Read Online A Bear of a Reputation by Ivy Sinclair - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Ivy Sinclair
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cursed myself again for being such a loser that I couldn’t be attracted to a hot, good guy for once. Nope. Instead, I was intensely aware of my proximity to the man who stood next to me.
“What brings you out to White Oaks, Lukas?” Sheriff Monroe asked casually. “Thought you were content staying in town for the duration of your visit.”
“I told you my stay was indefinite, Sheriff. I’ll be moving into Markus’s house tomorrow,” Lukas said, equally casual in his tone. Although his stance appeared relaxed on the surface, I knew better. He was a coiled bundle of muscles ready to strike. “I heard there was some trouble. It’s good to know what’s happening in my community and to see how I can help.”
“Things are under control,” the sheriff said. He crossed his arms over his broad chest. Sheriff Monroe grew up in Greyelf. He had been Markus’s right-hand man in the clan for years, but I never sensed a warmth between the two men. He was known to be efficient and fair. My dad believed that the sheriff was far more political than he had ever let on. After watching events unfold over the course of the last week since Markus’s passing, I was inclined to agree with him.
Lukas and the sheriff stood there, glaring at each other. I noticed that the sheriff had straightened to his full height, which amused me because, even then, Lukas still had at least two to three inches on him.
“Sheriff?” A woman’s voice broke the silence from behind us. I turned and saw Marilee Wilson standing there. Marilee was two years older than me, and we had hung out several times in high school before she went through her first phase. After that, she had preferred the company of the other shifter girls, and I couldn’t really blame her. I saw her eyes widen as she recognized me, and I saw her glance dart between me and Lukas.
The sheriff moved around us toward Marilee. He put his hand on her shoulder. “Don’t worry, Marilee. I’ve got three officers out patrolling the woods. We’re checking the usual places. He didn’t go far.” He looked over his shoulder and cocked his head toward the parking lot. “Miller, you’re with me. Let’s go.” Then he moved toward the door without looking at Lukas again.
I saw Billy glance at me as he passed by me. I gave him a little shrug. I wasn’t sure what I was doing there at the moment either. Everything was so confusing.
A few moments later, it was just me, Lukas, and Marilee left standing in the lobby.
“What’s going on, Marilee?” Lukas asked.
“I checked his room an hour ago, and Cody was gone,” Marilee said. I saw the tight lines of worry on her face. “I couldn’t find him anywhere.” Marilee had gotten pregnant her senior year. I heard that she was mated to one of the clan members a short time later, but he had died a few years ago, leaving Marilee a young, attractive widow. “It’s not like him to sneak out. What with the Summit starting in a few days and all, I’m scared witless.”
The Summit meant that members from all of the shifter clans in the area were returning home in droves. It was great for the Greyelf tourist trade, but it usually meant that tensions ran high, and there were always some “misunderstandings” between the clans. I understood why the idea of having her son outside the walls of White Oaks at night would be worrisome.
“Any other kids MIA?” Lukas asked.
“Bryan Fulton and Danny Pogue,” Marilee said. “The three of them are as thick as thieves. I’m worried about what trouble they could be up to.”
Lukas nodded. “I have an idea.” He looked at me. “Can you stay here with Marilee? I shouldn’t be long.”
I pursed my lips. I wanted to go with him, but I could tell that he wanted me to sit tight. “Fine,” I said. “Are you going to talk to the sheriff?”
Lukas was already headed toward the rear of the building. “I’m most certainly not going to talk to the sheriff,” he said. Then he was gone.
I
“What brings you out to White Oaks, Lukas?” Sheriff Monroe asked casually. “Thought you were content staying in town for the duration of your visit.”
“I told you my stay was indefinite, Sheriff. I’ll be moving into Markus’s house tomorrow,” Lukas said, equally casual in his tone. Although his stance appeared relaxed on the surface, I knew better. He was a coiled bundle of muscles ready to strike. “I heard there was some trouble. It’s good to know what’s happening in my community and to see how I can help.”
“Things are under control,” the sheriff said. He crossed his arms over his broad chest. Sheriff Monroe grew up in Greyelf. He had been Markus’s right-hand man in the clan for years, but I never sensed a warmth between the two men. He was known to be efficient and fair. My dad believed that the sheriff was far more political than he had ever let on. After watching events unfold over the course of the last week since Markus’s passing, I was inclined to agree with him.
Lukas and the sheriff stood there, glaring at each other. I noticed that the sheriff had straightened to his full height, which amused me because, even then, Lukas still had at least two to three inches on him.
“Sheriff?” A woman’s voice broke the silence from behind us. I turned and saw Marilee Wilson standing there. Marilee was two years older than me, and we had hung out several times in high school before she went through her first phase. After that, she had preferred the company of the other shifter girls, and I couldn’t really blame her. I saw her eyes widen as she recognized me, and I saw her glance dart between me and Lukas.
The sheriff moved around us toward Marilee. He put his hand on her shoulder. “Don’t worry, Marilee. I’ve got three officers out patrolling the woods. We’re checking the usual places. He didn’t go far.” He looked over his shoulder and cocked his head toward the parking lot. “Miller, you’re with me. Let’s go.” Then he moved toward the door without looking at Lukas again.
I saw Billy glance at me as he passed by me. I gave him a little shrug. I wasn’t sure what I was doing there at the moment either. Everything was so confusing.
A few moments later, it was just me, Lukas, and Marilee left standing in the lobby.
“What’s going on, Marilee?” Lukas asked.
“I checked his room an hour ago, and Cody was gone,” Marilee said. I saw the tight lines of worry on her face. “I couldn’t find him anywhere.” Marilee had gotten pregnant her senior year. I heard that she was mated to one of the clan members a short time later, but he had died a few years ago, leaving Marilee a young, attractive widow. “It’s not like him to sneak out. What with the Summit starting in a few days and all, I’m scared witless.”
The Summit meant that members from all of the shifter clans in the area were returning home in droves. It was great for the Greyelf tourist trade, but it usually meant that tensions ran high, and there were always some “misunderstandings” between the clans. I understood why the idea of having her son outside the walls of White Oaks at night would be worrisome.
“Any other kids MIA?” Lukas asked.
“Bryan Fulton and Danny Pogue,” Marilee said. “The three of them are as thick as thieves. I’m worried about what trouble they could be up to.”
Lukas nodded. “I have an idea.” He looked at me. “Can you stay here with Marilee? I shouldn’t be long.”
I pursed my lips. I wanted to go with him, but I could tell that he wanted me to sit tight. “Fine,” I said. “Are you going to talk to the sheriff?”
Lukas was already headed toward the rear of the building. “I’m most certainly not going to talk to the sheriff,” he said. Then he was gone.
I
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