Ezra threw back his head and howled. He half shifted into wolf, his muzzle pointing to the sky, mouth open in a heartfelt cry.
The compulsion to join him overwhelmed Rae’s self-control. The howl left her throat, her cry blending with the lonely sound of a wolf deserted by all he loved.
Rae remembered wandering in the woods long, long ago, lost and terrified, her mother gone, her father gone, wandering on her shaking paws. She’d cried until she realized she should remain silent, knowing predators out there stalked her . . .
A vibrating growl jolted Rae back to the present. She was alive, an adult, standing on human feet, and she’d had a good life with a loving family. Her biggest fear about the Shifters not accepting her as Guardian was that she might lose her father and brothers and be as alone as she had been as a cub.
The growl had come from Zander, who was grieving with Ezra. The loss of a Shifter was felt by all.
Zander’s voice weakened and he sank back to his knees. “Rae,” he whispered. “Get me outside.”
CHAPTER NINE
Zander’s breath was labored, his face wan. Ezra had crumpled to the floor in grief. Rae realized that at this moment she was the strongest Shifter in the room.
She sheathed the sword. The runes spun as she slid the blade home but the sword seemed calmer now, as though it knew its job was done. Rae returned the sheath to the fishing rod case, slung it over her back, then leaned down and helped Zander to stand.
Zander’s strength had gone. Rae had to heave him up, one of his arms across her shoulders. She was much smaller than he was but Rae was Lupine, with wiry strength, and got him to his feet.
Zander sagged against her, sweat beading on his face, as they walked together out of the bedroom, through the big living room, and onto the porch. Rae thought Zander would want to collapse into one of the chairs there but he motioned her to take him down the steps to the yard.
Once in the wide space in front of the house, Zander pushed away from her. To her surprise he peeled off his sweater and shirt beneath it, then pried off his boots. He unbuckled his belt and let his jeans fall, kicking them away. Underwear followed.
Rae found herself gazing at the man who’d leapt bare onto the deck of the boat and stood upright, sunlight gleaming on his wet body.
The body was the same but Zander was now cramped in pain, his tattoos stark black against his skin. He struggled against the shift that came upon him but his body changed as though Zander no longer had any control.
His face went first, his nose elongating to the polar bear’s, his head going flat, his hands becoming formidable paws. Within a minute or so, Zander’s body fully changed and he landed on all fours. He opened his mouth in a roar, loud and full of anguish.
Zander rose onto his hind legs, his body impossibly big, his fur so white it seemed to glow in the shadowy light. His paws were black with massive claws, his head immense as he roared to the sky high above the trees.
The polar bear came back down, crashing into the ground as though the strength had gone out of him. He took one long, shuddering breath and lay still.
Rae ran to him and dropped to her knees. “Are you all right? What’s wrong?”
Zander’s eyes opened but they were unfocused and filled with agony.
“What’s happening to you?” Rae asked fearfully, her hands furrowing his fur.
Zander growled low in his throat. Rae didn’t speak bear, so she had no idea what he said, but she recognized distress when she saw it.
She leaned into his body, resting her head on his side. Zander gave a low grunt, his eyes sliding closed again. Shivers broke in waves across his fur.
Rae became aware that Ezra had come outside. He watched them forlornly a moment then sank to the top step of the porch.
Rae knew she should go to him, comfort him somehow, but she couldn’t leave Zander. He needed her.
For a long time, all was silence. Rae remained half lying on the polar bear, stroking his fur, which was warm and wiry, yet soft. Ezra sank his head into his hands but made no sound. Zander continued to take shallow breaths, shuddering and emitting little moans.
Rae had no idea how to help him. Zander was the healer—there was no other for thousands of miles that anyone knew about. Had his attempt to ease a dying man taken all his strength? Should Rae try to get him back to the boat, call her father and ask him what to do?
She knew in her heart that this was a situation Eoin would have no answer for. For the first time in her life, Rae couldn’t turn to him for help.
The best solution seemed to be to remain here, comforting Zander as he lay in quiet torment. Ezra looked up again after a time, wiping his eyes, but he made no move to rise.
“Is he all right?” Ezra called to her, his voice thick with tears.
“I don’t know.” Rae stroked Zander’s fur. “Are you all right, Zander? Tell me how to help you.”
Zander lifted his head. He heaved his body until he lay on his belly, which dislodged her from him. Rae came to a cross-legged position, her hands moving to his back. Zander swung around and nuzzled her. His nose was cold and very wet.
“Yuck,” Rae said softly.
Zander rumbled, sounding very much like he did when he laughed as a human. The pain began to fade from his eyes, the sparkle returning.
Zander gave another growl, then he slowly began to shift back to human while remaining on his stomach. Fur receded under Rae’s hands until she rested them on the smooth, warm skin of his human back.
She couldn’t avert her gaze this time. The linked tattoo just above his buttocks beckoned her touch and she let her fingers drift across it.
Zander jumped. He rolled over and climbed to his feet in one move, which put his goods right before her eyes.
He was a well-endowed man indeed. Shifters didn’t always hide themselves after they shifted, which meant Rae had seen plenty of bare male bodies in her time. However, the Felines and Lupines of the Montana Shiftertown would wish they had what Zander had. Zander was bear and, of course, everything about bears was supersized.
A sinewy hand came down to grab Rae’s softer one and haul her to his feet. Zander pulled her close for a brief moment, strong arms around her.
“Thank you, Rae,” he said softly.
“No problem,” Rae answered, her voice shaking.
Zander held her a moment longer, his bare body the length of hers, she against the firm, flat plane of his chest. Though Zander’s strength had returned, he breathed a faint sigh into her ear, as though he wouldn’t quickly forget his pain.