthesharpened
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silver.“Somedayyou’llunderstand.Yourmommaisflighty,andIdon’twantherleavingus.Nowshewon’t.Notwithtwocubstoraise.Sometimesyouhavetomaketheharddecisionsforthepeopleyouwanttokeeparound.”
Eastonwincedashe
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puthisweightonhisbadleg,theoneWillahadruinedwhenhe’dTurnedherwithoutherconsent.Allbecausehewantedtokeepheraround.Dadhadbeenwrong.Makingdecisionsforwomengothisbonessnapped,andthenCreedhadorderedtheGrayBacksnotto
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sethisbrokenleg.He’ddoneashittyjoboftryingtofixithimself,andnoweverystephetook,manorbear,hurt.Hislimpwouldalwayshurt.
“Hellooo,”Mattdrawled,wavinghishandinfrontofEaston’sface.
Red,boilingragetookhismiddle,andhesnapped
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histeethhardatMatt’shand.Mattflinchedbackandcursed.“I’mnotchallenging,”hesaid,handsraisedinsurrenderashesteppedaway,nevergivinghimhisback.
“Beaston!”PowercrackedinCreed’svoiceasheyelledfromunderthe
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skylinewherehewassecuringnewcables.“Don’tyoufuckingdoittoday.Damonfinallyliftedournumbers.He’strustingusmore.Don’truinthisshiftforus.”
Easton’sbearsquirmedinsideofhim,burninghimfromthemiddle
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outindesperationtoescape.Hewasn’tevenmadatMatt.Thememoriesmadeitsohecouldn’thelphimself.Fightingmadethemgoaway.
Withasnarl,heturnedandskiddedovertheledgeofthelanding.Below,therewasasteepmountainsideclutteredwith
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felledlumbertheBoarlandershadcutdownfortheGrayBackCrewtostripandloadforshipmenttoSaratoga.Theterrainwassteepanduneven,andonewrongmisstepmeantalumberavalanchethatwouldgocareeningdownthehillside,pickingupsteamanddemolishinganythinginits
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path.Helovedthisjob.Therewasalwaysanedgeofdangerineverythinghedid.Here,hecouldfocusbetterthananyplaceelseonearth.WhichwaspatheticsincehestillfoughttheotherGrayBacksallthefuckingtime.IrritationbubbledinsideofhimasheheadedtowhereJasonwas
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standingonastackoflogsandwritingnumbersonhisclipboard.Cladinayellowhardhatlikehisown,Jasonwaseasytospot.
“Hey,youokay?”Jasonasked.
“I’mfine.”Hisdarkeyebrows
shotupasheshookhishead
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andwentbacktoscribblingontheclipboard.“Layoffmyhidetoday,willyou?I’mstillsorefromourrowyesterday.”
“Sorry,”Eastonmutteredasheclimbedontothepilenexttohisfriend.Andhereallywas.HelikedtheGrayBacksmorethananyotherpeopleintheworld,
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butthathadn’tstoppedhisneedtofightwiththem.
“Creedwillkillmesoon,”Eastonsaid,dragginghisgazetowherehisalphawasclimbingintothemachineryundertheskyline.
“Hewon’t.”“Hewill.”“Easton,”Jasonsaid,
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slappingtheclipboardagainsthisthigh.“Anyonemesseswithyou,they’llhavetoclawtheirwayovermycoldandlifelessbodytodoit.”Jasoninhaledslowlyandleveledhimalook.“Breathe.”
Eastondrewaslow,deepbreathandfeltthefireinsideofhimcoolbya
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fraction.“Thereyougo.Now
thinkaboutit.Creedhasputalotoftimeintorehabbingyou.Hedidn’tkillyouwhenyouTurnedWilla,didhe?”
Eastonshookhishead,stilluncertainabouthisfuture.
“AndnowCreed
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wouldhavetoanswertothegirlsifheputyoudown.Willawouldfilethimandsuckonhismarrow,Giawouldboothimoutoftheirtrailer,andGeorgiawouldshoothisass.Nobody’sgivinguponyou,soyoudon’tgiveuponyoueither.Okay?”
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Theflutterofwingsinthetreelinedistractedhim.
“Easton,”Jasonmurmured,grippinghisshoulder.“Okay?”
“Yeah,”Eastonsaidwithajerkynod.
“Good.Nowmakeittodaywithoutbleedingus,andmeandyouwillgointo
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townlaterandgrababeer.”“Creedwon’tagreeto
that.”“Hewillifitkeepsus
ontrackwithournumberstoday.”Jasonjumpedoverapileofbeetle-infested,deadlodgepolepinesandmadehiswayuptowardtheprocessor.“Chestup,eyesahead,and
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focus,Beaston.Nobleedingtoday,andI’llbuy.”
Beaston.Hecouldn’tdecideifhelikedthatnicknameornot.Itcertainlyfithisinnermonster,butitwasalsoastarkreminderthathewasdifferent.Moreabrasive,morecombative,lessincontrol.
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Withasigh,hereachedinhispocketandpulledoutthebentpapercliphisravenhadgiftedhimallthoseyearsago.Ithadn’tbeenMatt’sfaultfordredgingupmemories.Itwashisownfortuckingthistrinketinhispocketthismorning.
Hisdadhadscoffedat
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Momforthinkingshehadthesight,buthe’dbeenafooltoshrugoffthingshedidn’tunderstand.Momwasspecialandcouldseethingsnooneelsecould.Eastonhadn’tunderstooduntilhegotolder,butshe’dgiftedhimwiththeabilitytoseethingsinthebeyond,too.He’dseenthe
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ghostofJason’sfirstmatewhentheothershadn’tbeenableto.
Eastonliftedhisgazefromthepaperclipinhishandstotheraveninthetreeacrosstheclearing.
Andnowhecouldseehisghostraven.
Dadhadbeenwrong
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aboutalotofthings.
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ChapterFour
Avianasatstunnedon
thebranch,trappedinEaston’sgaze.
He’dkeptthepaperclip.
Sheremembered
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everytrinketshe’deverfound.Itwasablessingandacursetoaraven.Somanybaublesbouncedaroundinherhead,buthermemorywasimpeccable,andshewasn’tabletoletgoofevenone.
Thathadbeenthefirstgiftshe’devergiventohim.
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She’ddoneittogethismindoffhisMomcryinginsidethesmallcabinhesharedwithhisparents.She’dgivenittoEastontoshowthatshecared,andthenhe’dgoneandrewardedherbytellinghisdadshewashisbestfriend.
Thatday,she’dgivenhimthefoldedpaperclipand
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herheart.Fromthebranchshe’d
dugherclawsinto,shecouldhearhislow,rumblinggrowlbeforeherippedthoseeeriegreeneyesawayfromherandlookedbackatamanclimbingdownthemountainsidetowardhim.
Tinyheartbeat
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pounding,shebouncedsidewaysdownthelimbandhidbehindthebodyofthetree.Thetreewashurting,anditsspiritalmostfadedtonothing.Pinebeetleshadsuffocatedandstarvedit.Shecouldfeelitspain,butthatwasnothingcomparedtotheacheofwatchingwhathad
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transpiredwithEastonandtherestofhiscrew.
Hewasstruggling.Anoutcastinacrewofoutcasts.Itseemedhewasintroublewithhisalpha,butshecouldn’tfigureoutwhy.ItwasapparenthewasonthevergeofaChange,too.Hiseyeshadalwaysblazedlikea
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demon’swhenhewasclosetoaChange,butinthelasttwodays,theglowhadbeenconstant.
Shelikedthatman,theonewiththeclipboardwho’ddaredtogripEaston’sshoulderdespitetheterrifyingrumbleinhisthroat.He’dtriedtomakeEastonfeel
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betteraboutthingsshewashelplesstounderstand.
Itwassuddenlyoverwhelming,theyearsthatstoodbetweenthem.
She’dmissedmostofhislife.
Therewastragedyinthat.
Atrioofheavysteel
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cables,hangingfromalinehighabove,blasteddownthemountainside.TherewasstaggeringpowerinthemachinethatpushedthecablestowardEastonandtheotherGrayBack.Matt?ItwashardtoputtheirfacestothepicturesonJason’ssocialmediawhentheywere
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wearingyellowhardhats.EastonandMatt
workedtotiethelongcablesinloopsaroundlogs,threeatatime.Thentheygesturedwithathumbsuptothealphaabovethemonaledge,andthelogsweredraggeduptheslopeatafrighteningspeed.Tirelesslytheyworked,
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hookinglogs,alwaysrunningaround,jumping,sure-footedasmountaingoats.Eastonsportedalimpnow,butitdidn’tseemtohinderhiswork.Painslashedthroughherchestwhenshesawhimwince,though.
Perhapshislimpwasfromthebeartrap.
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ItwasMarchandstillcoolupinthemountains,butEastononlyworeawhiteT-shirtandthreadbarejeanswithholesinthekneesoverheavyworkboots.Hispantsclungtohistaperedwaistandpowerfullegs.Whenshewasyounger,shethoughtEastonthemostdashingboyshe’d
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everlaideyeson,butEastonthemanwasaworkofart.Hiscutarmspressedagainstthethinfabricofhisshirt,andasthedayworeonandheworkedupasweat,hisshirtclungtothedefinedmusclesinhisback.Andwhenhelinkedhishandsbehindhisheadwhilewaitingforthe
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cablestocomeflyingbackdownthehillsideathim,shecouldmakeoutrippedabsasthedampmaterialclungtohistorso.Hisskinwastannedfromtheoutdoormanuallabor,andatonepoint,hesmiledatJasonwhowasworkingabigmachinethatstrippedthelimbsofflogs
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andleveledtheends.Easton’steethwerewhiteandstraight.Ifhewouldonlysmiledeepenough,she’dbeabletomakeouttheshallowdimpleshe’dhadwhenhewasaboy.Theonesheusedtoflashherbeforeeverythinggotsomessedup.Beforehewasbroken.
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Eastonwasstunning.Masculine,lithe,powerful.FullofbarelycheckedaggressionasheworkedalongsideMatt,whoseemedtodigatEaston’snerveswhenhespoke.Eastonwasterrifyingandbeautiful,likeatornadoshe’dwitnessedfromadistancewhenshewasten.
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Shecouldn’ttakehereyesoffhim.
Herheartratewouldn’tsettledown,anditleftherfeelingdizzy.ShegrippedhertinytalonsintothebarkmoresecurelyasEastonrolledhisneckandwipedhischeekontheshoulderofhisshirt.
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Thisfeelingrighthere—thebreathless,stomach-dipping,bewilderedone—thiswaswhatfallingforamanshouldfeellike.Perhapstheelderscould’veconvincedherthisfeelingdidn’texistifshehadn’talreadyfeltit.Cadenhadformallyaskedtocourther,andfortwelvelong
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months,she’dbeentryingtoforceherselftofeelsomething—anything—forhim.
ButafterseeingthatbentpapercliponEaston’spalmtoday,anyhopeofsettlingforCadenwaslost.
Eastonasaboyhadtemptedherheart.
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Eastonasamanwasruiningherforanyoneelse.
****Asthesunsankdown,
half-hiddenbehindthemountains,thealphawavedhiscrewuptotheledgehestoodon.TheychuckledatsomethingJasonsaid,allbutEaston,whostaredatthe
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groundasifitheldtheanswerstoallthesecretsintheworld.
Therestofthecrewloadedintoafat-tiredcharcoalgraytruck,butEastongotbehindthewheelofanold,beat-upwhiteFordtruckandtookoffbehindtheotherpickupalone.
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Avianafollowed,desperatetowatchhimaslongasshecouldmanagewithouthimnoticing.Gettingclosetohimnearhistrailerwasn’tanoptionanymore.Notwithhisimpeccableaimwithknives.Butouthere,wheretherewasmoreroomandmoretreestohideher,
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shefeltsafetoobservehim,asshe’ddoneforsomanyhoursinheryouth.
SheflittedfromtreetotreeastheGrayBacksbouncedandbumpeddownswitchbacksandolddirtroadsthatledthemtowardtheGraylandMobilePark.Findinghercourage,she
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circledhighaboveasEastonparkedhistruckbesidetheonehiscrewrodein,thenhestrodethroughthewoodstohismobilehome.Inthetrailerpark,theotherGrayBacksreunitedwiththeirmates.Somewereplayful,likeMattandWilla,andotherssweet,likeJasonand
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Creedwiththeirwomen.ThosemadeherlookawayandswoopbacktowardEaston’sterritory.
Hehadnoonetocomehometo.
Sorrowandhopechurnedinhermiddle.EvenamongtheGrayBacks,helivedasolitaryexistence.
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Perhapshedidn’twantamate.Orperhapshecouldn’thandleoneaftereverythingthathadhappened.Ormaybe,justmaybe,hehadn’tfoundtherightwoman.
Thatlastpartlitherupwithlonging.
Shewastoochickentoshowherself.Shehadn’t
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beenabletodoitinheryouth,andtheruleshadn’tchanged.Noonecouldknowravenshiftersexisted.Especiallyterrifying,murderousbearshifters.
ButEastonwasdifferent.
Fromhighabove,shewatchedhimstride
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deliberatelyintohistrailer.Thedoorbangedclosedbehindhim.
Washedifferent?Herarmwasstillcut
fromwherehe’dhurther,andhe’dseemedbarelyincontrolofhimselfathisjobsite.
Maybeshewasjustfoolingherselfintothinking
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hewastheboyshe’dgrownupwith.Hiswildeyessaidthatpartofhimwaslonggone.
But…thepaperclip.Baffled,sheflapped
herwingsandcaughtanaircurrentthatpushedhertowardthecabinshe’dgrownupin.Sheneededtimeto
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thinkaboutallofthis.Andsomethingelsewasweighingheavyonhermindnow—somethingthatmadehercringetoconsider.
SheneededtocallCaden.
Beingthecarefulravenshewas,Avianasearchedaperimeteraround
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herhousebeforesheChangedbackintoherhumanskin.Itwasn’tpainfulorslowlikeitwasforsomeshifters.Ravenswereluckyinthatrespect.Shejusttuckedheranimalawayinthespanofamoment,andherfeathersdisappearedlikemagic.Thestairssaggeddangerously
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underherfeetasshepaddeduptothehouse,carefultoavoidthenailsthatstuckoutofthefloorboards.Herphonehadenoughcharge,soshescrolledthroughhercontactsandhitthecallbuttonwhenshefoundCaden’snumber.
Sheletoffalong,
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steadyingbreathasitrang.“Hello?”Caden
asked.“Hi.It’sme.”“Aviana?Whereare
you?I’vebeencallingfortwodays,lookingforyoueverywhere.Youcan’tdothisshit.Ineedtoknowwhereyouareatalltimes,orthis
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doesn’twork.”She’donlybeengone
twodayssohisreactionwasoverblown.
“Ithinkthat’saproblemforme.Imean,oneoftheproblems.Idon’tlikethatyouneedtokeeptabsonme.AndIdon’tlikethatyoumademequitajobIlove.”
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Oh,shewasinitnow.“AndIdon’tparticularlylike…you.”Hervoicefadedoffonthelastword.Shewasn’ttrainedinbeingsodirectwithaman.“Thisisn’twhatIwant.Apairingbetweenusisn’tgoingtowork.”
Cadenwasquietforsolongshecheckedher
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phonetoassureherselfhehadn’thungup.
“Andyou’vethoughtthisthrough?”heaskedinalow,steelyvoicethatbroughtashiverupherspine.“You’vethoughtaboutyourplacewithourpeople,andyouarefinewithyourrankstayingatthebottomwhere
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you’vealwaysbeen?You’vethoughtaboutthefactyourrefusalofmycourtshipwillkeepyourfamilyatthebottom?”
Avianaswallowedthelumpinherthroatastearsstunghereyes.Shelovedherparentsanddidn’twantthemtobebeneathanyone,butshe
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couldn’tlivealietoelevatetheirstatus.Shewouldonlygrowtoresentthem.“Y-yes.”
“Yes,what?”Avianagrittedher
teethandhatedherselfasshewhispered,“Yes,sir.”
“Whoishe?”Cadenasked.Theemptinessofhisvoiceechoedonandoninher
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mind.“He’snotyou.”She
hungupthephoneasasobcreptupherthroat.
She’ddoneit,andpartofherwasproudshehadn’tjustgivenintowhatwasexpectedofher.Shewasproudshe’dstoodupforalifeshewanted.Buttherest
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ofherwasscaredshitless.Cadenwasimportant,andtakinghislastnamewould’vegivenherfamilyamucheasierlife.Morerespect.
Butshewasn’tgivingupthecomfortablelifeCadencouldprovideforanothermaleraven,orGodforbid,ahumanmate.Shewasgiving
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itupforEaston,amonstergrizzlywithlittleapparentcontrolwhohadtossedaknifeatherasthoughshewaslessthannothing.
Shewasbetrayingherpeoplebychoosingabear,butshecouldn’thelpherselfnow.Eastonwashers—hadalwaysbeenhers—and
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comingbackheretofindhimevenmorebrokenthanwhenshe’dlefthimhadsealedherfatetohis.
Avianadidn’tknowhow,butshewasgoingtofindthecouragetotalktohim.
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ChapterFive
Shecouldn’tdothis.Avianatookalong
pullofthefruitycocktailshe’dimploredthebartendertomake“extrapotent.”She’doverheardJasontelling
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Eastonhewouldtakehimoutforadrink,andafterseeingthepictureofhimandEastonandwhoeverWillaWonkawas,Avianawasprettysuretheywouldgrabthatdrinkathashtagsammysbar.TheSammy’sBarinquestionwasaholeinthewallestablishmentonthemain
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stripinSaratoga,completewithdimlighting,stickyfloors,andmismatchedchairsaroundscuffedwoodentables.Apooltablesatinthecorner,andastagesatemptyupfront.ThecoasterforherdrinkadvertisedtheBeckBrothersplayedlivemusiceveryweekend.
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JasonandEastonprobablywouldn’tshow.
Good,becauseagain,shereallycouldn’tdothis.Herheartwaspoundingdouble-time,andherhandswereclammy.Twicealready,she’dalmostdroppedherdrinkonthetablebecauseshewasshakingsobadly.Ifshe
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didthis,talkedtoEaston,itwouldchangeeverything.Itwouldputheratriskofbeingshunned,andwouldputher,alone,frailraven,inthepathofthemostvolatilegroupofbadassgrizzlyshiftersinthecountry.
“’Scuseme,miss,”amanwiththinninghairand
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whiskybreathsaidfromthebarstoolbesideher.“Can’thelpbutnoticeyou’reherealoneanddressedlikeyou’rereadytoparty.”
Sheswungherdisgustedgazetohim.“Pissoff.”Shecringedandslappedherhandoverhermouth.Thatwasreallyrudeandnot
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heratall.Thealcoholwasdefinitelytalkingnow.“Imean,pissoff…please?”
Themansnortedandturnedtohisfriendonhisotherside.
Thatwasasignitwastimetogo.Avianasuckeddowntherestofherdrinkandstood,onlytogaspandfall
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backontothebarstoolthesecondshesawthedooropen.
Theywerehere.AndnotjustJasonandEastoneither,buttheentireGrayBackCrewfilteredinthroughthedoor.
Oh,greathairyballs,whatwasshegoingtodo
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now?Panicking,sheslunkwithherbacktothebartotheveryendwheresheeyedarearhallwayandexitsign.
“Gottareleasethekraken,”WillaWonkaannounced.
“Geez,Nerd,”Mattsaid,shakinghisheadwithasmirkonhisface.“Justsay
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youhavetotakeapiss.”“Don’ttellmewhatto
do,”thespunkyred-headsaidthroughaflirtygrin,pointingatherblue-eyedmate.
OhGod,ohGod,ohGod,thethreeGrayBackwomenarewalkingthisway.Actnatural.
Avianaslurpedextra
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hardonthelastwatereddowndropsofherdrinkandwheezedwhenalemonseedshotthroughthestrawandpeltedherdeepintheesophagus.Shecouldn’tbreathe!Gasping,sheclutchedherthroatandtriedtodraginoxygen.
“Igotthis,sugartits,”
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Willasaid.ShegrabbedAvianaaroundthestomachandnearlycrackedherripsinaquick,one-shotHeimlich.Thelemonseedshotoutofherthroatandontothebartop.Avianaturnedaround,mortified.
Willareachedforwardandgrabbedherboob.
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“Honk,honk,you’rewelcome.”
“Areyouokay?”averypregnantbrunetteasked,grippingAvianabytheelbowasWillasaunteredoff,clutchinghertie-dyedpurseandhummingtoherself.
“Uh.”Besidesthefactthatshe’djustbeenfeltupby
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awerebear?“Yes.Thankyou.”
“Good,”thewomansaidkindly.Asshewalkedoffbehindtheothertwo,AvianatriedtoplaceherfacefrompicturesonJason’ssocialmedia.Gia,humanmateofCreed,sheremembered.
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Sheswunghergazetothebaronherothersidewheretherestofthecrewweresidlingupandorderingdrinks.Fromhere,shecouldseeEastonleanforward,aslightfrownmarringhisstrikingfeatures.Whenheturnedhishead,hisgazegrazedoverher.
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Gasping,shefroze.Shecouldn’tdothis—nope,noway.
Meltingtothefloor,shecrawledaroundthecornerofthebarsohermovementwouldn’tcatchEaston’sattentionasshemadeherescape.
“Loseacontact?”
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Willaaskedfromthebathroomdoorshewasholdingopenfortheothers.
“Oh!”Avianastoodandpressedherbackagainstthewall,hopefulthatEastonwouldn’thearWillatalkingtoherandcometoseewhatwasgoingon.Spreadoutlikeastarfish,sheclosedhereyes
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andsidleddownthehallwaywall.
Whensheopenedhereyestoseehowcloseshewastotheexit,Willawasstandinginfrontofthebathroomdoor,armscrossedasshestaredather.“Yep,Icanstillseeyou.”Shenarrowedhereyesandcanted
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herhead.“Youashiftergroupieorsomething?”
“No.Yes!Ilikebears.Theyseemvery…nice.”
“Liar.Yousoundandsmellterrified.”
“Right.I’mjustgoingtofindthebathroom.”
Willapointedtothedoordirectlybehindher.
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“Thereshebe.”“Okay.”Aviana’s
wordswerecomingoutallbreathyasherthroatclosedaroundthem.“Thankyou.”
Willafollowedherinside,andnowshewastrappedbetweenherandtheothertwowhowerewashingtheirhands.Awerebear
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sandwich,andhowfittingthatshewasthemeat.Awhimperclaweditswayupherthroat.
“Dudette,areyougoingtopassout?”Willaasked,asliverofworryinfiltratinghertone.
“Maybe?”Avianasaidasshepressedher
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shoulderbladesagainstthetilewall.Sounsanitary,butrightnow,thegrimywallwastheonlythingproppingherupright.“Ishouldgo.”
“Ithinkyoushouldputyourheadbetweenyourknees,”Giasaid,castingheraworriedlook.
“Yes,”Aviana
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whispered,sinkingtoasquattingpositiononthetile.Sheputherhandsbehindherheadandwaitedforthelightheadednesstofade.Onlynow,shewascompletelyvulnerabletothebears.Georgia,thoughshewasevenprettierinpersonthaninthepicturesonJason’spostswith
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herwildhairandfreckles,feltdominant.Willa,too,andnowtheywereprobablygoingtoeather.
Agentlehandrubbedherback,andwhenshelookedup,thecurvyparkrangersmiledkindlydownather.“Iusedtobeafraidofbears,too.We’renotthat
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bad,though.”Willasnorted,butGia
elbowedhersharply.IfAvianadidn’task
now,shewouldneverbuildupthecourageagain.Notafterthisdisastrousnight.“CanIaskyouapersonalquestion?”sheaskedWilla.
“Oooh,”Willa
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drawledout,tossingherheadback.“Sorryabouttheboobgrab,butI’mtotallyintodudes.”
“What?”Avianaasked,utterlyconfused.
