Page 66 of The Grizzly Situation

He waited a few seconds. “Yeah?”

“You’re unlike anyone I’ve ever met before.”

He snorted. “I bet you say that to all the bear shifters.”

I wanted to laugh, but I was trying to get the words out. “I’m serious. When I first met you, I thought you were confident, poised, and the master of your world. Then after we started talking and you told me more about you, I realized you were a lot like me. You had your own insecurities and fears, and issues to deal with.”

“Um…. Thanks? I think.”

“No, I wasn’t trying to make it sound stupid!”

“I never thought you were. Yeah, I’m just like everyone else, at least for the most part. I don’t have to worry about paying bills, a place to live, or whether I will have to choose between saving for college and feeding the boys, but I do need to ensure the sleuth grows and remains prosperous. Every person in the town, plus all the people who are working for Ursine anywhere in the world are my responsibility. I feel this intense weight bearing down on me to succeed for them, for the boys.” He sighed. “My life isn’t my own. Yes, I have a great many perks and opportunities, but as leader of the sleuth, I live—and, if necessary, die—for them.”

“What do you mean?”

“Bears can be hyper-aggressive. Threaten what’s ours and we’ll retaliate with deadly force. If someone went after the boys, I would tear them apart without hesitation. By the time Ifinished, unless they killed me, there would be bite sized pieces of them scattered around.”

“You’d kill someone?”

“Yes.”

The answer was so abrupt, not even a moment’s thought. “But isn’t that murder?”

“It would be. Packs, be they bear or wolf or other shifters, are pretty much a law unto themselves. We do what we need to do and only our peers—the shifters—can judge us. If I killed someone, the sleuth would decide if it was justifiable or if I crossed the line.”

“And if they say you committed murder?”

“I’d be stripped of being the Typhon—the leader—and probably banished. Fortunately, the boys would still be considered part of the sleuth and would be allowed to remain, but I wouldn’t have contact with them anymore.”

“Have you ever killed someone?”

“No, and I hope to the heavens I never have to. Make no mistake, though. I won’t hesitate if I think it’s necessary.”

His phone rang and he smirked at me. “Wanna fly while I take this call?”

“What? Hell, no!” Just the thought made me wanna puke. “I can’t. Maybe I can take lessons at some point.”

He laughed. “I was kidding. The helicopter has autopilot, so we’re good. And youcouldtake lessons, but if I’m honest, I’d rather fly us both.”

And a familiar warmth flooded me. Even though we’d only known each other a little more than a month, Brent treated me like I was special. I found I liked it a lot. “Answer your call.”

He punched a button, then reached for his phone. I was freaking out over the fact he took his hands off the controls and grabbed the sides of my seat to keep from jumping out.

“It’s perfectly safe, I promise.”

Sure, easy for him to say.

“This is Lockhart,” he said into the phone, his voice strong and sure. “Cait? How are you enjoying your time off?”

He pressed a button and a woman’s voice came through the speaker loud and clear.

“It’s been so nice,” she purred. “We went fishing for the first time in years. I’d forgotten how much fun it was. We cuddled in front of the fireplace, him grooming my ears, then rubbing our noses together. I… won’t say what we did after that.”

“It sounds like you’re having a good time.”

“The best ever. Thank you for insisting we do this.”

“It was my pleasure. You deserve it.” He glanced at me. “Cait, I have someone with me I’d like to introduce you to. This is Uly McNamara and Uly, this is my assistant, Cait.”