Page 56 of Purrfectly Kissed

Later, he would return and pick up where he left off. The idea satisfied the beast inside, even though his chest still rumbled with his Bear’s growl.

He could not help it. Brayden wanted to take her every which way again and again until the two of them could do nothing but sleep. Wrapped around each other.

Good plan.

He grunted as he hustled down the hallway to the living room, where everyone was gathered. The last thing he would have needed was Hunter breaking down his door to see him balls deep inside his sister.

Fuck.

That would have been bad.Still, he grinned to himself, unable to hide the elation he felt. And why shouldn’t he feel joy?

Brayden finally had a mate. Someone of his very own to love, cherish, and protect. She was his whole world.

“Thanks for joining us,” Hunter’s voice dripped sarcasm, and Brayden simply nodded.

He refused to disrespect himself or his Neta with any unnecessary attitude. And he would never disrespect his mate that way. Besides, he understood. If it was his sister, he’d be pissed as well.

“The streak has entered Pride lands. They defaced some property on the outskirts of town. Breaking windows and damaging some siding on the abandoned Williams’ house. Luckily, no one lives there anymore. Our sentries sent up an alert a half an hour ago. The streak was last seen on the outer edges of town in Tiger form where the forest runs into the river.”

“Are we going on foot or paw?” Reg asked.

The Tiger male was young, but he had a good heart, and he was eager to prove himself. After that debacle with their former Beta, Blake, stirring up trouble, he’d turned into one of the most dependable men they had.

Brayden begrudgingly respected the man. He couldn’t come right out and say it though, not after Reg had expressed some mild interest in Jessica. And there was the whole staring at her ass thing he had yet to deck the guy for. But it was coming.

Grrr, his Bear growled at the thought of any man coveting what was his. It was a good thing he’d already marked and claimed her, or he wasn’t sure he could hold back his beast.

“We’ll take the trucks to the service road. Then we’ll change into our fur,” the Neta said.

Hunter’s massive Tiger led the way through the woods with Brayden’s Black Bear close to his right flank. The others surrounded them in standard tactical formation.

They would be able to defend against any attack from their enemies with fluidity and superior speed since theirs was a trained unit, and the streak was nothing more than a few misled cubs.

Brayden sniffed the air. Something was wrong. They’d been tracking the streak’s movements for over three miles through the snow-covered woods.

The rogue Tiger Shifters left paw prints and clawed up trees in their wake. Not to mention a hefty amount of defecation and urine.

Fucking assholes.

It was a weak attempt to claim territory that was not theirs. Shifters rarely allowed their baser natures to run amok, but it was all these fucks seemed to know.

Hunter was not amused. He growled his displeasure for all to hear. Brayden’s Bear rumbled right with him. The streak was careless, or they were purposely leaving this trail for them to follow.

Neta?

Brayden used the telepathic connection between himself and Hunter to speak to the leader of the Maverick Pride while allowing the guards with them to hear as well.

I have an uneasy feeling. I think this might be a fool’s errand. These tracks are old. They have not been here for an hour at least.

Hunter paused, his teal eyes finding Brayden after a beat.

I think you’re right. Let’s head back to the trucks.

Hunter’s Tiger loosed a mighty roar. The sound louder than any other in the forest. He used his Alpha powers to send the message.

Wherever the streak was hiding, Hunter, Brayden, and the rest of the guards were coming for them.

Grrr.

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