Jade Crew: Forgotten Bear (A BBW Paranormal Shape Shifter Romance) (Ridgeback Bears Book 3) Read Online Free Page A

Russell had called Ajax said, stepping up next to Emma, followed by the rest of his crew. “Just leave peacefully, and that will be that.”
    “We’ll stay if we want to stay,” the Opal Alpha said, clearly banking on his superior numbers.
    “I said,” Emma repeated warningly, “that you are not welcome here.”
    “Well,” another of the Opal Crew said, sauntering up close to her while Gwen looked on. “I think you’re welcome with us anytime.”
    Ajax’s fist crunched into the man’s face before Emma could open her mouth to respond.
    “Oh shit,” Russell said, turning back to face her as violence erupted behind him. “Time to get behind the bar. Stay next to Ferro,” he commanded, turning back to the fracas.
    “You know what,” she said to his back, “I think you’re right.”
    She decided in favor of just hopping the bar instead of taking the time to go around it. Ferro moved to stay closer to her as they backed away. So far, none of them had changed into bears, but a full-on fistfight was developing.
    “Sorry for any damage!” Russell called as he took off his jacket.
    “I don’t care about that,” Ferro said under his breath. “Just don’t get too many killed,” he said, just loudly enough for Russell to hear.
    “Why are they going to get killed?” Gwen asked as Ferro reached behind him and opened the door into the back.
    A growl from out on the floor drowned out his answer as the first bear made its appearance.
     
     
     

Chapter Three
    Russell
    “This is fucking ridiculous,” he snarled, rage building inside. His bear lunged to the surface as punches flew back and forth, straining to get involved, to deal out some destruction.
    As he watched Ferro almost bodily hauling a shocked Gwen out of harm’s way, he thought there was no reason that this new crew should be behaving the way it was. Something had clearly antagonized them to the point that they came looking for a fight. That much was clear to him, though he couldn’t for the life of him fathom what in the hell that might be. They couldn’t be so stupid as to think they would get away with it, could they?
    There were two humans in the bar. That was a recipe for disaster on its own, and the Opal Crew—whoever the fuck they were—would face the brunt of any punishment that came down if humans got hurt. But on top of that, Emma was here, and she was an official liaison for LMC. She could quite literally dispense justice on the spot if she thought the situation warranted it.
    Russell knew she would hate herself forever if she was forced into playing that card, but he also respected her, and knew that Emma would do what was necessary for the good of everyone.
    “Hey!”
    Russell snapped back to focus as Emma cried out in pain. He saw her go down under a backhand from one of the shifters. Her neck snapped back and she fell clear of the chaotic brawl. Russell, seeing red, started toward her, determined to get her clear of any harm before he waded in to help the Silvertips.
    “Holy shit,” he breathed. Before Russell had taken more than two steps, Gabriel made his move. The Stone Bear had stepped back from the confrontation at first, but with Emma in danger, he had chosen to act. As smoothly as if he did it every day, Gabriel caught the bear stumbling toward Emma, snapped its leg as he reversed his twist, looped his hands around its neck, and yanked.
    The bear simply collapsed to the ground, something in its spine undoubtedly broken as well, since it was writhing in pain. With the space around him momentarily clear, Gabriel scooped up Emma and burst through the door. Knowing that she was now safe, Russell turned his attention back to the brawl. There were bears appearing left and right now that the first person had changed, as each shifter found the room and time to focus clearly enough to shift.
    “Fuck this,” Russell snapped angrily, and a moment later a massive, dark brown bear ripped from his skin with a loud growl.
    Seeing