Page 16 of My Unbearable Mate

It had been so strong…which only meant one thing. We were still connected in a way neither of us wanted to admit. “Yeah. I’ve still got her scent.”

“This is the middle of nowhere. Didn’t think anyone lived out here. Are there any shifters this deep in the forest?” Brad asked.

“Everyone passes through, but don’t think anyone lives this deep.” And it was my job to know where every shifter in the area called home. “But I don’t think we’re looking for a permanent settlement.”

“What are we looking for?” Beau asked.

“Any sign that someone’s been here recently.” We were pretty far out, but any time we’d dealt with missing person cases in the past, the victim seldom stayed in the same place. I had to prepare myself that we would only find where Clover had been.

If you’re lucky…

Nope. Failure was not an option.

Brad stopped and tipped his snout up. “Do you smell that? Smells like smoke. Like we’re coming up on a campsite.”

“Be careful,” I warned. “They might not expect to encounter bears.”

Beau chuckled. “You’ve seen the memes. We’re not the scariest thing that could find them out here.”

That would all change if they’d hurt Clover…

It was too quiet. Too still. Humans and animals alike had a vibration that I was much more sensitive to in my bear form.

The trees thinned, and tents came into view. There must’ve been about a dozen of them, and they looked like they’d been abandoned years ago.

“Don’t see anyone, boss,” Brad said quietly.

“But there was a burn here. Hope it’s contained,” Beau added. He volunteered for the local fire department, and if there was a fire, he’d know what to do.

The smell of smoke sang in my nostrils, but it was nothing compared to Clover’s scent. It had intensified, threatening my sanity. I stalked forward, looking for any clue.

That vibration picked up. A soft thump. A heartbeat.

Her heartbeat.

“She’s here.”

“What’s our plan?” Brad asked.

“Get her to safety. No matter what it takes.”

Beau eyed me. “No rules?”

“If you need to be the scariest thing in the forest, you have my blessing.”

But I didn’t want that.

We came around the corner to find a woman with wild red hair sitting alone in front of what had been a fire.

A rumble emitted from my throat, and she turned around.

Her eyes widened as she gaped. “Bellamy. It’s not safe for you to be here.”

“Where are they?” I growled. “Did they hurt you?”

“Keep your voice down. They’re everywhere.” She narrowed her gaze and made a small gesture with her hand. “Can’t you see them?”

“See who?” Now that I was closer to her, her eyes were wild, like she’d been drugged. But otherwise, she looked unharmed. Dirty and disheveled, but we could fix that.

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