Chapter 7

Chapter Seven

Amanda

R ance had tried to convince her to stay, but Amanda had explained that even though she was sure of what she wanted, she needed time to process everything. He had reluctantly agreed, but only if she agreed to call or text him when she got back to town. Amanda agreed and smiled as she did so. Once she was inside her clinic she made a quick tour through her facility to ensure nothing was out of place, then set the alarm and headed upstairs.

Amanda closed the door to her home above the veterinary clinic, the familiar scent of antiseptic and pine wafting up from the clinic below. The space was warm and inviting, but she felt anything but relaxed. The events of the night weighed heavily on her mind, especially the encounter with the Kodiak bear and the wild and exhilarating run through the forest in her new form. It was a lot to process, and she wasn't entirely sure where to begin.

As she slipped off her boots and hung up her coat, she heard the soft murmur of a voice. She turned and found Eva sitting on the couch, her legs crossed and a steaming mug of tea in her hands. Her friend's expression was a mix of concern and curiosity, the kind of look that said she had been waiting for Amanda's return and wasn't leaving without some answers.

"Eva," Amanda said, trying to keep her tone light. "What are you doing here?"

Eva gave her a small smile, though it didn't reach her eyes. "I thought I'd stop by and see how you were doing. You've been through a lot lately."

Amanda forced a smile, though she knew it probably looked as strained as she felt. "I'm fine, really. Just needed some fresh air and a change of scenery."

Eva's gaze didn't waver, and she gestured for Amanda to sit beside her. "Why don't you tell me what really happened?"

Amanda hesitated for a moment before crossing the room and sinking into the armchair opposite her friend. She knew Eva wouldn't let her off the hook easily, and she wasn't sure she had the energy to keep evading her questions. She took a deep breath, choosing her words carefully.

"I went to see Rance," Amanda began, her voice steady. "I wanted to thank him for saving my life." She raised her hand to stop Eva's objection. "Don't. He admitted he was there that night. We talked, and… well, he took me on a run in the woods."

Eva's eyes flickered with interest, and she leaned forward slightly. "A run? In the woods? At night?"

Amanda nodded, trying to keep her tone casual. "It was exhilarating. The air was crisp, the moon was out—it was beautiful. But while we were out there, we encountered a Kodiak bear."

Eva's expression turned serious. "A Kodiak bear? Amanda, those bears can be incredibly dangerous; they are very territorial."

Amanda nodded, recalling the ferocity of the bear and the brutal fight that had ensued. "It was. The bear seemed to see me as a threat, but Rance… he protected me. He fought the bear off."

Eva's eyes widened slightly, a hint of surprise in her expression. "Rance fought off a Kodiak bear? That's… impressive."

Amanda shrugged, trying to downplay the situation. "He's strong, and he knows what he's doing in the wild. I'm just glad we made it out of there safely."

Eva studied her for a long moment, her expression thoughtful. "You're leaving something out, Amanda. I can tell."

Amanda's heart skipped a beat, and she forced herself to meet her friend's gaze. She couldn't tell her everything—especially not about the fact that she had shifted into a bear herself. But before she could come up with a response, Eva's next question caught her off guard.

"Did your she-bear come forward?"

Amanda froze, her eyes widening in shock. How did Eva know? Her mind raced, trying to make sense of it. Eva had always been perceptive, but this was something else entirely. "What… what do you mean?" she stammered.

Eva smiled gently, setting her tea down on the table. "Amanda, I know you're a shifter. I've known since the moment I saw you after the accident. Your energy, your aura—it's different now. It's unmistakable."

Amanda stared at her, her thoughts swirling in confusion and disbelief. "How… how do you know?"

Eva leaned back, a soft sigh escaping her lips. "Because I'm a shifter, too. I'm a lynx shifter. I've been one my whole life. I can sense others like me, and I could sense the change in you after what happened."

The revelation hit Amanda like a ton of bricks, and she could only stare at her friend in stunned silence. Eva, the person she had confided in so many times, was also a shifter. It was as if the ground had shifted beneath her feet, leaving her disoriented and unsure of where to step next.

