Free Taken: True Mates Book 2 (BBW Wolf Shifter Romance) (A Craggstone Paranormal Romance) by Olivia Arran Page A

hidden their affair, but the pride obviously hadn’t known that they were mates, and hadn’t expected Jasmine to bear an heir.
    I sucked in my breath, my mind reeling. “You said I was barren. That I was useless as a mate. You made me believe it was me! ” I said woodenly, numb with shock.
    I wasn’t barren? After all I had gone through — all I had forced myself to accept. I could have children? My lips turned up, as a big grin spread across my face. I could have children!
    But that meant…I looked at Ian, seeing clearly for the first time the reason for his embarrassment, his nerves. “You’re?”
    He nodded, his jaw tight.
    Jasmine met my eyes, sorrow pooling in hers.
    “You good for nothing—” Sean spat out, throwing himself toward Ian. His fist slammed into Ian’s jaw, snapping his head back and sending the smaller man sprawling in the dirt. Howling with rage, Sean leapt on top of him, dragging him to sitting and delivering another punishing blow.
    Ian made no move to defend himself, seeming to accept his punishment. Blood poured down his face as he gestured everyone to stay back.
    “Sean, no!” I cried out, racing toward him.
    He froze, arm cocked. Looking over at me, his eyes glowed liquid gold, teeth and claws shifted.
    I slowed to a walk, desperately holding his gaze. “Sean, no,” I repeated calmly. “This is not what I want. I can release him now, disown him as my mate.” I wanted to look at Ian, but I couldn’t break the strange hold I had over Sean. “He has to live with the sorrow of never having children. He — they — already have a hard path to walk. And, that’s enough for me. ” That was if he managed to stay Alpha. He wasn’t in a strong position now that his fertility was in question, and I knew there would be numerous challenges — it was the way of a pride.
    Sean blinked at me, human comprehension slowly swimming to the surface.
    I summoned up my last ounce of courage. “I choose you, Sean. Even if you don’t choose me. I am sick of having my decisions made for me. All you alphas, betas — whatever — think you can decide what is best for every- damn -one. Well, nope, not me. I choose. And I choose you . I’ve sorted my problems. Now it’s your turn. So, what do you think of that, big guy?” Hand on my hip, I cocked an eyebrow at him in challenge.
    Sean blinked again, his eyes fading back to the sable brown that I loved. Yup, I owned it — I loved the big oaf. And, he was mine . Whether he admitted it or not, you didn’t lose your temper like that unless you felt something .
    Claws retracting and fangs receding, Sean gripped Ian around the neck, hoisting him off the ground.
    “Do it,” Sean growled at me.
    “I disown you as my mate, Ian Firbank. You have wronged me, and my pride. I denounce all ties with you. I know you no more, these people are my witness.” My voice rang out, loud in the silence. The air left my lungs in a whoosh.
    Complete silence, then one by one, voices sounded. “I hear,” they called their acknowledgment.
    When the last voice had spoken, Jasmine added hers. “I hear,” she murmured, eyes shining with tears. “I will miss you, pride sister.”
    “I’ll miss you, too.” And, I would. She had been kind to me, at a time when it felt like everything in my life was falling to pieces.
    A garbled sound came from Ian.
    “Sean, loosen your grip,” I hissed.
    Gulping in air, Ian straightened his back and looked out at his pride. “I hear, and acknowledge, Luisa Shadowpaw. You know me no more.”
    Shadowpaw? Sean mouthed at me, a smirk on his handsome face. Then, turning back to Ian, he slapped the man on the shoulder. “It’s ‘Lisa’ now. Not that you need to know that.”
    Throwing a wink at me, he continued, “Send word to Lisa’s pride, explaining everything . If I find that you have played with the truth — I will find you…”
    Ian murmured his agreement. “I am truly sorry, I didn’t know…at the time….”
    “It’s