Free Stone Bear: Sentinel (A BBW Paranormal Shape Shifter Romance) (Stone Bears Book 1) by Amelia Jade Page A

throwing the sack of bones and skin ten feet in front of him to land in front of Michael, who was standing with the rest of his crew. “Since when do you greet us with a pickaxe to the fucking head?” he roared, his long legs carrying him right up to the Alpha.
    He noticed one or two of the other shifters tremble as he yelled at their leader, and he picked out the most rambunctious looking one and pointed a finger at him. “Don’t make the same mistake as your friend here,” he said, his voice promising the same treatment.
    “Now, explain,” he spat at Michael, uncaring that some of his blood flecked off and landed on the other shifter’s clothing. He had been attacked, dammit. There was going to be hell to pay for this!
    The truth was, he was just glad that Caia wasn’t there. The attack had reminded him of how truly dangerous life could be in Genesis Valley. Part of his anger was encased in the fear of what might happen to her, and knowing that he could do nothing about it. She was a grown woman, and any attempt by him to shelter her from the realities of the world she had just stepped into would result in her becoming angry at him, at a minimum. He had to allow her to do what she wanted to do, no matter how much he hated it.
    So he took his anger out on those assembled in front of him.
    “Is this one of yours?” he asked Michael, watching him very carefully.
    The Alpha didn’t flinch. “Yes. Or rather should I say, he was one of ours. If he’s still alive,” Michael looked down skeptically, “he won’t be for long.”
    Gabriel noted one of the other assembled shifters from the Whitepines looking on. His face gave away nothing, but through his peripheral vision, Gabriel could see his hands slowly closing into a fist.
    Interesting. Let’s see what happens if I push just a little further.
    “He had better not. This is a disgrace,” he said venomously.
    The other shifter had been standing behind and to the left of Michael. He had a clear line of attack at Gabriel, and he took it.
    This time, however, it wasn’t Gabriel who stopped it. Michael must have sensed it was coming, because he spun on the spot, and a massive fist connected solidly just as the attacker began to shift. The force of the blow drove its head into the wall two feet away, where it snapped back suddenly, the noise echoing down the corridor. The body slid to the floor lifelessly.
    Michael grabbed his hand and set two of the knuckles back in place, his eyes returning and meeting Gabriel’s evenly while he did so. There was no challenge in his stare, just a simple acceptance of what had happened, and his vow that he was Alpha of the Whitepines and wasn’t afraid to dispense justice if necessary.
    “Explain,” he snapped. Although he and Michael got along well normally, Gabriel had also never been attacked while doing his job before either. This was business, and Michael was smart enough to realize the way he was being treated wasn’t personal.
    “This one,” Michael said, gesturing at the first heap, “is new. Been here less than three weeks. I haven’t been overly impressed with him and he had been causing trouble. I made two mentions of him in my reports, which will corroborate my story that I had a feeling he would be trouble. He wanted money, and nothing but money. I suspect that was his motivator. He thought to take you out and keep the stone for himself.” Michael turned and gestured at the large, slightly egg-shaped object guarded by two other shifters.
    Gabriel turned and motioned for his team to collect the stone. They set about opening the carrying container and placing it inside, and inflating the insulation to ensure it stayed protected on the return trip. He didn’t have to watch them; he trusted them fully.
    “And this one?” Gabriel asked, pointing at the shifter Michael had ended.
    “That was Jerrod. He’s just an idiot, and I think he was convinced by the idea of money and not having to work the mines anymore.