Free Hidden, Clan of the Werebear by Madison Johns Page A

then, once Damon is up. We’ve never had to consider removing someone from the village before, but it’s long overdue. Shauna has been a pain for a long time now. She’s a danger to everyone in the village. I just hate the thought of executing her.”
    Elaina gasped. “What? Is that a possibility?”
    “It’s up to the village.”
    “Oh, so you’d let the village make the decision? I thought that you and Damon would have to decide since you’re the men of the village.”
    “Being a man doesn’t qualify you to make the best decision. Whatever happens will affect us all.”
    “Yes, but it seems so harsh. But what do I know since I’ve never been a part of a village before. I thought most werebears lived closer to civilization. That’s what Sa—”
    “Who?”
    “My protector.”
    “I thought you said you didn’t have a mate.”
    “I don’t, but I was raised by Marla, remember?”
    “Ah, I remember what you said, but why do I have the feeling that you’re hiding something from me?”
    “I’m not, but I’m sure interested in the clan. What kind of werebears can they be if they have taken all of the men from the village? Is the village really in danger of being eliminated?”
    Cullen took ahold of Elaina’s shoulders. “Who told you that?”
    “Damon, but he wasn’t really all that clear. If you and Damon are also taken, the village will cease to exist. You don’t think that they’d kill everyone, do you?”
    Cullen didn’t answer that question. He disrobed and climbed into bed, patting the bed next to him. “Let us sleep. It sounds like we both could use more.”
    Elaina was bothered that Cullen wouldn’t finish this conversation. She wanted to know. She didn’t know most of the people of the village, but she didn’t want to see any harm come to any of them.
    Elaina’s mind raced as she listened to Cullen sigh as he repositioned himself in the bed. Elaina kept her clothing on and climbed over Cullen’s body, but as her one knee was just on the other side of his body, Cullen moved his leg upright, smacking Elaina’s womanhood. She let out a tiny gasp, and he said, “Sorry.”
    Elaina tried to settle herself next to Cullen, but sleep was the furthest thing from her mind. The lower half of her body twitched with need and her breasts longed to be touched. She wanted to be free of her clothing and she tossed and turned in the bed, lifting her shirt over her head, tugging her jeans off, and flinging them on the floor. She enjoyed the sensation of the breeze that blew through the hole in the ceiling. She moved her leg until she felt Cullen’s manly leg against hers.
    “Go to sleep, Elaina.”
    Those words were like a knife to her heart, but Elaina didn’t understand why she’d feel that way. Perhaps Cullen really didn’t find her desirable at all. She curled on her side away from Cullen, all the while wishing she could feel his skin against hers once more. She stifled a groan as the lower half of her body ached. In frustration, Elaina whipped the furs back and lay fully naked without a covering. She concentrated on feeling the cool breeze that occasionally drifted far enough for her sweltering skin to feel it. It was a long time before she slept, and her only hope was that tomorrow she’d finally know what it would be like to be a woman at last.
     

Chapter Eleven
    Elaina shifted positions, reaching across the bed where Cullen had been asleep, but she felt only emptiness there. She sat up and stood, wiping the sleepiness from her eyes. She pulled on her clothing, wishing she had something else to wear since that’s what she had worn since she arrived.
    She really couldn’t stop herself from thinking how much she wanted Cullen, but torn since she felt equally drawn to Damon, who was much easier going. There was something about the way Cullen stated that she belonged to him that made her feel all giddy inside. Two men fighting over who would mate with her was surreal, but she hoped when the