Alpha Lion: BBW Lion Shifter Paranormal Romance by Zoe Chant Page A

you go on the Internet, you can find them no problem.” Sam quirked a little smile at that. “But there’s a long waiting period, a lot of formal procedures, and the entire pride has to agree to accept the person in a unanimous vote. It’s difficult to do, even for people’s mates.”
    “And on the other hand, biting someone like this is a terrible thing for a lion to do," Sam said softly, looking at him now instead of her arm.
    “Yes." Dale watched her anxiously—as someone who’d been born into a pride, he couldn’t imagine how she was feeling right now. What would it be like to know that your whole being could be changing, right this moment?
    “Well," Sam said, “it’s been a really crazy morning, and you should probably ask me again how I feel about it in twenty-four hours, but right now...being a lioness doesn’t sound so bad.”
    Dale stared at her. “Really? Are you—you just said you aren’t sure, never mind. But—”
    She was looking at him with a fond expression. “I love it when you get flustered, have I told you that yet?”
    He stopped. “No.”
    “I do," she said. “You’re worried I’m going to be upset or mad.”
    “That’s an understatement," Dale said. “Sam, your entire self might be changed.”
    “I’ll still be me , won’t I?” Sam asked. “I won’t undergo a total personality transplant?”
    Dale hesitated. “The lion can...influence your thinking sometimes.”
    “Make you fierce," Sam said.
    “Well...yes.”
    “I want to be fierce," Sam said. “I want to be a lioness.”
    Dale leaned in and kissed her on the mouth. She tasted amazing. “You are a lioness," he said against her lips. “It doesn’t matter what happens in the next twenty-four hours. You are.”
    * * *
    Dale drove her back to the studio. He’d said he would take her home, but Sam didn’t want to go home and wait and wonder; she wanted to see this through.
    He parked in the parking lot, and they got out and went in the back door. “Wait a minute," Dale told her just inside, and stopped to listen.
    Sam could hear yelling voices coming from the direction of the lobby. “That’s him.” She was never going to forget his voice as long as she lived.
    “And that’s Lynn," Dale said with some relief. “Okay, let’s go. Slowly.”
    She followed him through the halls, listening to make sure Chapman was still up front. The voices got louder and louder, and finally Dale said, “They’re just around the corner. Wait here for a few minutes. I have an idea.”
    “Okay," said Sam. She wasn’t excited about being left alone, but at least Dale would be between her and Chapman. And Lynn was there too, she reminded herself; she’d bet that Lynn would be able to kick Chapman’s ass if she wanted to, human or lion.
    “I’m here, Chapman," she heard Dale say as he came around the corner.
    “You’re late." Chapman sounded unimpressed. “I could accuse you of a lot of things, Dale, but I never thought you were a coward.”
    “I was trying to find Sam," Dale said flatly, and Sam drew in her breath as she realized what Dale was doing. She hoped he managed it—he didn’t seem like the kind of person who found deception easy.
    “Went to my house anyway, did you?” Chapman asked, a laugh in his voice. “Well, I hope you didn’t do any property damage, or I’ll have to sue. She’s nowhere near there.”
    “Just get on with it," Dale said. Good , Sam mouthed silently. She was glad Dale wasn’t trying anything elaborate. And he didn’t sound like he was faking anything. After all, he was plenty mad at Chapman.
    Because of her.
    That sent a little thrill through her, the idea that Dale was furious on her behalf—that he’d fought Freddie and he was ready to fight Chapman just because they’d hurt her .
    She’d never had anyone do anything like that for her before. It warmed her all the way through.
    “Dale Addison," said Chapman in formal tones, “I hereby challenge you for the position of alpha of