Snowman (Arctic Station Bears Book 2) by Amelie Hunt, Maeve Morrick Page B

unpleasant. I could just…feel him in my head.
    “I’m sorry,” he said. “I’ll try to reel myself in a little.”
    I turned my head to look at him, but couldn’t really see anything but his broad shoulders. God, he smells good. “What do you mean?” I asked.
    He laughed. “Did you do much research into shifter mates? Do you know what to expect?”
    “There isn’t much info. Biology was my focus. I guess I understand the concept but I’ll need you to fill in the details.”
    “We’re going to share…everything. Feelings at first, then thoughts. Then other sensations.”
    I pulled away and turned to face him. “Thoughts? Like you’re going to be able to read my mind?”
    He put up his hands in mock defense and smiled. “Easy. It’s not quite like that. It’s more like…using the phone. When you want me to hear something, you call. You’ll also be able to pick up on my emotions. And eventually share some of my strength.”
    Finally, I thought, my days of struggling with jar lids are over. I tried to think it directly at him without knowing what the hell I was doing.
    “Did you hear that?” I asked.
    “You think I am the most amazing man on the planet?” He grinned, but when I looked like I might slug him he put his hands up. “Kidding. I don’t think we’re quite there yet. The bond is instant, but it takes time to fully develop. You’re definitely stuck with me, though.”
    He pulled me close and I clung to him. I was freezing and he was the definition of warm.
    “Anything else that I have to look forward to?” I asked.
    “Hairy palms.”
    He said it so matter-of-factly that I couldn’t help but laugh, and he joined me. It felt good to laugh after yesterday.
    “Liam?” Donny said from behind us. “We’re ready here.” He and Ben picked up the stretcher and began moving toward the door.
    Liam took my hand. “That’s our cue,” he said. “Let’s get out of the cold.”
    Moving his body away from mine reminded me of just how cold I really was. “I thought you’d never ask. So how long do you think it’ll take before someone misses us and sends a rescue party?”

C hapter T hree - P arker
    Alex Parker sat in a plush leather seat in an office overlooking downtown Atlanta. He almost choked on his bourbon. “Madam Chairman, you want me to go where?”
    The woman stood with her back to Parker, her fingers interlocked behind her back. She stared out over the city below. Her look was Eastern European, with blonde hair pulled into a tight, uncomfortable-looking bun. She spoke with an accent that Parker could not place. “Arctic Station,” she said. “I know it’s out of your purview, Parker. But we have an exceptional situation here. We need you to leave immediately. A plane is waiting to take you into Canada. From there, Arctic Station is only accessible by helicopter.”
    “What’s the deal?” Parker asked.
    “We’ve lost contact with the Station. We have an operative on site who hasn’t checked in as planned. The mission is containment, then standard fire sale protocol, including our operative if he’s been compromised in any way.”
    Parker took another sip from his glass and smiled. “Everything must go, huh? I see why you called me. What am I up against?”
    “Polar bear shifters and human female. All with doctorate or other postgraduate educations. And something we’ve never seen before. Here’s the last report we received.” She pushed a file across a desk.
    Parker had to put down his bourbon to take the file. That didn’t make him happy. He sat back in the chair and flipped through the folder. A prehistoric saber-toothed tiger shifter with intelligence far beyond most modern humans. And a volitive shifter?
    “Holy shit,” Parker said. “Is this for real?”
    “Yes, Parker, it is. Unfortunately.”
    Parker finished his bourbon and smiled. His day just got a lot more interesting.
    A lanna
    Liam and Ben lifted Ollie’s body and placed it on the bed. They made