“Ilikethepene.”Willawaited,eyebrowsraisedhigh.“Thebratwurst?Thetalleywhacker,the
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trousersnake,theone-eyedserpent,thedong,thelongschlong,thetadpoleshooter—”
“Willa,”Giasaid,fightingasmile.“Ithinkshegetsit.AndIalsodon’tthinkshewashittingonyou.”
“You’reverypretty,”Avianawhisperedinafraidy-
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catvoice,“butIwasgoingtoaskyouaboutEastonNovak.”
“Beaston?”Willalookedutterlyshocked.
Infact,theyalllookedshocked.
“Whatdoyouwanttoknowabouthim?”Georgiaaskedcarefully.
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“Ishe…isheseeinganyone?”
“Honey,you’dbebetteroffhittingonme.Youaren’texactlyEaston’stype,”Willasaid,leaningonthecounter.
“W-whatishistype?”shestumbledout.
“Serialkiller.”Willa
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gotelbowedbyGiaagain.“Icanseetheappeal
becausehe’sveryhandsome,”Giasaidlow,“butyouarebarkingupthewrongtreewiththatone.”
“Morelikebarkingupthewrongforest,”Georgiasaid,rubbingherback.“Thatmanisn’tmeantforamate,
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andespeciallynotawomanas…soft…asyou.Youseemverynice,butashygirllikeyouwouldsurehaveherworkcutoutforherwithamanlikeEaston.Bestyougethimoutofyourhead.”
Georgiaflashedherasympatheticsmileandstood.
AndasAviana
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watchedthemfileoutofthebathroom,herheartsanktothedingytilebeneathherheels.
Gethimoutofherhead?
Ifshecould’ve,shewould’veforgottenaboutheraffectionforEastonalongtimeago.
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Deflated,Avianawashedherhands,thenmadeherwaybackintothebar.Itwasn’tsointimidatingtostaynowthatshe’dmadeanassofherselfinfrontofhalfoftheGrayBackCrew.Thenightcouldn’tgetmuchworse,ashighlightedbyEaston’sindifferentglanceoverather
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assheleftthehallway.Hedidn’trecognizeheratall.Which,yeah,shegotit.Shehadn’tevershownhimherhumanside,andravenshiftersdidn’thaveasmellunlesstheywereintheiranimalforms.Notlikefurrymammalshiftersdid.Tohim,shewasjustanotherplain
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humanhangingoutinthebarhefrequented.
Shewantedtobuyanotherdrinktosoftenhersorrows,buttheGrayBacksweretalkingandlaughingitupatthebar,andshecouldn’tforceherselftogetthatclosetothemagain.Peeingherpantaloonsinfrightafterthat
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utterlyembarrassingsceneinthebathroomwouldjustbethecherryontopofthenight.
ThetableinthedarkestcornernearthestagelookedliketheperfectplacetowatchEastonforthelasttime.Whatafailure.She’dcomeinherethinkingshecouldactuallytalktohim,
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andtheclosestshe’dgottenwastalkingtosomeofhiscrew,whoprobablythoughtshewasacompleteninny.
Eastonsatstoicinthemiddleofthelaughteratthebar.Hewaspickingapartanapkinwithaslightfrowndrawingdownhisdarkeyebrows.Everyonceina
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while,hesippedadrink,butitwasapparentthiswasn’thissceneorhehadsomeseriousthoughtsonhismind.
Shewasgoingtoleavewithoutseeinghisdimples.
Hereyesblurredwithpathetictears,andsheclutchedherpursecloserto
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herlap.Amassiveman
blockedherentireviewofthebar.Shearchedherneckbacktotakeinhisfullheight.Darkhair,soft,sympatheticdarkeyes,andtwodrinksinhishands.“Beforeyouaskmetositdown,knowthatIwon’thitonyou.I’mhereona
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reconnaissancemissiononly.”
Avianasniffledandwipedherdamplashes.“Aw,whatthehell.Willyousit?”
Themantooktheseatbesideher,freeingupherviewofEastonagain.Hesetared,sweet-smellingdrinkinfrontofherandtookalong
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pullofhisown.Withasigh,hesaid,“Woman,you’vesetyoursightsononetoughtarget.”
“Idon’tknowwhatyoumean.”
“Yeah,youdo.WhyEaston?”
Sheshruggedmiserablyandtookapull
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fromthecranberryvodkahe’dbroughther.“HeremindsmeofsomeoneIusedtoknow.”
“So,whydon’tyougotalktohim?”
“BecauseI’machicken.”Shesmiledsadlyandswunghergazetothebehemoth.“It’sinmy
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inherentnature.”“Yourinherent
nature,”herepeatedinathoughtfulvoice.“So,ifyounevertalktohim,whatwillhappen?”
“I’llneverknowhim.”
“Andifyoutalktohim?”
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“Worstcasescenario,herejectsmeinfrontofallofhisterrifyingfriends,scarsmeemotionally,Igiveuponevertalkingtoanothermanagain,drawintomyselfwithfearofbeinghumiliated,pushawayeveryoneinmylife,moveouttosomereclusivecave,andliveonbeavermeat
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andwildberriesuntilIbecomeanunrecognizablehermitwithquestionablehygieneandanimaginarypetfox.”
“Well,thatwasgraphicandnotatallwhatwillactuallyhappenwhenyougooverthereandsayhitoEaston.”
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“Oh,I’mnotdoingthat.Chicken,remember?”
“Sochugthatdrinkanddigdowndeep.FindthatbadassIknowishidingintheresomewhere.Hikeupyourbiggirlpantiesandmarchyoursexyassoverthereandmakehimnoticeyou.”
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“Sexy,hmm.”Sheclinkedherdrinkagainsthis.“Flatterygetsyoueverywherewithme,mistergiant.”
Themanchuckledandjerkedhischinatherdrink.“Bottomsup,chicken.TheBeastonawaits.”
Hewasright.Ifsheleftwithouttalkingtohim,
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she’dalwaysbedisappointedinherselfforgivingupbeforesheeventried.Feelingreckless,sheslurpedthedrinkdownandstood.“I’mgoingtodoit.”
“That’sthespirit.”“I’mgoingtogotalk
tohim.”“Youcandoit.”
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Shestraightenedhertanktopoverherjeansandpulledherpurseoverhershoulder.Sheturnedtoleave,buthesitated.“I’mAviana.”
“Nicetomeetyou,Aviana,”themansaidwithaneasysmile.“I’mKong.”
Kong.Whatastrangename.“Thanksforthepep
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talk.”Henoddedonce,his
darkeyesdancing.“Anytime.”
Avianasquaredhershouldersandsethereyesonthecrewatthebartop.
Shewasdefinitelygoingtodothis.
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ChapterSix
Awomanclearedher
throatdelicatelybehindEaston.Heturnedonthebarstooltotellher“GrayBacksonly,”butthewordsgotstuckinhisthroatthe
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momenthesawher.Shewasawispofa
woman.TallerthantinyWillaonlybyacoupleofinches,andwithafinebonelookthatsaidhecouldsnapherarmwithoutanyeffort.Herskinwastan,asmootholivetonethatmadeherclear-waterblueeyesevenmorestriking.
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Long,darklashesmatchedstraightblackhair.
Whenhe’dseenhercomeoutofthebathroom,he’dtakennotice.Foraninstant,she’dlookedfamiliar.Ornotlooked,exactly.Shefeltfamiliar.Stupidfuckingthoughts.
Thewomanliftedher
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overlybigeyestohim,thendroppedthemtohisworkbootsasifhisshitkickerswerethemostinterestingthingshe’deverseen.
Hiscrewgreweerilyquiet.AllexceptWilla,whomuttered,“Oh,shit,”andgrabbedthewoman’stremblinghandtosteadyit.
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Toolatetohideherfearfromhim,though.Ifhecouldn’ttellshewasshakinginthosesexylittlepokey-heeledshoesshewaswearingunderthosetightjeans,hesureasshitcouldsmellhowterrifiedshewas.Acrid.Bitter.Heswallowedhardandwaitedforhisbearto
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slashitswayoutofhisskin.Buthisinnermonster
stayedput.Infact,thelongerhe
satstaringatthestrangegirlinfrontofhim,themorehisbearshrankbackinsideofhim,asifhewasstunned.Orscared.Huh.Scaredofthiswoodsprite?
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Eastonangledhisfaceawayfromhersuspiciouslybutnevertookhiseyesoffherdownturnedface.
“I’mAvianaMarieKing.”Sheghostedaglancetohim,thenbacktohisboots.“Isawyoufromoverthere,andIthinkyou’reveryhandsome.”Shegaspedatiny
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sound,toolowforhumanears,butitperkedhissensesrightup.“You’recheekbonesaresharp,andyournosestraight…regal…bigmuscles…andyoureyes…Ilikethose.”Atinywhimperescapedherassheclampedhermouthclosed.
Eastonlookedtothe
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facesofhiscrew,onebyone.WhenhegottoJason,hegrowledout,“Isthisajoke?”Ithadtobe.Noonehadeverpennedhimashandsome.Theyavoidedhisgazeandshieldedtheirchildren,butneveroncehadsomeonecalledhimwhatthisstrangewomanhad.Jasonmust’ve
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daredhertocomeoverandtalktohim.Nowitmadesensewhyshewasthisnervous.
“Definitelynotajoke,”Jasonmuttered.“I’veneverseenherbefore.”
Thewomanwasclutchingherfistatherside,andherotherhandwas
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graspingWilla’slikealifeline.Sheseemedtobewaitingforsomething.
Oh.Themannersthegirlshadbeenteachinghim.“I’mEaston.”Hisvoicecameoutagravellysnarl,andthewoman’sscentwentfromscaredtopetrified.Shit.“Sorry.”
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Shelookedupthroughthoselong,darklashes.“Sorryforwhat?”
Heshookhishead,baffled.“Idon’tknow.”
Thetinyhumanstraightenedherspineandliftedherchin.“Iwanttobuyyouadrink.”
“ButIalreadyhave
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—”Jasonshookhishead,
eyeswide.“Okay,”Eastonsaid,
rubbingthetwo-dayscruffonhisfaceself-consciously.Manners.“Thankyou.”
Avianahuffedarelieved,shakysighandreleasedherdeathgripon
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Willa’shand.ThenshesatonthebarstoolJasonofferedherrightnexttoEaston.Rightnexttohim.Shesmelledlikevanilla.Nottheartificialkindinabottle,buttherealkindtocookwith.Helikedvanilla.Herhairwascleanandshinyandlookedsoftassilk,andshehadafacehewantedto
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stareat.Cutenose,highcheekbones,andround,innocenteyes.Shedidn’tlooklikeshehadanythingwrongwithher,butshewastalkingtohim.Maybeshewassoul-sick.“Howoldareyou?”heasked.
“Ooooh,”Willasaidfrombehindhimasifhe’d
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saidsomethingwrong.“It’sokay,”Aviana
saidwithabriefsmiletoWilla.“I’mtwenty-eight.”
“Me,too.DopeoplecallyouAna?”
Hersoftlipsturnedupinasmileassheshookherhead.“No.Butyoucanifyouwantto.”
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“Iwantto.”Itwasshorter.EasierthanAviana.GrayBacksgavenicknames.Nerd.Griz.Ranger.Beaston.Hewouldgivethisonetoherfortonight.Sheseemednice.Frailandbreakable,butnice.
Anaorderedhimanotherbeerandoneforherself.Shegrimacedwhen
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shetookthefirsttaste,though.Shedidn’tlikeit,butsheforceditdownherthroat,sipbyuncomfortablesip.Shetippedthebartenderafivedollarbill.Maybeshecamefrommoney,ormaybeshewasjustthatnice.
“Whereareyoufrom?”Eastonasked.It
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wasn’tsmalltalk.Hewasshitatsmalltalk.HejustwantedtoknowmoreaboutawomanwhowouldbravetheGrayBacksandcallhimhandsome.
“RapidCity.Iwasateacherthere.Kindergartners.”
Eastontookalong
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drawofhisbeer.Shewassmartthen.Sowhywasshetalkingtohim?“Whyaren’tyouateacheranymore?”
Hercheeksturnedthemostappealingshadeofpink.“Iquitforaman.”
Hisbearsnarledinsideandscratchedtauntinglybeneathhisskin.
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“Whywouldyoudothat?”“Becauseheaskedme
to,andIdidn’tunderstandthatIcouldsaynoatthetime.Ithoughthewasitforme.”
“Yourmate?”Shecouldn’tmeethis
eyesanymore.Shenoddedherchinonce.“Iguessyou
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couldcallhimthat.”Eastonwantedtokill
everything.“Whyaren’tyouwithhimnow?”
“BecauseIdidn’twanttobewithamanwhoaskedmetoquitsomethingIloved.”
Prideblastedthroughhischest,andhesmiledashe
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tookanotherdrinkofhisbeer.“Good.”Notsofrail.Notsofragile.
Thesoftsoundofgigglingbrushedhissensitiveears,andheturnedtowherehisrowdycrewhadmovedoffdownthebar.WillaandGeorgiabothgavehimthumbsupandbig,confusing
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smiles,andwhenhelookedforGia—becauseshewaspregnantandhelikedherclosesohecouldhelpCreedprotecther—shewaswaddlingdouble-time,roundbellyleadingtheway,towardthejukeboxinthecorner.Henarrowedhiseyessuspiciously.
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“ImetWillaandtheothersinthebathroom,”Anasaidsoftly,followinghisgaze.“Theyseemnice.”
“Thenwhyareyousoafraidofus?”
Thatparthecouldn’tfigureout.Ifshewasashiftergroupie,she’dbemorebrazen.Instead,shewas
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clutchingherdrinkandsittingattheoppositeedgeofherbarstool.
“Becauseyou’reabearshifter.”
“Andyou’rescaredofshifters?”
Shenodded.Hestaredatherfora
longtime.Shewasbeautiful,
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smart,andshy,andobviouslyterrifiedtobethisclosetohim,sowhywasshetalkingtohiminthefirstplace?
“Isthissomesortofdareorbet?”heasked,scanningtheroom.KongliftedhisbeerinthecornerfromatablehesatatwithhisLowlanderCrew,butother
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thanthat,noonewaswatchingthemthathecouldtell.“Areyourfriendstakingpicturesorsomething?Idon’tdosocialmedia,andI’mrarelyontheInternet,sothatshitwon’thurtme.”
“I’dneverhurtyou,”shesaidonarushedbreath.
Hejerkedhisgaze
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backtoher.Truth.Everywordshe’djustutteredhadbeenlacedwithhonesty.Whothefuckwasthisgirl?Andwhywasn’thisbearasnarlingmessinsideofhimlikehewaseveryotherminuteofhislife?Hesetthebeerbottledownandbackedoffthestool.“Whywould
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youwanttotalktome?Anddon’tgivemethehandsomeline.IknowwhatIam,andIknowwhatIain’t.Mixedup,bloodlettingberserkeratthemercyofmyalpha’spatience.Butyou’retoogoodtobesittingnexttosomecrazylumberjackgrizzlyshifter.”
Anawasclutchingher
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pursenow,andassheslidoffherchair,shelookedlikeshewasgoingtocry.Humanwomenarelikethat.Softandfulloftears.Shewaslittleandhelpless,likeheusedtobe,andnowhisprotectiveinstinctswerekickinginforawomanhecouldn’taffordtogetattachedto.
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Shewasn’taGrayBack.WouldneverbeaGrayBackbecausealltheboysweremated.Exceptyou.
Eastontookastepback.Hisbearhadtherightofit—afraidandquietaroundthisdangerouslittlecreature.
EastonspuntoescapeSammy’sBar—toescapeAna
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—butWillastoodinhisway,apissedofflittlehellion.Sheblastedherfistsonherhips.“Askhertodance.”
“What?No.”Willa’susuallyhappy
browneyesnarrowedtodangerouslittleslits.“Yes,she’ssoft,Easton,yetsomehow,shefoundthe
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couragetocomeoverhereandtalktoyourscaryass.Ilikeher.Ifyouhurtherfeelings,I’llbreakyourfuckingleg.”
Hemadeanangryclickingsoundbehindhisteeth.“Youalreadybrokemyleg.”Andhehadthepermanentlimptoproveit.
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Willa’seyebrowswrenchedupward.“Youhavetwolegs.Icanplaythatgametwice.”
Hegrowledatherandturnedaround.“Doyouwanttodance?”hemutteredtoAna,hiswordsgravelly.
Ana’sprettyblueeyeshadsomehowgotteneven
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bigger.Theytookstockofhalfherfuckingadorablefacenow.“Ithinkso?”
“Great.”Eastongrabbedherhandandtriednottocrushherfingersandbreakallherbonesasheledhertotheemptydancefloor.
ThiswasthepartwhereCreed,Matt,andJason
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usuallyfoughttheirmates.Emptydancefloorswithonecoupledrewtoomuchattention,butEastongaveexactlyzerofuckswhowatchedhim.Beastonwashisnameandtowncrazywashisgame,andhe’dacceptedthestaresalongtimeago.
Giahadpickedaslow
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song,andwithafrustratedsnarlinhisthroat,heturnedaroundandpulledAna’shandtohisshoulder,thenheldherotheroneouttohissideandswayedbackandforth.
Anawasholdingherbreathandhadgonepaleasasheet.Andnowhewantedtokillwhateverwasupsetting
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her,butunfortunately,theonlydangertoherwashim.Hisheadwassomixedup.Heshookithardandtriedtofocusonnottouchinghertoohard.Shewouldturntoashesandblowawayinastiffwindifhedid.
“Breathe,”hedemanded.
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Sheinhaleddeeplyasatrembleshookhershoulders.
“I’mnotgoingtohurtyou.Iwon’t,soyoudon’thavetobescared.”
Herhandswereminiatureagainsthis,andforthefirsttimewhenhestraightenedtohisfullheight,
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hegotthechancetoseehowtinyshewasnexttohim.Itwasalmostlaughable.Hehadafootonherandahundredpoundsofmuscle,atleast.Shesqueezedhishand,andhedrewupshort.Wait,hewastouchingher.
“What’swrong?”sheaskedlow,hereyessobig
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andvulnerable.Shegaveawayeveryemotionwiththem.
He’dstoppeddancing,sohepickeditupagain.SidetosideasheheldAnaasgentlyasadriedsanddollar.
Sheclearedherthroatandlookedaround.Everyonewasstaring,buthedidn’t
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care.Ana,however,seemedtowitherundertheattention.“Youdanceverywell,”shewhispered.
“Doesthatsurpriseyou?”
“Yes.Ithoughtamanlikeyouwouldsteponmytoesandlosehisrhythm,butyou’requitegood.”
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Hisfacestretchedintoaquicksmile,thereandgoneathercompliment.Handsomeandagooddancer,andAnatheMysterywasgivinghimallthecomplimentsamanlikehimneverthoughthe’dhear.Hewouldrewardherkindnesswithanexplanation.
“Mymomtaughtme
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todance.”Surpriseflittedacross
herface,andherfulllipsmoldedintoasmilethatstolehisbreathfromhischest.“Ididn’tknowthat.”
Whatastrangethingtosay.Ofcourseshedidn’tknowthat.Shedidn’tknowhim.
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“Iwasseven.Shetaughtmeinourlivingroomandtoldme,“Tomakeafinemansomeday,youneedtolearntodancewithawoman.”Toholdherproperandgentle,asarealmanought.ThatparthadbeenmeantforDad,whosatatthetableandglaredattheir
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lesson.Momlovedtodancetoanoldrecordplayerinthelivingroom.DadneverhaddancedwithMomthatEastonhadseen.
“Shewaslovely.Imean…shesoundslovely.”Ana’sbreathshookharderasshesteppedclosertohimandrestedhercheekaslightasa
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paintbrushstrokeagainsthischest.
Shewouldhearitnow.Anawouldhearhowhardhisheartwasbeatingjustbeingthisclosetoher.Heshouldpullaway.Hide.Butwhenhelookedattheexit,Willawasstandinginfrontofitwithherfinger
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jammedathim,shakingherhead.Fuck.
AtleastAnahadn’taskedwhathappenedtoMom.Helikedthetinyhumanmoreforit.Shewasn’tdiggingtoodeepashe’dseentheothershiftergroupiestrytodowhentheBoarlanderswereatSammy’s
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tryingtogettheirdicksstroked.Somanyquestions.Anadidn’tdothat,though.Anawasniceandgentle.
Whywashisbearstillsoquiet?
“Wheredidyoulearntodance?”heasked,justtodistractherfromhisheartbeatbatteringherfacerightnow.
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“Notfrommyparents.WhenwemovedtoRapidCity,Iwenttopublicschoolforthefirsttime.Therewasthisschooldance,andIwassonervous.I’dbeenhomeschooledallmylife,andthereweresomanykidsitwasintimidating.”Hervoiceshookoneveryword,butit
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wasgettingstronger.“Aboyinmyclassaskedmetodance.Itwasverystiffandscary,butheshowedmewhattodo.AndafterwardIfeltaccomplishedandbrave.”
Hedidn’tlikethinkingaboutherdancingwithanyoneelse.Whichwasstupidandterritorial,andhe
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hadnorighttogetpossessiveoverher.Anawasn’this.Still,herestedhischinonherheadsoshewouldn’tseehimcurluphislipinasnarlfortheboywhohadaskedhertodance.
Somethingstrangewashappening.Anastoppedshaking,andshewentall
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warmandsoftinhisarms.Shesteppedevencloser,pressingherbodyflushagainsthis.Vanilla.Herhairwassilkagainsttheraspofhisbeard.Suchacontrasttohim.GoodAna.BadBeaston.Anothersongcameon.Anotherslowone.Giawascontrollingthejukeboxnow
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andthrewamiddlefingeratoneofKong’slowlandersforcomplaining.WasWillacrying?No,couldn’tbe.Justatrickofthelightsplayingwithhiseyes.Anafeltsogoodagainsthim,butnowthatshewassoclose,she’dfeelhowexcitedhewas.Howcouldshenot?Hisdickwas
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hardasarockbetweenthem.“Ihaveaboner.”
Perfect.Thatwouldsetthemood.Idiot.
“Forme?”Anaasked.Wasthathopeinhervoice?Shelookedupwiththoseensnaringeyes.
Goddamn,shefeltgoodpressedupagainsthis
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dicklikethis.“Thatwassupposedtoscareyouaway.”
“Itdoesn’t.Ilikethatyousaywhatyoumean.”
Helikedthatabouther,too.Honestnotesinallherwordsandshit,shefeltgood.Good,good,good.Ana,hisAna.Hewantedherunderhim,ontopofhim.
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Fuck.“Ihavetogo,”he
murmured.Adeepfrownhurthisface.Hedidn’twanttoleaveher,butshewasasfragileasadryleaf,andhewasn’tthebeastforher.Quietbear,whereareyou?Thelightsweretoobrightinhere.
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“Okay,”shesaid,disappointmentpoolinginherbig,blueeyes.
Hisgutshurt.He’ddonethat,disappointedher,butitwasbestthisway,leavingnow.Hewouldonlydisappointhermoreifsheknewhowfuckeduphereallywas.
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Bowing,hekissedherhandlikemomhadtaughthim,thenhestrodeforthedoorandpastWillawhosesadeyesmatchedAna’s.
Don’tlookback.Heblastedthroughthe
doorandoutintothedusty,gravelparkinglot.
Heturnedandglared
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atthedoorasitswungclosedbehindhim.Alonggrowlrattledhischest,andtherehewas—thebeastinhismiddle.
EverystepEastontookawayfromthebarhurt,butheforcedhimselftowalktoJason’struckanddroppedthetailgate.Hesatonitandlookedatthestars.Ifhewas
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lucky,theotherswouldbeheadedoutherenowtogobacktotheGraylandMobileParkwithhim.
“DidImakeyouangry?”Anaaskedfrombehindhim.
Eastonjumped.Shit,howhadshesnuckuponhim?
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Shewasshakingagain,badly.Thismadenodamnedsense.Anawasobviouslyterrifiedaroundhim,yetshekeptapproachinghim.
