Page 57 of Bear Facts

“Shit,” Dougal said, now sounding exactly like Graham. “I hate when he does that.”

Shane texted Zander after he pulled on his clothes, but as Brody predicted, the polar bear who was the best healer anyone knew, didn’t answer. Shane tried again as Brody steered the truck back onto the icy dirt road, Dougal on his motorcycle falling in behind them.

Neal had the backseat to himself this time, but he did not relax. He drummed his fingers on jeans-clad thighs, impatient with the slow movements of the pickup. He needed to be with Leo in case the man expired.

Shane longed to tell Freya what happened, but he didn’t have her number. Something he’d have to rectify. He sent a message to Cormac instead, knowing he would relay the information to those who needed it.

Brody had to take it easy until they got to a paved road, then he sped onto the highway. As they wound down the mountain, out of forest to desert again, Shane’s phone vibrated with a reply from Zander.

On it, was the brief message, and nothing more.

Shane’s impatience on the journey was for a different reason than Neal’s. He tapped his feet against the floorboards while Brody took them down the street and through the gates then nearly tore himself out of the pickup when Brody pulled to a stop at their house.

Freya stepped calmly out of the front door and into the yard to meet him, neither hurrying nor hesitant, as though this was something she did every day. Shane’s heart turned over when he realized she’d been waiting for him.

Shane went to her and enfolded her in his arms.

Freya started, then her embrace flowed around him, her whisper warm in his ear. “Hey. You okay?”

He was now. Feeling Freya against him, inhaling her scent, hearing her voice, unknotted Shane’s fears and apprehensions. The small pains from his run through the underbrush in the woods, which he’d ignored at the time, evaporated and were gone. He buried his face in her shoulder and hung on.

Brody huffed as he went around them. Shane heard a mutter of “lawn ornaments in my way,” but he sensed Brody’s satisfaction. A new mate in the family was a welcome addition, and Brody liked Freya. Shane knew that without Brody saying a word.

Shane eased from Freya, happy that she kept hold of his arms. “Cormac tell you what’s going on?” he asked.

Freya nodded, her golden eyes huge. “Nell and Cormac went over to Graham’s to see if they could help. Reid said they’ll need a Shifter healer. I didn’t know there was such a thing.”

“A couple of them out there.” Shane caressed Freya’s shoulders, meaning to be comforting, but he couldn’t stop himself drawing comfort from her in return. “One, a full-of-himself polar bear. Another is a sweet half-Shifter from Austin. If polar bear doesn’t show up soon, I’ll ask her, but I’m not sure she can help in this case.”

“Reid didn’t say much about Leo’s injuries. Are they that bad?”

“Put it this way—I was surprised he was still alive.” Shane rested his forehead against hers. “I’m sorry, Freya.”

“Why? You didn’t hurt him.” She hesitated. “Did you?”

“No, sweetheart. When I best a Shifter, I do it in a fair fight. Whatever did that to him …” He shuddered. “It wasn’t good.”

Shane felt Freya tighten under his touch. “I smelled something bad out there while I was killing time waiting to meet with Althea. That’s why I attacked you, remember? I was afraid you’d take me out me if I didn’t disable you first.”

“You thought you’d disable me?” Shane asked incredulously. “What if I had been a feral bear Shifter? You’d have been in so much danger.” He didn’t like the thought of that.

“I realized you weren’t right after we started the fight.” Freya slanted him a smile that made Shane wish they weren’t in the middle of the front yard. “You smelled a lot better than a feral.”

“Aw, thanks. Wait a minute. Right after we started? Why did you keep going, then? Instead of saying, Oops, sorry. Didn’t mean to shred your fur.”

“Why didn’t you stop?” Freya’s eyes sparked with something between amusement and outrage. “You even accused me of being feral. Are you saying I stank?”

“Well …” Shane had started to enjoy the scuffle, especially the lying on top of her part. “You did need a shower, remember?”

Freya slipped from his grip with mock indignation. “Oh, thanks a lot, Shane. And you want me to be your mate?”

Shane’s large hands tightened on her shoulders. “I let you take that shower, remember? Next time, maybe I could join you.”

The flash of need in her eyes was unmistakable. Freya shut it down before it could flare, but Shane saw it.

Mating frenzy. The same that was stirring inside him.

Shane’s phone buzzed. He tried to ignore the persistent vibration, but Freya didn’t let him. “Someone’s texting you.”

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