An Alpha's Storm (Water Bear Shifters 1) by Sloane Meyers Read Free Book Online Page A

that dating a bear wasn’t a completely insane idea.
    One step at a time, Brett told himself as he heard footsteps approaching the door. For now, let’s just concentrate on getting through tonight.
    When Aubrey opened the door, all of Brett’s nervousness was replaced with awe. She had chosen a strapless emerald green dress that brought out the reddish tint in her hair. The bodice of the dress was fitted, but the skirt, which ended just above her knees, was loose and flowy. She had let her hair fall in long, loose curls around her bare shoulders, and she had given her eyes a smoky, charcoal look using dramatic eye shadow and mascara. She had kept the rest of the makeup on her face simple, with just a hint of blush, and soft, nude shade of lipstick.
    “Wow,” Brett managed to get out. “You look stunning.”
    Aubrey smiled. “Thank you,” she said. “You look pretty great yourself.”
    Brett smiled and offered his arm to her. “Shall we?” he asked.
    She took his arm and let him lead her to his car. They rode the short distance in silence, both of them lost in their own thoughts about where the night might lead. As soon as Brett parked, he jumped out and went around the car to get Aubrey’s door for her. The way she smiled at him as she took his hand made his heart beat faster. Let the guys tease him all they wanted. They couldn’t deny that he was a lucky man to have such a beautiful woman on his arm.
    As usual, the military ball was kicking off with a cocktail hour. Brett grabbed a glass of wine for himself and for Aubrey, then started glancing around to see if any of the other alphas were there yet. He didn’t see them, and he was soon interrupted by one of the Senior Chief Petty Officers known for being overly talkative. Brett groaned internally as the officer started asking Aubrey a million questions, many of which were personal enough to be considered rude. But Aubrey didn’t miss a beat. She smiled and handled his interrogation with grace, and Brett found himself falling even further for her. She’d made it clear that she wasn’t the type to shy away from uncomfortable or awkward situations. He felt a hopeful stirring within him. Maybe she would be able to handle a bear, as well.
    By the time the other alphas arrived, the receiving line was about to start. Lance and Ace both raised eyebrows in Brett’s direction when they saw Aubrey on his arm, and Ben rolled his eyes heavenward in an overly exaggerated manner. But Brett didn’t have a chance to attempt an explanation before the receiving line started. Brett followed Aubrey through the line, greeting fellow service members, and stealing glances every now and then at his date’s sexy shoulders. When the horn sounded for dinner, he led Aubrey toward the table to which they had been assigned. Lance, Ace, and Ben were seated at the table, too, along with two other couples whom Brett had never met before. Ordinarily, Brett got annoyed when he had to share the table with people he and the other alphas didn’t know. It tended to cramp their conversation style. But tonight, Brett was silently thankful for two strange couples. They would force his buddies to be on their best behavior.
    “So, who is this lovely lady?” Ben asked as they all sat down.
    “Everyone, this is Aubrey. We actually had the pleasure of saving her during that sinking boat search and rescue mission last week. I happened to run into her at a bar, and she was kind enough to agree to come to the ball with me.”
    The mood at the table instantly lightened.
    “No kidding!” Lance exclaimed. “You were one of the survivors from that night? I thought you looked familiar, but I wasn’t sure why. You look a little different in a cocktail dress than in a lifejacket with soaking wet hair.”
    Aubrey laughed. “I very much prefer the cocktail dress to the lifejacket. I love the ocean, but that near-death experience wasn’t exactly my cup of tea. Thank you all for what you did to save my