Free Bound to Secrets by Nina Croft

you?” Tasha murmured.
    He turned at the question and shrugged; it was nobody’s business but his and Keira’s. He’d had to tell them about the making love, because of the implant, that didn’t mean he had to expose the rest of how he was feeling.
    “Of course he likes her,” Anya replied when he said nothing. “You saw how he looked at her.”
    Okay, so maybe nobody else realized it wasn’t their business.
    “We could wait for Jack,” Tasha said. “He could always keep me out of his mind.”
    “No, I’ll go in.” Sebastian replied. “Perhaps we’ll save the vampire for when she’s more settled. Jack can be a little…overwhelming.”
    Connor took up position behind Anya as Sebastian disappeared behind the first set of doors. A few seconds later, he appeared in the room. Keira almost jumped.
    “Is there audio?” Connor asked.
    “Yes, just a second.” Anya pressed a few keys and Sebastian’s voice came through clearly.
    “I’m Sebastian Quinn.”
    “Is Connor all right?” Keira asked.
    “He’s fine.” He nodded at the camera. “He’s in the next room watching over you.”
    Sebastian approached the bed slowly as if uncertain. He glanced up at the camera. “I’m okay, I think. I can feel something, like a buzz, but it’s manageable.” He turned back to Keira, pulled up the small chair and sat by the bed. “Welcome,” he said. “I won’t stay for long, but I wanted you to know you’re not alone.”
    “What’s going to happen to me?”
    “We’ll do some tests. See if we can work out what was done to you. Maybe we can reverse it, or somehow help you control it.”
    “Do you think that’s possible?”
    Connor recognized the hope in her voice, and he prayed they would find some way to help her. Tomorrow when they were both stronger, they would start the tests.
    Sebastian shrugged. “I honestly don’t know, but we’ll try.”
    She nodded and Sebastian got up. “There’s paper and pens in the drawer over there. Make a list of questions and we’ll get answers for you. Now I suggest you sleep. We’ll start work tomorrow.”
    “Okay. Will you tell Connor…” she trailed off. “Never mind.”
    She curled on her side as Sebastian left the room. Her eyes were open and she stared at the closed door, where he’d disappeared. She appeared so small, hunched on the bed. Connor couldn’t bear to think of her alone in a strange place. Almost without conscious thought, his tugged his T-shirt over his head.
    Tasha whistled, but Connor ignored the sound. Being a werewolf had almost cured him of any modesty. They usually stripped before they shifted—it saved having to replace their clothes every time.
    Sebastian came through the outer door as he kicked off his boots.
    “What the hell are you doing?”
    “She shouldn’t be alone. Not on her first night.”
    “You’re going to shift?”
    Sebastian sounded shocked, but then Connor had never shifted except when he had no choice. He nodded and pulled off his jeans.
    Closing his eyes, he willed his wolf to the surface. He shivered as the magic rippled through him. Then he was standing on all fours. His senses more acute, he could scent the others in the room and the metallic smell of the walls. It made him uneasy; he wanted to be outside, back on the moors. Wolf had liked the moors.
    His claws made clicks on the tiles as he headed for the door. Sebastian opened it for him, then the inside door and he stepped into the small room.
    Keira gasped as he appeared and then a smile curved her lips. He padded across the floor and leapt lightly on the bed. The narrow cot was hardly big enough for the both of them, but she scooted over and he stretched out beside her so their bodies touched all the way along.
    He lifted his head to face the camera and curled his upper lip in a snarl. The green light turned to red. He laid his head down and she turned onto her side and wrapped her arms around his shoulders, pressed her face into his neck.
    A sense of