Ellie could barely see the country road through the snow, and she doubted any passing car would even see their car, let alone realize that they were stuck rather than simply parked. If she wanted to get help, she’d have to leave the car, stand by the side of the road, and cross her fingers that a car came by before she succumbed to hypothermia.
And also, that the car contained innocent passers-by rather than a bunch of Nagle’s hit men.
She frowned down at Hal, wondering which he would advise. He was the security expert, after all. And while he’d obviously recommend whatever he thought was safest for her, not what was best for himself, there were dangers for her either way. Once the gas ran out, the car would get very cold, very quickly. She’d seen enough hypothermia victims to know that.
“Hal. Wake up, Hal.” She squeezed his hand, harder and harder until he drew in a deep breath and opened his eyes. “I need to ask you something.”
He looked exhausted, but his eyes were more focused than they’d been a minute ago. “Okay.”
She briefly outlined the problem.
“Out of the frying pan, into the fire, huh?” Hal said. But to her relief, he didn’t seem too worried. “Don’t try to flag down a car. We’ve got plenty of gas. If we turn on the engine for fifteen minutes every hour, the car will stay warm enough. I can push it out of the mud once I feel better.”
“Hal,” Ellie said gently. “It’ll be a couple weeks before you’re up to pushing a car.”
“No. It’ll be tomorrow. Listen, Ellie.” He caught her hand. His fingers were warm and dry, and some strength had returned to his grip. “You were right. I should’ve told you I was hit. And there’s something else I should’ve told you. I was afraid to, I guess. But I’m going to trust that no matter how shocked you are, you won’t run away without giving me a chance to explain.”
That sounded ominous. Trying not to sound alarmed, Ellie said, “Why don’t you tell me now? I’m not the running away type. I guess unless you’re a serial killer.”
“I’m not a serial killer,” Hal said, and she heard a touch of amusement in his voice. Then he visibly geared up for what he had to say next. Finally, he said, “But I am a bear shifter.”
Ellie wasn’t sure she’d heard him right. “A what? What is that?”
“A bear shifter,” he repeated. “Uh... I turn into a bear. You know, like a werewolf? But a bear. A werebear.”
“A werebear,” Ellie repeated.
She wished she could believe he was joking, but he seemed completely serious. He’d said “I’m a bear shifter” like a teenager might say, “I’m gay,” or a woman might say, “I’m pregnant.”
It was much too early for infection to have set into his wounds and given him a fever, but it was possible to become delirious from shock and blood loss alone. It was a bad sign.
She stroked his hair, trying not to let the fear she felt for him show in her voice. “Okay. It’s fine, Hal. Don’t worry about it.”
“I’m not delirious.” Hal caught her hand and pulled it down to his lips. He kissed it, then said, “Just remember, I would never hurt you.”
What he did next took her completely by surprise. He flung the car door open and half stepped, half fell outside.
“Hal!” Ellie shouted.
He held out a hand. “Stay there!”
Then something impossible happened.
Hal’s body swelled enormously. His pants and the bandages around his chest ripped off. Shaggy brown fur sprang up. Before Ellie could so much as gasp, Hal was gone and a huge grizzly bear stood in his place.
The bear stuck his head into the car and nuzzled Ellie’s hand. Dazed, she automatically petted it. His fur was thick and soft.
The grizzly raised his head, looking at Ellie with hazel eyes. Brown as earth, green as leaves. The bear had Hal’s eyes.
“Hal?” Ellie’s voice came out in a whisper.
The bear nodded his giant head. Then he shrank. Fur receded, replaced by tanned skin. In the blink of an eye, the grizzly was gone. Hal knelt naked in the snow, blood trickling down his side.
Ellie leaped to help him back into the car. He was shivering, his bare skin chilled. She’d never have been able to lift him by herself, but he managed to stagger back into the car and collapse into the passenger seat.
She slammed the door, but the damage had been done. The car was freezing inside. She turned on the engine. Hot air began to blow, warming the interior.
“Macho. Idiot!” Ellie glared down at Hal. “You’re bleeding again.”