An Alpha's Lightning (Water Bear Shifters 2) by Sloane Meyers

understand.”
    Ace ran his fingers through his hair. “I’ve called the guys. They’re going to come out and help me get rid of the body. We have to find out who he was, and see who might miss him now that he’s gone. We have a contact we can trust in the San Diego police department. He’ll help us get everything taken care of without stirring up a fuss. Or a media storm.”
    Jade glanced around uneasily, as though another attacker might materialize on the beach out of thin air. “Do you think there are others nearby?”
    “I don’t know,” Ace said. “If we can figure out more about who this guy was, we can hopefully answer that. My guess is that he was stationed out here as a lone agent. Given how surprised he was that I’m a panda, I have a feeling that he didn’t have too much information yet on me or the other guys. I’m not sure how he even knew I was a bear shifter in the first place, but hopefully a thorough search will reveal more information.”
    “Okay,” Jade said. She didn’t really know what to say beyond that. The whole situation felt so unreal. She looked up at Brett with resigned, tired eyes. “I should probably get going. I’m sure I won’t be much help cleaning up a body, and I’m sure you can understand that I’m not eager to help with that task. Besides, this sea lion in the back needs treatment. I’m sure he’s horribly traumatized by now.”
    “Wait just a few minutes,” Ace said. “Brett is bringing along his girlfriend, Aubrey. She offered to come drive you back and help you with the sea lion. I don’t think it’s a good idea for you to be driving right now. You’re really shaken up.”
    “I’m okay, really,” Jade said. She really wasn’t okay, and she knew it. But at that moment she just wanted to get out of there.
    “Please, Jade. Just wait a few minutes. You’ll need help with the sea lion, and it’ll be a while before I can get out of here to help you. Aubrey’s a marine biologist, you know. She should know what she’s doing. You’ll like her, I promise.”
    Jade didn’t want to meet someone new right now, but she didn’t have the energy to argue. “Okay, fine,” she said. Then leaned her head back against the seat. “I’ll wait.”
    “Thanks, Love,” Ace said, sounding relieved. “It shouldn’t be too much longer now.”
    Ace kissed her forehead, then grabbed a half-empty bottle of water from the truck’s cup holder. He found a roll of paper towels in the truck, and poured water on several of the towels, then used them to wipe the blood and dust from Jade’s face.
    “It is just a bad scratch,” he said, then kissed her on the lips. “I’m so glad you’re okay.”
    “I’m so glad you’re okay,” Jade said. “That was terrifying.”
    “I know. But try not to be too worried. That guy took me by surprise, but that was the only advantage he had. He was weak, and a coward. And he wasn’t too smart, either. He should’ve known that a stun gun wouldn’t keep me from shifting and letting my bear attack.”
    “I didn’t realize at first that the gun was just a stun gun. I thought he had actually shot you.”
    “He would have been better off if he had shot me for real. He had a gun in the SUV, I’m sure. My suspicion though is that they’re trying to capture live shifters, for the scientists to run tests on.”
    Jade shuddered. She was trying not to let her fear overcome her completely, but she had never dealt with anything more frightening than an angry sea lion. A group of armed, dangerous men trying to take down a bunch of bear shifters, well, that was new territory for her.
    The sound of an engine and tires plowing through sand made Jade whip her head around. She was instantly alert, worried that more attackers might be showing up. But Ace waved at the approaching truck, and Jade realized that it was his friends, plus a pretty woman with reddish brown hair whom she hadn’t met before. The woman must be Aubrey, Jade thought. She’d