Bound to the Bear

by Kathy Lyons

  Her mother started speaking, low and urgent. “Brit, you need to listen to me, okay?”

  “Keep her calm,” Hank instructed. “Show her what she looks like.”

  “Everything’s fine,” her father said clearly.

  “I’ve got a mirror in my purse,” Abby said as she rolled out of the bed and started rooting around in a large designer purse. It sat in the corner with her luggage, probably because she’d come right from the airport to here. “Here you go,” she said as she pulled out a compact and flicked it open.

  Brittany grabbed it, using it in the way of most teenage girls, efficiently moving it around to look at her face, her hair, her entire body with narrow-eyed intensity. “My hair is awful.”

  “But look at your complexion, Brit. It’s all peaches and cream.” Abby’s tone was warm, but Cecilia could hear the notes of strain underneath.

  Her daughter used the mirror to inspect her face in minute detail. “It is nice,” she murmured. “What have they been feeding me in here? Look at that. I don’t even need a facial.”

  Abby chuckled at that, but there was still that nervous tone, and this time, Brittany was awake enough to notice it. She took a deep breath, her gaze still in the mirror, and then she slowly set the compact down. She looked at her parents first, then at Cecilia, and finally at Hank. She took her time at it, and everyone waited until she seemed ready. Then she folded her hands in her lap and looked right at her father.

  “Okay, Daddy. What’s going on?”

  “It’s all good news, honey. You’ve had the Detroit Flu, but look at you now. You’re all better.” He made a gesture at the monitor. “No fever, great blood pressure, and…” He grinned at her. “Well, I don’t know what the other stuff means, but you’re fine now. Look, you’re great!”

  Brittany relaxed at that, but her smile was still careful as she turned to her mother. “So why do you look so scared?”

  Abby took a deep breath. “Well Brit, it’s because I have to tell you something. Something about Grandma Teak and, um, me. And now, about you.”

  Brittany’s gaze went to Cecilia. “I remember you. Dr. Lu, right?”

  “Yes—”

  “But what about him?” Her gaze pinned Hank with a steady, no-nonsense glare. “Who are you?”

  “Hank’s here to help explain things. After your mother does.”

  Then everyone’s gaze went right back to Abby. She was clearly nervous, but in the end, she took a deep breath and spoke. “Well, honey, you know what werewolves are, right?”

  Brittany snorted. “Sure.”

  “What if…well, what if I told you that your grandmother is a shifter, too? But instead of being a werewolf, she changes into a bear?”

  Brittany blinked. Once. Twice. Then her mouth split into a wide grin. “You’re telling me Grandma’s a Care Bear? Like on TV or something? Did she finally get an acting gig?” She glanced over at Cecilia. “She’s been doing dinner theater forever. At least since I was twelve.”

  Meanwhile, Peter shifted uncomfortably. “Abby, why don’t we talk about this later? I think you’re a little overstressed.”

  “No, dear,” Abby’s tone took on an edge. “I’m trying to explain. Werewolves exist, and Grandma’s one of them. Except she turns into a bear.”

  Husband and daughter stared for two full seconds, and then burst into laughter at the same exact moment.

  “Good one, Mom.”

  “What were you doing out in California? Is this a new Internet challenge or something? See if you can get your family to believe in werewolves?”

  Cecilia narrowed her eyes, watching denial play out right in front of her. It was the blindness, for lack of a better word. No one would think that Abby was talking about a TV show or some Internet challenge. It just didn’t work with the situation. And yet there they were, laughing as if she’d just told a good joke.

  Which is when Abby turned to Hank. “They aren’t going to believe unless they see.”

  Hank nodded, obviously already aware, but he held up his hands. “I shifted yesterday. I’m burnt until tomorrow.”

  Abby looked to Cecelia, but what could she do? “I just found out yesterday.”

  “Mom—” the girl began, but her mother straightened and took on that Mom tone that every child knew well.

  “Listen to me. Both of you. Brittany, your grandmother can change into a bear. And now, apparently, so can you. Sort of. Not completely. It’s why you had furry hands, remember?”

