Page 78 of Bear Facts

Shane went first. He navigated the steps without mishap, his balance unaffected by the wolf he carried. Freya pattered down behind him, and Cormac shut the door at the top before trudging after them.

They emerged into a short, wide hallway with unfinished stud walls. A water heater, as well as a washer and dryer, occupied most of the space. A clothesline strung across one corner held several very large white T-shirts.

At the end of this space was a finished wall, blank and painted white. Shane paused and stared at a decal that had been stuck up on a stud beside it.

The wall shuddered once, then silently slid aside.

“I should have asked Mom before I brought you down here, Freya,” Shane said as he strode forward. “But too late now. You can always walk around with your eyes closed if you want.”

“Nell’s fine with it.” Cormac was right behind Freya as she stepped through the door, which quietly closed again behind them. “I’d have stopped you if she wasn’t.”

“She’s my mate,” Shane reminded him. “Family now.”

He said it so easily. The wolf inside Freya made a contented noise, and she swore she heard Rolf’s laughter. About time you figured it out, sis.

“Exactly,” Cormac said.

They were in another hallway, this one wider and finished with painted drywall. Paneled doors of solid oak were set at intervals, with a double door at the very end.

Shane opened the nearest door to reveal a large, well-decorated bedroom with a big bed, a flat-screen TV on a wall, and simple but elegant furniture—dresser and nightstands, vanity table and bench, plus two overstuffed comfy-looking chairs in front of the TV.

Shane laid the wolf on the bed. She instantly curled up, tail over her nose, and drew in a long breath, as though she knew it was safe to relax.

Freya had always known about the secret places under Shifter houses, where Shifters kept their prized possessions—those who were lucky enough to have them, that is. Shifters lived a long time and had learned to accumulate things that would fund them through centuries when regimes and currencies changed.

That was why, when Cassidy’s daughter had offered to show Freya her room “downstairs,” Freya had quickly declined the invitation. Only the privileged few could descend into a Shifter’s private cellar.

“But you’re letting me down here,” she finished her thought out loud.

Shane slid his arm around her waist. “Why wouldn’t I?”

Family now, he’d said. Shane’s family had done nothing but make her feel welcome, happy she might become Shane’s mate.

“Graham’s basement was full of motorcycle repair stuff,” Freya said nervously. “We loved it. Rolf could build his own bike by the time he was fifteen. I helped him.” She swallowed, the memory painful.

“It probably is still full of motorcycle stuff,” Shane said with humor. “Though Misty might have had something to say about that.”

“I’ll bet,” Freya agreed.

Cormac, who had been watching the two exchange banter, told them he was off to find Zander and slipped away.

“You should eat something,” Shane said to Freya after he’d gone. “And get some rest. We didn’t sleep much last night.”

The reminder of why they hadn’t slept much made heat surge in her. She tamped it down with difficulty.

“I don’t want to leave her.” Freya regarded the wolf, who slept on with slow even breaths. “If she wakes up …”

“She might try to escape,” Shane finished. “I don’t want her going through you to do it.”

Freya shook her head. “I don’t think she’ll fight me. I seem to be able to keep her calm. Or somewhat calm anyway.”

“Even so, I’m not leaving you alone with her. If you stay, I stay.”

Freya couldn’t stop her smile. “I’m all right with that.”

“Whoa.” Shane’s arm tightened around her. “A big change from get away from me, you annoying bear when we first met.”

“I never said that. Exactly.” Freya leaned against his strong body, liking how he held her up.

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