Read Online Waking the Bear (Shifter Wars) by Kerry Adrienne - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Kerry Adrienne
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a new generation to shine in Deep Creek. A generation of lions. He didn’t care if he was around to be part of it, but he wanted the bears crushed.
Especially Griff. He set his mouth in a hard line and swallowed down the acid that crept up his throat.
Preston, a young lion, crossed his arms and leaned against the wall, his golden hair falling past his shoulders in loose waves. “I agree with Evers. We should’ve attacked while the bears were sleeping.”
“Finally. Someone rational.” Evers put his hands on his hips.
Preston continued, “Could’ve taken them out while they lived off their own fat. They are so groggy and slow in winter. Simple. Maybe no glory in a sneak attack, but it would’ve worked. We’d already be in control of the cave.”
Mason took a swig of his Buck’s Beer and set the green bottle down hard. Everyone looked toward him. “That wouldn’t have worked.” He glared at Preston. “We’d never have found them all because they’re so spread out. Even living in Oakwood and Henredon. Not like they have a compound like we do. The ones we didn’t find would have come after us like hornets out of a nest and there are a lot more of them than us. We’ve got to play this smart if we want to win decisively.”
Evers ground his teeth. Marco and Mason annoyed him these days. Sometimes they were too passive, especially Mason. Marco was fairly stern.
As heirs to the leadership of the pride, they had both grown into weak versions of their father. All talk and no action. Instead of leading with power and strength, they wanted to hold meetings and discuss what to do.
Bullshit. Time to put up or shut up.
“By all accounts, there are twice as many bears as lions.” Marco doodled on his notepad. “That’s a big problem.”
“We don’t know that for sure.” Evers closed his eyes and counted. One, two, three...oh, the stupidity.
“We don’t know it’s not true, either.” Marco set the notebook down. “Until we know all the facts, and until my father says so, we don’t attack.”
“Total bullshit.” Evers glanced around the room at the lions. They all looked fit and muscular. Battle-ready. No reason to wait, none at all. “Preston agrees with me.”
The young lion looked down at his hands.
“No accounting for ignorance.” Lara tapped her fingers on the chair’s armrest.
Evers growled. “Why is this female here?”
The rest of the lions in the room once again refused to meet his glare. Didn’t matter. He preferred to work on his own anyway. Didn’t need sloppy minions to do his work. If it weren’t for Maximillian, he’d not think twice about heading out on his own to take care of the bears. He might do it anyway. Out of respect for what the old man had done for him, he’d wait to hear out his plan.
Griff. Park ranger and bear bastard.
Saliva filled his mouth. Yeah. He’d take care of that bear. As soon as possible.
“Lara is an excellent warrior. We’re going to need her.” Marco kicked the recliner back and put his arms behind his head. “It’s not going to be long before it’s time to go after the bears, Evers. We’ll take what’s rightfully ours.”
A general group of “yeah” and “you bet we will” and “go lions” went out amongst the lions. Evers shook his head and rolled his eyes. He’d left the pride strong and tough and had come back to a pompon squad.
Most of the lions seemed to prefer hanging out and playing eight ball at the clubhouse or, as he’d heard, in the summer, sunning themselves by the pool Max had put in. No one wanted to actually fight for what the bears took from them. Max had even built a bowling alley and the lions had teams. Ugh.
The pride had no pride.
Evers grabbed a can of soda from the fridge and popped the top. I’m surrounded by idiots. He gulped the drink. Max would be ready to attack soon, he was sure of it.
They’d already waited long enough, and the cave belonged under the lions’ care, not the bears’. Not
Especially Griff. He set his mouth in a hard line and swallowed down the acid that crept up his throat.
Preston, a young lion, crossed his arms and leaned against the wall, his golden hair falling past his shoulders in loose waves. “I agree with Evers. We should’ve attacked while the bears were sleeping.”
“Finally. Someone rational.” Evers put his hands on his hips.
Preston continued, “Could’ve taken them out while they lived off their own fat. They are so groggy and slow in winter. Simple. Maybe no glory in a sneak attack, but it would’ve worked. We’d already be in control of the cave.”
Mason took a swig of his Buck’s Beer and set the green bottle down hard. Everyone looked toward him. “That wouldn’t have worked.” He glared at Preston. “We’d never have found them all because they’re so spread out. Even living in Oakwood and Henredon. Not like they have a compound like we do. The ones we didn’t find would have come after us like hornets out of a nest and there are a lot more of them than us. We’ve got to play this smart if we want to win decisively.”
Evers ground his teeth. Marco and Mason annoyed him these days. Sometimes they were too passive, especially Mason. Marco was fairly stern.
As heirs to the leadership of the pride, they had both grown into weak versions of their father. All talk and no action. Instead of leading with power and strength, they wanted to hold meetings and discuss what to do.
Bullshit. Time to put up or shut up.
“By all accounts, there are twice as many bears as lions.” Marco doodled on his notepad. “That’s a big problem.”
“We don’t know that for sure.” Evers closed his eyes and counted. One, two, three...oh, the stupidity.
“We don’t know it’s not true, either.” Marco set the notebook down. “Until we know all the facts, and until my father says so, we don’t attack.”
“Total bullshit.” Evers glanced around the room at the lions. They all looked fit and muscular. Battle-ready. No reason to wait, none at all. “Preston agrees with me.”
The young lion looked down at his hands.
“No accounting for ignorance.” Lara tapped her fingers on the chair’s armrest.
Evers growled. “Why is this female here?”
The rest of the lions in the room once again refused to meet his glare. Didn’t matter. He preferred to work on his own anyway. Didn’t need sloppy minions to do his work. If it weren’t for Maximillian, he’d not think twice about heading out on his own to take care of the bears. He might do it anyway. Out of respect for what the old man had done for him, he’d wait to hear out his plan.
Griff. Park ranger and bear bastard.
Saliva filled his mouth. Yeah. He’d take care of that bear. As soon as possible.
“Lara is an excellent warrior. We’re going to need her.” Marco kicked the recliner back and put his arms behind his head. “It’s not going to be long before it’s time to go after the bears, Evers. We’ll take what’s rightfully ours.”
A general group of “yeah” and “you bet we will” and “go lions” went out amongst the lions. Evers shook his head and rolled his eyes. He’d left the pride strong and tough and had come back to a pompon squad.
Most of the lions seemed to prefer hanging out and playing eight ball at the clubhouse or, as he’d heard, in the summer, sunning themselves by the pool Max had put in. No one wanted to actually fight for what the bears took from them. Max had even built a bowling alley and the lions had teams. Ugh.
The pride had no pride.
Evers grabbed a can of soda from the fridge and popped the top. I’m surrounded by idiots. He gulped the drink. Max would be ready to attack soon, he was sure of it.
They’d already waited long enough, and the cave belonged under the lions’ care, not the bears’. Not
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