Hard and Easy [High-Country Shifters 5] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) by Melody Snow Monroe Page A

perform the ceremony. How he knew what an American ceremony would be like was anyone’s guess, but he found out somehow. After the wedding, she’d spent a good hour talking with him about bear history. At least his kind was willing to share how they’d evolved. What he didn’t tell her was anything about his ability to see farther than the others. Bears were a mystery and may always remain so.
    About five years ago, she’d had the opportunity to go to the bears’ territory to witness an initiation ceremony. Unfortunately, her memory how to get there was a little fuzzy. Hopefully, they’d find her before she’d wandered too far off course. Ending up in wolf territory wouldn’t be good. Lara had told her that when Earth people travel from one country to another, there are barriers and signs to let one know. She wished they had all that in Anterra.
    Madra needed to hurry, but with the sun beating down on her head, sweat beaded over her body, and she’d already gone through one bottle of water. She hoped she’d brought enough to drink. Unfortunately, she hadn’t crossed any streams, for if she had, she could have refreshed her drink.
    As she headed east, she kept alert for wolves and bears. Good thing she responded differently to the different breeds or she wouldn’t know whether to hide or greet the clan member. Her feet were starting to throb and her legs ache when a strange rustling sound off to the right made her slow. Senses on alert, she scanned the area.
    Suddenly, a huge man, well over seven feet, jumped from behind a tree and grinned. “Hello, neighbor.”
    Had he mistaken her for someone else? Lion territory seemed far away, so she couldn’t be considered a neighbor. She held up her hands. “My name is Madra, and I’m a friend of Jalen’s.” She prayed the connection would be enough for this giant to help her.
    “Is that so?” He approached, but the smile on his face made her relax. “I’m Nar.”
    That was a nice name. As if he’d wrapped an arm around her, her whole body grew warm and loose. Even her eyes seemed to droop on their own. She then remembered the story Sella had told her about how Jalen had been able to control people’s minds and make them do bizarre things.
    “Can you stop that, please?” She grabbed her head to dispel the fog clouding her brain.
    He laughed, and suddenly the feeling of being manipulated disappeared. The giant held up his hands just like she had. “I’m sorry. I couldn’t resist. Jalen is on a spiritual retreat, and I got the urge to play. Can I help you?”
    “Maybe.” She told him of her desire to get to the wolf outpost. “My friend Henla lives there with her husbands Kranor and Jude.”
    “Ah, yes. Jalen mentioned he’d met Henla. I wasn’t aware she’d married two wolves. That’s quite commendable.”
    She found it fascinating that he knew about the comings and goings of the lion world. “Do you know about the wolves, too?”
    He tapped his head. “Bears don’t reveal their secrets.”
    It didn’t matter anyway. “Do you think one of the bear shifters would be willing to escort me to the wolf outpost?” She unhooked the necklace she’d inherited from her grandmother. “I can pay him with this.”
    He moved her hand back. “That won’t be necessary. Since Jalen is off doing his thing, I’ve been rather bored. If you have no objection, I would like to escort you.”
    “Really?”
    “Really. The bears and the lions are, after all, friends, and that’s what friends are for.”
    What she wouldn’t give if everyone could live in harmony. “I agree. In a way, that’s what I’m trying to accomplish.” She launched into the findings in the cave.
    “Why don’t we walk and you can tell me all about it.”
    Excited to have someone who wanted to listen to her theory, she told him all about Lara and how she had been the one to find the drawings. Nar made her stop a few times to drink and once more to have a bite to eat. The sun was setting