Free The Bear's Forbidden Wolf: A Hot Paranormal Fantasy Saga with Witches, Werewolves and Werebears (Weres and Witches of Silver Lake Book 4) by Vella Day Page B

about it, it would give her a chance to help—something she seems to want to do.”
    The coroner and his team took off in their black wagon as the two CSU techs packed up and headed out in a separate vehicle. Kalan then stabbed a key in the ignition and turned the engine over. “Have you asked her if she even wants to be cleansed?”
    That question had kept him up all night. “I haven’t, but she seems willing to help us. From what she’s said, she doesn’t care for the Changelings. Hell, she seemed almost happy her brother was dead.” Kalan didn’t look at him. “What?”
    “I need to come clean. My lovely mate told her about the process. I didn’t ask her to. She did it on her own.”
    Then why ask me? Jackson’s pulse fluttered. “Why the hell didn’t you tell me before?” If his brother hadn’t been driving down the mountainside, he would have punched him.
    “I wanted to know your intentions toward Ainsley.”
    Fuck if he knew.
    *
    Driving back to town took all of Ainsley’s effort. The image of Shamus’s body was burned into her brain, and she wasn’t sure if she’d ever recover. From the horrific memory, another sob erupted, and her hands nearly slipped off the wheel. Even her foot had a hard time keeping a steady pressure on the accelerator.
    After an eternity, she passed the supermarket and then the gas station where she’d filled up yesterday. As horrible as this pain was, she needed to use the ache, welling deep inside her, to propel her to find Shamus’s murderers.
    Her swirling mind turned even darker. Why attack a bear? Shamus never would have instigated a fight, especially against a wolf. Sure, he fought Owen and a group of Changelings in Scotland, but that was because her family was brutalizing his Clan.
    No. Most likely his death was random. But did it matter? Murder was murder. The Changelings had done this to him, and Ainsley might be the only person to find the truth.
    Before she was even aware of where she was, her new second floor apartment came into view. She drove into her spot in back, parked the car, and sat there until she’d gathered enough energy to push open the door. Then with a heavy heart, she trudged inside and up the poorly lit stairwell.
    She was totally disappointed with herself. Yes, she had every right to grieve, but she needed to draw on her inner strength. If she waited until the pain subsided, all evidence of the kill would be long gone.
    She fixed a hot herbal tea, more for the calm it might bring than because she was thirsty. Music from Elana’s flower shop floated upward, but even the upbeat sound didn’t settle her frustration. Nothing could help other than finding Shamus’s killers.
    Most likely either Kalan or Jackson had called Blair to let her know the tragic news, but Ainsley wasn’t ready to talk about it. Right now, she needed a few moments to herself. She’d told Mr. Ernst that she had to break the appointment with his father, and the last thing she needed was for him to learn the real reason. She couldn’t let any Changeling know of her relationship to the victim or she’d never find out anything.
    In her most cheery tone, she dialed the Changeling’s number and paced to help her think better.
    “Ms. Chancellor,” Mr. Ernst said.
    Damn. He must have programmed her number into his phone. “I want to apologize for missing the appointment this morning. I’d like to reschedule when it is convenient for your father.” She was rather pleased with her smooth delivery even though her stomach wanted to vomit the words.
    “How about tomorrow?” he asked.
    That worked for her. “Would eight a.m. be okay for your father and you? That would give me a chance to work on him and still make it back in time for my job.”
    “That would be perfect.”
    Her hands shook so hard it was difficult to swipe a finger across the screen to disconnect. As soon as she ended the call, she rushed over to the sofa and dropped down, her legs barely able to hold her