Free A Mate For The Bear: BBW Paranormal Alpha Shifter Romance (Bear Brides Book 4) by Natalie Kristen

arms, she felt like
she'd come home.
    Joyce balled her fists and
swallowed. She was going home. Even if she had to drag her broken,
bloodied body out of here, she would get home to Dalton.
    She eased her legs sideways
and felt something sharp against her bare foot. A long, broken nail
was sticking up from the floor. Joyce stared at it for a moment,
then quietly inched closer to the nail. If she could rub the ropes
binding her ankles against that sharp, rusty piece of iron, maybe she
could weaken the ropes enough and break free. She had to try.
    The moment she heard voices
and footsteps approaching, she ceased all movement and just slumped
against the pillar, making herself look dazed and helpless.
    A hand gripped her face
roughly and she blinked up into Felix's glittering eyes. There was
someone standing behind him. Someone she knew.
    “Randell,” she
wheezed. “What...how...you're in the kidnapping business too?”
she sputtered in disbelief.
    Randell Wyle shrugged.
“Business is business.”
    Joyce shook her head. “The
Crimson Wolves...”
    “Felix came to me for
yet another loan. He owes money to the Stormland pack of
wereleopards. Three hundred grand.”
    Joyce frowned. “And
you gave him the money? What...”
    “Three hundred grand
for one point five million,” Randell said coolly.
    “He promised you a
portion of the ransom money,” Joyce said slowly.
    “A large portion,”
Randell answered with a glint in his eye. “As I said, business
is business.”
    “You...”
    “Dalton Jameson will
pay up. He has the money and you're worth so much more to him. I
saw the way he looked at you. He offered to pay the full amount of
the debt for you, without hesitation. He will pay any amount for
you,” Randell came nearer and his smile widened as his eyes
trailed down her neck. “You are his mate.”
    Joyce stared up defiantly at
him. Then she softened her gaze and her tone. Perhaps she could
play them against each other. “Felix is making use of you.
He's making use of the Crimson Wolves,” she told Randell
earnestly. “He'll take everything from you, but he won't give
you a cent. I know him. He's a liar, a layabout, a leech. Don't
make the same mistake I did. Don't trust him, Randell.”
    Randell Wyle cocked a brow at
her before swiveling his eyes to Felix. He stepped back to watch the
show as Felix lunged at her and grabbed her by the throat. “I'll
rip out your tongue if you say another word, bitch! You hear me?”
He threw her to the ground and ground the heel of his shoe into her
hand. “You're real good at telling tales and sowing discord,
aren't you? I should cut out your tongue now. But if I do, I won't
get my money. So, you get to keep your poisonous tongue in your
mouth for a while longer.” He patted her face and laughed when
she flinched from him.
    Joyce felt Randell step up
behind her and haul her to her feet just as three silhouettes
appeared in the doorway.
    Felix turned and said
tersely, “Where's the money? And who are they? You're
supposed to come alone...”
    Dalton didn't even glance at
Felix. He walked steadily past Felix and came right up to Joyce and
Randell. His eyes flashed when he saw the injuries on her face.
    “The Crimson Wolves
aren't involved in this,” Dalton addressed Randell in a low,
level voice. “Felix didn't make a deal with the pack. He made
a deal with you. The ransom money will be going into your pocket,
not the pack's coffers. Isn't that right, Randell?”
    Randell tightened his hold on
Joyce, his claws digging into her neck. “Just pay up, Dalton.
We get the money. You get your female.” Randell jerked his
head at Joyce. “Intact, or in pieces. Your choice.”
    Dalton didn't reply.
    He made a move so swift and
savage it shocked Joyce.
    One instant Randell's hand
was at her throat, the next second it was on the floor at her feet.
Dalton had slashed Randell's hand off at the wrist with his claws.
    Felix screamed and tried to
run, but Tony grabbed him and threw