Read Resisting the Cougar (Cascade Shifters #2) for Free Online

minutes freshening up. Then she could grill the shifter named Dani about Aidan. Claire liked to know who she was working with.
    With a new goal in mind, she moved her feet again and ignored Aidan to study her surroundings.
    The hallway was nothing more than a tunnel carved into the rock of the mountain. There were lights evenly spaced apart, as well as occasional vents, in the ceiling. Despite the fact they’d been walking for a few minutes, there hadn’t been any other doors or corridors running off the current one.
    While she had intended to wait for questions, she couldn’t help but ask, “Why is this hallway nothing but a hallway? Isn’t Clan DarkStalker supposed to live in a series of caverns and rooms inside one of the Cascade Mountains?”
    He grunted. “I thought we agreed no questions.”
    She lowered her voice for a dramatic whisper. “I somehow doubt asking about a hallway is a matter of clan secrecy. Unless this leads to a high security prison, where you stash all of your human captives. Maybe that’s where all the missing hikers are staying.”
    Aidan sighed and glanced down at her. “No, we don’t imprison hikers. It’s much more fun to scare them away with a cougar howl.”
    “Then explain about the hallway and why you made me wear a mask before if this is all there was to see.”
    He stared at her a second before replying, “This is the safe hallway we use for visitors. It protects said visitors from accessing our most vulnerable. Until you agreed to Kian’s plan, we didn’t want you to see anything of our land, apart from the conference room.”
    “So I was considered a threat?”
    “Every stranger is considered a threat.”
    Considering the long, bloody history between not only shifters and humans, but also among shifter clans, she couldn’t blame the precaution. “I hope I’m not constantly going to be viewed as a threat for the entire month I’m here. Otherwise, no one will listen to anything I say. They’ll think I’m lying.”
    “Most of the clan knows you by name, if not face. You’re well-known among the shifter clans of Washington State for your work with the Shifter Equality Alliance.”
    She blinked. “I am?”
    “Yes.” He waved up ahead. “We’re about to turn into the soldiers’ living area, so I need you to remain silent until we enter your apartment.”
    Claire was used to being in charge, but she had learned a long time ago to pick her battles. This one wasn’t worth it.
    As they approached a door, Aidan typed in a code into a security panel. The lock clicked, and he guided her through.
    The instant they turned a corner, the atmosphere changed.
    Warm lights lined the walls, in between doors painted in different colors. A few even had decorations or signs on them. One door they passed had a sign which said, “Beware: Guard Cat Inside.” Claire smiled. That particular soldier or family clearly had a sense of humor.
    One of the doors opened, revealing a dark-skinned woman wearing a loose sweater top and jeans. Claire had seen her picture before. It was Lauren Spencer, the human who had disappeared four months ago to live with the shifters.
    When Lauren met her eyes, her smile was warm. “Is this her?”
    Aidan stopped in front of the woman and Claire followed suit. “Yes, this is Claire. However, we don’t have time to talk. You can visit her later.”
    Lauren shook her head. “Oh, Aidan, you don’t have to be so serious.” Lauren’s brown eyes met hers. “I’m Lauren. Kian probably told you about me, and if you ever need another human to talk with, I live here with my mate.”
    Claire couldn’t help but smile back at Lauren. “You’re mated to a soldier?”
    Lauren grinned. “No, although he likes to think he is one. He’s an engineer. We live here for protection, the same as you.”
    Before Aidan could say anything, Claire asked, “Did it take long for you to adjust to living inside a mountain?”
    Lauren shrugged. “I venture outside often with