Commander Bear (Bear Shifter Paranormal Romance) (Bear Patrol Book 1) Read Free Page A

young man Rollo had never seen before.
    “Commander,” Deputy Knox Carter said as Rollo entered the office.
    Knox was giving Rollo one of his shit eating grins that told Rollo his second in command was up to something. Rollo circled around to sit behind his desk and regarded the two men in front of him.
    “What is it, Knox?” Rollo asked. “Who is your friend?”
    “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Commander Morris,” the young man said, standing to shake Rollo’s hand.
    “Sir, this is Heath Reynolds. He’s just finished up his high school diploma and initial law enforcement training at the Bright Institute for Shifters,” Knox explained.
    “And let me guess, you want to join the police department,” Rollo said, bringing his hands up together in front of him to form a triangle.
    “It’s all I’ve wanted to do as long as I can remember, sir,” Heath said, his youthful face full of youthful enthusiasm.
    Heath was a young man, but far too mature looking to be a high school student. The man had the hardened muscle and the square jaw of a man who’d seen more of life than a teenager possibly could.
    “You don’t look like a high school student,” Rollo said, inspecting the young man’s face. He looked as if he was at least twenty-five. “What were you doing getting a high school diploma at the Bright Institute?”
    “I had to drop out of school before the war to take care of my mother. After she died, I’d planned to go back and get my GED. But then the war broke out and the shifter draft was instated. The military didn’t care that I didn’t have a diploma since I am a shifter. I served my country for four years. When I came back home, I couldn’t get a job in law enforcement because I didn’t have a high school diploma. I spent a few years doing odd jobs and trying to recover from my experiences overseas. That’s when I heard about the Bright Institute for Shifters. I signed up and was accepted to the first class six months ago. I’ve since completed my high school education and the initial law enforcement training. I have official certifications of each. I came in here today to speak with you about joining the force.”
    “Well, it looks like you have all of the primary requirements to become a member of the Fate Mountain Police Department,” Rollo said.
    “Otherwise affectionately known as Bear patrol,” Deputy Knox said.
    “It’s true, most of the officers on the force our bears. We served together as a special forces unit in the Marines during the war. It sounds like you will fit right in here.”
    “Thank you, sir,” he said.
    Rollo sniffed the air, trying to make out what kind of bear Heath was behind his human façade. “Grizzly or polar?” Rollo asked.
    “Grizzly,” Heath said.
    “So Gauge is still going to be the only polar bear on the crew,” Knox said.
    “Where is Gauge anyway?” Rollo asked Knox. “He hasn’t reported in today.”
    “You know Gauge,” Knox said.
    Rollo did know Gauge. Detective Gauge Stockwell had been the loose cannon of the bunch ever since their early days in the Marines. Now, as a gifted detective for the Fate Mountain Police Department, Gauge still played by his own rules. But that wasn’t something that Rollo wanted to talk about in front of a new recruit. He had to project an air of absolute authority to the new guy. Rollo couldn’t have a cadet questioning his status as alpha of the Bear Patrol.
    “He’s still deep in a case right now, isn’t he?” Rollo said, trying to play it cool in front of the cadet.
    “As far as I know,” Knox said.
    “Knox, get our new recruit up to speed with the workings of the department. Get him a uniform and a locker. He’s going to be your partner for the rest of his training,” Rollo said.
    “Thank you, sir,” Heath said.
    “Welcome to the crew, Cadet Bear. I hope you’re up for the challenge.”
    “I am, sir. I definitely am,” Heath said enthusiastically.
    Knox and Heath left Rollo’s office and