“Youmakemefeellikeamonster.”Ithadbeenmeanttohurther,andhiswordsdid.Thatmuchwas
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obviousbyherfacefalling.Moreguttinghim,moreache.Sheshouldn’thavethiskindofpoweroverhim.Nooneshould.Shewasgoingtodrawouthisbear.
But…hisinnergrizzlyhadstoppedsnarlingagain.
“You’renotamonster,”Anasaidlowas
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shesteppedcarefullyoverapotholeinthegravel.“Andifyoueversaythataroundmeagain,Iwon’ttalktoyouanymore.”Asthebravelittlehumandraggedhergazebacktohis,shelookedangry.Smelledangry.Vanillaandfury.“You’regood.”
“I’mnot.”
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Sheeasedcloserandrestedherhandslightasfeathersonhisknees.“Youare.”Hertonehadturnedtogritandsteel.
Eastonfrozeunderhertouch.Anawasfragile,andhewouldhurtherifhemoved.Settlinginbetweenhislegs,shecuppedhisface
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gentlywithherpalms.Shesearchedhiseyesandsmiled.“Ilikeddancingwithyou.Andwhenwetalk,Igetbutterfliesinmystomach.”
“Imakeyousick?”“No,”shesaid
throughalaugh.Helikedthesound.Softandfeminine,hergiggletinkledlikeabell.“I
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mean,youmakemehavefluttersinmystomachbecauseIlikethewayyoumakemefeel.”
“You’repretty.”Heclearedhisthroatandswallowedhard.Hecoulddothatpartbetter.“Ithinkyou’retheprettiestgirlI’veeverseen.”There.Better.
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Thatfeltright.Shesmiledagainand
strokedherthumbsacrosshischeeks.“Ialwayswonderedwhatitwouldbeliketohaveyousaythattome.”
Eastongrippedherwristsandshookhishead,confused.“Idon’tunderstandyou.”
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Anastoodonhertiptoesandrubbedhercheeksoftlyagainsthis.Silkagainsttheraspofhisscruff.Moreproofofhowdifferenttheywere.Hewasajaggedriverrock,andshewasthegentlewater.
NowitwasAnawhowassteadyasEaston’sheart
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racedandhisbreathshook.Shewassoclose,sowarm,touchinghim.Him.Hewasn’tastupidman,andheknewhewouldneverseeAnaagain,butfortonight,forrightnow,hewasgoingtoenjoyawomanpretendinghewassomethingmorethanamonster.
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Hisbreathcameinshallowpantsnowasthecornerofherlipsbrushedhis.Closinghiseyes,hethreadedhisfingersthroughhersofthairandgrippedgently.Don’tgo.Thenexttimesheeasedbacktobrushhercheekagainsthis,hepressedhislipstohersasgentlyasadelicate
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womanlikeAnadeserved.Hisbearpushedformore—harder,faster.Tasteher!ButEastonforcedhishandsandlipstobeeasy.Eastonhadtoldherhewouldn’thurther,andhewouldn’t.Notnow,notever.
Hestifledtheurgentgrowlinhisthroatsohe
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wouldn’tscareher.Anaangledherfaceandsuckedgentlyonhislips.Fuck,hewantedmore.Neededit.Henippedsoftlyathermouth,grazingherwithhisteeth,andsheletoffaquietmoanthatdiddisastrousthingstohismiddle.Burning,fire,dicksohard.
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Hejustwantedataste.Asmallone.Justone.
Asherlipsmovedagainsthis,hetouchedtheclosedseamofhermouthwithhistongue.Arequest,notademand,becauseAnawasgood,andsheshouldmakethedecisionwhethertoletabeastlikehimin.
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Herlipsparted,andhebrushedhistongueagainsthers.Fuck,hewasbeingtooroughwithherhair.Hedroppedhishandsdowntoherwaistanddraggedhercloser,pressedheragainsthiserectionbecauseshefeltrightandwarmbetweenhislegs.
Hekissedherharder.
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Nothisfault—hisbear’sfault.Theanimalwasinhishead,pushingtobeclosertoAnanow.Sheslidherarmsoverhisshouldersandtightenedaroundhisneck,pullinghimnearer.Don’thurther,Bear.Begentle.Fragile,delicateAna.Hewasanavalanche,andshewasa
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hummingbird.Courageouslittlecreature.Sexy.
Sherolledherhipsagainsthis,andhegrittedhisteeth,pullingawayfromtheirkissasherestedhisforeheadagainsthers.“Ana,”hewarnedhershakily.Shewasundoinghim.
“Ilikewhenyoucall
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methat.”Shehesitated,thenkissedhimoncemore,asoftpeckthatpluckedathislips.Withasmile,shebackedaway.“Yourcrewiswaitingtoleave.”
Eastondraggedhisgazeawayfromherandoverhisshoulder.TheGrayBackswerecomingoutofthebar.
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Anaheadedtowardawhitecar.Don’tgo.Sheunlockedit,thenslidinbehindthewheel.Whentheengineroaredtolife,sherolleddownthewindow.Goodbye,Easton.Heknewitwascoming.Thewordsthatwouldriphisinsidesout.
“I’llseeyou
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tomorrow,Easton,”shesaidwithashysmileandpinkcheeks.
Stunned,hestoodfromthetailgateandwatchedherdriveaway.
Anahadmadehimfeelalmostnormaltonight,butthatwasn’ttheonlygiftshe’dgivenhim.
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She’dgivenhimhisfirstkiss.
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ChapterSeven
Eastonsatontheback
porchofhistrailerandwatchedtheprogressofthesunasitsankdownbehindthemountains.Hefingeredthestrandoffrayed,black
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silkribbonhe’dtakenfromtheraven’streasureboxthismorningbeforeworkonthelanding.ThedayhadbeenhardashisfocushaddriftedthiswayandthatbetweenthoughtsofAnaandthemeaningoftheblackribbonthathe’dtuckeddeepinsidehispocket.
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Itservedasareminder.AnawasfraillikeMomhadbeen.Shewouldn’tsurviveamanlikehim,soitwasbestthatherwords,“I’llseeyoutomorrow,Easton,”hadbeennothingmorethanaprettylie.Shedidn’tevenknowwherehelived.
Hepulledthelength
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ofribbonthroughhisfingers.Araven’ssympathy.
“Wherehashegoneoffto?”Momasked,handsonherhipsasshesquintedagainstthesettingsunthatthrewthefrontyardintothegoldsandorangesofautumn.
Eastonhadjusthithisfirstgrizzlygrowthspurtand
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wasalmostastallashishumanmothernow.Heshruggedandpressedhishandagainstherbellywheretheundulatingwasthestrongest.Itwasaboy,alittlebrother.Hejustknewit.“Maybehefellasleepsomewhere.”
Mominhaleddeeply.
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Shewastiredlatelyandhadtroublemovingaround.Herfeetswelledatnight,andshewasshortofbreath,butDaddidn’tlethereaseuponthechores.Notthisclosetowinter.
“Nextyear,canIgotoschoolwithotherkids?”heasked.Hewouldn’tdare
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mentionittoDad.Healreadyknewthatanswer.
Dadwouldsay,“Boy,youknowwhatyouare?Yougottabearinsideofyou,andhumanscan’tbetrustedwiththatkindofinformation.Westayouthereinthewoodsforsurvival.Getthatcockamamiedideaoutof
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yourhead.School.”Andthenhe’dspitinthegrassbecausehealwaysdidthatwhenEastonaskedadumbquestion.Hespatonthegroundthesameasheusedaperiodattheendofasentence.Discussionclosed.
Momwassofter,though.Sheunderstoodhow
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lonelyitwasouthere.Shesmiledsadlydown
athimandsqueezedhisshoulder.“Thingsweregoingtobedifferent,Easton.Ihadplansforyouandme,butthebabyderailedthem.Maybesomeday,butnotnow.”
Plans?Troubled,Eastonlookedoutoverthe
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yardagainashissensespickedupsomethingthatliftedthefinehairsonthebackofhisneck.Somethingwaswrongintheirwoods.
“Dad?”hecalled,steppingofftheporch.
Movementstirredthedrygrassinthebrushjustbehindthetreeline.
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Eastontrottedforwardatthesoundofapainedgroan,andMomfollowedasshewasable.
Dadappearedfrombehindthetrees,stumblingandslow.Eastoncouldn’tunderstandwhathewasseeing,though.Dad’sheadwascrookedonhisshoulders.
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“Oh,myGod,”Momwhisperedinhorror.“Easton,don’tlook.”ShecoveredEaston’sfacewithherhandsandyankedhimtoastop.“Isaiddon’tlook!”Momwassobbingnow.“Gobackintothehouse!”shescreamedassheranforDad.
Dadfelltohisknees,
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bodyconvulsingashetoppledoversideways.
Eastonapproachedslowly,horrifiedasMomcriedoverhim.Hisneckhadbeensnapped.No.
“Russ,”Momcried.“WhatdoIdo?CanIresetit?”
“No,”Dadwheezed.
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“Idon’tunderstand.Idon’tunderstand!Howdidthishappen?No.It’llbeokay.I’llfixit.Eastongetbackinthehouse!Don’tlook!”
MaybeDadhadfallenoutofatreeoroveraravine.Hisshifterhealinghadworked,butfrozehisbroken
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neckatthewrongangle.Someinjuriesweretoobadforevenshifterstosurvive.Allhislife,Dadhadtaughthimnottogetcarelesswithhishealing.EastonheavedbreathasMomweptandpositionedherselfabovehisbody.Shewasgoingtore-breakhisneck.
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“Mom,”Eastonsaid,voicethick.Heshookhishead.“Itwon’twork.”
“Mae,”Dadchokedout.
“WhatisitRuss.Whatisit?”
“Mae…I’msorry.”Alonglastbreathescapedhislips,andhiseyesrolled
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closed.“No!”Mom
screamed.ShepulledhardonDad’shead,butbreakinganeckwasn’tsoeasy.Notforweakhumans.“Don’tleavemehere!Don’tleaveme!”
Mom’sagonytoreathisownburningheart.Dad.Eastondroppedtohisknees
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inshockathowbrokenhelooked.Howgrotesquehelookedindeathwithhisbulgingneck.He’dcomebacktosaygoodbye.TearsstreameddownhisfaceasheburiedhisheadagainstDad’sstomach.Hewasstillwarmandsmelledoflife.“Dad,”hemurmured,
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grippinghisclothesanddampeninghisshirtwithtears.
Theravenflutteredandflappedinthebranchesabove,buthecouldn’tpullhimselfawayfromDad’sbody.Heandmomsatlikethatforalongtime,cryingagainsthimuntilhegrew
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coldandstiff.Eastonhadnever
heardsomeonebreakbefore,butheknewwhateverwashappeningtoMomwasawful.
Momshookhisbody.“Iwasgoingtotakehimandleave,andyouwouldn’tletme!Hecancontrolhisbearnow.Wecould’vemadeit!
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Andyourippedthatawayfromme.Andnowyou’veleftme?You’veleftushereinthishellyoucreated?Youcan’t.”Sheclenchedhisshirtinherfists.“Youcan’t,Russel.Doyouhearme?Eastonwillbeallalone!”
Allalone?Somanytears.Mom’s
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faceleakedonandon,longafterEastonhadrundry.Heeasedaway,layagainstafelledtreeandwatchedMomcry.Theeveningshadowshadturnedtodarknessasthesunsankbehindthemountains.Thelightfromthecabinwastheonlythingthatlittheclearing.Noteventhemoon
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wasfullenoughtolendthemadequatelight.Momstoodup,mutteringstringsofwordsthatdidn’tmakeanysenseatall.Theymeantnothing.Maybetheyweren’tevenwordsatall.
Momdidn’tseehimanymoreasshestoodandbegangatheringwood.Her
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eyeshadgoneempty,andhertearshaddriedonhercheeks.Shecouldn’tseeaswellinthedarkashim,yetshefoundwoodasthoughshehadtheforestmemorized.
Silently,hehelpedher.Hewassmallyet,onlyeight,butMomwaspregnantandheartbroken,and
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whatevershewasdoingrightnow,hecouldlightenherload.Alongsideher,hedraggedwoodintotheclearinginfrontoftheircabinuntiltheearlyhoursofthemorning.Shedidn’tanswerhimwhenheaskedquestions,sohegaveuptrying.
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Andwhenthefirststreaksofpinkbrushedthehorizon,MomaskedhimtohelpherdragDad’sbodytothepileofwood.Andthenshelitamatchandwatchedhimburn.
EastonburiedhisfaceagainstMom’ssideandclutchedherdirtydress,
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unabletowatchthefireconsumehisdad.“Why?”heasked.
Mominhaleddeeplyandasked,“Easton?”asifshe’donlyjustnoticedhimclutchingontoher.
“Whyareweburninghim?”
“Because,myboy.
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Yourdaddywouldhauntthesewoodsforalways.YouandIseetheghosts,Easton.We’llburnhisbelongingsandputsaltaroundthehousenext.That’swhatyoudo,Easton.Canyourememberthat?”
“Yes,ma’am,”hesaidonachokedbreath.He
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couldsmellDadburning.“Repeatitforme.”“Burnthebones,burn
thebelongings,salt.”“That’sagoodboy.”
Hervoicesoundedstrange—dreamy—asshewatchedtheflames.“You’llneedtodothesamethingformybody.”
“Don’tsaythat.”
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“Promiseme,Easton.Don’tletmehauntyou.”
Andthat’swhenhefeltit.
Mom’sbellywaspulleduptightlikeadrum.
Eastongrittedhisteethagainstthepaininhismiddle.Hecouldstillsmellthesmokefromthefuneral
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pyre.Theribbonhaddonethat.Theraven’strinketsheldmagicinthem.She’dleftitonthewindowsillforhimtofindwhenhe’dgonebacktothehousewithMom.Itwastheraven’swayoftellinghimshewassorryforhisloss,thoughhowayoungcrowunderstoodsomuchwas
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beyondhim.Maybeshe’dbeenhis
spiritanimal.Ifhehadn’theldher
giftinhishandnow,hecould’veconvincedhimselfshehadn’texistedatall.
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ChapterEight
Maybethiswaswhat
apanicattackfeltlike.Avianagrippedthewheelandtriedtostoppanting.Keepitup,andshewasgoingtopassout.
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Shit,shecouldn’tdothis.
ShethoughtofEaston’skisslastnightandshookherheadtorattleouttheweakthoughts.Yes,shecould,becauseEastonhadbeengentlewithher.Hewasn’tallweaponsanddarkness.Hewasgoodinhis
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middle,justlikehealwayshadbeen.
Lastnight,she’dseenthesparkoftheboyshe’dfalleninlovewith.
Eastonwashers.Bythetimeshepulled
undertheGraylandMobileParksign,however,shewasbacktofull-blownpanic-
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mode.Today,shewasgoingtoputherselfouttherefurtherthansheeverhadinherentirelife.Shewasgoingtodeclarewhatsheneededtomakeherlifeintotheoneshewanted.
Unfortunately,thatlifehadsomehowgrowntoincludeacrewofbearshifters—herbiggestnaturalfear.
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Fromearlychildhood,she’dbeentoldhowvolatileandmurderoustheapexpredatorshifterswere.Theyweren’tlikeherpeople,whowerescavengershifters,politelypreyingonalreadydeceasedthings.Bearskilledwhattheywantedanddidn’tgivesecondthoughtstocarcasses.
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Greatriskbroughtthepossibilityofgreatreward,though,andEastonwasworthit.Hereallywas.Deepbreath.Chestout,backstraight.Smile.Bigger.Let’sdothis.
TheGrayBackssataroundacommunalfirepitinfrontofasemi-circleof
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trailers.TheyworelightjacketstowardoffthecoolMarchnightandsatinbrightly-coloredplasticchairs.Eastonwasn’there.Well,good.Thiswouldbeeasierwithouthimwatchingbecauseshewasn’theretoseeEastonrightnow.Shewasheretotalktohisalpha,
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Creed.TheGrayBackshad
gonequietbythetimeshestumbledoutofhercar.“Hi!”shesaid,muchmorehighpitchedthanshe’dintendedassheflappedherhandinawave.
“Ha!Payup,Griz,”Willasaid,pointingtoMatt.
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MattrolledhiseyesandhandedWillaawaddedupfivedollarbillfromhispocket.
Okaay.Ayippingattackdog
thesizeofasoccerballchargedAvianaandbouncedaroundherfeet,barking.Itwasbrownandwhite,and
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someonehasshavedamohawkdowntheentirelengthofhisbackandhead.Shewould’vebeenmoreintimidatedifhedidn’tlickheranklesbetweenbarks.
“PeanutButterSpike.Getdown!”Giacommanded.
Avianasteppedgingerlyaroundtheyapper
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andopenedthebackdoor,thenstruggledundertheweightofamassiveboxofbeercans.SheheftedittowardtheGrayBacks,breathingheavilyasshestumbledforward,tryingnottosteponthetinydogcirclingherfeet.Shesetthegiftontheledgeofthebrick
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firepit.“Ididresearchonlumberjacks,andtheInternetsaidyouwerehairy,woreflannel,belchedalot,anddranklotsofbeer.”
Willagrabbedherstomachandcackled.“Whatsitewereyoulookingon?”
“Thefirstonethatcameupontheresults.”
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GoodGod,shewishedshecouldlifthergazefromthegroundrightnow.“Anyway,Ibroughtyouthis.”Shepushedtheboxforward,butitonlymovedbyaninch.Silly,weakbirdarms.PeanutButterSpikeprobablycould’vemoveditmore.
“Ilikeher,”Jason
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said,rippingintothesideandpullingabluecanout.
“Howdidyoufindoutwherewelive?”Creedasked,hiseyesnarrowedinsuspicion.
“Oh.Uuuh,itsaiditonJason’ssocialmediapages.”Hadit?Shecouldn’tremember.She’dknownthey
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livedherebecausesheflewoveriteveryday,buttheydidn’tneedtoknowthatshewasaquietobservertotheirlives.
“Dude,”Mattsaid,levelingJasonwithaglare.
“Likeyoucantalk!Youwerethekingofoversharingbeforeyou
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deletedallyourpages.Pissoff,man.It’snotlikeIeverthoughtanyonewouldbeabletoactuallyfindthetrailerpark.We’reoutinthewilderness.IassumedGPSwouldlaughatanyonewhotriedtogetupthebackroadsinthesemountains.”
Creedwasglaringat
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himwithatired,notamusedexpression.
Jasonshrugged.“Fine.I’lltakeanymentionofouraddressoffmypages.”
CreedswunghisattentiontoAviana,whowasfeelingmightyguiltyforoutingJasontosaveherselfrightaboutnow.“Whatare
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youdoinghere?”Avianaliftedherchin
andtriedtoholdhisgaze,butfailed.Fuckitall,justspititoutthen.“I’mheretoaskyouforEaston.”
Jasonchokedonhisbeerandspeweditintoafinemistintheair.
“Whatdoyoumean,
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askforEaston?”Creedaskedoverthecoughing.
Sheinhaleddeeplyandsaid,“I’mheretoaskyourpermissiontocourtEaston.”
“Explain.”Avianaheldontothe
sideofthewaist-high,bricked-infirepittosteady
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herwobblylegsandswallowedhard.“Iwanttodatehimwiththeintentionofbecominghismate.”
“That’snothowwedothingshere.Matesarechosenfreely.”Creedlookedherupanddownashisnostrilsflared.“Yousmellliketerror.IknowEaston.I
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don’tthinkyouareitforhim.Heisn’tmadeforamate.I’msorry,buttheanswerisno.”
“Aw,pissoff,Creed,”Willamuttered.Shepitchedhervoiceupandyelled,“Beaston!”
“Willa,”Creedwarned.
“AsSecond,Iveto
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yourbullshittery.Shelikeshim,shebroughtusbeer,andshewonmefivefuckin’dollars.”Willacockedherheadandhereyebrowsjackedup.“Winner,winner,werebeardinner.”
“Second,Willa.Second.Notalpha.I’malpha,andIsaysheisn’tgoingtobe
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safearoundEaston.I’mallforEastonfindingsomeone,butshe’shuman,andhe’s…well…Beaston.”
“Hehasn’tkilledGiayet,”Willaargued,pointingtoCreed’smate.
CreedlookedatGiaindisbelief.“I’mnotthebadguyinthis.I’mtryingtosave
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herlife.”“Hewon’thurtme,”
Avianamurmured.Shewouldignorethesliceunderherarmthatwasjustnowscabbingover.
“Baby,”GiasaidrubbingCreed’sarm.“Iknowyoumeanwell,butAvianaisaskingyourpermissionto
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courthimoutofrespect.It’snotreallyuptoyou.”Shenoddedtothemanlimpingtowardthemfromthetreeline.“It’suptohim.”
Creedscrubbedhishandsdownhisfaceandmuttered,“Fuck.”
Asheapproached,Easton’seyesreflectedeerily
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intheglowfromthefireinthebrickpit—proofthathisanimalwasneverfarfromthesurface.Hisgrayshirtclungtohishardphysique,andthetoptwobuttonswereopen,exposingthelinebetweenhispecmuscles.Hislegswerelongandpowerfulwitheverystridehetook,anddespitethe
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limp,hewasgraceful.He’dlearnedthatgatewithhistimeinthewilderness,fendingforhimself.She’dwatchedtheslowchangefromclumsyboytogracefulanimalintheyearsthatbrokehim.
“Hi,”shewhisperedpasthertighteningvocalcords.
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Heshiftedhisweightfromfoottofoot,justontheedgeofthefirelight.Eveninhishumanform,helookedlikeawildanimalwhofoundsafetyintheshadows.“You’rehere.”
“Forareason,”Willasaid.
Eastonfrownedand
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ghostedaglanceatthered-headedwoman,thenbacktoAviana.“Why?”
AvianalookedtoCreed.Hewaskinghere,andshewaswaryofhimsnappingifshedidn’tbehaveright.
“Goahead,”thealphasaidinadefeatedtone,
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leaningbackinhischairandrestinghishandontheswellofhismate’sstomach.
“Iwanttocourtyou.”Eastonshruggeda
shoulderuptohisearandshookhishead.“Idon’tknowwhatthatmeans.”
“Iwanttodateyou,andifyoufindyoulikeme
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wellenough…”Sheswallowedthelumpinherthroat,buttherestofthewordswouldn’tcomeout.Notwithhimstaringathersodirectlylikethis.
“IfIlikeyouwellenough…what?”
“Maybedon’tlookatmewhileItellyou.”
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“Allright,”hesaid,soundingbaffled.Heturnedaroundandgaveherhisback.
Sheexhaledalong,shakybreath.“Maybeifyoulikemewellenough,you’llpickmeforamate.”
Easton’sbackwentrigid.Witheachsilentsecondthatdraggedon,the
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anticipationcloggedherthroat,makingitharderandhardertobreathe.Sheopenedhermouthtoapologizeforintrudingandexcuseherself,butEastonmurmured,“You’rescaredofme.”
“I’llworkonnotbeingscaredofyou.”
“Thenokay.”
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“Okay?”Hervoicecameoutahopefulsqueak.
“Easton,IforbidyoutoTurnher,”Creedsaid,powerfulvoicesendingelectriccurrentsintotheair.
EastonlookedtoWillaoverhisshoulderandshookhishead.“Ilearnedmylesson.Iwon’tTurnAna.”
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HespunslowlyonhisheelandlookedatAvianaoverthefirelight.“Iwon’tbeanygoodatthis.”Therewaswarninginhistone,buthiseyessoftened.“Butwecantry.Alpha,Iwantyourblessing.”Heturnedhisinhuman,greengazeonCreed.“Please.”
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AmuscletwitchedinCreed’sclenchedjaw.Withasigh,heleveledAvianawithaglare.“BeforeyouanswerthequestionI’mabouttoaskyou,knowthatwecanallhearalie.”
Steelingherself,Aviananodded.
“Whydoyouwantto
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bewithEaston?”Thatquestionheldthe
easiestanswerintheworld.“BecauseIdon’tfitanywhereelse.”
Softly,Willamurmured,“ShesoundslikeaGrayBacktome.”
