Protector Lion (Cedar Hill Lions Book 5) Read online

  A note from Zoe Chant

  Thank you for buying my book! I hope you enjoyed it. If you’d like to be emailed when I release my next book, please click here to be added to my mailing list. You can also visit my webpage, or follow me on Facebook or Twitter.

  Please consider reviewing Protector Lion, even if you only write a line or two. I appreciate all reviews, whether positive or negative.

  Page down to read a special sneak preview of Lawman Lion, the first in the Cedar Hill Lions series.

  The cover of Protector Lion was designed by Isabelle Arden.

  More Paranormal Romance by Zoe Chant

  Lawman Lion. (Cedar Hill Lions #1) A sexy lion shifter sheriff + an independent BBW who runs a diner + trouble with a local gang = one red-hot romance that will leave you breathless!

  Guardian Lion. (Cedar Hill Lions #2) A curvy, confident accountant + a sexy lion shifter bodyguard sworn to protect her + a terrifying kidnap attempt = one roaring romance!

  Rancher Lion. (Cedar Hill Lions #3) An independent BBW on the run + a sexy protective lion shifter + a pack of deadly enemies = one action-packed romance that will leave you breathless!

  Second Chance Lion. (Cedar Hill Lions #4) A curvy independent woman + a protective alpha lion + old memories and new beginnings = one heartwarming story of second chance romance!

  A Mate for the Dragon. A curvy woman with a broken heart + a hot dragon shifter with a haunted past + a deadly clan of evil dragons = one sizzling and suspenseful romance!

  Ranger Griffin. A lonely reporter in deadly danger + a protective griffin shifter who thinks he’s a monster + a cozy cabin in the snowy woods = one exciting and heartwarming romance!

  Bear Cop. (Enforcer Bears # 1). A BBW baker with a troubled past + a protective bear shifter cop with a secret of his own + an accident that leaves them stranded in the wilderness = one untamed romance!

  Hunter Bear. (Enforcer Bears # 2). A BBW artist who fears she's lost her muse + a scarred, reclusive bear shifter hunting danger + a mysterious treasure map = one adventurous romance!

  Wedding Bear. (Enforcer Bears #3). A curvy librarian in desperate need of a date + a bear shifter in search of a home + the past that's pursuing him = one sweet and steamy small-town romance!

  Fighter Bear. (Enforcer Bears #4). A curvy veterinary technician longing for a family + a lonely bear shifter with a wounded heart + a family farm in jeopardy = one exciting rural romance!

  The Griffin’s Mate. A curvy businesswoman who’s new in town + a lonely griffin shifter searching for someone to share his nest + a small town with a big secret = a hot and heartwarming story of love and family.

  Tropical Tiger Spy. (Shifting Sands Resort # 1). A unique shifter in search of her past + a tiger shifter spy on an undercover mission + a shifters-only resort with secrets to hide = a dangerous and thrilling romantic adventure!

  Tropical Wounded Wolf. (Shifting Sands Resort # 2). A curvy math teacher on vacation + a wolf shifter who spent years in captivity + an accident that leaves them stranded together in a jungle paradise = one thrilling romance!

  Bodyguard Bear. (Protection, Inc. # 1). A BBW witness to a murder + the sexy bear shifter bodyguard sworn to protect her with his life + firefights and fiery passion = one hot thrill ride!

  Defender Dragon. (Protection, Inc. # 2). A curvy backpacker who loses a shoe at a ball + a lonely dragon prince facing an arranged marriage to a princess he doesn’t love + magnificent castles and deadly assassins = one thrilling romance!

  Protector Panther. (Protection, Inc. # 3). A curvy paramedic who doesn’t know the meaning of fear + a mysterious panther shifter bodyguard with the power to inflict terror + sinister experiments and desperate passion = one heart-pounding romance!

  Warrior Wolf. (Protection, Inc. # 4). A runaway dragon princess who wants to experience life outside of castle walls + an ex-gangster werewolf bodyguard with a chip on his shoulder the size of Texas + uptown parties, downtown nightclubs, and deadly assassins = one explosive good girl/bad boy romance!

  Panther’s Promise. A curvy artist struggling with self-doubt + a panther shifter who's out of touch with his panther + a kidnapper with deadly plans = one dangerous romantic adventure!

  The Snow Leopard’s Mate. (Glacier Leopards #1) A curvy waitress longing for a better life + a lonely lumberjack snow leopard shifter + a wild night that will change their lives = one sweet and steamy romance!

