Free Lucky Bear - Wild Bear 01 by Ruby Shae Page A

the right places, but he knew she’d be able to handle a man his size. Not many women could, and his cock definitely took notice. He’d never had such a strong reaction to a woman before, especially one so hostile.
    She wore jeans and a black t-shirt that said Wild Bear in blue. The words stretched across her chest, and he had a feeling her ample breasts were bound by a sports bra or some other minimizer. Nothing about her screamed feminine, but he knew she was all woman, and all his.
    What the fuck?
    The last thought jarred him. Shifters didn’t have fated mates. Mates were chosen, the same way humans chose their spouses, and it was only after the mating that their bond would strengthen.
    “Well?” she asked, clearly irritated by his mute voice.
    “Beer. Bottle. Nothing light,” he answered.
    “You got it,” she said. “Use the kit; it will help you heal faster.”
    He was hardly bleeding all over her counter, but the medication would help. As much as he hated being told what to do, he opened the kit and pulled out two individually wrapped antiseptic wipes. Another realization jarred him. If things went the way he hoped, she could easily manipulate him into doing her bidding all over town.
    After dabbing the cuts with a cocktail napkin, he opened the first packet and rubbed it over his knuckles. He inwardly cursed as the medicine wiped away the blood and penetrated the wound. It hurt like hell, but she’d been right. The healing process began again. He decided to wait until he had a mirror readily available before he messed with the mark under his eye.
    She placed the icy cold brew on the counter, and glanced sharply toward the opposite end of the bar.
    “Five dollars.”
    “What’s your name?” he asked, digging out his wallet.
    “Isabelle,” she said, looking down the bar again.
    He didn’t miss the fact that she didn’t ask for his name, or that he cared more about the snub than he should.
    “It’s nice to meet you, Isabelle,” he said, holding out his hand. “I’m Lucky.”
    That got her attention, and he immediately regretted not using his real name. She narrowed her eyes and crossed her arms over her chest.
    “That’s what you decided to go with? Really?” she said, sarcastically. “Well, Lucky , I think your parents made a huge mistake. You don’t look very lucky to me.”
    She took the five he placed on the counter, shoved it into her pocket, and made her way to the other end of the bar.
    Shit!
    It wasn’t the first impression he’d wanted to make, and he inwardly cursed his stupidity. Usually, he didn’t care what anyone thought about him, but Isabelle was different. He wanted her to like him, and he didn’t need a rocket scientist to tell him she didn’t.
    He watched her interact with the three guys she’d been eyeing at the end of the counter, and her demeanor hadn’t changed. If anything, she’d hardened. He couldn’t hear the conversation, but he knew the men were trouble.
    Suddenly, Isabelle pulled a baseball bat out from under the counter and pressed it against the throat of one of the men. His two friends took a step back, but the instigator didn’t move.
    Idiot. The guy was a full human and she was definitely stronger. Even if he stepped back, one hard push of the bat would have him gasping for air.
    He got off his stool and strolled to the scene. He’d worked the door at local bars before, and keeping a level head was the number one rule when trying to diffuse a possible altercation. Everyone watched in silence as he stood behind the three men and observed the situation.
    “Everything okay here, Isabelle?” he asked.
    She met his eyes over the heads of the men and nodded once before speaking.
    “Yeah, these three were just on their way out to find their manhood.”
    One of the three men finally noticed him and tapped the leader on the shoulder, whispering something about a big shifter. A full minute passed before the leader relented, but he didn’t give up without