AslowsmilespreadacrossCreed’sfaceinthe
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flickeringfirelight.“ThenacourtshipbetweenyouandEastonhasmyblessing.”
Agigglebubbledupherthroat,andshesaggedheavilyagainstthebrickasEastonstoodfrozenacrossthefire,lookingstunned.Willastoodandreachedherfirst,thenhuggedhersohard
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herlungshurt.GiaandGeorgiafollowed,andtheboyssmiledandnoddedatherasshewalkedaroundthefirepittowardEaston—herEaston.
“Iwon’thurtyou,”hesaid,promiseinhisvoice.
Shestoodonhertiptoesandhuggedhisneck,
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inhalingthewildscentofhisskin.Furandearthandpine.“Iknowyouwon’t.Itrustyou.”
Hishandsslippedaroundherwaistslowly,gently,asifhewereforcinghimselftobecarefulwithher.“Whenyougettoknowme,you’llleave.”
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Sheeasedbackandsmiledupathim,tryingherbesttoholdhisferalgaze.Shepressedherpalmagainsthischest.Herhandrattledwiththesoftvibrationofhispoundingheart.“Ialreadyknowyou.”
Confusionrippledoverhisfacelikeawave,
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thereandgoneinamoment.“Doyouwanttoseemyden?”
“Iwanttoseeyourden,”Jasonpipedup.
“No,”Eastongrittedout.
“Howdoyoulikethat?”heaskedGeorgia.“I’mhisbestfriend,andhestill
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won’tletmeseetheinsideofhistrailer.”
“Nobody’sseenit,”Mattsaid.“Hey!”hecalledasAvianaandEastonwalkedtowardthetreeline.“I’llgiveyoufivebuckstotelluswhatitlookslikeinside.”
Avianashookherheadandignoredthebanter
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thatkickedupnearthefirepit.“Don’tworry,”shesaidsoftly.“Iwon’ttellanyoneanythingyoudon’twantmeto.”
Eastondidn’tsayanythingback,onlyslippedhisbig,strong,callousedhandaroundhersandsqueezedgently.Thatwasa
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rewardinitself,soshebumpedhisshoulderandsnuggledhercheekagainsthistautarm.Asignofdevotionfromaraven,buthedidn’tneedtoknowaboutheranimalside.Notyet.Notuntilshefiguredoutawaytobreakittohimgently.Eastonrefusingtosharehishome
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withhiscrewwasproofhewasakeeperofsecrets.Herinstinctssaidhewouldbeupsetifheknewshe’dwitnessedtheyearsthathadshatteredhim.No,beforesheexposedherhiddenfeatheredself,shehadtomakesurehewouldn’trunawayfromwhattheycouldbe.
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Bythetimethey’dwalkedupthetrailtohissinglewide—theonewiththechippedwhitesidingandstacksoffirewooddownonewholeside—shewasn’tshakingsobadlyanymore.Shedid,however,feelasifshe’dbeendumpedintoasurrealmomentthatcould
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verywellbeadream.Shewashere,withhim.Withtheoneshe’dthoughtsomuchaboutandforsakenherpeoplefor.Withtheonewho’dkepthertrinketsafteralltheseyears.
“I’msorry,”hemurmuredashepushedhisdooropen,thoughshe
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couldn’ttellwhathewasapologizingfor.
Shesteppedupthestairsandintohisdenasheflippedthelightswitchon.Thesmellofpinesaphithersensesfirstasshetookinthesmallspaceofthelivingroom.Therewasonlyonelampinthecorner,andhe’d
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thrownasquareoforangefabricoverittomutethelight.Thewallswerecoveredfromfloortoceilingwithtreebark.Shegaspedasithitherwhythisplacefeltsofamiliar.Shespunandstuckherheadbackoutthefrontdoor,butshealreadyknewwhatshewouldfind.A
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workshopbuiltatasimilardistancefromthetreeEastonhadbuiltahouseinwhenhewasacub.Thisplacewashisversionofthehomehe’dlivedinallthoseyearsago.He’drecreatedtheplacehefeltthesafest.
Awashofmixedemotionsfilledher.Sadness
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thatthoseyearshadetchedtheirwaysodeeplyintohisadultlife.Disappointmentthathewasstillholdingontothepast.Pridethathe’dsurvivedatall.Tearsblurredhervisionasshesmiledupathim.Hewaswaiting,darkeyebrowsfurrowedwithworry.
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“Iloveit,”shewhisperedthickly.
Thetensionmeltedfromhisshoulders,andhehuffedarelievedsigh.Acrookedsmiletookhislips,almostdeepenoughtoexposeoneofhisdimples,butnotquite.
Heshowedherthe
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smallkitchenandsinglebedroom,whichtookuphalfthelengthofthetrailerandwascuriouslynormalafterthetree-likelivingroom.Aqueen-sizebedboastedcrispwhitesheetsunderafoldeddowncomforterthatlookedassoftasacloud.Hisbathroomwasjustastidy—a
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habithemust’vepickedupinhisadultyearsbecausetheboysherememberedhadbeenscatteredandhislivingspacecluttered.
Shebrushedherfingersacrosstheplushcomforter,familiarizingherselfwithhisplace.Therewasabookshelfalongthe
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wallthreeshelveshighandmadeofoak.Thetopshelfwasfilledwithchildbirthbooks.Shepulledoneoutandlookedquestioninglyathim.
“CreedgotGiawithababy.”Withafrown,hesatonthebedbehindher.“Mymomdidn’tsurviveababy.IwantedtomakesureGia
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wouldbeokay.”Aviana’sheart
droppedtothefloor.Ofcoursehewouldbeworriedafterwhathappened.
Easton’smouthtickedashepulledattheedgesofthefrayedblackribbonshe’dgiftedhimthenighthisfatherdied.Sheswallowedthegasp
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andfrozeintoplacesoshewouldn’tattracthisattentionbeforeshecouldgettheshockwipedoffherface.Wherehadhepulledthatfrom?
“IlikeGia.IwasmadatCreedforputtingheratrisk,butshelovesherbaby.Shewantsit.Eventhough
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Giaishuman,sheisn’tweak.Andherbabygirlisstrong,too.”Heliftedhisgazetohers.“She’llbedragon-blooded,youknow.”
“Dragon-blooded?”Avianaasked,leaningbackagainstthedresser.Thatsoundedterrifying.
“Creedisthe
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grandsonofthelastimmortaldragon.Heturnedoutgrizzly,andmaybehisdaughterwill,too.Ormaybenot.Giapromisedtohavethebabyinahospital.Registeredshifterscandothatnow.It’snotlikewhenIwasgrowingup,andwehadtohideouryoung.”
Sheknewallabout
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that.Ithadbeenthesameforravenshifters.UntiltheywereoldenoughtocontroltheirChanges,itwassafesttoliveawayfromsociety,offthegridsomewhere.Itwasstilllikethatforgrowingfamilies.Ravensweren’touttothepubliclikeothershiftersandlikelynever
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wouldbe.Ravenswerenaturallymorecautiousthanbears.
“I’msorryaboutyourmom.”Hervoicequiveredwithemotion.Oh,howshe’dwantedtosaythosewordstohim,butshe’donlybeenabletobringhimgiftsandhopeheinterpretedhersympathy.
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Hepulledtheblackribbonthroughhisfingersandgaveherthatghostofasmile.“Don’tbe.Itwasalongtimeago.Iwasacubatthetime.Ibarelyevenrememberwhatshelookslike.”Hisvoicesoundedoddthough—hollow—andshe’dbetherflightfeathershe
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rememberedeverythingingreatdetail.Hismindhadalwaysbeenlikethat.Sharpasablade,retainingeverythinghelearned.It’showhe’dsurvivedoutthereinthoseharshwoodsaloneatsuchayoungage.Hewouldtrysomethinguntilhefiguredouthowitworked,andthen
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henevermadethesamemistakestwice.Hismindwasasteeltrap,justliketheone—
AvianaclosedhereyesagainstthevisionofEastonscreaming.Notnow.Later,whenshewasalone.Shecouldn’tfeedthatmemorynowwhilehe
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watchedherwiththosebrighteyesthatmissednothing.
“You’rehungry.”Eastonstoodsofastheblurred,andshegaspedathisspeed.
Eastonheldhishandsout.“Sorry,”hewhispered.
“Ithinkyou’rebeinggentlearoundme.”
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Henodded.“Isitinyournatureto
begentle?”Heshookhishead
slowly.“ThenIthinkmaybe
youshouldbeyourselfandallowmetoadjust.”
“Butyoualwayssmellscared.Idon’tlikeit.”
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“IfIgetusedtoyou,thenIwon’tbesuchachickenanymore,andIhaveafeelingI’lllikeyourrealselfevenbetter,anyway.”
Hiseyebrowsjackedup.“Iassureyou,youwon’t.”
Avianasnortedandlaughed.“Howdoyouknow?”
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Hiseyesdippedtoherlipsastheystretchedintoabiggersmile.“BecauseI’mprettydamnedsurenooneonthisplanetcanhandleallofmy…personality.”Butnowasmilewasspreadingacrosshisface,andtheretheywere—thosedimplesshe’dwishedwithallofherhearttosee.
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Beforeshecouldchangehermind,shesteppedforwardandpressedherfingeragainstone.She’dseenthemahundredtimesinhisyouthbuthadneverrevealedherselfasahuman,andcouldn’ttouchthetinyindentationsasabird.
Heinhaledasharp
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breathashispupilscontractedtopinpointsandzeroedinonher.“Whatareyoudoing?”
“Iliketotouchyou.AndIlikewhenyousmilebigenoughformetoseethese.”Shemovedoutofthewayofadresserandlookedathisreflectioninthemirror
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withhim.“Yoursmileismyfavoritethingaboutyou.”
“Areyoubroken,Ana?”
Thequestioncaughtheroffguard,andshehadtowaitamomentbeforeanswering,justtosteadyherthoughts.“Notbroken,no.”
“Thenwhydidyou
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askforme?Whydidyoucometomyalphaforme?Whyinthehellwouldyouwanttobematedtoamanlikeme?”
“Becausemylifedoesn’tfeelhollowwhenI’maroundyou,”shesaidhonestly.
Hehuffedahumorless
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laughandlookeddownattheribbonbetweenhisfingertips.“Youmakenosense.”
“Iwasn’thappy—”“Happyisjustaword,
Ana.Itdoesn’treallyexist.It’sastateofmindpeopleconvincethemselvestheyhavesotheycangetthroughtheirexistenceonedayata
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time.Yousearchforhappiness,andwhenyouthinkyoufindit,youworkyourwholelifetohangontothisfeelingasthinasair,andthenyoudie.Happyisabullshitword.”
Shocked,shesankdowntothebedbesidehim.She’dneverheardhimstring
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somanywordstogether.He’dneverbeenvocalabouthisopinionswhenhewasyounger,andnowitwasclearhowjadedhe’dbecome.Hewaswrong,though.
“Wellthen,I’llmakeyouhappyandproveyouwrong.”Shestuckhertongueoutathimandgrinned.
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Eastoncockedhisheadandstaredathersmileagain.Itseemedtoattracthisattentioneasily.“Whateveryourreasons,”hemurmured,“I’mgladyoufoundme.”
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ChapterNine
Easton’sfocuswas
draggedtoAna’slipsforthehundredthtime.Shesmiledthemorecomfortablearoundhimshebecame.Shedidn’tsmelllikefearanymore.Just
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vanilla.Whatwasitabouther
lips?Rightnow,shewassittingbesidehimonthelivingroomcouch,talkingaboutherfirstjob.She’dwaitedtablesatsomedinerwhereshelived,andshehadlotsoffunnystoriesaboutthepeopleshe’dworkedwith.
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Herlipslookedlikeartastheyformedeachword.
Ormaybeitwasthekissfromlastnighthekeptthinkingabout.Thefeelofherlipsagainsthis.He’dneveroncehadtheurgetokisstheothergirlsintheGrayBacks,butaroundAna,itwasallhecouldthink
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about.Focus.She’slooking.She’llthinkyou’reweirdlikeeveryoneelsedoes.Keepher.
“So,whatdoyoudoforfun?”
“Whatdoyoudo?”hecountered.Notbecausehewasavoidingthequestion,butbecausehewassuddenlyexcruciatinglycuriousabout
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whatfilledupherquiethours.Anascrunchedupher
nose.“Don’tlaugh.”“Iwon’t.”“Pinkypromise.”She
liftedherpinkyintheair.“Hookyourpinkyontomineandsay,Ipinkypromisenottolaugh.”
Hedidassheasked
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andreveledinthefeelofher.Somuchsothathedidn’tletgoofherfingerafterherecitedtheoath.Hejustsankfartherbackintothecouchcushionbesideherwiththeirpinkieshooked.Sheputherlegsoverhislapasifthey’dknowneachotherforalways.Hesmiledathowfucking
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cuteshewas.“Iliketoknit.”“Likeoldladiesdo?
Hatsandsocksandblankets?”
“No.You’resmiling,Easton.Don’tletthatgetoutofhand.”Shewaitedforhimtowipehisamusementoffhisfacebeforeshecontinued.“I
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knitclothesforanimals.Turtlesweaterswithspikesontheback,anddogcostumesforHalloween.Ievenmadeadressforaguineapigweddingonce.Peoplesendmespecialrequestsonline,andImakethem.”
Eastonwaitedforthe
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laughtodieinhisthroatbeforeheasked,“Andtheypayyoumoneyforthese…costumes?”
Analiftedherchinproudly.“Yes.InevertoldCadenaboutthatstuffbecauseIknewhewouldthinkitstupidandbeneathme,andhewouldaskmeto
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giveitup.”“Cadenwasyourlast
mate?”Hisbearrattledalonggrowlinsideofhim.
Analetgoofhispinkyandpressedherpalmagainsthischest.“Notmychoice.Hewasasmartpairing,butIdidn’tcareforhim.”
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“Iwouldliketoseeadressforaguineapig.”
Anadroppedhergazetoherhand,butitdidn’thidehersmile.Maybehappinessdidexist.Analookedhappynow.
“Now,yourturn.Tellmewhatyouliketodo.”
Noonehadever
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askedhimthisbefore,sohetookhistimeanswering.“Iliketochopwood.”
“Why?”“Becauseitmakesme
feellikemybearisn’tgoingtoripoutofmyskin.”
ThesmilefellfromAna’sface.“Doesitfeellikethatoften?”
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Henodded.Bestsheknowwhatshewasinfor.“Allthetime.”
“Everyminute?”Henodded.“Except
it’snotsobadwhenI’maroundyou.Orchoppingfirewood.”
“Whatdoyoudowiththewood?”
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“Icouldtakecareofyou.”
Sheproppedapairofthrowpillowsunderherheadandrelaxedagainstthecouch,herlegsstilldrapedoverhim.Shewaswearingjeanshorts,soherestedhishandonhersmoothlegs.“Didyoushaveyourlegs?”heasked.
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“Mmmhmm.”“Didyoushavemy
legsforme?IncaseItouchedyouhere?”Whenheranhisfingertipuphershin,sheshivered.
“Yes,”shesaidonabreath.Herfacehadgoneallserious,andherpupilsdilated,makingthebluein
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hereyeslookdarker.“Nowstopdistractingme.Whatdidyoumeanabouttakingcareofme?Idon’twantmoney,Easton.Ijustwantyou.”
“Acordoflumbergoesfortwo-hundredfiftytothree-hundreddollarscomewintertimearoundhere.Ichopallspringandsummer
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andsellinthefallafterthefirstsnow.”
“Selltowho?”“UntilJasoncame
along,Isoldtobackwoodsman.Peoplewhodidn’tcareIwasalittle…off.Peoplewhoneededfirewoodbecausetheyhadn’tchoppedenoughforthemselves
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becausetheyweretoooldorsickortheycouldn’tfindenoughdeadtrees.Theyhavetobedeadalongtimesotheheavygreenmiddlesdryoutandturnwhite.Thosearetheonesthatburnthebest.IcanchargemoreifIsplititforthemanddeliverittotheircabins.”
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“Ithoughtyouworkedupinthemountainsasalumberjack.”
“That’soneofmyjobs.Ihavethree.MyanimaldoesbestifIstaybusy.He’sstillwildasshit,butabusymindmakeshimmanageable.Kindof.”
“Jasonhelpsyou
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now?”“He’smyfriend.We
wentinaspartnersthispastfall.Ihadalotofwoodtounload,weneededtosellclosertotown,andIcan’ttalktopeople.Ican’t.Jason’sgood.Hetalks.Ichop.”
“IlikeJason.It’sagoodbusinessyoutwoare
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doing.”Hestrokedhisfinger
upanddownherleg,watchingthechillsthatwasheduphersoftskininwaves.“Loggingisseasonal,soweallworkdifferentjobsduringfire-season.”
“Whatelsedoyouliketodo?”
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“Kissyou.”Hetossedherasidewaysglanceandslidoutfromunderherlegs.Ifhekissedherhereinhisdenwhereshewasspreadingaroundhersexyscent—pheromonesandvanilla—hewouldwantmore.Anawasfragile.Anacouldn’tbedamanlikehim.Eastonstood
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andheldouthishand,palmup.“DoyouwanttoseewhatelseIliketodo?”
Herlipspartedslightly,andsheblinkedslowlyassheslidherpalmagainsthisandnodded.Helikedthathehadsuchaneffectonher.Shesmelledsofuckinggoodhewantedto
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buryhisfacebetweenherlegs,buthewouldn’t.HelikedAna.Hewantedtokeepher,notscareher.
Shewaswearingathin,soft,blackblouse,andthegoosefleshhe’dconjuredsoeasilyonherlegsbotheredhim,sohepulledhisheavycanvasjacketoffthecoat
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rackbythefrontdoor.Hedrapeditoverhershouldersbeforeheledheroutthefrontdoor.Itwaslinedwithwoolandwouldkeepherwarm.
Hegaveaprivatesmilewhenheheardhersniffthejacket.Littlehumanknewhowtousesomeofhersensesatleast.
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“Easton?”Anaasked.Hervoicesoundedoddasshetuggedhishand.Theporchlightilluminatedhertroubledeyes,sohedrewupcloser.Perhapsshewasstillcold.Orhungryorthirstyortiredorsick.Shedidn’tsmellsick.Hedidn’treallyknowhowtotakecareofhumans.
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“Iwanttotellyousomething.”Anasearchedhiseyesasshesnuggleddeeperintohisjacket.
“Okay.”Thissoundedbad.Hewasalwaysreadyforbad,though.
Shedidn’tanswerforalongtime.Instead,someofthefearsmellcameback,and
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shecouldn’tholdhisgazeanymore.Atlast,shesmiledfaintlyandwhispered,“Thankyouforthejacket.”
Thatwasn’twhatshe’dmeanttosay.Itwouldn’thavebeensohardforhertothankhim.Heforgotmannersallthetime,butAnawasn’tlikehim.She
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wassocialized.Orcivilized.Buttherewereamillionthingshewasn’treadytotellher,too,sohewouldn’tpush.Thatwouldn’tbefair.“It’sokayifyouhavesecrets.”
Herbigblueeyeswererimmingwithtears.Shenoddedslowlyasherchinquiveredfromwhereshewas
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tryingtokeepheremotionsbottledup.
“Softandfulloftears,”hemurmuredashethumbedawaythefirstdropthatfellfromhereyetohercheek.
“Doyouhavesecrets,Easton?”
“Infinitesecrets.”
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Moresecretsthanstarsinthesky.
“Ifyoueverwanttotellme,I’llhelpyoukeepthem.”
Eastonmadeatickingsoundbehindhisteethandeasedawayfromher.Danger.Scritchscratch.Secretsandmemorieswerethesame.
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Theybelongedtothedark.Hewasstrongenoughtoholdthem,butAnawastoofragiletoshoulderhisbrokenpieces.Hewouldspareherthepainbecausehelikedher.Hewastheavalanche,andshethehummingbird,andtheonlyrealgifthecouldgiveherwastonotcrashdownupon
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herandcrushherintooblivion.
“Come,”hemurmured,pullinghertowardhisworkshop.Thisplacewasassacredashisden,buthewantedtoshareeverythingwithAna.Itwasasmuchofhimselfashecouldshowher.“Waithere.”Hedidn’twant
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hertrippingovertheworkbenchinthemiddleoranyofhistoolshemighthaveleftlyingabout.Whenhepulledthestringtothesinglelightbulbthathungfromtheceiling,itilluminatedtheentireshop.Easytodosinceitwasn’tverybig.Hecould’vebuiltitmuchbigger,
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butthiswasthesizeoftheworkshopDadhadused.Inashopjustthissize,Eastonhadlearnedtobeaknifemaker.
Hewatchedwithareadysmileashereyesdriftedoverthetoolshungonthewallandtheworkbenchwiththetrioofwoodenhandlesheldtogetherwith
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clamps,readyforstaining.Shelookedatthebowlofdiscardedbladeshekepttellinghimselfhewouldsalvagesomedaybecausesteellikethatdeservedahomeinafineleathersheath.Hewouldrighthismistakes:badcutsandnotches,weakspotsinthesteel,and
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experimentaldecorativeedgesgonewrong.
Shepaddedoverthesawdustfloorandtouchedthefinishedhiltofaknifethatwasreadyforasheath.“Easton,”shewhispered.“Thesearebeautiful.”
Sure,heknewtheywerefineknives,buthearing
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Anacomplimenthisworkfilledhimwithpride.Slowly,sohewouldn’tstartleher,hesquaredupbehindherandreachedaroundher.Gently,hetooktheknifefromherhandsandsetitonthetable.Brushinghislipsagainstherneckjusttotastetheskinthere,hepickedupthesharp
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awlheusedforengraving.E+A,hecarved
neatlyintothehilt.Girlslikedthingsthatmatched,andnowshewouldhaveonejustlikeWilla,Gia,andGeorgia.“Thisisyours.Myfirstgifttoyou.”Thefirstofmanyifhedidn’tscareheraway.
Anasniffledand
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leanedbackagainsthim.Shenuzzledhercheekagainsthisonce.Affectionatelittlecreature.Shelikedtodothat.Softskinagainsthisraspywhiskers.Hesmiledandslidtheknifeintooneofthesheathsthathadbeenhanginguptodry.Thesnapofthebuttonclaspwasloudinthe
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silenceofhisworkshop,butnowitwassafeforhertohandlewiththerazor-sharpbladetuckedaway.
Anaturnedinhisarms,andhereyesswamwithsuchadorationitnearlybuckledhisknees.Noonehadeverlookedathimlikethis.Likehewaseverything.
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“I’mgoingtokissyou,”hewarned.
Sheslippedherarmsaroundhisneckandleanedup.“Good.”
Hetriedtostaygentle,hereallydid,butwhenAnabithislipandgrippedthebackofhishair,helostcontroloverhisanimalfast.
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Heliftedherontotheworkbenchanddughisfingersintoherhipsindesperationtokeephimselfincheck.Agrowlrattledhisthroatasshenippedhimagain.“Careful,woman.”
Awhiffoffear,andthennothingbutarousalagain,anditwasplainasday
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Anawasfindingherbraverywithhim.Hesmiledagainstherlipsandplungedhistongueintohermouth.Hedraggedherforwardacrossthetableuntilherlegswrappedaroundhimandhersexpressedagainsthisragingerection.Withasoftmoan,Anarolledherhipsagainst
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his,andhejustaboutlostit.Heavingbreath,hetrailedkissesdownhernecktotryandsteadyhimself.Hiseyeswouldscareherifshesawthemrightnow,sowhenshetriedtopullhisgazetohers,heclosedhiseyesandangledhisfaceawayfromher.
“What’swrong?”she
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asked,hugginghimtightly.“Iwantyou,”he
grittedout.Wantedtobeburiedinsideofher,butshedeservedbetter.
“Youcanhaveme.I’vewaitedsolongforthis.”Sherestedherpalmonhischeekandpulledhisgazebacktohersagain.Honesty
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pooledinherdeepblueeyeswhenshewhispered,“I’myours.”
“Won’triskputtingababyinyou.”
“Youcan’t.I’monthepill.”
