Free The Mate Challenge (BBW Paranormal Shape Shifter Romance) (Sassy Mates Book 4) by Milly Taiden

had things to do.
    She shifted from foot to foot on her black combat boots. She waited to see if the bartender would come outside the back door. Unlike the last time she’d broken all the rules and gone into Mason’s club, this time she took a different approach. By not going inside the club she wasn’t really going against what Mason asked, but she was still getting possible important information that could help her find Maria.
    The sound of a wailing siren made her jump back, slapping her back to the gate by the door. Seriously? She was acting like a damned kid getting all worried over being caught. This was what Mason did to her. He’d pushed her to have to do stuff without his knowledge.
    Sheesh, how long did it take for Nicole to send the bartender outside. She’d agreed to help Emma out in the hopes it would keep her out of trouble. Which it would since Mason couldn’t argue that she was in his club again.
    The back door creaked open and Emma pressed further back into the darkness. She daren’t think about what the squishy stuff she was stepping on was.
    Music blared from the inside of the club and the sounds of laughter, along with voices drifted out the back door. A moment later, the short curvy bartender walked out. She wore black jeans and a bunch of tattoos covering both arms and bright pink in her hair.
    Lael met her gaze and frowned. “I didn’t think you had it in you to actually do as Mason said.” Her lips lifted into a slow grin. “What did he promise you to keep you out?”
    “Nothing. I felt guilty,” she sighed in disgust. The things she did for that mutt and did he even appreciate it? Nope.
    Lael laughed and strolled closer to Emma. “I sent your friend out through the front so she wouldn’t call attention.”
    Emma nodded, folding her arms over her chest. “I’m sorry to bother you again. I just have some questions.”
    Lael’s smile fell from her lips slowly. Icy fingers of concern stopped Emma’s blood in her veins. Lael’s face pursed as if in pain. “Things are moving a lot faster than I thought.”
    Emma struggled to make sense of Lael’s words. “What do you mean? What’s moving faster?”
    Dear God, what if Maria was beyond being rescued. She swallowed back the vile that rode the back of her throat. The last thing she needed was to get sick over her fear for the kid.
    “Rahound. He’s got a plan.” Lael shut her eyes and leaned back on the gate.
    “What plan? What are you talking about?”
    For cripes’ sakes! The woman needed to give her full sentences or she’d shake her soon.
    “Embraced. It’s all connected. The rogues. The vamps. The kids.” Lael swayed on her feet and Emma had to grab her before she hit the pavement.
    Nicole rushed around the side of the alley and ran toward them.
    “What the hell, Emma? What did you do to her?” She asked, her voice rising in panic. “I thought you only wanted to talk.”
    Emma rolled her eyes and tapped Lael on the cheek. She’d gone pale and cold. Emma didn’t know what kind of paranormal Lael was, but she was sure she was either a witch or an empath. Or she had some off the wall stuff going on.  “Lael?”
    Nothing. The other woman didn’t respond. Nicole kneeled by Emma and motioned for her to pass Lael over.
    “Isn’t she too heavy for you to carry alone?”
    Nic blew a raspberry. “Em, I’m a shifter now. I could probably carry you if the need arose. Let me carry her back to my car.”
    Emma watched as Nic carefully lifted Lael into her arms without breaking a sweat or grunting over the other woman’s weight. She was impressed. If she gave in and allowed Mason to mate her and her body took to the change, she could have the same powers as Nic, Jordan and Ellie. It was still in the air if Karla had the ability to shift. With her getting pregnant right after Nate had bitten her, it wasn’t something anyone knew. Barbara had mentioned that Karla was likely to have the shifter genes in her body through her