Page 32 of Polar Destiny
Bonnie and Clyde tell me to turn around. I kind of want to as well. It's so very tempting, but Torben's sad eyes save me from the embarrassment. He looks so vulnerable and ill that I want to reach up and cuddle him - until my anger comes back and reminds me why that would be a bad idea. He's hurt me. He almost killed me. Maybe he will still. I have no idea why I'm suddenly feeling better, and who knows if it will stay thisway.
"Okay, now you can look. We just wanted to have one of us human to communicate with you." Finn sounds relieved but also a bit unsure about how to approach me. I left in a rush and never spoke to the other guys. Only to Torben, and then ran as fast as I could. I don't know what they're thinking of me. Are they mad at me? Or at their leader? Disappointed?Sad?
I have no idea. My head is spinning with all the stuff happening just now. A weird voice in my head, a naked man behind me, a sick polar bear standing above me and I'm still snuggled against a panda. My life has become veryweird.
Eleven
The silence is drivingme crazy. Nobody is speaking, everyone is staring into the flames or onto the floor. I'm no longer cold, in fact, I'm hot enough to be almost feverish. I roll up my sleeves but with the fire warming the room, it won't make much difference. I could probably be sitting here naked and still feelhot.
I agreed to come back to Arnold and Bertrands' house. We all need to talk. Which is why it's weird that nobody is saying anything. I don't want to be the first to speak, though. Yes, I have about a thousand questions, but maybe Torben or the others should gofirst.
Good girl. Let the alpha talk first. Important rule. Unless you're more dominant than the alpha. Then youbegin.
Just when I thought I got rid of the voice in my head, she's back. Maybe I am running a fever? Hallucinations?Again?
Stop the charade. You know who Iam.
No, I don't. Leave mealone.
Suddenly, everyone is staring at me. Did I say that aloud?Ooops.
"I was just telling her to... never mind," I mutter, remembering that I probably shouldn't admit to hearing voices. I may be surrounded by bear shifters, but that doesn't mean that they won't know crazy when they seeit.
"So it has started," Arnold says softly. Not at all ominous. Yeah,right.
"It's too fast," his partner murmurs with a frown. "Her bear shouldn't appear just before it's too late. The last warning sign. But she's not at that stageyet."
Mybear.
What. The.Fuck.
I should have known. They told me I wasn't turning into a bear. Instead, I've got a bear parasite inside of me.Alis.
Hey sweetie. You finally gotit.
I want to throw her out of my brain. Except that might not be where she is. How does this work? How is she inside of me? Do I suddenly have two minds? Two souls? And when my claws appear, is that herdoing?
Yup, that's me. I don't have much control yet, but claws areeasy.
I shake myhead.
"No. This isn't happening. Get her out ofme."
Húnn gently puts a hand on my shoulder but I shake him off. I wrap my arms around my knees and bury my face on my legs. I don't want to see any of them. They've done this to me. I've never wanted to be anything but human. Even when I met the bears, I didn't want to be one of them. I'm Isla, just Isla, the human girl from Salvation Island. I amnota bearshifter.
"That isn't possible, honey," Finn says softly. I hate him for using that nickname. It's a thing of the past. I'm so done with all ofthem.
"The moment you drank Torben'sblood-"
"Wait, I drank his blood?!" I'm on my feet in a flash, prowling towardsTorben.
"I wouldn't do that. Why would I dothat?"
Bertrand clears his throat. "When a male bear is aroused, he releases pheromones that have an effect on the female. It makes her ready to take him and if she's his mate, ready to conceive. Women respond in different ways to it. For female bears, it gives her more energy and pleasure. In humans, it's not very well researched. Most bears stay amongst themselves and don't interact much with humans. But for you... well, you bit Torben's shoulder and began to drink hisblood."
"No, that can't be..." I stand in the middle of the room, not sure what to say or do. His eyes are telling the truth, and I dimly remember a strange taste in my mouth. But...no.
"Why didn't he stop me?" I ask Bertrand, ignoringTorben.
