“Oh yes, you do,” Tristian counters with a smirk. “It’s either me, or Kade’s teleportation.”
That settles it. I stand weakly, struggling to regain my balance but managing to stay upright through sheer stubbornness. Kade opens the cell door, then flashes over to the coffee station where she prepares a jug of water. She returns in an instant, offering it to me, but I turn away.
“Well, now you’re being really stubborn,” Kade huffs. “You need this.”
“I’ll get water from the lakes,” I insist.
Kade looks to Tristian, who merely shrugs and bows his head to her.
“Since when do you ever bow to me?” Kade asks, surprise evident in her voice.
Tristian chuckles and pats me on the back as I step out of the cell. “Come on, cousin, let’s walk to the docks.”
“I’ll be back on land in a week with a new position for you,” Kade calls after us. “You can survive a week.”
I groan but nod. Damn, I didn’t mean to get fired from my position.
Once outside the sheriff’s station, the July heat hits me like a wall, making my bear even more irritable. The sun beats down mercilessly, and I can feel sweat beginning to form on my brow.
“The academy is doing well,” Tristian says, clearly trying to make small talk. “The orphan shifters are adjusting nicely.”
“How’s Caleb?” I ask, genuinely interested in my little cousin.
“His bear is growing well,” he replies with unmistakable pride in his voice. “Strong, just like his father.”
I grow increasingly irritated with the sweltering heat, loosening the collar of my shirt. Tristian notices my discomfort.
“Your bear will get used to it,” he assures me.
“I thought Wintermoon was cold year-round,” I grumble.
“Michigan has all four seasons,” he explains with a wink. “Some shorter than others.”
“I can’t work at the academy,” I say, shaking my head. “It would just add to my bear’s yearning. He wants our mate. He wants cubs.”
“I understand, cousin, believe me, I do.” His voice softens. “I’d suggest patrol, but your tolerance for humans is so low...”
I chuckle at that, then wince as pain shoots through my head.
“How long before the headache goes away?” I ask, pressing my fingers to my temples.
“Well, it would happen a lot faster if you weren’t such an ass and accepted Kade’s offer for water,” he points out.
“I want water from the lake. That tap water shit is full of chemicals,” I retort.
“I can’t argue that,” he chuckles.
As we walk, I notice something troubling in Tristian’s scent, a hint of worry. I wonder if I’m the reason for his concern.
“What’s wrong?” I ask, surprising myself with the directness of the question.
Tristian shrugs, his eyes fixed ahead. “Even mated bear shifters have their problems.”
We continue walking, and I do my best to ignore the tourists who stop to film and take pictures of us. Now I understand why he came—to keep me calm and prevent me from snapping at these humans. The urge to growl at them is almost overwhelming.
“Ebony knows and understands the way of bear shifter clans,” Tristian continues after a moment. “How the fact that my mother had four cubs brought great favor over the clan. She wants to replicate it, but I keep explaining to her how dangerous it is to make so many bear cubs. How it nearly killed my mother. Simon was lucky to even survive.”
“It does bring great favor,” I acknowledge. “You are the only bear shifter clan with four brothers.”
