Camden found Chelsea and Mae in the library.

“How can I help?”

Chelsea and Mae were silent.

“Look, I know you blame me, but really, you have got to know, I never, ever, would have done anything like what it seems I did. I swear. I was curious, and discussing it with Marie. I never felt that the girls shouldn’t be with Tyler and Sean. I simply didn’t understand the connection in this placement.”

Mae’s eyes were filled with tears.

“You have to know I didn’t want this.” Camden stepped closer. “I’m single. I can’t take care of twin girls. I’m not equipped for that. I don’t even have a childproof home. For Pete’s sake, I live with my siblings in the Order’s building. I didn’t think this—maybe Marie didn’t understand me. Maybe—well, we did have poor reception when we spoke.” Camden heaved a sigh, and then she broke into tears.

“Awww.” Chelsea put her arms around Camden.

Mae did the same.

“Please believe me,” Camden beseeched them.

“I do,” Mae said, finally. “But that doesn’t change the situation.”

“Well, I just have to fix it. Somehow.”

The sound of footsteps interrupted Camden’s train of thought.

Ky Romanoff walked in. “Doc said to call Grant and tell him for sure he needs to bring a bunch of supplies, there’s no way to get Laken there in time. She’s having the baby here.”

“I’ll do that.” Chelsea let go of Camden and headed toward the door.

Ky looked at Mae. “I’m going to call Uncle Mikhail and Aunt Miriam. They’re in Chicago checking into some new business Uncle Mikhail wants to invest in, so it’s not like they’re very far at all.”

“Good idea,” Mae said. “And maybe Mikhail can help with this situation.”

“Mae, I can’t ask him to intervene. He doesn’t have the greatest history with the council, either.”

“That was long ago,” Mae scoffed. “I’m sure he doesn’t feel the same—”

“Ha. We’re talking about Mikhail Romanoff, here,” Ky said with a headshake.

“Stranger things have happened. I happen to have it on good authority that some shifters mellow with age.”

“I have a question, if you don’t mind.” Camden thought this was as good a time as any to ask.

Mae and Ky turned her way.

“What would happen to the girls if I didn’t accept being their guardian—temporary or otherwise? Any idea what the council would do or say?”

Ky nodded. “They have discussed this, in case.”

Camden waited.

Mae seemed to be holding her breath as well.

“They will be taken to New York and have a home found for them. The council decided against placing the girls with anyone who could be deemed to be less than impartial to the situation. Meaning, not anyone from Bear Canyon Valley.”

Mae gasped.

A knock on the library door turned their attention away from the conversation at hand.

Eden walked in.

Camden immediately went to her twin, hugged her, sought to gain strength from her sister’s embrace. At least, she had one person in her corner in the middle of this mess.

“Eden.” Mae cocked her head, then frowned. “What are you doing here? Who’s with the girls?”

“Tyler and I were watching them until Griz showed up and told me he’d take my place for a while. He said to come up here and grab lunch. I didn’t see anything in the kitchen. Does anyone need help preparing something?”

“Wait a sec,” Ky said.

Mae pushed him toward the door. “Go call Mikhail. I’ll take care of this. Go be with Laken. She needs you. Your new baby will need you.”

He nodded, then turned around. “Oh, I almost forgot. Doc said to call Mac Clarity, that she could help him with the delivery. I didn’t know she was a doctor.”

“A vet, but she’s assisted him in other matters before,” Mae assured him. “I’ll reach out to Mac. He normally has Astra help, but she’s in the city today.”

“Okay,” Ky said.

Camden thought he looked a little shell-shocked, but figured it was because he was soon to be a new father.

As soon as he’d left the room, Mae took Eden’s hand. “What did Griz say, exactly?”

Eden gulped. “He said he would be there. That I should come here. I—gosh—I hope I didn’t mess up.”

“It’s fine,” Mae tried to assure her.

Camden could tell it wasn’t fine. And this was all her own fault.

“I’ll go to the cabin to find Griz and Tyler. I’ll look after the girls with them.”

Distress crossed Mae’s features. “I don’t know if that’s…”

“Please,” Camden begged. “Let me make this right.”

Mae gave Camden a sideways nod, almost a half-nod. “Okay.”

Eden began to follow Camden out of the library. “I’ll go with you.”

Camden looked at her sister.

Worry still marked Eden’s face.

One thought, and one thought only occurred to Camden. There would be heightened drama and emotions when she got there. Who knew what would happen and who knew if anyone would shift into a bear. A bear. She couldn’t have that happening with Eden there. She’d have to take care of Eden and not be able to concentrate on fixing the wrong.

“Stay and help here. Laken’s in labor, they’ll need extra hands.”

Eden twisted her hands together, wringing them over and over. “I don’t know.”

Camden took her twin’s hands, steadying them. “Please.”

“Okay.”

Eden still followed her to the back door, then she put a hand on Camden’s shoulder. “I saw them leaving the cabin, by the way.”

“Where were they going?”

“I don’t know, but it seemed they were in a hurry. They didn’t see me. I was standing behind one of the trees, wondering if I should go back when I saw them. I didn’t think it was wise to give chase or follow them. Griz is kind of scary.”

And a bear.

“Thank you.” Camden hugged Eden. “I’ll be back soon.”

Eden nodded.

Camden didn’t tarry. She made a swift exit out the back door and headed in the direction of the cabin.

Did she know where it was?

Nope?

Did that concern her?

Not a bit.

She had her panther.

She paused to yield control to her animal, allowing the feline to take over their body, transforming her from a human to a magnificent black panther in seconds, with a bit of sinew tearing and realigning, with some bones crunching and establishing a different shape.

And with a bit of pain. A lot of pain. But at least it was brief.

She recognized if she practiced shifting more often, it would be a bit quicker, and maybe a hair less painful, but that wasn’t her thing. She normally didn’t need her shifter as much as she seemed to lately.