  The Snow Leopard’s Baby. (Glacier Leopards #2) A curvy single mom + a snow leopard shifter in need of a family + the blizzard that brings them together = a sweet and steamy romance!

  Private Eye Bear’s Mate. A curvy, independent radio DJ + a protective bear shifter detective + a scary stalker = one thrilling romance!

  Lion’s Hunt. (Rowland Lions #1) A curvy woman who longs for adventure + a daring lion shifter on a dangerous mission + evil experiments in a secret lab = one action-packed romance!

  Lion’s Mate. (Rowland Lions #2) A curvy cheetah shifter with a traumatic past + a billionaire lion shifter on a mission + a corporation with a dangerous agenda = one thrilling romance!

  Firefighter Dragon. (Fire & Rescue Shifters # 1). A curvy archaeologist with the find of a lifetime + a firefighter dragon shifter battling his instincts + a priceless artifact coveted by a ruthless rival = one blazing hot romance!

  Firefighter Pegasus. (Fire & Rescue Shifters # 2). A curvy pilot wary of flighty men + a firefighter pegasus shifter determined to win her heart + a high speed air race with even higher stakes = one explosive romance!

  Firefighter Griffin. (Fire & Rescue Shifters # 3). A curvy single mom burned by love + a unique half-eagle, half-lion shifter firefighter with a wounded soul + the little boy who brings them together = one heart-warming romance!

  The Christmas Dragon’s Mate. A lonely bookkeeper in search of Christmas + a mysterious dragon shifter with a past full of pain + a beautiful snow castle hiding a ruthless enemy = one glittering Christmas romance!

  Royal Guard Lion A curvy American shocked to learn that she's a lost princess + a warrior lion shifter sworn to protect her + a hidden shifter kingdom in desperate need of a leader = a sizzling romance fit for a queen!

  Sheriff Bear. (Bears of Pinerock County # 1). A small-town sheriff + a wrongly accused BBW on the run + deadly enemies and dangerous passions = a sizzling forbidden love!

  Bad Boy Bear. (Bears of Pinerock County # 2). Biker bear on the open road + a BBW runaway-bride hitchhiker + evil motorcycle gang = an unforgettable red-hot road trip!

  Alpha Rancher Bear. (Bears of Pinerock County # 3). A take-charge alpha with commitment issues + a midwife who's not about to give up control of her well-ordered life + a roadside winter disaster = an explosive romance that's about to blow up everything they both thought they wanted!

  Mountain Guardian Bear. (Bears of Pinerock County # 4). A mountain man with a tragic past + a curvy amnesiac + two deadly secrets = one explosive romance!

  The Billionaire Dragon Shifter’s Mate. (Gray’s Hollow Dragon Shifters # 1) A BBW in search of adventure + a dragon shifter in search of a mate + a mishap on a mountainside = one sparkling and sexy story!

  Beauty and the Billionaire Dragon Shifter. (Gray’s Hollow Dragon Shifters # 2) A BBW who's new in town + a dragon shifter who's new to being human + a very confused dog named Mouse = one sexy fairy tale romance!

  The Billionaire Dragon Shifter’s Christmas (Gray’s Hollow Dragon Shifters #3) A curvy newlywed wife + a dragon shifter mayor + a small town Christmas celebration = one snowy, sexy holiday romance!

  Choosing the Billionaire Dragon Shifters. (Gray’s Hollow Dragon Shifters # 4) A BBW in a small town + twin dragon shifters in need of a mate to share + the most hotly contested mayoral election Gray's Hollow has ever seen = one sexy story that's a win/win/win!

  The Billionaire Dragon Shifter's Baby. (Gray’s Hollow Dragon Shifters # 5) A curvy social worker in need of a break + a carefree dragon shifter + a baby dragon who needs her father = one hot and heartwarming romance!

&n
bsp; The Billionaire Dragon Shifter Meets His Match (Gray’s Hollow Dragon Shifters #6) One curvy cop who's devoted her life to fighting evil dragons + one dragon who's sure he's a monster + a challenge he can't refuse = a fiery romance that starts with a bang!

  The Jaguar’s Beach Bride. A BBW shop owner in a bind + a sexy jaguar shifter returned to town + the threat of a ruthless loan shark = a love story that will be sure to make a wave!

  The Billionaire Jaguar's Curvy Journalist. A curvy reporter looking for a story + a billionaire jaguar shifter looking for his mate = a romance that’ll make headlines!

  The Easter Bunny's Bear. A BBW bunny shifter with a pony farm + a lonely bear shifter hunting a dangerous werewolf + a criminal werewolf pack causing trouble = one steamy springtime romance!

