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Kirsten had asked in a way that seemed exhausted, but Henry wasn’t ready to read into things just yet. He needed to find out what Sher wanted and if it had anything to do with Kirsten before he panicked and made any drastic decisions.
“We can talk about it once we shower,” he said with a wink.
TWENTY-FOUR
HENRY
Henry couldn’t believe what he was doing. Clearing the thick brush in front of him with his hunting knife, he made a path wide enough for Kirsten to walk through, even with Zara strapped onto her in a carrier. Looking around the thick forest, he scanned the surrounding area, making sure there were no predators following them. The fading scents of bear shifters caused his hair to stand on end. He could feel his tiger lingering just beneath the surface, ready to pounce at the first sign of danger.
Zara giggled behind him, and his shoulders stiffened. His tiger urged him to turn back and take their mate and child to safety. He could feel his beast pacing in his mind as he led his family into a village of neighboring bear shifters.
When he had mentioned to Kirsten that he was going to the bear shifter village to find out who had been spying on them, she had immediately jumped on board. At first, Henry refused, unwilling to take Zara and her into a potentially risky situation.
He shook his head, remembering Kirsten’s determined face as she reminded him they were safer with him, especially if the beast who had been watching them knew that he was leaving. The thought of a shifter waiting until he was gone to attack Zara or Kirsten made up his mind. There was no way he was letting either of them out of his sight.
It didn’t mean he had to like it, though.
“Oh, stop being so crabby. Did you not expect me to wonder about the other shifters?” Kirsten said.
“It’s not your curiosity I’m worried about,” he said.
“But I thought you said they ‘re peaceful,” Kirsten said, walking up beside him.
Tendrils of sunshine broke through the thick covering of the trees, causing light to dance across Kirsten’s skin. The luminescence warmed her brown eyes, unearthing the golden flicks of light like facets of a diamond.
Her rich gaze warmed Henry and his beast. Looking down at his daughter, strapped to Kirsten’s chest in complete security, he reached out his hand and brushed her cheek with his finger.
Despite everything that was happening, he felt like his life was finally starting to make sense. Giving one last look at his family before turning back towards the path, Henry decided it was better they come with him, so the bear shifters understood exactly who they would be steering clear of.
“All shifters can be dangerous, it’s just our nature, but the bears aren’t known to attack unprovoked,” he said.
“Oh, well, that makes sense, I guess,” she said, shrugging her shoulders.
“You should start to understand the differences between our species and our natures now. It should help you as Zara grows.”
“Good! I’m glad we’re on the same page,” she said with a smile. “I had a few things I’ve been meaning to ask you.”
“The answers may have to wait. The village is a couple of yards ahead.”
At the mention of the bear shifter village, Kirsten’s head snapped forward, her intelligent eyes moving back and forth, unwilling to miss a single detail. They approached an opening of trees where the path had softened, indicating its frequent crossing.
Henry stepped in front of Kirsten and Zara, making sure he was the first to be scented. Wooden houses were scattered across the expanse of land, each about fifteen yards or so from the other.
Before long, they noticed a man. Standing at about six foot five, the large, thickly muscled male approached them. His gray eyes were impassive until he noticed Kirsten and Zara behind him, and they soon sparked with curiosity.
It was rare that he came up here. The bear shifters and Henry had always been respectful of each other’s space. This is why he thought Ayden, the head of this village, would want to know what had been happening
“Henry, what brings you here?”
“Ayden,” he nodded. “I came to ask if you were aware of a bear shifter snooping around my property.”
“I’m not sure what you’re talking about.”
“I’ve been hunting a bear shifter that has been coming onto my property for the last couple of weeks.”
“Why is he hunting you?” he asked, curiously shifting his gaze over to Kirsten.
“That’s what I’m here to find out,” Henry said, stepping to the side to block his view of her and making his position clear. “There have also been sightings of another tiger shifter in the area, a female. If they have been on my territory, chances are someone from the village has come across them.”
