The Lion's Reluctant Mate. Monsters of New York

Alice doesn't even like gin, but her therapist's advice to tackle her social anxiety leads her to step into the Gin Room. For thirty minutes, she resolves to sit alone and prove she can handle it. What she doesn't expect is to meet Axel, a man whose intensity is as alluring as it is terrifying. At forty years old, lion shifter Axel never thought he'd find his mate. But there she is, his baby girl.
Alice awakens every primal instinct he has, but her fear of the unknown world he belongs to forces him to tread carefully. For him, the stakes couldn't be higher: he's not just fighting for her love, but also her trust. As the pull between them grows undeniable, Alice finds herself torn. Can she overcome her doubts and embrace the passion Axel offers, or will the secrets of his world drive her away forever?