Her other hand joined the first, and she stroked back along his muzzle, scratching the soft brown fur. He rumbled in appreciation, stretching closer to her until her fingers dug into what would be the ruff on a large dog. Apparently bears liked to be scratched there, too, and she sank her fingers into soft black fur.
No wonder Sammy had thrown her arms around Hank. As a bear, he was just the right size and feel to bury her entire face in his neck while her hands stretched around his back. She flashed for a moment on her favorite childhood books, The Chronicles of Narnia. Back then, she’d wanted nothing more than to hug the big lion Aslan. Now she knew that lions had nothing on bears. Hank was nuzzling softness, hot licks, and exactly the size to make her feel small and safe beside him. Like a child with a big, wonderful pet. Or maybe a woman looking straight at a feat of magic so incredible that it had silenced her scientific mind all together.
Well, at least for a few moments as she held on to him, her face in his neck, her body absorbing his heat and his strength. That lasted for as much as twelve seconds before the questions overran her pleasure.
She drew back long enough to look into his eyes. “You know I’m going to pepper you with questions soon. Am I right that you can turn back to human whenever you want?”
A slow dip of his head.
“I’ll take that as a yes. But you’re not doing it, right? Because you fight better in this form? And you want to protect us from whatever could come through the busted window.”
He nodded again, and if the curve to his mouth was any indication, he was smiling at her. Like a teacher when the slow kid in class finally gets it.
“Okay,” she said. “First things first. I’m taking protein bars to Sammy and then some hot soup to Mother.” She arched a brow. “Then it’s your turn while I look at the bodies. You’re going to answer questions while I work.”
He’d pulled back as she spoke, giving her room to get to the cabinet, but her last statements had him blowing out a breath. She had no idea what it meant. Could be ayes, could be ano way. Didn’t matter. Everybody in her life learned that once she got going on a research direction, she was impossible to stop. He might as well get used to the idea that she was going to pester him all night.
So she grabbed the box of protein bars and a soda from the refrigerator and headed downstairs. It was a small finished basement complete with TV, couch, and two sets of bunk beds against the back wall. Looked like Sammy wasn’t the only one who slept over, but she was clearly the one who’d been here the longest. Girls’ clothes littered the floor. A few pictures of her with her friends were tucked into the mirror. And the girl herself was curled up on the nearest bunk, fast asleep.
Cecilia didn’t know if it was more important for the girl to eat or sleep. Probably eat. Shifting had to take a ton of energy, so she nudged Sammy awake. “Eat something before you completely crash,” she said.
Sammy blinked then nodded. “Starving,” she mumbled as she grabbed the soda. She started drinking it while Cecilia ripped open two bars. “How’s Mother?”
“Same as you. Needs food and sleep.”
“Mmph,” the girl answered as she took a big bite of the first protein bar.
Cecilia smiled. “I’ve got questions, if you don’t mind answering them.”
Sammy didn’t respond as she finished off the bar and started on the second.
“Have you always known you’re a shifter?”
The girl shook her head. “Hank told me. I didn’t believe him.”
Join the club. “How old were you?”
The girl chugged her soda, then set it down empty on the floor. “Later,” she said as she curled onto her side.
“But—”
“Leave the box.”
“Um…okay. Maybe we can talk in the morning. I’d really like to know how it feels to shift.”
Sammy didn’t answer, and in a moment, her breath had deepened into sleep. Okay, so no more answers there. It was time to heat up some broth and get some pictures of the bodies before they decayed.
Her steps were light as she climbed the stairs. She made quick work of opening a can of soup. She doubted Mother would be awake to eat it, but she wanted it ready. She grabbed herself a protein bar as she cooked and even offered one to Hank. He nodded, and she had a great deal of fun peeling the wrapper off before tossing it to him. She wanted to know if he would try to catch it with his paws like a man or just open wide.
He opened wide, consuming the whole thing in one bite. And then she finally, wonderfully, got to do what she’d been aching to do for what seems like ages: she got to inspect the werewolf.
