Page 21 of My Unbearable Mate

“I haven’t had a chance to talk to her about what happened while she was gone yet,” I said carefully, hating that Shirley was powerful enough to make doubt every word. “I need her help finding that locket.”

“It’s my locket.” Shirley placed her hand over her heart. “No one knows more about it than me.”

Which was exactly the problem.

“If you want to help, here’s the best thing you can do.” I hoped I didn’t regret this.

Shirley’s face lit up. Whatever power that thing had over her made her desperate to get it back.

“Go back to clan land. If a thief struck once, they could strike again. Look for clues that someone got access to it. I need you to photograph where you kept it and the room it was in so I can look for any signs of foul play. Evidence of what happened.”

I didn’t need all that. What I needed was this woman out of my hair.

“But Clover?—”

“I’ll take good care of her,” I insisted, closing the door slightly so this woman knew there was no room for negotiation. “And I’ll have her home as soon as possible, with the locket in hand.”

“I knew you were the right bear for the job.” Shirley leaned in and attempted to give me a hug. “I’m counting on you.”

I didn’t move from the doorway until Shirley had backed out of my driveway and her car disappeared on the winding road.

My body was on point, my bear ready to pounce. Why had that visit felt like an attack?

Because it was.

Chapter

Ten

I Keep Attracting Naked Bears…

Clover

Instead of the magic my clan had depended on me to inherit, I got the gift of lucid dreams. Calling them a gift wasn’t always the best description. Sometimes they were lucid nightmares.

Alba and Anders had paid me a visit deep in dreamland. This time, they insisted they had evidence of Nana stealing the locket. We were in what looked like an old timey wild west town, which still existed in Idaho, so it could be present day, and headed into a theater. We sat on plush velvet seats, and the walls were ornate, but peeling. I didn’t have time to figure out what refused to be hidden under the coverings because the movie was about to start.

The film had been crookedly fed into the projector, and it had that black-and-white movie crackle. Anders offered me popcorn but the smell of it made me sick.

As soon as Nana appeared on the screen, Bellamy came out of nowhere and pulled the film out of the projector.

The two bears who’d brought me to the theater protested, saying he ruined the only evidence that they had of the crime.

I wanted to be furious with him, but I wasn’t. I took a deep breath, and he offered me his hand.

He pulled me in like he was about to kiss me again.

And then I woke up.

“Damn it,” I muttered under my breath as I blinked back to consciousness. I was in a strange bedroom with no naked bear shifters in sight.

But Bellamy’s scent was everywhere.

I rolled over and found a glass of water with a note propped up in front of it.

Hope you’re feeling better after some rest. Yes, you’re in my bed.

Come downstairs when you’re ready. I had the guys pick up breakfast for us.

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