  Brittany just stared at her. Peter, too. Both of them just froze, as if their minds fuzzed out for a second, maybe more. And then Peter turned to his daughter. “All the kids at school have been asking about you. I’ve got your phone somewhere.” He started patting his pockets. “I’m sure you want to see it.”

  “Yes!” Brittany cried, reaching over to her father. “Did I miss the history test? I hope so because I haven’t studied at all.”

  He finally found her smart phone and handed it over. Brittany thumbed it on and then promptly buried her face in the screen while Peter looked on with an indulgent smile. He looked so relieved. His daughter was well. They both seemed to have forgotten that Abby was even there.

  What now? She supposed they could wait a bit until Brittany was stronger. Abby apparently was thinking the same thing because she sat back on the bed with a defeated huff. But again, Hank understood things better than they did. He spoke in a low tone.

  “She has to understand now. Otherwise, something will spook her, she’ll shift, and you’ll be right back here again, forced sedation and all.”

  Abby spoke, her voice choked. “But maybe she won’t change again. My brother never did.”

  Hank shook his head. “Hybrids can change at will. No apparent limit as far as we can tell.”

  So they had to show her and Peter. It was the only way through. “Is there anybody you can call?” Cecilia asked. “Someone who can…” Her voice trailed away at Hank’s expression. He didn’t even speak, but she knew the answer. The city was insane right now. All the shifters were probably out patrolling, trying to keep the city and the secret safe.

  “She has to see it happen,” Abby said, her expression taut. “They both do.”

  Clearly, she was thinking something. Cecilia watched as her jaw tightened, and her eyes narrowed in determination. It was as if she was steeling herself to do something. But what—

  Oh hell. It all happened so fast. And once started, it still took Cecilia a moment to process what was going on.

  Abby grabbed the pitcher of water—of tainted water—and starting guzzling. Hank reacted first, leaping forward with a jerk.

  “No!” he cried, but Abby was prepared. She twisted away, draining the pitcher with surprising speed. Peter looked up, startled. Even Brittany set down her phone.

  “Mom! Thirsty much?”

  Abby set down the empty pitcher and looked at Cecilia. “I’m going to change now, right? That’s what you said.”

  Double hell. “It’s what we guess, Abby. We don’t know for sure.”

  Peter shot to his feet. “Did you just infect my wife?” he demanded. “With the Detroit Flu?”

  Infect? The woman had just guzzled it of her own choice. Meanwhile, Hank stepped protectively in front of Cecilia. “Calm down, Mr. Randolph. Your wife is just trying to make you see something.”

  “Don’t tell me what my wife is trying to do! Who are you exactly? Why are you here?” The man’s voice was rising in anger, and Cecilia watched with a fascinated kind of horror. The man wasn’t acting rationally at all. Was this how the magic worked? First with laughter, as if everything was a joke, then with misplaced anger. Hank hadn’t done anything, and yet Peter was suddenly furiously aggressive. And on a man of Peter’s size and build, Cecilia ought to be afraid.

  Except she wasn’t. Hank stood between her and Peter, a large, intimidating presence all his own. But instead of adding to the tension, he remained a quiet mountain of stability simultaneously protecting her and speaking in
soothing tones.

  “I understand your concern,” he began. “But you need to focus on your wife. See her clearly.”

  Peter frowned, his gaze hopping to Abby and back. Abby who, incidentally, looked absolutely normal as she finished off the glass of water that had been set to the side earlier. So now the woman had a big dose of whatever was tainting the water. Just what did that mean? Was she about to sprout fur, too?

  Abby turned to her husband and spoke in a level tone. “There’s something I’ve kept from you, Peter. It’s about my family.”

  “Stop this!” Peter commanded. “We’re here for Brittany. I don’t want to hear about anything else right now.”

  Abby took a deep breath as she looked to Cecilia. “How long will it take?”

  Like she knew? “We don’t even know if that’s the real cause.”

