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

world ways.” Ben’s voice was chill, distant.
    His arms relaxed, and Aria seized the moment, slipping out of his grasp to stand at the end of the table. She almost ran, but Ben’s sharp glance stopped her.
    So much pain . He hid so very much pain in that moment, that some of it leaked out, trickled down his cheeks. Fuck. She couldn’t leave. Couldn’t do to him the very thing he’d done to her and to Faith. Damn her loyal heart anyways. She wanted to kiss his tears away, but wouldn’t let him win. She was no one’s but her own.
    Delilah’s eyes grew wide, her mouth fell open in an ‘O’. “He’s not-”
    Gran’s sharp nod and slicing motion cut Delilah off mid-sentence.
    “Not what?” Aria slammed clenched fists lightly on the table, hands trembling with the struggle to keep from pounding harder. Can’t wake Faith. That sole thought kept her from hitting and screaming and throwing every damn thing in sight. “I’m so fucking tired of secrets I’m ready to go through that fucking door to get some answers. Which sucks balls since some people-” Aria stabbed a finger at Gran and Del and Ben in turn, then continued, “really should fucking know better by now.” She threw her hands in the air and stalked out the back door to the patio overlooking the garden.
    Time to end this shit. No more fucking secrets. Aria’s angry thoughts ran circles as she struggled to calm herself with deep breaths.
    In.
    Out.
    In.
    Tomorrow, she would get answers, one way or another. No matter who tried to stop her.

 
     
     
     
     
     
    CHAPTER NINE
     
     
    Ben growled low in his throat, grabbed for Aria and missed. She hadn’t even noticed his attempt as she stormed out the back door. Fuck. Protect her, bear demanded. Ben half rose to follow that command when Tori’s soft touch on his shoulder stopped him. Their eyes met, held for a minute. Victoria’s gaze was full of confidence, mixed with worry and love. He’d missed her. And Espen. He should have been here sooner for Aria. And Faith.
    “It’s not your fault, Ben.” Gran’s voice was soft, like her hands. “You didn’t choose this.” She shrugged, and her gaze dropped to his hands, flat and tense on the table top. “Sit, Benjamin Torben.”
    Mystified at the calming effect she had on his bear, Ben sat. And waited. From the look on Tori’s face, she had something important to get off her chest. The calm confidence she radiated almost had bear convinced Aria would be safe, but he glanced toward the slightly cracked door, and sniffed. Just to check.
    Gran’s smirk suggested she knew very well what he and bear were up too. “It’s warded Ben. Best wards in the world.”
    “Wait, warded how?” Del interrupted. Her sharp green eyes scanned the cabin, taking in every line of decorative carving and every piece of artwork. “I don’t sense any magic…” she trailed off.
    “Guardian wards.” Victoria’s explanation was sharp. “The mister did them, poured his love and strength into every stroke of the chisel.”
    Guardian wards? Delilah’s round eyes and mouth suggested she was either mystified or impressed with that explanation. “Aria’s half guardian?” Del asked. The hitched response convinced Ben Del was more awed than scared.
    Gran shook her head once. Slowly. “Human. All too human, all things considered.” Her shoulders slumped for a moment before she straightened slowly. Ben had the impression she was visibly marshalling her thoughts, and her courage for this conversation. Hell, if it took Victoria Fox this much effort to even begin, maybe he didn’t want to be part of this conversation either. He half-rose once more, but her sharp, swirly-green gaze stopped him in his tracks. This wasn’t Victoria Fox asking, this was her fox. Leader of Espen clan, and mother vixen to the whole damn town. Demanding his, and his bear’s compliance. Fuck. Ben sat. Bear rumbled in his chest, arguing to be gone, but they both knew this time they couldn’t