Free Resisting The Alpha (Werebear Shifter Romance) (The Crane Curse) by Liliana Rhodes Page A

witch."
    "I'm not charmed by her," Erich said feeling the raging bear raise its head and bellow from within.
    "No? You love her? You're really that foolish, aren't you? I suppose we all were at one time though," Abel said thoughtfully.   "If you really want to prove your love for her then step down from the Council. That'll be the proof. She only has such a strong hold on you because of your station. You'll always be Alpha, there's no denying that, but you don't have to take all the responsibilities. Leave the Council and see if you still love her. Its really simple, Erich. Where are your priorities?"
    "I know my priorities, Abel. And its clear you chose yours years ago. I won't make the same mistakes you did."
    Angry, Erich turned from Abel and went up to the house thinking he would just take Faith away with him for once and for all, then stopped. Faith wasn't ready to leave Abel and if he pushed her, he was afraid he'd lose her forever. She was his true mate, he was sure of it and if he had to wait longer to be with her forever, he would.
    His bear roared wildly within him, fighting his decision. While he came to see Faith, Abel got under his skin too much and incited the bear. He needed to let the bear have some time out in order for him to stay in control. A run would do them both good anyway.
    Getting back to his truck he sped off, kicking dust, dirt, and sand up from the driveway. The fresh air would give him time to think, not just about what Abel said, but the things Erich himself had been struggling with as his feelings for Faith grew. The coyote was cunning, but struck a nerve too close to Erich's heart. Abel was right, it was time Erich made his priorities clear.

CHAPTER EIGHT
     
    Faith paced the floor of the kitchen. Every night for weeks now she had been thinking about introducing herself to Eliza and Knox, but she kept chickening out. Just thinking about it was enough to turn her stomach and make her palms sweat like faucets.
    Realizing how quiet it was, Faith looked outside. She thought she heard a truck pull up earlier and expected to see Erich, but was disappointed when he didn't come in. Abel had been more ruthless lately than usual and she hoped he didn't say anything that would've upset him, but she didn't think he would fall for any of Abel's mind games. Still, when Abel wanted to, he knew how to play with someone's doubt and insecurities.
    The full moon lit the yard and Faith's heart sank into her stomach. She couldn't believe it had been a month since she met Miranda and promised her she would get the ring to Knox. What was wrong with her? She waited her entire life for some kind of family, any kind of link to people who were like herself, and now that she had that link she was too afraid to meet them.
    What if they don't want you? What if they see what your mother saw, what kept her away. The nagging self doubt echoed in her head. Faith knew the only way to find out was by meeting them and in the least she needed to give Knox the ring, but that voice in her head that kept her down most of her life, the one Abel knew how to control for good and bad, kept reminding her that she wasn't worth knowing.
    "Well to hell with that," she said to herself. "This woman made me feel awful my entire life while she had a family and love. I had nothing! She deserves to hear what she did to me."
    Angry tears welled in her eyes and she wiped them away with the back of her hand as she opened the kitchen door and stepped outside. Looking around she noticed Abel was gone. Probably went hunting , she thought. He didn't tell her anything anymore, but she didn't mind. Without his pack he was harmless and that was all she wanted.  
    As she entered the tree line and found the path towards the clearing, Faith began running. All the anger and pain from the years of loneliness, not just from being an orphan, but from Abel changing all erupted at once and she was ready to release it all. She refused to let something like death