The Lion's Pride (BBW Paranormal Lion Shifter Romance) (The True Date Agency) by Terra Wolf, Olivia Arran Page A
Authors: Terra Wolf, Olivia Arran
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like water—they spilled and flowed from people freely and without restriction. Hate, love, greed, jealousy, happiness, anger, trust—they were so unpredictable. I found it equally fascinating and terrifying. And that’s why I stayed behind the glass, not as Gretchen liked to say because I was an uptight, emotionally stunted caveman.
In the reflection of the glass, I watched as Gretchen smoothed down her spiky platinum-white hair and pursed her lips. “You need to get out more,” she muttered, knowing full well I’d hear her. Standing up, she sauntered over to the glass and linked arms with me. “Thank you,” she murmured, bumping my hip with hers. “I know you hate this; you’ve never been one for change. I appreciate it.” She pecked my cheek, her lips leaving a sticky mark, and strolled out of the room, letting the door bang shut behind her.
For a lynx shifter, she had the attitude of one of the larger cats, but I let her get away with it. I’d always had a soft spot for her, ever since she’d shown up at the foster home, a bedraggled waif of a child, stick thin with matted hair and huge blue eyes. Bruises, too, though she’d never spoken about them. And we’d only asked once. We all had a story, some similar, others worse. Survival was the one thing that linked us together. So, yeah. I let her get away with a lot that not many lions would.
Her words stuck with me, though, refusing to be unheard or forgotten. Was my true mate out there, right now, looking for love? A growl slipped from my lips, my hands clenching into fists. I scanned the floor again, willing someone to stand out from the crowd, to attract my attention.
A minute passed, then another. Nothing.
She wasn’t here.
And I was an idiot for even looking.
2
Lara
“ W e’re here !” Kate spun on one of her four-inch heels to look at me. “So, are you up for it?” Her eager grin tripped alarm bells inside my head, making me take a closer look at the building in question.
From the outside, it look like any other building you might find in the city, brick built, and it had that oppressive and slightly abandoned look about it. Nothing new there—pretty much all nightclubs looked like that. The low sound of bass ebbed through the walls, filling the badly lit street with a low hum. Above the large, solid looking door hung a discrete sign in a dark gunmetal gray that screamed exclusivity. “ The Pride ,” I read out loud. From the way Kate was eying me, there had to be a catch. “What kind of place is it?” I asked, imagining a sleazy strip club.
Tina twirled a dark ringlet around her finger, a coy look on her face. “It’s a nightclub,” she said, her brown eyes dancing with amusement.
“I know that,” I muttered, not for the first time wishing I hadn’t let them talk me into this. Whatever this was. “What I mean is, why is it hidden in a back street? Is it a—”
Tina grabbed my arm, tugging me toward the door. “Come on, Lara. Live a little. Didn’t we promise to show you a good time? This place is amazing! ”
The heavy wooden door swung open at our approach. I glanced around, searching for the camera. Spying it tucked into the stonework, I let go of a breath I didn’t even know I was holding. What the hell did I think was going to happen? It wasn’t as if—
Stepping over the threshold, I ground to a halt. What the hell was this place? The narrow corridor we were standing in opened up into a large, cavernous room filled with people not dancing, more like standing around. Waiting for something. That wasn’t what had me nearly tripping over my own tongue, though. No, it was like we had walked into someone’s living room. Someone who had a huge house and thousands of friends. This wasn’t a typical dance club with a dance floor and sticky bars. This was a masterpiece of elegant sophistication with low leather couches scattered around the room, polished wooden floors, and chandeliers glittering with crystal dangling
In the reflection of the glass, I watched as Gretchen smoothed down her spiky platinum-white hair and pursed her lips. “You need to get out more,” she muttered, knowing full well I’d hear her. Standing up, she sauntered over to the glass and linked arms with me. “Thank you,” she murmured, bumping my hip with hers. “I know you hate this; you’ve never been one for change. I appreciate it.” She pecked my cheek, her lips leaving a sticky mark, and strolled out of the room, letting the door bang shut behind her.
For a lynx shifter, she had the attitude of one of the larger cats, but I let her get away with it. I’d always had a soft spot for her, ever since she’d shown up at the foster home, a bedraggled waif of a child, stick thin with matted hair and huge blue eyes. Bruises, too, though she’d never spoken about them. And we’d only asked once. We all had a story, some similar, others worse. Survival was the one thing that linked us together. So, yeah. I let her get away with a lot that not many lions would.
Her words stuck with me, though, refusing to be unheard or forgotten. Was my true mate out there, right now, looking for love? A growl slipped from my lips, my hands clenching into fists. I scanned the floor again, willing someone to stand out from the crowd, to attract my attention.
A minute passed, then another. Nothing.
She wasn’t here.
And I was an idiot for even looking.
2
Lara
“ W e’re here !” Kate spun on one of her four-inch heels to look at me. “So, are you up for it?” Her eager grin tripped alarm bells inside my head, making me take a closer look at the building in question.
From the outside, it look like any other building you might find in the city, brick built, and it had that oppressive and slightly abandoned look about it. Nothing new there—pretty much all nightclubs looked like that. The low sound of bass ebbed through the walls, filling the badly lit street with a low hum. Above the large, solid looking door hung a discrete sign in a dark gunmetal gray that screamed exclusivity. “ The Pride ,” I read out loud. From the way Kate was eying me, there had to be a catch. “What kind of place is it?” I asked, imagining a sleazy strip club.
Tina twirled a dark ringlet around her finger, a coy look on her face. “It’s a nightclub,” she said, her brown eyes dancing with amusement.
“I know that,” I muttered, not for the first time wishing I hadn’t let them talk me into this. Whatever this was. “What I mean is, why is it hidden in a back street? Is it a—”
Tina grabbed my arm, tugging me toward the door. “Come on, Lara. Live a little. Didn’t we promise to show you a good time? This place is amazing! ”
The heavy wooden door swung open at our approach. I glanced around, searching for the camera. Spying it tucked into the stonework, I let go of a breath I didn’t even know I was holding. What the hell did I think was going to happen? It wasn’t as if—
Stepping over the threshold, I ground to a halt. What the hell was this place? The narrow corridor we were standing in opened up into a large, cavernous room filled with people not dancing, more like standing around. Waiting for something. That wasn’t what had me nearly tripping over my own tongue, though. No, it was like we had walked into someone’s living room. Someone who had a huge house and thousands of friends. This wasn’t a typical dance club with a dance floor and sticky bars. This was a masterpiece of elegant sophistication with low leather couches scattered around the room, polished wooden floors, and chandeliers glittering with crystal dangling
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