Free Cynful: Halle Shifters, Book 2 by Dana Marie Bell Page B

Bears, Pumas, Wolves, Foxes, Coyotes, you name a predator and odds are good they’ve got shifters.”
    “You mean there might really be Alligators in the sewers?”
    Every shifter in the room stared at her like she was nuts. Alex actually looked insulted. “Limit that pool to mammals, please.”
    “Like werebats? Or wererats? Oh! What about—”
    “ No. ” Julian sounded stern, but he couldn’t completely hide his amusement from her. “There are no werebats, wererats, weremoles, werevoles or werehamsters.”
    “And thank God for that.” Alex shuddered in disgust. “Seriously. Werehamsters?”
    “What about weredolphins?”
    “N— actually, now that you mention it, I’m not certain. I’ve never met one. Have you?”
    The others shook their heads. “They’re a legend,” Tabby added.
    “Sort of like wereorcas. If they did exist they’re more than likely extinct now. None sit on the council, I know that much.” Alex replied. “None of this has anything to do with you having your face smashed. Did you get a look at your attacker?”
    Julian growled under his breath. “Good question.”
    “Nope. Shadows, shattered glass, pain. Tabby with a lime green Mohawk in Wolf form. That’s about it.” She shrugged; there wasn’t much more she could add. She didn’t have the nose Tabby did. “There was a blur as one of them ran away. I could barely see it, though.”
    Gabe stroked his jaw. “Cheetah, maybe? I hear they can be pretty damn fast.”
    “I did get a scent of cat shifter in that alley, and it wasn’t of the local variety.” Tabby exchanged a worried glance with Alex.
    “Could be.” Alex was at Tabby’s side again, his arms around her protectively. He cradled her close, his huge hands resting naturally over her belly. “We need to figure out what the hell is going on.”
    “Before someone gets seriously hurt.” Gabe took out his pad and pen.
    “Someone was seriously hurt. Cyn’s jaw was broken.” Julian’s anger didn’t affect the gentle way he stroked her shoulder.
    Gabe peered at her face in concern. “Shit. Are you all right?”
    “Yeah.” Cyn patted Julian’s knee. “Super Bear fixed me up.”
    Julian stared at where her hand rested on his knee. “Why yes, of course you may.”
    Before she could ask what he meant Julian had her in his lap, and looking mighty smug about it too. “I didn’t ask to sit in your lap.”
    “Yes you did. You patted my knee and said let me sit in your lap.”
    She stared at him while behind her the hyena twins began to laugh. “You are so full of it. You know that, right?”
    He grinned. “Yup.”
    “Well. That’s good. So long as you’re aware of it.”
    Gabe choked out a laugh and closed his notebook. “Okay. I’m going to go sniff around the parking lot, see what I can find. Ladies, please. For the love of all that is holy, be careful . Someone is out to get you, and until I catch them you’re vulnerable.” Gabe ignored Alex’s rumbling, warning growl and pointed toward the front door. “Park on the street if you can, under bright lights. Gentlemen, keep an eye on them—and yes, that’s an order from Halle’s Second.”
    Julian stiffened. “Is it an order from one of the Northeastern Hunters?”
    Gabe nodded firmly. “Yes. It is.”
    Cyn gasped as Julian’s fangs descended. Her sweet, funny teddy bear morphed into a lethal predator, right in front of her eyes.
    Since when were fangs hot ?
     
    If those sons of bitches came near his mate again Julian would rip their arms off and heal the holes shut. After all, it would be hard for even a Cheetah to run down a human woman if it only had two legs.
    “Oh my God! What happened here?”
    Glory stepped into LA Tattoos, her eyes darting between all of them. Her gaze kept returning to Julian’s mostly white hair and obvious fangs, her skin paling as the implications hit her. “Who’s hurt?”
    “No one, not anymore.” Cyn rubbed her jaw, and Julian bet she could still feel the painful