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Phil’s coure out The lack of any strong scent indicated a va Scotsht rain But which Scottish vaus so pissed that he’d co quietly up the mountain path, as if they could sneak up on a were-bear The thoughtthe soft swish of a kilt or the grinding of Phil’s boots

Not Angus, he decided Phil was taking the lead, and he wouldn’t do that if the boss ith hi his work after a long honeychildren That sort of domestic bliss was unlikely to happen for him There were a few female were-bears on the island, but they were either taken or related to hiaze drifted back to the rocks where Carly had died twenty years ago She had trusted him completely, even after he’d confessed to her that he was a were-bear Since her, he hadn’t met another mortal female he had felt he could trust with his secret

There had been a tiuilt of Carly’s death had nearly crippled hie and his football career he’d allowed himself to suffer as a way to punish hiuilt slowly changed Instead of feeling guilty for wanting to forget, he now felt guilty that he could barely recall her face How cruel life was that she had paid the price for Rhett Bleddyn’s rage

Death was too good for Rhett Hoanted to watch the sick bastard squiro about it secretly and stealthily in order to keep his people safe, but with the proper strategy, he felt confident about pulling it off And if he avenged Carly, then uilt to rest He’d been banished for long enough

A cool breeze swept up from Mishenka Bay, and he closed his eyes to focus fully on the scent - a glorious mixture of salty sea and lush forest Horance seep into his soul, and a new face for his thoughts more and more each day Unfortunately that only proved that no ist he tried to be, he was still a fool

Elsa Bjornberg was a celebrity, a breathtaking, gut-wrenching beauty, who traveled the world for her successful career Why would she want to uy frouy as oversized and turned into a real bear on occasion The cold reality was that they would never o that his obsession with her was ridiculous Pathetic Juvenile It was e, so he kept it secret

And yet, whenever he saw her on television, he felt drawn to her Not just mildly attracted but somehow irrevocably attached to her It didn’t e feeling go away

The soft scuffle of a footstep behind hiet distracted Hethe staff up and across his shoulders, gripping each end with his hands

With his back to theazed up at the moon, a dull silver disc shrouded in clouds It would be full to to plan, he’d score a touchdown "Hello, Phil"

There was a moment of silence, then a whoosh of air as Phil Jones exhaled "How did you knoas me? Alaska is overrun olves"

"They don’t use that fancy, girly sharowl in response

A slight mechanical click eal Kincaid? The Vao, and Roal?" Howard turned, widening his sood to see you again You arrived last night?"

The Scots hiht, and your kilt sal’s us, ye ken"

"Not enough trouble, if he only sent two of you"

"Believe , shaggy hair back over his shoulders "It’s cheaper to use the saave hiain since you’re sosensitive about it"

Phil’s eyes narrowed

Dougal chuckled "We have orders to take you back to Ro "Good luck with that"

Phil snorted "What the hell are you up to, Howard?"

"I thought you’d never ask I need al asked "Ye’re playing a game?"

"Yes It’s called Payback It’ll be easier to score if I have a few more hands" Howard slanted a wry look at the Vaal wiggled the fingers on his mechanical hand "Ye’d be surprised what I can do"

"Tell it to the ladies" Howardback at Rhett Bleddyn, then yeah, I’al scoffed "Now there are two of you no’ following orders Angus will be royally pissed"

"Maybe not," Phil argued "He knohat an asshole Rhett is The guy tried to forceto kill off my entire family and steal all our land and followers He’s a power-hungry, ruthless bastard"

Dougal nodded, then turned to Howard "I can see why Phil wants revenge, but what do ye have against hi his staff off his shoulders and planted one end in the gravelly dirt next to his feet "I have al’s hand produced a series of clicks as he curled the fingers into a fist, then stretched the to kill Bleddyn?"

"Do I look like a lances "Okay You’ve seen me kill, but only in battle"

"You’re ferocious," Phil le swipe"

"So I’rumbled, then smiled "No one has ever complained about my efficiency before"

Phil snorted "We’re just relieved you’re on our side"

Howard’s mouth twitched "Are you sure about that?"

Phil stiffened "You big lual lifted a hand, then shot an annoyed look at Howard "I need to know more before I decide Do ye plan to lure Rhett into battle?"

"No" Howard pointed his staff toward a few lights twinkling far out in Mishenka Bay "You see that group of islands out there? They’re called the Bear Claw Islands ’cause there’s a big round one and four narrow ones extending north"