Island Stripe Pride - Chapter 54: Chapter 54

Music filled the hallway and Carter paced in his tux as he waited for Toni. He’d wanted to pick her up at the door like a proper date, but duty called, and he’d had to arrive early to settle a dispute between the representative from the Luani Pride of NYC, who happened to be a bunch of city cops, and certain lone Siberian Tiger whose reputation as a bad guy preceded him. Without proof, the cops could do not do a thing. Personally, Carter didn’t think Konstantin Petrov was all that bad.
But whatever. That was not his business. His top priority was keeping things on an even keel so all the Shifter groups present could make the best of the gathering. That afternoon alone had forged more friendships than a hundred attempts during the year.
He’d seen Wolves chatting with Tigers and Lions, Bears making deals with Rabbits, and a Kettle of Hawk Shifters dropped by for a surprisingly tough game of lacrosse with some Otters. It was quite the day.
But Carter didn’t give a damn about any of it. He wanted his mate. He wanted Toni. Maybe waiting to claim her had been a mistake. His heart pounded and his beast growled anxiously. Something was in the air. Whatever it was, it teased him and taunted his beast.
He stopped his pacing, head lifting as he took in a strawberry filled breath of air. She’d arrived, and his Tiger growled deep and low, the infrasonic sound stilling those near him without them even understanding why. Lions only thought they ruled the jungle. Tigers knew they did.
“Hello,” Toni said, a breathtaking thousand-watt smile broke across her face like the sun rising over a mountaintop after so many days of clouds and rain.
She was stunning. Her hair was loose, falling in a beautiful curtain around her shoulders like platinum starlight emphasizing the silver beaded dress she wore with spaghetti thin straps. The tiny little crystals were sewn in swirling patterns over the bodice and around the hem, which skimmed the floor. He could not see her feet, but knew she hated heels, and he frowned for a minute.
“What is it? Is something torn? Did I spill sauce?” she asked, looking down worriedly.
“No, no,” he said, rushing forward and taking her hands, then Carter kissed her. “You look like a dream, Toni, but I was worried about your feet. I know you hate heels.”
She laughed at that, the sound like bells in the cool air. Toni backed up and lifted her skirt, showing him the silver ballet slippers she wore on her feet.
“I’ve got that covered,” she replied, biting her lower lip. The action roused his beast and Carter took her chin between his thumb and forefinger, lifting her face for another kiss. This time he held nothing back, he let her feel everything he was feeling.
All his joy and wonder, his desire and passion, and his love. He poured his love into that kiss. When he lifted his head, he saw her blue eyes shimmering with unshed tears. Carter smiled, loving her so much, he brushed his lips over her eyelashes, taking in her tears as he nuzzled her face with his. He whispered tender, nonsensical words, and all the while, he touched her and held her close. How could he not?
“Didn’t you know, Toni? It’s you. It’s always been you.”
“Carter,” she breathed his name, pressing her forehead to his as he squeezed her tight, lifting her and spinning her around.
“Tonight, we’ll make it official. That okay, cutie pie?” he asked with a grin.
“Yes, oh, yes,” she said, nodding her agreement.
“Come on, let me show you off a bit, then we’ll make our excuses,” he said, hating that they had to wait even a moment before their new life could begin.
He hadn’t worked out all the logistics, but Carter had some ideas on how this could work. He would hate to leave the Pride, but he would. For her, he would do anything. Taking hold of her hand, they entered the gala event together, and he’d never felt so proud to be out and about with a woman.
Toni was easy to love, and damn, she was gorgeous, too. Having other men look at her, even for a minute, roused his beast, but this was a friendly gathering, and he had a job to do too. He caught her staring at his profile while they mingled and rubbed elbows with some of the most powerful players in the Shifter world.
“The conferences were fantastic, especially the speech by Clara Lowell,” someone was saying, and he paused to answer some follow-up questions.
“That was my she-Wolf friend, right?” Toni asked.
“Yes, she’s the visiting Sigma. A very rare Wolf, indeed.”
“Sigma? Wow! You mean there is no Alpha who can control her, right?” Toni asked, fascinated.
“Something like that,” Carter said.
“Carter! How are you?” Bria, his best friend Trench’s mate, came over to greet them.
“Wonderful, thank you. Toni, this is Bria, she is mated to my friend and fellow Enforcer, Trench. Bria, this is Toni,” he said, searching her eyes before adding. “My mate.”
