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he tried to steal from only once. She almost managed to stab him with her fork. After that he wisely
left her bacon alone.
Just like he left her alone when she went for a shower.
Even bigger sad meow.
It was pure torture sitting in the living room, hearing the water running, knowing she stood under
its slippery wetness, naked.
She s naked. Without me.
It was enough to drive a lion rabid.
It also made a certain predator antsy. Filled with restless energy and sexually frustrated
Hayder decided there was only one thing to do. Once she exited the bedroom, squeaky clean wanna
dirty her dressed wanna strip her and ignoring him not for long he cornered her in the
kitchen.
Get ready.
Bent over to put some plates in the dishwasher, doing it on purpose he was sure to torture him,
she tossed him a look over her shoulder as she asked, Get ready for what?
Questioning was good. Not staring at her toes even better. Does it matter?
The newer, bolder Arabella narrowed her eyes with suspicion. Of course it matters.
Too bad. It s a surprise. You ll have to trust me. Now get some shoes on and grab a jacket just in
case. We re going out for a while.
Hair flew in silken strands as she shook her head. Oh no we aren t. Look what happened
yesterday.
You had fun.
The simple reply stumped her, but not for long. Fun isn t worth the possibility of yo um, people
getting hurt.
She might have caught herself, but he could guess what she d almost said. She worried about him.
So cute. It made him want to
Screw want. He acted.
He grabbed Arabella in a big hug, lifted her off her feet, and planted a big, noisy smooch on her
lips.
She squeaked, much like a toy he d owned as a child, but in her case, he didn t tear her apart to
find out where the sound came from. He gently set her back on her feet, even if his true impulse was
to drag her into the bedroom and see how many different pitches of squeak he could get her to emit
when he explored her body.
She opened her mouth, but he forestalled her with a quickly threatened, Speak again and I ll kiss
you.
If you re kissing me, then we re not going out. So I guess I win. She flung her taunt at him and
crossed her arms, daring him to kiss her, tempting him to kiss, trying to get her way.
Utterly adorable.
But dangerous. If he stayed, he would seduce her, and he knew, while she acted brave now, it
wasn t what she wanted. She wanted time, and by the tuft on his tail, she d get it, even if it almost
killed him in the process.
Baby, you have a wicked side. I like it. He also liked the fact she couldn t protest when he
kissed her again as he toted her from the condo to the elevator. He liked that she wound her arms
around his neck and growled menacingly enough that, when someone tried to board with them, they
changed their mind, leaving them alone.
He kept kissing her, even as he stalked through the lobby, a victim of catcalls, and cat whistles.
Alas, the kissing had to stop once he plopped her into the passenger seat of his car. Driving was
best accomplished with his eyes on the road and at least one hand on the wheel.
The other, though, laid claim to her thigh. To his pleasure, she didn t remove it.
She did, however, start to talk again. Where are we going?
You ll soon see.
Jeoff won t be happy you re taking me out again.
Like he cared what Jeoff thought. Hiding you won t make the problem go away. Best we draw
your pursuers out in the open and take care of them before we let down our guard.
You mean you know they might try to follow us?
He shrugged. I would assume so. I m sure they ve got people watching the building now that they
know where you are. While I don t see anyone tailing us, that doesn t mean they re not there
somewhere. But don t worry. Any followers probably have a tail of their own. The pride is on the
prowl.
Aren t you worried someone might get hurt?
Don t you dare imply the lionesses can t take care of themselves. They re liable to skin you
alive. Literally. They re partial to the furs of their enemies and, given their scarcity in recent decades,
eager for any chance to get their hands on some.
You talk as if the women are equal and as strong as men.
They are. Sex doesn t determine your ability to defend yourself.
It can make a difference, especially when it comes to size and strength.
Physically, yes. And if you are up against someone with no honor, you might be at a
disadvantage. But in most cases, simply having the courage to assert your rights is enough to get the
respect you deserve. Act like a doormat, and people will step on you. Act as if you have a right to
strut, and people will get out of your way.
Easier said than done.
No one said it would be easy, but with practice, you ll see it comes naturally. But enough deep
discussion. It s time for a little fun. We re here. Turning onto a narrowly paved driveway, lined with
conifers that towered at least fifty feet or more, he brought them to a stop in front of a farmhouse, a
mansion-sized one, but still a farmhouse.
The structure boasted numerous additions, giving it a unique appearance that had nothing to do
with its sparkling white clapboard. The house with its red shutters and front door had belonged to the
lions for generations. At one time, they d lived in it, adding to it as the pride expanded.
Eventually, most of the gang moved to the city, jobs and amenities calling them to a different life,
leaving behind only a few permanent keepers. The farm also provided refuge to visitors who enjoyed
coming out to the country for a spot of fresh air, a chance to stretch their legs, and a safe spot to
unleash their animal side, something they couldn t do in the city.
What is this place? she asked as she exited his car and glanced around.
A place where we can run wild without fear of prying eyes.
You mean shift. For some reason the saddest expression darkened her features.
He didn t understand. Most shifters were elated at the chance to have a place they could safely
run without fear of discovery or hunters. Yes, shift. We all know how our animal sides love a four-
legged run, so Arik s ancestors created this space for us. It s the Lion s Pride Ranch. Hundreds of
acres of woods, fields, and even hills with a river running through it all. To the public eye, it s the
place we raise our beef for the restaurants. But in truth, it s a safe zone for our kind.
Safe how? What makes it different from the national parks?
A couple of things. It s enclosed by a fence, ten feet high, electrified and with barbed wire along
the top to keep away outsiders. There are cameras monitoring the perimeter along with some pride
members, who, I warn you, will take you down if you call them park rangers. Especially if offered a
picnic basket. Once again, Hayder spoke from experience.
Why bring me here though? Even with all those security measures, surely we re safer at the
condo?
You re with me, which makes you safe. But safety isn t worth squat if you re losing your mind. I
thought, with all the stress you ve been under, you could use an escape. A chance to run wild and
free.
Except the more he talked, the more she withdrew, the more she hunched in on herself. He
reached out a hand, but she shied away.
What is it, baby? What s wrong?
We have to leave. Now.
Are you worried about your old pack attacking?
No. Please. We just need to go.
We re not budging until you tell me why.
The admission, when it came, stunned him. I can t shift. Not anymore. My wolf is gone.
Chapter Twelve
Admitting her shameful secret aloud hurt, but not as much as the memory of why her wolf no
longer came out to play.
She should have known Hayder wouldn t just take her word for it. What do you mean, you can t
shift? You re a wolf. I can smell it.
I used to be a wolf you mean. Not anymore. I haven t been able to coax my other side out in
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