Kadenburg Revealed (The Kadenburg Shifters Series, Book 4) by T.E. Ridener Page B

turned into stranger noises, but Presley recognized them.  Whines and growls that only a bear would make.  That couldn’t be a good sign.
    Presley tugged the front door open and peered out into the solid white scenery of what was sure to be a wonderfully white Christmas....but there was an uncommon addition to her front yard; a gigantic panda bear.
    “Louisa!” She gasped, hurrying onto the porch.  She instantly remembered she hadn’t put on her shoes and the icy surface of the wooden floor caused her to jump this way or that, trying to avoid the discomfort.  She needed to get to her.  She needed to find out what was wrong.  What caused the poor girl to bear out in the first place?
    “What’s going on?” Lorcan asked as he poked his head out the door.  “Holy shit...is that Louisa?”
    “Get my shoes, Lorcan,” Presley said, turning her head to glance at him briefly.  “Hurry, please.”
    He was back before she knew it.  When Mrs. Bamey said he was faster than any car, she’d meant it.  Presley quickly slipped her shoes on and carefully moved down the steps, making her way cautiously towards the large panda bear sitting beneath the bare apple tree.
    “Louisa?” She repeated, reaching her hand out to touch the soft fur of her friend.  Louisa lifted her head and sad golden eyes gazed back at Presley.  Oh.  That wave of heartache was crushing.  It caused Presley to blink back tears as she heard another whimper sound from the female.
    ‘I’ve got this.’ Lorcan’s voice said in her head.  Presley turned to see the massive grizzly form of her mate and took a step away.  She couldn’t shift, and if they had any hopes of communicating with Louisa, somebody had to be in bear form.
    “Louisa, what’s wrong?” Presley asked as she watched Lorcan slowly circle around them.  His eyes remained on the panda as his humungous paws sank into the snow.
    Several seconds passed by before Lorcan’s voice sounded in her head again.
    ‘She saw Greg kissing another woman.’
    “What?!” Presley gasped.  No, that couldn’t be!  Greg wouldn’t do such a thing, would he? 
    ‘She says she couldn’t stop it from happening,’ Lorcan continued. ‘She says she felt safest here and she’s sorry for intruding.’
    “Oh, honey, no....” Presley lifted her hand to touch the side of Louisa’s furry face again, watching the tears glisten in her beautiful eyes.  “You are not intruding-ever.  Do you understand me?”
    Nearly a minute passed by before Lorcan invaded her thoughts once more.
    ‘She wants to know if she can stay with us for a little while.  She feels more comfortable with you, Pretz.’
    Warmth flooded her soul as Presley peered into Louisa’s eyes.  She nodded slowly, smiling as she rubbed the tip of one solid black ear in an attempt to comfort her.  “Of course you can stay here, Lou.  Our home is your home....but you’re going to have to turn back into a pretty girl before coming into my house.”
    ‘I’ll go get some of your clothes.’ Lorcan announced as he turned around, allowing his huge paws to carry him around the house before he shifted back into his human form.  They couldn’t very well both be stark naked in the middle of winter, now could they?
    “It’s going to be all right,” Presley whispered, resting her forehead against Louisa’s warm, fuzzy cheek.  “Boys suck, Lou.”
    The large panda whined in agreement.  Presley needed to find out what the hell Greg Kress had been thinking, and if she didn’t change her mind, she’d ensure he never reproduced.
    ———————————
    “W hy am I doing this?” Natalie wondered aloud as she put her car into park and gripped the steering wheel.  She stared at the aged sign for Jimbo’s Bar and scowled.  Of course this is where Arnold had ended up after yesterday.  She’d driven him to drinking, hadn’t she?  Oh, Urseth, she was a terrible person.
    You need to take care of him. He is ours, her bear