Page 103 of Bear Facts

Shane grinned at him. “We go wake them up.” He gestured for the guard to lead the way. The man, after a baffled look, obeyed.

Chapter Thirty

One of the Shifters had just mentioned to Rolf that Shane and his guards had been gone too long, when they all walked back into the room.

The Feline had bruises all over his face, and the Lupine looked groggy and embarrassed.

“What the hell?” Rolf demanded with a glare.

Freya was grateful that Shane’s entrance took Rolf’s attention from her. He’d not liked her hesitation when he’d asked her to join him, and he’d been putting forth arguments why letting him make her and Shane go feral was a good idea. They could become part of his army—Rolf needed strong fighters.

He’d start small, but his eventual mission was to put Shifters in charge of the world. Rolf had said all this as though it was the most reasonable idea ever.

His eyes held all the rage he’d accumulated since they’d been abandoned as cubs, and then had to make their way in the world alone as adults. It wasn’t altruism, Freya knew, that made him want to give Shifters all the power. This was about revenge against humans, and maybe Graham and his Shifters.

What would most likely happen, was that Shifter Bureau would get wind of Rolf’s little army—possibly when he went out to fight his first battle—and send in the military.

Shifters everywhere would be rounded up, and this time, the public wouldn’t cry very much when they were all terminated. No more Shiftertowns, no more Collars, because obviously those hadn’t been deterrents. The death sentence would most likely include the cubs, so they wouldn’t grow up wanting to take vengeance for their parents.

Freya had to stop him.

Somewhere inside, the real Rolf lurked. Freya wanted to reach him, but the feral he’d become kept her out. She sensed him, her fun and warm-hearted brother, begging for her help, but he was buried a long way down, and she had no idea how to reach him.

In response to Rolf’s question, Shane pointed at the Feline and the Lupine. “That is what happens when you don’t respect my mate or my mate-claim. They’re lucky I didn’t flush them.”

Rolf took in the two Shifters who wouldn’t look at him. Shane was being his usual affable self, good-naturedly confessing he’d beat up two Shifters then quietly used the facilities and brought them back with him. Rolf glanced at the human guard for confirmation, and the man nodded. Freya knew Shane had been up to something, but Rolf seemed satisfied with the explanation.

“Clean yourselves up, assholes,” Rolf growled at the two Shifters, who slunk out of the room, gazes lowered submissively.

Matt scampered to Shane. Pick me up, Uncle Shane. He scares me. This isn’t right.

Shane reached one large hand down and scooped up Matt, who had no fear of Shane’s razor-sharp claws. Shane settled Matt on his shoulder and turned to face Rolf.

“I see you disabled the interior cameras,” Shane said. “So the humans didn’t suss what was coming. Smart.”

“Basic tactics,” Rolf answered with some contempt.

Shane chuckled. “I can totally tell you were raised by Graham McNeil. You sound just like him.”

Rolf flinched at Graham’s name but rallied. “He was an asshole but not an idiot.”

“A good description for him. His mate probably says the same thing.”

“Mate?” Rolf repeated sharply. “Graham doesn’t have a mate.”

“He didn’t have a mate,” Freya corrected him. “He does now. Surprised me too.”

“What female would mate with Graham?” Rolf asked in amazement. “Some pathetic, submissive thing, I’ll bet. I can pity her.”

Matt quivered with fury. Don’t you say anything bad about Misty.

“The outside cameras work, though?” Shane asked, drawing attention away from Matt. “You can see people coming?” He gestured at the monitors.

“Yes,” Rolf said. “No, I’m not going to let you near them.”

“I’m just interested. Never been in a bunker taken over by Shifters. Those cages outside were for you guys, right?”

“When we first started to go feral, yes,” Rolf said. “We had to be contained, or we’d have killed everyone, including the other Shifters.”

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