Guardian Bears: Karl by Leslie Chase Read Free Book Online Page B

down in her eyes. Allison jerked her hand back from him as though his skin was scalding her, and he couldn’t read a thing from her anymore. What did I say wrong? He didn’t know, but that was obviously not what she wanted to hear.
    Equally obviously, she didn’t want to talk about it now. And without knowing where he’d gone wrong, he didn’t know what he could say to make it right.
    “I guess I’ll call if I think of anything,” Allison said, ushering him towards the door. For a moment, he considered staying, making her talk to him. But that would wash away whatever remaining goodwill he had with her, so he let himself be led out of the house and got back into his car.
    She was watching from the doorway as he got in, and despite her stony face, he could feel the conflict in her growing again. He wanted to turn back, to try and talk to her, but the time was wrong. I have to give her time to think, he told himself. No matter how much I want to push the issue, I’ll just make her clam up if I try and dig it out of her.
    Turning and looking back at her as he started the engine, he nodded to himself. He’d see her again soon – the tension they both felt made him certain of that. He wouldn’t be able to stay away even if he wanted to, and he could see that she felt the same.

7
    T he parking lot outside the motel was busy when he arrived. The camera crew was there along with a lot more people than he’d seen at the Blackrock Bar, clustered around a map spread on the hood of a car. They all looked like hard men, dangerous, with an air of violence about them. Karl parked as far from them as he could, though there wasn’t much space, and took a moment to watch them.
    Most of the newcomers were armed, hunting rifles slung over their shoulders. And there was a kind of grim celebration to their mood as he watched them. Damian was in the middle of them, talking and laughing with some of the new arrivals, but when he saw Karl he left the conversation and walked over.
    Maybe this time he wants a fight, Karl thought almost hopefully as got out of the SUV. The evening’s heat hit him like a hammer as he stepped down, and though he tried to be grateful that the day was cooling a little, it did nothing for his temper.
    “I figured I’d see you again, but not so soon,” Damian said, smiling and stopping just out of arms reach. “What’s your interest in our little hunt?”
    Karl looked around. There were a dozen or so men in the parking lot, most armed, and all paying attention to the conversation. I wonder if he’s set this up to intimidate me? If so, he’s got a lot to learn about scaring a bear shifter.
    With the frustrations of the day and the heat getting to him, Karl would welcome a chance to get them out of his system.
    “I don’t care about your hunt,” he said, walking on. “I’m here for my own reasons, not yours.”
    “Then why did you stop us talking to that lady?” Damian didn’t move, just stood square in Karl’s way. Karl stopped, frowning, considering just picking him up and throwing him aside.
    “Look, hunt your werewolf if you like, that’s nothing to me. But going after people is different. If you hassle her again, I will tear off your arms.” He smiled, or at least bared his teeth. “Fair warning.”
    Hearing the threat, the rest of the hunters drifted closer, and in the background, Karl could see the cameraman quickly getting ready to film. Okay, I’m not going to pick a fight on camera, he told himself. The men were all close enough that he was sure he could take them if he had to – surprise and a bear’s speed and strength had carried through against worse odds – but he would have to shift. Being caught on film doing that would be the worst outcome imaginable.
    Damian’s smile was smug, irritating, and an invitation to wipe it off his face with a punch. Karl didn’t rise to it, much as he wanted to.
    “We’ll hunt down the werewolf,” Damian said after a pause, looking