I spread my paws, running as fast as I could for a time to stretch my muscles and feel every inch of my ursine body. Running on the rocky, hard ground of Glacier Bay National Park would be painful on human feet, but on tough bear paws, it was no concern; my animal form was made for that climate. As I ran, the sun peeked over the Fairweather Range. The golden rays of light did nothing to outshine the blinding whites and vivid glacier blues surrounding me. With so much snow and ice nearby, the landscape itself took on a chilly demeanor. But I knew the warmth of the park firsthand; the heart of its ecosystem, the way in which all wildlife worked together in harmony—or at least, mostly.

As the head Ranger of the park, my job was to maintain that harmony. If something got out of whack—too many mountain goats and not enough wolves, for instance—it could throw the whole ecosystem off. I wasn’t so prideful as to think I played a role in Mother Nature’s grand design, but it was still my job to do my part there in Glacier Bay, making sure that harmony remained intact to the best of my ability.

My goal for that morning, however, was to keep things harmonious within my clan. I didn’t make a habit of being gone for extended periods of time; I hadn’t even vacationed for more than a long weekend in years. So, my leaving the park for a week was somewhat of a rare event, and I needed to make sure they were ready.

As I neared the cabin we often met at, I reached out with my mind to see if the others had shifted yet.

Anyone there? I signaled to them.

On my way, Boss. That was Max, my third in command.

Right behind him. Carson, my second.

Once I’d arrived, I shifted back to my human form. Most of us were so used to each other by then that being naked around one another didn’t much phase us. Even still, most of us planned to bring clothes when we knew we’d be shifting. I kept clothing everywhere—in my car’s trunk, my office, and even there at the cabin. Many of us did, so I dressed and waited for their arrival, looking over the cabin to make sure everything was well.

It wasn’t a big place, but the log house had a great room, perfect for gatherings with a large fireplace at one end. It was somewhat of a clan hangout or clubhouse, if we had such a thing. Meetings were held there, events, and whatever else we thought of that required a shelter in the woods, deep in Glacier Bay.

Carson walked through the door first.

“You caught up,” I observed.

He harrumphed. “Like it’s hard to catch slow-poke McGee.” He jerked his thumb in the direction Max would be running from.

Max wasn’t far behind him, though, and rushed in, breathless and naked. “Did you take a shortcut or something?” he demanded.

Carson shook his head.

Max growled and yanked a shirt over his head. “Whatever.”

“So.” I rubbed my hands together. “That brings us to why we’re here. I’m going to need the two of you to get along for just this week. Can you handle that?”

“We always get along,” Carson said.

“Yeah, as long as I’m losing.” Max flung his arm around Carson’s neck and tried to playfully choke him, but Carson easily broke free of the hold.

“Why do you even bother?” Carson mocked.

Max rolled his eyes, but got in a cheap shot to Carson’s gut when he wasn’t looking. Carson acted like he didn’t notice, but as I opened my mouth to continue speaking, Carson smacked Max on the back of the head.

“Do I need to separate you two?” I asked.

Max laughed and took a seat. “Just having a little fun.”

“I’ll only be gone for a week, but that’s starting to feel like too long,” I said.

I knew when I chose the two of them for their positions, they didn’t quite get along. I had stupidly assumed that making them both leaders in the clan would force them to work together. Instead, I’d created a lifelong hassle of keeping the two of them from killing each other.

“I need to know you’ll work together,” I demanded. “And that I’ll be coming back to find everything just as it should be.”

“Cooper,” Carson said sternly. “You have nothing to worry about with me in charge.”

“Hey, I’m in charge, too, dildo,” Max added.

“But I’m the second and you’re the third.”

With that, Max rushed at Carson, putting his head at his chest, trying to tackle him to the ground.

I decided to ignore their antics and just keep talking. “As I was saying, I’ll need to know you won’t be tearing each other apart. I’ve even gone as far as to put Jace on duty as backup. If he reports there were issues, I will reconsider my promotion of you both.”

That stopped them in their tracks.

Max stood up and shoved Carson aside, who shook his head and straightened his shirt.

“That’s not necessary,” Carson said. “You know it’s just for fun.”

