Taming a Bear: Not Your Average Fox: BBW Shifter Romance (Red Moon Seduction) (4 page)

Anna looked away. She wanted to believe him. Her heart melted. She needed to believe him. It would make life so much easier, but the simple fact was – she didn’t trust him. “Matt, I don’t know what to do. We are obviously made for one another, and yet…”

“Kai claimed her tonight,” he said quickly. “They are a pair. She’ll come clean now. I’m sure of it. She’ll tell you the truth finally.”

She shook her head. “I don’t want to hear anything she has to say, and I’m not going to believe her either
way.”

“You have to understand, there are some things I can’t tell you.” He shook his head. “I know you don’t understand.”

“If I’m your fated mate, you should be able to tell me anything. If we’re meant to be together…” she trailed off, frustrated.

“Anna, this is bigger than you and me. I’m bound by duty.” He’d already said too much.

“Is this your job? You’re an officer, I get that, but town inspections and keeping the peace don’t make up for this.” How could he expect her to buy that line?

“I was protecting you,” he growled. “I can’t say anything else. You have to believe in me. You’re all I’ve ever wanted.”

“But you can’t trust me to tell me the truth, and I can’t trust you with my heart.” Her eyes welled up with tears. “There’s nobody I love more, and yet I can’t be with you, not knowing you might stray.”

“I didn’t stray, Anna!” He
grunted with anger. “I didn’t betray you. I was honoring you, keeping you safe, and you only see me as some liar.”

“Keeping me safe? From what?” She laughed in disgust. “I’m hardly a threat to society.”

Matt stood and started pacing. “Anna, I can’t tell you anymore. You either accept I’m telling you the truth or you don’t. There’s nothing I can do to turn back time, but look into my eyes, look into my heart, and know I’d never hurt you, and what I did, I had to. My hands were tied; it was the best thing for all of us at the time.”

Anna closed her eyes. She didn’t want to look into his heart. She knew she’d cave. Knew she’d need him. Knew she wanted him like no other. But she was almost more than aware of their past. A year may have passed, but she couldn’t undo what she saw and heard, and Bunny more than cemented it for her. “I’m sorry, Matt.” She got up to leave.

“NO!” He demanded she stay. “We’re not finished here. We aren’t done.”

She looked over her shoulder and walked away.

“Anna, I love you.” A hot tear ran down his cheek.

“And I love you,” she whispered. She kept walking.

“Okay, that’s enough.” Matt ran up behind her and scooped her over his shoulder. “You’re coming with me.”

“Matt, put me down!” Anna twisted and fought against his strong arms locking her in place.

“We have some business to take care of.” He refused to let go, and went back into town with her slung over his shoulder in a fireman’s carry.

“Matt, I can walk.”

“No,” was all he said. “I’ll put you down when we’re finished.”

“Matt!”
Blood was rushing to her face from the angle she was being carried.

He ignored her pleas to be put down.

Anna grunted in frustration. “You can’t just carry me off…”

“Oh really?” Matt teased. “It appears I can and am doing just that.” It was for her own good
, whether she wanted to believe it or not. Anna was more stubborn than any woman he’d ever met, he’d give her that.

He ended on Kai’s doorstep. “We’ll wait here until they return.”
He sat her down.

“I’m not going to just sit here-” she protested.

“You’ll sit and you’ll stay,” he said firmly. “You’re not leaving my side until we fix this.”

“What does Kai have to do with this?” She was having none of it. She knew somebody saying a few words like ‘he didn’t do it’ wasn’t going to change her world. She knew what sh
e knew and her heart trusted the truth.

He shook his head.
“Bunny will be with Kai. He claimed her, and I know my brother. He’ll bring her back here.”

“What makes you so sure she’ll be willing?” She challenged.

“He’ll throw her over his shoulder if he needs to.” He grinned at his fox. “It’s the first time I’ve seen him like that. It was hard and fast, territorial and demanding. He found his chosen one.”

“Look, Matt,” Anna softened her voice. “I know you mean well. Believe me, if I could change my mind, I would. I do love you and I miss you, but the past is the past.” She rested her head on his shoulder. She’d miss him. He was her entire world.

