But I couldn’t stop. My entire worldview had splintered and reformed in the span of minutes. Everything I thought I knew about biology, evolution, and species classification was all wrong.
Or, at least, incomplete.
“I need my equipment,” I said, thinking of the tests I’d run first. “I need to document this. Take blood samples and tissue biopsies. Do you have any idea what this means for evolutionary biology? For our understanding of genetics?—?”
“No,” Beck said sharply. He tightened his grip on my shoulder. “Charlotte, you can’t document this.”
My heart sank. “Why not?”
“Our existence is a secret. It has to stay that way.” His silver eyes held mine. “If the world knew about us, we’d be hunted. Studied and dissected. At best, we’d spend our lives in labs. At worst, we’d be killed. You’re a scientist. Surely, you know this.”
Arguments sprang to my lips. Then his words sank in, and reality crashed over me. I turned to the men who still watched us, each one different.
They weren’t just fascinating research subjects. They were people. Beck had called them his brothers. If I published a paper about them, headlines would circulate within hours. The world’s media would descend on Bear Cove, everyone from Bigfoot hunters to morning show anchors vying for a look at the men who turned into bears.
And it wouldn’t stop there. Beck was right.
I turned back to him. “I won’t tell anyone.”
“Can you promise that?” Beck asked, his eyes unwavering. “Can you walk away from the discovery of the century and never speak of it?”
My career was on the line. I’d spent the last of my childhood and my entire adult life building toward this moment. All the grants I’d applied for and papers I’d written swam before my eyes.
Dr. Henry’s face appeared, too. What would he say when I told him I was abandoning the project? I’d lose other fieldwork opportunities. Possibly, I’d delay earning my PhD. The degree might slip through my fingers altogether.
Beck’s silver eyes were steady, his palm warm in mine. In the parking lot, sixty men stood naked and vulnerable. They’d revealed themselves, and now they waited, banking on me keeping my word.
“Yes,” I said. “I promise to keep your secret.”
Beck held my stare a moment longer. Then he squeezed my hand and turned back to the others. Without a word, they faced the forest and moved off, some shifting into bears in bursts of blue light.
The blond lingered, and he smiled at me, the expression warming his eyes. “Welcome to Bear Cove, Doc.”
I blinked. “I’m not a doctor yet.”
His smile widened. “You will be.” He nodded to Beck, then turned and strode toward the trees. Halfway to the forest, he became a golden bear again, his paws kicking up snow as he melted into the evergreens.
Within seconds, the parking lot was empty, nothing but trampled snow to indicate the bears had been there at all.
Beck and I stood hand-in-hand on the porch, the afternoon sunlight spilling up the steps.
“I should probably sit down,” I said.
Beck chuckled as he slid an arm around my waist. “Yeah. You probably should.”
Chapter
Ten
BECK
Ten minutes later, I set a mug of coffee spiked with whiskey in front of a pale but steady-looking Charlotte. She wasn’t freaking out. That was a good sign.
At least, I hoped so.
“Thank you,” she murmured as I took the chair to her right.
“That’s probably stronger than what you’re accustomed to,” I said, “but I figured you could use it.”
