Chapter 51: Bear Necessities

Ezra sighed. "You're an irritating shit." He moved over to the trash bin, scraping the plates in his hands.

Josh shrugged, not looking at all apologetic or offended. "I prefer to think of it as being tenacious. Now, why won't you help them? They're your friends, and they're in trouble. They came to you out of every other place in the world they could go. That means they trust you. So, why turn your back on them, not to mention that little girl?"

"I suppose you wouldn't leave me alone if I just told you it wasn't any of your damn business." Ezra dumped the dishes into a washtub to clean up later as he turned to face Josh, hands on his hips. "Why the hell do you even care? This doesn't concern you."

Josh nodded. "You're right; it doesn't, but then again, I've never let that stop me before. These people need you. That little girl needs you. You can't just walk away from that."

"I can bloody well do whatever I want," Ezra snapped, his bear roaring within him. Closing his eyes, he took a be