  Alpha Bear Detective. A brave woman in deadly danger + a bear shifter police detective who will protect her with his life + a frightening foe = one thrilling romance!

  Trusting the Tiger. A lonely BBW who can't shift, on vacation with her shifter family + a billionaire tiger shifter looking for a family + a kidnapping plot that threatens to rip them apart = one sexy and dangerous weekend getaway!

  Bear With Me. A lonely bear shifter + a workaholic conservationist + a sudden storm = one wet and wild mountain adventure!

  The Saber Tooth Tiger's Mate. A BBW recovering from a bad break-up + a sexy saber tooth tiger shifter + a sinister stalker and a deadly duel = one heart-pounding romance!

  Rescued by the Jaguar. A curvy Mexican billionaire whose money can't buy her love + a powerfully masculine American jaguar shifter firefighter + a world trying to tear these fated mates apart = one fiery romance!

  Dancing Bearfoot. A single dad from the city + his daughter's BBW teacher + a surprise snow storm = a steamy story that will melt your heart.

  Target: BillionBear. (Upson Downs # 1) A BBW artist + an amnesiac bear shifter + a mysterious murder plot = an explosive blockbuster romance!

  A Werewolf’s Valentine. (Upson Downs # 2) A BBW cat shifter who's turned her back on love + a handsome werewolf stranger who comes to town + a very special Valentine's Day = a hot and heart-warming romance!

  The Bear’s Christmas Bride. A BBW who's alone at Christmas + a lonely bear shifter searching for his mate + a crowded house full of relatives = a snowy yet sizzling holiday romance!

  Alpha Lion. A frightened but determined BBW + a sexy lion shifter martial artist + a dangerous enemy = one unforgettable romance!

  Hollywood Bear. (Hollywood Shifters # 1) A BBW stuntwoman + a movie director bear shifter + Hollywood hijinks = one blockbuster romance!

  And many more!

  If you love Zoe Chant, you’ll also love these books!

  Laura’s Wolf (Werewolf Marines # 1), by Lia Silver. Werewolf Marine Roy Farrell, scarred in body and mind, thinks he has no future. Curvy con artist Laura Kaplan, running from danger and her own guilt, is desperate to escape her past. Together, they have all that they need to heal. A full-length novel.

  Prisoner (Werewolf Marines # 2), by Lia Silver. Werewolf Marine DJ Torres is a born rebel. Genetically engineered assassin Echo was created to be a weapon. When DJ is captured by the agency that made Echo, the two misfits find that they fit together perfectly. A full-length novel.

  Partner (Werewolf Marines # 3), by Lia Silver. DJ and Echo’s relationship grows stronger under fire… until they are confronted by a terrible choice. A full-length novel.

  Mated to the Meerkat, by Lia Silver. Jasmine Jones, a curvy tabloid reporter, meets her match in notorious paparazzi and secret meerkat Chance Marcotte. A romantic comedy novelette.

  Handcuffed to the Bear (Shifter Agents # 1), by Lauren Esker. A bear-shifter ex-mercenary and a curvy lynx shifter searching for her best friend's killer are handcuffed together and hunted in the wilderness. Can they learn to rely on each other before their pasts, and their pursuers, catch up with them? A full-length novel.

  Guard Wolf (Shifter Agents # 2), by Lauren Esker. Avery is a lone werewolf with no pack; Nicole is a social worker trying to put her life back together. When he comes to her door with a box of orphan werewolf puppies and danger in pursuit, can two lonely people find the family they've been missing? A full-length novel.

  Dragon’s Luck (Shifter Agents # 3) by Lauren Esker. Gecko shifter and infiltration expert Jen Cho teams up with sexy dragon-shifter gambler "Lucky" Lucado to win a high-stakes poker game. Now they're trapped on a cruise ship full of mobsters, mysterious enemy agents, and evil dragons! A full-length novel.

  Tiger in the Hot Zone (Shifter Agents # 4) by Lauren Esker. In her search for the truth about shifters, tell-all blogger Peri Moreland has been clashing with tiger shifter and SCB agent Noah Easton for years. Now she and Noah are on the run with an unstoppable assassin after them and a custom-made plague threatening the entire shifter world! A full-length novel.

  Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing, by Lauren Esker. Curvy farm girl Julie Capshaw was warned away from the wolf shifters next door, but Damon Wolfe is the motorcycle-riding, smoking hot alpha of her dreams. Can the big bad wolf and his sheep shifter find their own happy ending? A full-length novel.

