Page 28 (1/2)

“She wouldn’t go with Joe”

“Well, we can’t keep a bear as a pet She’d have to be caged for everyone’s safety Just like a feral pup, there’s a certain point they’re unable to tame A time they’re feral for life”

“Maybe she’s different If her change happened recently, there’s hope”

“We don’t knohen it happened For all we know she’s been like this for years, traveling the forests in flux,” he said

There was a scream

“Bethany!”

They scoured the ione

The she-bear had torn through the house, pulling down shelves and sht

Heather knew they wouldn’t be able to find her now She’d adapt and know they were co for her

“We’ll find her,” David said

“No, you won’t”

“We did it before, we’ll do it again,” he said

“No, she’s right,” Caleb said He had Bethany pulled close “It’s not our probleh she destroyed the house It could have beenmy pack at risk This is Joe’s problem”

Heather kept her ht It just felt so unjust for the she-bear to endure such a horrible fate at no fault of her own If she were being honest with herself, the bear reminded her of herself—an orphan, uncomfortable in her own skin

“If the bears see a problem, they’ll deal with her,” Caleb said “More than likely, they’ll let fate handle it She’ll either adapt or she won’t, and nothing we can do will change the course” He led Bethany back into the house The only human in the pack was more delicate than the rest of them If that bear had harmed her, she could have easily died Then all the blaest the bear stay in their house for the night