The Bear King's Captive: Curvy Paranormal Shape Shifter Romance by Milly Taiden

does Ojo Azul want the two prisoners?”
    “He kill you if you call that to his face.”
    Hannes smiled to himself. He doubted that. Still, none of this story made sense. “Tell me, how much is the offering?”
    Diego popped to his feet, gun in his hand. Instantly, three pistols pointed at Diego. The observing Spanish contractors dove to the floor. Hannes frowned at the blanching man before him. “I find her. Money is mine.”
    “How much?”
    “Diez millónes.”
    A high-pitched whistle sounded from Hannes. “Ten million? What did she do to deserve that bounty?” He tapped a finger on his chin, waiting for an answer.
    The man’s lip trembled. “No care.”
    Hannes nodded. “I understand how your kind works--rarely wanting the story, never wondering why someone wants to kill another human.”
    Diego’s eyes flashed to the lieutenant sitting a few seats down. “Kor—” Diego’s head snapped to the side, almost touching his cheek to his shoulder. A tuft of hair above his ear poofed out from fractured bone beneath. He slumped and collapsed like a bag of rags.
    Hannes slammed both fists onto the metal table. A roar ripped from him. Only the contracted Spaniards stared at the commander with horror stricken faces. His own men were used to it.
    He whipped his head toward the second-in-command. “I wanted him alive! I said restrain, if needed.” He felt the creature’s canines puncture his gums. He barely controlled the shift.
    Lieutenant Korhonen unscrewed the silencer and calmly returned both cylinder and gun to their places under his black leather jacket. “I thought--”
    “No!” Hannes’ face burned as his bones felt like molten lava was melting them, rearranging them. Rage shook his body. “You are to obey orders, not think!” He spun around and stepped away from the table and ran fingers through his thin hair. He noted the thickening of his fingers toward huge paws. The claws burned at the tips of fingers. Control. Deep breath in, slowly let it out.
    Fuck. What was wrong with him? He never had this much problem, except when Catalina… He stopped his thoughts right there. The commander glanced at the back of his knuckles as a reminder of the promise he made himself and shoved the anger deep inside. 
    Without turning toward the visibly shaken men on the floor, he said, “Maricio, grab a tray and make two plates of food.” Hannes blanked his face and addressed the table. “Lieutenant. Take care of your…mess before any of the ship’s crew sees it.”
              “Yes, sir.” A grin inched across Korhonen’s face.
     

 
     
    SEVEN
     
    Hannes waited as Maricio rotated the storage room’s lever arm out of the cradle and opened the door. Questions burned in Hannes’ mind: Who was the woman? What did she do? Who was the boy? He’d get his answers, even if he had to personally deliver her to Roclas. Not that he’d allow anyone to hurt her. No one would touch a hair on her even if his life depended on it.
    He actually looked forward to seeing the woman again. Her spunk and crass demeanor were a nice change from sycophants, but she needed to keep her place in rank and file.
    From the dock incident, he knew she was a bit…temperamental. He could imagine her face when he walked through the door. Her attitude reminded him why he never married, nor ever would. No, that wasn’t true. His secret was the reason he’d never be close to another again. He didn’t want to think of the disgusted horror on her face once she knew.
    Maricio stepped into the room. The woman and boy sat against the bulkhead behind the open door. Hannes crossed the threshold after surveying the room. Leah’s face was comical with shock, disbelief, and anger fighting for supremacy.
    Maricio set the tray in front of them then took two water bottles from Hannes and set them down.
    “Gracias, Maricio.”
    The helper bowed his head slightly and closed the door behind him.
    “Blondie!” The woman jumped to her