Page 30 of Bear Facts

It hadn’t been all bad with Graham, Freya knew. As pack leader, his schedule meant babysitting had been left to other Lupines, including Graham’s trackers and several females who had cubs of their own. None of them had had much extra time for Freya and Rolf, who had grown closer together, taking care of each other.

Freya’s feelings about Graham had always been mixed. On the one hand, he’d been very protective of her and Rolf, coming down hard on those who thought they should be killed because they were too much bother.

On the other, he’d had a full plate already with keeping his half-feral pack together. There hadn’t been time for hugs and small indulgences that most cubs had, little time for play. She and Rolf had been forced to grow up fast. Stick with me, sis, Rolf had said often to comfort her. We’ll be okay.

Shane kept himself comfortably against her. Freya should shake him off, but she somehow didn’t want to. Maybe thoughts of her bleak cubhood were making her revel in the warmth of Shane next to her, in the strength of his touch.

Sure, that could be it.

Freya’s breath caught when she heard Graham and Cormac approach the house. It was difficult not to hear Graham, who spoke in the same loud and unchecked voice she remembered from her cubhood. She rose, Shane joining her instantly.

“This had better be good, Cormac,” Graham was saying testily. “I’m busy. Have Lupines to discipline for trying to kick bear asses.”

Cormac laughed, the sound making the air inside the house lighter. “Kick bare asses. Good pun, Graham.”

“What the fuck are you talking about?”

Yep, that was Graham. He had a sense of humor—somewhere—but a person sometimes needed an itemized list to explain jokes to him.

A light, female voice responded. “You understand him, Graham. You’re being obtuse on purpose.”

“Shit. Now my mate is calling me obtuse, as if I know what that means.”

“She means …” another Lupine, this one much younger than Graham, tried to say.

“Dougal, put a sock in it. Cormac, you had better tell me what the fuck is so important?—”

The kitchen door opened, and Cormac strode inside. A young woman with dark hair in a ponytail followed him.

Graham, twenty-five years older than when Freya had last seen him, but still formidable, hesitated on the doorstep. No Shifter would enter another’s territory without express permission. Though Cormac had asked them to come over, this was Nell’s house. Graham and the younger Lupine had to wait on her sufferance.

Graham peered past Cormac into the living room, and his gaze fell on Freya. Any irascible words died as his lips parted in shock.

Freya took a step toward the kitchen, Shane right beside her. “Graham.” Her voice was cracked, uncertain. “It’s me.”

Graham launched himself inside, barreling past Nell and Brody as he rocketed straight at Freya.

Shane was there like a barrier, but Graham whipped around him with Lupine speed. He grabbed Freya before Shane could stop him and spun her from her feet, crushing her in a suffocating hug.

“Freya McHugh.” The voice in her ear was hoarse with emotion. “My little cub, you’re all right. Thank the Goddess, you’re all right.”

Chapter Ten

Emotions tumbled through Shane as Graham enclosed Freya in a fierce but relieved embrace.

Graham had been that worried about her, had he? The Lupine leader had never mentioned Freya or her brother, or any missing wolf for that matter. Now Graham pulled Freya in like a long-lost daughter, his eyes squeezed shut as though he fought tears.

Shane admitted that not speaking of Freya had been a good way to protect her. If Shifter Bureau ever realized Graham’s pack was two members short, not only would they give Graham a ton of grief, but they’d tear the world apart trying to locate and possibly destroy Freya and her brother for simply existing.

Freya’s hands had half lifted behind Graham’s back when he’d grabbed her, and they froze there, as though she was uncertain whether to hug him in return. As the embrace went on, she eventually relaxed and rested her hands on his broad back.

Graham been the only father figure she’d really known, Shane realized. Goddess, how traumatic that must have been.

After a long time, the bears watching in silence, Graham eased from Freya. He rested his big hands on her shoulders, his fingers shaking.

“After so many years,” he said, voice thick with tears. “You’re all right Freya-cub.”

“Not a cub anymore,” Freya answered softly.

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