Page 77 of Bear Facts

Freya rode in the back seat of the pickup with the feral woman, who had shifted to wolf in her sleep, as though seeking that state. Her head was on Freya’s lap, and Freya stroked her matted fur.

After some debate they’d decided against teleporting. If she woke up, alone, in Graham’s house, or Eric’s, surrounded by strange Shifters, she might lose her last grip on sanity and go on a rampage. Cubs lived in both houses, and then there was Misty, not to mention the still-recovering Leo.

Reid assured them that the tranq would keep her out for the duration of the trip, though he left extra darts with Brody, who rode in the front seat with Shane. Reid then teleported back to let Eric and Graham know what was coming.

Dougal had departed on his motorcycle, toting Neal on the back.

Freya’s mind whirled from all that had occurred. Finding the feral woman, the woman’s instinct that knew Freya had become separated from her brother, and Shane …

She glanced up, catching Shane’s glance in the rearview mirror. She’d surrendered herself to him, and it had been wonderful.

Being a twin meant she’d always had someone in her life, another part of her. But she’d not had this full completion of herself, a mate.

It was hard for Freya to let people into her life—she’d learned to keep them distant to survive—but Shane fit. And somehow, she fit into his.

In spite of the Collars and the Shiftertowns and all the things she’d fled, being with Shane seemed the most natural thing in the world. He’d broken her from her shell, and Freya wasn’t certain she wanted to crawl back inside any time soon.

Shane’s smile in the rearview mirror lit all kinds of fires inside her. Maybe later, after they figured things out, they could sneak away from Shiftertown and come up to the cabin again. And then …

“Take it easy, bro.” Brody gave a shout of alarm, and Shane jerked the pickup back into his lane. “Mate frenzy,” Brody muttered. “Sheesh.”

“Sorry.” Shane sent Freya a grin in the mirror, not the least bit sorry.

They reached Shiftertown without further mishap. The wolf stirred as the pickup slowed in front of Shane’s house but didn’t wake.

Dougal had passed their truck on the road, entering Shiftertown before them. Neal and Reid waited with Eric in Eric’s front yard, Cassidy and Nell not far away. Dougal wasn’t with them—presumably he’d dropped off Neal and gone to fetch Graham.

Shane lifted the wolf from where she slumbered on Freya’s lap and carried her toward the waiting group. Freya scrambled out and hurried to walk beside him.

“She’s going to freak out when she wakes up,” Shane said to Eric as he approached. “I suggest we take her to a room where she can’t damage anything.”

“With me,” Freya said quickly. “She seems to be better when I’m there.”

“Safest place is ours,” Eric said. “We cleared out a space for Jace to go when his Transition got too much for him.”

“Mmm.” Shane backed a step. “Our place is set up for bears. Reinforced.”

Neither of them suggested Graham’s, no doubt because Leo was recuperating there.

If the Lupine woman disappeared into Eric’s house, would Freya be allowed to talk to her? And would she go completely wild if she woke in a strange place surrounded by Felines? At least she’d already met Shane and Brody and knew their scent, plus was convinced Freya was Shane’s mate.

Shane exchanged a glance with Freya, as though understanding her line of thinking, and began carrying the wolf toward his own house.

“Shane.” Eric’s voice went hard.

“Sorry, Eric.” Shane kept walking. “Gotta do what’s best for the lady. Take it up with my mom.”

Freya hid a smile at the surprised look on Eric’s face. Eric didn’t argue, however, as though he actually did understand. He said nothing more as Shane carried the woman to his front porch.

Cormac opened the door for them. “I’ll need this entire story. Downstairs?”

“Have to,” Shane answered. “We’re out of bedrooms upstairs.”

Cormac led the way into the kitchen and opened a deep closet that served as a pantry. Shane had to turn sideways to carry the wolf in. Freya followed, neither Shane nor Cormac preventing her.

“I see we’re almost out of syrup,” Cormac mentioned before he pressed a hidden lever that swung the entire shelf unit at the end of the closet inward. He flicked on a light to reveal a flight of wooden steps.

They looked like typical basement stairs leading to the space where the water heater and various other home appliances would be kept. The walls were bare cement, and a single lightbulb illuminated the way.

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