Page 43 of Bear Facts

“Why was Graham forced to move here anyway?” Freya asked. “It was hard enough for him in Elko. He was facing a war.”

And didn’t have time to take care of a scared young wolf and her brother just out of their Transitions, Shane supplied silently.

“Because humans are stupid about Shifters,” he answered. “They don’t realize that putting different groups of us together seriously messes with the order of things. Fortunately, Eric and Graham knew how to be reasonable about it.”

“Graham?” Freya said in disbelief. “Reasonable?”

“That took a while, I admit. Misty helped.”

“She is so totally not who I expected Graham to end up with.” Freya rested her head on her knees. “What happened there?”

“They fell in love.” Shane opened his hands. “It was a beautiful thing.”

“Have you ever fallen in love?” The question held true curiosity.

Shane had once thought so with Cassidy, but those feelings were long ago and far away. “I don’t know. Have you?”

“No.” Freya answered without hesitation.

“You’re pretty positive about that.”

“I was too young when I lived with Shifters. After I left, I didn’t want to commit to any human. Too dangerous.”

Why was Shane elated by this answer? Not because she’d been living in a precarious situation—that made him want to hurt anyone who’d threatened her—but because she hadn’t felt a spark for anyone.

Great, he was triumphant about her non-existent boyfriends.

As they’d talked, Shane had ended up a little closer to her. He wasn’t certain when or how that had happened. Freya simply watched him with her wolf’s eyes without flinching.

“Maybe the two of us weren’t meant to fall in love before this,” Shane found himself rumbling. He tried to stop the words—what an inane thing to say. “Maybe the Goddess has her own plans.”

“Sometimes I think the Goddess looks out for me,” Freya said. “I got away from the pack and Leo, and I lived a relatively good life. Rolf got into software development, and I went into graphic design.” She smiled. “We worked in the same company for a while, but he was recruited by another, and then the startup in Mountain View. He was in high demand. Maybe as good as you say the Guardians were.”

“You like graphic design?” Shane asked.

“I do.” Freya lifted her head. “I don’t know how arty I am, but I love playing with patterns and colors, putting elements together to form something that feels right. I mostly work on magazine ads, both print and online, sometimes do posters for sales conventions. Doesn’t matter what it’s for—when everything comes together, it’s like a song. I took vacation I’d been saving up to look for Rolf, and I hope I can go back to it.”

Like a song when she smiled, as well. The hint of it now warmed his soul.

Goddess help him, when had Shane become so sappy?

She’d just said she wanted to get back to her old life. The one without Shane in it. That should smack the sappiness out of him, but it didn’t. Probably because he was an idiot.

They were side by side now. Had Shane moved, or had she?

Freya had, Shane realized. She’d swung her legs over the side of the bed to sit next to him.

“Hey,” Shane said softly. He touched her hand, and when she didn’t pull away, twined his fingers through the backs of hers.

“Hey.” Her response was shy.

Shane leaned closer. “I’m not sorry I mate-claimed you.”

Freya didn’t pull away. “Okay.”

“You’ re supposed to say, I’m not sorry you mate-claimed me either, Shane.” He put on a falsetto as he said her line.

Freya shook her head, her warm hair brushing his shoulder. “You are such a shit.”

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