Page 39 of Bria and the Tiger

“Th-that’s not true,” she said. “My friends said humans could come in here.”

“Your friends gave you bad advice.” The man took a step closer. “You should leave before something bad happens to you. Pretty little thing like you – who knows what shifters would use you for.”

Her heart hammering in her chest and her mouth dry, she yanked her arm free and took a stumbling step backward. The man grinned at her and she stared in sudden terror at the fangs protruding from his mouth. She took another step back and ran into a second unforgiving wall of hard flesh and muscle. Her terror was like a living, breathing thing inside of her as she whipped around and stared at the giant standing behind her. It was the bartender named Hudson, the one that Tori said was a polar bear shifter, and she peered up at him as the wolf shifter behind her made a low growl.

“You okay?” The bartender rumbled. His voice was deep. She could almost feel it vibrating out from his chest like thunder.

“Help me,” she whispered.

He frowned and studied the shifter behind her. She moved closer to Hudson, crowding up against his big body before staring at the wolf shifter.

“Get the fuck out of here,” Hudson said to the shifter.

The shifter glared at him. “What did you say?”

“Leave the bar now.”

“You can’t kick me out, I didn’t do anything.”

“I heard what you said to her,” Hudson replied.

“She’s a fucking human. Who the fuck cares what I said to her?”

“I care. Leave the bar now.”

“She’s the one who should leave. This is a fucking shifters bar.”

“Last chance,” Hudson said.

The shifter snarled. His body was swelling, and dark fur was sprouting on his face. Rosalie moaned and pressed herself against Hudson. She wrapped her arms around his waist and stared disbelievingly at the bear shifter when he laughed.

“You think you can take me on, wolf shifter? I’ll tear you to pieces and eat your guts for my breakfast.”

The shifter growled as his skin rippled.

“Go on,” Hudson said. “Shift. I haven’t been challenged in a very long time and I miss the taste of blood.”

The bear shifter hadn’t moved a muscle, but the wolf shifter suddenly took a step backward. He stared uncertainly at Hudson and then at Rosalie as the fur faded on his face.

“Pity,” Hudson said, “I hate cowards.”

The shifter flushed dully but didn’t say anything.

“Get out,” Hudson said.

The wolf shifter made a soft growl and pushed past them. When he was gone, Rosalie let her breath out and gave Hudson a shaky smile. “Thank you. Thank you so much.”

The bear shifter was looking decidedly uncomfortable. Rosalie realized with embarrassment that she had her arms wrapped around his waist and was clinging to the giant shifter like a praying mantis.

“Oh God, I’m sorry.” She released him and stumbled back.

“I don’t like to be touched.” The shifter’s voice was brusque.

Her face flamed red. “I’m so sorry. I don’t normally grab onto strangers – I’m sorry. I was scared.”

God, she sounded like a complete idiot.

“Go back to your shifter friends,” he said.

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