Page 40 of Purrfectly Kissed

Fuck. Stop thinking of her honey.

But he couldn’t stop. Not since he’d scented her sweet cream as it pooled between her thick thighs. Damn, now he had a boner, and it was impossible to hide in the light gray sweats he’d grabbed before heading to Hunter’s office.

He stood outside the door for a beat, willing his beast to calm down before he had to face the Neta. Too late. The man had scented him, and he was beckoned by his Neta’s roar.

“Get the fuck in here, Brayden,” Hunter commanded.

Shit.

The last thing he wanted to do was piss off the one man who could stand in the way of his happiness. The Neta led the Maverick Pride with justice and a sense of caring that most leaders lacked. He was more than fair and stronger than any other Tiger in the Pride.

But we are not a Tiger, his Bear growled.

Some species were a little sensitive about the mixing of Shifter groups, but Brayden had given the man and the Maverick Pride his undying loyalty. He would continue to do so and to serve the Neta well. As long as he didn’t try to stop Brayden from claiming his mate.

Roarrr.

Now that he’d sipped ambrosia from her sweet lips, Brayden would not let her go. He couldn’t. She was his one true and fated mate. The only being in the entire universe who made his heart and soul complete. He would do anything for her. She was his world now.

The knowledge made him dizzy with expectant hope. She was so sweet, so beautiful, and so much more than a fucking Bear like him deserved. But he would endeavor to be worthy of her. He would give his life for her. The things he was willing to do just to see her smile were fucking shocking, but no, not really.

Mine, growled the Bear.

Yes.

First, attend the Neta. Second, seek out Jessica.

Grrr.

The Bear quieted, accepting his terms, and settling down before Brayden opened the door. Inside. Mikey, Reg, Pierce, Lance, and Hunter were all waiting on him.

These were Hunter’s top men, after Brayden of course. They formed an elite unit in the Pride. The Neta’s personal guard, positions of honor indeed. They were good men. Brayden knew them well as they also made up the crew, he led for the Pride’s construction company, Maverick Development.

“Thanks for gracing us with your fucking presence,” Hunter growled.

His words were sharp, but Brayden allowed them to roll off his shoulders. Nervous energy filled the room, and he knew it was the others reacting to their Neta. Hunter was pissed.

“Neta,” Brayden greeted him.

He averted his gaze, baring his neck slightly to show Hunter the respect he deserved while acknowledging his position as the Pride leader and Alpha male in the room.

“I just received a phone call,” Hunter began, allowing his razor-edged teal gaze to stop and land on each of the men in the room before he continued.

“The rumor the Council warned us about the streak is confirmed. These fuckers are encroaching on our area. They are too lost within their beasts to be reasoned with. We need to come up with a plan.”

“A streak?” Brayden asked, vaguely familiar with the term but wanting clarification.

“Yes. This small crew is definitely a streak. And it gets worse,” he went on.

“It seems our former Beta, that fucking piece of shit Blake, had tried to recruit some sympathetic rogue Tigers to his side. While they were not swayed to act when he was alive, they now feel his death was unjust. These young rogues have formed astreak.”

“I am sorry, Neta, I have not heard that word,” Brayden replied, hoping for clarification.

“Yes, Bears do not have them. You see, much like our wild cousins, a Tiger Shifterstreakis a rogue group of males acting together to hunt and kill, or in this case, to attempt to do just that.”

“This streak is making death threats?” Reg asked.

The younger man had gained some maturity after almost siding with Blake before the Neta had chosen his Nari and presented her to the Pride.

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