Hidden, Clan of the Werebear Read Online Free

walking until she reached a stream that was off to her left. She knew it was too engorged this time of year to cross. Elaina and Liam had played here often, as children, when Samson spent time with Marla. She just had to find a safe place to hole up for the night, but she didn’t feel all that safe unless she put more distance between her and Samson. He’d hunt her down, of that she was quite sure of. She tripped as the ground sloped down. Was it possible that she was near the valley? That bothered Elaina because that meant she was more to the south, and there wouldn’t be any shelter here until she crossed the valley to the wilderness on the other side. It also meant that she was too near to the wolf pack and their den. That’s the last thing anyone would want to do, especially a werebear. She couldn’t count on Liam being able to protect her from the entire pack.
    Elaina froze when she heard a wolf howl. She was found out. She ran away from the sound, losing her footing, and fell hard to her knees with a bang. She scrambled back to her feet as she smelled the wolves in hot pursuit. She had no choice now. She’d have to shift. Elaina pulled her jacket from her body, but before she made it further, she tripped again, and this time fell headlong down a hill. She rolled over and over for fifty feet and smacked her head on the rocks and pebbles below. She breathed in sharply, tasting only dirt. Her head throbbed badly now and she stared ahead just as the wolf pack was on her, teeth bared and snarling. One lone white wolf snapped its jaws at her. Elaina couldn’t hold on any longer. She allowed herself to close her eyes, and she was out.
    * * *
    Elaina awoke with a start, gathering animal pelt blankets around her. She didn’t have a stitch on, and as she stared across the room, she spotted her clothing. She stared at the gray walls of the cave and from the aroma of the room, she knew she must be in the wolf den. When she tried to sit upright, her head pounded in response. She flopped back on the bed feeling weaker than she ever had, and defenseless. Everything told her to shift and get out of here, but in her current state, she wouldn’t be able to. It took more energy than she had now.
    A woman walked in the room, her black hair flowing down her back. The beige frock she wore displayed her lithe body. She handed Elaina a plate filled with cooked meat, deer from the fragrance. She was helped to sit and encouraged to eat. “Please, eat. You need to regain your strength.”
    Elaina lifted a piece of meat and tasted it with interest. It could have been more tender, but it was quite tasty. Samson did a much better job of preparing deer meat than they did. She was then handed a container of water, and she thirstily drank. She felt her head that was covered with a bandage. “How long have I been out?”
    “A few days.” The woman reached over and refastened the bandages on Elaina’s shoulder. “What happened here?”
    “I fought with another bear. I mean, a bear.”
    “She was defending me,” Liam said from the door. He approached the bed and sat down at the foot. “Why were you wandering around by yourself, and at night?”
    “I was escaping. I couldn’t stand being locked up anymore.”
    “How did you manage to accomplish that?”
    “Someone slid the key under the door. I thought it was you.”
    Liam’s brow tightened. “No. Are you sure you weren’t followed?”
    “I managed to get out of the Bear Claw Pub without anyone seeing me.”
    “How can you be so sure?”
    “Well, there wasn’t anyone in the hallway. I slipped out the back door.”
    “And you’re sure you weren’t followed?”
    “There was a man who called out to me, but a wolf downed him. You mean it wasn’t you?”
    “No. What color was the wolf?”
    “It was me,” the woman said.
    “Adara, why would you go near the shifter’s pub? You know it’s dangerous.”
    “I know, b-but,” she began as she gazed in Elaina’s direction.