At that simple statement, Toni blossomed. She seemed to stand taller as she chatted with Bria, squeezing Carter’s hand tightly in hers. Fuck. He wanted to leave. Needed to get out of there so he could have her alone and to himself.
“You know,” she said, grinning at him when Bria excused herself. “Looking at me like that is gonna get you in a whole mess of trouble, Heathcliff.”
“What kind of trouble?”
“The kind where I throw you over my shoulder and run away to some cave with you for a week or so,” she whispered, and gave him a quick peck on the mouth.
“Oh no, you don’t,” he growled, pulling her into a nearby closet, where he backed her against a row of coats and kissed the hell out of her.
“Carter,” she moaned, rubbing her deliciously hot, curvy body against his.
“Need you,” he growled.
“Me too. Shall we leave?”
“Yes. Right now.”
They exited the closet discreetly, grateful the band was playing loud enough to hide their desperate interlude from prying Shifter ears and eyes. Couples were dancing as appetizers were being passed around by smartly dressed staff members.
“We’ll miss your dinner,” he remarked, catching her gaze. “I know it’s important to you, and that means it is to me, too. I am proud of you, Toni. If you want to, we can wait⁠—”
“No!” she almost shouted, and Carter laughed. “I want to go. Right now,” she said, and he could practically feel her vibrating with excitement.
“Alright, I just have to tell Trench.”
“Okay, I’ll let the sous chef know he’s in charge. Meet me by the kitchen,” she said, breathlessly.
“You got it, cutie.”
“And Carter?”
“What is it?”
“I love you,” she declared, racing off before he could reply.
"Damn, Rabbits sure are fast,” Trench remarked, his friend suddenly appeared next to him.
“Yeah,” Carter said, staring after her absently.
“So, I’m on point then?”
“Uh huh,” Carter replied.
“Um, Carter,” Bria interrupted.
“What is it, Bria?”
“Don’t you think you better go catch that blonde beauty before some other man does?” she asked innocently.
Carter snarled, his inner beast roaring loudly inside his head. No one else better lay a finger on her or he’d rip their heads off.
“That little Bunny is taken,” he growled triumphantly.
“Atta boy,” Trench said, raising a glass of champagne to toast him as he ran off after her.
Minutes later, he approached the kitchen, but there was no Toni waiting in the hallway. He shook his head and sighed, figuring something must have distracted her. A sauce that needed redoing or a dessert plate that needed fixing. His mate was a perfectionist when it came to her work. Made sense, seeing as how she was perfect as far as he was concerned. Carter was damn proud of her.
He walked past members of the waitstaff and kitchen workers, looking for hide or hair of Toni. But she was nowhere to be found. Finally, he found the sous chef. A young Tiger with tight red curls on top of his head and stark white skin.
“Yes, sir?” he asked when he saw Carter.
“Toni came to see you a few minutes ago. Where is she?”
“Chef Casabella? She has not been here since the gala began, sir. Is something wrong?”
“Hey, what’s up Carter? Where’s my sister? Doesn’t she look hot?”
Mara, Toni’s younger sister, walked towards him from across the kitchen, a familiar smile on her unpainted mouth. She was cute, like her big sis, warm and friendly. Worry began to take root, and Carter shook his head.
“She’s not with you?” he asked.
“No. Carter? Is everything okay?”
“Toni,” he whispered, offering a silent prayer to the gods as he raced to the hallway, retracing his steps. Using his supernaturally enhanced olfactory senses, he began to track her movements from the time they separated.
Fucking hell, it was only minutes! But something was very wrong. She would not have run out on him. Not after what they’d said and meant to each other.
“Carter?” Trench approached him warily. “What are you doing?”
“I can’t find Toni,” he growled, picking up a faint whiff of strawberry scented air.
“Carter!” Mara screamed. The young Rabbit bent down and lifted something off the floor. It was a silver ballet slipper.
“Toni!” he roared, taking off in the direction of the shoe.
There was a door that led outside, and Carter pushed it open, aware that Trench and Mara were keeping pace with him. Whoever was responsible for this fuckery was about to have his or her ass handed to them, he snarled, barely able to hold on to his skin.
“Can you feel where she is through your matebond?” Trench called out.
Carter shook his head, angry at himself now more than ever for delaying the inevitable. He should have claimed the female when he’d had the chance. Something he was going to rectify the second he saw her again. And he would. No doubts about it.
He would have her back by his side, safe and sound in his arms once again, where she belonged. The Tiger would accept nothing less. Someone had taken what was his, and they were going to pay with their life if need be.