Bear Apparent (BBW Shifter Romance) (Stone Claw Clan Book 1) Read Online Free PDF Page B

opinion, the three feet separating them was too much.
    The idea that she cared enough about what might please his taste buds further enticed his animal nature. He reminded himself she had no idea what her actions and words were doing to him, and that she was just trying to be nice. Or manipulative, he mused, remembering there was a price for her help.
    He sat up and positioned the tray across his lap. He was so hungry, he could just pour the soup down his throat, but he didn’t want to come off as a slob in front of her. He lifted the spoon and dipped it into the thick concoction. The moment the soup hit his tongue, he sighed, and closed his eyes. She watched with curious fascination as he ate, the bowl quickly draining. He refrained from licking it clean, and set the spoon down.
    “That was delicious. Thank you,” he said, pushing away the urge to beg for more food.
    “You want some more?” she asked, taking the bowl before he could respond. “I’ll get you some more. I know you didn’t get that size on single course meals.”
    She was gone in an instant, and Garrett wondered if he had given himself away somehow… one bowl of soup wasn’t going to satisfy his monstrous appetite, especially coming off an injury induced hibernation. She returned quickly, and set the refilled bowl on the tray. He passed her an appreciative smile then dug in.
    “So,” she started, and Garrett didn’t miss the hesitation in her voice. Her body tensed, too. “What exactly are you?”
    He swallowed his food then took a sip of the water provided. “A shape-shifter. We don’t really have a designation, we just are.”
    She digested that nugget for a moment then frowned. “And you can become a bear? Can you take other shapes?”
    “No. I am bear, but there are a few that can shift into multiple forms. It’s a rare skill,” he said, running his eyes all over her face. His hunger bled into a need of a different sort.
    She nodded slowly, her gaze growing distant. “And that other bear… why was he trying to kill you?”
    Garrett knew she’d have questions about that, but he was sore about the whole thing, and admitting to her he was the loser in that show of strength went right to his pride—but he owed her an explanation. Setting the tray on the coffee table, he sighed. “That bear is called Lazaran, the leader of a rival clan. His clan ran mine out of our home, and he tracked me down. I guess he was dead set on making an example by killing me rather than chasing me off. Either that, or he was bored.”
    “That’s… barbaric,” she said, her voice cracking.
    “I agree. It’s not uncommon for a clan’s territory to be taken over by a challenger, but the event rarely ends in death. I’ve heard of Lazaran’s cruelty before, but I guess I never thought he’d come this far south, and challenge me.”
    Her lip went between her teeth and her emerald gaze slid to his. “Are you going to fight to get your home back?”
    Garrett looked away, a show of submission if there ever was one. After a long moment, he admitted, “I don’t know. Lazaran has the backing of a mating-bond, and I don’t. I’m not as strong as he is without it.”
    He didn’t need to see her expression to know all sorts of questions were zipping through her mind. What is a mating-bond? And why don’t you have it? Along with a whole other host of details. Her silence was welcomed as he didn’t want to broach the subject with her right now – he was still too sore about being beat by the other bear.
    Unfortunately, she was a curious little kitten. “By mating bond, I assume you mean a wife?”
    His voice was hoarse as he spoke, and his chest suddenly grew tight. “If that is the word you want to use. But there is a long and complicated story behind the whole thing.”
    Dahlia did that thing with her lip again, and Garrett knew he wasn’t going to be able to say no if she insisted. “Will you tell me?”
    Grinding his molars, Garrett moved the tray to