Bearing It All (Grizzly Affairs Book 1) by Magenta Phoenix Page A

how she may seem she is very dangerous. She is a murder whom is very crafty when it comes to spinning tales to good Samaritans.”
    He shook his head in mock sympathy. “I can't help you,”
    Just as Doyle was stepping back to close the door the suspicious man thrust his hand in the doorway, preventing him from closing the door. His movement caused his coat to part revealing a holstered handgun strapped against the left side of his ribs.
    “I understand what you think you’re doing is noble, Mr. Mackenzie. But understand this; this woman is the furthest thing from a damsel in distress. This is a dangerous predator that has killed many times and will continue to kill until she is stopped. Now you can help me or I can make your life very difficult. But I will not tolerate anyone standing in my way.”
    A dark growl rumbled through his chest at this man’s audacity. Forget about how he’d threatened him, but how dare he threaten his mate. Doyle may not know everything about Aria’s past; in fact she was adamant about not talking about it. However; he did know one thing and that was that his mate was no killer. Was she being framed for a crime she didn't commit? That would explain her constant instinct to run. But it didn't explain her injuries and the metal cuffs on her wrists. Things just were not adding up here.
    Rage and an overpowering urge to protect his mate exploded from him like gas to a flame. Shoving forward, he closed the door behind him as he gripped the unnamed man by his pasty white shirt. Lifting the thin man off his feet, Doyle shoved him against the wooden banister of his porch. Even with how Doyle held him, the man seemed unafraid. Which only served to piss Doyle off all the more.
    Jerking the marshal close to his face, Doyle glared straight at him. “Threatening me will only get you six feet under the ground. I don’t care about what you believe but if you ever come back here again, I will show you what a real dangerous predator looks like.” Shoving the scum of a man away, he felt satisfaction as he stumbled against the icy patch on the end of the porch. Straightening his jacket, the man shoved his shoulders back in aggression, his scowl on his face told Doyle that this man wouldn’t be easy to get rid of.
    “Think carefully about what you are doing. You’re on a slippery slope right now, it would be in your best interest to help me or I may just let you fall on your face.”
    “Get. Off. My. Land. Now.” He gritted out between his clenched teeth as he felt his clenching fingers grow deadly claws. Nodding his head in compliance, but still glaring daggers at Doyle; the man stepped off the porch. He kept walking until he disappeared into the trees.
    Doyle’s land was in no way easy to get to by walking. And he seriously doubted this man simply walked through the snow in a suit to ask him some questions. He had no doubts that he and Aria were being watched. His bear growled and snarled at the idea of Aria in danger. He had to bring the issue before not only his family, but the council as well. His pack could protect her, while he focused on ridding these pursuers off their backs.
    Walking back into the cabin he shut the door quietly behind him. looking at the closed door to his bedroom, every instinct in his entire being yelled at him to take her away, someplace that he could defend better and annihilate any threat to his mate. Shaking his head at the idea, he grimaced. Aria would never agree to it, that much he knew about her. Though she had tried to hide it, she was concerned about bringing trouble to him or anyone. She would run if she felt they were closer to her than she realized.
    Every muscle in his body tightened as he silently vowed that he wouldn’t allow her to run from him a second time. Striding to the bedroom a plan formed in his mind as he entered the quiet room. He made no effort to conceal the sounds of his presence. Walking to the bed, smiling down at her with dishonorable