Page 66 of Bear Facts

Dylan’s commanding tone was no longer subtle. His eyes held a cold hardness that told Althea he would not tolerate her turning around and summoning Shifter Bureau after this meeting. That if she did, it might be her last act on earth.

“I have no liking for Shifter Bureau,” Althea stated. “Short-sighted idiots.”

“And you’re different?”

“Because I hire Shifters to be soldiers? I see the potential for Shifters to be useful members of society. They can teach us so much, enrich our lives.” She shrugged. “Too bad Shifter Bureau can’t see beyond their fear. If Shifters had wanted to wipe out humanity and take over, they would done so have long ago.”

“True.” Dylan gave her an approving nod. “But we are still dangerous. If we’re not suppressed, who knows what we’ll do?”

“Be terrific soldiers, leaders, and innovators,” Althea said promptly. She’d always believed that without hesitation, though her father had not. His one blind spot. “You could show us how to be stronger.”

“Mmm.” Dylan made his noncommittal noise. “You’d harness the power of Shifters? Maybe we don’t want to be harnessed. Maybe we don’t want to teach humans anything.”

“It would be your choice, of course.” Althea returned his nod with a cool one of her own. “That is the point Shifter Bureau doesn’t understand.”

Sean and Tiger listened to this debate without changing expression or offering their opinions. Whatever they thought about Shifters blending with human society, they kept to themselves.

Dylan did another scan of her screens, probably memorizing every byte of data on it. Though Tiger never looked at the computer, Althea had the weird feeling he’d absorbed all its information as well.

“I find it interesting that you decided to meet Freya McHugh at the resort on Mount Charleston,” Dylan said. “Very near the place a feral was running around. One that attacked and nearly killed a Shifter.”

Althea’s eyes widened before she could stop herself. “Freya? Is she all right?”

“The lass is fine and safe—she wasn’t the one attacked. But she has questions, as I do. First, why Mount Charleston? Did you know about the loose feral there?”

“No, I didn’t. I wouldn’t have risked her life, or my own men if I’d known.” She tightened her lips. “Freya had good potential. Wasted now, of course. She’s stuck in a Shiftertown,” she finished in disgust.

“You chased her and Shane to its gates,” Dylan stated. “She obviously wanted to get away from you.”

“It wasn’t obvious at all,” Althea snapped. “When Shifters come to me, it’s because they need a job and know they can provide what I need. I wanted to give Freya a place to be safe, where a feral-making maniac wouldn’t get hold of her.” Her impatience increased. “Then that giant lug of a Collared Shifter brainwashed her into thinking she needed to be rescued and trapped in his Shiftertown. I was trying to save her from that. But I wasn’t foolish enough to think I could best all those Shifters at the gate when we reached it. I hope Freya finds a way to escape them. She’ll have a place with me if she does.”

Althea had gone rigid as her answer became a rant. She made herself relax into the chair and take a long, slow breath. She hadn’t become emotional in front of anyone in a long time, especially not anyone male. Dylan was compelling—she felt that from him in waves.

“Makes sense, Dad,” Sean said. His voice was easy, calm, exactly what Althea needed to be right now. “Why would a Shifter run to a Shiftertown if she didn’t have to?”

Dylan didn’t answer him, his focus all for Althea. “What about her brother?”

Freya had stood in front of Althea and demanded she be told where her brother was. “I don’t know anything about him. Rolf never came to me.”

“Your card was found in his apartment after he went missing.”

“I have a record of my agent giving him my card, but that is as far as the association went. Not all potential recruits contact me. According to Freya, now he’s missing.” Althea took another surreptitious breath. “This troubles me.”

“And me,” Dylan said, voice dry. “And his sister too, of course.”

“I’ll put my best agents onto it,” Althea said. Her right foot jerked the slightest bit, and she stilled it with effort. “He needs to be found.”

The man called Tiger finally spoke, his voice reverberating through the room. “You think he might have been captured by the ones making ferals.”

Althea tried to look away from Tiger’s intense gaze and found she couldn’t. “Unfortunately, I do.”

“Then we will need access to your research,” Dylan said. “Sean?” He beckoned to his son.

Althea sat up straight, uncrossing her legs. “You mean right now?”

Dylan’s shrug was almost imperceptible. “No time like the present.”

Sean moved to Althea’s desk in answer to his father’s summons, leather jacket whispering.

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