Bear Loyalty by Emilia Hartley

She’s loved him for years, but he doesn’t even know her name.

Summer Benson has loved Colton Peters since they shared middle school classes together. He doesn’t notice her though, not even once they’re part of the same pack. In fact, when his sister pays Summer to give Colton a lap dance for his birthday, he questions her as if they’d never met. If that weren’t embarrassing enough, Colton makes a point of telling her he doesn’t want a mate. Convinced it’s time to move past her childhood crush, Summer arranges a date with another guy. Online and in texts, Gabe seems like a gentleman, but when they meet in person, he’s overbearing and panics Summer’s inner cat. Unsure how to escape, Summer calls Colton for help—and he delivers, saying it’s what any pack member would do. Spending time with Colton doesn’t feel like time with just any pack member, though. If only he weren’t so shy of commitment, he would be perfect.
Colton Peters has never reacted to anyone the way he reacts to the exotic dancer his sister hires for his birthday. The woman shines with such light, he has trouble crediting his sister’s claim that they all went to school together. His attraction to her has him reconsidering his vows to stay single. She’s disgruntled with him, though, and he doesn’t want to pressure her. He’ll do whatever it takes to make sure she’s safe, despite her awful job and the jerks who hang around there. He needs to know she’s happy, even if it’s not with him.