Free Bear in the Rough: Bear Shifter Romance (Broken Hill Bears Book 1) by Ariana Hawkes

callused hand on the glass, the way she’d felt an intense compulsion to press her hand against it. His was almost twice the size of hers though. What would it feel like to hold his hand? To be enveloped by it? And those eyes. He’d given her such a look – intense, like he was looking at somebody he knew well, but also wistful and a little surprised. Maybe he’d mistaken her for a long-lost flame. But a guy like that would be with a stunning woman; a one-of-a-kind. And I’m just ordinary-looking, she reminded herself. And way too curvy. He probably dates girls who look like the card girls. Lithe, feline types who keep him on his toes.
    Just then, she spotted the two girls from the motel, heading to the parking lot, and she ran after them, keen to get a ride back home. I can’t wait to tell Eloise and Marin about my night, she thought to herself, as she climbed into their car.
     

Chapter Six
     
     
    Back at Broken Hill, Xander was pumped. He’d done it. Rocco had been right. Kicking the crap out of that Black Paw half-breed had showed everyone that he was tough enough. He saw it in his clan’s eyes after the fight – a respect that hadn’t been there before. Even Maximus clapped him on the shoulder and said “good job, Brains.” It hadn’t been easy by any means. He smirked to himself as he recalled the look of surprise on Troy’s face as he realized that he wasn’t going to come back from that last punch. He’d been talking so much shit in the ring, boasting that he was going to take down the whole Broken Hill clan, starting with its pussy leader. And then, Bam! He’d taken him out. At the recollection, his bear let off a victory roar. It would be a long time until one of the Black Paws dared challenge him again, that was for sure.
    He leaned back on his living room couch and scratched at the short hair on the back of his neck. He was done with wrestling now. He’d proved himself, and pulled off enough theatrics to keep the crowds happy. Now it was time to get back to the serious business of leading his clan. A task that should be somewhat easier now that the Black Paws understood that the Broken Hill Bears had a formidable leader, who wasn’t going to stand any bullshit. He went to the fridge and brought back an ice-cold beer. He popped the cap with his teeth, took a long swig, and let off a drawn-out sigh. He was wrong about the theatrics being over. He well knew that being a leader was as much about a show of toughness as actually being tough when it counted. He needed to make some changes to show that he had his own style of leadership. He needed to be seen to be tough and uncompromising.
    But first he needed to restore the harmony between his human and bear sides. He’d barely been able to keep his bear under control during the fight. That moment when it had forced him right over the ropes and into the face of a member of the audience. Twice! Once in his human form and then in his bear form. What must the girl have thought when a huge, bloody guy like him had charged up to her? To her credit, she hadn’t run away screaming like all the other humans around her. She’d sat firm, gazed back at him with those haunting dark eyes, as if she was looking right into his soul. She was the one whose voice he’d heard when he was down on the mat and almost out for the count. It had come through the fog of pain that was shuttering his brain, clear and sweet and strong. “Get up, Xander! You can do it!” she’d called, with such conviction. She’s strong enough for you. She could be your mate, his bear kept insisting. After that, it was more interested in meeting her than kicking the crap out of Troy. His bear didn’t enjoy wrestling anyway. It couldn’t understand why he’d choose to fight in his human form when he’d be so much stronger if he let it compete with its flashing teeth and razor claws. She couldn’t be my mate because she’s a human who views me as a dangerous animal, and could only be