Slade (BBW Bear Shifter Moonshiner Romance) (120 Proof Honey Book 5) Read Online Free PDF

Veronica walk away.

    She dashed to her room and called Slade. He didn’t answer. When his voicemail came on, she said, “Is everyone okay? I have my clan here, and I’ve forbidden them from leaving the house. Please let me know what’s going on. I’m sorry, Slade. Christina just went behind my back and did this, and she doesn’t care that I commanded them to stay away from you. I hope everyone is okay. I’m so sorry.”

    She hung up and paced her room. Should she go over there? See what was wrong? But they might be hostile. They didn’t know the whole situation, unless Slade had managed to tell them some of it. But if he got home when they were in the middle of a fight, how much had he told them?

    And if one of the guys was hurt, they might be going to the hospital now. Maybe that’s why he didn’t answer. She felt so bad about the whole thing. She didn’t want anyone getting hurt, and somehow, she felt worse that it was one of the men who had. If one of her women was hurt, it would be their own stupid fault. They would deserve it. But the men had only been trying to make the situation better.  

    She hoped whoever it was would be okay. She didn’t know which was the beekeeper, or even any of their names, but it didn’t matter. Whoever he was, he was one of Slade’s, and that’s what mattered. She didn’t want Slade to be hurt by this. And she really didn’t want him to turn against her through all this. What if he did, though? What if somehow, he thought she’d planned it that way, to get him out of the way so her clan could attack?

    Oh no. It did seem like a solid explanation. She’d set the time and place. How convenient. But then, she’d called him to warn him. To tell him to hurry. That had to mean something, right? He had to know, after all she’d told him, that she would never allow this. Would never order this. As her stomach tightened in panic, her phone rang.

    It was Slade. She held her breath and answered. “Is everyone okay?”

    “Hey. No. Knox is hurt really badly. We’re at the hospital.”

    “Oh my God, Slade, I am so sorry. You know I didn’t allow this. I forbid them from coming onto your property at all. I never wanted it to get to this. I never wanted a fight or for anyone to get hurt.”

    “I know. He’s going to be okay. But Veronica…”

    “Yes?” She gulped. Her mouth was dry waiting for his response.

    “We’re going to have to retaliate. I can’t just let this go. I owe my guys more than that.”

    “Okay, right. Of course.” She tried to breathe. “What does that mean, though?”

    “I don’t know yet. But I told the guys what you and I discussed today. They’re aware of the situation.”

    “But Slade—”

    “I gotta go.”

    “Bye,” she said, but he’d already hung up.

    She continued pacing, now worried for a different reason. What did it mean that he’d told them everything? That they wouldn’t hurt her because they knew? Or didn’t that matter? Maybe they didn’t care that she had forbidden them and they hadn’t listened. Maybe they thought if she couldn’t lead them, that she had to be taken out. Maybe it was going to be a huge slaughter.

    She went downstairs and checked all the windows and doors to make sure everything was locked up.

    “What’s going on?” Robin asked.

    “We have to be prepared for retaliation.” She spoke louder, so everyone could hear her, no matter where they were in the house. “I want a watch all night. Take two hours shifts and rotate. Bear form, around the house only. Stay close. Got it?”

    She heard a confirmation of some sort from each of them.  

    “Watch starts now. I’ll go first.” Veronica changed back into bear form, but made sure her phone was close so she’d hear it if it rang again. She walked in a circle around the house, hoping it would burn off some of her anxiety.

Slade paced across the front of the living room, stroking his chin. The little hairs there needed to be trimmed,