Page 3 of Pretty Kitten

Clari froze. She didn’t fear Rygan Wayland, not exactly, but he was a dominant, powerful Alpha, and, unlike his mate, he wasn’t her personal friend. Why did Ace want him here?

She forced herself to breath in and out. Of course she called him. This was a pride decision; she wasn’t going to jump in without speaking with her partner first.

Ace laughed a little.

“You know, for a human, you’re very attuned to the dynamic of prides. You always act like a shifter when you see Rye.”

“A submissive shifter, you mean,” she grumbled, annoyed by her own reactions.

It wasn’t like Rye was going to do anything to her. Hell, she was pretty sure that the man would actually protect her if she ever needed him to. Jas and Ian liked to call her an honorary member of the pride. Mostly because they loved cake.

Ace shook her head.

“No, I don’t think so. Submissives are normally appeased by high levels of dominance because shifters don’t tend to attack them. Well, sane shifters, anyway. You act like a dominant who doesn’t want to be forced into submission. Me,” she said, pointing to herself, “you defer to. But the others; Jas, Ola, Ian, Coveney- you try to push when you can. It’s just Rye who makes you squirm because you know he tops you and it’s bugging you.”

Clari lifted a brow, intrigued, and flattered. She hated the idea of submission, so it was comforting to know that Ace didn’t think it was in her nature. Not that it mattered. She was human, so, whatever.

“No comment on the fact that I didn’t mention Daunte?” Ace teased her.

Although she hadn’t actually spelled it out, her friend had caught on early about her unrequited admiration for the dick who treated her like trash.

“I’ll tell you what I think, regardless. You’re going around in a circle, ready to pounce. Someday, one of you will take the first step and determine who comes out on top.”

Clari opened her mouth and closed it a few times in a row, not finding her words. Finally, all she could say was, “Whatever.”

Chapter 3

Status Quo

Rye made it downstairs right then, a phone in hand, smoothly speaking about the stock exchange or something equally boring. His cold blue eyes twinkled as he took in his mate, and a lazy smile settled on his lips. He bent to touch her extended tummy with one hand, and pressed his lips on her shoulder. Clari felt almost voyeuristic, but couldn’t avert her eyes because that was so damn cute she wanted to bottle it.

“Coffee?” she mouthed, desperate for something to do.

The Alpha male smiled at her gratefully, acquiescing, and Ace glared. Coffee was one of the many life necessities she’d had to forgo for the good of her unborn baby.

“Decaf vanilla latte,” Ace growled, visibly resenting each word.

Clari walked out of the entryway and into the open-plan living room, where most of the pride members normally gathered in their down time. Right now, there was only Ian on the sofa, which meant Coveney was probably patrolling, and, as the rest of house seemed quiet, someone had taken the kids out - Ola, or Jas.

“Hey, Ian. Coffee?”

“Please.”

Their kitchen had the very latest tech, producing the very best drinks in town. Which, come to think of it, may be another reason why she was here so damn often.

Rubbing her hands together like the average cartoon villain, she got the coffeemaker started and prepared four cups.

“Hello, Beastie,” she greeted the lynx who’d strolled in the kitchen area and come to rub against her leg.

Beastie didn’t acknowledge the presence of any of the shifters except Ace, but he tolerated Niamh and Clari when he wanted food or a scratch. She got a pouch of wet food out and served His Furry Highness at her feet. The animal consented to eat without clawing her tights first, this time.

Beastie and their coffeemaker were just a couple of the many things that make Clari love hanging out at the pride house.

“You still need to explain why your coffee is so much better than when anyone else makes it,” Ian called from the living room.

And there was also that; the fact that most of them liked to make her feel welcome.

“Secret,” she lied.

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