Page 89 of Bear Facts

“This is the most likely place for a hidden camp,” Xav pointed to a space with markings that meant little to Freya. “Deep in the woods. No satellite photos show anything here but dense forest. Even infrared couldn’t pick up anything. Could be because there’s nothing there but dense forest, or because it’s well shielded. It’s worth a look.”

“Yes,” Freya said. “I think it is.” She’d known it last night as she’d gazed at the maps, and she knew it now.

“Are your Spidey senses tingling?” Shane asked in her ear.

“Very funny.” Freya scowled at him, though she appreciated Shane trying to lighten the mood.

“Spiderman isn’t real,” Matt declared. He’d become a human boy again, now dressed in sweatpants and T-shirt, things he could easily remove for Shifting. “Wolf Shifters are way better trackers.”

“Not arguing with you there, buddy,” Shane said. He gestured them onward. “Shall we?”

Marlo stayed with the plane, promising he’d have it ready to take off at a moment’s notice, and the other five struck out on the trail Xav had indicated.

Freya assumed that someone would have to carry Matt—Shane’s broad shoulders would be a good place for him—but Matt had boundless energy. He ran ahead, then back, then chattered to Xav, then scampered back to Freya to trot next to her.

The only person Matt seemed wary of was Reid. Whenever Matt came to close to Reid, he’d squeak and dart back to huddle next to Shane. Reid, who Freya had learned was raising a handful of orphaned Shifter cubs that adored him, good-humoredly ignored him.

Xav had distributed communication devices that were pretty high tech, in case they got separated, he said. Freya had to wonder where Xav had obtained them but decided it best not to ask. Xav tested the devices once they were snuggled into their ears, having each of them speak a test phrase. It felt odd to hear everyone through the earpiece, but Freya grew used to it as they walked on.

Marlo had circled the area some before he’d landed—the grimy window had showed nothing below them but endless woods. There were probably great places to camp and hike down here, Freya thought. Or to build a compound for turning Shifters feral.

It was nearby. Freya knew it, without knowing how she knew it.

She closed her eyes and stretched out her senses, searching for the faint connection to Rolf that had been with her all her life. Freya pictured his familiar face, so like hers, but with a masculine cockiness and a sunny nature that could always make her laugh.

Just as she feared she’d find nothing, she felt a pull to the east, as though someone called to her. The cry was faint and weak, but it was there.

Matt’s small hand slid into hers. “Don’t shut it out.”

Freya startled. “You hear that too? Or sense it?”

“Not as much as you do. Kyle and I can always find each other.”

Meaning she and Rolf could as well? If that were the case, why hadn’t she found him right away?

There must be something else going on here. Rolf maybe was somewhere that could somehow block her from homing in on him. Anyone who could figure out how to cage Shifters maybe could keep them from communicating as well. It took Fae magic to do that, but Fae had helped humans before—assisting with the Collars for example.

The only change in her life besides Rolf disappearing was Shane.

His presence was hard to ignore. Shane, the large grizzly, had shouldered his way into her world and wasn’t leaving.

Now, Freya didn’t want him to.

The woods closed quickly around them as Xav and Reid led them down the faint track they’d found, the forest muting sound and cutting off most of the daylight. The Oregon winter sky was already densely cloudy, and the thick trees plunged the path into gloom. The ground was bare, but the air smelled moist and icy. Snow was on its way.

There was a soft click in Freya’s ear, and Xav’s voice came through. “I’m veering left. No trail here, so be careful.”

Another click, then Reid. “I’m going ahead to scout. I can get back to you the easiest.”

“We should scout,” Matt said. “We have noses.”

“So does Reid,” Shane rumbled. “Technically.”

“I mean Shifter noses.”

“I know you do, bud, but I promised Graham I’d keep you out of danger. Which means you stay with me and Freya.”

Matt heaved an exasperated cub sigh. “I don’t mind staying with Freya.”

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