Free Seth's Chance [Brac Pack 27] by Lynn Hagen

a million years, but if the shoe were reversed, he’d have kicked Seth’s ass by now just from the sheer fear alone.
“I’m listening.” Seth said it more like he was calming a crazy man than if he was really listening. Chance sat up.
“Please don’t run, Seth.” It was a clear warning. Bears, worse than any other preternatural creature, loved the chase. It was odd in the paranormal world. One would think wolves would be the ones to chase whoever ran from them, and they probably did, but bears had a love for the chase game, more than sweets.
“Why?” Seth asked as he eased from the couch. It was a tiny apartment. There really wasn’t anywhere Seth could go. Chance would catch him before his mate reached the door, but he had to warn the guy.
“Because I will chase you down. Don’t tempt my bear.”
“Your bear?” Seth squeaked.
“I’m trying to explain this without scaring you, Seth. But if you run, I can’t promise that I won’t come after you.”
Seth shot toward the door, and the chase was on.

Chapter Six
    Seth grabbed the door handle, twisting it around only to find the damn thing locked. Why, oh why did he have to secure both locks and the chain tonight? Couldn’t his paranoia have been forgotten for at least one damn night?
    Chance was coming for him. He could feel it as if the man were a freight train heading straight for him. He fumbled, but couldn’t get the lock to cooperate. Seth slapped his hand against the door, willing the damn thing to open. When he felt the rush of air around him, Seth spun around, slamming his back into the door. “Stay away from me, Chance.” Seth held a hand up, as if it could stop the massive mountain of muscle from bearing down on him.
    Chance paced back and forth in front of him, his moves mimicking a predator as he lifted his face and scented the air. Seth licked his lips and blew out a breath at the same time. Chance was acting like he was an animal, a bear as he claimed. Seth wasn’t sure if he could believe the man. Things like that just didn’t exist, weren’t possible. It was almost like a lion watching a gazelle as Chance moved closer.
    “Do you think I would hurt my mate, Seth?” Chance asked as he took a step closer, his thick body seeming even bigger as he stood an inch closer. “Have I ever given you a reason to fear me, mate?”
    Seth’s heart was beating like it was ready to burst from his chest and sprint away. His mouth was excessively dry, and his palms, hell, his entire body was coated in a sheen of sweat. “No, never.” He wouldn’t lie. Chance had never raised his voice or been anything but nice. Well, except for last night when he turned into a barbarian, but the attitude wasn’t aimed toward him, but Seth’s neighbor.
    “Then you should know that I would rather lay down my life than harm you.”
“But you are scaring me,” Seth countered.
“And that is not my intention. But you need to know, Seth. You need to know what Oscar can already see without seeing.”
“That’s just downright confusing, Chance.”
Chance grinned, but the smile was more predatory than humorous. Seth’s hands pressed against the door behind him, his fingers digging into the wood when he saw tips of teeth right past Chance’s upper lip. He had never seen that before and knew for a fact that Chance had even, white teeth. “What are you?”
The grey eyes seemed to drift into the background as the honey color Seth swore he saw earlier appeared, dominating the pupils and almost bleeding into the whites of his eyes. Seth held his breath, waiting for Chance to change into some monster and tear into his flesh. Chance moved closer and Seth whimpered. He couldn’t stop the sound.
“Easy, mate. I swear on all that I hold dear that I will not hurt you.” Chance raised a hand, as if coming near a wild animal with the intent of petting it. Seth stiffened but didn’t move. Chance’s hand touched Seth’s shoulder and then ran down the course of his arm, the most