Page 92 of Bear Facts

More crackling, before Reid came through, faintly. “Go. Go! I’ll stay with Xavier.”

Then nothing. Freya stared at Shane worriedly, another whine escaping her. She tried to shift to half-beast so she could talk to him, but the wolf wouldn’t budge.

“Damn it.” Shane stared into the woods where Xav and Reid had vanished, then motioned for Freya to follow him in a different direction. “Come on. Both of you. And no more howling.”

Matt yipped once and scampered after Shane. Freya hesitated, torn between the pull to her brother and the pull to Shane. She knew Rolf was there—that way, a little to the right of where Shane had started off.

Shane moved swiftly, his bear bulk upright and ferocious.

Freya remembered a documentary she and Rolf had laughed over about people swearing they’d seen a Sasquatch. If any human caught sight of Shane right now, they’d be grabbing their cameras and fleeing over the hills, jabbering to anyone they encountered that they’d sighted Bigfoot.

She smothered a laugh, which would come out another yowl, and trotted after Shane and Matt.

Shane returned to his all-bear form after clearing a path through some dense undergrowth. He pushed forward, and Freya loped untiringly beside him. Matt kept up, dashing ahead then running back, then dashing ahead again. Shane feared he’d tire, but the little cub seemed to be made of endless energy.

Shane wasn’t certain exactly where he was leading them, but he didn’t want them rushing after Xav to fall into whatever trap Xav might have sprung. Reid could get Xav out of danger easier than could Shane or Freya.

The safest place to go was back to the plane. Freya wouldn’t like that, but Marlo could lift her and Matt out of here, while Shane returned to find out what happened to Xav and continue the hunt for the ferals. He wouldn’t be above using a little tranq so Freya and Matt wouldn’t realize where they were going until Marlo was airborne.

Freya suddenly veered from Shane, shattering his plans. She surged right, heading straight into thicker woods. Matt ran after her, yipping his encouragement.

No! Shane’s bear roared. Get back here.

Did either wolf listen to him? Of course not. Shane let out a growl that would scare the crap out of anyone but the two willful Lupines and lumbered after them.

Where the hell are you going? Shane tried to project. When Shifters weren’t looking at each other, it was hard to communicate. Bears could understand his rumbles but could wolves?

This way, Uncle Shane, came Matt’s giddy response. He’s this way.

Matt meant that Freya had found a connection to her brother somehow. Or at least, someone was making her believe she had.

Could you slow down instead of running straight into an enemy’s arms? Shane snarled. That’s probably what happened to Xav.

He still only heard static on his comm, which he hoped meant Reid had teleported Xav out of range. But if that were the case, why didn’t Reid return for Matt and Freya?

We’ll rescue Xav too, Matt assured him.

No, you will— Shane broke off as Matt raced away, out of sight. How did I get stuck with all these Lupines?

Your good luck, Freya sent back to him. Shane swore her tail waggled, and not just the furry one.

Matt! Shane bellowed silently.

There was no sign of the cub, no sound of him either. Damn it.

I don’t scent him anymore, Freya said worriedly as she fell back to trot beside Shane.

Great, Shane muttered. Graham will slice me up and feed me to his wolves if I lose the little shit.

Me too, Freya said.

No, Graham would land all blame squarely on Shane and declare he was owed vengeance. But that was fine. Shane wouldn’t let Graham touch a hair on Freya’s head.

To their immense relief, Matt soon bounded back toward them.

They’re here, he projected. I found them. Come on, come on, come on.

Did he mean Reid and Xav? Shane thought. Surrounded by how many crazed abductors? Found who? he demanded.

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