Read Online Seduced By The Lion Alpha by Bonnie Burrows - Free Book Online Page A

faltered, never second-guessed himself. More and more I was wishing I held that kind of grace, if only because I knew it would make dancing so much easier.
     
    “Of course, you are part cat, after all,” I replied. Leon tilted his head to one side, looking thoughtful.
     
    “True enough,” he agreed after a moment. We walked in silence for a few minutes after that, and I took the moment to imagine myself dancing with the grace Leon had in his every breath - twirling across dance floors, sashaying in beautiful dresses, and rocking from foot to foot as I was led across the dance floor. It all sounded magical and unreal. My gaze darted to Leon again. What I would not give to be part of such a world, where beauty and grace were exuded at every moment, where power and seduction lingered in every touch and gaze, and where you would never be cold again.
     
    Leon stumbled, driving me out of my thoughts. He pressed his hand to his head and winced. The look held longer than I expected it to.
     
    “Are you all right?” I asked, reaching out for him. He flinched back and shook his head, looking away from me.
     
    “We must get to the city,” he murmured. “So you can be safe from me.”
     
    “I’m not afraid of you,” I said sharply.
     
    Leon smirked and pushed off the tree he held out to. He led me in the direction of the road. “No,” he said. “But you should be.”
     
    And again we walked in silence. I couldn’t help but frown at Leon’s accusation and assumption. What made him think I should be afraid of him? What gave him the right to tell me what was and wasn’t in my best interests? I scowled at my feet and trudged onward. My earlier grace was forgotten, and now I simply walked because I had to. I didn’t want to leave Leon. This had been the best day of my life, but I knew I had to.
     
    Before long we arrived at the road to the city and Leon stopped. This was the exact road I’d walked earlier today, when I had first come to the forest, but now it looked so different. Or perhaps I was viewing it through different eyes. Instead of the tall buildings rising in the distance looking powerful and majestic, all I saw were cages and walls. The forest called to me. Its scent sung praises in my nose and veins, begging me to stay. Oh, how I wanted to stay.
     
    “It is best we part ways here,” said Leon. His voice had broken the silence once more. I turned to stare at him, frowning with all my might. “I am sorry, but it is for the best.”
     
    “Thank you,” I said.
     
    Leon’s eyebrows shot up and his nose wrinkled. “For what?”
     
    “For everything,” I said. “This has been the best day of my life, and I have you to thank for it. It was thrilling and adventurous and passionate…” I trailed off, sighing. “So, thank you.”
     
    “You’re… you’re welcome,” said Leon. His looked at his feet, frowning thoughtfully.
     
    “Will I ever see you again?” I asked. His frown deepened and, slowly, he shook his head, closing his eyes.
     
    “No, and it is for the best. Pride life is simply too different from the human life you are used to. We would never be able to meet up, nor would we be able to be together.” He sounded as reluctant as I felt, but I knew his words were firm. “That is simply the way it is.”
     
    “Pride life sounds exciting,” I said, unable to help my protests. “Take me with you.”
     
    He shook his head. “I cannot.” I could swear he was sad. He leaned in and kissed my cheek, and I felt a brief breeze. When I looked down, I saw he had snipped a piece of the excess tail off my shirt with a claw. As I watched, the claw morphed back into the nail, and he pulled away with the piece dangling from his fingertips.
     
    “Just in case,” he said.
     
    “In case what?” I asked.
     
    “In case I need to find you.” He sniffed the cloth and then nodded toward the city. I turned away from him and began the slow trek back to