Wanted By The Alpha Lion (Heroes of Shifter Creek 2) by Clara Moore

radiating with charm. “She’s my employee. Nothing more.”
                  It was hard for Krista to believe. “Does she know that?”
                  Derek shrugged. “She should. We have no history together, not unless you count fixing tractors and breeding cattle.”
                  Bridget had done nothing to earn Krista’s sympathy, but she suddenly felt bad for the woman. “You’d be surprised how fixing tractors and breeding cattle can make a woman feel,” she said, bouncing Todd on her hip. “Maybe you should go to her.”
                  It took all of Krista’s will to suggest it. She didn’t want Derek to go to Bridget. She wanted him to stay, but she couldn’t allow it, not when she was about to tell Lolli about the man-beast.
                  “It’s okay,” Lolli told her. “I have a feeling he can answer your questions better than anyone.”
                  Giving in, knowing she’d be fighting a losing battle between the two men, Krista set Todd free and followed Lolli into his trailer with Derek beside her. Though she looked ahead, she was very much aware of Derek – of his height, of his strength, of his intoxicating earthy scent and the way he let her walk a little ahead of him, standing guard slightly behind her, as protective as always.
                  Stepping inside Lolli’s trailer, Krista was met with the familiar sight of his library of old books. Lolli was a historian. He collected yellowed maps and leather-bound books as if they were furniture. And in his mind, away from the books, he stored knowledge passed down from his ancestors. The history books, Krista had already read. It was the ancient knowledge she sought now. Taking a seat on a plush green sofa, she tried to figure out how she would ask about the man-beast without revealing all to Derek.
                  “Tell me about the legends of beasts,” she bade when Lolli sat in his leather recliner across from her.
                  “Put that down,” Lolli said to Derek, though he was blind to Derek’s movements.
                  Behind Lolli, Derek set down and old smoking pipe and took a seat next to Krista on the sofa.
                  “You’ll have to be more specific,” Lolli said, relaxing. “We have many legends of beasts.”
                  Sighing inwardly, Krista knew she had no choice but to speak directly, whatever the outcome may be. “Man-beasts,” she said. “Shifters. What do your legends tell of shifters?”
                  “All the nations have their own stories,” Lolli told. “From gods that turn into bears, to bears that turn into humans, and humans that turn into gods. Nature is forever shifting, flowing. It is the nature of creation.”
                  “Only bears?” Krista pressed.
                  Beside her, Derek huffed.
                  “No, my child. Bears. Eagles. Mountain lions. Wolves. Nature knows only life. She does not distinguish between the species.”
                  “So to you, shifters are more than legends. They’re a part of history.”
                  “They are a part of reality,” Lolli confirmed. “Perhaps your friend has more to contribute than just his judgmental grunts.”
                  “No sir,” Derek said firmly, sitting tall. “I have nothing to say. But I do have something to ask. Why are you so interested, Krista? You’re an academic. If you go around shouting shifter, you’ll never be taken seriously.”
                  “I take myself seriously,” Krista said. “That’s enough for me. I don’t care what everyone else thinks. Anyway, I have evidence to prove that shifters exist.”
                  It surprised her how easily the words fell out of her mouth, decongesting her fears. It felt