Page 68 of Bear Facts

“We should go,” Freya said to Shane.

“Yep.” Shane brushed a soft kiss to her forehead. “We’ll find them, Freya. Both this feral and your brother.”

“We will.” If Freya said it like she believed it, it would come true, wouldn’t it? “And then …”

Shane’s eyes filled with fire. “Yeah. Then.”

He deliberately uncurled his hands from around her and opened the driver’s side door. Freya quickly slid out of the passenger side, smoothing her jacket as she stepped into the cold air.

Brody continued to be amused as he watched her and Shane, but his mocking wasn’t derisive. He seemed happy that she and Shane were lusting for each other, pleased for his brother.

She wasn’t certain anymore whether she’d refuse Shane’s mate-claim or not. Freya definitely didn’t want to live in a Shiftertown for the rest of her life, but living on her own, without Shane, was no longer as appealing. She’d be back to her own life and free, but there would be an emptiness now. Meeting Shane had changed her, and she’d no longer be the same person she’d been.

Freya shook off her thoughts. Nothing could be decided until they found Rolf, however. She squared her shoulders, ready to search for the dangerous Shifter who might know where her lost brother was.

After several hours with no sign of any Shifter, feral or otherwise, Shane became convinced the feral had left the mountain.

“I don’t like that idea,” he said as the six of them gathered to confer. They’d searched in teams of three, Shane deciding any fewer in a group would be too dangerous. “Where has he gone? Down into Vegas? He could do a lot of damage there.”

“No reports of any problems at the ski lodge,” Reid said. “A lot of vulnerable humans there, but this feral hasn’t attacked any.”

Freya stood close to Shane, as though she liked being where she could touch him. They’d shifted for the search, leaving clothes hidden near the truck. Now that they’d shifted back, Freya’s lovely nude body next to his was making it hard to concentrate.

“Maybe the feral isn’t so far gone then,” she said, arms folded over her lush breasts the others knew better than to ogle. “He knows humans are off limits, and besides, there’s a lot of cubs with them.” Her voice softened. “I’m glad he hasn’t hurt the cubs.”

“If he’s in the desert now, this turns into searching for a needle in a haystack,” Brody rumbled. “We’ll need more help.”

“Plus air support,” Shane said. “Marlo?”

Neal gave him a nod. “He’s still around. Waiting to take Zander and Rae home when they’re ready.”

“Well, Marlo might have to make a detour.” Shane strove to keep his eyes off Freya’s delectable body. “Let’s at least try to pick up a trail. If the feral isn’t here, we need to know which direction it went.”

“If it’s still alive,” Neal said.

Trust a Guardian to inject a somber note. “True,” Shane said. “Let’s hope it’s alive, not only for its own sake, but because anything that can kill a feral would be worse than it.”

They shifted again to their animal forms, Freya searching with Shane and Brody, Dougal following Neal and Reid. Dougal didn’t like Reid, but he respected the hell out of Neal, who would keep the young Lupine in line.

By the time the sun went down, the Shifters had found no sign of the feral’s immediate presence. They’d picked up the scent a few times, only to have it peter out in different places in deep woods. The feral, Shane concluded, was very good at laying false trails.

Freya as wolf sat on her haunches once they regrouped, tongue lolling. Her wolf was beautiful—silky gray hair so thick she had a ruff around her neck. Her fur went well with her golden eyes, watchful under pricked ears.

She indicated nothing, but Shane sensed her fatigue. Freya hadn’t had much rest at all since she’d arrived in Shiftertown. She’d valiantly continue, but it was clear, with the discouraging hunt, that she needed a break.

Shane shifted to human form. “Let me take Freya to Iona’s cabin,” he said to the others. “It’s getting dark, which makes the search more dangerous.”

While Shifters had terrific senses of hearing and smell, the feral would have the upper hand in its enhanced state. Shane hated to retreat to the city, however—it would be that much harder to pick up the scent in the morning.

Brody, also human once more, nodded thoughtfully. “You and Freya rest. We’ll look around a bit longer, then report back to Mom and Eric.”

Dougal’s brows came together in puzzlement, and he opened his mouth to ask a question, but Neal overrode him.

“Yes, I think that’s the best idea,” the Guardian rumbled. “We’ll be there after a while and then start again in the morning.”

“Why will they be safe at the cabin?” Dougal demanded, determined to be heard. “We should stick together.”

“No Shifter will go to Eric’s cabin without an invitation,” Brody said. “Eric’s scent is all over it, and any Shifter will know he’s an alpha. Not to mention all the overlapping scents of Iona, Cassidy and Jace, and our mom and Cormac.”

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