When a Beta Roars Read Online Free Page A

exact, the true hunters in any pride. Vicious felines she wouldn’t stand a chance against, especially with her wolf in hiding.
    “She better not pee in the halls. I hear their kind like to do that you know.”
    “No they don’t,” said a young girl with rainbow-streaked hair. “It’s trees and fire hydrants you gotta watch out for.”
    A woman with a ring in her nose snorted. “You’re all idiots. Those are the spots dogs mark. She’s a wolf, and you’re scaring the crap out of her.” Blue eyes, set in a face creased with age, turned to face her. The woman spoke to her soothingly. “Don’t worry about what they’re saying. We’re allies. You’ll come to no harm among us.”
    “Unless you pee in the halls.”
    “Or eat the last piece of cake.” Someone poked the chubby speaker in the side, and she whirled with a, “What? Just saying what we’re all thinking.”
    “Forget thinking. It’s obvious it hurts too much,” yet another lioness muttered. “What I’d like to know, the smart questions here are, who is this girl, and what is she doing here?”
    In a panic, Arabella peered up at her guard. Should she answer, and what should she say? Give the truth or spout a lie? Or would lying be worse? What if Hayder and his alpha had already established an identity for her? What—
    Hayder saved her from answering. “Ladies—”
    Snickers. “He called us ladies.”
    “—this is Arabella, Jeoff’s sister. You all know Jeoff.”
    “Yeah, he’s the hottie in the tight jeans who sings in that band.”
    “He sings?”
    “Among other things.”
    The matronly one, who asked who Arabella was, sighed as she planted her hands on her hips. “Would you all shut up? Some of us are trying to get answers here. I sense something juicy, so zip it before I do something that requires you getting your jaw wired shut.”
    Funny how they all quieted, and yet none of them looked cowed at the threat. They were all, however, united in their curious stares aimed at her.
    When Arabella would have tucked behind Hayder’s back to make herself less of a visual target, he pulled her forward and stood her before him, one hand on each shoulder, anchoring her in place. “Jeoff asked the pride to lend its protection. Some assholes want to force Arabella here into marrying some dick so he can get his hands on her fortune. There’s also talk of killing her once the paperwork is done. I don’t think we should allow that.”
    As summaries went, it was accurate and succinct. What she didn’t expect was the outrage and…support?
    Forget the cowed women of her old pack. The females surrounding her all bore a challenging glint in their eye and boastful suggestions.
    “Let them come and try to take her. We’ll show them what women’s lib is all about,” one of them shouted.
    “Woo hoo! A new fur coat and in time for winter,” another hollered.
    “Someone make sure we replaced the mop from the last time we had to show someone a lesson.”
    “Luna, we need to make an appointment to get our nails sharpened.”
    Arabella blinked, several times, but she somehow resisted the urge to jam a finger in her ear and wiggle. Why bother? It wasn’t her ears that were defective. Either she’d finally snapped, or she surely dreamed. It was the only explanation for the insanity she’d encountered since her arrival.
    More than likely, she’d fallen asleep in her old prison and dreamed everything from the rescue to the improbability surrounding her.
    But what a dream. If only it were true. And if only she had an ounce of their courage so she could face her old pack and fight for her right to make her own choices.
    Fighting hurts.
    The faint whimper and reminder quelled any exhilaration she might have briefly felt. While their spirit and intentions were good, reality was another thing.
    Apparently Hayder thought so, too, because he said, “Now, now, ladies. No starting any shit.”
    Hayder was right. Head down. Voice meek. Don’t—
    It seemed