Alpha’s Claim (Bad Boy Bears #1) Read Online Renee Rose, Lee Savino

Categories Genre: Alpha Male, Fantasy/Sci-fi, Insta-Love, Paranormal, Suspense, Virgin Tags Authors: , Series: Bad Boy Bears Series by Renee Rose
Series: Lee Savino
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Total pages in book: 66
Estimated words: 63295 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 316(@200wpm)___ 253(@250wpm)___ 211(@300wpm)
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Hutch says, “That just leaves–”

Branches snap behind us, and I turn to see the bear from this morning pushing through the bushes. Darius doesn’t seem worried, but I clutch at him. The bear rises to hind legs and offers Axel the rugby ball. Axel calmly accepts it. He’s got the blunt sticking out of the corner of his mouth. I get that not much fazes him, but no one else is freaking out at the fact a giant bear is standing right next to us. And it apparently knows how to play catch.

Just me.

“Holy shit,” I breathe.

“It’s okay,” says Hutch. “It’s just–”

Bern elbows him in the gut, and he doubles over.

“Just a random bear–” Bern assures me.

“Our pet bear,” Canyon says at the same time.

“Uh yeah, our pet,” Hutch adds, rubbing the spot where Bern elbowed him. “He escaped from the zoo.”

The bear cocks its head at them. It looks faintly disapproving. Then it drops to all fours and lumbers away. It moves silently, and remarkably fast for such a giant animal.

I shudder, and Darius covers my shoulder with his huge hand. The weight is comforting. He dips his head and murmurs, “Welcome to Bad Bear Mountain.”

Darius

“Your brothers are sweet,” Paloma tells me. We’re back at the cabin, and I’m making us salmon on the grill. I was going to walk up to Teddy’s, but her stomach started to growl, and I was happy to cut our walk short and put off meeting my twin.

Now we’re blissfully alone. Matthias has gone to his shift at the hospital, and I managed to communicate to the triplets that Paloma and I needed some space. Axel wandered off, probably to work on one of his perpetual projects–either a car or a motorcycle. And I told Hutch and Bern to keep Everest busy. Two bear sightings in one day is enough. If he wants to meet Paloma, he needs to show up in human form.

“They can be,” I grunt. “But mostly they’re assholes. Especially my twin.”

Paloma’s head pops up. “You have a twin?”

“Yeah, Teddy.”

“Does he look like you?”

I nod. “Identical.”

“When do I get to meet him?” Paloma’s sitting at the picnic table, her head propped on her hands. She’s got a healthy color to her cheeks and looks more alive and relaxed than I’ve seen her.

“Hopefully never.”

She chuckles like I’m joking, but I’m not. Teddy’s home on the mountain, but Matthias said Lana’s pregnancy is making him grouchier than usual.

I hope he lies low. Whenever we meet, we fight. Combining his bad mood with the way I’m amped up to protect Paloma would lead to World War III.

I keep checking my phone.

Paloma looks up when it buzzes as a text comes through. “Any word about Wren’s location?”

“Not yet, but my associate, Kylie, is working on it. Her mate–husband–owns the top infosecurity company, and she’s one of the best hackers in the world. If anyone can find Wren, it’s her.”

“What did she say?”

“She’s working on hacking the school’s computers to link up to Wren’s school-issued laptop.”

The tension returns to Paloma’s face, and I would do anything to wipe it away.

“The clock is ticking. What if he’s already pulled her from the trip? Or–”

“Don’t go there,” I say firmly. “We will find her.”

“I should call him. Promise to turn myself in–just to buy us more time.”

“No,” I growl. “No way. That would give him the chance to make demands we aren’t willing to meet.”

“We?” Paloma searches my face.

My chest tightens. I can’t be part of a we. Not when my bear is so destructive. I would end up harming Paloma, like I hurt our biological mom–and she was a bear. She healed. If I hurt Paloma I would never forgive myself. I’d rather die.

But there’s no way I’m going to let her feel like she’s alone in this, either.

“Yes, we. I’m in this with you, princess. We will see this through together.”

And then I will have to let you go.

My bear nearly breaks free at that. I have to turn away to hide my glowing eyes from her. Breathe deeply and clench my fists to keep him down. He’s been clawing to get out ever since we got here.

Bringing Paloma here, to the mountain, makes my bear think he’s going to claim her. Mark her as my fated mate. The only reason I’ve held him off, I suspect, is because he recognizes Paloma needs to heal. Still, the need to mark her is growing by the minute.

As if what’s going on with Thompson and finding Wren wasn’t complicated enough.

I serve up the salmon and pause to watch her take the first few bites. I fucking love feeding her. It soothes my bear.

She wriggles in her seat. “It’s delicious. Thank you.”

“Better than tuna mac and cheese, at least.”

Her soft laugh does strange things to my chest.

I check the potatoes I have roasting in aluminum foil. They’re almost done. The wind picks up, chapping Paloma’s cheeks.



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