Free The Bond by Nikki Prince Shyla Colt Page B

show her what a real man is like.”
    Rage
made her hiss. Her teeth lengthened, and her inner cat swam close to the
surface. She knew that bastard had something to do with Rafael’s banishing! How
dare he move them all around like pieces on a chessboard? Plotting her father’s
demise like he was simply writing a grocery list. She swallowed back hard,
trying to calm herself before she changed in public. If she failed, she’d be
trapped and her people would be doomed. Tears fell from her eyes at the
impossibility of it all. She wiped the moisture away and straightened her
shoulders. She could do this. For her father, for the Pride and for herself,
she had to do this.

Chapter
Two
     
    Sanura was pleased as she entered
the room. For a last minute reservation, they did an amazing job. The spacious
suite had several candles placed around its darkened interior. Shadows
flickered on the walls, giving off just enough light to allow her to maneuver
around with ease and it would help with getting through what was happening to
her body with all the changes. Her senses were starting to go haywire and being
able to see him fully would add fuel to the fire.   The bed in the center of the room was topped
with plush bedding, but appeared sturdy with its thick wooden posts. Continuing
through the room she entered the bathroom. Her overnight bag sat out on a
counter in the large bathroom, as requested during check in.
    She took a moment to take in her
surroundings as she forced her tense muscles to relax. The bathroom was
beautiful, with large double sinks encased in black marble with gold faucets. A
standalone shower sat in one corner opposite a sunken tub that could fit at
least six people. This was luxury and decadence at its finest. More sage
candles littered the ledges and flat surfaces in the room, lending to the air
of mystery.
    Sanura studied herself in the
mirror, immediately recognizing the hunger that lurked in the dilated depths of
her hazel eyes. She freed her hair from its elastic prison, pleased by the
golden highlights brought out in the auburn tresses that fell to her shoulders.
A lady wanted to look good for her gentleman, no matter what the circumstances.
Blood filled her face. Desire stirred once more at the thought of an able-bodied
male. There was no use denying she’d reached the pinnacle of her cycle.
    The circumstances that had brought
her to this point were daunting, but the meeting she’d set up for the evening
would hopefully end all that.   It angered
her that the archaic tradition of the Pride choosing mates was still in place.
If she hadn’t been engaged they
would’ve forced her to bond with him. There was a big difference between mating
and bonding, sort of like comparing fucking to marriage.
    If only she could solve all of
this by riding out her cycle, literally if she had anything to say about it,
and go back to her Pride a single woman once more in control of her destiny. A
soft groan escaped parted lips as her need increased. The intense arousal moved
through her body, as if to mock her train of thought.
    Bracing her weight against the
sink, she gripped the edge of the counter as she fought to tamp down an orgasm.
She’d waited as late as she could to get to the hotel, because she was afraid
of being trailed. Now the fire that burned inside her needed to be
extinguished. Her nipples peaked beneath the comfy black track suit, and her
panties grew damp from the abundance of cream she produced. A small moan
escaped, and she willed him to arrive
and soon.
    This was what the Pride’s shaman
had warned her about. Unlike the other females in her Pride, her breeding cycle
was very unique. As the daughter of their Chief, she was the only alpha female
in her Pride. When her cycle came Sanura had to mate with an alpha male to end
her heat. This was fine, until the Pride had decided it was time for her to
bond and determine the next in line for Chief. Bonding for her people was
different from most. For them