Island Stripe Pride - Chapter 29: Chapter 29

Memorial Day a few years later…
“Marco!” Alex’s voice could be heard halfway across the whole dang town as he yelled for their newly appointed hotel manager.
“Right here, boss,” the young Wolf called as he ran up the stairs to the exclusive top floor of the Oasis Beachside Resort.
“Good,” he growled slightly as Nathan, his Neta’s oldest cub, tugged on his hair from his perch on the Tiger’s shoulders, “take him back to his parents please. I have to pick up Maggie.”
He handed over the tyke, wondering why the young Wolf blushed fiercely, then turned and sped away. Then he saw the reason. Joelle had stepped out of her room in a flashy two-piece bathing suit, and like always, poor Marco ran for cover.
Alex narrowed his eyes at the new college grad’s attire. Being a big brother had its downs, and one of them was policing his sister-in-law’s love life.
“Um, where’s the rest of your suit, Jo-Jo?”
“Alex!” she stomped her foot and growled at him.
The female hated it when he called her that. Probably why he did it after all these years. Marco and Joelle had dated a few years back. Nothing serious far as he could recall, but they did go to prom together. Ever since then, neither of them talked to one another. In fact, Marco seemed to go out of his way to avoid the she-Wolf.
“Take it easy on Marco, will you? He is irreplaceable, Jo,” he said.
“OMG. We are not having this discussion,” she said and walked away.
Interesting. But not as interesting as meeting his mate at home. She had a surprise. Maggie texted him to come home right away, and he knew he would never be able to leave unless he snuck away.
“Alex,” Dean caught him, and he sighed.
“Yes, Neta?”
“Rafe and I were just discussing the recent addition to the rooftop pool, and we approve of the slide,” the Tiger King of New York clapped his hand on the Alpha’s shoulder and both men growled and smiled as their young proceeded to jump and splash like mad in the heavy-duty equipment Alex installed.
“Uh, great. I’m glad.”
“So, where is your mate?”
“You know, why don’t I go find her,” he nodded, and okay yeah, he ran, before the two men could take up anymore of his time.
He was blessed to know and work with both men, since he and his wife were officially now members of both the Pride and the Pack. But they could be a little overbearing.
Alex raced down the stairs, exiting the private rooftop resort that was for Shifters only. Not that the public knew that, but it worked out better that way for everyone.
He raced across the street and walked around the privacy fence, punching in the code to the alarm system that would give him entry to the house he’d build for himself and Maggie.
Her app had taken off, just like he knew it would, and the hotel was doing better every year. Combined with his other interests, he could’ve built her a home anywhere in the world, but she wanted to stay right there.
And Alex wanted what Maggie wanted. Always. Right then, he hoped they wanted the same thing. His cock throbbed, and Alex followed her succulent scent up the stairs to their private bedroom.
Air whooshed out of his lungs when he came upon his sexy mate on top of the navy-blue duvet, wearing nothing but her birthday suit. His favorite, of course.
“What took you so long?” she asked, leaning back to give him a better view of her assets.
“Unavoidable,” he growled and tore his clothes off his body.
He was hot and heavy, dying to get to her. Every day only served to increase his desire, and Alex went to bed every night, hardly able to wait for morning. For more. For the chance to see his Maggie smiling at him.
“Need you,” she murmured, opening for him.
He slid along her smooth, silky skin. Kissing her softly, then firm as her tongue dueled with his. They were perfect for each other in so many ways, shared so many things, and in this they were complete.
“I love you,” he whispered as he plunged deep into her sex.
“Love you so much,” she moaned.
“What did you have to tell me?”
“What?” she gasped, her sex already convulsing, and he’d only just begun.
Long legs hugging his waist, Alex growled against her throat, flexing his hips and filling her even more deeply.
“You had something to tell me,” he grunted, holding back his orgasm until she came out with it.
“Remember when you said you wanted a family?” she asked, moaning as he flexed ever so slowly.
“Yeah.”
“We already started.”
“You mean?”
“Uh huh.”
“So, we’re?”
“Yep.”
“I love you so much,” he growled against her lips, and reached between them.
Thrumming his fingers over her clit, he pushed her over the edge, joining her in the ultimate pleasure. Alex came hard and hot, bathing her womb in his seed, not that he needed to, but because he couldn’t help himself. His mate was carrying their young. Happiness filled him, and love, so much love, he never wanted to lose the feeling. And he wouldn’t.
“I love you,” she said.
“I love you too.”
“Will you do something for me, Alex?”
“Whatever you want, kit,” he kissed her lips, brushing her hair from her face as he waited for her to speak.
