Read Online Waking the Bear (Shifter Wars) by Kerry Adrienne - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Kerry Adrienne
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clutched the back of a chair, savoring his knuckles turning white under his ferocious grip. He thrived on his anger and the physical pain it caused, and it made him feel more powerful, especially in the room full of lions in sheep’s clothing.
The rec room the pride used for meetings was even more stifling than the compound, especially when most of the decision makers were in attendance. Too many people in too small a space. Like today.
He stood to his full height. “I’m tired of waiting.”
He couldn’t let the others know his true agenda. Once Griff was out of the way, he might help regain the cave, depending on his mood and how many bears he might get the chance to kill, but then he was heading out of the area and making his home elsewhere. He scanned the group. “I’m ready to fight for what’s ours.”
All the lions kept their heads down except Lara, who met his gaze with a scowl, but Evers knew none would truly challenge him except the twins.
Maximillian, the pride leader, was another matter. Evers did respect him some, though as Max had aged, he’d lost some of his hard edge.
Evers held his nose high and sniffed the fear wafting through the air. Fear he’d caused. He stifled a grin. No denying it, he enjoyed the power he still held in the pride. The men knew to respect him, and the women didn’t count.
“Sit down and shut up, Evers.” Lara let out a low growl and crossed her arms. “You don’t make the decisions. Max does.”
Evers moved to stand in front of her and leaned close. “Don’t try to tell me what to do. I’ll crush you.”
Lara rose, her hands fisted, and Evers stepped back. “You’re even more of an asshole than you were before you left.” She moved toward him. “Why don’t you go back to whichever garbage pail you were scavenging from? We don’t need you. Or want you.”
“You need me. You’re just too stupid to realize it.” Evers sneered. “War is coming.”
“We’ll be ready, despite you. I’m training a group of lionesses to fight, and we’ll be helping when we go after the bears. Whether you like it or not.”
“Your place is here in the compound, having babies.” Evers ran his hand through his short hair. Disgust rolled through him. He was going to have to talk to Max, as he’d clearly lost his mind.
Lara shrieked, and the slap that followed echoed across the room. Evers reeled, his face stinging, his pride stinging even more. The other lions jumped to their feet and Mason rushed over and pushed between Evers and Lara, jostling Evers backward.
“Enough!” Mason’s voice carried in the room, booming off the walls.
“Come on, Evers.” Marco pushed him. “When are you going to learn to keep your mouth shut?”
Evers steadied himself and wiped at his cheek, the low-level anger he’d had boiling up exponentially. His face burned where Lara slapped him. If Marco weren’t standing there, he’d punch her.
“You’ll pay for that.” Evers spit on the floor then glared at Lara.
“Bring it.” Lara sat down. “I’m not afraid of you. There’s more where that came from, and next time it won’t be just a slap.”
“You’d better be afraid of me,” Evers muttered and turned away. The pride was out of control.
The lions scattered and returned to their seats, whispering and staring.
“Evers, calm down before I get up and beat your ass myself.” Marco leaned back in his leather recliner. He already had the regal posture, his shoulders squared and his spine straight. He looked ready to rule, if Max tapped him. “Until my father speaks, we wait.”
Most of the lions in the upper echelon had already arrived to talk about what to do about the bears and Max was late as usual. Evers huffed. The old lion had gotten even worse about being tardy.
As pride Enforcer, Evers knew the best plan for war. After all, enforcement was his job. He didn’t need the old man to tell him it was time to attack the bears and take the cave.
It was time.
Time for
The rec room the pride used for meetings was even more stifling than the compound, especially when most of the decision makers were in attendance. Too many people in too small a space. Like today.
He stood to his full height. “I’m tired of waiting.”
He couldn’t let the others know his true agenda. Once Griff was out of the way, he might help regain the cave, depending on his mood and how many bears he might get the chance to kill, but then he was heading out of the area and making his home elsewhere. He scanned the group. “I’m ready to fight for what’s ours.”
All the lions kept their heads down except Lara, who met his gaze with a scowl, but Evers knew none would truly challenge him except the twins.
Maximillian, the pride leader, was another matter. Evers did respect him some, though as Max had aged, he’d lost some of his hard edge.
Evers held his nose high and sniffed the fear wafting through the air. Fear he’d caused. He stifled a grin. No denying it, he enjoyed the power he still held in the pride. The men knew to respect him, and the women didn’t count.
“Sit down and shut up, Evers.” Lara let out a low growl and crossed her arms. “You don’t make the decisions. Max does.”
Evers moved to stand in front of her and leaned close. “Don’t try to tell me what to do. I’ll crush you.”
Lara rose, her hands fisted, and Evers stepped back. “You’re even more of an asshole than you were before you left.” She moved toward him. “Why don’t you go back to whichever garbage pail you were scavenging from? We don’t need you. Or want you.”
“You need me. You’re just too stupid to realize it.” Evers sneered. “War is coming.”
“We’ll be ready, despite you. I’m training a group of lionesses to fight, and we’ll be helping when we go after the bears. Whether you like it or not.”
“Your place is here in the compound, having babies.” Evers ran his hand through his short hair. Disgust rolled through him. He was going to have to talk to Max, as he’d clearly lost his mind.
Lara shrieked, and the slap that followed echoed across the room. Evers reeled, his face stinging, his pride stinging even more. The other lions jumped to their feet and Mason rushed over and pushed between Evers and Lara, jostling Evers backward.
“Enough!” Mason’s voice carried in the room, booming off the walls.
“Come on, Evers.” Marco pushed him. “When are you going to learn to keep your mouth shut?”
Evers steadied himself and wiped at his cheek, the low-level anger he’d had boiling up exponentially. His face burned where Lara slapped him. If Marco weren’t standing there, he’d punch her.
“You’ll pay for that.” Evers spit on the floor then glared at Lara.
“Bring it.” Lara sat down. “I’m not afraid of you. There’s more where that came from, and next time it won’t be just a slap.”
“You’d better be afraid of me,” Evers muttered and turned away. The pride was out of control.
The lions scattered and returned to their seats, whispering and staring.
“Evers, calm down before I get up and beat your ass myself.” Marco leaned back in his leather recliner. He already had the regal posture, his shoulders squared and his spine straight. He looked ready to rule, if Max tapped him. “Until my father speaks, we wait.”
Most of the lions in the upper echelon had already arrived to talk about what to do about the bears and Max was late as usual. Evers huffed. The old lion had gotten even worse about being tardy.
As pride Enforcer, Evers knew the best plan for war. After all, enforcement was his job. He didn’t need the old man to tell him it was time to attack the bears and take the cave.
It was time.
Time for
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