Page 12 of The Lion's Reluctant Mate

“Forty!”Nessa kicked off her shoes.“He was no doubt looking to take advantage of you.A sweet, innocent, twenty-something.Those men are predators.You should be more careful.”

“Yes,” she said.

Nessa continued ranting without paying attention to her.“Did you go to that bar Hannah told you about?Was that where you met him?I knew that bar was fishy.A gin bar?I mean, come on, that’s for old people.”

“I...”Alice was at a loss for words.The gray in his hair.Yes, he had a few silver strands in the reddish mane he sported, but Nessa was taking it too far.Wasn’t she?“He—”

“I know you haven’t been on a date in ages with your anxiety and everything, but I’m sure you can do better than that.”Her friend walked to the living room and threw herself on the couch.“I’m going to take you out to a real party to meet some men our age.You really need to go out more anyway.Didn’t your therapist say so?I’m sure she would disapprove of the gray-haired grandpa.”

She nodded automatically, but Alice wanted to scream.“Nessa!”she wanted to cry out.“It’s none of your business who I date.You’re always dating deadbeat losers and getting your heart broken.”Instead, she remained quiet.Her heart racing and her palm and lips tingling where Axel had touched them.She glanced at the door.She wanted him to return and finish what they had started.This had been her second chance, and she had blown it again, allowing shame to control her life.The crushing weight of reality settled on her shoulders.She’d blown it.Once again, instead of taking the plunge she’d panicked and sent what she wanted away, missing out on something which could have been amazing.

“And even if it wasn’t, at least you would have tried.”Her therapist’s voice seemed to whisper in her ear once more.

Well, it was too late now.He was gone.The moment had passed and would never repeat itself.She fought back the tears and struggled to pay attention to Nessa who was going on and on about her date that night with a financial analyst who was apparently loaded.

Focus, Alice.

His parting words snaked their way into her mind.“We’ll be in touch.”Her heart skipped a beat.Would he fulfill his promise?Would she have another chance?

Chapter Eight

Axel rode his motorcyclethrough the city.The warm wind swept at him, and he bit back a frustrated growl.He needed to get away from the asphalt jungle and go for a run, let out some of the pent-up anger and frustration his lion was holding in.It had taken all his control not to grab Alice and kiss her senselessly in that bathroom.He’d managed to hold back and then her friend had come barging in.

Friend?He snorted.The young woman was very clearly a narcissist, only interested in hearing the sound of her own voice.If she had been a true friend, she would have kept her opinion to herself or at least until Alice had asked her for it.Unfortunately, his Baby Girl was too afraid of others to stand up for herself.Her fear kept her from enjoying life to the fullest.He didn’t know where it stemmed from, but he would do anything to take it away from her and make her live.He skipped his usual exit to his city apartment since it was being renovated and instead continued onto the highway, heading to his pride lands.There, he would run and relax for a bit and come up with a new plan to conquer his mate.

One hour later, he parked in his driveway.He didn’t bother going into the house.He rid himself of his clothes.Sweat coated his body.He was so ready for this.The transformation was painless, the limbs readjusting, fur growing at the speed of light.He’d barely completed the shift, he set off at a run, enjoying the feel of the earth on his paws.This wasn’t the savannah, but he’d take it over anything else.Here, they had the privacy they needed to be who they really were.Here, at home, they could shift and run free.This was the central home to his pride.All of them could come here whenever they wanted and enjoy this freedom.The smell of the dirt and the trees around him filled his nostrils.He didn’t need anything else, except his mate.He roared in agony at the thought of her.She wanted him but she was so far from him.He picked up the speed, fighting the thoughts.He spotted a rabbit and ran after it to get his mind off things.Finally, tired out, he climbed a tree.

The image of Alice came to him, and he mewled with desperation.How the hell was he going to get Alice, such a frail creature, to accept being part of a lion pack?Though she wouldn’t have the ability to shift, she would become the leader of the pride at his side.Would the other lions accept her?Most importantly, would she accept herself?He could protect her from the others, but not from herself.That was something she would have to do on her own.

He sighed.

The mating ritual was easy.He had to mark her as his, but she had to claim him as well.With her fearful nature, he could already picture her refusing him, stating for a reason that she wasn’t good enough, and condemning them both to a loveless life.

Alice.What had hurt her?He wanted to protect her from all pain, from all loss and fear, and make sure she never suffered again.Yet, he couldn’t.Why was life so damn complicated sometimes?Just a few days ago he had been out in the city fucking whomever he wanted however he wanted, mindless of love or mating, and now he was here, desiring the only woman who seemed to be afraid of her own shadow.

He let out a frustrated roar.Scared, a flock of birds took to the sky.He followed their trajectory to another tree.

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