Bear in the Rough: Bear Shifter Romance (Broken Hill Bears Book 1) by Ariana Hawkes Read Free Book Online Page A

It was a cozy space, with rustic wooden furniture and animal pelts thrown around. Each of the clan members’ places were decorated differently. They used the money they made from fighting to build often very elaborate cabins, in all kinds of styles, from mock Tudor, to mediaeval castles, complete with turrets, dungeons, and drawbridges. Some were decked out like an adventure playground, with slides, climbing nets and swings; others had movie theaters or swimming pools in the basement. Privately, Xander thought they were a little vulgar and he favored the traditional style – dark wood, wraparound porch, and simple, cozy rooms, with plenty of space. His one indulgence was a bookcase covering an entire wall, lined with books on a huge variety of subjects. He also had a state-of-the-art sound system and a huge flat-screen TV.
    Unusually for him, Rocco knocked before entering.
    “Dude, you need to let some air in here,” he said, wrinkling his nose as he poked his head around the door.
    “Uh. I do?” Xander replied, thinking that nothing was less important right now than how fresh his cabin smelled.
    “Yeah. It smells like you’ve got a bunch of werewolves in here or something.” Rocco propped the door wide open, came inside and sat down opposite him. Xander noted distractedly that Rocco didn’t throw himself across the couch, as was customary for him, but sat up straight, knees wide apart, elbows resting on knees, and hands laced together. Exactly like our father used to sit .
    “What’s going on?” Xander asked.
    “Uh, it’s a little chaotic out there.” Rocco cleared his throat. “There’s a lot of infighting; the Black Paws have been nosing around, trying to figure out what’s happening with the clan. Dude, I know this is a difficult time for you, but you’ve got to put an end to all this.”
    “All this what, exactly?” Rocco cleared his throat for a second time, sounding unusually nervous. 
    “Some people have been saying that you’re not the right one to be Alpha, and that dad should’ve picked Maximus.” He leaned a little closer. “I should also tell you that Maximus has a lot of supporters. I think there could be some danger of a rebellion.” Xander stared at his younger brother very hard.
    “You’re serious?”
    “Xander, you know I wouldn’t bother you with this shit right now if I wasn’t sure. You know how hard it is for me to tell you that your own brother might be trying to depose you?”
    Something shifted in Xander’s head. A shard of anger, white hot, seared his brain. He leapt to his feet.
    “It was our father’s dying wish that I become Alpha. Maximus has no right to take my place!” he bellowed. “Dad’s not even cold in his grave yet, and that asshole’s already disrespecting him!”
    “Yeah!” Rocco agreed, jumping up from the couch as well.
    “What should I do?” Xander began to pace up and down. “Should I call another assembly?” Rocco’s eyes widened; his brother was so deeply saddened by the loss of their father that he was being simple minded.
    “It’s gone way beyond that. You need to prove to them that you’re the boss.” A light came into Xander’s eyes.
    “I need to fight.”
    “Right. Tomorrow. At the next wrestling match. You go and fight the Black Paw Ridge fighter. His name’s Troy, he’s never been defeated by anyone before. He flattened our guy, Treviso, in six rounds earlier this year. Beat him and you’ll have the respect of everybody.”
    “And if I don’t?”
    “Bro, it’s not an option. You’re Xander the Great, the undefeated. You’ll beat him.”
    “I haven’t fought in so long.”
    “Errr, what were you doing in the military?” Xander gave an indulgent laugh.
    “Fighting, in a very different way. There’s not much call for hand-to-hand fighting these days. Not when you can control a missile launch from half way across the world.”
    “I guess. But it’ll come back to you. You’re in great shape. Or are you