Bearly Apart (Big Paw Security Book 5) Read Online Free PDF Page B

think we did the right thing? He could come after us later.”

    “There was no other option, Marcus. You wouldn't be able to live with yourself if you did anything more.”

    He nodded, silent for a few moments, then he wrapped an arm around her and kissed her deeply.

Things had moved fast when they got back to King's Security Solutions . Without any leadership, the rest of the shifters were looking up to Marcus. All of the shifters, with the exception of those loyal to Joe who had fled, agreed that Marcus should take over as Clan Leader. The Elders were gone and Marcus was the next logical step in line.

    Marcus, to Addy's surprise, had asked for her opinion on the matter. Together, they had agreed that Marcus should become temporary Clan Leader, with Clive and Russ serving under him as his second in commands. They had stood by him no matter what – even when he had made the wrong call so long ago. He would be able to trust them.

    Now, Addy and Marcus sat together in the conference room. In their absence, the room had been repaired and cleaned as much as possible. New doors replaced the old shattered ones and many of the broken chairs had been removed. The main table, something that Addy had assumed was nothing more than firewood, had been put back together with wooden braces running along the bottom of it. It was a temporary solution at best. The room seemed more empty and lonely than ever.

    “So, what do we do now?” Marcus asked, leaning back in the same chair Joe had been sitting in earlier. Addy was sitting to his side, elbows on the table, wondering the same thing.

    “I don't know,” Addy said. “This changes everything.”

    “It doesn't have to, Addy.”

    “How?”

    “We've focused our whole lives into serving our Clan. That can change, still. I know we wanted to take a step back, but we can actually make a difference now. Move our Clans forward. Move shifters forward. And we can do it all together. Once we've set things on the right tracks, we can step back and live our lives how we want to.”

    Addy mulled it over. She would be lying if she said she hadn't been thinking about the future now that Joe and the Elders were out of the picture. After meeting Marcus but before he had taken over the Clan, she'd thought it would be best for both of them to take a step back. To live their lives without the Clans always imposing on them. But could they live their lives, within the Clans, and still be happy together? She thought they could. At least long enough to make a positive difference.

    “Are you sure, Marcus? I want a life. I want a life with you. I don't want to look back on my life and realize I'd done nothing but serve my Clan until the day I couldn't any longer.”

    “We can make a difference, Addy. I can become a Clan Leader, guiding my Clan and business into the new age, just like the way my father wanted. You can help bridge the gap between my Clan and your father's. We can help each other. We can help every shifter out there. If you want to, we can give it a shot.”

    Addy smiled, leaning close to Marcus. Their lips inches apart, Addy whispered, “Okay, Clan Leader.”

    Marcus was up on his feet in a second, wrapping Addy up in his long, thick arms. He pulled her close and she slid her arms over his shoulders, wrapping around his neck. His mouth found her's, kissing slowly at first, his lips knowing exactly what to do. His tongue darted between Addy's lips, tentatively at first, then pushing deeper when her own tongue came up to meet his.

    Addy felt Marcus's hands wander all across her body, starting with the small of her back before moving down to her bottom. He squeezed with both hands, lifting her onto the table before his hands moved around her hips, down her thighs, over her knees and back up her body. His large hands roved over her stomach, careful of her wound, then trailed up to her breasts, squeezing through the fabric until his hands moved up to her neck. His large fingers