Page 67 of Purrfectly Mated

She jumped back, knocking the bowls onto the floor with a loud crash. Elissa gasped as his claws made contact despite her efforts, scratching her wrist. Blake laughed crazily and pulled her to him. His rancid breath in her face made her want to hurl.

“Let go of me,” she demanded.

“Or what, bitch? Without Hunter here to protect you, how do you figure you’ll get away? You are all alone,Nari,” he said, snarling that last word.

Blake raised his hand, hitting her across her face. Pain exploded in her cheek, but she turned and scratched him back, trying to get out of his grip just as Jessica came running in.

“She’s not alone,” Jessica yelled.

The redhead ran into the room, her claws extended, but she wasn’t fast enough. Blake sidestepped her and smacked Jess across the face, pushing her in the process. The force of the hit had Jessica slamming into the far cabinet and slumping to the floor in an unconscious heap. That really pissed Elissa’s Tiger off.

“You shouldn’t have done that,” she growled, her eyes burning with the force of her Tiger.

She could see the moment he realized he’d fucked up. It was in the panicked flare of his nostrils. The acrid stench of his fear mixed in with a touch of madness burned her sensitive nose.

“How? You’re just a normal,” Blake spat at her and backed up.

Elissa recalled Hunter had knocked his sorry ass out before the Puspa had been finished with her.

Too fucking bad for him.

It was not her job to make sure he was informed about her new inner Tiger. In fact, she felt a mild hint of satisfaction when he looked shocked. The weaker male dropped her arm as if it burned him.

“No. That is where you are wrong, Blake. I am not just anything. I am the Nari of the Maverick Pride, and what you are doing is treason,” she growled with the force of her animal urging her forward.

Weakened and confused, Blake backed up. He slipped on the puddle that had formed beneath him, landing on his back before her. Elissa saw the opening and pounced.

Straddling his chest with her weight, she held his arms beneath her knees and used one claw-tipped hand to squeeze his throat. Blake bucked, but she was immovable.

“Lissa?” Jessica’s slurred words had her focusing on her friend. Fortunately, the younger female was not seriously injured. Unfortunately, Blake used her distraction as an opening to hit Elissa in the head, sending her across the room.

Her head ached, especially around her ear where Blake had struck her. Fucking coward. She felt dizzy and nauseous.

Shit.

Her hand went to her stomach, but she forced herself to drop the telling move. She’d only just found out and had yet to tell her mate. Worry made her careless and Blake scrambled to his feet and grabbed her by the hair, slamming her into the kitchen island.

“Dammit,” she snarled, whipping around it.

She moved faster than ever before, facing him in a crouched stance she’d seen MMA fighters on television use. She wasn’t even sure she knew how to fight, but her Tiger was there to urge her into action, and the beast did.

“Ha, did you think you could beat me? You’re nothing but a whore!”

“How did you get out, Blake? Was it Reg? Did he let you out?”

The wheels had started turning, and the man was the only one of them who’d had contact with Blake the past few days. It hurt to think one of the Pride, one of Hunter’s Honor Guard, could have strayed, but she had to ask.

“That little prick turned his back on me the second Hunter claimed you. I had to convince him to help me this time. They all forgot me, and after everything we did together! I had them all eating out of my hand, citing the old laws. A Neta cannot rule without his Nari to temper his beast and cubs to lead after him! It was a perfect excuse to get rid of him. Fucking Prince Hunter, the golden boy with his perfect family and life. It should have been mine!”

“Why Blake? Hunter didn’t choose his parents any more than you chose yours.”

“We’re not all perfect princes,” he spat the word. “My Dad never stuck around, and my mom was just a human whore like you. She didn’t want me. Didn’t know what to do with me once I started shifting.”

“That’s not Hunter’s fault. You were his friend. How could you do this?”

Elissa really wanted to know. How could he just plot to betray the only person who had ever shown him any kindness?

“It was easy. I’ve hated him since I met him,” Blake stated.

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