  The woman nodded, her arms wrapped tightly around her belly as she turned to her daughter. “Brittany, honey, I’m not going to let you go through this alone. I’ve never done this before either. If this is the only way to get you to see, then I’ll do it. I don’t care if I have to drink an ocean, I’m going to be right beside you the whole way.”

  A touching statement of strength. Cecilia’s heart melted at the words, especially since she understood a little of what kind of danger the woman was in. Abby had a lot more shifter DNA than her daughter. And if Brittany had turned into a hybrid, then what would happen to her? A full shift? A half shift? Most of the hybrids lost cortical control, meaning they got massive brain damage and lost rational thought. The last thing they needed was a crazed hybrid here. Or worse, a crazed bear.

  “Let’s all just take a breath,” Cecilia said in her most official tone. “Peter, Dr. Hank here is a well-respected authority on the Detroit Flu, and I trust him completely. His insights have been invaluable in finding a cure for your daughter.”

  Hank turned slowly to give her a heavy look and no wonder. She’d just changed his first name to his last and given him a doctorate to boot. Thankfully, people tended to respect people with extra letters after their name, so Peter appeared to settle down, helped no doubt by the fact that absolutely nothing was happening to his wife. She was standing beside her daughter’s bed, her entire body tight with worry, but with no physical changes.

  Kind of anticlimactic, actually. Cecilia glanced at Hank who shrugged. He had no more idea how long it would take than she did. And in that moment of indecision, Brittany lost interest.

  Her head went back into her phone. A minute later, she was chuckling. “Mom, look what Mr. Delgado posted on Instagram.” She turned her phone so her mother could see. “It’s supposed to be a math joke, but it’s just lame.”

  Abby turned to look. “Um, okay. Oh, I get it.” She chuckled, though it sounded forced. “Funny.”

  Brittany rolled her eyes. “No, it’s not. Regular people won’t get it. Smart ones will just think it’s dumb.”

  Abby smiled. “Well, I guess you’re one of the smart ones, then.”

  And just like that, everyone settled. Peter stopped bristling. Brittany kept scrolling through things on her phone and showing them to her mother. Cecilia and Hank just stood there awkwardly.

  Cecilia touched Hank’s arm. “Should we leave?”

  He shook his head. “I can’t. If she changes…”

  He needed to be here. He was the only one somewhat prepared for what would happen.

  “And you need to be ready to sedate Brittany.”

  Cecilia started. “What? She’s fine.”

  “But she’ll get frightened if her mother changes. And then…”

  “And then she’ll shift, too.” The last thing they needed was for Brittany to start screaming again. “But it’s also possible that nothing will happen, right?”

  Hank didn’t answer except to shrug. No surprise there. Cecilia was the one with multiple PhDs, and all she’d done so far was stand behind Hank and watch. Then something even worse happened.

  A knock sounded on the door. Everyone turned as Brittany’s other doctors came pushing in. They must have heard—or seen on the video feed—that she’d reverted to normal. And anyone who was even tangentially involved in Brittany’s case was bustling in to see. They wanted to inspect Brittany’s arms and face, take new blood, run new tests, and so on. Cecilia was glad. She wanted all those tests done. She wanted to see how the girl’s blood chemistry may or may not have changed. And cell slides would be fascinating. Not to mention a bit of analysis of the few stray hairs that had fallen to the floor when the girl had changed back to full human.

  But what about Abby? Just how long did they have until the tiny hospital room was bursting with bears?

  Chapter 17

  Security! Security to 5L immediately!”

  Hank tensed but he didn’t move. It was the third security call today, this time to a hybrid four rooms down. Didn’t these people have noses? Couldn’t they tell the hybrid was about to pop? There was always an extra pulse of stench before the monster went TA—terminally aggressive. That’s what Hank called it. That moment when the thinking mind ended and the adrenaline kicked so high that the animal creature inside everyone went wild. At that point, rabid dogs were more sane than the poor people who finally succumbed to the poison.

  Hank peered out Brittany’s hospital room window to the commotion in the hallway. The curtain was still drawn for privacy. Even though it had been five hours since Abby had drunk the poisoned water—with no obvious effect—they didn’t want someone watching if she did pop. But he and Cecilia had stayed in the room because her change was coming. It was just a matter of time and possibly more water.

