Bear My Soul (Fire Bears Book 1) Read Online Free PDF

police or something. And I didn’t know anything about what was happening to him. I did research, but all the public library had was lore and myth. Nothing concrete that told me how to help my child through this awful thing he was going through.”
    “It isn’t awful.”
    “It is for us! He cries and cries around each Change, and it looks so painful. I listen to my baby’s bones break every month. And when he got bigger and his canines came in, I couldn’t comfort him anymore. He turns wild.” She shoved her arm at him and rolled it over to expose the long scars across her forearm.
    Cody’s fingers were warm and steady as he slid them down the length of the long-healed claw marks. He dropped her arm and stared at his hands as if he hadn’t given them permission to touch her. Her skin turned cold where his warm fingers had been. Confused at the wash of emotion surging through her at his touch, she covered up the scars and huddled into her sweater deeper.
    “What did you do?”
    “I built him a cage. Our lives are consumed by when his next Change will be. It used to only be around the full moon, but now he shows symptoms more often, and I don’t know what to do. I need help.”
    “That’s why you’ve come back?”
    She nodded once.
    “It’s not supposed to be like that,” he rasped out. “He can’t be caged, or his animal will grow aggressive and angry.” Cody cut her a pleading look. “You need him to grow into a man who can control the animal inside of him.”
    Her face crumpled as the moisture that had been rimming her eyes spilled over. Embarrassed, she wiped her lashes and clenched her fists in her lap. “I know. I can see him getting worse, but I have no tools to help him.”
    “Shhh,” Cody hushed her. “Everything will be okay. We’ll figure this out.”
    “Are you mad at me?” she asked. It suddenly mattered if he hated her.
    “Yeah. I have a son, and I missed all of his life until now. That was your choice. I’m mad as hell, but reaming you out isn’t going to fix what’s been done.” A soft rumbling noise rattled from his chest. His eyes were still feral, and though he was trying to be soft with her, his fists were clenched like hers were.
    She’d done this.
    “I think I should go,” he said in a low, gravelly voice. “This is a lot, and I’m confused. If Aaron can’t control his Changes yet, he doesn’t need to be around what’s going on inside of me.” Cody stood and turned at the porch stairs. “Don’t run this time, Rory. I won’t stop until I find you. He’s mine, too.” His eyes were hard as he descended the stairs.
    Rory stood and rushed to the railing. “I’m really sorry.” Her voice was thick with emotion, but hang it. She’d had her reasons for keeping Aaron to herself. She’d wanted to keep him safe, but the hurt look on Cody’s face was heartbreaking.
    “Don’t,” he gritted out. He hesitated by Aaron and squatted down, his powerful legs folding beneath him. “I’ve got some stuff to do, but I’ll see you later, okay?”
    Aaron nodded, his eyes sad and the corners of his little lips turned down as if he expected to never see Cody again. Maybe he wouldn’t. Rory didn’t know. Maybe this was too much and Cody would be the one running this time. She imagined lots of surprised fathers in this situation would do the same.
    “Thanks for the paperclip, buddy.” Cody squeezed Aaron’s frail shoulders with his oversize hand, then stood and left without another glance back at her.
    She’d earned that—his anger.
    Rory had been so focused on keeping Aaron safe she’d never considered that Cody might want to be in his life despite the animal inside of their son. She’d let all the reasons not to tell Cody pile up until it seemed like the only decision a good and protective mother could make.
    But Cody was right. He’d missed all of the baby years because of her need to hide Aaron away. And the consequences of his hurt and anger were on her.
    Rory