True North (The Bears of Blackrock Book 4) Read Online Free PDF

front door behind them. There was a note of suspicion in his voice. Theron took his hands out of his pockets as slowly as he could, letting his empty hands splay out at his sides as the Officer stopped at the bottom of the steps, waiting for Theron to join him.
    Theron had been harassed by police dozens of times, but that day was the first time he feared he might get shot.
    “You back with your folks, then? Nice people. Maynard and I have breakfast together from time to time.”
    Theron’s eyebrows shot up. This was news to him. “That’s good to know,” he said.
    Please don’t shoot me then, he thought.
    Charlie Black was older by twenty years, teetering into his late forties. His light brown hair did a nice job of covering any gray that creeped into his temples, and he kept his face clean shaven. He was just an inch shorter than Theron, but he made up for the height difference with presence alone, and his black uniform almost hid the foreboding shape of a pistol at his hip.
    “You been back long?”
    Theron’s blood boiled. He hated being interrogated like this. Always had.
    “A few weeks.”
    Officer Black nodded. “What have you been up to? Spending time up in Parkhurst area the other night, then?”
    “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Theron said, meeting the policeman’s gaze.
    Officer Black lunged forward three steps, pointing a finger in Theron’s direction and his tone changed. “I know what I saw. So you best start explaining yourself to me, kid.”
    The change in demeanor set Theron’s hackles up something fierce. There was nothing wise about threatening a bear. Nothing at all.
    Theron pursed his lips, his hands still open and out at his sides. “What exactly would you like me to explain?”
    “You know damn well,” Officer Black hissed, as though he feared the trees would overhear him.
    “I’m sorry, sir. I don’t know what you mean.”
    The officer’s eyes fell and he turned away, pacing as he fumed in Theron’s direction. “Damn it, I know what I fucking saw, Talbot. You all might have your secrets out here, but this? This is – you can’t keep this hidden forever.”
    Theron watched, his heart pounding in his chest. Officer Black was wound up tight. He turned his attention back to Theron, his voice calming again.
    “You don’t want to come clean with me, that’s fine, but you’re going to get caught. We’re bringing in Animal Control units to watch the Parkhurst area, setting up field cameras, and you’re gonna find cruisers patrolling every road around the reservation until I catch you.”
    Theron swallowed. Field cameras? No one would be able to shift without chancing getting caught. Not the Fenns, not his family, and certainly not him or his mother.
    Or his mountain lion sister.
    What had he done?
    “I don’t know what you expect to find, Officer -”
    The policeman lunged forward again, his eyes wide and almost frantic. “I know what I saw, Talbot. I don’t know what you are, but I’m gonna be on you until I found out. Do you hear me?”
    “Yes, sir,” Theron said, knowing better than to test the man further.
    Charlie Black stared at Theron for a long moment, his expression fixed. He looked as though he had more to say, but neither of the men spoke.
    “You have yourself a good day, then,” Black said, turning back toward the cruiser. Theron stood stock still, arms out as he watched the cruiser roll off down the road. When Theron finally calmed down enough to head back inside, his mother stood in the open doorway.
    Her nostrils flared as she took a deep breath. “Come pack a bag. I’ll call up north. You’re getting the hell out of here.”
    She was furious.
    Theron didn’t blame her. “Wait, Mom -”
    “You idiot!”
    The argument that followed grew loud enough to rattle the very rafters.
     
     
     
     
     
     
    CHAPTER FOUR
     
    SINEAD
     
    “Where the hell did you come from?”
    Sinead glared at her visitor, her spine beginning to ache with the