Eastongrazedhershoulderwithhisteeth,thenkisseditgently.“Idon’t
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knowwhatthatmeans.”“I’monmedicinethat
meansyoucan’tgetmepregnant.”
Wellshit,thatwassorceryrightthere.“It’stoosoon.”
Anahuffedamysteriouslaugh.“It’sreallyreallynot.”
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“You’refragile,andI’llhurtyou.”Whythefuckwashearguing?
OneofAna’sdelicateeyebrowsarchedhigh.“Youwon’timpaleme,Easton.Justmakelovetomegently.”
“Gently,”herepeated.Thatwordsoundedimpossiblerightnow.“Gentle
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won’tworkinhere.IfItakeyouonmyworkbench,I’llfuckyoulikearuttinganimal.”Hepulledheroffthetableandwhippedheraround,thenstrodetowardhistrailerwithherlegsstillwrappedaroundhiswaist.Whitesheets.Cleanbed.HisAnadeservedslowand
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comfortableandeasy.Anasuckedonhis
neckhardashecarriedherthroughthefrontdoorandintohisbedroom.Shitshefeltsogoodagainsthimlikethis.Loweringherbackontothebed,hekissedherlipsandrockedhishipsagainsthers.Shebowedagainstthe
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mattress.Sosensitivetohim.Itmadethiseasier.Nohesitation.Noquestions.Everythingwasnaturalwithher.
Eastonliftedoffherjustenoughtopullhisshirtoverhishead.Heduckedintokissheragain,butshesaid,“Whoa,whoa,whoa,whoa,
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mister.”Hereyeswentwideasshestudiedhistorso.Helookeddownathimself,butnothingwasamiss.Hedidn’thavescarslikeMattoranythingunsightly.
“What’swrong?”“Youjust…”Ana
lookedstunnedasshegaveaslow-motionblinkandshook
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herhead.“Youjustgrewupright.”
“Youmakenosense.”Butasherpalms
driftedoverhiscollarbones,downthecurveofhispecsandovertheridgesofhisabs,heunderstood.Shelikedthewayhelooked.Herfingersshookassheunhookedthe
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buttonofhisjeans.Eastongrabbedherhandtosteadythetremblethere.“Areyounervous?”
“Alittle.You?”Heshouldbe,buthe
wasn’t.He’dneverbeensurerofanythingbefore.“No.”
Sheswallowedaudiblyandunzippedhis
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pants.Thenwithherfingersinsidehisbriefs,shepushedtheremainderofhisclothesdownhiships.Hisdickhitairbutwasn’tlonelyforlong.Anapulledagentlestrokewithherwarmhandthatconjuredasatisfiedferalnoisefromhisthroat.Armslockedoneithersideofher
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head,herolledhishipswithhernextpull.Shithewastoosensitivetoher.Anotherminuteofthis,andhe’dcreamhershirt.Shirt,shirt,shirt—whywasshestillwearingashirt?Straddlingher,hepulledhertopoverherheadandmarveledattheblacklacecontraptionthat
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waspushingherperkyboobsuptohercollarbones.Floored,herippedintoherjeansandpulledthemdowntoexposethematchingsee-throughpanties.
“Didyouweartheseforme?”
Anasmiledshylyandnodded.Holyfuck,shewas
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gorgeous.Blacklaceandblushingcheeks.Hecouldseebetweenherlegs.Tinypeeksthroughthelace.She’dshavedtheretoo.Heneededinsideofher.Now.
Withagrowl,hepulledherpantiesdownandflungthemtothefloor,thenpulledoffthetitholdershe’d
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justunsnapped.Oooh,hernippleswereperfect.Pinklikehercheeksandalldrawnupagainstthecold.Heshouldwarmthemwithhismouth.Leaningforward,hedrewoneinandsuckedonit.Whensherespondedwithahelplesssound,herantheflatofhistongueoveritand
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cuppedhishandoverhersex.Herbodymovedagainsthimlikewater.Everytouchusheredareaction.Hisdickwassohardrightnow.Toothick.LookingatAna,thiscouldn’twork.Shewastiny,finebonedlikeabird.Hewouldhurther.
Butwhenhebrushed
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herfoldswithhismiddlefinger,shewassoakingwet.Damn,hewantedtotasteherthere.Wantedtotaste?Wasthatnormal?Don’tscareher.
Anareacheddownandpressedhishandagainstherharderasshewrithedagainsthistouch.“In,”shepleaded.
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In?Alittlemorepressure,andhisfingerslidintoherbyinches.Anathrewbackherheadashereyesrolledclosed.Ohfuck,thatholewasn’tonlyfordicks.Hisfingerfeltgoodtoher,too.Heeasedinsideofheruptohisknuckle,butthatwasn’twhatgothergoing.Whenhe
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bumpedthespotrightaboveherentrance,Anacriedoutandclutchedthecomforter.Herkneesspreadwider,asifshewasinvitinghiminagain.
Thatwasthespotsheliked.Thatwasthespotheneededtowork.Sohedid.
“Stop,stop,stop,”shewhispered.“I’mgoingto
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come.”Eastonslidoutofher
immediately.Wasn’tcomingwhatshewanted?
“Iwanttocomewithyou.”
Oh.Eastonkissedherhardashelaydownontopofher.Ana’sbreastsweresoftagainsthishardchest—more
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opposites.Hepositionedtheheadofhiscockatherslickentranceandteased.Anabeggedbyrollingherhipsuntilshetookhimaninch,thenagain.Howcouldanythingfeelthisgood?
“Please,”shepleaded.“Iwantyouinsideofme.”
Grittinghisteeth
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againsttheintensepleasure,Eastonslidintohertightentranceuntilshe’dtakenallofhim.Heeasedoutslowlyassheclutchedontohisbackwithherclaws.Scratchinglittlemate.Mate,mate,mate.Eastonpumpedhishipshardonce,theneasedoutagain,savoringherbody.Ana
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beggedhimtogofaster,buthewouldn’t.Hewasn’tafterathirtysecondfuck-festwithher.Hewantedtotakecareofherbeforeheshothisload.
Hekissedhertoquietherpleading,brushedhistongueagainsthersoverandoveruntilshegrippedthebackofhishairandpulled
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himevencloser.Hardin,easyout.Hardin,easyout.
“Easton,please!”Anacried,archingherneckback.
“Fuck,”hegrowledout,buckingintoherfaster.
Overandoverheslammedintoherasthepressurebuiltinhisdick.Anaranherclawsdownhisback
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andscreamedouthisnameasherbodypulsedaroundhim,milkinghim.
Hismindwasgoing,fillingwiththesnarling,possessivemonsterinsideofhim.No,no,no,holdon!Growlingoutawildsound,helosthismindanddroveintoheronelasttime.Heat
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floodedoutofhiminthrobbingspurts.
Mymate.Mine.Hewantedtokeephis
Anaforalways.Andashebucked
erraticallyintoher,emptyinghimselfcompletely,hedidtheunforgivable.
Hesankhisteethdeep
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intohershoulder.
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ChapterTen
Avianacriedoutat
themixtureofpleasureandpoignantpainthatshotjoltsofelectricityfiringdownthenervesofhershoulderandarm.ShegaspedasEaston
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clampedhisteethdownharder.Hewentrigidaboveherandreleasedhertornskin,thenflinchedawayfromher.Inablur,hewasintheshadowsagainstthewall,lightreflectingoddlyinhiseyes.
Thescentofironfilledtheair,andwarmthran
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riversdownhershoulderandontothesheets.Sheclutchedhershoulderastearsofagonyrandownthecornersofhereyes.Whyhadhedonethat?
“Easton,youhurtme,”shemurmuredinabrokenvoice.“Why?”
“Ana,Ana,I’msorry.Fuck.”Hejumpeduponthe
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bed,legsoneithersideofhersasheheldouthishandstocalmher.Hiseyesglowedinthelightthatfilteredinfromthebathroom.Hereallywasananimal.Wildandviolent,andnotevenheraffectioncouldslowhisdestruction.
“IloveyouEaston,
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andyouhurtme!”Angerblastedthroughher.Betrayallashedagainstherheart.
“Don’tsaythat,Ana!Youdon’tloveme.Can’tloveme.Youdon’tknowme.”Eastondraggedhishorrifiedgazeacrossherhandthathadgoneslickwithblood.Itwasn’tstopping.
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Puttingpressureonitwasn’tworking.“Ana,Ana,listen.You’regoingtoTurn.Iputabearinsideofyou.I’msorry,Ana!”Hefelltohisknees,straddlingherhips.“I’msosorry.Mybear—No!Ididit.It’smyresponsibility.Ihavetogetyouhelp.Creedwillknowwhattodo.Imessed
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everythingup.I’msosorry.”Avianasearched
Easton’seyes.Thismadenosense.Whyhadhebittenher?ToTurnher?Creedhadforbiddenit.“WhatwillCreeddoifhefindsout?”
“Anyminutenow,anyminutenow.YourfirstChangeshouldn’tbewiththe
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monsterwhobrokeyou.”Eastonliftedherinhisarmslikesheweighednothingatallandstrodethroughthehouse.Heyankedopenthefrontdoorassheclutchedhershoulder,buthehadn’tansweredherquestion.
“Easton!WhatwillCreeddo?”
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“Killme,asIdeserve.”
“Oh,Easton,whathaveyoudone?”
Creedwouldn’tfindabearinher,though.Therewasn’troomforone.Aravenhadclaimedhersincebirth.Eastondidn’tknowit,butheneverhadachanceof
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Turningherintoabear.“Stop,”shewhisperedasheblastedpastthewoodpile.“Easton,stop.Ihavetotellyousomething.”
Confusionandregretmarredhisfeaturesashesetherdown.Hiseyeswerebrightandresigned,andhisbodyhadgonerigid.He
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wasn’tgoingtohideherinjury.Hewasmarchingtohisdeathtofindherhelp.Shecouldn’tlethimdothat.
“Youdidn’tTurnme,”shemurmured,searchingfortherightwordsthatwouldfixthis.“Itoldyoutobeyourselfwithme,andyouwere.Iwas
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surprised,butit’sokay.Thebiteisokay.Webothgotlostinthemoment.”
“WhatdoyoumeanIdidn’tTurnyou?”Easton’seyesdriftedtoherarm,theoppositeonehe’dbitten,andbacktoherface.Hecantedhisheadandfrowned,thenlookedatherarmagain.The
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healingsliceunderherarmwaswhatwasdrawinghisattention.Hetookastepbackandangledhisfaceawayfromher,eyesneverstrayingfromhers.“What’sonyourarm,Ana?”
“Acut.”“Fromwhat?”
Easton’svoicecameouta
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lowrumblinggrowl,moreanimalthanhuman.
Sheexhaledslowly,shakily,thenwhispered,“Someonethrewaknifeatme.”
“Who?”Sheclosedhereyes,
andtwintearsescapeddownhercheeks.
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“Who,Ana?”heyelled,frighteningthebirdsroostinginthetreesaroundthemintotheairandmakingherjump.
“You.”Eastonpaced,hands
linkedbehindhisheadasheshookit.“Showme.”
“Showyouwhat?”
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“Showmemyraven!Showmewhatbetrayallookslike.Feathers,feathers,showmeyourfeathers.Isufferedouttherealone!Allthoseyears.Yearsandyears.Showmethebirdwhowatchedmebreakandthenleftme.”AgonyfilledEaston’seyesasheleanedagainstthe
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woodpileandslammedhisheadback.“Please,Ana.Doitfast.”
Aviana’sshouldersshookwithsobsofagony.Shehadn’tknownhesawherthatway.She’dtriedtohelp,nothurthimworse.Closinghereyes,shelettheravenhaveherbody.TheChange
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wasinstant,andshebeatherpowerfulwingsagainstthepaininhershoulder.Hardershepressedagainsttheaircurrentsuntilshesatonthelowestbranchoftheclosestpine,staringatthemanwhoownedherheart.Atthemanwhowaslookingatherwithsuchheartbreakinhiseyes.
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Chinathischest,hewhispered,“Youcan’tloveme,raven.Youdon’tknowhow.”Eastonsteppedforwardandyelled.Hisyellturnedtoaroarthatshookthetrees,andagiant,silvergrizzlyburstfromhisskin.
Hecould’vereachedherfromhere,asbigashe
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was.Hecould’vechargedandrippedherfromthebranch,butEastondidsomethingmuchworseinstead.Heliftedthoseglowinggreeneyestoherandexposedhiscripplingsadness.Herheartburned,asifhehadreachedintoherchestcavityandyankeditoutbetweenherribs.
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Heturnedhisbackonherandwalkedawaythroughthetrees,moonlightshiningoffhisgrayback.
Andjustlikethat,Easton—herEaston—wasgone.
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ChapterEleven
Eastonbuttonedthe
flyofthetoobigjeanshe’dsnatchedfromalaundrylineofacabinfifteenmilesback.Hedidn’tmindnudity,buthere,itwasdifferent.Here,a
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layerofprotectionfeltnecessary.
Withasteadyingbreath,hescannedtheclearingwherehe’dgrownup.Ithadtakenhimallnightandpartofthedaytotravelhereasabear,andnowthesunsathighinthemorningsky,castingtherubbleofhis
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childhoodhomeinlight.Theyardwas
overgrown,andyoungsaplingshadsprunguphereandthere.Thewildgrasshadrecoveredfromthewinterandalreadycameuptohisthighs.Heranhishandsoverthetopofthewavinggrassasheapproachedthecharred
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rubbleofthehousehe’dgrownupin.Thefaintscentofsmokestillclungtotheburnedlumberafteralltheseyears.Onlytheporchstairsremainedintact,andmossandvibrantgreenovergrowthhadblanketedallbutthesearedendsofthewood.Thishadbeenwherehehad
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burnedMomandallofherbelongings,justlikeshe’dasked.
Easton’sliptwitchedattheresidualangerhehadforher.Shehadn’teventried.Hecouldn’tbegintoimaginewhereherheadhadbeenwhenshe’dgoneintolabor.Ithadn’tbeenonhimorthe
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baby.Maybeshehadgonemadwithgrief,ormaybeshehadalreadyacceptedherfatefromthatdreamshekeptragingaboutasherfeverspiked.Ithadtakenhertwodaystodie,andallthewhile,Eastonhaddoneeverythinganeight-year-oldboycouldtosaveherandthebaby.
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He’dseenawfulthingsinthishouse.
Eastonslammedthedoorandpressedhisfrailshoulderbladesagainstit,thensliddownthesplinteredlengthofit,sobbing.Thebabyhadstoppedmovingyesterday,andnowMomwasgone,too.Itwasn’tfair.
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Hescreamedhisrageintotheabyssassomethingshiftedinsideofhim.Fear,anger,loss…loneliness.Therewouldbenomoreroomforhappiness.Theworldwasugly,andnowitwouldswallowhimup.Nomatter.Hisinsideswereuglynow,too.
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“Shit,”Eastonraspedout,sinkingdownontothecreakingporchstair.
Everythinghadgottensomesseduphere.Hisentirelifehadbeenshapedinthethree-daywindowwhenhe’dlosthisfamily.
He’ddraggedthesuppliesthey’dgatheredfor
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winterfromthehouseintotheshed.Evenateight,he’dknownitwasanawfulideatoburnhisshelter,butitwasthatorgobackintothatroomwithMom’sbody.No,Dadhadgottenafuneralpyreintheclearing.Momgotthecabin.
Theravenbrought
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himtwomoreblackribbons.OneforMomandoneforthebaby.He’dknottedthosetogetherandkepttheminhispockettostophisweaktearswhenthehurtwelleduptoodeeply.He’dsetoutonhisown,headedduenorththenextdaytofindhelp,onlytogetlostandturnedaround,
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andtocomebackthreedayslaterdehydrated,hungry,andfeelingevenmoreemptythanhehadbefore.Thatfirstwinterhe’dlivedinDad’sworkshop.Eastonhadrationedthesuppliesthey’dgatheredandinsulatedtheoutsideoftheshedwithsprucelimbsandmudshoved
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inthecracks,butitwasstillsobone-deepcoldhe’dalmostdiedofit.Hecameoutofthatfirstseasonemaciatedandheartbroken.Andtheravenwaswaiting.Alwayswaitingonthebottombranchesofalodgepolepine.Hecouldn’tcontrolhisshiftsverywellanymore.Sometime
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inthoselonelymonths,hisbearhaddecidedhewasbetteroffwithoutthosepeskyhumanemotions,andhe’dbeguntotakeover.Eastonhadn’tmindedsomuchbackthen.Hewouldn’thavesurvivedwithouthisanimalinstinctsdrivinghimtocarvealifeoutofthatharsh
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wilderness.Hehadn’tknownitatthetime,butgivinghisbearthatmuchpowercosthimhissoul.
Theravenhadsavedhissanitywhenhewasacubtryingtofigureouthowtofendforhimself,butjustbarely.
Everyyeargotharder,
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andthatyoungcrowhadbeenthere,alwayswatching,leavinghimtrinketstofindrightwhenheneededapick-me-up,asifshecouldseehimwearingdown.Heshould’veknownshewasmorethanwhatsheseemed,butshe’dbeenthereaslongashecouldremember,andto
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him,shewasanintelligentanimalwhohadbecomehisfriend.She’driddenhishumpwhenhe’dgottenolderandhismusclemasshadstartedcomingin.She’dsatontopofhim,tinytalonsclutchinghisfurassherockedbackandforthwithhislumberinggate—contenttojustbe.When
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he’dcaughthisfirstfishinthestreamneartheclearing,he’dtossedherascrapbecausethat’swhatfriendsdid.Theyshared.
EastonstoodandsaunteredovertotheshedhisDadhadbuilt.Itwasstillstandingbutwasleaningdangerouslytotheside.The
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weatherhadgottentoitandrottedmostofthewood.Inside,oldrustedbladesandtoolswerescatteredabout.Smallanimalshadmadeseveralburrowsinside,probablyinthewintertimetokeepfromfreezing.Onthebackwall,onanold,rust-colorednail,stillhungthe
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snareshe’dmade.Theravenhadbrought
himonethatfirstspringafterhisfamilyhadpassed.Hewasstarvingandwasn’thuntingwithanysuccess,andthevegetablegarden,thefirsthe’dplantedbyhimself,hadn’tbeenproducingmuch.He’dbuiltatreehouseinthe
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canopyofthreeancientpinesjustacrosstheyard,butnowonlyafewrottedboardsclungtothebranchesofhisoldden.He’dtakentosleepingupinthetreehousebacktheninsteadofthedraftyshed,anditwasontheunevenporchofhistreetophomethattheravenhad
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droppedaloopofwire.Arabbitsnare.
Hehadn’tcaughtadamnedthinginitforthenextthreeweeks,butlittlebylittle,hetaughthimselfhowtoreadsignsforrabbits.Burrows,fur,scat,smell.He’dtaughthimselfwheretohangtheloopsaroundthe
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burrowexitssothathecouldfindsuccess.Andoneday,hedid.Onedeadrabbitthatsaidhewouldsurviveanotherfewdays.
Andtheravenhadbeenwatchingwithsomethingakintoprideinhereyes.
Afterthat,he’dused
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thatfirstsnareasatemplateformakingninemore.Andbythesecondspring,settingandcheckingsnaresbecamepartofhisdailyroutine.
Lateinthesecondyear,theravenhaddroppedofftwoshinyfishingluresthatglintedinthesun.Shelikedshinythingsbest.Meat
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becamehismainsourceoffoodinthoseearlyyearssincegardeningdidn’tcomenaturallytohim.Hehadstruggledtofigureouthowtogetseedsforthenextyear,andhisplantsoftengotyellowpatchesontheleavesandwouldn’tproduce.Eventually,he’dfiguredthat
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out,too.Andhisravensatin
hertree,alwayswatching.Byhiseleventh
birthday,however,noteventheraven’spresencecouldkeepthelonelinessatbay.Wildbearsweresolitarycreatures,butBearshiftersweresocialbynature,andhe
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hadnoone.Hedidn’tspeakandeventuallylosttheuseofhiswordsuntilhe’dmetCreed.Nowhehadtoworkconstantlyatcommunicatingwithotherpeoplebecausebackthen,forsomanyyears,hisworldhadbeenvoidofhumaninteractions.Cicadas,crickets,injuredrabbits,
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bullfrogs,howlingcoyotes…thesewerethingthingsthatfilleduphishead.NotthelaughterfromwhenMomandDadhadbeenalive.Notconversationsabouthowhisdayhadgoneorlullabiestohelphimsleepatnight.Hishumanworldhaddimmedandquieteduntiltherewasno
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needforitanymore.Hehadnoonearoundtoteachhimaboutgrowinguporhowtoactaroundotherpeople.Therewasnoverbalcompassforrightandwrong,onlyinstinct.Andabear’sinstinctsweren’tdrivenbygoodandevil.Theyweredrivenbywantandneed.
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Whythefuckhadn’tshetoldhimthen?Howmanytimeshadhebeencurledinonhimselfwithhunger?Howmanytimeshadhebeendriventotheedgeofmadnesswithdesperationtohearsomeonetalktohim?Tosayhisname,ortellhimeverythingwasgoingtobe
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okay?Howmanytimeshadhebeenbone-deepcoldinthosesnowywintermonthsandbeensurethatdaywouldbehislast?
Yet,she’dneverrevealedherhumansidetohim.Avianahadwatchedandbroughthimtinytreasures,butshehadn’tgivenhim
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whathereallydesired—companionship.
Andnowshewasbackafteralltheseyears,andforwhat?Torevealherselfnowafterallthedamagehadbeendone.Afterhe’dlosthismind,lostcontrolofhisbear,andwasworthlessasafunctioningmemberof
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society?Histhoughtshadbecomeclearerandcleareraroundher.Hisbearhadquieted,andforaminute,he’dfeltnormal.LikemaybeCreedwasn’tgoingtohavetoputhimdown.Andithadbeensuchahugerelieftofeelsafeforthatinstant,becauseeverymorningEastonwoke
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upthinkingtodaywasgoingtobehislastonthisearth.Livinginfearforhislifelikethatfortoolonghadruinedhimfromtheinsideout.
Shecould’veendedhissufferingyearsagobyChangingandtalkingtohim.Bylookingathimlikeshehadlastnightthroughthose
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bigblueeyes,asifhewasworthsomething.
Instead,whenhe’dneededafriendthemost,she’dflownawayandlefthimaltogether.
Andaftershe’dgone,outinthesewoodsallalone,Easton’sbearhadkilledthelastgoodpartsofhim.
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ChapterTwelve
Avianawaitedfor
hours,hopingEastonwouldcomeback.Hernightvisionwasn’tasgoodasabearshifter’s,andflyingoutafterhimwouldn’twork.Notwith
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asoreshoulder,andnotwithoutaclearideaofwherehehadgone.
Withthefirststreaksofdawn,sheflewstifflyfromthebranchshe’dbeenusingasalookoutpost,Changedintoherhumanform,andstumbledintohistrailer.Shewashedthesaltytearstreaks
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fromherface,thendressed.Therewasafirstaidkitstillinitsplasticwrappingunderhissink,sosherippeditopenandcleanedthebitemarkasbestshecould.
Ashrillwhistlefromthetrailerparktoldhertheotherswerewakingupfortheirworkday.Shehuddled
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intoEaston’sjacketandsatonthefrontporchstairs,waiting.
Willacalledout,“I’llgethim!”overthesoundoftruckenginesroaringtolife.
ThesoundofdryleavescracklingunderfootfalltraveledtoAviana,andshewrungherhandsas
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shewaitedforWillatocome.Shecouldn’tfacetheothersrightnow,soshewasgratefulitwasWillawhowascomingtoEaston’strailer.
Thespunkyred-headfrozeinhertrackswhenshesawAvianasittingthere.Willascannedtheyardandasked,“Where’sEaston?And
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whydoyousmellsad?”Avianaswallowed
hard.“Easton’sgone.”Willa’seyeswent
hardassheasked,“Gonewhere?”