“Claim me again,” she said.
His cock hardened instantly, and Alex nodded. Yes, he would claim her again. He would claim her always. She was his. So, he showed her again and again and again.
The end.
BLURB：
TIGER CLAIMED
His Tiger wants to claim her, but she wants to reveal his secret…
The Shifter Council of New York City has announced a warning to all its citizens. Danger is lurking on the horizon, and now, more than ever, the supernatural community must work to keep their secret. With increasing reports from normals of supernatural activity in the Big Apple, their entire existence is at risk.
Trench Tora is an Enforcer for the . When his Neta sends him to investigate a vlogger claiming to have seen a man turn into a dog, he doesn't expect to be attracted to the curvy beauty. More than that. He thinks she's his mate.
Bria Grotto is trying to make a name for herself among the millions of paranormal investigators out there by investigating claims of the supernatural in the big city. Just when she thinks she caught her big break, Bria finds herself hunted by the very creatures she means to catch on camera.
Should she trust the big, sexy stranger who comes to her rescue? Even if it means giving up her prize footage…
PROLOGUE
The city was crowded. Okay, that was an understatement. Besides, he wasn’t looking at the whole city. He was looking at the new meeting space the Council had procured from a group of Rabbit Shifters whose Warren owned a reputable real estate company.
Disguised as a Wilderness Lodge, a club founded by Shifters, which was a lot like the Elks Club, but as far as he knew one was entirely run by normals, the place was perfect for hosting meetings and events. Members only kept the humans out, and allowed not just Shifters, but other supernaturals in the area, to join them in a safe place.
Looked like everyone was feeling the pressure of the modern world, judging by the nods and head shakes of those listening to a particularly loquacious old Wolf who had somehow taken the microphone. He was not scheduled to speak, but that didn’t stop him. He just walked right up to the podium and started his fear mongering tirade.
“Greetings, my fellow representatives of the Shifter Council of New York City. Best city in the world,” he said, winking like he was in some fucking Atlantic City dinner show.
Asshole.
“We are here today to discuss recent warnings our former leader, Chief Luani of the Luani Pride, had meted out during his last speech. As the group responsible for the most Supernaturals per square footage in the whole of the world, New York City is particularly responsible for establishing how we handle this threat from modern technology,” lectured the McLeesh Pack’s Alpha, Ernest Archibald McLeesh.
The Wolf was a fucking menace. And long-winded to boot. But what else did he expect from a tail chasing puppy? He’d much rather be lounging in the sun, or banging heads together for the Pride, but Trench Tora did as he was told. And he was told to attend this meeting.
The big Tiger Shifter crossed his arms and settled in for what was to be a boring and slightly inflammatory speech. The Wolf in the next seat glanced at him sideways before inching his chair slightly away. Smart man. Trench was already annoyed, but he kept his focus on McLeesh and all the older Wolf’s posturing.
“The cold, hard facts, people, is that we are no match for modern technology. It is everywhere! Children have phones with recording devices! The brats are everywhere, and they are constantly taping everything and putting it on the web and apps for the entire world to see,” he sneered.
“Christ, will this bullshit never end?” a Fox Shifter sitting behind Trench muttered.
He had to agree with the sentiment. This was the 21st century, and Shifters were still a secret. In fact, the whole supernatural world still remained in the shadows. As a big Cat, Trench liked the shadows. It was cool and quiet there.
He had no issues with humans, or normals as the supernatural world referred to them. Far as he was concerned, they could do what they liked so long as they left him alone. Shifter politics were a bit more complicated than normals, given the whole secrecy thing, and it was not unusual for people like McLeesh to use scare tactics to force their own will on the masses.
Trench hated politicians, normal or supe. They left him feeling dirty, slimy, and unpleasant. Not something his inner Tiger tolerated in any amount. The finicky feline preferred peace and quiet. Gatherings of this magnitude were not usually part of his job. He had no taste for it, and typically, it was not in his purview.
But when his Pride’s leader, the Neta, gave an order, a good Enforcer like Trench obeyed. But no, he had to admit that under normal circumstances, he would never attend an open meeting of the Shifter Council of New York City without incentive or command.
Sigh.
“There is no stopping the humans. They even have cameras on people’s heads. How is a Shifter to make his way unseen? Cameras on heads, hidden in car dashboards, inside traffic lights, on bicycles, and who knows where else? My own Pack Guard has taken down two would be famous internet journalists this week for trying to film what they called unnatural healing abilities of members of my sports clubs,” the old man lamented.
Here it comes, Trench thought.
The pitch.