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Nestled in a pile of blankets and pillows, Kennedy could almost pretend that the big spa tub was a nest. “The padlocks are overkill.”

“They keep the chains in place. We already know your heart shape fits in the tub. These chains will only keep you safely in place if we lock them. You are strong as a bear.”

She reached up and flicked one link. “I am strong as a girl.”

Terry grunted and tested the makeshift cage they had made out of the tub. The chains stayed in place.

“And if there is a fire?” She asked.

Terry answered in bear and David laughed with surprise. Kennedy gripped the chain and narrowed her gaze at the big man. “What did he say?”

David answered, “We will just throw you and the tub out the window, since you are so tough.”

Kennedy pursed her lips. “That is not very nice.”

Terry booped her nose.

David patted the edge of the tub. “As long as she doesn’t accidentally turn the water on in her dreams, she should make it safely through the night.”

“And so will you.” Kennedy added.

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“That too.” David gave a small sigh. “I will see you in the morning. Jeremiah is down with the wolves near Atlanta. He left Red with their mother. Red’s body is healing, but he is still too stubborn to talk to anyone. The fact that he has recovered at all makes me wonder if he has some Wolf hidden in his bloodline.” He rubbed his fingertips across the back of his wrist. “As a kid, I always wanted to explore the world, but I’m not liking human towns very much. I need to tell you both something.”

Terry leaned forward, listening. Kennedy rested her hand on top of Terry’s on the curving edge of the tub.

“The Wolves want me to track with them. They hope that there will be a familiar or identifying marker that will be a match to someone we know.” He hesitated. “In the time they had before the cops arrived, they searched the house. One thing they found was a packaged roast with a recipe card attached with Kennedy’s name written on it.” He reached into his back pocket and handed her the recipe card inside a labeled plastic bag. Her name was very clear, but it was the title that made her skin go cold. “Sandy’s Sunday Roast.”

She flicked the card away from her and it skittered across the floor to the edge of the rug. “That is not funny.”

“Not at all.” David reclaimed the item. “The Wolves don’t think a Shepherd did these things.”

“Why? Why would they jump to blaming human beings? We all know that bears are capable of arson.”

“The roast this was tied to was a human one.”

She shuddered. “You don’t know that it was Sandy.”

“I don’t. Honestly, I hope it’s not.” He shared a glance with Terry. “None of this feels right. This isn’t about territory.” He dampened his lips, looking uncomfortable. “Or old grudges.”

Terry grumbled, and David nodded. “Or politics.”

“This is some other thing. Neither Wolves nor Bears like new bad things. The human…. The one your mother let run free…”

Kennedy tightened her fingers around Terry’s and he gripped her hand.

“He didn’t freak out. The things he said… He knew Rig was a Shifter.” He grimaced. “He tasted his blood on purpose, slurped it from his own fingers.”

Kennedy shuddered, “Why?”

Terry drew her hand through the tangle of chains and kissed the back of her hand.

“The Wolves don’t think they are trying to hunt us. They think this insane human wants to become one of us.”