Bear Affection by Emilia Hartley

They ended their high-school relationship on a messy, angry note. The hate they spouted then is enough to keep them apart forever, even if the eventful intervening decade apart isn’t.

Back in town after her New York dreams have crashed to pieces, Ashlyn wants to get her career back on track. Bumping into the ex she left behind is not on her agenda, especially when the ex in question has turned into some kind of Greek god lookalike. Ashlyn doesn’t need the distraction; she doesn’t need the guilt she feels over their bad breakup; and she certainly doesn’t need the reminder of how badly her life has gone wrong. She’s going to stay away from Mac.
If only he would stay away from her.
Mac loved Ashlyn back in high-school, and now that he’s a shifter, that attraction has only gotten stronger. Ashlyn avoids him, though, and he’s also lost contact with his inner bear. He’s losing time to it, and he can’t even shift to help explain to Ashlyn how he has changed. He has no idea what this means, but he knows he can’t offer Ashlyn a mutilated piece of himself. He doesn’t want her in danger if the bear is out of control, either.
Maybe it would be best for everyone if his pack puts him down.