The brightness in her face dims. "My tablet was ruined by the water so I lost all the work I did at your place. At least I didn't lose my whole pack. I was actually trying to shrug out of it before you saved me. So I still have my samples. I need another day or two to finish collecting and then I can head back." Her voice strangles at the end, like leaving gives her pause, too. I don't mean to, but I catch her eye, and the two of us lock gazes, arrested by what's unsaid between us.
"I gotta go," I blurt. "I'm going to drive into town and make that phone call we talked about. I'll find you when I'm done to make sure you're safe out there. Keep Bear close to you at all times. Closer than yesterday, understand?"
"Um… but you're naked." She glances down at the towel around my waist.
I shove another muffin in my mouth. "I'm gonna shift. Wanna watch?" I grin because I know she does. My bear is showing off now.
"Oh my God, yes." She follows me outside. I toss back one more muffin before I close my eyes and surrender to the animal within me. Thoughts scatter. The ability to think and reason decreases. My instincts sharpen. Inside my head, I'm still me, but different parts of my brain are activated. It's a little like having super powers while drunk.
I drop to all fours and lumber to the steps of the cabin, putting my front paws on the top step where Miranda stands. She draws in a sharp breath. I lift my snout to look her in the face. Her expression is no less awed than the first two times she saw me. She tentatively reaches out, but her hand freezes halfway to my head, like she's too scared to actually touch me.
I lower my head and gently butt her in the middle.
She giggles, hand landing on my head. She strokes the sides of my face, crooning softly, "My God, you're magnificent. So beautiful. So breathtaking."
I let her enjoy my bear a few more minutes, then whirl and lumber off. Her answering gasp rings in my ears as I run to my cabin.
Caleb
I DRIVE DOWN to Pecos to get my cell phone to work.
"Caleb. What's happening?" Garrett's always had a no-nonsense way of answering the phone.
"Hey. I have a question for you, wolf." I'm not one to mince words, either.
"What is it?"
"When I was there for a fight, I caught a strange scent. Not shifter. Not human. Something different."
"Vampire?"
"No. I smelled them, too, but that scent I recognize. No, it's shifter, but no recognizable animal. More than one. A few guys."
"Ah. The three stooges."
"Excuse me?"
"Did you ever hear of Data-X?"
"No. What is it?"
"It was a government and privately funded research lab. The test subjects were shifters and humans they were trying to genetically mutate into shifters. The scent you caught is the result of their experiments. Men who were mutated into shifters. Some more successfully than others."
Prickles run over my skin. A mutant bear. Something not bear, not human. That's what I'm looking for.
"Where is this Data-X?"
"They had labs out in California and Utah. They hid them in out of the way wilderness areas. One of our pack was a prisoner there as a youth. We closed the last one down last year and freed the remaining prisoners."
"So there's a bunch of mutants running around free now?" I snap.
Garrett growls low into the phone. "I assume you're asking this for a good reason."
"Yeah, I am. That scent. That fucked up mutant scent. I smelled it on the dead bodies of my wife and kid."
Garrett curses. "Okay. Fuck. I guess that would explain it. Well, let me talk to the three stooges. They're not killers, any of them, I'm sure of that."
"Yeah, I know. Different scents. But similar."
"I will ask Parker to call you. He's the sanest of the three. He might know of some bear experiments. Or Sam, our wolf brother might, but he escaped years ago. Or Nash, a crazy fucking lion. I'll text you their numbers after I talk to them. Sound good?"
I can't describe the relief pouring through me. I know I owe Garrett my life, but honestly? I never felt that grateful to him for letting me live. Now I'm feeling the love, though. "Yeah. I really appreciate it, Garrett. Thanks."
I may be close to getting answers. Finally.
And I can't pretend this progress isn't because of Miranda. She woke me up out of my stupor. Shook me. Sent me back into the ring with my head on straight.
I'm sitting in my truck, parked in front of one the local bars wanting to show my gratitude. She made me muffins. What can I do for her?
Besides make her come ten times before sunrise, that is.
I look up and realize I'm staring right at the answer.
A large "Trivia Night Tonight" sign hangs in the bar window.
Trivia Night. Didn't Miranda say she loved Trivial Pursuit? Seems like I need to take my girl for a night on the town tonight.
And yes, I know she's not my girl.
But just for one night-probably our last-I can enjoy the company of the sexy scientist.
Miranda
CALEB SHOWS up in the forest, not as a bear, but as a man. I'm not disappointed. I would've been thrilled with either version of him.
I stand up when I hear him coming. Bear runs to him with a happy woof and a wagging tail. "Hi."
He glances at the increment borer in my hand. "How can I help?"
I blink in surprise.
He wants to help?
What man has ever offered to help me without having something in for him?
No man other than Caleb.
And I suddenly feel like we're on a first date. Like my secret crush just showed up and I'm tongue-tied and clammy-palmed. I guess this means I've admitted I like the guy.
More than a little.
Which is a big problem.