Eva gave her a moment to process the information before continuing. "Rance didn't have a choice, Amanda. He did what he had to do to save your life. If he hadn't given you his blood, you wouldn't be here right now."

Amanda's thoughts were a whirlwind of emotions—shock, confusion, and a strange sense of relief that she wasn't alone in this new reality. "So, you knew? All this time, you knew what I was going through?"

Eva nodded, her expression softening. "I had my suspicions, but I wanted to give you time to come to terms with it on your own. Shifting for the first time is a huge deal, and I didn't want to overwhelm you. But when you started talking about the bear encounter, I knew I had to say something."

Amanda shook her head, still trying to wrap her mind around everything. "I just… I didn't know how to tell you. It's all so new and… overwhelming."

Eva reached out and placed a hand on Amanda's arm, her touch warm and comforting. "You don't have to go through this alone. I'm here for you, and so is Rance. We're a community, even if it's a small one. And don't worry about anyone finding out—your medical records have been altered. No one will ever be able to prove anything."

Amanda let out a shaky breath, feeling a weight lift off her shoulders. She had been carrying so much uncertainty and fear, afraid of what would happen if anyone discovered her secret. But now, knowing that Eva was a shifter, too, and that her friend had her back, she felt a sense of relief she hadn't known she needed.

"Thank you, Eva," Amanda said, her voice thick with emotion. "I don't know what I would have done without you."

Eva smiled, giving her arm a reassuring squeeze. "You're stronger than you think, Amanda. And you're not alone. You have a whole new world to explore now, and you have people who care about you to guide you through it."

Amanda nodded, a small smile forming on her lips as she looked at her friend. "I guess I do."

They sat in comfortable silence for a moment, the weight of their shared secrets hanging between them but no longer a burden. She wasn't alone in this journey, and she had the support of those who understood what she was going through.

"I'm going to be okay, aren't I?" Amanda asked, her voice steady as she met Eva's gaze.

Eva smiled; her eyes warm with understanding. "Yes, you are. And you're going to be more than okay, Amanda. You're going to thrive."

Amanda took a deep breath, feeling the truth of Eva's words settle in her chest. She was on the brink of a new chapter in her life, one filled with challenges and discoveries, but she wasn't afraid anymore.

RANCE

Rance leaned against the rough wooden wall of the cabin, his arms crossed over his chest as he watched the early morning sun filter through the trees. The peaceful scene was at odds with the turmoil churning inside him. The previous night's run with Amanda had been exhilarating, but now, in the cold light of day, the reality of their situation weighed heavily on his mind.

The knock on the door came as no surprise. Rance had been expecting Asher since dawn. He pushed off the wall and opened the door to find Asher standing there, his expression grim.

"Asher," Rance greeted, stepping aside to let him in.

"Rance," Asher replied with a nod, entering the cabin with purposeful strides. The two men were old friends, bound by shared experiences and mutual respect forged in the heat of battle. But there was no warmth in Asher's eyes today—only concern.

They moved to the small table by the window, and Rance poured them both a cup of coffee, the rich aroma filling the room. Asher took a sip, his gaze fixed on the horizon outside. After a moment, he set the cup down and turned to Rance.

"We've got a problem," Asher began, his voice low and serious. "There's a hunter on the island. Name's Donald Albright. He's not just any hunter, though—he's got a reputation for targeting shifters—bear-shifters in particular."

Rance's grip tightened around his cup, the muscles in his jaw clenching. "What do you mean, targeting?"

Asher met his gaze, his expression unyielding. "Albright's been hunting bears for years, but lately, he's been tracking something more. He's got a way of identifying shifters, and he's been killing them. Quietly, methodically. The rumors say he's taken down a few shifters in the lower forty-eight, and now he's here, on Kodiak. He's a danger to all of us, but especially bears. And if he were to find out about you… well, it wouldn't be pretty. And now you've got Amanda to think about."

