Free Bear Security: BBW Paranormal Shape Shifter Romance by Ruby Shae Page B

conversation had been an eye-opener, even if his pride had taken another hit.
    Moments before Becca’s arrival, Layla had been urging him, for the millionth time, to chase down his mate. Unfortunately, Becca hadn’t come because she wanted him back; she came because she was in danger. Still, the fact that she’d remembered his words had made his heart swell.
    When she’d looked up at him with those big brown eyes, his dick had hardened to the point of pain. She had the same hairstyle as before, and the way her bangs framed her face and then cut to her shoulder length, straight blond hair made him want to groan. His body’s reaction to her pissed him off, especially since he seemed to have no control around her.
    Her dark blue jeans hugged her curves in all the right places, and he couldn’t wait to get a good look at her ass. She wore a black, zip-front sweatshirt, but he could see the neckline of a familiar pink t-shirt hidden underneath. The way the material caressed her large, soft breasts made it one of his favorites, and he briefly wondered if she’d worn the garment for his enjoyment.
    It wasn’t until she’d jumped at a passing tree branch that her fear became evident and sent him into protection mode. The way her presence could manipulate him so severely made his anger surge toward the surface again, and he’d ignored Layla’s threatening glare.
    As soon as they were alone, his anger had begun to recede for the second time since her arrival. He wanted to touch her, kiss her and make love to her for the first time, but first he had to find out the reason for her visit.
    Panthers had been the farthest thing from his mind.
    “Tell me what happened, and don’t leave anything out,” he said.
    “I worked late last night,” she started, “and on my way to the parking garage, I looked down an alley and saw two men seemingly robbing another man. I watched for a second, with my cell phone ready, when one of the men turned into a panther. A minute later the other one turned, lunged at the man and ripped out his throat. I gasped a little too loudly, and they started running toward me. Luckily, a large crowd of people came down the street at the same time, and I was able to hide between them and reach my car safely. When I got home, my door looked untampered with, but when I stepped inside the apartment, the hairs on the back of my neck prickled. Everything looked normal, but it violated, as if someone was inside. I was afraid, so I left.
    “I drove to the police station and asked them to investigate, or at least do a walk through, but they wouldn’t, so I rented a hotel room. When I woke this morning, I attempted to go out and get something to eat, but all of the windows on my car had been smashed in. I waited a couple of hours and then snuck out the employee entrance of the hotel and walked to a car rental place. I rented a car, and then drove here.”
    “Where’s the car?” he asked.
    The only sound he’d heard before her knock was the sound of a car speeding down the road. Had someone dropped her off? Was this an elaborate trap to expose his identity? Warning bells blared in his head, but he forced himself to remain calm.
    “I parked it in the center square and walked here.”
    “You walked here from the center square?” he asked, incredulous. “That’s almost ten miles.”
    “I might be overweight, but that doesn’t mean I can’t walk a few miles,” she spat back.
    “That’s not what I meant and you know it,” he scolded. “We’re not talking about a few miles here, we’re talking about ten. That’s a lot to walk when you have a car to drive. Why didn’t you drive here?”
    “I…I didn’t want them to know where you lived,” she whispered.
    “That’s ridiculous,” he roared. “You came here for help, but you endanger yourself by walking ten miles to my home? What would you have done if they found you while you were walking? Run? You’d never survive!”
    Tears filled her eyes,