Scottish Werebear: A Second Chance: A BBW Bear Shifter Paranormal Romance (Scottish Werebears Book 6) by Lorelei Moone Read Free Book Online

who had been captured or eliminated by the Alliance over the years. It was a scarily one-sided picture, which would no doubt sway public opinion against the New Alliance and the shifter world.
    A middle-aged man with salt and pepper hair stepped up onto a makeshift podium and started addressing the crowd, as well as the camera. Underneath him on the screen appeared a white banner with a name that made James do a double-take. Victor Domnall, leader of the Sons of Domnall. In all the years the Alliance had fought against the Sons of Domnall, they had never seen or heard of an official leader. It seemed that the reveal had inspired everyone else to embrace transparency too.
    "For too many years, we've struggled against these monsters in the shadows. For too many years, we have sacrificed our sons and daughters for the safety of the human race. It is time for our fight to enter the limelight. These
shifters-"
he spat out the word and made the quotation mark gesture with his fingers, "They talk of peace and harmony, but you've seen their claws. Their sharp teeth. They are not our friends. There is a reason ancient man hunted the predators of the animal kingdom to extinction in these parts. To keep our families safe. Just because these mutants have evolved some form of higher intelligence and the ability to disguise themselves as humans, does not change their true nature. In fact, it makes them all the more dangerous. They are beasts, meant to be conquered and tamed. We are The Sons, and our resistance serves you all."
    James glanced at Charlie who sat across from him. She was intently watching the screen and didn't take notice of him. The rest of the customers in the cafe did the same. This man was bloody convincing; a brilliant orator. Just with those relatively few words, he might have swayed some of these people into supporting his cause.
    The Sons of Domnall had always operated in secret, simply because most people probably wouldn't have believed in shifters unless they had seen one themselves. Now, this was no longer necessary. Except for those inevitable few who thought the reveal had been some kind of hoax or conspiracy, most people believed.
    It wouldn't be difficult for the Sons to start recruiting new members. Not just those fringe elements of society who were suspicious of outsiders by nature, but regular, sensible people, who couldn't see past the predator exterior of the shifters.
    The New Alliance had to step up their efforts to appeal to common people, or they would lose this battle before it had even begun.
    This wasn't a holiday. He had accompanied Henry and Gail to London for serious work, not fun and games. Now, it was time to get back to it.
    "I have to go," James said, while he fumbled with his wallet, leaving a few notes on the table to cover their lunch.
    "What?" Charlie turned around.
    "I have to get back to my people."
    She looked at him in silence. Those bright blue eyes of hers could capture him just as they had done so many years ago. She finally nodded.
    "Can I have your number?" she asked.
    James smiled. "Only if I can have yours."
    His heart meanwhile hammered away in his chest; as hard as he tried to cover it up, he couldn't ignore the danger they faced. The speech they'd just watched was a ticking time bomb. They couldn't afford for the Sons to gain momentum now while they were most vulnerable.
    She scribbled her digits on a piece of paper. Meanwhile, he did the same.
    "You'll get back okay?" James asked.
    She hesitated for a moment and smiled awkwardly. "Yeah, no problem."
    Her response gave him pause. "That didn't sound convincing."
    "Yeah, no, it'll be fine." Charlie put the note with his phone number into her wallet, which she stuffed into the shoulder bag she'd been carrying.
    "You don't live here in the city, do you?" James sat back and observed her.
    She slowly shook her head.
    "Do you have anywhere to stay?" he followed up his question.
    She kept her gaze locked on the leftover sandwiches on