Free Grayslake: More than Mated: Secrets to Bear (Kindle Worlds Novella) by Flora Dare Page A

me."
    Lira had another epiphany. Magda and her mother, Deirdre might not have been married or romantic partners, but Magda had been just as much a parent as her biological mother. Magda had been the one to catch Lira when she was born.
    There had been no question that Magda would keep Lira and had always treated her as her own. Joy burbled inside her heart. She might not know what to do about Jake or entirely understand the shifter world yet, but coming to her mother's spot gave her a chance to recognize exactly what Magda was to her.
    She picked up the small tangerine and cracked open the peel of the fruit. Its sharp tang fizzled in her nose and she laid back to watch the clouds while she savored each bite of the fruit.
    She'd lay it all out for Magda when she got back and ask her what the hell the best course was.
    Lira woke up with a start and sat up. She must have drifted off. She pulled a wet nap out of bag and wiped the sticky residue from the orange off her hands and face. She yelped when she looked at the time. She'd napped for hours!
    Thank goodness it was summer or she'd be worried about making it back to the house before the sun set. Still, she double checked that the flashlight worked. She gathered everything up, making sure to pack her trash out.
    If shifters were real, maybe ghosts were too, and she'd hate to see her mother again only to be fussed at about littering. Not to mention, she'd be ashamed to return knowing she'd left garbage strewn about.
    She hoisted the much lighter pack to her back. Maybe next time she'd bring Jake just so he could be the pack mule. And because she could easily imagine making love all afternoon on the sun-warmed rock.
    It put a spring in her step as she headed back to the B&B. Still, by the time she saw the house in the distance she was exhausted. It was a bear of a walk. If she stayed in Grayslake she'd end up in a hell of a lot better shape.
    She giggled at the thought of carrying bear spray with her, in case anyone got rowdy. She didn't notice the silhouette in the front room window watching her approach the house, and she opened the kitchen door, dropping the pack at the door.
    "Hello? Anyone around?" She called out as she turned on the sink faucet. She wanted to rinse some of the sweat off her face so didn't hear the man approaching until he'd grabbed her by the waist and swung her around.
    Her blood ran cold and she opened her mouth to scream, but Ethan covered it. She flailed against him, summoning what little energy she had left to try and get away.
    He slapped her, hard, knocking her off her feet and to the ground, stunning her into silence.
    "Keep quiet, or those old bitches will get it."
    She panted on the floor, staring at his shoes. She nodded. Memaw and Gran might be shifters, but they were also elderly and she was scared of what he could do to them. So she nodded and let him reach down and pull her to her feet.
    Ethan sneered at her. "Look at you. You're a fucking mess. How could you let yourself get so disgusting? I've let this go on long enough, I thought if I gave you enough time to get your pre-wedding jitters out on your own, you'd come to your senses." He dragged her out of the kitchen and into the front room. "We'll just wait for that bitch Magda to get back. I know you think you should feel grateful that she took care of you when you were younger. But you have me now and you have to let her know where we stand."
    Lira wanted to wretch. Ethan had completely lost his grip on reality. She hated his hands on her.
    But she took a deep breath and said, "Why don't we just head back home? I can call her later?" She desperately wanted to get him out of the B&B and away from everyone, so she managed to keep her tone light.
    He pulled a handgun from his waist band. "Because I have to make sure the wild oats that you sowed are taken care of. He is here, isn't he? That's why you came here? To find your nasty one-night stand?"
    "Ethan, honey, you don't understand, I came