Bearly a Chance: A Second Chances Romance by Alana Hart, Sophia Barron Page A

like Faith. She didn’t know if she should be worried or scared by that thought.
    “Aria, you can’t-”
    Del cut Gran off mid-sentence. “You could try, but you’d fail.”
    “It’s a fucking soul-stealing door, and you keep it in your damn shop. What demons have you been dealing with, witch?” Anger and determination over-rode Aria’s good sense for the moment and she did clamber over the table, dropping lightly to the floor. Or she would have, if Ben hadn’t snagged her in mid jump. She oomphed when arm’s solid as iron wrapped round her waist, then shuddered with fury when she landed with a thud in his lap.
    “You will listen to Delilah.” Ben’s growl was filled with command, and promises unspoken. Aria twisted in his arms, barely resisting the urge to smack him.
    “Fuck you, Benjamin Torben.” Aria ignored the silver swirling through his eyes. His to-die-for blue eyes, so much like Faith’s.
    “More than happy to, mate. Later, though. Listen.” That last word was more growl than word as silver consumed the blue once more.
    Mate ?
    Aria didn’t dare move, or question him in this state. If he was anything like Faith, he’d change in a heartbeat and the last thing she wanted to face right now was a full sized pissed off bear. Aria sighed in relief when those silver eyes broke away from her gaze and lasered on to the witch. “Explain. Because if you don’t, I will destroy your precious door.”
    Aria squirmed once, trying to sneak out of Ben’s arms while he was distracted. From the hard length pressed against her backside, her movements hadn’t gone unnoticed. Damn.
    Delilah shrugged once, palms out as if to placate Ben. Apparently witches were only scared of shifters on the verge, and humans were not worth noting on the danger scale. Aria humphed to herself, and decided in the moment that she would find a way to be as dangerous as necessary, human or not.
    “That door was put there because of a deal Aunt Birdie made.”
    Aria shrugged. She barely remembered Delilah’s aunt. Tall, round woman in a flowing gown. Mess of curls and a smile. And a faint scent of jasmine and vanilla. That could double as the description for half the women in town, at least minus the robes.
    “Deal?” Ben’s growl hinted at violence to come.
    Del nodded once, short and sharp.
    “What does the door have to do with Faith?” Aria tried once more to wiggle her way out of Ben’s grasp, to no avail.
    “Faith’s a bear shifter?” Aria nodded, ignoring the quick flicker Del’s gaze made to Ben’s face before returning to hers earnestly once more.
    “Bears are Scions of Callista. When the gods fell, so did she. So did her son. Thus were bear shifters born.” Delilah’s voice was monotone, almost like she was reciting a prayer or mantra.
    “That’s just legend and speculation, Del.” Ben’s voice was more nerdy engineer than bear. The voice Aria remembered, and loved. Aria wiggled again, but those arms caging her in were strong as ever. Fucking bear. Fucking man.
    “Did you ever ask your dad about the legends?” Gran’s question was soft, almost hesitant. Her tone caught Aria’s attention but fast. Gran never spoke like that to anyone. She always had the answers, always had confidence in herself and the world around her. Never hesitated. Until now. Aria twisted to get a look at Ben’s face. The shifter swirl was gone, and pure blue eyes highlighted by a half grin and a dimple stole her breath away for a second.
    I refuse to let this happen. He left. There are no second chances after that . But the shivers of desire racing up her spine assured her that her body disagreed with her. Her body was willing to give him all the chances he wanted.
    “No. Dad’s not much on talking. Hell, he’s more bear than man most days.”
    “Which bear? Which man? Do I know him? Has he registered with the Espen Clan?” Ben shook his head more and more vigorously with each question Gran asked.
    “Pops isn’t much on new