Read Online A Bride For The Bear (Bear Brides #1) by Natalie Kristen - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Natalie Kristen
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knew nothing of this invasion. Graig was going behind his
Alpha's back, using his clan's power to settle his petty grievances
and grudges.
Cole pulled on a pair of old
jeans and walked out of his house, bare bodied and barefoot. He
would be shifting into bear form for the battle. His bungalow was
built on an incline, allowing him to see anyone coming up towards the
house before they even realized they were being watched.
In a few minutes, he saw
members of his clan converging at the bottom of the slope before
marching up grimly towards him. Dalton was at the head of the group,
while Tony and Brad brought up the rear of their tight-knit clan.
“Alpha.” His
clan stood before him, awaiting his orders. They had all been roused
from their beds, but they stood ready and alert.
“So the Blood Shadow
bears are itching for a fight,” someone muttered. “I'll
shred them, and be home in time for breakfast.” There were
chuffs of assent and the sound of cracking knuckles.
Cole put up his hand for
silence. His bears were fearless and loyal. They were all powerful,
deadly fighters, but still they were outnumbered. “If I can
avoid sending you into battle, I will,” Cole told them quietly.
“There is no avoiding
this battle,” Tony snarled.
Cole took a deep breath and
carried on, “I will battle Graig. Alone.”
Shocked, indignant protests
rippled through the ranks.
“You can't do that!”
Dalton exploded.
Cole smiled tightly. “I've
battled men like Graig. Graig won't be able to resist my challenge.
He won't want to look weak in front of his men. He will take me on,
just to take me down.”
“Yes, but if you
lose...” Dalton snapped in frustration.
“If I die, Dalton will
be your Alpha,” Cole announced to the clan. “Obey him,
and fight for him.”
“Yes, Alpha,” his
bears muttered unhappily.
He had given a direct order
as Alpha. No one, not even his Beta, would challenge that order.
Cole's keen eyes found Brad's. His younger brother held his gaze for
a beat and nodded. He understood what Cole was going to do and he
would back him up.
Cole's nostrils flared as the
wind carried the hostile scent of the Blood Shadow bears. “They're
here,” he growled.
As his clan members prepared
to move out to the periphery of their territory to meet the threat
head on, Cole glanced over his shoulder and saw Abby standing at the
front steps of the house in his large t-shirt. Her eyes looked
stricken and she was pressing her fist to her mouth in an effort not
to make a sound. He stared at the mate mark on her neck and smirked.
She was his, and he would protect her, fight for her and live for her.
Cole wasn't one to take
unnecessary, foolhardy risks. He always calculated his chances and
his odds before embarking on any course of action. He had brawn, but
he used his brain more. His resourcefulness, incisive judgment and
quick-thinking had ensured the survival and growth of the Nightfire
clan. His clan might be small, but they weren't weak. Under his
leadership, the Nightfire clan had grown swiftly in influence and
power. They were a force to be reckoned with in Moonstone Creek.
Cole knew that if he gave the order to fight, his bears would be able
to hold their own against the Blood Shadow bears even though they
were small in number. But if he could help it, he would avoid
spilling the blood of his people.
Cole saw Abby stand tall in
front of his house and ball her fists at her sides. Her lips
quivered as she mouthed the words to him.
I love you .
His lips curved up. His Abby
might be human but she was strong. She was the mate of the Nightfire
Alpha. She was worried for him, but she wasn't afraid. Her stoic
stance and silence showed that she understood shifter politics. He
had explained to her that packs and clans valued their honor above
their lives. They would stop at nothing to avenge their loved ones
and they would fight to the death to defend what was theirs.
Violence was inevitable in his world. It was
Alpha's back, using his clan's power to settle his petty grievances
and grudges.
Cole pulled on a pair of old
jeans and walked out of his house, bare bodied and barefoot. He
would be shifting into bear form for the battle. His bungalow was
built on an incline, allowing him to see anyone coming up towards the
house before they even realized they were being watched.
In a few minutes, he saw
members of his clan converging at the bottom of the slope before
marching up grimly towards him. Dalton was at the head of the group,
while Tony and Brad brought up the rear of their tight-knit clan.
“Alpha.” His
clan stood before him, awaiting his orders. They had all been roused
from their beds, but they stood ready and alert.
“So the Blood Shadow
bears are itching for a fight,” someone muttered. “I'll
shred them, and be home in time for breakfast.” There were
chuffs of assent and the sound of cracking knuckles.
Cole put up his hand for
silence. His bears were fearless and loyal. They were all powerful,
deadly fighters, but still they were outnumbered. “If I can
avoid sending you into battle, I will,” Cole told them quietly.
“There is no avoiding
this battle,” Tony snarled.
Cole took a deep breath and
carried on, “I will battle Graig. Alone.”
Shocked, indignant protests
rippled through the ranks.
“You can't do that!”
Dalton exploded.
Cole smiled tightly. “I've
battled men like Graig. Graig won't be able to resist my challenge.
He won't want to look weak in front of his men. He will take me on,
just to take me down.”
“Yes, but if you
lose...” Dalton snapped in frustration.
“If I die, Dalton will
be your Alpha,” Cole announced to the clan. “Obey him,
and fight for him.”
“Yes, Alpha,” his
bears muttered unhappily.
He had given a direct order
as Alpha. No one, not even his Beta, would challenge that order.
Cole's keen eyes found Brad's. His younger brother held his gaze for
a beat and nodded. He understood what Cole was going to do and he
would back him up.
Cole's nostrils flared as the
wind carried the hostile scent of the Blood Shadow bears. “They're
here,” he growled.
As his clan members prepared
to move out to the periphery of their territory to meet the threat
head on, Cole glanced over his shoulder and saw Abby standing at the
front steps of the house in his large t-shirt. Her eyes looked
stricken and she was pressing her fist to her mouth in an effort not
to make a sound. He stared at the mate mark on her neck and smirked.
She was his, and he would protect her, fight for her and live for her.
Cole wasn't one to take
unnecessary, foolhardy risks. He always calculated his chances and
his odds before embarking on any course of action. He had brawn, but
he used his brain more. His resourcefulness, incisive judgment and
quick-thinking had ensured the survival and growth of the Nightfire
clan. His clan might be small, but they weren't weak. Under his
leadership, the Nightfire clan had grown swiftly in influence and
power. They were a force to be reckoned with in Moonstone Creek.
Cole knew that if he gave the order to fight, his bears would be able
to hold their own against the Blood Shadow bears even though they
were small in number. But if he could help it, he would avoid
spilling the blood of his people.
Cole saw Abby stand tall in
front of his house and ball her fists at her sides. Her lips
quivered as she mouthed the words to him.
I love you .
His lips curved up. His Abby
might be human but she was strong. She was the mate of the Nightfire
Alpha. She was worried for him, but she wasn't afraid. Her stoic
stance and silence showed that she understood shifter politics. He
had explained to her that packs and clans valued their honor above
their lives. They would stop at nothing to avenge their loved ones
and they would fight to the death to defend what was theirs.
Violence was inevitable in his world. It was
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