The Witness and the Bear: (Werebear Shifter Romance) by T. S. Joyce Read Free Book Online Page A

a future with someone he could actually care about.
    He turned away from her, leaned against the tree and closed his eyes. If he stayed here, watching her torment, he’d fold and run to her to ease her pain. He couldn’t do that and stay away from her like he needed. They’d already bonded too much. From the second he tasted her... “Shit,” he muttered, too low for her to hear. His bear had already chosen, and he’d chosen wrong. He hadn’t even had sex with the woman and she filled his head. This was how it had worked with Jenny and Blaine and he’d felt lucky. Lucky to avoid a love that looked so painful to go through. What an arrogant bastard he’d been. Maybe it was bonding with humans that ruined them.
    Everyone expected him to choose Merit. She was the obvious choice. She’d support him, back him in his decisions , and bear him cubs when the time came. She’d make the perfect alpha’s mate.
    Hannah couldn’ t be more different.
    Squatting, he scrubbed his hands over his face . Locking his fingers under his chin, he turned and watched Hannah stumble back into his house. Her sniffles trailed her and he shook his head as his bear fought to go after his mate. He couldn’t Change. The beast inside of him would find her. And even if he meant to protect her, she didn’t know that. She didn’t even know he was a bear shifter. She thought he was head of some commune.
    And she still wants you.
    Gritting his teeth to control the voice in his head, he stood and jogged through the trees. He’d get away from her, sleep in the wilds and come back when he’d had time to clear his head.
    You beat a man in front of her, for reasons she doesn’t understand, and she still wants you.
    You’re hard and cold, and she still wants you.
    You ran from her instead of answering her questions. She. Still. Wants. You.
    He felt ragged on his edges, open and bleeding, confused for the first time in years. Since Jeremy had left he’d known the exact path of his life, and now that old bastard had brought him poison.

Chapter Six
     
    Coffee was necessary after last night.
    Hannah poked another button on Riker’s coffee machine to no better result. The thing looked like it belonged on a spaceship and she was tech challenged. “Come on, you little beast. I’ve had a terrible night and you can’t cut me one tiny little break? Give me coffee!”
    “It’s the purple button near the bottom.” A familiar woman stood in the doorway, leaning against the frame with her arms crossed.
    “Jenny?”
    “The one and only sister to the alpha.”
    “Whatever that means,” Hannah muttered and jabbed the designated button. Steam rose from the contraption and black nectar dribbled into the coffeepot. “Hey, thanks for shoving me into the ring yesterday. You simplified my life, big time.”
    “Eh,” the woman said with a shrug. “You’ll thank me for it later.”
    “Why did you do that?”
    “Your scar. You’re Riker’s mate. Merit isn’t.”
    “More riddles. Fantastic. Well, your plan didn’t work because I pissed your brother off and he ran right into Merit’s arms, so congrats on the new sister-in-law.”
    Another irritating shrug. “Even if he sleeps with Merit, it doesn’t mean he chooses her. It just means he’s doing exactly as our laws require him to do. Don’t take it personally.”
    “Don’t take it personally? I personally think sex is more than this emotionless, robotic humping of two consenting parties. I personally think the laws that force him to bed two women are bullcaka, and I personally…” Her lip trembled and her voice dipped to a rasp. “I personally hate that I lost him before I even knew him.”
    Jenny pulled her into a hug that nearly suffocated her injured lung. “And that, Hannah, is why you’re his mate.”
    “I don’t even know what any of this means.” She sniffled pathetically into Jenny’s hair. “And when I asked him, he bolted.”
    “Who hurt you, darlin’? You smell like a crime