Free Resisting The Alpha (Werebear Shifter Romance) (The Crane Curse) by Liliana Rhodes

Impulsive. Gift has yet to present itself, but expected to be powerful.
     
    "Powerful gift? Obviously whoever filled mine out was smoking something strong," she said.
    Erich put his hand up to quiet her. He moved closer to the door and sniffed before relaxing. "Its just one of the waitresses. We should go. The bar is opening soon for the night."
    Pinky grabbed some sheets of paper off the printer and followed him back to his office. "Is there anything else you need? I'm going out of town soon."
    "No, I think everything I was looking for is in this file," he said as he held up the folder Pinky handed him on Faith. "Where are you going?"
    "My dad said they found the body of another wolf during another sweep of the catacombs where Abel was hiding out. Seems he's an old family friend and my dad thinks I should go pay respects."
    "Bring Rafael with you. You should have protection."
    Pinky huffed and was ready to argue but Erich shot her a look that finally quieted her. "Fine, I'll bring him along. You sure you can't send someone else?"
    "No, you'll take Rafael. I'll let your father know so he won't worry, but you really shouldn't travel until we have everything with Abel squared away."
    "Ok, ok. Geesh, you're worse than my dad. And all this time I thought you didn't even like me," she said and batted her eyes jokingly.
    "Get out of here," he said laughing before growing serious. "And don't tell anyone else about the archives. I'm not sure who to trust anymore."
     
    ***
     
    Erich arrived at the house he had Abel and Faith hiding in and found Abel outside furiously working on a large metal structure. The bars were laid out on the ground, but made Erich think of a cage. Abel looked close to implementing the next phase of his plan, but Erich didn't consider him enough of a threat without a pack to do his work.
    Erich left the folder from Pinky in his truck while taking a closer look at what Abel was doing. He didn't want Abel to suspect anything, but more than that he wanted Faith to have time alone with what little information they could find. Erich imagined just seeing her mother's name would be difficult enough.
    Abel was heads down with his work on the metal structure as Erich walked past the house and to the area Abel had taken over.
    "You here to see the woman?" Abel said, his voice sounding odd in his state of half shifted coyote.
    Erich cringed at the sight of him. Abel's hands teetered between human and coyote paws. His head was bald except for several tufts of reddish brown fur and his pointy ears were far back on his head. Abel was more monster than human or coyote.
    "Faith," Erich said. "She has a name."
    "Of course she does, but only you have the audacity to correct me. Call that being Alpha yourself, but I know its more. She's charmed you, hasn't she?"
    Erich felt the ferocity of the bear awaken within him. The bear loved Faith as much as he did, perhaps more but he refused to believe it had anything to do with witchcraft. Even the thought of it was ridiculous.
    He pushed back on his bear spirit, taking control over it before the bear forced the change and attacked Abel. Even as human, there was nothing in Erich's mind that could make him happier than shutting up that smug face for once and for all. If only he hadn't promised Faith he wouldn't hurt him. If only.
    "I'll take your silence as affirmation," Abel said not looking up from his work. "Its quite alright you know. Her gift, while powerful has its limits and she is no longer useful to me. I'd let her go if this stupid human wasn't so attached. Its neither here nor there though, it'll all be done soon enough."
    "What are you planning?" Erich asked.
    Abel scoffed. "Do I look stupid to you, bear? You think just because you've befriended me that I'm going to tell you everything? Don't think for a second that I didn't know what was going on and still is. I used you. I knew the Council was getting close. You were my escape. I knew back then you were charmed by my