Page 16 of Bear Facts

Althea sent Freya a fleeting smile. “Very good. Your senses are sharp, I see. Ewan.” Althea directed her command at the SUV. “Come on out.”

Nothing happened for a moment, then the door of the vehicle opened, and a tall, dark-haired Shifter in jeans and a sweatshirt slid out to land on motorcycle-booted feet. He wore sunglasses as well but hadn’t bothered with a coat.

He was a Feline all right. If Freya hadn’t identified his scent, she would have pegged him by his attitude. Cats thought they owned the world. She didn’t recognize him, and Ewan showed no recognition of her, only regarded her with a blank sunglasses-stare.

Freya really hated it when she couldn’t see a Shifter’s eyes. He could be plotting anything behind those opaque lenses.

Ewan didn’t wear a Collar. Another rogue Shifter, she guessed, who’d sought employment with humans who were rogues themselves.

The Feline’s presence explained the strong Shifter scent, but not entirely. There was another Shifter layered over that, more than could be explained by Ewan’s presence or Freya’s borrowed clothes. Freya studied Ewan, but he didn’t seem to be aware of any other scents but his own and Freya’s.

Did he know, or was he not as sensitive to Shifter presence as he should be?

Freya recognized the unique signature as it came closer, one she’d never known before today.

Bear.

Oh, for the Goddess’ sake, what the hell was he doing here?

He’d followed her, of course.

Freya schooled her expression to not give away her sudden apprehension, but Althea was astute.

“Everything all right?” Althea’s question had an edge to it.

“Sure,” Freya said, hoping her voice didn’t shake. “Wolves are always wary around a Feline.”

Ewan’s brows waggled. “We aim to please, sweetheart.”

That was another thing about Felines. They were all wise asses.

Althea wasn’t pleased that Ewan had spoken, but if she’d expected silent Shifter guards, she didn’t understand Shifters. Felines couldn’t keep their mouths shut.

And bears, apparently, couldn’t mind their own business.

Freya pulled herself together and sent Althea a stare as cool as the ones trained on her. “I’m fine.”

“So, you decided to trick me into this meeting, not to work for me, but to find out if I hired your brother.” Althea’s voice was ice cold. “I’m not in the habit of disclosing my roster.”

Freya hadn’t really expected her to answer directly. “I’m not here to betray you, or him. I just need to know.”

“Do you?” Althea scoffed. “Why should I risk my business, and possibly my life, to tell a rogue Shifter anything?”

Ewan huffed. “Seriously. Lupines are pushy.”

Althea’s slight turn of head toward Ewan made him close his mouth, and some of his belligerence faded.

Wow. A human woman who could make a Feline behave. Wonders never ceased.

Of course, if Althea had such power over an arrogant Shifter male, what kind of discipline must she employ to keep her people in line? Did she have Rolf, cowed and waiting somewhere for her to let him out?

Ewan hadn’t recognized Freya’s scent, which he likely would have if he’d known Rolf. Members of Shifter families resembled one another in more than looks. Ewan might be holding back, but Freya doubted it. Her flicker of hope began to fade.

“Answer my question, please,” Althea continued to Freya. “Why should I tell you?”

Freya had the feeling Althea was encouraging her to come up with a good argument. Freya had worked out in her mind how she would persuade the woman, but the presence of Shane lurking in the woods scattered her thoughts.

Would he charge in here demanding to know why Althea was toting around an un-Collared Shifter, and why she was meeting with Freya? Would he threaten to tell his leader, Eric? And even worse, Graham?

---