Page 34 of Caught Bear Handed

Beau gave him a smug smile.“Not my fault if the bosses don’t tell you the important stuff.”

“They don’t have to,” Brad said with a growl.“I’m busy doing it.”

“Okay, no need for a bear brawl.”I held my hands up.These two definitely had a rivalry going, and the last thing I wanted to do was give Brad any ammunition to blow our cover.I didn’t think he’d do it maliciously, but he would do it in the spirit of competition.“I’d love to find the Werewives.”

“I’m actually glad I found you,” Brad said.“Barrett’s looking for you.”

“Let’s go,” I said.I’d find Amelia later.

“Just Beau,” Brad clarified.“No offense, but this case is chock-full of classified information.It will just take a minute, and then you’ll have this guy all to yourself.”

I failed to school my face before my mouth dropped.I looked at Beau, whose frustration rolled off him in waves.

Barrett and Bellamy had been so meticulous about the details.Sure, some had been forgotten.There were a lot of things that we took for granted until we actually had to walk in a character’s shoes.But there was no way Brad was completely cut out of this plan.

Something was up.My wolf’s hackles rose.

“I’ll catch up to you,” Beau said, catching me off guard and kissing my cheek.“I’ll meet you by the chili tent.”

“Are you sure?”I asked, trying to hide my disappointment he didn’t stand up to Brad.Which wasn’t fair.Just because we’d spent every waking moment together for the last couple of weeks didn’t mean I knew everything about Beau’s job.

It didn’t mean I knew everything about this bear.

“Yeah.”He squeezed my hand.“I’ll catch up with you as soon as I’m done.”

He and Brad turned and walked toward the parking lot, and I took a deep breath, getting my bearings.The place was packed, and I’d been almost nowhere but the cabin for a couple weeks.

Before that, my life had been carefully curated to the confines of set.It really was another world, where everything was handled and decided for us.And now, in the crowds of pack and families with plates full of food, laughing as they celebrated the holiday, I felt like I’d landed on another planet.

The crowd cheered as the band took the stage.A guitar solo sliced into the applause and the band launched into an eighties hard rock anthem.It fit the vibe perfectly.

I headed toward the stage and foundThe Real Werewivesset up.They had screens playing iconic scenes from prior seasons, and a huge banner that read Do You Have What it Takes to be a Real Werewife?

An endless line of hopeful women snaked out from the display, fluffing their hair, filming selfies from the line for socials.There was another line, waiting for pictures and autographs with the contestants of the Sawtooth Forest season, and of course, cameras catching the entire thing.

I wished I could go talk to them.I had to wonder if any of them had been targeted by the crypto thieves.But there was no way to bring that up in the thirty seconds I’d have to talk to them.

Wandering away from the stage and the Werewives, I wound up near the food tents and the picnic tables.The vibration of wolf was strong everywhere I went.It should’ve comforted me, but it made me feel a little lonely.Everyone had told me how welcoming this pack was, and I couldn’t reveal who I really was.

Laughter rang out from a table full of women.I recognized Delaney from Forever Home Ranch and fought the urge to wave to her and tell her who I was.She was Sawtooth pack, which meant these other women probably were too.Amelia often told us how close knit the pack was.

I moved closer, doing my best to keep things casual, when I finally saw Amelia.

She was sitting on a bench with a woman with a blue pixie cut and a very pregnant lady.They were laughing and enjoying barbecue.

This part of the plan had been impossible to script, because I had no idea what the circumstances would be when and if I found her.I had to stop staring at the ladies like I’d never seen a celebrity in person before.My wolf snickered at the irony, but it didn’t stop the sweat from trickling down my spine—half from nerves and half from this wig cap.

“Barrett,” I turned and said softly into the microphone.“I found Amelia.”

Static blossomed in my ears, scrambling his reply.

“Is Beau still with you?”I asked, hoping a simple yes or no reply would be clearer.

No such luck.It sounded like my security team had been transported to another planet.

“I can’t understand you,” I said.“I’m going to talk to her.”

There was urgent sounding chaos in response, and I had to hope the head bear in charge was cheering me on, because I couldn’t come so far, put myself into character, and simply walk away from the chance to make a break in this case.