Billionaire Bear Shifters A Paranormal Romance Complete Series Boxset - Brittany White Page 0,33

his moods.

“I know you’re not Cody,” Eric said as they made their way down the hall. “But I know Rawley is a sensitive subject. And you obviously really like this girl.”

“Yeah.”

Eric looked at him and performed a slight double-take. “Oh shit. Did you sleep with her?”

He grimaced and rubbed his chin. That beard was growing into thick. He needed a shave. “Maybe.”

“Nathan.”

“What?” He shrugged and they found themselves arriving at room 27, standing there for a moment and rolling their shoulders, mentally preparing themselves for whatever might happen. “She came to my door. I didn’t pursue her. And before that, she kissed me. By the dressing room in Lynn’s? God…It was hot.”

“Careful.” Eric winked at him. “Could be your mate.”

Could be.

Nathan didn’t respond to that. He knocked on the door. There was no response and he tried it again. No answer and no sounds from inside the suite. He nodded at Eric who took out his universal room key. It was a risk. There could be somebody sleeping inside and then they would have to explain why two lodge employees barged into an occupied suite for no reason.

But the suite was empty.

“Goddammit.” Nathan kicked the coffee table and Eric squinted at it. “What?”

“There’s a vase missing.” They found the vase, shattered in a waste bin that hadn’t been emptied by the maid service yet. Nathan tamped down on his rage. A broken vase meant some kind of violence. It meant Alanna might be hurt.

“You’re growling,” Eric said, as they left the locked room again, intending to find Alanna and her “companion.”

“Shut up,” Nathan muttered.

Eric wanted to go straight back to Connor and report that the suite was empty, but Nathan was impatient and he had a hunch. He’d found Alanna in that dress shop, they’d kissed, and he was sure she’d left right after him without buying a dress.

Maybe she’d go back there?

It seemed worth a shot and he shouted down Eric who finally caved and said, “Alright, I’ll come with you then.”

“I don’t need a babysitter,” Nathan said darkly. They were both fit. In fact, lately, Eric’s muscle looked even more defined than his own bulkier frame.

“No, but you need back-up,” Eric said. “Not up for discussion.”

Eric wanted to make a quick sweep of the dining hall and Nathan went along but there was no sign of Alanna or John, so they headed to the promenade.

“Maybe they left the lodge for a bit,” Eric said as they hurried by shop after shop on their way to Lynn’s Dresses.

“Maybe,” Nathan muttered. “Seemed like they were pretty solidly holed up here. Like they’re just waiting for something. I figured they’ve been waiting for Rawley to show up.”

Just try and hurt her, Nathan thought. Every moment that passed without the relief of a fight was just making him edgier. Come here. I dare you.

He kept thinking back to the soft look in Alanna’s eyes when she talked about Yogi Bear or finding her home in the Columbines that grew by rivers.

His heart was sick with wanting her.

Sure enough, Nathan spotted John at Lynn’s. He was berating Dorine who stood behind the register, eyes wide with panic as he screamed at her. It was bordering on a need to call security and Nathan, once again, growled under his breath. But he didn’t see Alanna anywhere, and when he sniffed the air he didn’t smell her. That scent had quickly become his favorite. It was sweet and just a little bit woodsy. Both feminine and rugged.

Nathan nodded at Eric and they hovered near the doorway at Lynn’s. “Text Connor,” Nathan said under his breath. “We might need him.”

Nathan was confident he could take down John himself. But if Connor showed, there was a better chance he wouldn’t need to. Eric nodded and whipped out his phone as Nathan crossed his arms, biding his time.

“I know you saw her!” John snarled, slamming his fist on Dorine’s counter as she yelped in surprise. “Tell me where she went! She was coming down to buy the dresses and she was supposed to be back two hours ago! I’ve searched this whole damn lodge! I know you know something, bitch.”

“Hey!” Nathan snapped and stepped forward. John whipped around.

Nathan started to open his mouth but he felt Eric rest a hand on his arm. He was too revved up. He’d go too hot too fast. He swallowed the urge to put John on the ground and let Eric feel things out first.

“Is there a problem over here?” Eric said