Page 8 of A Bear's Secret

“By marriage?”

Now it was Austin’s turn to frown.

“Her mom and my dad are brother and sister,” he said.

“And she’s a bear shifter?”

Finally, Austin understood the confusion, and grinned at Sloane.

“I’m also a bear shifter,” he said. “I just work and live on a wolf ranch.”

Comprehension dawned over Sloane, and though the frown stayed on her face for a moment, Austin could practically see her ticking through the things that made sense now.

“Got it,” Sloane said.

The cops walked into the hospital through the front door. There were two of them, and even though they were wearing suits, it was obvious who they were. Barb and the two wolves sauntered over, and in no time at all, the seven of them were standing in a ring in the middle of the waiting room.

“I’m Detective Tripp and this is Detective Vista,” the man on the left said. He was middle-aged, human, and had a slight paunch. “No word on the kid yet?”

“Still hasn’t woken up,” said Trevor.

“And you all don’t know who he is?” Tripp asked.

Everyone shook their heads.

“All right,” Tripp said. He wrote something down in his notebook. “The hospital is letting us use a room to ask some questions, if you don’t mind. Miss?” he said, nodding his head first at Sloane.

Sloane straightened her spine and then followed him down a hall and out of sight. Austin found himself watching her, his bear growling protectively.

She can take care of herself, he thought. Remember?

Detective Vista took Barb, the other wolf wandered off, and a moment later, Trevor and he were standing together, alone, in the middle of the waiting room.

“Howdy,” Trevor said, his hands still in his pockets. He didn’t exactly smile, but the very edges of his eyes crinkled.

“Howdy yourself, ”Austin said, mirroring the other man’s stance.

“The girl’s the one who found that kid?” Trevor asked.

“Yep,” said Austin.

Both of them took a beat to look down the hall where she’d disappeared. Austin could practically hear his heart roaring through his veins, and he had to force himself to stand still.

“She’s really something.”

“She is.”

The other wolf started moseying back toward them, still looking at his phone.

“Tonight?” Trevor asked, in the exact same tone he’d been using. He didn’t look at Austin, but instead watched a couple of people walk past, though Austin could sense the tightness in his temples and in his voice, the urgency there evident.

“Have to be late,” Austin said, as casually as he could while his stomach clenched and his heart beat just a little faster. “Might be with the cops for a while. Midnight?”

Trevor nodded once.

Then the other wolf was back, standing in front of Austin and Trevor, making a triangle with the two of them.

“Is it true that the kid had a syringe in his neck?” he asked, folding his arms across his chest.

Austin tapped the area right over one vein with his forefinger.

“It was right here,” he said.

Trevor and the other wolf shuddered in unison.

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