The Jaguar's Arranged Mate: A Paranormal Shifter Romance Read Online Free

one to scare easily, but he shuddered. Two years ago, a severely wounded man by the name of Henry Lunar had reached their camp. He and the rest of his pack had tried to flee from the might of the Brutal Claws. They had only marched for two days when they had been slaughtered. Only Henry had gotten away… for whatever good it did him, as he died that same night.
    They aren’t jaguars. They’re monsters.
    “Fleeing isn’t our style.” Despite the seriousness of their conversation, Beric grinned. “We are warriors after all.”
    “Yes. Heavily outnumbered warriors, as you already pointed out. I’m glad you are willing to do this for our pack. I do not know much about Miera personally, but a union like this would help us both.”
    Help, yes, but would it be enough? Only time would tell.
     

CHAPTER THREE
     
    It was ridiculous how nervous Miera felt. It wasn’t as if this was her wedding day. No, just the day I meet the man I will one day marry, though.
    Her brother wrinkled his nose when she stepped out of her room.
    “What?” she asked, not appreciating his expression.
    Matthias shook his head and sighed. “You’re wearing that?”
    She glanced down. Black pants, a gray tank top, neither tight. She preferred somewhat loose clothing so she could move easily move. Having movement restricted meant slower reaction time, and with things being dangerous, she couldn’t risk being anything but her quickest.
    “Yes, I’m wearing this.” She crossed her arms, daring him to suggest she change.
    He sighed again, a deep, heavy sound. Her younger brother was wearing nicer clothes than she had seen him wear lately, a blue suit that suited his fair skin. No tie, at least, but still fancy, and he made her look even plainer.
    “You’re the one who looks like he’s on a date,” she teased.
    Matthias flushed. “I do not—”
    “Think you’ll see Sierra along the way?”
    “S-Sierra? No. No. I don’t know—”
    “Oh, please. You know you love her.”
    His amber eyes bulged. “Love?” he croaked. “We’ve known each other forever and—”
    “Yes, but when she left to go and be a ward of another pack to see about being allies down the road, she had been a scrawny girl of ten. Now she’s returned, and she’s all woman, as I’m sure you noticed.” She nudged her elbow into his gut.
    “It’s too bad the Jeweled Ones have decided to relocate.”
    “Across the country. Pennsylvania.” Miera sniffed. “Who wants to go there?”
    “They figure the Brutal Claws will never go that far east. Plus, the Brutal Claws haven’t looked in their direction. It would have only been a matter of time, so maybe they were smart to—”
    “To run away like cowards.” Miera rolled her eyes.
    Other packs had resisted the Brutal Claws before. The result had always been the same: the utter destruction of those packs. The only other option was to join the Brutal Claws on their quest for rampage. Many opted for that choice, and they became as brutal and harsh as the original members of the pack in short order.
    Running wasn’t an option for them. Not after the blood that had already been shed. Plus, the Brutal Claws would hunt them down should they show signs of leaving. That would definitely provoke them into action.
    “Well, we should be going.”
    “We?” Miera shook her head. “No. I’m going alone.”
    “But—”
    “But nothing,” she said firmly. “You go and get reacquainted with the lovely Sierra.”
    “I can’t—”
    “You can, and you will.”
    “But—”
    “No buts,” she said firmly, putting her hands on his shoulders and shoving him forward. “Go. Now.”
    He glanced back a few times but did as she bid.
    Good. She didn’t want an audience for this. It was bad enough she hadn’t been able to propose to the were-jaguar herself, that Matthias had done it for her. The council had agreed to her marriage idea, but they hadn’t thought she should be the one to deliver it to Beric, as she had learned