Chapter 776 Chapter 776
Dropping the phone on the ground, Calla shifted quickly and grabbed her jeans. Pulling them on, she picked up the bag, took out the phone, and then tossed the bag under the shrub. Hopefully, the wind would take care of it. As soon as she had her boots on, she jammed the phone in one and adjusted the laces. Pulling her shirt over her head, she picked up her jacket and stepped out of the bush.
Finlay stood at the back of the house. “I was worried you got lost.”
She grinned. “No. Had a bunny snack and then had to stop and clean the blood off.” Judging by his size, he was another bear clan. Where did they find all these bears?
He chuckled. “You’re lucky. Small prey avoids this area.”
Calla pulled her jacket on. “It’s no wonder. How many bear clan are here?”
He looked at the house. “At least five. That’s why we limit it to one out at a time. Otherwise, the locals might think the bears are taking back their territory.”
She laughed. “I’m going to go take a shower.” She looked down, checking that her boot looked normal. “I’m over mud.”
Finlay snorted. “Yeah. I miss being in B.C. We were on higher ground, so there was less mud during the thaw.”
“Remind me to be there next spring.” She had to remember B.C. Maybe that was one of the locations.
“You and me both, Missy. See you later.”
She nodded and made fast work of getting around to the entrance of the house. As she turned the door handle, she prayed that no one was downstairs. She had to get the phone out of her boot. Once she hid it and had a shower, she needed to think more about Beck. She’d ridden in the van with him and been working with him on the same team for two weeks. How had she not sensed he was her mate? It didn’t work like she’d imagined it did. She hadn’t felt attracted to him at all.
Closing the door, she paused and listened. She didn’t hear anyone. Taking off her jacket, she dropped it on the floor. Reaching down, she pulled the phone out of her boot and slipped it into the pocket of her jacket. Taking her boots off, she picked up her coat and hugged it against her chest. As she made her way toward the stairs, the door across from them opened. Edda came out.
“Did you go for a run?”
Calla nodded. “Yeah. It was nice to burn off some animal energy.” She smiled at her.
Edda gave her a thoughtful look. “I always wondered what it would be like.” She smiled, “Although I don’t think I’d be as graceful as your animal probably is.”
“No? Why not?”
Edda smiled again. “I’m not from a cat clan.”
Calla didn’t hide her surprised look.
“My senses still process like a normal shifter, Missy. I knew you were a cat of some kind.”
“Lion clan,” Calla said softly.
“Oh, you’re probably very pretty in that form too.” Edda sighed. “My animal—we’re Kermode bear.”
Calla had to clamp down on her facial expressions. Where had she heard that? “I’ve never seen one before.”
Edda smiled and had a faraway look in her eyes. “Spirit bear is what my mother used to say.” Her expression blanked. “I don’t remember much else.”
Calla’s heart ached. “I’m sure you would be majestic and powerful.”
Edda considered her for a moment. “Do you think so?”
Calla nodded. “If there’s a computer around here, I can look up a picture for you.”
Edda studied her, an intense look in her eyes. “I might like that.”
Calla needed to get this phone up to the room. “Any rules about using the shower?”
“Just clean up after yourself.”
“Got it. I need to go wash some of this psychological mud off.”
Edda sighed. “Yes. Spring is a messy time.” She yawned. “I’m going to make my tea, take my medication, and go to bed.”
“Medication?” Was she sick?
Edda nodded and turned toward the kitchen. “Shifting at my age, with my leg, would be bad.” She walked away.
Calla’s blood started to heat up. She ran up the stairs. Edda was on those pills that prevent shifting. How many years had she been on them? She’d heard about all the others they’d rescued that had been on something like that. Most men chose the collar over the pills. Without feeling her animal, she didn’t know how she’d survive, so she understood the collar, but to use drugs to suppress your animal—how did they live like that? Worse than that, Edda wasn’t being held by anyone. Why would she take them?
Closing the bedroom door, she stood there and looked around. Where was she going to hide something in an otherwise empty room? There were no vents in the walls like in the movies, so that was out. Hiding something under the mattress was too obvious. She noticed her bed was made, and a tracksuit was sitting on the cover for her. It had to be Edda, because so far she hadn’t seen any of the other females. Pulling the phone out of her jacket, she hung it on the back of the door and went over to the dresser. She opened the top drawer; of course, it was empty. Closing it, she looked around and then leaned down and opened the bottom drawer. She pulled it right out of the dresser and looked inside. There was a bottom in it. Setting the phone in there, she put the drawer back in and closed it carefully, listening to if it dragged the phone. It didn’t. Standing back up, she heaved a loud sigh.
“Shower.” She nodded and grabbed the track suit and opened the door. This spy stuff was exhausting. She couldn’t even think about Beck right now. She just couldn’t. After some sleep, maybe she’d have some logical explanation for why a wolf was her lioness’ mate. Who could she even talk to about this? She closed the bathroom door and leaned against it. No one right now. She had to focus on finding out those locations and hoped in that time Dane would figure out how to disconnect those switches.
Stripping out of her jeans, she folded them and set them on the counter. She looked down at her socks, they were covered in mud. Sighing, she pulled them off and dropped them on the floor. Tomorrow’s priority was going to be to find some clothes. As soon as she took off her shirt, she grabbed a towel off the shelf and went over and turned the water on.
Stepping under the spray, she closed her eyes and let the hot water wash over her. She’d have to thank Edda for the tracksuit because there was no way she was putting dirty clothes back on. It must have taken her a bit to climb the stairs. With her limp, Calla was almost certain her knee didn’t bend properly. She wondered how she’d hurt it. Even more so, if she had shifted when she did, her leg would probably be fine now. Stepping back, she stared at the wall. Kermode bear. Griffin. He was from that clan. She remembered Deva and Amari talking about it. Her eyes rounded. Could she be Griffin’s mother? No one ever said what happened to her. Putting her hands over her mouth, she took a few deep breaths. If Edda was Griffin’s mother, there was no way on earth Calla would leave her behind.