Taming the Bear Collection Read Free

mind. "I don't understand these pack dynamics either."
           Eva nodded in silent agreement; this girl had only known about werewolves for three days and even she saw how confusing yet enchanting they could be. It was like Eva was trapped in a wonderful world, like none she could have ever dreamed of, but there was a dark underbelly that she couldn't escape. But each time she looked into Rowan's wonderful honey-brown eyes she knew it was all worth it. Unfortunately those eyes were fixed completely on his sister.
           She shouldn't be jealous at all; she knew it would all blow over soon and they could return to their lives. Hell, Rowan had finally gone out and bought her that big screen TV she'd wanted and had had the cable hooked up the day before. He was making all kinds of concessions for her.
           Of course she couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. Then it dawned on her. She nearly slapped her forehead and screamed at her own stupidity. The strangeness she felt wasn't coming from her at all, it was coming from Rowan.
           The emotional bond they had formed was strong, but Rowan had learned to mask his emotions from her since they had first established it. Right now he was trying to hide his emotions from her, but they were so strong he couldn't hide them completely, leading to a mixed bag of pain and fear that was making Eva feel completely wrong.
           This has to be painful for him, she realized. I have to let him work through this. He'll come to me when he's ready.
           "We should go," Hawk said, breaking her train of thought. "I need to take Ciara back to her car and then I need to figure out what we're going to do."
           Rowan broke away from his sister, looking up at the skinny by comparison alpha wolf. "You're gone after all of this is over, aren't you?"
           Hawk tried to peel away and not make eye contact with Rowan, but the sly grin on his face gave his intentions away. "I will save the town I love once more, but after that it's in my rearview mirror."
           "Fair enough," Rowan said.
           Hawk must not have expected Rowan's answer because his head shot back up, his mouth hanging open.
           "We've all had a lot of painful memories brought up lately," Rowan said as he put a hand on Hawk's shoulder. "I don't blame anyone for wanting to leave it behind completely. Besides, it looks like you have better things to do than waste your life being someone's watchdog."
           Ciara giggled as Rowan winked at her, sending another pang of jealousy into Eva's heart. She was going to have to get over these feelings. It had to be Rowan's fucked-up emotions that were doing it to her.
           "Do not tell Aster of this," Rowan said. "He doesn't need to know about Leena's return yet."
           "I wholeheartedly agree," Hawk said. "He needs to worry about Forrest right now."
           Rowan clenched his fist as if he was looking for something, or someone, to put it through. "He's a dead wolf."
           Eva couldn't take any more of this; she had to separate herself from the situation. Usually she could control her emotions better when she wasn't face to face with Rowan.
           "I'm going to go check on Rain," she said, heading for the street.
           "Hey!" Rowan called after her, jogging to catch her just by the edge of the yard. "Are you okay?"
           "I'm fine," she lied.
           "Are you sure?"
           "Yes, mister. Go be with your sister. I'll be back in a little bit."
           "Okay, then." He leaned in and gave her a long kiss on the forehead before turning back to his guests.
           Eva glanced at them all one more time before crossing the street to her unlikely best friend's house. When she was first brought to Bucklin, she'd felt like more of a captive than anything else. Rowan had been holding here there for her protection, but he was cold and