Her Bear Protector (BBW Shifter Romance) by Bonnie Burrows Page B

approached me, his eyes dark.
                He studied my face for a long moment, muscles working in his jaw, before speaking. "I almost don't even know what to say. You didn't trust me that everything was going to be all right, and you should have."
                I turned my gaze to the ground, realizing he was right. "I know, but-"
                "Unbelievable. You still have a 'but.'"
                I lifted my face. "I just wanted to make sure you were okay."
                "Again, you should have trusted me."
                I nodded, my gaze on the ground again.
                "Calvin and Seth are in pretty bad shape. We need to get them to the cabins. We'll talk more later."
                I nodded again, wondering if Aaron would still want to be with me even though I hadn't trusted him. Wondering if he still loved me.
                That afternoon, back at the cabin settlement, after Seth and Calvin had been bandaged and cared for and it was certain they'd be okay, I went to look for Aaron in his cabin, but he wasn't there. I sat down on his bed, my head in my hands. Before long, there was a knock at the door, and I answered it.
                Emily stood outside, a tiny bruise on one side of her forehead from when Alexander had shaken her off. "Can I come in?"
                I nodded and led her inside. We both sat down at a table adjacent to Aaron's bedroom.
                I sighed. "I guess I really goofed, Emily. I thought I was changing a pattern of me running from things, and I thought I would make certain that Aaron would be okay. But I guess I only showed that I don't trust him a hundred percent yet."
                She gave me a little smile. "Everyone goofs up. And trust takes a long time to build. You and Aaron will just have to keep working on it."
                "If he'll ever forgive me. And if he even still loves me."
                "I know he'll forgive you. And I know he still loves you. He'll just maybe need some time to get over being upset with you. Which, you know he's only angry because he cares so much about you that it kills him to think about what could have happened to you."
                I nodded. "I know. But it's sure not a great feeling to have the man you love mad at you."
                "Don't I know it. Calvin's not very pleased with me right now, either. I've been officially banned from being present at all future possible battles."
                We talked for a little while longer, and presently I asked Emily if she knew where Aaron was. She said that somehow, one of the wolves had escaped the fray during the battle and had started running east toward Canada.
                "Aaron and Lucas went to push him along a bit and make sure he stays gone. I guess they decided to let him live. And maybe this is a good thing for you, that  Aaron went to do this task. Maybe when he returns tonight, he will have cooled off a bit."
                I said I certainly hoped so.
                We soon left Aaron's cabin, but before we did, Emily stopped in the doorway and gave me a hug.
                "By shooting Alexander, you probably saved my life. Thank you. I think we're officially sisters now. And that makes me very happy."
                Aaron returned late that night, showered, and climbed into his bed with me. I snuggled into him, testing him to see if he'd push me away. But to my surprise, he took me in his arms and held me tighter than he ever had before, planting kisses all over my face. When he finally finished, I pulled away a little, searching his features in dim light from a lamp on the nightstand.
                "Does this mean you're not mad at me anymore?"
                "No. I'm still very angry with you, actually. And I'll probably continue to be for a