Page 56 of Bear Facts

Freya continued to stroke the little wolves, who had draped themselves over her thighs, eyes closing as they used her warmth to send them to sleep.

“They’re sure cute, whatever they are.”

Misty brought the coffee to Freya, who took the mug, being careful not to spill the hot liquid on the cubs.

“Graham would love it if you stayed,” Misty said as she put the lid on the tub of ice cream and returned it to the freezer. “Though he says he’ll understand if you don’t want to.”

Freya sipped the coffee, which was very good, but she couldn’t be soothed, not today. “Please understand that this is hard for me. I never meant to come here, never meant to see Graham and his pack again.”

“I think you did mean to come here.” Misty resumed her slouch against the counter, but her eyes held wisdom. “Whether you realize it or not.”

Freya made an exasperated noise. “You mean the Goddess sent me here to reconcile with Graham? I don’t think She interferes that specifically in our business.”

Misty shrugged. “You never know. Sometimes the universe drives us toward events that shape our lives.”

“Now you sound like a motivational app.” Freya’s irritableness softened when one of the cubs blinked up at her with sleepy eyes. How could she stay crabby with these little guys warming her?

Misty laughed, a compassionate sound. “It’s the only explanation I can find for why I turned up at a Shifter groupie bar—somewhere I’d never have gone on my own—and met Graham when he took the stool next to mine. How did we both end up in that random place on that random night?”

She had a point. “Graham sat down next to you, and you didn’t run away screaming?” Freya asked in amusement.

“I thought he was hot, to be honest.” Misty’s eyes took on a faraway light. “I could tell he was unhappy. Not just because he’d had a bad day, but deep behind that. I saw a lot of pain and frustration in him. It touched me, somehow.”

“Graham’s a complicated Shifter, that’s for sure.” Freya took another thoughtful sip of coffee then met Misty’s gaze squarely. “I’m glad he found you. Or you found him. He needed someone.”

“He did,” Misty said. “And I needed him.”

Freya had never imagined Graham’s mate would be a soft-faced, sweet-voiced human woman called Misty, but maybe Misty was right. The Goddess, or the universe, sometimes put people where they needed to be.

The cub who’d been watching her thumped his tail once, as though pleased Freya had caught on, and drifted back to sleep.

Neal Ingram hovered behind Shane and Reid as they bent over Leo’s motionless body. Neal didn’t draw the sword, to Shane’s relief, which meant he thought there was hope.

Dougal’s voice rose in pitch in his anguish. “We have to get him home.”

“Reid?” Shane glanced at the man. “I know it’s a long way, but can you take him?”

Reid nodded. “Should be able to. I’ve never been inside his house, so I’ll have to materialize outside it. Or do you want him at a hospital?”

“Doubt a hospital could help,” Brody said somberly. “Neal? What do you think?”

Neal’s leather jacket creaked as he straightened up. “Hospital won’t help him. He needs a Shifter healer.”

“Want me to text Zander?” Shane offered.

Brody’s brows went up. “Whoa, you’re on texting terms with the elusive Zander Moncrieff? He never answers his phone anyway, bro.”

“He seems to know when it’s important.” Shane’s phone was with his clothes, so he couldn’t start texting immediately. “I think you should take him to Graham’s house. Leo’s brothers might use this as an opportunity to edge Leo out of his place. He’ll be safer with Graham.”

Dougal stared at him. “They’d do that?”

Shane, with more experience of Shifters through the years, nodded. “Unfortunately.”

Reid didn’t wait for more debate. He stepped past Shane, crouched down, and very carefully put his hands under Leo’s bloody body.

Awareness flickered through Leo’s eyes, and Shane saw horror when he realized what Reid was going to do.

The air around Reid heated, and Shane stepped hastily back. A hot wind burst through the woods, and then Reid and Leo were gone.

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