Horizon Ridge the bear has two mouths!

As he lifted his head, the male caught sight of a dark figure in the distance. A wolf, he thought, but it was impossible for him to tell. The wind was blowing their scents inland, useful to neither of them. Whatever the creature was, it was smaller than he was, and Grayday decided that he most likely would not have to worry about it.

At least until a terrible thought struck him. What if it was Khoe? What if she was coming back?

What if she'd been skulking around this whole time, tracking their activities from afar?

Grayday began to bristle, his ears slicking back in his anxiety. If it was Khoe, he decided, he would just have to kill her. He couldn't have the kids picking up her scent and getting their hopes up, and he wouldn't have her back in the territory. He wasn't angry anymore; it wasn't about punishment. She was just a loose end.

Conscious of his somewhat menacing stance, Grayday did his best to appear relaxed and unconcerned.