Avenge the Bear Read Online Free

material of his shirt contrasted with the black T-shirt that stretched across his tight chest underneath. His outer work shirt was unbuttoned so that she could ogle one perfectly puckered nipple that had drawn up against the thinner material of his T.
    She was staring. When she dragged her eyes upward, it was clear he’d been staring too.
    “You like what you see, Mrs. Evans?” he asked.
    Dropping her gaze to the corner of his polished desk, she clenched her hands in her lap. Heat flared up her neck and landed in her cheeks, and still the man watched her.
    “Ethan, stop being a dick,” Muriel growled out. “She just lost someone, and you remind her of him.”
    When she dared to look at him again, his eyes, so like Trent’s in shape and color, had softened. “I’m sorry for your loss,” he said gruffly.
    She was going to cry like a little cub if he didn’t release her gaze. Already, moisture burned her eyes, and she wanted to run from this room. Memories of Trent battered her—fights they’d had where he looked serious and unhappy like Ethan did now. She couldn’t speak to thank him for his condolences, though that seemed to be what he was waiting for. If she spoke, her voice would crack and give away just how badly she was breaking apart inside.
    “Have you brought me here just to lecture me about my life choices and embarrass my friend?” Muriel asked in a cold voice. Bless that woman for drawing his attention away. “Because I’ll tell you, what I do with my life is none of this clan’s damned business. I pledged to Hells Canyon and my alpha has no problem with my decisions. In fact, Bron is one of my mate’s best friends. What happens in Joseph with Bron’s clan is none of your concern.”
    “Your father is sick,” Ethan said softly.
    “What?” Muriel frowned, her delicate eyebrows drawing down as she shook her head in disbelief.
    “He’s been sick for some time. He started showing signs of weakness in his last year as alpha. We thought he would recover when the strain of the rank passed to me, but in the past five months, he’s only become worse. I tried to convince him to make amends with you before he passes. I’ve pushed for you to come up here much sooner to see him, but you know your father. His stubborn streak is much wider than mine. He still doesn’t want to see you, but he’s too weak to stop me from bringing you here and giving you the choice.”
    Muriel stared with a horrified expression at a framed picture of her father that hung from the wall behind Ethan’s shoulder. “Where is he?”
    “After his alpha term, we moved him from the big house back to the cabin he raised you in. It’s the one he asked for.”
    Muriel stood so fast, the chair behind her made an awful screeching sound across the wood planks of the floor.
    “Do you want me to come with you?” Reese asked.
    “No,” Ethan answered for her. “Marsden is going to be mad enough when he sees Muriel. Best you stay clear of him.”
    Why did he care about whether she got fileted by Muriel’s dad? He seemed to be completely fine with embarrassing her a minute ago. Muriel left and Reese stood to follow.
    “Would you like a tour of the place?” Ethan said. The words were polite enough, but he sounded like he’d had to force them from his throat out of politeness.
    “No thank you,” she said, offering him an out. “I’m sure you’re really busy picking up litter and making sure hikers stay on the trails. I’ll just wait in the jeep for Muriel to be finished.”
    She turned to leave, but the squeaking chair stopped her. Ethan stood to his full height. The man had to be six-foot-two at least, and damn could he wear a pair of standard issue green ranger cargo pants. A belt was slung low across his hips with several closed compartments and a walkie-talkie on one side.
    “Is that what you think I do? Pick up litter all day?”
    She crossed her arms, not about to get into a pissing war about how important his job