  The Christmas Tree Bear, by Rosie Lynne. Bear shifter Willis Barnett meets his fated match in Charlotte Caldwell when she hopes to earn extra money as Santa Helper’s on Willis’ family farm turned Christmas Tree Town for the holidays. A romantic comedy novella.

  The Strength of the Pack, by Jorrie Spencer. Seth Kolski, a werewolf, hides his heritage and passes for normal. Until he meets Jamie. A full-length novel.

  Taming the Beast, by Honey Dover. Beauty is a paranormal investigator hired to deal with a man cursed to become a monstrous beast. Helping him recover his humanity will change her life. A novelette.

  Claimed by the Wolf, by Candi Jackson. Zenobia Jones ends up pregnant after a night with a billionaire—and lands herself in a war between werewolf packs. A full-length novel.

  The Right Bear's Arms, by Nora Eli. After a sizzling one night stand with bear shifter Jake, curvy Katie realizes her perfect man is everything she's tried to avoid. If they can both stop running from their pasts, they may find a destined future together. A novelette.

  Discovering the Dragon, by Sofia Stone. When reporter Chloe Martin investigates Lancaster Gold, she finds herself tangled up with the oldest son—Isaac Lancaster, billionaire dragon shifter. A novelette.

  Lawman Lion

  by Zoe Chant

  Special Sneak Preview

  Just as she’d known he would, Mason had immediately driven out from the sheriff’s office as soon as she’d called him.

  Don’t go anywhere, he’d told her. I’ll be right there.

  She hadn’t told him everything Jessup had said to her – just that he’d come to the diner, and that he’d told her he wanted to buy it. That had been enough. Mason had told her to sit tight, and he’d be there as soon as possible. She’d sent Bob and Sherri home, over their protests – but she wasn’t having them here to be in danger in case things got ugly.

  As soon as possible had turned out to be very soon indeed. Mason had come into the diner as if he expected Jessup to still be there, his fists clenched, eyes narrowed, scanning the room for any hint of a threat.

  “Mason,” Charity said, walking toward him. “It’s okay – I’m pretty sure he really left after I told him to.”

  Mason seemed to let out a long breath, trying to release the tension from his muscles. “I didn’t see his bike outside, so I guess you’re right,” he said. Finally, he looked down at her, and Charity watched as his face softened. “I’m sorry. I just – the thought of him, here, threatening you –”

  “He didn’t threaten me outright,” Charity said. “But he certainly implied it. But he said some other things too – things I think we ought to discuss.”

  She started to lead him toward a booth, but Mason’s next words pulled her up short.

  “Did he tell you the Reapers are almost all shifters?” he asked, catching her up to walk beside her.

  Chari
ty looked up at him, a little surprised. “He did. Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”

  “Let’s sit down,” Mason said.

  Charity nodded, sliding herself into the booth seat. Mason sat down across from her, placing his wide-brimmed hat down on the table.

  “I’m sorry I didn’t mention it right away,” Mason said. “I should have – especially seeing as it was the other reason I decided to run for sheriff, George Atwood being such a useless ass aside. I knew the Reapers were shifters from the moment they started moving in here. We’d heard about a gang of them, troublemakers, and I knew that there was no way for human law enforcement to really deal with them. The only authority they’ll listen to is another shifter – but even then…”

  Charity looked into Mason’s gray-green eyes, feeling her heart thumping. “I understand,” she said, and it was true. She hadn’t honestly doubted that Mason had noble motives for what he’d done, and she certainly didn’t think he’d meant to deceive her by not telling her the Reapers were shifters. “But he said something else too – something I didn’t really get. He said that – he said that you’d be brought to heel,” Charity said, repeating Jessup’s phrasing.

  Looking at Mason’s broad shoulders and biceps that bulged out of the short sleeves of his sheriff’s uniform, Charity had a hard time imagining the person who could do any such thing. But still, she had to know what he’d meant.

  Mason narrowed his eyes, cocking his head a little. “Jessup said that?” he asked, and Charity nodded.

  Mason looked away, blowing air between his gritted teeth. “Well, that just goes to show what an ass he is,” he said, after a moment. “I’m not going to skirt the truth about it – my uncle Lincoln wasn’t exactly happy about me running for sheriff. But it’s what I wanted to do, and what I knew was the right thing to do. Lincoln might be the alpha of the pride, but he won’t stand for cruelty or anything like it. Plus, I’m my own man, and I do what I want. Jessup’s deluded if he thinks I can be brought to heel – especially when it comes to anything to do with you.”