Betray the Bear (Bear Valley Shifters #4)(32)

“Hello, love,” he said.

The endearment made her stomach feel like she’d swallowed cold acid.

When he reached her, he leaned down to kiss her cheek and she jerked away. His blue eyes turned as cold as snow. “What information have you got for me, mate?”

With a strong, steadying breath, she said, “I’m not your mate. I never was and you tricked us into thinking differently.”

Nathan scoffed. “Is this because you aren’t marked, love? Bear me a cub and I’ll consider it.” He wrapped his fingers around her throat so fast, he blurred. “Now tell me what you’ve found, before I lose my patience.”

“Nothing,” she gasped, clawing at his hand. “They’re good people.”

The world tipped as she was dragged backward and without breath, she grew dizzy. Her body made a thud against a nearby tree and pain ripped through her as he lowered her down to eye level. Her shirt came up and the jagged bark of the tree cut into her back. Tears came unbidden to her eyes. She’d never been so scared.

“Tell me,” he said, his voice crackling with authority and dominance.

Her bear was hidden so deep down she couldn’t even feel her anymore, as if she were human instead of shifter now. Powerless. Anya wanted to hide with her, far away from his gaze that promised her slow death.

“You have lost your mind, Nathan.” Her voice trembled like a flame, but this had to be said. “You’ve used your people to fight your wars, killing hundreds of our kind in the process. I won’t help you hurt Bear Valley. They are the best of us left. You sent the wrong person to spy for you. I’m not like you. I still have a soul.”

His nostrils flared and his face turned red with rage. “You smell like another, you little whore.” His grip shifted to her hair and he wrenched her head backward as her feet hit the ground. “Tell me you didn’t let someone else f*ck you, bitch. Tell me!”

Tears streamed down her cheeks as her hair lifted from her scalp and desperately, she tried to pry his hands free. “I have a mate now. I belong to Bear Valley.”

His chuckle was low and cruel. “No, Anya. You belong to me.” He ripped her shirt at the collar and threw her down to the ground, then pulled a knife from behind him. She scrambled backward but he was on her so fast. “I’m going to mark you, then I’m going to kill you for your betrayal, and you’ll die mine, as the mate of the alpha of the Long Claws.”

She screamed in terror and fought like some wild thing. Her bear finally stirred, angry with his treacherous plans. He brought the knife to her sternum and she begged, “Please don’t do this. Please!”

His smile was empty as she felt the tip of the knife cut into her chest, and suddenly, her bear was there—loud, roaring and scrabbling to escape.

Anya let her beast out.

Her Andean bear exploded from her and Nathan changed into a giant white polar bear at almost the same moment. One of the last of his kind, his fur was tinged in blue under the moonlight. He stood and roared and she spun and ran back for Bear Valley as fast as she could.

He was going to kill her. She was going to die so close to sanctuary and she grunted with every desperate foothold she gained. He was right behind her, his breath brushing the fur of her back. Pushing herself faster and faster, trees and brush whipped by her in a blur. The fence! She skidded into a pole, barely able to avoid the barbed wires. This was it—her last stand. Turning, she stood on her hind legs and prepared to fight the bastard.

Crashing brush echoed through the woods and he stood to meet her, paw raised high.

And it became so clear.

She knew what he wanted to do. His empty, soulless eyes conveyed the plan of a mad man. He was still going to mark her before he killed her. As his curved claws arched toward her shoulder, she went limp in a split second decision. She’d die now, but she was going to anyway. At least this way would be quicker and she’d go unmarked by the man who had caused her so much pain and uncertainty.

Red seared across her neck and face and tufts of her creamy white fur floated the air as she hit the ground.

Just as Nathan turned to finish her off, a blur of red fur flashed over the fence and the murderous white bear disappeared under a mass of it. A roar of pain broke through the night and the sound of slapping claws made her wince in remembered agony. Chase was here! He’d come for her, and he was fighting Nathan. He was a warrior, fighting furiously against Nathan as each powerful claw and bite pushed the white bear farther away from her.

She tried to sit up but nothing seemed to work right. A hand stilled her.

“Shhh,” Joanna said from above her. Where had she come from? And why was she crying? “Just lay still now.” Her voice was thick with emotion and warm tear drops pit-patted against Anya’s fur. “Everything is going to be okay.” Standing, Joanna loaded a shotgun with giant shells and clicked the barrel closed.

For her betrayal, Anya deserved this. She wished she could tell Joanna it was okay. That she was right to do this. That she couldn’t be saved anyway. She wished she could explain to her that she would need to move on from what she had to do here tonight, and live without fear of Anya haunting her.

Joanna lifted the gun and pulled the trigger.





Chapter Eleven



Joanna aimed the shot blast into the air and the noise boomed against the woods.