  As he looked out from behind the curtain, he could see two security officers run down the hall, guns out. Then there was a crash inside the hospital room and a man screamed in terror. He knew about the patient in there. A guy in his twenties just starting to make his way as a chef when someone decided to poison Detroit. Hank hadn’t seen him, but Cecilia had showed him the chart. The guy had shown up in the ER with a wolf’s snout after biting the arm of his sous chef. The cops had managed to restrain him and bring him here in handcuffs. That was two days ago, and the guy’s brain scans revealed steady deterioration.

  Beside him, Cecilia straightened up from her seat in the corner. When it was clear that Abby wasn’t going to shift immediately, Cecilia had brought her work into the hospital room. She’d been nose deep in her tablet, but now headed toward Brittany’s door as if she could help the hybrid down the hall.

  He grabbed her arm and shook his head. No way could she do anything at this point, and the resignation on her face said she knew it. The bitter condemnation in her exhausted gaze also told him she was furious—not at the bastards who had created the poison—but at herself for not curing the disease.

  “Maybe if we tried—” she began, but her voice abruptly cut off when three gunshots rang out in rapid succession.

  Gunshots on a hospital ward. The thought made him want to vomit.

  Behind him, he heard Brittany “Eep!” in surprise. He turned around, ready to grab her if she went hybrid in her fear. Fortunately, her father was there, gently stroking her face.

  “It’s nothing honey. Probably something on the TV.”

  It wasn’t, and everybody here knew it. But since there was nothing she could do, Brittany nodded at her father and picked up her phone with shaking hands. Hank never thought it would be a good thing for a teenager to spend more time buried in her phone, but at the moment, he’d take it. Anything that kept the kid calm.

  Meanwhile, Cecilia was as tight as a bowstring, her face and her body aimed toward the hallway.

  “I should…” Her voice trailed away, and he arched a brow at her. What could she do now? The young chef was dead. His story was over, and there were a dozen medical personnel handling the aftermath. Cecilia’s gaze took on an angry, determined look. “I should solve this fucking problem,” she said under her voice. Then she softened as she focused on him. “I can’t thank you enou
gh for being here. You’re the only one keeping us calm, and you haven’t wavered an iota.”

  He felt his insides still at her words, and his breath caught as the meaning sank in. She saw him. She knew that he was doing everything he could to keep the situation from spiraling out of control. Abby was about to do her first change, and that was never a safe thing. Her daughter was a new hybrid, and her husband didn’t know about any of this. He couldn’t imagine a more volatile situation. Hell, he’d spent the last five hours prepared to leap into action at the first hint of a problem. Most people didn’t notice how alert he was. He was so quiet, sometimes people forgot he was even in the room. But Cecilia saw him. Cecilia knew his strength, and he couldn’t be more pleased.

  “I’m here,” he said, the words pushed through his tight throat. “Whatever you need.”

  “I know. And I’m grateful,” she said as she gave him squeeze. Then she put on her game face and went back to what she did best. She returned to her tablet and the pages of data there. Her brain was working a million miles a minute to solve this medical disaster, and she was absolutely determined to do it or die trying. In the face of an overwhelming problem, she had found her battleground in science and taken her stand.

  He admired the hell out of that. Especially since he’d long ago given up fighting and just accepted the world’s ills. Which gave him peace but no satisfaction. While she had no peace and, at the moment, no satisfaction.

  But she still took the time to see his value.

  And so he fell. He gave up resisting and fell totally and completely in love. It might be the magic, it might just be hormones, but suddenly he didn’t care. He loved her for who she was, and inside he felt the bond to her strengthen from “compelling interest” to steel chains of I will always be hers.

  He tried not to hate that part. This bond didn’t say anything about her belonging to him, only that he was locked in to her. That no matter where he was or what he did, all she’d need to do was crook her finger, and he would be there for her. To protect, to love, to do whatever she wanted.