Bearly Mated (BBW Paranormal Shape Shifter Romance)

Bearly Mated (BBW Paranormal Shape Shifter Romance) by Juliette Lucas Read Free Book Online Page A

Book: Bearly Mated (BBW Paranormal Shape Shifter Romance) by Juliette Lucas Read Free Book Online
Authors: Juliette Lucas
Lizzie clung to a man who everyone felt was out of her league, and she agreed with them was a clear sign of how she felt. What woman wouldn’t fall for the alpha? Even Annie had never denied her desire to be his mate.
    “Yes, I love him,” Lizzie said and raised her chin. She didn’t hear a gasp of surprise from Emmy. “I should care about him since he’s my hus— since we’ll be married soon.”
    “You’ll never get it.”
    “I don’t need your condescension, Annie.” Lizzie raised her voice and stiffened her spine. “If you have something to say, out with it.”
    “He’s going to be overthrown.”
    Lizzie’s mouth fell open. “What?”
    “You heard me. Patrick is going to be ousted as alpha.”
    Lizzie jumped to her feet. “That’s not possible.”
    “It is possible. Anyone can challenge for his position.”
    “Then it’s okay.” Lizzie sighed in relief and sat down again. She affected calm by sipping at her drink. “He’ll just win the fight. I remember the rules. The strongest wins and holds the title of alpha.”
    “Do you think it will be as smooth as that?”
    Emmy cut in. “What do you mean?”
    Annie stood up and strode a few paces away then faced them. “You’re right. Patrick is strong. I know that as well as anyone.”
    Lizzie gritted her teeth. She hated the reminder that the two of them were a long-term item until Patrick decided he needed a mate, and the human law changed to allow shifters and humans to mate.
    “He will probably win the fight, but you have to remember we have always had to bow to what the humans allow. We are more powerful, but you far outnumber us. It’s in our best interest to work alongside you. That doesn’t mean we want your kind leading us. No one will allow Patrick to remain the alpha mated to a human.”
    Her blunt statement took Lizzie’s breath away. The implications that Annie outlined sounded like mutiny. Lizzie didn’t want to get clarification. She wanted to believe she’d heard wrong, but she was propelled to ask for Patrick’s sake. “You’re saying if someone challenges him and he wins, someone else will challenge him again until he loses?”
    “No.”
    Lizzie almost wept with relief.
    “I’m saying, if Patrick wins against one opponent, he’ll find himself in a battle with several, and they won’t stop until they kill him.”
    Lizzie cried out, and tears filled her eyes. “I thought you loved him too!”
    Annie sneered, but Lizzie caught the pain in her gaze before it disappeared. “What I feel for Patrick doesn’t matter. Just like you said, he’ll never choose me. Not if he wants to keep our people growing. In his mind, you’re his mate, and he won’t abandon you.”
    “Then what do you expect me to do? I can’t force Patrick to see me differently. If it was up to me, I would change now, for him. I’d do whatever it took to make him happy.”
    Lizzie regretted the admission. She imagined to Annie it made her look weak, but she didn’t care. They laid their cards on the table during this conversation. Annie had to know she wasn’t the only one who loved him, and Lizzie had hidden the fact long enough.
    Annie scoffed. “Make him happy?”
    Emmy stood up, but Lizzie hurried to stop her before she could confront Annie. Lizzie looked the woman in the eyes. “Are you saying I can’t satisfy him? I promise you, I already have.”
    Annie reddened. To Lizzie’s satisfaction, she silenced the woman if only for a few moments. Unfortunately, Annie recovered. “We’re not talking about his happiness, Lizzie.”
    “Aren’t we?”
    “No.” She moved closer to Lizzie, but Lizzie didn’t think she was ready to attack. Lizzie had no idea what made her sure about this impression. “We’re discussing Patrick’s life.”
    “Why should I believe you? Over the years, all I’ve seen is Patrick’s people love him, and he loves them. He’s stubborn and arrogant, but his life has been devoted to shifters. It’s his lobbying that

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