Page 55 of Purrfectly Mated

Hunter had forgotten about him.

She’d offered to get the pie and make some coffee, and he thanked her. Smiling so broadly, his face hurt as he watched her move about the dining room. He did not like the way she hefted the large tray back into the kitchen, and one glance had Reg running to take it from her.

The other males stood, clearing the table as they left. Hunter made a mental note to remind every Pride House resident and guest to clean up after themselves. His mate was no one’s maid.

He would also hire on more household staff. Someone to task with things like cleaning and carrying the heavy stuff so his Nari could be free to do what she loved and not be burdened by the mess.

Elissa might love to cook, but she was by no means required to do so. She was the Nari and would be treated as such. Even more amazing than his increasingly possessive and protective feelings for her after so short a time, was Hunter somehow knew that something inside her already recognized her role.

He’d watched how she’d stood up and managed to set the Bear at ease while placating her mate’s hunger for food. A true matriarch for their Pride.

“So, Brayden, what can I do for you?”

“Neta, thank you for talking with me.”

“Of course,” he waved away the formality of Brayden’s response and dug in.

Damn.

The woman could cook. He might have mated her based on the things she could do to a dish of pasta alone.

“Good, isn’t it? Reg damn near got down on his knees and proposed after he tried a meatball.”

The Bear grinned, and Hunter growled.

Fucking Bear.

“Mine,” he said.

“Yes,Neta,” the Bear said, and stopped grinning.

“I need to talk to you about a couple of things. The foremost being, I think something needs to be done about Blake.”

“Blake? You may want to rephrase that, Brayden. Blake is the Beta.”

“And we both know better,” said the Bear.

“There is something not right with Blake, Neta. I think you know that.”

It was then that the true dominance of the Bear Shifter before him revealed itself. Hunter grunted, staring at the Bear for a full second before the other animal lowered his gaze.

Satisfied with the show of submission and respect, Hunter released a chuff. His Tiger had taken in the Bear when he’d been alone in the world. He recognized him as an ally.

“What are you saying exactly, Brayden? Are you declaring you would like to challenge Blake formally for the position of Beta?”

“I don’t think I have a choice,” Brayden replied with a heavy sigh.

“Why do you say that?”

“Because I saw him with the Nari---”

“What did you say?” Hunter spoke carefully, easing back from the table.

He looked down at his empty plate. Since when did he inhale food like that?

Since it was fucking edible,answered his beast.

He couldn’t remember the last time he tasted such an exquisite meal. But that was not the issue right then. He needed to understand exactly what Brayden was saying.

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