Chapter 10: The Truth Unfolds
The footsteps grew louder, steady and deliberate. Anika turned sharply, her heart skipping a beat as she saw the figure emerging from the hospital doors. It was another man, tall and broad-shouldered, with a grim expression on his face. His eyes locked onto Rowe immediately, and Anika could feel the tension escalate even further.
The man stepped forward, his gaze briefly flicking to Anika before returning to Rowe. There was something in his eyes—recognition, perhaps, but also a quiet anger.
“Daniel Rowe,” the man’s voice was low, like a growl that matched the one coming from the bear, which was now pacing restlessly. “I should have known you’d show up here.”
Rowe’s face went pale at the sound of the man’s voice. For the first time since he’d arrived, he looked genuinely shocked. “What the hell are you doing here?” he asked, his voice shaking slightly, despite his best efforts to remain composed.
The man didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he took a step forward, eyes narrowing. “You’ve been looking for your son,” he said with a bitter smile, “but I’ve been keeping an eye on you, Daniel. I know exactly what you’ve been up to.”
Anika could see Rowe’s jaw clench. “What do you want?” Rowe spat, his face twisted in anger. “This has nothing to do with you.”
The bear, meanwhile, was no longer growling. It was still, almost like a shadow, watching both men, its amber eyes flicking between them with an intensity that made Anika’s skin crawl. The sense of foreboding in the air was so thick, she could almost feel it pressing against her chest. Something was about to break, and it felt like everything was teetering on the edge.
The man took another step forward. “You don’t get to walk away from this. Not after what you’ve done.”
Anika’s mind raced, trying to piece together the connection between these two men. Rowe’s insistence on seeing Evan, the way he’d evaded her questions—it all suddenly clicked. This wasn’t a simple father looking for his child. This was something darker.
“What is going on?” Anika demanded, stepping between the two men now, her voice trembling with a mixture of anger and confusion.
Rowe looked at her, his expression momentarily faltering before hardening once more. “It’s not what you think,” he said coldly, but there was something in his eyes now—a flicker of something that spoke volumes.
Before Anika could press further, the bear moved. It took a slow, deliberate step toward Rowe, its massive frame blocking his path. Rowe backed up, his eyes wide in surprise. The bear’s stance was protective, its gaze fixed on him.
Anika’s breath caught. This wasn’t just about Evan. The bear knew Rowe.
And it was ready to confront him.
To be continued…