Page 15 of Wrong Turn, Right Bear
I slumped to the corridor floor, determined to stay and speak to Theo as he left the hotel at first light. I ran a number of scenarios in my head.
I’d offer to drive him to the airport. He’d refuse.
Sending him an email after he left was an option. But there was no guarantee he’d read it.
If I lay on the road so the hotel van couldn’t pass, I might get arrested. Not that I’d be thrown in jail because my uncle was the head of police in town. And most of the townspeople were shifters.
What if I stood in the road with a huge sign? Hmmm but other humans might see.
But footsteps padded over the carpet and I leaped up, brushing hair from my brow. I’d gotten dressed so quickly, my shirt was lopsided, having matched buttons with the wrong button hole.
Forget that! My bear was intent on mating and didn’t understand humans' obsession with clothing.
“Hi.” The word was out of my mouth when Theo cracked the door, allowing me to see one eye.
“You have a lot of explaining to do and not much time to do it.”
Shit, I was on the clock.
“Can I come in or would you prefer we go down to the lobby?” It was late and most of the staff had left for the night so there’d be few people to listen in, unless there were guests chatting and planning their day tomorrow.
He hesitated before asking, “Will the bear be making an appearance?”
“No. He’s tucked safely away.”
“Where?” He stuck his head into the hallway.
I patted my chest. “He’s in here.”
Theo stared at me, his mouth gaping and his white-knuckled hand gripping the door. I had a vision of an old sci-fi movie where the guy had an alien attached to his chest and wondered if he was thinking the same thing. Of course he was freaked and I reassured him my bear only shifted with my permission.
Not exactly true.
He had pushed through a few times when I’d been injured.
We’re not telling him that now.
“Fine.” He left the door slightly ajar. It might be so he could make a run for it or for yelling and waking up the people in the next room if he needed help.
I stood as far away from him as I could. This was a make or break moment. I should have talking points and slides and a laser pointer. I had one shot to set him at ease.
After launching into shifters’ history and bringing us up to present day, I explained that most humans didn’t know we existed and that was for our safety.
“So I can’t share what I know?”
“Correct.”
“Will you be punished for showing me your animal?” He nibbled his thumbnail.
I swallowed, debating whether to tell the truth or fudge it a little. “No.”
“Why?” I’d already learned that once he got his teeth into a subject, he wouldn’t let it go until he had an answer that satisfied him.
“Well… this is a special situation.”
“To do with the wolf?” He moved toward the window. “The small one who might have done something wrong.”
“You picked up on that?” Clever.