“Heturnedintohisbearandwentthatwaylastnight,”Avianaexplained,jerkingherchintowardthe
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woodsandhiccuppingslightly.“Ithinkhehatesme.”Asobworkeditswayupherthroat,andsheclampedhermouthshut,bitingherliphardtopunishherselfforfallingapartlikethis.Sometimes,shegotsotiredofherselfforbeingsofuckingweak.Sheturnedher
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headtowardWilla,butthestretchofherneckpulledonherinjuryandshehissedaspainrippledthroughhershoulder.
“Areyouhurt?”“It’snothingIdon’t
deserve.Willa?CanIaskyousomethingpersonal?”Easton’sbitehadbeen
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botheringherallnight.Willasatbesideher
ontheporchstair.“Shoot.”“Ifabearshifterbites
awoman,whatexactlydoesitmean?”
“Areyoufuckingkiddingme?”WillareachedacrossherandrippedEaston’sjackettotheside,
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exposingthebandageoverhershoulder.Willarippedintothat,too,andstood.“Youdon’tsmelllikeabear.”
“BecauseIwasn’teverhuman,”shesaidinapatheticwhisper.
Willawasscaryasshitwhenshewasmad,hereyesglowinggreenlike
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Easton’sdidwhenhisbearwasriledup.“What’sgoingon?”
Aviana’sfacecrumpled,andshewipedherhandacrossherleakingeyes.“I’veknownEastonmostofhislife,butnotasagirl.I’maravenshifter.”
Theblooddrained
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fromWilla’sfaceasshestaredatherwiththoseterrifying,glowingeyes.Hervoicepitchedtoawhisperassheasked,“You’reEaston’sraven?”
Avianasniffled,andherliptrembledasshenodded.“He’stalkedaboutme?”
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Willaapproachedandsankdownheavilybesideher.“Yeah.He’smentionedyou.”
“Hedidn’tknowIwasashifterwhenwewereyounger.HethoughtIwasjustacrow,andittookmealongtimetogetbraveenoughtofindhim.IwantedtowaituntilIthoughthewasready
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beforeItoldhimwhoIreallywas,butlastnight,hebitme.AndwhenIdidn’tTurn,hestartedpiecingitalltogether.”Avianasaggedagainsther.“Willa,hewassomad.HesaidIlefthim,butitwasn’tmychoice.Nothingwasmychoice.Ilovehim.Ialwayshave.”
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“Holyhairytesticles,Crow.”WilladrapedherarmaroundAviana’sshoulderandrestedhercheekagainstthetopofherhead.“Thatisn’tjustabiteonyourshoulder.It’saclaimingmark.Easton’smarkedyouashismate.”
“Oh,mygosh,”Avianasaidonabreath,
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sittingupstraightandsearchingWilla’sdimmingeyes.“HediditbeforehefoundoutwhoIwas.”Eastonwasprobablyfilledwithregretnow.Herheartsankevenlower.Hewouldn’twanttokeephernow.Notafterlastnight.
“Willa!Easton!”
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Creedyelledthroughthetrees.
“Aviana,listentome,”Willasaidurgently,grabbingherhands.“Youcan’tletCreedseethatmarkuntilyoufindEaston.Youbothwillneedtoexplaineverything.He’sonthinicewithouralpha,andhe
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disobeyedadirectordertoclaimyou.DoyouunderstandwhatI’msaying?”
“IneedtofindEaston.”
“Yes.Think,Aviana.Didhesayanythingorgiveyouanyclues?Wherewouldhehavegone?”
“Willa!”Creed
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bellowed.“Uuuh,”Aviana
whispered,panicked.“He’sbeenholdingontomytrinketslately.”Memories.Flashbacks.Shedidn’tknowwhatwentoninEaston’shead.Notanymore.Home.Den.Thedivotinthewindowsillsheusedtodrop
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hertreasures.Avianagasped.“Hemighthavegonetohisparents’cabin.”
“Areyouokaytotravelwithyourinjury?Youaren’thealinglikeyoushould.”
“Ravensdon’thealinstantlylikebears.IcandoitifIflyinastraightline
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there.”Atwigcrackedonthe
trailthatconnectedEaston’ssinglewidetotherestofGraylandMobilePark.
“Hurry,”Willaurged.“Youwon’ttellyour
alpha?”Willalooked
determined.“Letmehandle
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Creed.YoujustgetEastonbackhere.”
Withaburstofdesperationnottobeseenbythedragon-bloodedalphagrizzlyshifterstompingthisway,AvianaChangedintoherravenandflappedherwings,ignoringthepainonherleftside.Upandupshe
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flewuntilWillawasonlythesizeofanantbythepileofAviana’sclothesbelowher.
Theworldwasgreenbeneathher,coveredinpineforestandbisectedbyriversthatsnakedbackandforthingentlyrollingserpentshapes.Occasionalcabinsdottedthelandscape,butnotmanylived
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inthiswilderness.Shecircledonceoverherfamily’sdilapidatedcabinjusttogetherbearing,andthencaughtanaircurrentgoingdueeast.ManymilesseparatedherchildhoodhomefromEaston’s,andshehadn’treturnedsincethedayDadhadpackedthemupand
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takenherawayfromtheboyhesawasathreattohisonlydaughter.
Still,thewaywasasfamiliartoherasherflightfeathers.Amilliontimesshe’dflownthisjourneywhenshewasayoungcrow,visitingthebrokenboyinthewoods.
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Shelandedonthegnarledbranchofthetreethathadalwaysbeenherlandingplacebefore.Now,thebranchwasn’tthinandcoveredwithtenderpineneedleshoots.Itwasaged,thick,andthebarkwasroughunderhergrasp.
Eastonwasthere,wearingjeansthathung
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dangerouslylowaroundhisnarrowhipsasheleanedagainstthebattereddooroftheshed.Hisbackwasbare,butthecoolMarchairdidn’tseemtobotherhim.Eastonhadbeenmadeforthesewoods.Carvedfromthemandmadeinvinciblebyhisstruggleshere.
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Heturnedandlookeddirectlyatheroverhisshoulder.Sheexpectedhiseyestobeglowinglikeademon,buttheyweredimandsad.Thecolorwasn’ttheeerielimegreentheyusuallywere,butthedarkergreenofmatureforestmoss.
“Doyouknowhow
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manytimesIlookedupontothatbranchyou’reclingingtoafteryouleft?”Histhroatmovedasheswallowedhardandpushedoffthedoor.Heturnedandapproached,hisgatehitchedashelimpedtowardher.“Ayear.ItwasafullyearbeforeIcouldconvincemystupideyesto
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stopcheckingforyou.Andnowhereyouare.”
AvianaflittedtothegroundandChanged.Thecoolairstungagainstherbareskin,andshefeltcompletelystrippeddownandvulnerableinfrontofhim,butshehadtotellhimthetruthnow.Shehadtoatleasttrytoexplainit
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wasn’tjusthimwho’dbeenhurt.
“Doyouknowanythingaboutravenshifters?”Hervoicecameoutfrailandweak,justlikeher.
Heshookhishead.“Ididn’tevenknowyouexisted.Fuckin’obviously.”
“Mypeoplearen’tlike
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yours,Easton.YouareapowerfulapexpredatorshifterwhileI’mabadomen.”
“Idon’tunderstand.”“Doyouknowhow
manyofmypeopleareshoteachyearwhiletheyareshifted?Justbecauseofthebadluckwerepresent.It’s
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againstourlaws,onthepunishmentofbeingshunned,thatweexposeourselvestoanyone.”Shearchedhereyebrowsandlookedpointedlyathim.“Anyone.Andyouaren’tjustahumanorascavengershifter,Easton.You’reagrizzly,ashiftermypeoplenaturallyfear.Being
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withyouasacrowwasalreadyahugerisk,butIcouldn’thelpmyself.Ihadtobearoundyou,ormylifefeltempty.EspeciallyoutherewhereIwasbeingraiseduntilIcouldcontrolmyshiftsaroundhumans.Whenyourparentsdied—”
“Idon’twanttotalk
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aboutthemwithyou.”“Whenyourparents
died,myheartbrokeforyou.IwatchedtheboyIlovedhurtandcryoutforhelp,andIcouldn’tdoanything.Icouldn’ttellmyparentsyouwereoutherealone.Iwasscaredtheywouldcalltheircouncil,andtheywouldcome
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outhereandputyoudown.Alonegrizzlycubwithnopeople?Icouldn’ttellanyonewhathadhappenedtoyou.AllIcoulddowastrytohelpyouwithsnaresandluresandscrapsoffoodwhenIcouldsneakitawayfrommycabin.Icouldn’tevencarryadamnedblanketwhenyou
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werecoldinthewinters.Watchingyoubreakoverthoseyearsbrokeapartofmetoo.”
“Thenwhydidyouleave?Ifyoucaredsomuch,whydidyouleavemehere?Youweremyonlyfriend.Goddammit,Ana,therewasnoone.Whenyouleft…there
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wasnoone.”“Yougotcaughtin
thattrap.Doyouremember?”Avianaclenchedherhandsandforcedhermindbacktothatawfulday.“Youwerehurt,screaming.Bleeding.Ithoughtyouweregoingtodieinthattrap,andeveninmyhumanform,Iwastoo
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scrawnytohelp.Youtriedandtriedtogetoutofit,andyourleglookedsobad.”Shewipedhereyesagain.“Iflewbacktomyhouseandtoldmydad.Ibeggedhimtohelpyou,andhewassoangry.HesaidI’dbetrayedmyfamilyandmypeoplebymakingfriendswithyou.Ipromised
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nevertoseeyouagainifhewouldjustletyououtofthetrapandnottellthecouncilaboutyou.Iledhimtoyou.”
“Irememberhim.”Eastoncrossedhisarmsoverhischestandlookedoffintotheforestwithafarawaylookinhiseyes.“Hewastall.Skinny.Finebonedlikeyou
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are.Hepulledthetrapoffandsetmybrokenbonelikehe’ddoneitahundredtimes.Andthenherippedthetrapoutofthegroundandwalkedoffintothewoodswithitdanglingfromhishandanddidn’tlookback.Ihadn’tseenanotherpersoninsolong,IthoughtI’dimagined
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him.Yousenthim?”“Ididn’tknowwhat
elsetodo.Hepackedusupthatnight,andwemovedtoRapidCitythenextday.”Avianawasshiveringsohardnow,herteethchattered.“Didyoufindmylastgift?”
“Theshinyrock?”Shesmiledsadlyand
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shookherhead.“Itwasn’tjustashinyrock.Itwasadiamond.Ifounditontheground,andI’dbeensavingit.Itwasmyfavoritepossession.Mydadsaiditwasworthalotofmoney,butIdidn’tcareaboutsellingit.Thenightbeforeweleft,Isnuckoutandvisitedyour
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treehouseforthelasttime.Youwerecurledupinsidesleepingwithyourlegallbandaged.IgaveyouthediamondbecauseIhopedthatsomedayyouwouldescapethisplace.”
Eastonscreweduphisfaceandturnedhisbacktoher.Hearchedhisheadback
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andmutteredacurse.Helinkedhishandsbehindhisheadbeforehespunbacktoherandwrappedherupinabone-crackinghug.“Ididn’tknowitwasvaluable,butIwouldn’thavesolditevenifIhad.It’sintheboxwiththerestofthepresentsyougaveme.Ididn’tknow.Ididn’t
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know.”Easton’swordswere
muffledagainstherneck,andshewasopenlyweepingnow.She’dbeenafraidhewasn’tevergoingtotouchheragain.Heliftedheroffherfeet,andshenuzzledhisfacebecauseshelovedhimsofuckingmuchshecouldn’tbeclose
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enoughtohim.Notever.“Easton,Easton,
Easton.I’vethoughtaboutyouallthistime.Missedyousobadlyandcomparedeverypotentialmatetoyou.Iimaginedhowitwouldfeeltoholdyoulikethiswithoutmyfeathers.”
“You’recold,Ana.
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You’llgetsick.Shit,you’rebleeding.LookwhatI’vedonetoyou,”hemurmured,settingherdown,hiseyesonhershoulder.Theskinwasjaggedanddeeplytornwherehe’dbittenher,andsureenough,itwasweepingredagain.ThemultipleChangesweren’thelping.
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“Iwantedthis.Stopfussingwithit.It’sokay.Iwantedyoutochoosemeforamatesomeday.Ijustdidn’tknowthatwashowitwasdonewithyourpeople.AndIcertainlydidn’tknowyouweregoingtoclaimmeourfirsttime.”
“Ihadn’tdonethat
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before.Imessedup.”“Youhaven’tclaimed
anyonebefore?I’mglad.”“No.Imean,I’ve
neversleptwithawoman.”Aviana’smouth
droppedopen.Aslowsmilespread
acrossEaston’sfaceashepressedhisfingerunderher
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chinuntilhermouthclosedagain.“You’llcatchflies.”
“Wait,youwereavirgin?Butyouknewexactlywhattodo,andyouweresogoodatit.Youdidn’tevenaskmewhatIliked.Youjustknew.”Okay,shewasramblingbut,deargoodness,themanhadgivenherabona
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fideorgasmfirsttry.Andhewasavirgin?“Whydidn’tyoutellme?”
“Whatdifferencediditmake?”Eastonwasstillsmiling.
“Idon’tknow.Icould’velitsomecandlesortakenitsloweror…something.”
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“Yeah,well,luckyyou.YougotthefirstBeastonbang,completewithcopiousamountsofblood,teethgnashing,andpain.Congratulations.”
“You’reteasing.”ShelikedthatEastoncouldjokewithherafteralloftheheavygritthathadhappened.The
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smileslippedfromAviana’sface.“CanIaskyousomething?”
Eastonrubbedherarmstowarmherandnodded.
“Ifyouwould’veknownIwasyourravenbeforeweslepttogether,wouldyouhaveclaimedme
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still?”“AreyouaskingifI
stillwantyouformymate?”Shedippedherchin
once.Hisanswermeanttheworld.
“Idon’tregretmymarkonyou.”
“Wehavetogobackhomeandexplaineverything
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toCreed.He’llunderstand.Hehasto.You’remine,andI’myours,andtechnicallyyoudidn’tTurnme,soyoudidn’tdisobeyhisorder.”
“Ithoughtyousaidravenswerenaturallyafraidofbears.”
“Yeah,so?”“SoiftheGrayBacks
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scareyou,Icanclaimmyownterritoryandkeepyousafe.Youwon’thavetosmellscaredanymore.”
“Butyouloveyourcrew.”
Hiseyesstayedsteadyandclearonher,buthedidn’tanswer.
“You’dgivethemup
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formycomfort?”sheasked,stunned.
“Anygoodmatewould,andsinceI’llbeshitatmostofthis,it’stheleastIcando.”
Avianatrailedkissesdownthelinebetweenhistautpecsandrestedhercheekagainsthisdrumming
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heartbeat.“Sillyman,I’dneveraskyoutogiveupsomethingyoulovejustformycomfort.TheGrayBacksaregrowingonme.Takemehome,Easton.”
Withoutaword,Eastonbackedawayandkickedoutofthetoobigjeans.Witheyesfullof
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adoration,hehunchedintohimselfandexplodedintothemassivegrizzlybearshe’dtreasuredforalltheseyears.Shewasn’tdumb,orblind.Eastonstruggledagreatdealwithhisanimalsidethankstowhathe’denduredinthisplace.Buthewasstilltrying,andthatspokevolumesabout
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thecaliberofmanhewas.Eastonstrodeoffwith
powerfulsteps,hisrazorsharpclawsdiggingintotheearthashemovedawayfromher.Andashereachedthefirstlineoftrees,helookedbackoverhisshoulderandwaited.
Avianasmiledand
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Changedintoherraven.Shebeatherwingsagainsttheairuntilshereachedthemuscularhumpbetweenhisshoulderblades.Grippinghissilverfurinhersmalltalons,sheheldonashetookoffinthedirectionofthetrailerpark.
Andthoughyears
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stoodbetweenthelasttimethey’dtraveledtogetherlikethisandnow,shewasfilledwiththatsamestomach-flutteringbondshe’dbuiltwithEaston.Shefeltthesameelationshehadwhenshe’dtouchedhisfurforthefirsttimeasaravenwhentheywerechildren.Their
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historytogetherstretchedonandon.NomatterwhatlayaheadofthemwithCreed,shewouldbetherewithEaston,standingbesidehim,fightingfortheirsecondchance.
Becausefromthisdayon,shewasnevergoingtoflyawayfromherEastonagain.
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ChapterThirteen
Eastonbrushedhis
fingertipdowneachvertebrainherback,almostasifhewerecountingthem.He’dfilledupthetubwithsteamingwaterassoonas
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theygotback,butthechillswouldn’tleaveherbody.Avianadrewherkneestightertoherchestandrestedhercheekononesoshecouldseehimbetter.
Easton’sbrightgreeneyesfollowedhisfingerashestartedatthetopofherspineandstartedagain.Hewas
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leaningonthetub,chinrestingonhisarm,andanabsentsmileonhislips.
Shewasmarrow-deepexhausted,butEastonhadmadeherabowlofstew,litcandlesinthebathroom,andnowseemedcontenttoforgosleepjusttostareatherskin.Sheunderstood.Avianahad
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beendrinkinghiminsinceshe’dfirstseenhimagain,too.
“Whatareyouthinkingabout?”shewhisperedinasoftvoice,afraidtodisturbthemoment.
“Doyourememberwhentherabbitsgottomyvegetablegarden?”
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Sheansweredhissmilewithoneofherown.God,shelovedhisdimples.Theywereevenmorespecialsinceheonlyseemedtoflashthemforher.“Youwereeleven.”
Eastonsatupandpushedhergentlybackwarduntilherhairwasimmersed
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inthewater,thenheliftedheroutandpouredadollopofshampooinhispalm.Asheworkedherhairintoalather,hesaid,“Iwantedtosnarealltherabbitsandputthemintoastewwithmyvegetables.”
“Butallyoucaughtwasacoldfromobsessivelycheckingthesnaresinthe
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middleofthenight.”“Andyoubroughtme
anearring.”Avianagiggledand
leanedherheadbackonhishandinthewater,thenallowedhimtopouraplasticcupoverherhairtorinseoutthesuds.“Notallofmygiftshadtomeansomething,you
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know.”“Butyoucouldn’t
bringmecoldmedicine?”Shegiggledharderas
shesatup.“Forfuck’ssake,a
singlepainkillerwould’vedonewondersfortheheadachethatcamealongwithit.Butno.Yougaveme
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ashinyearring.”“Ilikeshinythings.
ThatisahighcomplimentthatIcanpartwiththemforyou.Ifounditonahikingtrail.ForsomereasonIcan’tthinkofnow,Ithoughtyouwouldlikeit.Andbesides,you’reabearshifter.Ithoughtyouweren’tsupposed
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togetsick.”“AndIhaven’tsince.
Damnrabbitscursedme.”Sheblinkedslowlyas
hetracedherbackboneagain.“WasitawfulafterIleft?”
“Crow,crow,whyareyoustillcold?”heaskedinthatdeeptimbreshewasstillgettingusedto.
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“I’llgetstronger.Youdidn’tanswermyquestion.”
Withasigh,Eastonpulledhisshirtoverhishead.Hisabsrippledwiththemovement.Aftertossingitintothepilewithherdiscardedclothes,heshuckedhisjeans,too.Slowly,heslidintothebathtubbehindher,
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thenpulledherbackagainsthischestandwrappedhisarmsaroundher.TherewasbarelyanyroominthesmalltubforamanEaston’ssize,buthedidn’tseemtomindfoldinghislegsaroundher.
“Yes.”Hepressedhisforeheadagainstthebackofherneck.“Butit’sdone,andI
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wouldn’tchangeitnow.”“Youwouldn’t?”“IfIwould’vekept
youallmylife,Icouldn’tappreciateyoulikeIdonow.Iwouldn’tknowhowbaditcanhurtwithoutyou.”
Oh.Avianaclosedhereyesandmeltedbackagainsthim.Eastonwasbigand
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strongandwarm.Alreadyherchillswerelesseningwithhimcurledaroundher.Ithadbeenalongandtryingday,andherstaminawasn’tgreat.Notyet.ButEastondeservedastrongmate,andshewasdeterminedtobecomebetterforhim.
“Easton?”
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“Mmm?”herumbled,draggingawashragaroundtheedgeofherclaimingmark.
“Ifeelsafewithyou.”Eastonsnortedand
toldher,“Yourinstinctssuck.”
Shelaughedandsaid,“I’mserious.I’vealwaysfelt
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safearoundyou.”“Ibityouthefirst
chanceIgot.”“Becauseyouwanted
toclaimme.”“I’mnotgood,Ana.
I’mnot.”“Youare.”Hedraggedthescruff
onhischinacrossthebackof
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herneck,backandforth,backandforth.Hissilentargumentdidn’tmatter,though.Sheknewthetruth.ShesawstraighttoEaston’ssoul,andhewasgoodtothecore.Hejusthadtolearnhowtoactaroundotherpeopleinsteadofreactingongrizzlyinstincts.Sheunderstoodhis
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quirksandlovedeachofthem.
“Tellmeasecretnooneelseknows,”shewhispered,tricklingwateroverhisknee.
“Iwanttogosomewherebigandfaraway.SomewhereliketheGrandCanyon.”
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“Youdo?”Hislipspressed
againstthebackofherneck.“Mmmhmm.WhenIwasakid,Ithoughtmybearwouldneverletmeoutofmyterritory.”
“Yourparents’land?”“Yep.Heclaimedit,
andthenitgotreallyhardto
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leave.Istillliveclose,andsometimesIwishIcouldgosomewhereawayfromhere.Stupid.IknowI’mnotready.MaybeIwon’teverbe.Can’tkeepcontrol.IwenttoDodgeCitytohelpJasonoutlastyear,andthejobtookwaylongerthanitwassupposedtobecauseIcouldn’tstay
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humanverylong.Didn’ttellmycrewthatpart.SometimesIjustwanttoseesomethingotherthanthesemountains.Nowyou.Tellmeasecret.”
Avianaleanedherheadbackagainsthisshoulderandsmiled.“Iusedtowatchyousleep.”
“When?”
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“Afteryou’dbuiltthattreehouse.Iwouldsneakoutlateatnightaftermyparentswereasleep,andI’dperchonthewindowwherethemoonlightmadeyoulookblue,andI’dwatchyou.Youalwayslookedsocalminyoursleep.Relaxed.Likeakidagain.Likeyouweren’t
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fightingforsurvival.IwantedtoChangeandsleepbesideyousobadly,youcan’tevenimagine.Youwerewarmandfeltsafe,andIwantedtobeunderyourarm,sleepingwithyou.”
Eastonhuffedasmallchuckle,andshereveledinthevibrationagainstherback.
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Hislaughswereforher.“Easton,aboutwhen
weslepttogetherbefore…”Hepulledherwethair
toherothershoulderandkissedgentlyrightbesideherbite.Itlookedawfulnow,bruisedandtorn.
“Losingyourvirginityisareallybigdeal,”she
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whispered.“Doyouwanttotalkaboutit?”
“Losingitisn’tabigdealtoanimals.”
Whenasoftgrowlrattledhischest,deliciouschillsrippledupherskin.Eastonwouldn’ttalkaboutitorlingeronnostalgicthoughts.Sheknewhe
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wouldn’t.Hisanswerhadbeenaflippantandhonestdenialthatsexforthefirsttimehadbeenlife-alteringatall.Andtoher,itmadesense.Eastonwasmoreanimalthanman.Hercheekswarmedwithhappinessasshesnuggledbackagainsthim.
She’dbeenhisfirst,
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andtheburningmarkonhershouldersaidEastonwantedhertobehisonly.
Eastonkissedherbitemarksoftly,thensettledherwethairbackintoplace.“Ana,Iwon’teverhurtyouwhenwe’rematingagain.Iwon’thurtyouever.”
Hispromisebrought
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anemotionalsmiletoherlips.“Okay.”
Hemassagedherbreast,dumpinginstantheatintohermiddle.Hiserectionhadbeenswollenandhardagainstherbacksincehe’dslippedintothetubbehindher,butnow,herolledhishipsslightly.“Youlikewhen
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Itouchyouhere,”hemurmured,slippinghishanddowntocuphersex,rightoverherclit.
