Free The Hot Alpha Switch: A Paranormal Shifter Romance by Dawn Steele Page A

replied.
    They followed the man through a warren of corridors. Through the walls, Violet could hear the thump-thump-thump of loud rock music and the swell of raucous voices.
    They delved into a changing room.
    “This is where we put our gear,” Ronnie said.
    He began to strip. Violet stared.
    “You’re not going out naked.”
    “No. I’m going to wear my cloak.” Ronnie pulled on a pair of tight leather pants with studs. His crotch was very prominently outlined. “Help me with these.”
    Violet helped him strap on wrist cuffs and arm straps.
    “What is this?” she said. “WWE?”
    “Of sorts. People dig the spectacle. They pay a lot of money to see this.” Ronnie finally donned his blood red cloak.
    Violet was stunned. “You look like Captain America.”
    “Who’s that?”
    “Never mind.”
    The door to the changing room opened. The gruff man appeared.
    “They’re calling for you,” he said.
    “OK. Showtime.” Ronnie winked at Violet.
    She wondered how he could be so confident. Did he know something she didn’t?
    From the changing room, it was only a short distance to the arena.
    “Stay in the tunnel at all times,” Ronnie cautioned. “You aren’t allowed in the ring.”
    There was indeed a tunnel with a light at the end of it. It opened out to the arena. The music was very loud here, especially since the sounds ricocheted against the tunnel walls. The swell of chanting voices assailed Violet’s ears.
    She had a bad feeling about this.
    There were several people at the mouth of the tunnel, including a beautiful girl in a slinky red costume. There must be a superhero theme going on here, Violet decided. The girl favored Violet with a curious stare. She must be the other wolf’s handmaiden.
    “Wish me luck,” Ronnie said.
    “Wait, Ronnie?” Violet grabbed his forearm.
    He stopped, amused. She tiptoed to give him a kiss on the cheek.
    “For luck,” she whispered.
    The smile that plastered across his face was genuine.
    “Thank you,” he said softly. “I feel lucky already.”
    Violet didn’t know why she did that – only that she was scared for Ronnie in a way she had never been scared for anyone before.
    Ronnie turned to walk out of the tunnel and into the bright indoor arena. The gruff man held up a hand to stop Violet from following.
    “Stay here,” he said unnecessarily.
    I wasn’t going to go in there , Violet thought acidly.
    As Ronnie entered the arena, the swell of hundreds of voices suddenly grew louder.
    Violet clung to the mouth of the tunnel, as did the girl in red. She stole a look at the girl’s face and realized that the girl was in love with her alpha, Grant Carter.
    Out in the arena, Ronnie faced off with Grant Carter, who was clad in a cloak of black. They both dropped their cloaks at the same time to a roar of approval.
    Violet remembered the rules:
     
    1. NO WEAPONS.
    2. YOU MUST REMAIN IN YOUR HUMAN FORM FOR TEN MINUTES.
    3. YOU ARE ALLOWED TO CHANGE TO YOUR WEREWOLF FORM AFTER THE BELL RINGS.
    4. THE FIGHT WILL CONTINUE UNTIL ONE OF YOU IS KNOCKED OUT OR DEAD.
     
    Dead!
    That was what got her into such a tizzy. In an illegal fight, there were no rules.
    She surveyed the crowd. In a box seat, she could see Caleb and his son, Joseph.
    Grant Carter was a very tall, imposing black man. His arms were the size of tree trunks. His body was as hard as a rock, from what Violet could see of him from the tunnel. His face was craggy and chiseled – the face of a man who had taken a lot of punches and lived through it all.
    Violet felt like panicking. No wonder the odds were stacked against Ronnie six to one. He must be crazy to take this fight on. Ronnie looked like a college pretty boy jock next to this seasoned, hardened fighter.
    Then the bell rang.
    The two fighters launched themselves at each other.

THE SUGGESTION
     
    Taran entered the pub and looked around for his appointment date. He saw her at a side table, waving at him cheerily. He went over to her,