Free The Lion's Arranged Mate: A Paranormal Lion Shifter Romance by Lilly Pink

Anastasia in wolf form seemed immune to the weakness of pity and loomed closer, her eyes hardening. “I said it’s over! You win!”
    “Anastasia,” a voice beckoned.
    She had heard that voice before. Even in her wolf form, even with her mind and consciousness completely given over to the passions of her animal side, that voice was familiar. It pierced through the fog of her brain, slicing through the call of her instincts. It said her name again, and she closed her mouth and very slowly pulled back from the frightened and defeated Elias. He scrambled out from under her just as two of the Pack members rushed forward to help him up – he was still bleeding profusely from the punctures in his ribs, and groaned as they half-carried him to one of the jeeps.
    Anastasia sat down on her haunches and licked one of her paws, the frayed ends of her muzzle still stained with the blood of her opponent. When she turned her silver-grey head, the origin of the voice that had broken the spell on her own bloodlust was smiling back, his arms crossed.
    In an instant, she was back in human form, and wordlessly went to the small pile of her clothes and put them back on. The whole time Alan merely watched her. She was not some maiden-in-distress, and perhaps that’s why she seemed so attractive. And yet, there was still a vulnerability to her as she finally turned, pulling the tank-top down over her breasts and zipping up her shorts but leaving the top button undone. There were tears in her eyes.
    “Is that it?” Alan asked with a due somnolence. “Why are you crying?”
    She shook her head. At the same time, one of the Stormfang members stepped forward, and Alan resisted the urge to punch him. But the Wolf quickly held up his hands in a gesture of diplomacy. The smell of cheap motor oil clung to him like a second skin.
    “It’s over,” Anastasia said defiantly.
    “I know,” the Wolf said, and there was a mixture of contempt, fear, and respect in his voice, as if he wasn’t quite sure which emotion he should be feeling more. He was careful in his speech. “We all saw it. You bested Elias… I don’t know how. We all saw it, and it was done fairly. The Cloud’s Law is absolute in these matters.”
    “What does that mean?” Alan growled.
    “It means she’s free to make her own decision,” the Wolf interjected, “whatever that may be. Elias' claim died with his defeat today.”
    “Will he be okay?” Anastasia said, and Alan couldn’t help but notice a touch of concern creep into her voice. She’s not bloodthirsty or cruel like the rest of them , he pondered, and she is not a killer . Alan looked over the shoulder of the Wolf and saw several of the others tending to Elias – the young former Alpha let out a muted scream as they cleaned the wound and applied a fresh bandage on top of it.
    “If he can scream, he’s still alive,” Alan said coldly.
    The Wolf glared at the Lion but held his tongue. “We’ll take care of Elias. But we need to know your decision, Anastasia. What should we tell the lead-… your father, when we return? What is your decision?”
    She glanced once at Alan and slipped her fingers between his own. The Wolf gave a curt nod of understanding and held his hand to his heart. She did the same, miming another age-old custom of her Clan. The other Wolves had fitted Elias into the back of the one of the Jeeps, and in moments, they had done a U-turn, heading back toward the road. Before they left, there wasn’t a one among them who didn’t turn his head toward the young Wolf who had defeated the Alpha – and though it was too far away to tell, Alan could have sworn each of them, in turn, had touched their hearts. It was both an acknowledgment of Anastasia’s rank among them, and a solemn goodbye.
    “Is that really it?” Alan said, hating to break the silence, “What will happen now?”
    “Now, I do what I want,” she said breathlessly. It was still too much for her to take in, and they both knew