Avenge the Bear Read Online Free Page A

was.
    “What do you really think of this place?” His voice dipped to a low and dangerous sound.
    “What does it matter what I think?”
    “It matters to me.”
    “But why? You don’t know me and you all seem to be doing just fine up here without some townie’s opinion. Care less about what others think, Ethan. It’ll serve you better than caring too much.”
    He canted his head and watched her with a predatory gaze. His dark eyes tightened at the corners, and he placed his hands behind his back. His posture was impeccable and it made her stand a little taller so she wouldn’t look like a slouch. “I don’t give a shit what others think. I want to know what you think.”
    His direct way of talking to her made her uncomfortable—made her want to run from this place and seek shelter in the jeep where she would be safe. He hadn’t made any physical threats to her, but something about this man made it feel like a very bad idea to engage him. Then again, he’d asked for it. “I think you hide away in these mountains to avoid the real world. You encourage your children not to interact with humans so you feel safe. I think you’re scared.”
    A vacant smile ghosted his lips and he huffed a small laugh. “I think you’re scared to come with me, because I might prove your judgments wrong.”
    She’d watched Samantha go through the horrible change of turning into a bear shifter. She’d watched her old alpha, Dodger, stab Samantha, right in front of her eyes. Reese had fought viciously with black bears of her own clan to keep Sam safe, and on top of everything else, she’d lost Trent. For the past six months, she’d gone straight to hell and back, so no. She wasn’t scared of being wrong. “I’m not scared of anything.”
    Ethan lifted his chin. “Good bear. Come with me.”
    As he passed, she scented pine and aftershave and animal. She inhaled again quickly so she could put his smell to memory. Wait, what was she doing? She shouldn’t care about his scent or his job or why he didn’t have any damned smile lines. She had enough problems without harboring feelings for an alpha of wilderness recluses. Like finding Trent’s murderer.
    She could do this. She could take a little tour from Ethan with his sexy mouth and intoxicating smell and come out unaffected. Why? Because she was Reese Evans, and she was a fighter. Plus, she’d spent years with Trent, who smiled and laughed all the time. She liked that. Ethan probably didn’t smile ever. She couldn’t find a worse match for herself if she tried.
    His work boots made giant prints in the dirt, and just out of curiosity, she placed her own hiking boot inside of one of them. She almost laughed at the size difference. His made her feet look shrimpy. He’d made some distance between them while she’d played footsie in the mud, so she jogged to keep up.
    A row of SUVs and pickup trucks lined a dirt road at the back of the camp. They were all painted the same shade of forest green, and all boasting the same tan ranger logos as the one she’d seen earlier.
    Ethan stopped at a jacked up Ford Bronco with fat off-road tires, and opened the passenger door. With an unreadable expression, he waited for her to get in, then reached across her lap.
    “Whoa, what are you doing?”
    He looked up at her like he’d just remembered she was even here. Clearing his throat, he said, “The buckle has a trick to it.”
    His face was so close, only inches away, and the weight of his torso pressed warmly against her legs. Her breath caught in her throat and she swallowed hard. “Okay.”
    Ethan jiggled the clasp and forced the buckle closed, then hesitated. Turning his face, he watched her closely as he eased away. Whatever he saw in her eyes, she hadn’t a guess, but his dark eyebrows drew down like he was confused by something.
    “You smell like woods and bear and arousal.” He canted his head and frowned. “You don’t smell like a man.”
    Shocked at his open way of