Page 72 of Hunny and the Bear

Unfortunately, Tank didn’t get a chance to elaborate further.

She’d just finished her salad when she heard movement outside, followed by the pounding of footsteps on the front porch. Based on Jasper’s and Tank’s relaxed postures, she could only assume it was Murphy.

Less than a minute later, the bear clan Alpha stepped into the house, followed by three males she vaguely remembered seeing after the dead rabbit incident last week. Each of the new males was tall and muscular. They were almost as large as Tank and his brothers, with wide torsos and thick legs, which she was beginning to suspect was standard for male bear shifters.

Murphy and the new males filed into the kitchen, spreading around the island. The Alpha gave her a firm once-over before sending her a small nod, silently asking if she was alright. Hunny gave him a thumbs-up. He relaxed marginally, running a hand down his face.

“Marcus, Colter, Zeke,” Murphy began, pointing each male out to Hunny. “This is our newest addition, and Tank’s mate, Hunny.” They’d barely waved at each other in acknowledgement before he continued. “We couldn’t find whoever killed Natasha.”

There was a brief moment of tense silence that cut through the room like a knife before Tank exhaled roughly. “Did you at least glean anything from the scent? What kind of supernatural are we dealing with?”

Murphy pursed his lips, shooting the male he’d called Marcus a long glance. “There wasn’t a scent.”

“What?” Hunny exclaimed, leaning forward in her seat until her chest touched the edge of the kitchen island. “Natasha just died. There’s no way her killer’s scent disappeared that quickly.”

Especially with their enhanced senses. It would take hours, days even, before that scent could evaporate completely. Maybe if the weather was bad, but … She cocked her head to the side, glancing out the kitchen window. The sun was just setting, but there wasn’t a cloud in the sky.

“Be that as it may,” Murphy argued, “there’s no scent other than the she-wolf’s, and she didn’t do this to herself.”

Jasper rolled his eyes. “Well, fucking obviously.”

“Watch it,” Murphy snapped, his body stiffening until the younger bear apologized quickly. When he did, Murphy continued, “Marcus is our best tracker, and even he couldn’t pick up on anything.”

Hunny’s eyes wandered over to Marcus. When she’d spotted him last time, another, almost identical male had been with him. Was Marcus a twin? Why wasn’t that guy here now?

“So what are you thinking?” Tank asked. “The killer used scent blockers?”

The drug? Hunny’s brows shot up to her hairline. Scent blockers weren’t commonly used among shifters, most considered them unnatural, but it would be perfect for someone trying to remain hidden.

“Had to be. Natasha’s scent was faint even at the scene of her murder, and as soon as we got a mile from your property, it disappeared altogether.” Marcus shrugged. “My guess is that her killer kept her and themselves drugged with it, waited until we were gone, got her close enough, and then killed her when her scent began to reappear.”

“Christ.” Tank eyed Jasper. “And you didn’t hear anything? Not a scream or a whimper?”

“Not a damn thing,” Jasper clarified, sounding far more serious than he had a few minutes earlier. “Hunny and I were watching one of those human shows, the ones with the housewives with the Botoxed faces, and just talking. I heard someone approach the house, and then there was a thud at the door. You all know the rest.”

Zeke shuddered. “Yeah, we saw the head outside. Gruesome shit.”

Expecting bile to rise in her throat at the mention of Natasha’s head, Hunny was relieved when all she mustered was a mild grimace of disgust.

“I called Jason,” Murphy added. “He didn’t answer, but his Beta, Ben, did. Apparently, Jason felt Natasha’s death a few minutes before they reached their territory. He isn’t handling it well.”

“I don’t buy it,” Colter stated with a firm shake of his head. He glanced at each person in the room before explaining. “We all saw Jason at the meeting. His concern for Natasha was minimal at best, and it seemed fake. He only focused on her after Ben brought her up. And now the Alpha’s suddenly distraught that his mate is dead?” He scoffed.

“I don’t think Jason loved Natasha,” Hunny replied, biting her lower lip when everyone turned their attention to her. She’d never been someone who enjoyed the limelight, especially considering the topic revolved around her ex’s dead mate. “When he rejected me in favor of her, he told me it was because she was a strong, smart choice as his Alpha female. He didn’t mention anything about caring for her. So maybe he didn’t.”

She could still remember how easily he’d discardedherafter weeks of them being together. He’d used her, made her think he cared for her, and then tossed her aside easily. And she had been his true mate. Why would he care any more for Natasha than he had Hunny?

“So you agree with me,” Colter inferred, smirking at the others. “I knew I was right.”

Hunny shook her head. “I didn’t say that. You’re forgetting the fact that they were still a mated pair,” she added. “Just because he didn’t care about her emotionally doesn’t mean her death didn’t cause him grief. It would have snapped their bond in half. I’ve heard it’s one of the most painful things a shifter can endure.”

And one day, either she or Tank would have to live with that kind of agony and decide whether they could handle the separation. Her pulse spiked, and her mouth dried, anxiety swirling in her gut at the mere thought of never being with her mate again.

As if he could read her thoughts, Tank slid his hand over hers, intertwining their fingers and squeezing in reassurance. Immediately, she felt better, releasing a small breath she didn’t realize she’d been holding.

“Is Jason accusing one of us of killing her?” Tank asked. “Doesn’t help that we threatened to do just that if we found her lurking around.”

Oh, shit. That didn’t sound good at all.

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