Page 26 of Purrfectly Trapped

Usually, said person was antsy, their senses heightened and a bit angry after the sometimes painful process. He sure as fuck did not want any female looking at him naked except for Gretchen. Hers were the only pair of eyes he wanted feasting on his form.

“What do you want?” he snapped, not liking the snarky smirk on either female’s face.

“We don’twantanything, Reg. Unless you do, of course,” the blonde purred.

“Can’t we appreciate one of our Pride’s most trusted guards?” asked the brown-haired female.

“Anyway, I was wondering if maybe you’d like to come over tonight. I have something I’d love for you to try on,” the former added, striking what was supposed to be a seductive pose.

Unfortunately for her, Reg had never been so turned off. The thinner one stalked forward in what he assumed she thought was a sexy walk. He turned his face, the scent of her hairspray overwhelming. It was all he could do not to sneeze.

“No thanks, ladies. And just a tip, but you would do well to avoid asking me in the future. I am no longer on the market,” he said, and started to walk away only to be stopped by the female’s hand on his arm.

His Tiger roared inside his mind’s eye, and it was all he could do not to push the woman off of him. He would never ever strike a woman, but her nails biting into his skin was really pissing him off. His Tiger wanted no one’s hands on him except his mate’s.

“What? You’re turning us down?” the brunette barked the question.

“Ha! A traitor like you can’t have many prospects, Reginald Cray, you should take what I am offering,” she frowned hard at him, her smile turned into a sneer.

“Excuse me? I am one of the Nari’s own trusted guards, not a traitor. Now, I suggest you leave the Pride House until you can remember your manners,” Reginald said and straightened his shoulders.

Dominant women were not usually a problem, but something was not right about how these women were behaving. He could be reacting to having found his mate, but Reg felt it was more than that. Not liking to roar at females, he could not control the growl in his voice as he glared at them and opened his mouth once more.

“Leave. Now. Before I report you both to the Nari,” he told them.

As Alpha fem, part of Elissa’s job was to maintain control of the females in their Pride. Female Tiger Shifters, like all Big Cats, experienced a heat cycle which could make them agitated. If that were the issue here, he had a duty to arrange help.

He could scent nothing different about the women. Only anger and spite. But Reg was no expert in the matter. He would leave that to the Nari, making a mental note to speak to her.

“You hear that Pam, he’s going to report us,” snorted the taller woman. “I know what you are, Reginald Cray,” she said, stepping closer. “Maybe you need a reminder.”

“I saidgo,” Reg snarled, no longer able to deny his beast’s anger.

The force of his roar shook the very ground, and the two females ran off. He’d recognized both of them but had never dated or slept with either woman. Their claims to know him were completely false. Even when he’d been stupid enough to believe Blake, he had never hung around with the man’s women.

And yes, Reg recognized them from the past as hanging around the ex-Beta inside the Pride House on occasion. Blake had worked his way through many of the Pride females, but not Reg. He’d had very little to do with them.

Reg was a firm believer in not shitting where he ate. He’d always kept his dating brief and outside of Maverick Point, not wanting the hassle of awkward encounters after the fact.

Plus, he’d always been a dreamer. Even as a young man, Reg had wanted to believe he had a fated mate. How could he face her within the Pride if he’d slept with everyone they would be living and working with? He might not be the smartest guy around, but he was glad he’d had the foresight to curb his lusty appetites to women outside their town.

Luckily, his mate was nothing like those two females. Gretchen was beautiful, ambitious, funny, sweet, and smart. There was so much he wanted to know about her, and he couldn’t wait to woo her properly.

Shifters knew with no doubts their mates were their one and only, but Gretchen was human. She would need time and convincing, Reg nodded to himself, more than ready for the challenge. He pushed the encounter with the two skinny females out of his mind and went to get ready for his mate.

Anticipation of what was to come made him nervous, but Reg was okay with nerves. It was only natural. This was the rest of his life on the line here.

Both he and his Tiger were up for this, he just had to keep his eye on the target. Nothing was as important as claiming Gretchen.

Nothing.

Grrrrrrr.

Mine.

ChapterNine

Gretchen was so nervous she didn’t know what to do. After fixing her hair for the tenth time, she finally pulled on a pair of sling-back pumps and readjusted the flattering wrap-around dress she’d splurged on fromJessica’s Closet.

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