Bear's Kiss (Bear Heat Book 2) by Natalie Kristen

what he is. I'll hunt him to the ends of the earth, and when I
find him, no amount of psychic mojo is going to help him.”
After a pause, Caleb exploded, “And what the hell is a psychic
imprint?”
    Baxter gave him a level look
and answered, “It's something a person leaves behind, like his
scent or his footprint. It's an echo of a person's presence and
actions, a mass of leftover energy. It can be used to trace and
identify a person. Like a fingerprint.”
    “Only this imprint is
on your mind.”
    “Yes.”
    Caleb realized he was
scowling as he scrubbed a hand down his face. He wasn't a tracker,
but he never dismissed possibilities and openings, and he always
pursued and investigated a lead, no matter how obscure and
improbable. The Black Bears missions had a high success rate, due
largely to their Beta's meticulous research and daring,
unconventional plans.
    Caleb mulled over the
information Baxter had just given him but no clear plan presented
itself. He could always think on his feet and he was always thinking
out of the box, imagining all possible and impossible scenarios so as
to stay one step ahead of the enemy.
    But—he just couldn't
think straight right now. He was used to taking risks, but this was
Prisha's life he was gambling with.
    His phone beeped and he
almost crushed the phone in his grip. He glanced at the screen. It
was an incoming message from one of his team leaders.
    “Paige and her team
have the details of the assassination plot,” Caleb said
tightly.
    Baxter's eyes rounded. This
was huge. This could change everything. The information was
critical, and the implications were far-reaching.
    He had to get back to the
office, but he wanted, needed to find Prisha.
    “I can stay here and
see how far I can track your mate,” Baxter said quickly.
“There's not a clear trail to follow, but you never know. I
might be able to pick something out.”
    Caleb forced out a ragged
breath. Baxter was the best tracker they had. He had to let Baxter
do his job. His job, as Beta, was to consider all the information
available before deciding on the best course of action.
    He would get Prisha back. He
wanted to go get her now, but charging around blindly wasn't the way
to go. In fact, that was the surest and fastest way to get her
killed.
    Caleb nodded and clapped
Baxter on his broad shoulder. “Thanks. I...”
    “No thanks required,
Beta. I'm just doing my job.” Baxter quirked him a lopsided
smile and shifted to a hulking black bear. Their senses were much
sharper in animal form, and as a bear, Baxter would be able to travel
much faster and farther.
    Caleb watched the big black
bear put his nose to the ground and head towards the lake. Baxter
turned to give him a quick nod over his shoulder before veering off
at a tangent and running towards the trees.
    Caleb pushed his claws back
under his skin painfully. His bear wanted to join Baxter in the
hunt, but the man was aware of his duties and responsibilities as
Beta. With Ethan away on his honeymoon, he was in charge of the
operations of the Black Bears Group and the welfare and direction of
the clan.
    Paige and her team had
returned with urgent, important news, news that could affect the
entire city.
    As Caleb ran back to his car,
he had an unshakable feeling that his mate's fate was inextricably
entwined with the Mayor's. He would have to steel his mind and come
up with a fool-proof plan to save both Prisha and the Mayor.
Everything hinged on the Black Bears at this point. He had to thwart
Ray Shapez and save the city.
    And Prisha.
    Prisha!
    Prisha was the key.
    The jumbled, whirling pieces
of the jigsaw floating in his brain suddenly clicked into place.
Caleb staggered back as the epiphany struck him with the force of a
physical blow.
    Ray Shapez was no fool. He
had a wide reach, and he knew the city like the back of his scheming,
sinewy hand. Ray would definitely know about the Black Bears Group
and their mindset and methods.
    The Black Bears knew of