Island Stripe Pride - Chapter 44: Chapter 44

TIGER DENIED
She shoved him away once, but this Tiger won’t be denied….
Every year the hosts a gathering for the other local Shifter groups at their mountain resort in upstate New York. Pride Enforcer Carter Marrow has been asked to organize the enormous event to ensure everything goes harmoniously.
When the catering company pulls out, he must find a replacement chef. But there’s only one capable of pulling off that kind of job last minute. And she hates his guts. Antonia Casabella is the one woman in the entire world he swore he’d never speak to again. Is he willing to swallow his pride for the sake of the gathering?
Toni spent her youth wasting away the days with the local Tigers in the area. Living near the Island Stripe Mountain Resort, what else was there to do? Though rare in the supernatural world for prey to mix with predator, as the years rolled by Toni found herself wishing to be more than friends with one particular Tiger.
Denying her heart was difficult, but she’d had no choice for her father’s sake. After he passed, Toni refused to find a mate among her Flock, finding an outlet for her grief in her work.
When Carter suddenly appears looking to hire her for a special event at the resort, she is intrigued.
Can this Bunny hold her own against a group of less than friendly Big Cats?
PROLOGUE
Carter ran a hand along his freshly shaved dome. Despite his furry alter ego, he hated hair. At least, he hated having it on his own head. He had no time for fancy shampoos and conditioners like the Lion males.
The Neta was a big guy, and not just his size. As the leader of the , Dean Romero exuded the fierce animal magnetism that only a true alpha could. Carter’s inner beast responded immediately, pushing his human half to bear his throat and avert his gaze out of respect for the dominant male.
“Sit down, Carter,” Dean said, adjusting the cuffs of his tailor made suit. Nothing else would fit the man, as Carter knew from personal experience.
Shifters were always bigger than the average normal. Humans had no idea they lived among them and would probably shit a brick if they did. Living in New York City made it easier to blend in, contrary to what would seem obvious. City folk didn’t look beyond the façade Shifters gave them. As a result, they were safer here than in quieter suburbs, able to hide in plain sight.
However, with that came one serious drawback. Their Tigers needed space to shift and run. Yes, the Pride had several buildings whose rooftops had been transformed into enclosed jungle like habitats. But even those were limiting.
“As you know, the Pride is holding its annual retreat at the lodge,” Dean began, using their nickname for the Island Stripe Mountain Resort.
It was a huge, private hideaway for the Pride located deep in the rugged mountains rising over the west bank of the Hudson River. Carter had spent a lot of his youth in those mountains, especially in the nearby resort town of Verona Falls. Approximately ninety minutes from New York City, it was the perfect place to host a Shifters only event.
“Yes, Neta,” he answered his boss and leader.
“Good. There are a few changes to be made this year. My temporary position on the Shifter Council of New York City has allowed me to make the acquaintance of several leaders of local Shifter groups. I have invited them all to celebrate the harvest moon with us at the lodge,” he explained.
“That’s good,” Carter replied, unsure why the Neta was telling him this.
“It’s very good, Carter. With these new contacts I have been able to forge alliances for us in the business world, and the Shifter world. After recent events, I am expecting trouble this weekend, especially from the Wolves,” Dean said, steepling his hands and leaning forward as he spoke.
Carter was very aware of some friction between one of the local Packs and the . The McLeesh Pack had lost their Alpha and been stripped of all their titles by the Council after ruthlessly trying to hunt down and kill a human who was now mated to one of their own Enforcers. Carter happened to be good friends with Trench and Bria, and he was not a fan of those fucking mutts who’d tried and failed to off the female.
“With my Beta's mate so close to her due date, I am placing you in charge of the whole thing,” Dean announced.
“What? Me? But Neta⁠—”
“But nothing. You have recently been promoted within the Pride, and I have seen nothing but good things, Carter. Now, I need you to get over to the lodge asap and make sure everything is going accordingly. Alex emailed you his itinerary, all you have to do is make sure everything is ready and security is in place. Think you can handle that?” The Neta narrowed his eyes, almost daring Carter to disobey his orders.
As if he would. He was not fucking stupid, regardless of popular opinion.
“Yes, Neta. I got this,” he said, standing to leave.
That night Carter packed his bag and went over the itinerary Alex Kensington, his Pride Beta, had emailed him. It seemed simple enough. He had a meeting with the resort manager, Finley Currant, tomorrow. After that, it was more or less like having an extra week off. Total bonus.
He’d just have to avoid going into town. Verona Falls held too many memories for Carter, and not all of them pleasant. His heart squeezed as he tried to push away the memories that all came rushing back at once.
Carter’s heart was racing as he drove the pickup truck through the graveled path that cut across Raymond’s field. There she was, waiting in all her furry glory.
His sweet little Bunny wanted to run, and he was more than happy to oblige her. Opening the driver’s side door, he let his shift wash over him, transforming into an enormous tiger was no small feat. He was huge, and ferocious, but his little Bunny did not care.
She was braver than anyone he knew. Hopping onto his back, she nibbled his ear before bouncing off and jetting between the tall blades of grass. The chase was on.
Carter was able to sniff out her sweet strawberry scent easily. But he played her game, and for the next hour he pretended she’d outsmarted him and outran him time and again.
Finally, they stopped near a stream. Shifting back to their skin, both sweaty and panting happily, Toni gave him a smile that made him lose his breath. She was so damn beautiful. Her brown hair hung past her breasts, bringing attention to the sweet round curves he’d dreamed of.
He’d wanted her for so long, and here she was, finally giving him all the signs.
“Are you sure?” he asked, damn near panting as she stepped into his personal space touching him lightly on the shoulders.
“Yes,” she replied, kissing him, and tilting his whole world on its axis.
Making love on the green grass had been as natural and beautiful as his eighteen-year-old heart could have ever dreamed. Toni was his mate, his Tiger felt it in his very soul.
But the next day, when he went to see her, she’d refused. For a week he’d tried, day after day, but Mr. Casabella had only shrugged and shook his head, blaming his daughter’s fickleness on her youth. It had hurt so damn much, he’d wanted to die, but still he did not believe it. He wouldn’t. Not until he spoke with her.
He had already enlisted and was shipping off for basic training, but he’d wanted to try one last time. So that night, he’d climbed up the trellis to her window.
“You shouldn’t have come here, Carter,” she told him coldly.
“But Toni, I love you,” he said confused.
“I was just having some fun. You need to go, now,” she’d said sternly, breaking his heart into a million pieces.
Yeah, he’d never looked back. But then again, his Tiger had never moved on either. His Cat had refused to acknowledge anyone other than Toni as his mate, but Carter knew better than to hold out any hope.
Okay, so he might have done a little googling, and he saw she was living back home. Her parents were both gone, but she and her sister, Mara, were back in their childhood home. They’d taken over their parents diner and had expanded to include a catering business. The resort had their own chefs, so he needn’t worry about running in to her there. His Tiger chuffed in excitement, ignoring his more logical half.
“Don’t you get any ideas,” he told his inner beast. “We aren’t going there to see Toni.”