Bear Again (Second Chance Shifters 3) Read Online Free PDF Page B

didn’t want to start a fight with her about the semantics of their relationship. And he didn’t want to debate how much the man had to do with his feelings for her. The wall she had built against the clan was tall and wide.
    “Come on, let’s get your shower rod.” He pulled her hand into his palm and led her down the stairs through the kitchen.
    Tripp’s was the closest thing Bear Lake had to a Home Depot. Howard Tripp was the third generation to run the store. He was also an elder in Liam’s clan. Liam nodded at the man as he and Sophia walked into the store.
    She waved nervously.
    “Sophia. Liam. Good to see you two in here together.” Howard smiled from behind the counter.
    “Glad we made it in before you closed.” Liam thought they had about thirty minutes before Howard left for the night.
    “Can I help you find something?”
    “Where are the shower rods?” Liam asked.
    Howard’s eyes lit up. “A little house project? They’re on that last aisle at the end.”
    “Thanks.” Liam tugged on Sophia to follow him.
    She looked up at him. “Wait. Does he think… Does he know something about this?”
    Liam shrugged. “Don’t worry about it.”
    She stopped in the middle of the aisle. “How many people know?”
    He could see the anger radiating through her. He could feel it. “Soph, I told you it’s clan business.”
    “So how many?” She wasn’t going to move until he told her.
    He closed his eyes. “Everyone.” He braced himself for her reaction.
    She staggered close to a rack of brooms. “Everyone? As in the entire clan?”
    Suddenly he realized bringing her with him to Tripp’s wasn’t such a good idea. “Let’s get the shower rod and we can talk about this at your place.”
    She shook off his hand. “Don’t touch me. Howard’s watching, right? Everyone’s watching? Everyone in this damn town is a bear!”
    “Keep your voice down, or else they’ll know our business.” He grabbed her above the elbow and escorted her to the back of the store. “Howard only knows what he sees.”
    “And he’s going to spread the gossip to someone else.”
    “Hey, you’re forgetting I’m the alpha.” He didn’t like to throw his title around, but it seemed like a good time to remind her of the weight of his status. “They aren’t going to do anything to piss me off. The want me to be happy. With you ,” he added.
    Liam grabbed a stainless steel rod with brackets and faced her.
    “I don’t want to have anything to do with this. I told you that,” she hissed.
    “Let’s not talk about this in the middle of the store, okay? Let’s get some dinner. We can talk about it over a bottle of wine. After I put up your new shower rod.” He grinned at her, trying to soothe her growing agitation.
    “No and no.” She shrugged off his grip. “I’m going home alone.” She marched down the aisle.
    Liam jogged after her, but stopped when he was in Howard’s line of sight. He let Sophia skirt out of the front door.
    “Everything all right, Liam?”
    He chuckled. “Of course. Just a little dispute over which style. She wants to redecorate the bathroom in porcelain.” He placed the rod next to the register and paid for it.
    Howard handed him the receipt. “You know the other elders and I are anxious to get the date for your blood oath ceremony. Have you two set a date?”
    Liam scratched the back of his head. “Not yet. But I’ll let you know.”
    “The eclipse is soon, son,” the old man warned.
    “I know when it is.” Liam opened the door. “Good night.”

11

Sophia
    S he didn’t care that she was walking while it was freezing outside. There was enough rage inside her to keep her warm. She crossed the street.
    What was she thinking? Of course the clan members knew what was happening. They always did. When she started dating Noah, she couldn’t go anywhere without someone mentioning some kind of clan news. It didn’t help that they cared most about the alpha.
    Most of them had been at