Daisy’s gaze snapped to her brother, who looked at Meadow and River. An uncomfortable silence descended over thegroup.
“Do you have any family in ‘Nam?” heasked.
“No,” River stood and reached for Meadow’s hand. “I’m getting tired, babe. Let’s go tosleep.”
“Good idea.” She let him help her up and then brushed pine needles off her skirt. “We should all get some sleep since we have to get upearly.”
Her tone carried a razor-sharp edge. Greg cocked his head to one side. Obviously something was going on that they didn’t want to sharewithhim.
“River’s right,” Andy said. “Let’s go,Daisy.”
“I’ll turn in soon,”shesaid.
Andy glowered at her but stood and walked tohistent.
“Don’t stay up late,” he said before zipping himselfintoit.
Daisy smiled at him and put her finger over her lips. She stood and reached for his hand. When they touched, a bolt of molten heat rolled through his core. As she led him away from the campsite toward the lake, his body went on full alert. Her floral scent encapsulated him in a bubble ofyearning.
It had been years since his bear had demanded anything more than food and the chance to roam through the woods. But one sniff of her scent pushed his bear into a frenzy. The beast kicked and flailed in an attempt to escape. He railed about wantinghismate.
“Ridiculous,” hemurmured.
“What?” Daisywhispered.
“Nothing,”hesaid.
As his bear wailed and pleaded with him to claim his mate, Greg fought the beast’s energy with all of his strength. The last thing he needed was to have his bear burst out and scare her to death. No one could know his secret except for other shifters. If Daisy discovered his true nature, she’d look at him with fear and revulsion, and he couldn’t bear to see such hatred inhereyes.
No. He knew better than to ever consider a relationship with a human. As a bear shifter, he was both blessed and cursed. Eventually he’d find his true mate. Until then, he’d have to ignore his bear’s obviously incorrect claim that Daisy was his mate. Even if he wanted it to be true, it wasn’t possible. There was no way they could ever betogether.
Chapter4
Daisy loopedher arm through Greg’s. She didn’t know why she felt so comfortable with him, but she did. Maybe it was the deep, rumbling sound of his voice, or the earthy scent flowing off him like a potent aphrodisiac. Whatever it was, she was totallyintoit.
“So where are you and your brother ultimately headed?” Gregasked.
“Canada.”
“The frozen north?” Gregjoked.
“Yeah.”
“Why?”
“Andy got hisdraftcard.”
“He’s a draft dodger?” Greg pulled away from her and stoppedwalking.
“A conscientious objector,” she corrected. When he scrunched his brows together, she added, “He doesn’t believe it’s a just war. We don’t belong overthere.”
“But it’s his duty to his country,”hesaid.
“What if your country iswrong?”
“I don’t think it’s our place to question ourleaders.”
“Why not?” sheasked.
