Page 76 of Bear Facts

The woman sent Freya a pleading look from behind her snarled hair. To Shane’s surprise, she calmed somewhat, as though Freya’s voice reached through her wildness.

“Get them out,” she said, voice rasping.

“Not leaving you alone with her,” Shane said instantly to Freya.

The woman whipped her attention to Shane, and he suppressed a shiver. He wouldn’t want to meet that stare alone on a dark night.

“Mate,” she said.

“Yep.” Shane nodded. “Freya’s mate.”

For once Freya didn’t argue that she hadn’t yet accepted the claim. She said nothing, keeping her gaze on the woman.

“Mate … bond.” The woman lifted her grimy fingers and traced the air.

Shane started. The warm glow he’d begun to sense inside him gave a sudden throb. Holy shit.

On the other hand, why not? Shane had somehow known from the moment Freya had charged out of the woods and knocked him over that she filled the empty spaces in his life.

Mates. Together. Not in coercion, but in love.

Shane gave the woman a nod. Freya didn’t see, as her back was to him, but the woman acknowledged Shane’s agreement in satisfaction.

“What’s your name?” Freya asked.

The woman’s brows drew together in distress. She didn’t know.

“It’s all right.” This time Freya did reach forward and laid her hand gently on the woman’s nightgown-clad arm.

Shane tensed, ready to intervene, but the feral stilled. Her anguish eased a moment and wonder took its place.

“Special,” she whispered to Freya. “What are you?”

“I’m Lupine,” Freya answered, sounding puzzled. “A wolf. Like you.”

“Not like me.” The woman shook her head, her snarled hair trembling. “Not like him.” She pointed a shaking finger at Neal. “Or him.” The finger went to Dougal. “Special.” Her certainty became tinged with confusion. “You should be two. Not alone.”

“She’s not alone,” Shane said. “She has me. Her mate, remember?”

The woman shook her head again. “Not a mate. Two.”

Freya gasped. “She means Rolf. I have a twin brother,” she explained. “I can’t find him.”

“Twin. Yes.” Determination flared in the woman’s eyes. “You must find him. Must.” She abruptly grabbed for Freya, who let out a cry as the woman’s fingers dug into her arms. “Find him.” She started to shake Freya, building into a frenetic panic.

“Reid,” Shane barked.

Reid was already moving. He slammed the tranq dart in his hand to the woman’s shoulder, releasing a full dose.

The woman screamed and clutched at Freya. “Don’t leave me,” she begged. “Please, don’t let them—” The words broke off as the tranq took effect. The Lupine woman slumped to the mattress, landing half in Freya’s lap.

Freya carefully disentangled herself and lowered the woman’s body to the bed. “She knows about Rolf,” she said in an excited whisper. “She must have seen him. How else would she know I have a twin?”

There could be any number of reasons the woman had fixated on Freya, Shane thought, but he didn’t voice his opinion.

It was true they needed to question her. If she could help Freya, so much the better. Shane determined to defend the poor wild being from the entire Shiftertown until Freya had her answers.

“Come on.” Shane held out his hand. “Let’s get her home.”

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