Free Promising Peter (Bad Boy Alphas) (Shrew & Company Book 6) by Holley Trent Page B

.”
    “Yes. I’m not certain that’s the case with every shifter, however. My belief is that there are some whose inner beasts are disconnected and disinterested in conciliation. I can’t see where there’d be any evolutionary usefulness to such a thing. The incongruity would make the shifter less able to judge situations.”
    “That sounds like Andrea.”
    “How so?”
    “Father, if you’d spent any time around her, you’d know I’m speaking the truth. She’s so tentative about everything. Frightened of everything, and she shouldn’t be. Even if the Ridge Bears are an overall peaceful group, it doesn’t make sense for her brother to be so aggressive and for her to be…”
    “What?”
    Peter let out a breath and lifted her onto his lap. “She may as well be human.”
    “Would you care if she were?”
    Peter didn’t have to think. He didn’t care if she were a Bear or not a Bear. He’d love her anyway and take care of her. He didn’t see how anything would change. Maybe some things would even be easier if she weren’t one. He passed the pad of his thumb over her soft eyebrows and massaged her temple. “No. I wouldn’t care.”
    “Is that the mating fever talking or is my rational son the one holding the phone?”
    “I’m rational enough. My bear is quiet for the moment. He’s not pushing me to do anything because he doesn’t have an instinct for this.”
    “Good.”
    “Is she going to wake? Tell me what to do.”
    “If what’s wrong with her is what I’ve suggested, then what occurred was a type of shorting out. Like circuits being overloaded. Too many impulses firing through the same brain, many of which aren’t complementary.”
    “So what does she need? Time to reboot? Is there some magic for that?”
    “Time, yes. Magic? I don’t know about that, but there are probably some voices that could get through to her better than others. Anyhow, even if she gets up again, there’s a chance this situation may reoccur. As long as her inner bear is out of sync—”
    “So, what, she needs to get rid of the bear? Can that be done?”
    “Yes,” Father answered slowly.
    “Why the hesitance?”
    “Because I know my son, and I fear the ritual would be one you would have performed on her without her consent because you want her awake.”
    “I—” Peter closed his mouth on his own objection. As much as he wanted to believe he’d do the noble thing and wait for her to wake, he was frightened that she wouldn’t.
    “And that may not even be her problem,” Father said. “We shouldn’t be so hasty to prescribe rituals that may turn out to not be magic bullets.”
    “I have to wait until she wakes, then?”
    “That would be my tactic.”
    “Tell me how to wake her. There has to be some way.”
    “All you can do is keep her comfortable and to make sure she feels safe if she happens to open her eyes for a brief moment. Perhaps when she does, she’ll open them again.”
    “When?”
    “I don’t know the answer to that. But I do think telling you that there are certain herbs that are known to suppress shapeshifter compulsions is prudent. Make a sachet and keep it near her nose. One might keep her inner bear from getting in the way of her waking.”
    “What are the herbs?”
    “I’ll email you the list. Depending on where you are, some of the items may be hard to find.”
    “Whatever. I’ll drive all over the state if I need to.” He laughed dryly. “Maybe she’ll even move while I’m gone.”
    “I’ll send you the list now.”
    “Thank you.”
    “Peter?”
    “Yes?”
    “Don’t do anything stupid.” Father disconnected.
    Peter tossed his phone onto the coffee table and waited for an email notification beep. He wasn’t going to make that promise, not even to himself.

CHAPTER SEVEN
    Drea could hear him—hear Peter . His voice, tinged with worry.
    There was something wrong with her, and she couldn’t understand what. She was only getting half of what he was saying. She