Page 49 of The Grizzly Situation
“And chocolate cake?”
“Only one of the best things ever. I ate three quarters of it, and regretted not having that last piece.”
“What do you think, Benjy?”
“Do you even have to ask? I know you’re right. Uly is your mate, Brent.”
“But—”
“All your favorites, mixed into one individual. I’d be willing to bet, if you got a good whiff of him, you’d detect notes of wildflowers too. The boy’s reaction also proves it. That scent, to them, is home. It reminds them of their mother’s, and that means they’re safe. Plus, with her dying while they were in the room, their brains can’t comprehend her vanishing from their lives, and now they think she’s back.”
“Why are you doing this?” I demanded, pain lancing through me.
“Our people live in ignorance,” Chaim said. “Those who believe in mates are called crazy. Those who don’t? They’reviewed as normal. Most people don’t even talk about them anymore. Wolves are much better at it than we are. They understand mates, know about their importance. The wolves was where I learned about them. They helped me to realize why Benjy was so important to me.”
“You’ve consorted with wolves?” I demanded, because my father had forbidden that in our sleuth.
“I did. And they’re good, honest people. I know what crap your dad was feeding us, but I promise you, wolves aren’t our enemies. In fact, we could teach each other a lot.” He pressed his lips together tightly. “I think having a place for all of the people to run would be good for them and us.”
It took me a moment to realize what he was saying, but when I figured it out my anger surged. “You’re suggesting I allow wolves onto our property?” I asked, not believing what he was suggesting.
“I’m asking you to open your mind and trust me. I wouldn’t steer you wrong, I think you know this.”
And I did. Prejudices from years of indoctrination by my father had colored my life, and I realized how I’d probably started my own boys on the same path. I was mortified. How is it we can say we don’t want to become our parents, then morph into them as we get older? I’d done my best to break a lot of the cycles he’d initiated, and now that Chaim had pointed it out, I would take this as yet another thing I had to conquer.
“Do you have a contact person? I would like to speak with them.”
His smile widened. “Thank you, Brent.”
I jutted my lip out. “What happened to cub?” I asked.
“You’re an adult now, and I have to remember that. No one wants to be called cub when they’re the leader of the sleuth.”
But I did. Desperately. “Please don’t stop,” I pleaded. “You calling me cub was the only thing that kept me moving when Iwas younger. And judging by the way I reacted just now? I still have much to learn.”
“Cub it is then,” he promised. “Now, about Uly.”
ULY
A few hours later,I sipped the hot cocoa that had been laced with a small bit of Godiva Chocolate Liqueur. It was smooth, warm, and filled my insides with heat, but my mind was still racing. Bears. In the bedroom. Sleeping with me. Yeah, I felt like Snow Fucking White.
“Is something wrong, Uly?”
I wanted to tell her. To say that this house was a loony bin if two bears could waltz in and get to the bedroom without being seen. Still, Brent said the boys were safe, so I shouldn’t say anything, right? But what if there was another bear loose? What if it hurt someone?
“Are there… a lot of bears in the area?”
I thought she’d be surprised at the question, but she simply shrugged. “More than a few, I’d say. Why do you ask?”
Say it. Tell her what happened.“Just curious. Thank you again for the cocoa, by the way. It’s absolutely delicious.”
“You’re quite welcome. Mr. Lockhart calls it his private hot chocolate, but we’ve all partaken on those nights it’s hard to fall asleep. After Mrs. Lockhart died, it was the only thing that helped us to get some rest. He rarely drinks it anymore, though.”
“From everything I’ve heard, she was an amazing woman.”
Amelia sighed. “She was. Mrs. Lockhart was rich, but she never once put on airs. She always helped when needed, even rolling up her sleeves to get the place cleaned after a flood many years ago. It was something, seeing these people who were in charge of the town, their pants rolled up to their knees, wadingthrough brackish water that filled the house. And then, after we were done, they went through the town, offering anyone who needed help a hand.”
This town seemed so close knit, more like family than anything else. Pain clutched my heart again, knowing that I would forever be on the outside looking in. When Amelia put a hand on my wrist, I startled.
