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Tom started pacing again, a nervous habit he’d picked up this last year. “Alright, this is what we’re going to do. We are going to run extra patrols, day and night. We watch, we listen, we wait. We can’t strike if we don’t know where they are or how many they number. If any patrol catches a new trail, signal the pack. We stick together until this is resolved. No solo runs until further notice. I’ll get a hold of the rest of the family, you three tell who you can in the meantime. The pack is on high alert until we take care of these bears.”

“Sure thing, boss,” Nathon replied. “You know what the ponies would do in this situation?”

Sara and Sam groaned.

“What?” Nathon was incensed. “The ponies are brave and majestic creatures who teach us the importance of love and friendship.”

“Can we kick him outta the pack, boss?” Sam asked.

“You were harmed as a child, weren’t you?” Sara thought.

“Enough!” Tom barked at them.

“Changing topics!” Nathon yelled.

“Are you going to keep checking on the waitress?” Sara asked. “You shouldn’t be alone where they’ve already hunted, now we’re fairly sure the bears are after you.”

“She’s right, Tom,” Sam thought. “I think you should drop the checkups on the diner girl.”

“I’ll be the one to make that decision,” Tom snarled.

“Course, we could dole out protection duty among the pack,” Nathon added quickly. “If you’re still worried about her.”

“I wouldn’t mind some hash browns.” Sam’s stomach growled.

“They got fresh pies there too,” Nathon added.

“I volunteer for first watch!” Sam thought.

Tom’s hackles raised. It was an illogical response, but he couldn’t help it. The thought of anyone else, even a trusted member of his family, being there with Clarissa instead of him … What if something happened? If she got hurt and he wasn’t there to stop it, he’d never forgive himself.

A snarl grew in his chest.

This reaction was a natural instinct for his wolf. However, being Alpha meant following this instinct would be selfish and neglectful of his pack. The others had a point: Clarissa most likely wasn’t the target anymore. He’d have to force down the need to protect her himself and assign others. Probably the pups. Anything else would spread his pack too thin.

“We’ll go finish our patrol now,” Sara thought. “Unless you need us for anything else, boss?”

“No, you’re free to leave.” He watched the three of them bolt into the trees, Sam taking point. He was grateful for those three, the strongest three in the pack. That was after himself and his siblings.

Pacing among the trees, he let his mind wander. He found allowing himself to think without a forced direction was best in these types of situations.

Bears … It had to have been bears.

When Granny Ethal called him Thursday afternoon in a tizzy about a rival pack of shifters causing trouble during her book club, he’d assumed it was coyotes, or foxes. He’d been in contact with the other Midwest packs and extended good intentions to them. It seemed logical it was one of them coming to pay a visit. Of course, when no one showed up at the pack mansion, he’d gotten suspicious.

Granny Ethal was one of the elders who was glad to see his granddad step down and was pleased as punch about some of the changes Tom was making. Her and maybe two others … He called her back to ask more questions, then hightailed it out to the diner. Planning to shift under the cover of dark and catch a scent, he heard a woman scream across the parking lot. Thinking about it made his heart rate accelerate.

The sound of her cries still haunted him, making his hairs stand on end. He’d had to use every ounce of his self-restraint not to rip the bear’s head off right there in front of her. Then the bastard got away.

Friday morning, he intended to return the necklace and keep an eye out for their return. If there were no shifters at the diner, he was going to leave it, and have the pack run a few extra patrols.

That plan had been scrapped the second he went into the diner.

Talking to her, listening to how she interacted with those around her. She was a breathtaking soul to behold. When he returned the necklace, she’d said it was all that was left of them.

He was desperate to know more about her, to learn every facet of her being. But he could see the hesitation, the walls she’d built around herself. The subtle way she avoided his gaze, curled in on herself when he was near. He was desperate to understand why. Today he’d overheard her talking to Donna, asking for more hours to care for someone named ‘Rachel.’

Who was Rachel? Was Clarissa the only one caring for her? So many questions about her ran through his mind, but he could sense her fear. If he bombarded her with questions, she’d run from him, and he’d never see her again.