Rance's blood ran cold at the thought of Amanda being in Albright's crosshairs. She was still learning, still adjusting to her new reality, and the last thing she needed was a hunter with a vendetta on her trail.

"How do you know he's here?" Rance asked, his voice tight with barely restrained anger.

Asher leaned back against the counter, his gaze never leaving Rance's. "We've been trying to keep an eye on him since he landed in Anchorage, but we lost him. We think, though, that Kodiak was next on his list."

"Why? Vendetta? Collector? Bounty hunter?"

"Unknown, and I'm not sure it matters. But we need to locate him and keep him under surveillance. His usual MO is to ask questions about locations and snoop around places he shouldn't be. You know how fast word travels in our community, and people are scared. We can't afford to ignore this, Rance. He's not just hunting bears—he's hunting all of us."

Rance's mind raced as he considered the implications. Albright was a threat, not just to him, but to Amanda, Eva, and all the other shifters on the island. He couldn't allow that. He wouldn't.

"I'll handle it," Rance said finally.

Asher nodded; his expression grim. "I figured you would. But be careful, Rance. Albright's no amateur. He's been doing this a long time, and he's damn good at it. Don't underestimate him."

Rance didn't need the warning, but he appreciated Asher's concern. They finished their coffee in silence, both men lost in their own thoughts. Asher left soon after, leaving Rance alone with the weight of the responsibility that now rested on his shoulders.

He knew what he had to do. The first step was to make sure Amanda was safe.

Later that day, Rance made his way to Amanda's home above the veterinary clinic. The thought of her being in danger had gnawed at him all morning, and he couldn't shake the feeling that something bad was on the horizon.

When Amanda opened the door, she seemed surprised to see him, but her expression quickly softened into a warm smile. "Rance, what's going on? You look… intense."

He stepped inside, his presence filling the small entryway. He could tell Amanda sensed his tension, her brow furrowing in concern. Rance took a deep breath, knowing he needed to be direct.

"There's something you need to know," he began, his voice steady despite the turmoil inside him. "There's a hunter on the island. His name is Donald Albright, and he's dangerous—especially to people like us."

Amanda's eyes widened slightly, but she didn't flinch. "A hunter? You mean… he's hunting shifters?"

Rance nodded, his gaze intense. "Yes. He's been tracking and making shifters disappear for years…"

"Disappear?"

"We're not sure if he's abducting them and taking them someplace or killing them. I worked with a group of resistance operatives at a lab in Iceland where they were exploited and tortured…"

"Oh my god, Rance, that must have been terrible for you."

He shook his head. "It was, but it's not important now, and the lab was destroyed. Still, this Albright guy might have been one of their suppliers. It doesn't really matter. What matters is he's here in Alaska, and reportedly he's headed for Kodiak Island in search of bear-shifters. I need you to be careful, Amanda. Don't go anywhere alone where you might run into him. And don't shift, not unless you're with me or you absolutely have to."

Amanda's jaw set in a stubborn line, her eyes narrowing. "I can take care of myself, Rance. I'm not some helpless damsel."

Rance admired her fire, but this was too important to let pride get in the way. He stepped closer, his voice firm. "I know you're strong, Amanda. But Albright is a professional, and he's ruthless. I'm not telling you this to undermine you—I'm telling you because we're mates. You're important to me."

Amanda's gaze softened, but he could see the determination in her eyes. She wasn't going to back down easily. "I appreciate the concern, Rance, but I won't live in fear. I'm Arctotherium, remember? I'm not just any she-bear."

Rance reached out, cupping her cheek in his hand. "Even the mightiest beast can be killed, Amanda. Albright knows how to hunt, and he knows how to kill. Promise me you'll be careful."

She leaned into his touch, her eyes searching his. "I promise I'll be careful. But you need to trust that I can handle myself."

Rance wanted to argue, to make her see how serious the situation was, but he knew Amanda well enough to understand that pushing her would only make her more determined to prove herself. Instead, he nodded, though the worry in his chest didn't abate.