Loyal To The Bear (Second Chance Shifters 2) by Meredith Clarke

Prologue
    A loud cry emanated from the basement of Lee James Boggs’s Boston home. He was finishing up making dinner when the startling noise shattered the silence and pulled him from his thoughts.
    He set down the large silver knife he was using on the cutting board and walked over to the open window. It was early evening, and a beautiful golden sunset was forming in the sky. He wasn’t interested in the sunset, though. He quickly searched the sky, and a slow smile spread across his sharp features when he spotted the outline of the full moon.
    He walked back over to his cutting board and slightly hummed to himself. He was ecstatic that tonight was finally the night of the full moon. It was the one night a month when he was able to complete his life’s work.
    He picked up his favorite silver knife and started cutting again. He loved that knife. Not because of the fact that the blade was made from pure silver, but that it was the perfect weight for him to swiftly cut. The knife never failed him, and with the full moon happening and his special guest, he knew that tonight would be absolutely perfect.
    The cry emanated from his basement again, and his happy mood vanished. If the noise didn’t stop, his neighbors would call the police, and his perfect night would be ruined. He slammed down the knife and stalked towards his basement door. The old rickety stairs creaked as he briskly walked down them. His unfinished basement was dark and had a pungent smell, but he didn’t mind. He knew exactly where the noise was coming from.
    He walked into the corner, reached down, and grabbed a fist full of hair. He tugged it forward, pulling his captive’s face out of the darkness and forcing her to look at him. Her skin was damp with sweat, and tears stained her cheeks, causing her makeup to run. The rope her arms were secured in creaked, and she struggled to get away from him. A slow smile spread across his face, and he started to chuckle.
    “There is nowhere for you to go,” he said.
    “P-please just let me go,” she begged. “I am not what you think I am.”
    Anger flared inside of him. Of course she would try to lie to him. He knew better, though. Shifters would always lie to save their own skin.
    “I know exactly what you are,” he said. “You are evil. You are something that should never exist. And the rest of the world will soon see how evil you are, once they find you.” The girl let out a low cry and Lee laughed. “Now shut up, or I’ll be forced to start our evening earlier than planned.”
    He pushed her head back away from him and walked back up the stairs, slamming the basement door shut. Her muffled cries grew quieter, but he knew he would need to find a new space to do his work in soon. His unfinished basement was great, but it was only big enough for one. He wanted to have more.
    Lee walked back up to his cutting board and resumed slicing with his favorite knife. This abomination will be taken care of tonight, he thought. Then the whole world will know what pure evil she really is.

1
    Carly
    C arly brushed her hands through her wavy blonde hair one more time and glanced at herself in the mirror in the makeup room. Her red lipstick accentuated her pouty lips, and her generous curves looked great in the pencil skirt and blouse wardrobe had picked out for her. She glanced up at the feed of the broadcast and knew she had a few minutes to kill before her weather forecast on News Channel 8.
    She clutched her coffee mug and sighed when she realized this was already her third cup this morning. Even though she had moved to Boston four years ago to take a job as a meteorologist for a local news station, her body had somehow never gotten used to the early morning shifts.
    She glanced at the feed again and smiled when she saw her best friend, Avery Knox, reporting. Since arriving in Boston from San Francisco, she and Avery became close friends working at the station together. Avery had taken Carly under her wing and