Page 83 of Bear Facts

So she’d heard. This was all new territory to her.

“You should rest,” Freya, unnerved, said to Keira. “You’ve had quite a time.”

Keira glanced around the cozy room. “Will they let me stay here?” It was a plea.

“I think so,” Freya said. “Shane’s family is letting me stay They’re good people. I mean, for bears.”

The three Lupines exchanged grins.

“Will I have to go back to my own Shiftertown?” Keira asked when the moment had passed. She stroked Matt’s and Kyle’s little bodies as though they sustained her. “With a new Collar?”

“Why should you?” Freya demanded. “If you were unhappy there, I’ll bet Eric—he’s the Shiftertown leader—could make some arrangements for you to stay. Or go anywhere you want to.”

“How can he?” Keira asked without optimism. “Shifter Bureau will have record of my disappearance by now. Who knows what they’ll do to me when they catch me?”

“We won’t let that happen,” Freya assured her. “You can trust Eric. He and his family are also good people. You know, for Felines.”

She hoped to make Keira grin again but only got a faint smile from her. “Or else they’ve brainwashed you,” Keira said.

“Nah,” Rae answered. “Zander trusts Eric and Shane, and believe me, Zander doesn’t trust anyone. If you don’t want to stay in a Shiftertown, Zander could find you a fishing boat to live on in Alaska. The winters are dark, but summer days last all night.”

Keira’s eyes widened. “Not sure about that.”

Rae dissolved into laughter. “I’m teasing you. Zander’s always trying to talk someone into looking after his boat while he’s in my Shiftertown or running around the world healing Shifters.”

“He healed me?” Keira asked.

Rae’s laughter died. “No.” She shot Freya a puzzled look. “Do you know what happened?”

“They did it.” Freya gestured to the sleeping wolf cubs. “I think.”

“And you.” Keira gazed at Freya in awe. “When you tackled me, I felt the energy come from you as well as the cubs. The wolf inside me remembers that.” She held Freya with her light-blue eyes. “I keep saying you are special, Freya. Very special. And I thank you for that.”

“She believes you healed her?” Shane asked Freya as they walked together behind the houses later that evening, the sky already dark. “Or at least helped?”

Freya rubbed her arms. “Yes, and I don’t know what to think.”

It was cold, even with coats, but Freya had felt the need to be outside and away from Shifters staring at her as only Shifters could. Shane’s family were waiting for her to accept Shane’s claim, and Zander and Rae debated whether she truly had healing powers.

Keira was still resting in the basement. Nell had said, as Freya had hoped, that Keira could stay there as long as she wanted.

The cubs had remained with Keira, as though sensing she needed them. Freya wondered if Graham would march over and bellow for them to get their little butts home, as he’d done often enough with Rolf and Freya, or if he’d understand that they were comforting Keira.

“This ever happen before?” Shane asked.

He sounded worried, and Freya didn’t like that.

“I think I would have noticed if I’d cured anyone,” she said, trying to keep her tone light. “Might have tried to make a living at it.”

“Hey.” Shane halted and turned her to face him. “Not judging you, love. It’s weird, and I want to help you figure it out.”

“Oh, you think I’m weird now?” Freya tried to joke, but all that had happened made her shaky.

Shane slid his arms around her, pulling her close. “I think you’re perfect.” She felt his lips brush her hair. “That’s why I’m persisting with the mate-claim. You take your time, but the claim stands.”

Freya pressed her hands to his chest, but he didn’t budge. “Stop,” she whispered.

“Stop what, sweetheart? Hugging you? Or telling you you’re perfect?”

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