Billionaire Bear Shifters A Paranormal Romance Complete Series Boxset - Brittany White Page 0,53

a thing at the Black Bear Lake Lodge, Liddy. So don’t argue. In the dining hall and the lounge, just tell them to charge it to the room and we’ll take care of it. I’m talking about queen treatment at the spa too. Mud baths, massage, the fancy cucumber water, the mimosas, the whole bit-”

“Eric,” Lydia said, chuckling. “You really didn’t have to-”

“I’m also going to give you a few gift cards to the shops downstairs, just in case you need anything.” He shrugged. “Honestly, it’s chump change. We get VIP guests on occasion, they get comped. You are beyond VIP. I promise you. Go on a spree. Treat yourself. Okay?”

The thought of new clothes sounded like cold water in the middle of a hot desert. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d worn a set of new clothes. She nodded dumbly and pocketed the cards and couldn’t help but wonder if he would have been as generous if she’d shown up looking more put together. She hated the thought of pity, but resisting the gesture would only make her look like she actually needed it.

Instead she tried to seem casual. “Chump change,” she said, shrugging. “Sure. Thanks. That’s very sweet.”

“Can we go to dinner tomorrow?” Eric said. “We could go on a run too.”

“Oh…” Lydia felt the tension leave her shoulders at the very idea of going on a run with Eric Strauss, just like when they were kids - wild-eyed Eric glancing over his haunches, his thick dark fur ruffled in a breeze. “Yes. That would be great.”

“Okay.” Eric nodded curtly. “I’ll see you tomorrow then.”

Eric took his leave and Lydia sighed, though she felt marginally better about things.

She left her backpack and suitcase on the floor and wandered into the huge master bedroom. She knew she shouldn’t lie down. She’d never want to get up again, but she wanted to get a shower in before trying out that spa. She finally gave in and plopped down on the bed, groaning in contentment. It was like lying on a cloud.

“Girl could get used to this,” she mumbled. “Thanks, Ricky.”

15

Michelle

Michelle had never been traditionally great at controlling her anger when she was upset.

But after Eric Strauss had the gall to break up with her, she’d seen red.

She thought she’d done very well at that table when he had dumped her like she was nobody. She hadn’t shifted and ripped his throat out. She hadn’t even punched him in the face. She’d played it cool and left the door open, at least on her end. She had tried her best to come across as the devoted girlfriend. She was somebody for whom a little break-up was just a stepping stone to better things.

But once she’d returned to her suite on the east end of the lodge, she’d slammed the door so hard the walls had rattled.

The walls had rattled again as she shut her eyes and felt magic coursing through her. She was always more powerful when she was angry.

And just now, she was angry.

“Son of a bitch!” Michelle shrieked and her hand shot out, magic shooting from her fingertips and sending a side table slamming into the wall. Impressively, it was high quality enough not to shatter.

James poked his head out of the bathroom. He was wearing one of those fluffy white resort robes and his brows knit together in concern.

“Honey?” James said. “Something happen?”

James liked to think of himself as Michelle’s real mate, the one she returned to when she was done scamming other shifters for everything they were worth, often leaving a bloody mess behind. In reality, he was more like her lackey. That was how she liked things.

“The asshole broke up with me!” Michelle screamed, and in lieu of destroying the lodge suite with the force of her magic and drawing unwanted attention to the room, she shifted into her bear form. The bear was primal, in some ways more emotional. But that body and mind were also grounding. Michelle opened up her big maw and roared, and James tentatively crept out. His hair was wet and he was drying it with a bath towel.

“He broke up with you?” He frowned at the upset bear now pacing around on the plush cream carpet. “Why would he do that? I thought things were going well?”

Michelle shot her boyfriend an annoyed glance and growled softly, shaking her big burly head and pawing at the carpet, though it didn’t make her feel much better. James wandered into the bedroom