Page 39 of A Bear's Journey

“Benny’s Barbecue,” Craig said. He chewed and swallowed. “Weird little coyote-run place up in a holler. It’s out of the way, so we almost never go there, but since I was driving around aimlessly tonight I figured I’d go there.”

Olivia ripped the meat from another bone with her teeth, feeling half-feral but wonderful.

This isn’t sexy at all, she thought. I’ve already ruined my chances, though, so why bother eating politely?

When she finished, she made a half-hearted attempt at wiping her hands and face with a paper napkin, but it just tore, leaving bits of paper on her skin.

“You can use our shower if you want,” Jasper offered.

Olivia raised her eyebrows.

“You probably want to shower after today anyway,” said Craig. “It’s upstairs. Here, I’ll show you.

He led her up the stairs and into the master bedroom. The whole house, bedroom included, was decorated in what Olivia thought of as Grizzly Shifter Lite. There was just enough bare wood around to suggest a cabin in the woods, but not so much that it was overwhelming, like Cora’s place could be.

Not that Olivia would ever tell Cora that. Particularly while she was pregnant.

In the middle of the bedroom was a truly massive bed, covered in a plush-looking comforter.

They have a bed built for three, Olivia realized. Suddenly, a pang of guilt shot through her. There was no way she could be in a triad, no way she was meant to be anyone’s mate.

She’d tried to be normal, and she’d failed. It didn’t matter what she wanted, because she knew as well as anyone that most former ferals ended up living alone in a cabin in the middle of nowhere, mateless.

I should let them find someone else, she thought, looking at Craig, opening the door to the master bathroom.

I’m sorry, she thought, appreciating his form even as she thought it.

“Shower’s in here,” he said. “Fresh towels in that cabinet. Soap and shampoo and stuff should be pretty self-explanatory, I think. The shower just works like a shower. Take all the time you need.”

“Thanks,” said Olivia, as Craig left, closing the bedroom door behind him.

She took a long, hot shower, letting the water wash over her until it started running lukewarm. She washed her hair once and scrubbed her body hard, afraid that she still smelled like a combination of bear and barbecue.

Why does it matter?She asked. You’re sleeping on their couch and then you’re going home in the morning, because they don’t deserve to have to deal with trouble like you.

She shut the water off and then wrapped herself in an enormous, fluffy bath towel, resisting the urge to shake herself dry. The thing went all the way around her nearly twice.

Finally clean, she padded back into the bedroom to find a pair of boxer shorts and a soft, old t-shirt that said Vote Sargent 2006! On it. She put them on and ran one hand over the fluffy comforter, feeling her hand sink into its soft surface as she did.

Suddenly, she was dead tired.

Just for a moment, she thought. You can’t just sleep in their bed, but you can lie down for a minute.

I mean, you used their shower and you’re wearing their clothes.

Olivia crawled onto the enormous bed, her weight sinking down into the comforter, and she lay there for a minute.

I should get back up,she thought.

Within moments, she was fast asleep.

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