“Yeah, we actually do love each other.” Max threw his arm around Carson’s neck again to bring him into a rough hug and Carson rubbed his knuckles on Max’s head until he broke free.

“I am going to be training a whole crop of new Rangers,” I went on. “I just may start recruiting. Wouldn’t be bad to have some fresh blood in the clan.”

Carson put on his serious face. “What is your goal number of clanmates?”

“I don’t have a goal. Just talking.”

“We could use a few more ladies,” Max said.

“So could all of Alaska,” Carson added.

I nodded. “Then maybe it’s time we reach out a bit and network. A lot of us are single and at the age that we’re starting to look to settle down. We may have to look hard to find that special lady.”

“I may have found her last night,” Carson added with a grin.

“No way, that hottie from the bar?” Max asked.

Carson kept grinning and Max sulked.

“I bought her like three drinks,” Max mumbled.

“I know.” Carson chuckled. “Thanks for that, by the way.”

Max grumbled something under his breath.

“Anyhow,” I continued, “I’ll be gone for a week. It’s my job to entice these Rangers not only to make Alaska their home, but also to join as cruise ship tour guides.”

“Ah, the dream of all park Rangers everywhere,” Max said sarcastically.

I shrugged. “I’ve never been on a cruise. Could be interesting.”

“Yeah, but they don’t even leave the boat!” Max threw up his hands in outrage. “What’s the point?”

“To stay warm, I’m sure,” Carson added.

“Maybe that’s something I’ll learn more about. Maybe it’s just too tricky to have a cruise ship of people come into the park at once. Think about what it would be like to have several thousand people suddenly converge on us for a day at a time.”

Max nodded slowly. “You’re right. Keep them on the boat.”

“Is there anything specific you need me to do this week?” Carson asked.

“You know what needs to be done. Handle anything that comes up as I would, and if you’re not sure, reach out to me if it’s important, or wait until I get back.”

“I’m sure anything that comes up will not be a problem,” Carson added.

I checked my watch. “Right. I’m counting on you two.”

Max put his hand on my shoulder. “So, do we get t-shirts that say, ‘My alpha went on a cruise and all I got was this dumb shirt’?”

I rolled my eyes. “I’ll see what I can do.” I checked my watch again, then unhooked it and slid it into my bag as I undressed. “Time for me to get going.”

Carson and Max stripped as well.

“We’ll run you a farewell,” Carson said.

I walked outside first, carrying my pack on my back so I would still have my things after I shifted back. I stepped outside into the frosty early April air. With a deep breath, I let my body rearrange into my bear form. My bones creaked and moved, my skin stretched, and thick brown fur sprouted out along with my teeth and claws. It used to hurt back when I was younger, like a whole body of sore muscles and breaking bones. But after a few years, that pain faded, and for most of us, shifting became something like a good stretch once we came of age.

My paws hit the stony ground and two other sets hit behind me. I bounded off, and rather than trying to out run each other, Carson and Max stayed in position just behind me. That was the defensive position we always ran in.

I let my gaze drift upward toward the line of mountains ahead of me. In some places, the land was a wall of ice shards, beautiful and deadly at the same time. The water moved over the ice in slick paths, carving new adventures as it ran. Chunks of ice floated along, usually with animals perched atop. Depending on the size of the ice chunk, it was an everyday occurrence to see a bald eagle perched, watching for fish, or a sea otter out sunning himself. I couldn’t imagine living anywhere but there. Sure, it was the only place I’d lived, but still. I felt blessed to call Alaska my home.

As the cruise ship came into view, I ran over to a more private patch of woods. There, my duffel bag waited for me, and I shifted back to my human form and dressed. Carson and Max transformed as well, and when I was ready, I gave them each a brief hug.

“Don’t make me worry,” I warned. “Please. I haven’t had time away since I was a child, and even though I’m technically working this week, I’m hoping the experience will give me a good breather.”

“You can count on us.” Max saluted and stood straight as a soldier.

“Yeah, that’s what I’m afraid of,” I chuckled.

“I’ll keep him in line,” Carson assured me. “Have a good time, Coop.”

Max nodded. “Bring back some hotties.”

I nodded to them both and turned, dragging my suitcase along the rocks behind me as I made my way to board the ship.