Anarolledhereyesclosedandnodded.
“Andhere,”hesaidlowasheslippedhisfingerintoher.
Rockingagainsthis
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touch,shenoddedagain.Hisotherarm
encircledherstomachandpulledhertightagainsthisdick,standingstraightagainstherspine.Rollinghiships,hepressedagainstherinthesameslowrhythmhefingeredher.Pressurebuiltwitheverystroke,andshe
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slippedherhandsbehindhisheadashekissedherneck.ThewarmwaterlappedatherribswhenEastonrestedhischinonhershoulderashebroughtherclosertoclimax.Asoftmoanpushedpastherlipsasherbodypulsedinafastrhythmaroundhisfinger.Shestillcouldn’tbelievehow
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goodhewasattouchingher.Shewasalmostembarrassedbyhowfastshecamewithhim,buthedidn’tseemdisappointed.
“Wanttofeel,”hemurmuredinthatgravelly,inhumantimbrethatsaidhisbearwasclose.
Rollingherforward,
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hesettledheronherhandsandknees.Eastonslidintoherslowfrombehind.She’dneverdoneitlikethis—liketheanimalsdid.ButwithEaston,itfeltright.Itfeltnatural.Hispowerfulbodycurvedoverhersashepushedhisthickshaftdeepinsideofher.Hewasbigandstretched
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her,butshewasready.Relaxedandwet.
Slowly,heeasedbackbyinches,thenthrustintoheragain.Holymoly,hewassexy—agrowlvibratingagainstherback,himnibblingkissesonheruninjuredshoulder.Hispowerfularmflexedand
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lockedononeside,whilehisothergrippedaroundherwaist.Thenextthrustwasfaster.Outslow,inhard.Anaarchedherbackandgavehimabetterangle.
“Fffuck,”hewhisperedshakilyasheslammedintoheragain.
Pressurewitheach
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stroke.Shecouldclimaxjustthinkingabouthispowerfulbodycoveringher.Hermiddlewastinglingnowandeverythingfeltsogood.Floaty.Numbing.Lockthosearms.Almostthere.“Ah!”shecriedashepushedintoheragain.“Easton!I’mgoingto…”
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“Comeforme,”hesaidonagrowlashishipspumpedintoheragain.
Herbodyshattered.Thepleasurewassointense,shehadtoclosehereyesandfocusonnotfallingapart.ThesnarlinEaston’sthroatwasconstantnowashebuckedintoher.Whenher
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bodyclenchedaroundhim,Eastonfrozewithhernameonhislips.Hot,pulsingjetsshotintoher,fillingher,drippingdownherthighsashepulledout.Thenheslidbackinandemptiedhimselfcompletely.Herbodypulsedonandon,eachaftershockasintenseasthelastashe
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buckedagainsthermoreslowly,drawingeachonefromher.
Thewaterwasgettingcoldagainstherarmsandlegs,butEastondidn’tseeminahurrytosevertheirconnection.Hislipsgonesoft,herankissesacrosshershoulderinstead.Histeeth
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grazedherskininasoftbiteeverycoupleofkissesasthepulsingsensationfadedcompletelyaway.Hewassowarm,sostrong,shecouldn’thelpbutfeelsafealltuckedupunderhim,evenwithhisteethbrushingherskin.Hewouldn’thurther.
Andjustasherarms
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feltasthoughtheywouldn’tholdheranymore,Eastonslidoutofherandstood,draggingherwithhim.Hebentdownandfoldedherintohisarms,thensteppedoutofthetubandcarriedhertohisbed.Shesmiledlanguidlyatthefreshwhitesheetshe’dputon.Nomorebloodstains
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fromwhenhe’dclaimedher,andsuddenlyitwasclearwhyhisbeddinglookedsocleanandsoft.He’dobviouslyspentsomemoneyonthethickcomforterandcrisplinens.Theyweretobanishthememoryofallthenightshe’dsleptonsprucelimbsandpluckedpillowsofgrass.
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Thelivingroommightresemblethetreehousehe’dmadehimselfallthoseyearsago,buthisbedroom…thatwashisattempttomoveon.
Eastonsettledherinbedandstoodbesideherwithhisheadcanted.Helookedatherbodyasthoughshewasthemostbeautifulthinghe’d
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everseen.“I’mgoingtocleanyou,”hesaidinarumblingvoice.
Shenodded,readyforasoftcloth.Butwhenheloweredhimselftothebedanddraggedatrailofkissesdownherribstoherstomach,itbecameabundantlyclearwhatkindofcleaningEaston
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hadinmind.Anaheldinagiggle.Sheshould’veknown.
Hermatelavedhistongueupherstillwetfolds,anddrewasoftsighfromherlips.Hewasmeticulousandrhythmic,andnowhewasdefinitelyconjuringanotherorgasm.Anabentherlegsandgrippedhishair.Easton’s
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eyesglowedgreenashelookedupather,andwithonlyasecondofhesitation,hegaveintohersilentpleadingandslippedhistongueinsideofher.
Anamoanedhelplesslyathowgoodhefeltrightthere.Eastongrabbedherhipsanddraggedher
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closer,thendrovehistonguedeeper.Archingherback,shecriedoutandclenchedhishair.Hisheadbobbedbetweenherlegsashedrovehercloserandclosertoclimax.“Easton,”sheyelpedasherbodyclenchedaroundhistongueinquick,throbbingorgasm.Helickedheruntil
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shetwitchedandlayexhaustedandspent.Eastonkissedtheinsidesofherthighsgently,thenclimbedupbesideherandpulledheragainsthischest.Hepulledthecoversoverthem,thenleanedhischinontopofherhead.Hisdickwaslongandhardagainstherbelly,buthe
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didn’tmovetorelievehimselfinher.Instead,hemurmured,“Sleepnow,mate.”
Mate.Shesmiledandnuzzledclosertohim.
Andfinally…finally…afterallthoseyearsofwanting,shegottosleepsafeandwarm
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underthearmofthemansheloved.
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ChapterFourteen
“Don’tsmellscared,”
Eastonsaid,hiseyesblazingashecastheraquickglance.
“Ican’thelpit.”AvianaclutchedtighttohishandasEastonledhertoward
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theGraylandMobilePark.“Yourcrewisintimidating.Allbearshiftersarereally.”
“YetyouarematedtoBeaston,”hemutteredsolow,shealmostdidn’thearit.
Shefrownedattheuseofthatname.Sure,hisanimalwasincontrol,butthatwasbecauseofwhathe’d
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beenthrough.Thatbearinsideofhimalsowastothankforhissurvival.Eastonhadlosthisfamilywhenhewasjustakid,thenekedoutalifeinthewoodsallalone.“YousayBeastonlikeit’sabadname,butIthinkit’sfuckingawesome,”shesaiddefiantly.
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Hecastherastartledglanceandskiddedtoastop.“Why?”
“Becauseyoumightbeabeast,EastonNovak,butyouarealsoasurvivor,andI’msofuckingproudofhowfaryou’vecome,Icanhardlystandit.Sodon’tutterthatnamearoundmeunlessyou
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areowningit.Badass,snarly,scary-eyedmountainmanwhoprotectstheheartofafearfulraven.YouareBeaston.MyBeaston.”
Aslowsmilehadspreadacrosshisfaceasshe’dranted,andnowhisdimplesshowed.“Okay,”hesaidlow,pullingherintoa
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hug.“I’mBeaston.”Asharpwhistletrilled
acrossthevalley.Creedwaslettingthemknowitwastimeforthecrewtoheaduptothemountainstocleartimber,buttheywouldhavetowait.SheandEastonhadanannouncementtomakebeforehewenttowork.
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TheGrayBackswereallgatherednearthebricked-infirepittalkingwhenEastonledheroutofthetreeline.
“Theretheyare,”Willacalled,lookingrelieved.“Nowwecanhavesomeoneunbiasedsettlethescore,”shesaid,looking
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pointedlyatGia.Georgiawasriflingthroughabackpacksittingonafoodpreptablenearthem,andsheshookherhead,thoughshewasstillsmiling.
“Whatisit?”Avianaasked,voicesmallandpathetic.Withafrown,shesaidlouder,“Whatisit?”
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Eastonlookedatherproudly.
“Dude,Beaston’sholdingherhand,”MattsaidlowtoJason.
Willakickedhermate’sbootandheldoutbothhandsastheyapproached.InonewasapileofgreenM&Msandintheotherwasa
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pileoforange.“Whichonesaresupposedtomakeyouhorny,greenororange?”
Avianasnortedandtriedtothinkbackonherschooldays.“Ithinkit’sgreenmakesyouhorny.”
“Here,Griz,eatthese,”Willasaid,dumpingthegreenpileintoMatt’s
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hand.Hesnortedand
poppedthemallinhismouth.“Ican’tevenbelieveyouwantmehornierthanIalreadyam,”hesaidaroundthemouthfulofcandy.
“Soit’sorangetomakeyourboobsbigthen,”Giasaidmatter-of-factly.
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“Toldyou.”Avianalaughedand
asked,“CanIhavesomeorangeonesthen?”
Withabigtoothygrin,Willahandedherhalfthepileoforangesandpouredtheotherhalfintohermaw.
Eastonslappedthe
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candyoutofAviana’shandswithalookofpanicinhiseyes.“Don’twantbiggerboobsonyou.Toomuch.”
Avianastoodtherestunned,lookingatthebrightcoloredchocolatesscatteredacrossthewhitegravelroad.
Jasonwaslaughingnow,handsaroundhis
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stomach,bentover,wheezing.“Dude,it’snotreal.”
“Oh,”EastonsaidwithaconfusedfrownashewatchedJasonfalloverontotheground,kickinghislegsashelaughed.HeswunghistroubledgazetoAvianaandmurmured,“Sorry.”
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Shewastryingnottolaugh,reallyshewas,butEastonwassofuckingcute.Sexyasallget-out,eyeswildandbrightashemadesureshestayedjustasshewas.Ifshe’dhadanyquestionthatherflatchestbotheredhermatebefore,itwasdispellednow.
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“WhyareyoueatingM&Msforbreakfast?”sheasked.
“Giacravesthemallthetime,”Georgiaexplained.“Willajustmoochesthem.”
“Ihelphereatthem,”Willacorrected.“It’snotmoochingifI’mdoingitoutofthegoodnessofmyheart.”
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CreedwasquietbesideMatt,shakinghisheadandlookingtired,asifhiscrewalreadyexhaustedhim.
“Ihavesomethingtosay,”Eastonannouncedinastrong,formalvoice.
JasonkickedintoastarshapeonthegroundandlookedatEaston,upside
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down.“Thatsoundsserious.”“Itis.”Eastonlifted
hisgazetoCreedandcockedhishead,exposinghisneck.“Ihavetobegyourforgiveness.”
Creedstoodstraighterashisblackeyeslightenedtoagraythatmatchedtheearlymorningsky.“Whatdidyou
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do?”Avianacouldn’teven
lookathimlikethis.NotwhenCreedwasmakingtheairsoheavy.Itwashardtodrawabreathunderhisstare,sosheangledherchindownandlookedatWillainstead.
“AsSecond,Iforbidyoutobleedhim,”Willasaid,
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standingtoherfullheightofnotevenfivefoottallandglaringatCreed.
“What?”Creedasked,lookingevenangrier.“Itdoesn’tworklikethat.You’resecond,notalpha.What’sgoingon?”
“Showhim,”Eastonmurmured,nudgingAviana’s
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shoulder.Avianapulledher
stretchypinkcottonshirttothesideandexposedthetatteredfleshofEaston’sclaimingmark.
Creed’sdarkeyebrowsjackedup,andheswungadangerousglareatEaston.“Whatthefuckdid
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youdo?”“I’dsayeithera
zombiebitherorEastonclaimedher,”WillasaidhelpfullyasshedugaroundinthecrinklypackageofM&M’sformorecandy.
“Enough!”Creedyelled.
Willadidn’tevenlook
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cowed,butdamnwhattheelectricityinthealpha’svoicedidtoAviana.Withagrunt,shefelltoherkneesundertheheavinessofthestomach-curdlingangerCreedwasthrowingoffinwaves.
EastonlookeddownatherthenbacktoCreed,eyesblazingasalow,
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menacingrumblerattledhisthroat.“Letherup.”
“YouTurnedher?”Creedbellowed.“AfterIforbidit,youTurnedher?”
“Shedoesn’tsmelllikeabear,”Georgiawhisperedfromnearthetablewhereshelookedlikeshewasstrugglingtostay
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upright,too.“Ittookyouallof
what…aday?Adaytodisobeyadirectorder?”Creedsaid,handsonhiships.“Whatthefuck,man?”
“She’smine.”“Youjustmether!”“Letherup!”Easton
yelled,voicegonesnarly.
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“Oh,forshit’ssake,”Willasaid,“Aviana,moveyourtailfeathers,girl.FuckNoggin’sabouttoChange.”
CreedhunchedintohimselfjustasWillarushedAviana.Easton’ssilverbearexplodedfromhimintheexactmomentahugeblackbruingrizzlyrippedoutof
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Creed.“No!Don’thurthim!”
shecriedasWilladraggedherbythewaistoverthegravel.
“Staythere,”Willaordered,eyeshard.Twosecondslater,abrownbearburstfromherskin,andwhenAvianalookedup,Creedand
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Eastonclashedsohardtheearthunderherfeetshook.Jasonwasscramblingoutoftheway,andalight-coloredgrizzlywasalreadyhoveringprotectivelybetweenhimandthebattlingbears.Georgia?
ThesheerviolenceofthebearfightheldAvianastunnedinplace.Creedand
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Eastonslashedeachotherwithresounding,clawedslaps.Roaring,growling,biting.Bleeding.Thewhitegravelwasbeingpaintedwithred.
EvenwithWillatryingtomaneuverbetweenthemandMattChangingintoared,scarred-upgrizzlyto
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help,EastonandCreedonlyhadeyesformaimingeachother.
Shehadtodosomething.
Withapopandflappingwings,AvianaChangedanddive-bombedCreed.Shepeckedhisearandfewoutofslappingrange,
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thencircledaround.“Creed,sheisn’ta
bear!”Giascreamed.“Creed,stop!”
Avianatuckedherwingsanddovefortheblackgrizzlyagain,butthistime,shedidn’tgettotouchhim.Thistimeheturnedatthelastmomentandswattedherout
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oftheair.Withaterrifiedcawinherthroat,shehitthegrasshard.
Giawasrunningforhernow,roundbellyleadingher.ShefelltoherkneesbesideAvianaandpickedherupgently.“Ohno,”shewhispered,pullinghercarefullytohersoftbosom.
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Withalookofpurehumanfury,shestoodandturnedtothebearsbattling.“CreedJosephBarnett!You’rehurtingme!”shescreamed.
Creed’sonyxcoloredbearimmediatelyshrankintothedark-haired,silver-eyedman.Withapainedgrunt,hefellforwardontohishands
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andkneesonthegravelroad.WillaandMattrushedEaston,tryingtokeephimfrommurderingthealphainhumanform.
“What?”Creedaskedashestruggledupandstaredinconfusionathismate.“HowamIhurtingyou?”
“Becauselookwhat
![Page 668: Gray Back Broken Bear (Gray Back Bears Book 4) - 1.droppdf.com1.droppdf.com/files/o2zrc/gray-back-broken-bear-gray-back-bears-bo… · Chapter One The thwack, thwack of Easton Novak’s](https://reader033.fdocuments.in/reader033/viewer/2022060605/605a63080f12e6686830f473/html5/thumbnails/668.jpg)
you’refightingover!”GiashovedAvianaforward.
“Caw!”Avianasaidhelpfully.Translation:I’mafuckingcrow!NotaTurnedbearshifter.
Creedstaredatherlikehe’dneverseenabirdinhislife.“I…Idon’tunderstand.”
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WhenEastontookaswipetooclosetohim,Creedduckedneatlyoutofthewayandyelled,“Easton,Changeback!”
Easton’sroardiedinhisthroatashefelltohiskneesandshrankintohishumanskin.Apainedgrimacewasonhisface,but
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itdidn’tstopthedeathglareforCreed.“Ididn’tTurnher.Shewasn’teverhuman.Andifyouwould’vefuckinglistened,Iwould’vehadtimetoexplainthatI’veknownherallmylife.AndIswearonmyden,ifyouhurther,I’mgoingtofuckingbleedyou,GrayBack.”
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Jasonstoodtotheside,armscrossedoverhischest,lookinggrumpy.“Thatinsultstilldoesn’tmakeanysense,Beaston.We’reallGrayBacks!”
Willashrankbackintohernakedhumanskinandkickedthegravel.“Goddammit,Creed!”
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Mattwasnowagiant,nakedhumanwithscarsalloverhistorso.“Didhehurtyou?”heasked,worryinhisdeepvoice.
“No!HespilledallmyM&M’s!”
“Oh,forfuck’ssake,”Creedsaid.“Someoneexplaintomewhatisgoing
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on.”Willastompedher
foot.“Creed,meetEaston’schildhoodfriendwhoisaravenshifter,butonlyEastondidn’tknowshewasaravenshifteruntilyesterdaywhenhegaveheraclaimingmarkwhiletheywereboinkingandshedidn’tTurn.Hegotmad,
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heranoff,that’swhyhewasn’tatworkyesterday,andnowyoujustB-slappedthebirdhe’sinlovewith.Youdeservethatscar,”shesaid,jammingafingeratthelongclawmarkacrossCreed’schestthatwasdrippingred.
“You,”thealphasaid,pointingatAviana.“Change
![Page 675: Gray Back Broken Bear (Gray Back Bears Book 4) - 1.droppdf.com1.droppdf.com/files/o2zrc/gray-back-broken-bear-gray-back-bears-bo… · Chapter One The thwack, thwack of Easton Novak’s](https://reader033.fdocuments.in/reader033/viewer/2022060605/605a63080f12e6686830f473/html5/thumbnails/675.jpg)
back.”“Youcan’ttellher
whattodo,”Eastonsnarled.“Icanso.She’sa
GrayBacknow.”“Aaaw,”Willasaid,
claspingherhandsinfrontofherchestandshrugginghershoulderswithamushysmileonherface.“ThefinalGray
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Back.”Creedstaredather
untilshehadthegoodsensetodrophergazetoherfeet.
“Nowplease,”Creedgrittedout,“ChangebacksoIcanproperlyapologize.”
Inaflushofabsolutemortification,AvianaflewoutofGia’shandsandlanded
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ontheground,thenshiftedintoherhumanform.
“Boobs,”Willasanginabarelyaudiblevoice,onlytobeglaredatbyCreedagain.
Jasonsnortedfrombehindtheblondgrizzlythatwasstillstandingprotectivelyinfrontofhim.Heclearedhis
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throatandapologizedwhenCreedtossedhimanannoyedglance.
Withasigh,Creedhookedhishandsonhisnakedhipsandsaid,“Aviana,Iwhole-heartedlyapologizeformyactionsheretoday.Ishould’velistenedbetterbeforeIpunishedEaston,and
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I’msorryifyougothurtinthatfight.”Hisshouldersliftedandfellinaheavysigh.“Welcometothemostfuckedupcrewofshiftersthateverwalkedthesemountains.”
“C-team!”Willasaid,shakingherhandslikecheerleaderpom-poms.
MostoftheGray
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Backswerenakedandbleeding,andGeorgiatheScaryBearwasnowlickingthebackofJason’ssmilingheaduntilhisdarkhairstoodupinalldirections.Mostofthemweresmilingdespitetheviolencethathadjustoccurred,andallwerestaringatAvianawhowashidingher
![Page 681: Gray Back Broken Bear (Gray Back Bears Book 4) - 1.droppdf.com1.droppdf.com/files/o2zrc/gray-back-broken-bear-gray-back-bears-bo… · Chapter One The thwack, thwack of Easton Novak’s](https://reader033.fdocuments.in/reader033/viewer/2022060605/605a63080f12e6686830f473/html5/thumbnails/681.jpg)
titsbehindherarmanddoingherbesttocoverherhoneypotwithanoakleafshe’dhurriedlypluckedfromtheground.
Hermouthwashangingopen,butshesnappeditclosedandswallowedhard.Inatinyvoice,shesaid,“Thankyou?”
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“Uuuh,Willa?”Giasaidinastrangetonebesideher.“Youwerewrong.Aviana’snotthefinalGrayBack.”
“Whatdoyoumean?”Creedasked,worryslashingthroughhischurning,silvereyes.
Gialookedatadamp
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streamthatwastrailingdowntheinsidelegsofherjeans.“Ithinkmywaterjustbroke.”
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ChapterFifteen
Eastonpacedthe
smallwaitingroom,bitingtheendofhisnailashecheckedthewindowfortheeight-hundredthtimeinthedirectionofGia’shospital
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room.Avianaunderstood.
He’dwatchedhelplesslyashismotherhaddiedduringchildbirth,andnowGiawashavingababy.
Hissnarlingandpacinghadalreadyscaredoffthehumansinthewaitingroom,sonowitwasjust
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AvianaandtherestoftheGrayBacks,minusCreedandGia,avendingmachinethatwasnowfreshoutofM&Ms,andanold,scratchycartoonplayingonthesmalltelevisioninthecorner.
“Ishouldbeinthere,”Eastonrumbled.
“No,”Avianasaid.
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“GiaandCreedhavetodothisontheirown.Therearedoctorsandnurseswhoknowexactlywhattheyaredoing.She’llbeallright.”
“Butit’stakingsolong.”
“Itusuallydoesforafirstbaby,”Willasaidfromthecornerwhereshehadher
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feetdrapedacrossMatt’slap.“She’stough.Giawillbeokay.”
ButevenWillalookedworried.Easton’spacinghadeveryoneunsettled.
Eastonskiddedtoastop,threwthedooropen,andthenboltedintothehallway.Theyallstoodtosee
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Creedcomingtowardthemwithabiggrinonhisface.AvianadriftedtothewindowtowatchEastontalktohisalpha.Creedgrippedhisshoulderandtalkedthroughhissmile,andlittlebylittleEastonrelaxed.AndwhenhefinallylookedbackatAviana,hisbrightgreeneyesheld
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relief.Herheartstoppedathowbeautifulhewas.
Eastonjoggedbacktoherandpulledherhand,leadingheroutofthewaitingareaandtowardGia’sroom.“Hurry,Ana.CreedsaidIcouldseeherfirstifwehurry.”
Aviana’svisionwas
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blurringwithtearsbecauseherEastonwashappy.Shecouldfeelitcomingoffhiminwaves.
Justoutsidethehospitalroom,Creedturnedtotheothersandmurmured,“Giveusaminute.”ThenhepushedopenthedoorandusheredEastonandAviana
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inside.Giasatonthebed,
comfortablelookingandeyesonlyforthetinybundleinherarms.Shesmiledemotionallywhenshelookedup,andEastonsatgentlyonherbedandtuckedherdisheveledhairbehindherear.
“Oh,mightylittle
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human,lookwhatyou’vedone,”Eastonsaid,hiseyesdippingtothesweetbaby.HepulledAvianacloserandmovedtheblanketfartherawayfromthesleepingbabe’sface.“Lookather,”hesaidonabreath.“Perfectineveryway.Gia,Gia,Gia,goodmommy.”
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Gia’sshoulderswereshakingnow,andshewassnifflingassherestedherheadagainstEaston’sshoulder.Creedstoodonherotherside,leaningoverthebabywiththeproudestlookinhisdarkeyes.
“Doyouwanttoholdher?”shewhisperedthickly
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toEaston.Hiseyeswentwide,
buthenoddedandheldhisarmsout.Giasetthetinybabygentlyinthecradleofhisarms.
Behindthem,therestofthecrewfiledinandsurroundedGia’sbedwithoohsandaahsatthetiny,
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blanketedgirlinEaston’sarms.
Slowly,Eastonleaneddownandsmelledthebaby’sbreath.“Whatdoyoucallher?”
“Rowan,”Creedsaidproudly.
