Free Bearly Ever: An Alpha Werebear Shifter Paranormal Romance (Arcadia Knights Book 1) by Olivia Gayle

staring at his mother’s garden and not Aidan himself. “Derek Landry is the best tracker I know,” he said instead, sidestepping her statement. “I doubt Carlton Avery will let us on his property again, but I’m hoping Derek can find something else on the land around the house.”
    “Your mom seems different from the rest of you.”
    Aidan looked back at Ever. “How do you mean?”
    She chewed her lip, looking unsure, then blurted out, “She looks older is all. You and your dad both look like you’re in your twenties, while she…well…”
    Aidan nodded. “That’s because she started life as human and was Changed when she was forty-two years old.”
    Ever’s eyes widened. “So you can Change regular humans,” she murmured, more to herself than anyone in particular.
    “We can, but prefer not to do so. It’s rough, really rough, and not everybody makes it.”
    “Wait,” she said, squinting up at him, “it can kill people?”
    “In the wrong situation, definitely.” Well, she’d have to find out sometime. “A simple scratch or small bite isn’t enough; not enough enzymes would be released and would be easily purged by the human body’s defense systems. It takes a real bite to get the enzymes into the system that starts rewriting DNA.”
    “Wait, DNA? Enzymes?”
    “Well, that’s the pseudo-scientific theory bandied about anyway. You ask most of the older shifters and they’re content to say it’s magic and leave it at that. I prefer a more modern approach.” He shrugged. “It’s not like we can give any geneticists samples to prove or disprove that theory. Anyway, Changing this way seems to work best when both parties are connected by a bond.”
    “What kind?”
    “Blood bonds ease the process, but the mating bond can ensure it as well. Whatever it is that links mates, that seems to help facilitate the Change.”
    “But,” Ever said slowly, “you said your mom didn’t find her mate until well after she’d been changed.”
    He nodded. “She was attacked by a rogue shifter and left for dead. In those cases, the Change isn’t as straightforward; it’s more like a disease that will either kill or heal you. Most attacks like that fall into the first category; they die pretty quickly, as if they’d been poisoned. Fortunately, my mother survived and was found by my father, who’d been hunting the rogue.”
    Movement toward the back of the house caught his eye. His mother was beckoning him toward the barn, and he jerked his chin to let her know he saw her. “Come on, we’re being summoned.”
    Questions swam in her eyes but she followed silently. Aidan wished he could answer all her questions but they were working to find her sister, and he had the feeling she’d want to focus on that. Besides, he’d given her a lot of information; she’d likely need time to absorb it all.
    He just hoped it wouldn’t scare her off.
     
    *
     
    The previously quiet hounds started baying as soon as he and Ever stepped around the house. Aidan counted about twenty or so, lined up in dog runs about three to a pen. “For training?” he asked his mother, indicating the hounds with a jerk of his chin.
    She nodded. “Some are here for breeding too. He’s becoming known across the country for producing great dogs.”
    Ever drew close to the pens, looking intently at the dogs but not putting her hand out. Most of those in kennels were young, no more than a year old, all but tripping over their long ears. “They’re adorable,” she said, a smile lighting her face.
    “My husband trains and breeds various types of hound dogs,” Eleanor said a bit proudly, “both for hunting as well as search and rescue operations.”
    Ever’s back was to them so she missed the quizzical look his mother sent Aidan. He couldn’t tell whether his mother could sense the mating bond, but the way her eyes were darting between the human girl and the way Aidan stood watchfully close, she probably guessed it. She said nothing