Page 72 of Bear Facts

The wolf inside her heartily agreed. Freya thought she heard a huff of agreement from another wolf, and she stilled.

The others had started for the kitchen, deciding that Dougal’s idea of beer was a good one. Shane lingered, resting his strong hand on her shoulder.

“What’s the matter, sweetheart?”

Freya shook her head, resisting turning and seeking his arms again. “I guess I’m hearing my brother in my mind. Knowing exactly what he’d say to me if he saw me in your shirt.”

Shane, who’d found another sweatshirt in his size, grinned at her. “I’ll explain to him that I can’t resist the beautiful Freya, Lupine-ness and all.”

Freya nuzzled the hand that lay on her shoulder. “Never thought a bear would smell good to me.”

Shane vibrated with laughter. “We all have to make sacrifices.” He bent to speak into her ear. “I’d do anything for you, I think. Even cover myself with Lupine-scented perfume if you want.”

“Eww. Please don’t.” Freya loved that Shane could make her laugh. “You stay the way you are.”

“Want to join the others?” Shane asked, voice low. “Or would you rather go back up and celebrate life?”

Freya wanted the life celebration with everything she had. The wolf in her started to dance in joy as mating frenzy boiled through her blood.

“We could do that,” she said, sending Shane a coy glance.

He grinned and took her hand, the two preparing to race up the stairs.

Yes. Hold on to him.

Freya halted in mid-stride. The voice rang out in her head, but it wasn’t hers or Rolf’s.

Shane’s grin died. “Freya?”

Freya slid her hand from his and went to the door. The voice had been ragged and hoarse, but the conviction from it was strong.

Before Shane could stop her, Freya unlocked the door. She opened it cautiously, but no one appeared. She stepped out onto the porch, Shane right behind her.

The clouds of the last few days had cleared, and dry, frigid air skimmed the trees. Moonlight, sharp and bright, filtered through the pine needles to light the space around the cabin.

Freya peered across the clearing, her gaze locking with that of a dark gray wolf that sat beneath the trees, watching her intently.

Chapter Twenty-One

Shane followed Freya’s line of sight and froze as he spied the wolf.

The two Lupines, one dark in the moonlight, one human and motionless on the porch, were staring at each other as though in recognition.

The wolf in the woods had a darker coat than Freya’s silver-gray. Its eyes were light, almost blue-white, in contrast to Freya’s golden ones.

This wasn’t her brother. Freya’s twin should look just like her, the way Matt and Kyle’s wolves did.

Ergo, it must be the feral.

“Freya,” Shane whispered.

“I know.” Freya’s voice was as quiet as his. “Don’t spook it.”

“Damn it, I need a tranq rifle about now.”

Reid had one, but Shane would have to slide back into the house, find it, and get back out here before the wolf decided to vanish. Based on the difficulty they’d had tracking it today, it was good at that.

Freya took one slow pace forward. The wolf in the woods didn’t move. Freya took another, stepping down to the top porch stair.

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