Bearly Ever: An Alpha Werebear Shifter Paranormal Romance (Arcadia Knights Book 1) by Olivia Gayle Page A

flames around the writhing shape, but nothing she did made a dent.
    When the smell hit her, Ever felt her gorge rise at the combination of sight and scent. Then arms wrapped her shoulders, and a man’s torso blocked out the view. It was such a Hollywood cliché, shielding the little woman’s face, but in this instance Ever couldn’t complain. She clung to Aidan’s naked body, shivering, as the screaming turned to gurgles and, finally, stopped altogether.

 
     
     

     
     
     
     

CHAPTER FIFTEEN
     
     
     
    They had nothing. No leads, no reasons why Kevin would take his own life.
    Night had long since fallen but Ever was still at the police station. She was left alone for the most part, which didn’t do her any favors. It was impossible to get the images or the sounds out of her head of Kevin Reynolds’ last moments alive.
    Apparently, Shifters could be killed if one tried hard enough.
    Mac sat nearby, both of her hands wrapped in white bandages. A tall, wiry man Aidan had introduced as Marcus hovered over her, ignoring everyone else in the room. Ever would have bet money he was the deputy’s mate.
    As Ever watched, he delicately unwound the bandages from Mac’s hands. The white gauze was discolored with blood and other fluids closer to the skin, but the skin beneath was a healthy new bright pink. Gone were the blisters and blackened skin that Ever had seen and helped treat earlier.
    Maybe in another moment, Ever might have been amazed. Now, she was just tired and trying hard not to cry.
    Helplessness was so not fun.
    Somebody sat down beside her, a hand sliding across her shoulders, and Ever flinched even though she immediately recognized Aidan. “It’s been a rough day,” she murmured in way of apology. “I’ve never watched anyone die before.”
    Aidan nodded. “Come on, let me take you home.”
     
    *
     
    The small house they pulled up to definitely wasn’t the hotel from the previous night.
    “This your place?” she asked, leaning against the car door.
    “Yup. Home sweet home.”
    A nearby street light illuminated the area, as did the front porch light to the house. It was a quaint single story with cement pavers to the stairs leading up to the front door. There was even a bench swing on the porch, and a white picket fence along the front.
    Basically, it was the house she’d always dreamed about growing up.
    She tried not to show how much she liked it, but her fingers lingered on the small gate. It was difficult to see much in the darkness, but the full moon above gave an ethereal glow to the small area. The magic of the house was accented by the occasional flash of a lightning bug across the open space. “Nice house,” she murmured, a smile tugging at her lips.
    “Let’s go inside and get you situated.”
    His low voice rumbled through her, relaxing some of Ever’s tension. This time, when his hand landed on the small of her back, she didn’t move away from his touch. It felt curiously right and maybe when Ever wasn’t so weary she’d examine why she felt that way. For now, she allowed him to lead her into the house.
    Ever didn’t know what she expected—maybe a bachelor pad like most of her guy friends’ apartments—but the coziness and almost old-world charm was a surprise. There was a lived-in feel to the house, and she wondered how long he’d been here. The couches and chairs were mismatched, much like the rest of the decorations, but it was comfortable and homey. Everything looked well-worn, as if they’d seen a lot of life.
    “I seem to have inherited all the homebody genes in the family.” Aidan moved ahead, sheepishly picking up the plates and cups on the coffee table and moving them to the kitchen. “Most of my siblings chafe at anything more civilized than a shack in the woods.”
    Ever nodded. She understood that feeling. Over the last few years, the road had felt more like home than any single location. But this house seemed to draw her in almost immediately, beckon