Chapter 4: Breakfast with Secrets

The scent of coffee and maple syrup lured Gwen down the grand staircase the next morning. Sunlight streamed through the tall windows, gilding the long dining table where the Bearanstein family was already gathered.

Everyone looked perfectly at ease — laughing, chatting, passing plates of bacon and pancakes as though the night before had been perfectly ordinary.

Gwen, however, felt anything but normal.

She’d barely slept. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw that massive creature in the moonlight — its eyes gleaming with impossible intelligence.

It was real, she kept telling herself. It was a bear.

But the voice in the back of her mind whispered, Then why did it look at you like it knew your name?

“Morning, sunshine,” Bethany greeted with a grin as Gwen slipped into her seat. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

A few chuckles rolled around the table.

Gwen managed a weak smile. “Not a ghost,” she said before she could stop herself. “A bear.”

The laughter died immediately.

Forks paused midair. A glass clinked softly as someone set it down too hard. For a heartbeat, the entire room went still — too still.

Then Maggie Bearanstein let out a gentle, practiced laugh. “Oh, there are plenty of those in the mountains, dear. It’s not uncommon to see one wandering the property. You’re lucky you weren’t hurt.”

“Very lucky,” Lila added, though her smile looked strained.

Gwen’s eyes swept the table. Everyone had gone back to eating, but the air was… off. Tense.

Then Arthur spoke. His voice cut through the clatter like a blade.

“What were you doing outside?”

She blinked, startled. “I—I wasn’t outside, exactly. I just—”

“You were,” he interrupted, dark eyes locked on her. “After I told you not to go near the woods at night.”

Gwen’s jaw tightened. “Excuse me? How would you even know I was outside?”

Arthur froze. It was subtle, just a flicker of surprise, but she caught it.

Her pulse spiked, irritation overtaking her fear. “I wasn’t sneaking around, if that’s what you’re implying. Your father’s bed was empty, the back door was open, and since I was warned about the woods, I thought maybe he wandered out there. Forgive me for actually doing my job.”

The words came out sharper than she intended, but she didn’t take them back.

A slow, amused smile spread across Bethany’s face. “Ooooh,” she drawled, leaning toward Lila. “Did you hear that? Little Goldie’s got a spine.”

Arthur’s expression flickered between anger, guilt, and something dangerously close to admiration.

“Beth,” he muttered.

Bethany ignored him. “Careful, Junior. She might start bossing you around next.”

Laughter bubbled around the table, breaking the tension — for everyone except Gwen, who was suddenly very aware of the heat in her cheeks.

“I didn’t mean to—” she began, flustered.

Arthur stood abruptly, chair scraping back. “You should be more careful,” he said, voice low. “The woods aren’t safe after dark. For anyone.”

Before she could reply, he strode out of the room.

Bethany’s grin widened. “Don’t take it personally. He gets all growly when he’s worried.”

“Growly?” Gwen repeated, trying to sound casual, but her voice came out thin.

Maggie reached over, patting her hand kindly. “Arthur takes his responsibilities very seriously, dear. Especially when it comes to his father.”

Gwen nodded, pushing back from the table. “I should check on him, actually. Mr. Bearanstein, I mean.”

“Of course,” Maggie said warmly. “He’s awake by now.”

Gwen forced a smile, excused herself, and made her way down the hall toward the elder’s room.

But her mind wasn’t on her patient.

It was on Arthur.

On the way he’d known she’d been outside.

On the way his voice had carried something more than anger — something that sounded a lot like fear.

And on that word Bethany had used so easily.

Growly.

Gwen shivered.

There were things about this house she didn’t understand yet. But she was starting to realize one thing for sure — she wasn’t the only one losing sleep at night.