Read Online Bearly Ever: An Alpha Werebear Shifter Paranormal Romance (Arcadia Knights Book 1) by Olivia Gayle - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Olivia Gayle
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around Aidan but he blocked her again, his eyes still on the old man. “My sister, Sonya,” she continued, glaring at Aidan.
Over-protective much?
The older man studied Ever, his gun not wavering. He was wearing a pair of jean overalls with no shirt, and cowboy boots that looked as if they’d seen more than their share of use. His short hair was almost completely white, his dark face weathered with age and sun. He looked between Ever and Aidan, frowning, then shook his head. “I just want to be left alone.”
“Mr. Avery, your name is on the deed to the house in question.”
“I know what properties I own, boy.” He lowered the gun, aiming it toward the dirt in front of him but looking ready to use it if anyone so much as twitched.
Aidan stood silently for a moment, thinking. Then, slowly, he lowered his hands. “Do you know what happened to her?”
“No, other than she showed up with that group who tried to take this place from me last month.”
His words definitely got Aidan’s interest. “What group?”
“Hell if I know, except they was all of ‘em shifters.” He grinned mirthlessly at the memory. “Probably thought they could roll a lonely old man, but I put the hurt on them. Learned a few tricks in my years living near you lot.”
“But what about my sister?” That was all she cared about. Sonya would never run with anyone dangerous, not willingly at least.
He snorted. “She came into town looking for a place. Contacted me about the house, gave me a bundle of cash, and I gave her the keys.”
“You didn’t report her presence to the Brahm?” Aidan said in a careful voice.
The word made the older man licks his lips and look at away nervously. “That man’s fucking scary,” he said morosely, looking everywhere but at Aidan. “She said she had approval so I took her for her word. Seemed like a nice kid, until she showed up on my property that night.”
“And the demolition of her house?”
“Wait, what do you mean demolition ?” Gone was the uncertainty; the old man looked pissed. “That house was my retirement; I’d never tear it down. I’ve put in too much money renovating. What happened to it?”
Aidan pursed his lips but said nothing. “Did you recognize any of the shifters on your property?”
“No, I want to talk about my house for a…”
“Mr. Avery.” Again, that booming voice that didn’t seem to just be volume. Ever could almost feel it in her bones, as if the words flowed through her. Weird. “The shifters who came onto your property: did you recognize them or not?”
The old man looked like he wanted to tell Aidan where to stick it, but eventually answered. “No, but I don’t go to town much anymore. There was about ten of them if that’s your next question.” The shotgun came up again, not quite pointing at them but close. “Now, get the hell off my property.”
Aidan ignored the gun, giving the old man an almost formal nod. “Thank you for your time, sir.”
“Eh,” the old man grumbled, turning back into his house as Aidan and Ever got into the car.
*
“Well,” Aidan muttered as they drove away, “that was a bust.”
Ever found it hard to contain her disappointment. “He didn’t know anything about her except she gave him money, then showed up and tried to roust him from his property. Which I simply can’t believe.”
“He was telling the truth when he spoke.”
She snorted. “Let me guess, you smelled it?”
“Yes.”
Ever blew out a breath. “Is it bad that I felt like throttling the answers out of him?”
Her question surprised a laugh out of him. “There’s a reason I was made Sheriff and not either of my older brothers. I have patience and at least some skill at diplomacy.” He angled a look at Ever. “They’re like my father, more apt to tear your head off than try a peaceful approach.”
“Lovely imagery,” Ever deadpanned, and Aidan grinned.
“They’d call me a wuss behind my back but never to my
Over-protective much?
The older man studied Ever, his gun not wavering. He was wearing a pair of jean overalls with no shirt, and cowboy boots that looked as if they’d seen more than their share of use. His short hair was almost completely white, his dark face weathered with age and sun. He looked between Ever and Aidan, frowning, then shook his head. “I just want to be left alone.”
“Mr. Avery, your name is on the deed to the house in question.”
“I know what properties I own, boy.” He lowered the gun, aiming it toward the dirt in front of him but looking ready to use it if anyone so much as twitched.
Aidan stood silently for a moment, thinking. Then, slowly, he lowered his hands. “Do you know what happened to her?”
“No, other than she showed up with that group who tried to take this place from me last month.”
His words definitely got Aidan’s interest. “What group?”
“Hell if I know, except they was all of ‘em shifters.” He grinned mirthlessly at the memory. “Probably thought they could roll a lonely old man, but I put the hurt on them. Learned a few tricks in my years living near you lot.”
“But what about my sister?” That was all she cared about. Sonya would never run with anyone dangerous, not willingly at least.
He snorted. “She came into town looking for a place. Contacted me about the house, gave me a bundle of cash, and I gave her the keys.”
“You didn’t report her presence to the Brahm?” Aidan said in a careful voice.
The word made the older man licks his lips and look at away nervously. “That man’s fucking scary,” he said morosely, looking everywhere but at Aidan. “She said she had approval so I took her for her word. Seemed like a nice kid, until she showed up on my property that night.”
“And the demolition of her house?”
“Wait, what do you mean demolition ?” Gone was the uncertainty; the old man looked pissed. “That house was my retirement; I’d never tear it down. I’ve put in too much money renovating. What happened to it?”
Aidan pursed his lips but said nothing. “Did you recognize any of the shifters on your property?”
“No, I want to talk about my house for a…”
“Mr. Avery.” Again, that booming voice that didn’t seem to just be volume. Ever could almost feel it in her bones, as if the words flowed through her. Weird. “The shifters who came onto your property: did you recognize them or not?”
The old man looked like he wanted to tell Aidan where to stick it, but eventually answered. “No, but I don’t go to town much anymore. There was about ten of them if that’s your next question.” The shotgun came up again, not quite pointing at them but close. “Now, get the hell off my property.”
Aidan ignored the gun, giving the old man an almost formal nod. “Thank you for your time, sir.”
“Eh,” the old man grumbled, turning back into his house as Aidan and Ever got into the car.
*
“Well,” Aidan muttered as they drove away, “that was a bust.”
Ever found it hard to contain her disappointment. “He didn’t know anything about her except she gave him money, then showed up and tried to roust him from his property. Which I simply can’t believe.”
“He was telling the truth when he spoke.”
She snorted. “Let me guess, you smelled it?”
“Yes.”
Ever blew out a breath. “Is it bad that I felt like throttling the answers out of him?”
Her question surprised a laugh out of him. “There’s a reason I was made Sheriff and not either of my older brothers. I have patience and at least some skill at diplomacy.” He angled a look at Ever. “They’re like my father, more apt to tear your head off than try a peaceful approach.”
“Lovely imagery,” Ever deadpanned, and Aidan grinned.
“They’d call me a wuss behind my back but never to my
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