Revenge of the Cat Men: A Shifter Romance (The Pride Book 1) Read Free

such an ass and not taking a second to explain when she realized that maybe seconds counted right now.  She grabbed her purse and coat and sprinted for the doors and into the empty street.  Deciding that the only thing she needed to do was to get as far away from the complex as possible she quickly headed down the street a block. 
    Alison didn't know how far she should run, or if running was even necessary at all.  She felt silly now that she was out of the building and stopped and looked back.  The building looked like it always did, nondescript and plain, surrounded by similar buildings of no consequence.  She stood and waited and wondered what her next step should be, staring at the building. 
    In the corner of her eye she saw movement, a dark patch on the roof.  She peered up at it just in time to see the shadow jump off the roof.  It stopped its fall part of the way down and hung on a ledge.
    "A gorilla?" she asked herself quietly, unaware she said it out loud.  Before she knew the answer she saw the other one of the creatures and her blood ran cold. 
    Whatever they were, they were both looking right at her.
    She could see the reflection of light in their eyes, a yellow glint in the dark forms.  A second later they had leaped to the ground and were coming for her, about to give chase.  Without even thinking about what she was doing she turned and fled as fast as she could.
    Alison could hear the howls of the creatures chasing her.  Dashing between two parked cars she stumbled before catching herself and running down a side alley.  She shot a look behind her to see if she could see anything but the street was empty.  She knew the monsters were still following her because she could still hear the growls and snarls of the beasts, she just couldn’t see them.
    Alison saw a back door to one of the buildings in the alley and grabbed at it, twisting the knob and letting out a sob when it didn't budge.  She looked for another door that was close by but didn't see any.  Far down the alley she saw what could only be the back side of a restaurant with a large trash bin next to a pile of boxes.  It was far but there was at least a door and there might be people inside.  She was going to have to make a break for it.
    As she started to run the door next the garbage bin opened and a man in a stain covered apron came out, kicking the door wide with his foot because he was carrying several bags of trash in his hands.
    "Help me!" she screamed.  She ran towards the man, crossing the alley and sprinting towards him.  He turned to face her, his mouth open as he tried to understand why he was being yelled at.
    A dark shape dropped down over the man and Alison skidded to a stop.  As he let out a yell the man was thrown to the ground and the bags of garbage spilled into the alley.  The creature leaped on him and the back of his head was slammed into the cement with the weight.  Alison saw the creature rise up to its haunches, sitting over the cook who was now knocked senseless.
    The creature was vaguely human, a muscular male who’s features blended from feline to man.  Lean and naked except for a short layer of fur he looked at Alison, his pointed ears turning to take in every sound around him.  Alison saw that a thick tail sliding from side to side behind him. 
    He leaped from the cook and bounded directly to Alison, the moonlight flashing on its extended claws, reaching for her.  Shrieking she turned to flee and immediately tumbled to the hard ground.  She tried to regain her feet when a second creature dropped down directly in front of her.  He was similar to the first but even larger, a lion-like mane of hair framing his face.  His eyes focused on hers and she was shocked to see the slit pupils of a cat that seemed so out of place on the lean, half man body.  His paw like hands gripped her shoulders and he slowly pulled her closer to him until she was face to face with it.  She could hear him letting out