From the distance, the couple emerged, laughing and talking. “Oh hey, guys,” Kai said, sauntering up with Bunny in his arms.

Bunny was positively radiant. She glowed and leaned into her man.

“It ends here and now,” Matt said. “I need you to talk to her. There’s no other way.”

Bunny’s face dropped. “But Matt…” she was serious in a heartbeat. “You know what this means.”

“I have to, Bunny. She’s my life. I won’t be happy if I can’t have Anna in my world.” He shook his head. It would change everything.

Bunny closed her eyes and understood. She nodded. Leaning into Kai, she finally understood. She’d found her chosen one. Everything felt right in her world.

“I’m going to transfer it to Kai,” he said.

“Brother?” Kai shifted his head. “This is huge.”

“It’s time. Anna needs to know.” His shoulders sank. There was no other way. He loved being with the task agency, but he loved Anna more, and the thought of her bearing his cubs overwhelmed him with joy. He needed her more than he needed the force. He’d still be an officer in his day job, but he’d let go of the Covert Operations team.

“Let’s go inside,” Kai said, looking around.

“What is this?” It felt like they were talking in code. Nothing made sense. They were all in on something, and she wanted to know what.

“Anna, by telling you this, you have to understand, there’s no going back for me. I’ll have betrayed my oath. I’m doing this for you.” His stomach knotted at the idea of walking away, and yet he knew if he didn’t, Anna would never fully understand. “There are things you can’t know and it will always remain that way, but after tonight, you’ll know what truly happened last year. Promise me that if I help you understand, you’ll give me your heart back and we’ll become one again. I want to marry you and have a family. If this is what I have to do…”

“Wait,” she panicked. She felt like she was stealing something away from him. “If whatever this is has become that important to you…”

“You are that important to me.” He looked her square in the eyes.

“Matt, what’s going on?” She arched an eyebrow and looked around at the others.

“I’ll need your badge,” Bunny said.

Matt swallowed hard. “Right.” 

“And you’ll need to declar
e…” she started.

“I know,” he shot his hand up. “Just give me a moment.” He looked down. He loved being part of the task force. He let out a sigh. “I, Matt Stryker-”

“Stop!” Anna’s stomach twisted and lurched. “Whatever you’re about to do, don’t do it. It’s breaking your heart. I can see it in your body language.”

“Baby, for you I’d bend the world.” He turned to her.

Anna sighed. “I’ll take you at your word.”

“You don’t have to. It’s safer this way if we’re going to have a family.” He
pulled his badge from his wallet.

“What is this?” She cocked her head to the side, watching her lover break an oath to Bunny.

Bunny turned to Anna. “We’re part of a secret task force. I can’t tell you anymore, but I promise you, Matt broke up with you to protect you. You can believe me, or you don’t have to, but we’re losing one of the best leaders we have. You damn well better appreciate what he’s doing for you.” She glared at Anna.

“Kai,” he turned to his brother. “Lead them strong.”

His brother pulled him into a bear hug. “It’s time to make a family.”

Anna
looked into Matt’s eyes, understanding what he just gave up…for her. He needed her as much as she needed him. “This is all true?” Anna whispered.

“You can’t know more. It would be dangerous for you and the others. The less you know, the better it is.” He lowered his head and showed his brother a sign of respect as one of the new leaders of the task agency. He knew with Bunny and Kai together, they’d all be in good hands.

“Babies… I want a lot of cubs.” He pulled her into an embrace. “I want you. You’re my chosen one.”

Anna sobbed freely. She was torn; happy to have him back in her life and fully believing him now, but sad that he had to give up something he loved to win her back. She felt selfish and ached for him.

“It’s okay, baby.” He sensed her confusion. “It’s time. I’m ready for a family. It’s better this way.”

Anna nodded.
She sank deeper into his embrace, letting him hold her tightly.

“Thank you,” she said quietly to Bunny and Kai.

Matt led her out of the house and together they went to his own home. They had baby making to attend to, and a wedding to plan. As the sun rose in the morning, new relationships were born, and the town went back to what was normal for their world for another day.

THE END

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