Page 3 of Beary In Love

"No need, doc." Logan pulled out his wallet. "How much do I owe you?"

Dr. Henderson blinked. "But we haven't figured out what's wrong yet."

"Sometimes these things work themselves out." Logan counted out several bills. "I appreciate you coming out here."

"At least let me prescribe some antibiotics-"

"Thanks, but I've got it from here." He guided the protesting vet toward the sanctuary's entrance, past rows of enclosures housing injured wildlife awaiting release.

"Mr. Steele, as a veterinary professional, I really must insist-"

"Have a good afternoon, doc." Logan shut the gate behind the vet with perhaps a bit more force than necessary. Once alone, he turned back to survey his sanctuary, his territory.

Logan's nostrils flared as a familiar scent caught his attention - pine needles mixed with stale cigarettes. His gaze swept across the sanctuary's perimeter until it landed on a section of mangled fencing near the tree line.

"Son of a-" He stalked over to inspect the damage. The metal fencing lay twisted and warped, bearing deep gouges from claws larger than any natural bear's. Bite marks peppered the posts, splintering the wood beneath.

"Third time this month." Logan ran his fingers along the jagged edges. "Getting real tired of your games, Silas."

The bear within him rumbled, remembering the satisfaction of taking down his former friend years ago. Back when Silas had started targeting humans, claiming they were destroying shifter territory. Logan had chosen to protect both worlds instead.

"Gonna cost me another grand to fix this." He kicked a broken post, sending it skittering across the ground.

The damage stretched for nearly twenty feet. Logan paced the length, cataloging each breach point. Silas hadn't justattacked randomly - he'd methodically weakened the entire section. One good storm would bring it down completely.

"What's your endgame here, buddy?" Logan crouched to examine a particularly deep claw mark. "Breaking my fence won't change what happened."

A twig snapped in the woods beyond. Logan's head jerked up, his eyes shifting to bear vision for a split second - sharper, able to pierce shadows. Nothing moved in the treeline, but the hair on his neck stood up anyway.

"Yeah, I know you're out there." He straightened, rolling his shoulders. "Want to do this face to face? Or are you just gonna keep playing peek-a-boo with my property?"

Only silence answered. Logan pulled out his phone to snap pictures of the damage. His insurance company was getting really tired of these claims, but what could he tell them? Sorry, my ex-best friend turned eco-terrorist keeps vandalizing my sanctuary in bear form?

"Getting sloppy, Si." He zoomed in on a patch of fur caught in the wire. "Leaving evidence everywhere. Prison must've made you stupid."

Logan tucked his phone away and headed toward the raccoon enclosure. The normally rambunctious creatures huddled in their den, their usual chattering replaced by weak whimpers. Their fur had started taking on that same ashen tinge as the fox's.

"Come on, guys." He pulled fresh berries from his pocket. "Got your favorite blackberries here."

The raccoons didn't budge. Logan's chest tightened as he dropped the berries near their den entrance. The sweet-tart scent that usually drove them crazy barely registered a twitch.

"Fine, be that way." He moved to the next enclosure where a young deer lay curled up, its legs tucked beneath it. The same magical signature clung to its fur. "You too, huh buddy?"

The deer's ear flicked but it made no attempt to stand. Logan crouched beside the fence, his bear's heightened senses picking up the animal's labored breathing.

"This isn't how it's supposed to work. You're supposed to get better here, not worse." He stood back up, turning toward the next enclosure.

A hawk screeched overhead, drawing his attention to the aviary. At least the birds seemed unaffected so far. Small mercies.

"What am I missing?" Logan checked water levels and food supplies more out of habit than necessity. The sick animals barely touched their provisions. "Magic doesn't just appear out of nowhere."

He paused at the fox's enclosure again. The creature's chest rose and fell in shallow breaths, its nose dry and cracked.

"Some protector I turned out to be." Logan's knuckles whitened on the fence. "Can't even keep you safe in my own sanctuary."

"Don't worry, little guy." Logan forced a lighter tone. "We'll figure this out. Nobody messes with my animals and gets away with it."

The words rang hollow even to his own ears. Whatever was affecting these creatures wasn't natural, and no amount of conventional veterinary care seemed to help. He needed someone who understood magic, someone who could-

---