Free Bear Shifters: Hunt Collection #1 by Ava Hunt Page A

cubs too. She was terrified of carrying your children, Rayner. Believe me, you got away from the nightmare of a lifetime. Consider yourself fortunate." George clapped his hand on Rayner's shoulder for emphasis, and walked off. Rayner frowned. George was such a strange Bear. Then he looked to the slip of paper Jaime had left on the counter. It was gone. Rayner turned and saw George slipping something into his pocket.
     
    This wasn't adding up. Jeneva had told him that she would never abort his cubs. That was his deepest fear, and her words were a balm to his heart that night. He knew Jeneva most of her life and had never known her to be such a consistent liar. But maybe she wasn't lying. Maybe George was. Rayner finished his beer and wiped his mouth. He was going to keep an eye on George.
     
    Three days later, the bar was packed for a big game. Everyone cheered when the home team scored a goal. Rayner was off the drink again. He clutched a book in his hand to remind him that he had to stay sober, at least until he could find out what George was up to.
     
    Jaime was talking with Mary Totham about the football season, and Marcus ran around filling drink orders. Rayner spied George laughing with Philip Denver, looking pretty happy. He slipped through the crowd to stand close enough to hear their conversation.
     
    "It is going to be really hot this time of year, Phil," George was saying. "I figure, why wait? If you're going to go to Brazil, might as well go!" he laughed. "Who knows, maybe I'll run into Jen while I'm there."
     
    "Brazil's huge, George," Phil shook his head. "The chances of you seeing each other would be pretty small, unless you know exactly where she is."
     
    "Maybe I do," George smirked. Three seconds later, Rayner had him by the back of the collar. He smashed the Bear into the hard timber wall of the bar.
     
    "You overplayed your hand, George," Rayner said. "You took that address from me the last time you talked to me. You're going to see Jeneva."
     
    "So what?" George squirmed. Rayner had his arm pinned behind him and his face scraping the wall. "You weren't going to use it! Who cares if I took it?"
     
    Rayner realized then that George had played him for a fool. All those things he told him Jeneva said was lies. Even the text messages, somehow. "You... made a fool out of me, George!" Rayner raged. "I'm going to put you out of commission for good!" He shifted his arm into his large paw to swipe George's head clean off. He was stopped by a muzzle locking firmly onto him just as he was about to strike. He turned to look. Jaime was holding his arm, in his Bear form. Rayner sighed, and let George go.
     
    Jaime shifted back to his human shape. He flipped George around to face them and took him up by his collar, shaking him.
     
    "George, what the hell did you do? Tell us the truth. Now!"
     
    George's face crumpled, defeated. He hesitated, resisting the order. Then he gave in, finally. "I sent the text messages."
     
    Marcus was behind Rayner and held him back. Rayner felt fresh rage flowing through him. He wanted to pummel the Bear so badly.
     
    "Jeneva took another phone call and left her phone where I could reach it. I sent the text messages from her phone and answered from mine. Then I erased the messages from her phone so she wouldn't know what I'd done," he said. "I did it to protect her from you," George screamed at Rayner. "You're a maniac!"
     
    "The only maniac I see here is you," Jaime slugged George across the jaw, to Rayner's satisfaction. "What else? You're hiding something!"
     
    George was compelled by blood to answer his Alpha. He had no choice. He took the slip of paper out of his pants pocket and held it out.
     
    Jaime took the paper. "You rat! You betrayed the Den. You don't ever come between a Bear and her mate. You're banished George. Get your ass out of here."
     
    George's lip quivered, but he ran out of the bar without saying a word, happy to be alive.
     
    Jaime gave the slip of