Don't Moose With Her (Bearbank Book 1) by Ariana McGregor Read Free Book Online

squeezing around her heart eased a little, allowing her to breathe and calm down. Her heart was heavy and she felt tired and sad but at least the meltdown had passed. She would be fine. She knew that now. It still hurt and her future looked bleaker and mate-less but she would live on as best she could.
    A little calmer, she went to sleep, feeling a little safer with her friends in the house.
     
    ***
     
    The next morning was bright and sunny. Bah. Dana went through her morning routine in a daze. She was on automatic pilot as she showered and dressed, wandering into the kitchen in search of coffee. Katie and Fiona were already up and eating breakfast.
    “So, what’s in the box?” Katie asked, gesturing to where the box in question was sitting, forgotten about.
    Dana shrugged. “I don’t know. Another gift from my secret admirer? The last one was a necklace and chocolates.”
    “Ooh, I wonder what this is. You should open it. You know, now. While I’m here to watch,” Fiona said, beaming at her. “And, you know, help with any chocolate eating.”
    Dana walked to the box, dropped to her knees beside it, and examined it. No label or return address. Hand delivered as usual. She took the scissors handed to her by Fiona and worked on cutting the tape sealing the box shut. Setting the scissors down, she peeled back the box flaps, and froze.
    This was no fancy present of chocolates or jewellery. Not this time. This was a moose head. From a real moose. An adult male, no wonder the box had been so big. It was the full, severed head, minus the antlers. Little stumps remained where the antlers had been cut off, presumably to make the head fit in the box. Dana stared at it in shock, unable to look away.
    “Oh God.” Fiona’s voice was choked as she peered over Dana's shoulder.
    “What the hell?” Katie exclaimed. “I thought he sent you nice gifts.”
    “It’s not a…” Fiona paused. “It’s not a shifter, right? I mean, where would someone even find an actual moose in Scotland?”
    Katie looked closer. “No. I think this is one of those taxidermy things. The moose probably died a long time ago and then got bought over the internet.”
    Dana shuddered, unable to stop staring at the moose head. She wasn’t a fan of hunting trophies at the best of times. A moose head hit a little too close to home.
    “Do you think this is a threat?” Fiona whispered. “I mean, they chose a moose of all things.”
    “Yeah,” Katie answered, leaning over and closing the box flaps. “We have to go to the police with this. I’m not buying that your secret admirer randomly sent you a moose head because he thought it would go with your furniture.”
    “You think it’s the same guy?” Fiona asked. “Why sent all the nice stuff and then this?”
    Katie glanced at Dana. Clearly she knew something and just as clearly didn't want to say it.
    “What?” Dana asked. “Just tell me.” Not knowing would be worse.
    Katie sighed. “Leo told me that the Shifter Stalker does this. He starts with sweet stuff and then something changes and the gifts get threatening. You can’t ignore this Dana.”
    “I’m not ignoring it,” Dana said. “I’ll call the police. This morning.”
    “I’ll stay with you,” Katie said. “Don't argue.” She had no intention of arguing.
    “I’d stay too but I’d better get to work. Especially if you’re going to be late,” Fiona said.
    “Thanks guys,” Dana said. “For last night, too.”
    “Aw, sweetie.” Fiona hugged her. “That’s what we’re here for.”
    With a final hug, Fiona left for work, leaving Dana with Katie and the box. Dana moved away from the box, unwilling to touch it. Still her eyes were constantly drawn to it. She kept telling herself not to look but then she'd find herself staring at it anyway. Until Katie quite deliberately stood between her and the box, blocking Dana’s view.
    “I’ll call Leo,” Katie offered, reaching for her phone.
    “No!” Dana almost shouted.