Romance: Stranded With The Alpha Bear: BBW Paranormal Shapeshifter Romance (Werebear, BBW, Bear Shifter Romance) (Sweet Shifters Book 1) Read Online Free

thought.

 
     
     
    IV.
     
    I slept on the couch again because Christian didn't come back down. It still was incredibly comfortable, but I felt out of place. I dreamt about Beth running in fear as the werewolves chased her through the woods. I should have thought harder about it when she left... I should've helped her when she needed it. I don’t know exactly how I could’ve helped the situation, but I know I should’ve done something, cared more.
    I guess I always hoped she was okay, that she had just run away with someone and not been taken by the wolves.
    The next morning, I waited for Christian as I stared out the window. I’ve never been this far out in the woods. The trees appeared closer together this deep in - they looked like an army protecting us from intruders. It both made me feel safe, but also lonely. Though I’ve only been here a day, Christian didn’t give any sense of warmth. His arrogance and cold civility (and I’m using the word ‘civility’ loosely here) made me feel like a burden on him than a guest.
    Finally, footsteps creaked down the stairs. He wore a collared shirt and khakis, looking professional to just sit at home. He moved swiftly to the kitchen and to the coffee maker. He didn’t greet me or even look my direction.
    “Good morning,” I said, standing up and walking to him. “Your couch is really quite comfortable. I appreciate your furniture taste.”
    “Thank you,” he replied, finishing making his coffee then turning to me. His dark eyes stared into mine, and he kept his trademark scowl. “I’m glad to hear you’re comfortable, but you’re welcome to stay in the guest room. You don’t have to sleep on the couch.”
    “Thank you,” I mirrored his monotone. “I did want to ask you something though. About… uh… the girls who go missing?”
    “Girls who go missing?”
    “Yeah.”
    “Well, girls go missing all the time. Sometimes they’re just tired of their lives and leave. Sometimes someone takes them and either murders or keeps them for a long time. Sometimes… accidents happen. You know.”
    “Yeah, I get that. I mean the girls who the the wolves take.”
    “The werewolves? Or do you mean real wolves?”
    “Why would I be asking about real wolves?” I snapped. “Why would I be ruminating on random missing girls taken by real wolves when I was almost abducted by werewolves, and you saved me?”
    “I don’t know,” he answered, rubbing his forehead. “I’ve been doing meetings all morning, and I need my coffee. What did you want to know?”
    “What happens to them?”
    “The girls?”
    “No, the wolves. Can they get jobs and stuff, or are they prejudiced against?” I said sarcastically. “Of course the girls.”
    He raised an eyebrow and gave his closed mouth smile. “Just wanted to make sure. The girls… I’m not sure. They impregnate them, but we don’t know exactly what they do after the girls give birth, you know?”
    “Well, have any escaped?”
    “Not that I know of.”
    “So… are they killed or…?”
    “As I said, I don’t know. But since we haven’t ever found any women in their strongholds, I assume they’re…” he paused, “no longer living.”
    “Did you find the babies?”
    “Yes. They grow quicker than normal children. They’re usually at least teenage by the time we find them. Purebred werewolves don’t live all that long. They’re like real wolves and don’t live that long in the wild.”
    “So the girls are forced to have these children that don’t live very long?”
    “Essentially. Werewolves aren’t um… they aren’t like what you see in the movies.”
    “Are they not human?”
    “They are, but they live together in packs just like wolves. They’re like hermits, mountain men, out in the woods. You may have met one of them at some time.”
    “What about the female werewolves?”
    “That’s the reason the werewolves only choose virgins. Virgins are guaranteed to have males.”
    “So… is that why