“Arightpropernameforalittlegrizzly,”Willa
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said,leaningoverEaston’sshoulder.
EastonlookedupatCreedwithacurious,knowingsmilespreadingacrosshislips.“She’snotagrizzly.”
“What?”Giaasked,eyebrowsfurrowed.“She’sCreed’s.”
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“Oh,onelookatthecreatureshe’sharboring,andnoonewilleverquestionit.She’llbeatrueGrayBack.Afire-breatherwithsilverscales,descendedfromthelastmortaldragon,Creed’sgrandfather.”
“Can’tbe,”Creedsaidonabreath.“Shehastoo
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muchgrizzlyandnotenoughdragonbloodinher.”
Eastonsmiledatthebabyasherockedherinhisarms.“Ihadadreamabouther.Silvereyesandsilverscales.”
“Adream,”Mattsaid,soundingunconvinced.
Avianagrinnedslow,
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knowingEastonwasright.Hermatewasmoresensitivetothingsbeyondthisworld,justlikehismotherhadbeen.
“Don’tbelieveme?”Eastonaskedsoftly.Backandforth,backandforthherockedthesleepingnewborn.“Thensmellthedragon’sfireonherbreath.”
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ChapterSixteen
Lastnightwasthelast
timeshewouldsleepinthisoldhouse.Avianazippeduphersuitcaseandpulleditoffthericketybedshe’dsleptinasachild.Inhalingdeeply,
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shetookonelastlookatthetinycabinshe’dsharedwithherparentsallthoseyearsago.Asachild,thisplacehadseemedhuge,butthat’swhatchildhoodmemoriesdid.Theywarpedreality,makingeverythingseembiggerandgranderfromsuchasmallpointofview.
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Tonight,shewouldbemovingintoanoldsinglewidetrailerintheGraylandMobileParkthatthegirlscalled“ten-ten”andsworewasmagic.Shedidn’tknowwhatshewasgoingtodothereyet.MaybeshewouldteachshifterschoolwhenRowanandtheAshe
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Crewkidswereolder.OrperhapsshewouldhelpEastonsellhisknivesandfirewood.Ormaybeshewouldreinventherselfcompletelyandstartanewadventure.Shedidn’tknow.Allsheknewwasthatwhateverhappenednext,itwouldbebesideEaston.
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Avianasethersuitcasebythedoorandpulledhercelloutofherpurse.She’dchargeditinthecaruntilthebatterieswerefullbecausethiscallcouldn’tgetcutoff.Itwastooimportant.
Thefloorboardsoftheporchcreakedasshesettled
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ontothetopstair,andlookedovertheovergrownfrontyard.Shekickedarusted,bentnailwithherflip-flop,thinkingaboutwhatshewouldsaytothepeoplewhoseopinionmeanttheworldtoher.
Howdidshetellherparentsshe’dturnedherback
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onherpeople?Lickingherlips,she
scrolledthroughhercontactsandfoundthenumberlabeledHome.Shemadethecallandbitherthumbnailasshelistenedtoitringandwatchedatrioofbirdsflitacrossthetallgrass.
“Hello?”Dad
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answered.“Dad?”“Oooh,baby.What
haveyoudone?”Staticblastedacrosstheline,andDadcalledinamuffledvoice,“Marta,it’sher.Pickuptheotherline.”
Thelineclicked.“Aviana?”Momasked.
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“Hi,Mom.”“Honey,areyou
okay?”“Yes,yes,I’mfine.
Morethanfine.Ijust…Ihavetotellyoubothsomethingimportant.”
Thelinewentquiet.Aviana’spulsepoundedhardthinkingabouthow
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thoroughlyshewasabouttobreaktheirhearts.Theironlychild,denouncingherpeopleforacrewofbears.
“Goahead,”Dadsaidlow.
Avianaswallowedhardandblewoutalong,shakybreath.“Mom,Dad,IfoundEaston.ItoldCadenno
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onthecourtshipbecausethecubIknewallthoseyearsagohasgrownintoagoodman.Amanwhowillmakemehappyandgivemealifefulloflove.Ibelongwithhim.”Herthroattightenedoverthewords.“IbelongwithEastonandhispeople.”
“Oh,honey,”Mom
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said,“weknow.”PerhapsAvianahad
heardherwrong.“I’msorry…what?”
“Cadensentsomeofhispeopletowatchyou.Heforwardedusapictureofyousittinginabarwithamanwithgreeneyes.Yourfatherrecognizedhimrightaway.”
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“Youknew?”“Wejustwantedto
giveyouachancetotelluswhenyouwereready,”Momsaid.
Dadwassoquietthough,hemustbeangry.That’showhegotwhenhewasreallymad.Heholedupintohimselfwherenoone
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couldreachhim.“Dad,I’msorry.”“No,baby,”Dadsaid,
hiswordsbroken.“I’mtheonewho’ssorry.IpulledyouawayfromthatboywhenIknewyou’dbondedwithhim.Evenasyoungasyouwere,youcareddeeplyforhim,andIdidn’tlisten.Iwatchedyou
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witherforyears.Iwatchedyouneverconnectwithanyofourpeople.IwatchedyourfacewhenwegotthenewsthatCadenwantedtocourtyou.Ihopedyouwouldbehappy,butyouhadthisdoomedlookinyoureyes.It’ssomethingaparentneverwantstoseeintheirchild.I
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waswrongtoseparateyoufromEaston.AndIhope…”Dadclearedhisthroat.Moresoftly,hesaid,“Ihopethatsomedayyoucanforgiveme.”
Avianabitherlipsohardshetastediron.Shecouldn’tfallapartnow.“Dad,there’snothingtoforgive.I
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loveyoubothsomuch.Iknowyou’llhavetostoptalkingtomeafterI’mshunned—”
“Oh,nowewon’t,”Momsaiddefiantly.“Honey,we’vealreadybeenshunned.”
“What?”“WetoldCaden
wherehecouldshovehis
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threats,anditwaswherethesundon’tshine.Itwasadecisionwebothmadesolelybasedonthatpicture.”
“Whydidyoudothat?”
“Because,”Dadsaid,“inthepictureyouweresmilinglikewehaven’tseenyoudosinceyouwereakid.
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Ifourpeoplewanttobanishusforsupportingourdaughter’shappiness,sobeit.LivinganemptylifewithCadenisn’twhatwewantforyou.Wewantthatsmileyouhadinthepicture.TheoneyougetwithEaston.”
Allchokedupbyherparents’sacrifice,Aviana
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asked,“Willyouvisitme?IwantyoutomeetalloftheGrayBacks.They’relovely,andsonice.Scary,butprotectiveandfierce,andthewomenaresoimportantinthiscrew.Ifeelstronger.Andmyalphaandhismatehaveabrandnewbaby.Oh,she’ssotinyandcute.AndIwantyou
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tomeetthemanI’vefalleninlovewith.Eastoniswildandpowerful,buthe’salsosweetandtakescareofme.Hemakesmehappy.Iwantyoutoseehowhe’sturnedout,andthenyouwon’thavetoworryaboutmelivingwithbearsanymore.Heprotectsme.Always.”
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ShecouldhearthesmileinMom’svoicewhenshesaid,“Ofcourse.Wecan’twaittomeetEastonandallofyournewcrew.”
“Yes,”Dadmurmured.“We’relookingforwardtoseeingtheoldcabinagainandseeingyouwithyour…mate.Bearpairs
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arecalledmates,right?”Avianalaughed
thicklyandhuggedthephonetightertoherear.“Yes.”Itstillmadehergiddytohearthatword.
“We’rehappyyou’vefoundyourplace,Aviana,”Momsaid,soundingproud.“Ourbravelittleraven.We
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loveyou.”“Iloveyouboth,too.
Somuch.”“Okay,honey.We’ll
talksoon.Letusknowwhenyousettleenoughforvisitors.”
“Iwill.”“Bye-byenow,”Dad
said.
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“Bye,”Avianasaidonahappysighbeforeshehungup.
Shesmileddownatthescreenofherphoneforalongtime,lookingatherreflection.Itwasthere.Dadwasright.Itwasasmileshedidn’trememberseeingbefore.Atoothyone,given
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freelyandeasily.OneconjuredbythejoyEastonhadputbackintoherheart.Herparentshadbeenshunnedbecauseofherdecisiontochaselove,yettheyhadn’tmadeherfeelguiltyoverit.Instead,they’dbeenhappythatshe’dfoundwhatshe’dbeensearchingfor.
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Excited,Avianaranbackinsideandgrabbedthehandleofhersuitcase.Afteronelastlookaroundthecabin,sheclosedthedooranddraggedherluggagetohercar.
TheGrayBackCrewwascookingabigmealtonight.Hotwingswithbeer
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tocelebratehermovinginto1010.Nowshedidn’thavetogowithaheavyheartthatshe’dhurtherparents.Shecouldherlifewithhernewcrewandthemansheloved.
Now,herfuturewithEastonstretchedonandon.
Shewasfree.****
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AvianasearchedthewoodsforherEastontomakesurehehadn’tgottenoffworkearly,butthewoodswereemptysavetheeveningbirdsflittingbacktotheirnestsandthecicadassingingtheirrattlingsong.Thiswasthegame.Sneakinglittletrinketsforherlove,surprise
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giftstomakeupfortheyearsshehadn’tbeenabletofindshinypresentsandgivethemtohim.Today,she’dfoundasilverbeadalongahikingtrailmilesaway.
Eastonalwaysgaveherdimplesmileswhenshefoundhimsomethingtotuckawayinhistackleboxof
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treasuresunderhisbed.Inthelasttwoweeks,
AvianahadsettledintolifeattheGraylandMobilePark.CreedandGiawerenowparentingtinyRowan,andtheGrayBackswereallsmitten.Willahadherwormfarminfullswingforthefishingseason,andGeorgiahadher
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woodstoprotect.Eveningswerespenteatingtogetherasacrewandlaughingintothenight.Yesterday,EastonhadsharedwithhisbelovedGrayBacksthestoryofhowhe’dslowlylosthishumanity,andtherehadbeennotasingledryeyeashefinishedwithhowhe’dfeltthedayhe’d
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foundoutAvianawashisraven.
Shewassodamnedproudofherbravebrokenbear.
TheGrayBacksstillfoughtliketitansandbledeachotherregularly,butthatwasunlikelytoeverchange.It’sjusthowhercrewwas,
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butthatdidn’tmeantheydidn’tcareabouteachother.Thesepeople,whoshe’dbeensoafraidofallherlife,woulddieforeachotherinaheartbeat.Andnowshewasincludedinthatcircleofsafety.Inthesamemeasure,shewouldgiveanythingforherpeople,whomshe’d
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growntoloveindescribablymuch.
Shinysilverbeadinherbeak,Avianaswoopeddowntothewindowsillwhereshealwaysdroppedhisgifts.Itwasthesinglewindowtohisworkshop,justlikethesillshe’ddroppedthatfirstfoldedpaperclip
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onto.Ithadasmallsplitinthewoodforbalancingroundobjects,andasshelandedontheledgetodrophertreasurethere,shedrewupshort.
Therewasalreadysomethingsilverandshinyinthecrease.
Thebeadfellfromhermouthandrolledtothe
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groundassherealizedwhatitwas.
Itwasaring.Glitteringdiamonds
encircledtheband,andinthecentersettingwasagiftshewouldneverforget.Itwasthediamondshe’dgivenhimallthoseyearsago—herfinalpresentbeforeshe’dleft.
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Shescannedthewoods,andhergazelandedonEaston,leaningagainstatreeasifhe’dbeenthereallalong,armscrossedandeyesglowinginthewaningeveninglight.
Avianapushedoffthewindowledgeandtuckedhercrowawayintoherhuman
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skin.“Easton,”shewhispered,tearsburninghereyes.
Slowly,heapproached,eyesneverleavinghers.Withaslightsmile,hepluckedtheringfromthewindowsillanddroppedtobothkneesinthedirt.
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“Yousavedme—”“Ididn’t.”He’dsaved
himself.“Youdid.”His
eyebrowsliftedasheleveledherwithaseriouslook.“Youarepatientandcaringandunderstanding,evenwhenI’mconfused.Yougooutofyourwaytomakemefeel
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caredforandappreciated.”Heswallowedhardandliftedthering.“Ineverwantyoutoleavemeagain.”
Avianafellforwardandhuggedhisshouldersuptight.“Iwouldneverleaveyou,Easton.You’remine.”
Herockedhergently,rubbingherback.“Softand
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fulloftears,”hewhispered.“It’stoomuch,”she
murmuredassheeasedbackandlookedatthering.
“It’snot.Youlikeshinythings,andItoldyou,Ihavethemeanstotakecareofyou.Whatdoyousay,Ana?Willyoumarryme?”
Anemotionalsmile
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stretchedherface,andshenoddedasthefirsttearslippedtohercheek.“Yes,Easton.I’llmarryyou.”
“I’llmakeyouhappy,”hepromisedasheslippedtheringontoherfinger.“I’llalwayskeeptryingtobebetterforyou.”
Sheshookherhead
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andcuppedhischeeks,liftinghiswildgazetohers.“You’realreadyperfectforme.”
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ChapterSeventeen
Nervesflutteredin
Aviana’sstomachlikebutterflywings.“Youlookgrumpy.”
Easton’sfrowndeepenedashehookedhis
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armoverthesteeringwheelofhispickupandgasseditupasteephill.“Ijustdon’tunderstandwhythoseassholescouldn’twaitfiveminutes.ItoldthemIwasrunninglate.”
Yeah,he’dbeenlatebecauseshemightormightnothavehiddenallhiswork
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jeansinthebackofhiscloset.She’dneededtobuythecrewalittlebitmoretime,though,sodesperatetimesandmeasuresandall.
“Areyousureyouaren’tgoingtogetboredtoday?”heasked.“It’shot,andwatchingusstriplumberwon’tbeanyfun.Andwhy
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areyouwearingthosecontraptions?”Helookedpointedlyatherwedgeheelsshe’dworntomatchherpastelpinksundress.
“Iwanttolookprettyforyou.”
“Ana,youlookprettyinwhateveryouwear.Thosepokeyshoesaren’tsafeto
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wearoutonthelanding.Youcouldbreakanankle.Andputahardhaton.”Hisbeargrowledalongrattlingsoundinhischestashereachedintohisbackseat,thenhandedherayellowhat.Hedraggedhisgazebacktotheswitchbackhewasmaneuveringandadded,“Please.”
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Shewastryingherbesttohideasmile.Eastonwasoverprotective,nomatterhowhardhetriednottobe.Hisbear’sinstinctsgotkickedupeasily,andshesecretlyadoredthathefussedoverhersafety.
Shedidasheaskedandsettledthehatonher
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head.Itwasgoingtomessuphercurls,butthatwasokay.Pursingherlips,shefiddledwithherengagementring,twistingitbackandforth.Shecouldn’thelpbutwatchhim.Theywerealmostthere,andallofthesecrethardworkwasabouttopayoff.Shehoped.
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Eastonshotherasuspiciousglance,thenpulledhisattentionbacktothelastbighillbeforetheyreachedthelanding.WhentheoldFordcrestedthetop,Eastoneasedoffthegasashiseyeswentround.
Thelandingwasfullofpeople,allwaitingforhim.
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“Whatisthis?”heaskedashepulledtoastopinfrontofthecrowd.
“They’reallhereforyou.”
“Forme?”Sheswallowedher
emotionsdownandwhispered,“Todayisourweddingday.”
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Eastonletoffasmallgaspandblinkedhardatherbeforehelookedattheirweddingguestsagain.“Didyoubegthemtocome?”
“No,Easton.Theycamebecausetheycareaboutyou.”
Hepushedopenthedoorandstoodbesidehis
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truck,staringatthecrowdandlookingshockedtohisbones.
MomwascryingfromwheresheandDadstoodwiththeGrayBacks,frontandcenter.Willaletoffashrillwhistleandbeganclapping.Theothersjoinedin,cheeringandwhooping.Taganandhis
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AsheCrewweretherebehindtheGrayBacks,alongwithKongandhisLowlandersandHarrisonandhisBoarlanders.EvenClintonwastherewithhisnewcrew,lookingemotionalasheclappedwiththeothers.DamonDayestoodofftotheside,holdinghisgreat-granddaughter,
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Rowan,asCreedstoodbesidehim,smilingproudlyatEaston.
Avianawalkedaroundthefrontofthetruckandnudgedhisside.“Whatdoyousay?Youwanttomarrymetoday?”
Eastonwasnoddingoverandoverashiseyes
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rimmedwithemotion.“Good,”shesaid,
tugginghishandtowardtheAsheCrew’salpha.Taganwascertifiedtoperformceremonies,andwhenshe’dbravedtheAshelandMobileParktoaskhimtoofficiatethewedding,heandhiscrewhadofferedtohelpherand
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theGrayBacksplaneverything.
ShewipedherdamplasheswiththebackofherhandassheledEastontotheedgeofthelandingwhereherparentshaddecoratedthemachinerywithwhiteribbonsandoversizedbouquetsofwildflowers.
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“Beforewestart,”Tagansaid,“youralphawantstosayafewwords.”
Creedsteppedforwardandclearedhisthroat.“Easton,fromthedayyouaskedmetotakeyouintomycrew,Iknewyouwerespecial.Iknewyouhadgreatnessinyou.WhenI
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cameupwithourname,theGrayBacks,InamedusforyouandyoursilverbearbecauseIknewyouhadpotentialtobethebestofusifyoujustputinthework.Andoverthepastcoupleofyears,I’vewatchedyougrowandopenupinwaysthatIcouldn’timaginewhenIfirst
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sawyou,wild-eyedandbarelyincontrol.Andnowyou’vefoundAna,andI’msodamnedproudwhenIseehowwellyoutreather.Howhardyoutrywiththerestofusnow.”Creednodded,darkeyesfilling.“Andtoday,IcansayIwasright.Youreallyarethebestofus.Youturnedout
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tobeoneofmybestfriendsandamanIadmiredeeplyfornevergivingup.I’msohappyforyou,man.”Hisvoicecrackedonthelastword,andheturnedasGiahandedhimathickbrownenvelope.
AsCreedrippedopenthesealedflap,EastonhuggedAvianatightlyagainst
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hissideandseemedcompletelyoverwhelmedwithemotionashetossedherhardhattotheground.Hekissedherhairlineandlethislipslingerthere.
“Easton,yourmatecametomeandtoldmeyou’vealwayswantedtovisitsomeplacefaraway.AndI
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knowyoudon’tthinkyou’rereadytogoalone,orevenjustwithAviana,butweallchippedinand…well…here.”HehandedEastontheopenedenvelope.
Easton’schintrembledashepulledtheitineraryoutandscannedthefirstcoupleofpages.“The
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GrandCanyon?”hewhisperedasheliftedadisbelievinggazetoCreed.
“We’reallgoingwithyou,man.Allofyourcrew.Yourpeople.Yourfriends.We’lltakeyouthereandmakesureyoustayincontrol.Damonhasgivenustheentireweekoff,sowe’re
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leavingtomorrowmorning.Easton…”Creedsaid,grippinghisshouldersandshakinghimslowly.“It’sgoingtobeamazing.”
“Oh,man.Ijust—faraway?”EastonfumbledhiswordsashehuggedCreedhardandclappedhimontheback.“Thankyou.”
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“Allright,let’sgetthesetwohitched,”Tagansaidthroughagrin.“Thereceptionbarbecueisgettingcold.”
AvianalaughedthicklyandsquaredhershouldersuptoEaston,thentookhishandsinhers.Youready,shemouthed.
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Easton’sglowingeyeswerecertainashenodded.
Tagan’swordswereloudandclear,echoingacrossthelandingwhenhesaid,“WearegatheredheretodaytowitnessthematrimonyofAvianaKingandEastonNovak.”
“No,”hermatesaid
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low,searchinghereyes.“It’snotEaston.”Aslowsmilespreadacrosshisface.“It’sBeaston.”
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Surprise
Announcement
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Kongwillgethisstoryin
LowlanderSilverback
ComingOctober2015
![Page 773: Gray Back Broken Bear (Gray Back Bears Book 4) - 1.droppdf.com1.droppdf.com/files/o2zrc/gray-back-broken-bear-gray-back-bears-bo… · Chapter One The thwack, thwack of Easton Novak’s](https://reader033.fdocuments.in/reader033/viewer/2022060605/605a63080f12e6686830f473/html5/thumbnails/773.jpg)
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NewRelease
NewsletterSign-Up
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Fornewreleases,exclusivesneak
peeks,andgiveaways,signupfor
T.S.Joyce’sBearShifter
RomanceNewsletterHERE.
![Page 776: Gray Back Broken Bear (Gray Back Bears Book 4) - 1.droppdf.com1.droppdf.com/files/o2zrc/gray-back-broken-bear-gray-back-bears-bo… · Chapter One The thwack, thwack of Easton Novak’s](https://reader033.fdocuments.in/reader033/viewer/2022060605/605a63080f12e6686830f473/html5/thumbnails/776.jpg)
WantMoreofThese
Characters?
ReadT.S.Joyce’sbestsellingSaw
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Bearsseries.
Completeseries,availablenow.
LumberjackWerebear(Book1)
WoodcutterWerebear(Book2)
TimbermanWerebear(Book3)
SawmanWerebear(Book4)
AxmanWerebear(Book5)
WoodsmanWerebear(Book6)
LumbermanWerebear(Book7)
![Page 778: Gray Back Broken Bear (Gray Back Bears Book 4) - 1.droppdf.com1.droppdf.com/files/o2zrc/gray-back-broken-bear-gray-back-bears-bo… · Chapter One The thwack, thwack of Easton Novak’s](https://reader033.fdocuments.in/reader033/viewer/2022060605/605a63080f12e6686830f473/html5/thumbnails/778.jpg)
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OtherSeriesbyT.S.
Joyce
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FireBears
BearMySoul(Book1)
BeartheBurn(Book2)
BeartheHeat(Book3)
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BearValleyShifters
TheWitnessandtheBear(Book1)
DevotedtotheBear(Book2)
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ReturntotheBear(Book3)
BetraytheBear(Book4)
RedeemtheBear(Book5)
BearValleyValentine(Valentine’s
DayNovella)
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HellsCanyon
Shifters
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CalloftheBear(Book1)
FealtyoftheBear(Book2)
AvengetheBear(Book3)
ClaimtheBear(Book4)
HeartoftheBear(Book5)
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WolfBrides
WolfBride(Book1)
RedSnowBride(Book2)
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DawsonBride(Book3)
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StandaloneShifter
Romance
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CovetedbytheBear
Amazon
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Standalone
Contemporary
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AbouttheAuthor
T.S.Joyce
T.S.Joyceisdevotedto
bringinghotshifterromancesto
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readers.Hungryalphamalesare
hercallingcard,andthewilderthe
men,themoreshe'llmakethem
pourtheirheartsout.Experienced
athandlinganalphamaleofher
own,shelivesinatinytown,
outsideofatinycity,anddevotes
herlifetowritingbigstories.
Foodie,bearwhisperer,ninja,thief
oftinybottlesofawesome
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smellinghotelshampoo,nap
connoisseur,moviefanatic,and
zombieslayer,andmostofthisbio
istrue.
BearShifters?Check
SmolderingAlphaHotness?
DoubleCheck
SexyScenes?Fastenupyour
girdles,ladiesandgents,it’sgonna
tobeawildride.
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FormoreinformationaboutT.
S.Joyceandherwork,visither
websitehere.
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ContentsOtherBooksinthisSeriesCopyrightChapterOneChapterTwoChapterThreeChapterFourChapterFiveChapterSixChapterSevenChapterEightChapterNineChapterTen
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ChapterElevenChapterTwelveChapterThirteenChapterFourteenChapterFifteenChapterSixteenChapterSeventeenSurpriseAnnouncementNewsletterSign-UpWantMoreofThese
Characters?OtherSeriesbyT.S.
JoyceBearValleyShiftersHellsCanyonShiftersWolfBrides
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StandaloneShifterRomance
StandaloneContemporaryRomance
AbouttheAuthor