The Maverick Pride Tales - Chapter 118: Chapter 118

Fifteen minutes earlier…
“So, Javier, how long will you be visiting us?” Hunter questioned him the second the office door had shut.
He turned around the room, noting he and the Neta were not alone. In fact, there were two Tiger Shifters and one Black Bear Shifter waiting in the office. If he did not know better, he would’ve thought this was some kind of shakedown.
Javi had done business with some dangerous people over the years, but these were not just men. These were powerful Shifters, and they made up his mate’s Pride. He would do his best to remain respectful and treat them accordingly.
“I have just purchased a home in town. So, I guess you could say I am planning to be here for quite a while.”
“Is that so?” the youngest looking of the bunch growled. “I hear you think you can just come here and start filling Pamela’s head up with shit about being your mate, hotshot.”
Javier’s inner Bear snarled and snapped inside of him. He did not care for the way the stranger spoke about Pamela. Possessive feelings rose quickly inside him, his Bear fast to anger. That was probably because their bond was not complete, and the beast was still acting on instinct.
“She is mine,” Javi growled.
So much for easygoing, he thought, and faced the younger man. He stepped forward, going toe to toe with the taller, wider Javier. A foolish move for anyone—even a Tiger.
In the wild, Andean Bears were one of the smallest species. Shy, loners who preferred the solitude of the forest to living in groups. Shifters were different. Andean Bears especially. Almost four times bigger than their wild cousins, Andean or Spectacled Bear Shifters were almost half a ton when in their fur. But Javier was twice that.
He was actually very unique. Every now and again a rare mutation caused one of his kind to Shift into a prehistoric version of his animal, a Dire Bear to be exact. Right then, his inner beast was growling in fury.
This little pussy had dared insult his mate. The man had the gall to utter her name in Javier’s presence. Fuck no. His Bear did not like it one little bit.
Rrrrrroooaaaaarrr!
Typically, he tried to control his urge for violence, but Javier was seriously pissed off. One more snicker from the punk and he would not be responsible for his actions.
“She’s been used and abused too much already. No fucking playboy is going to waltz into town and mess with one of our own,” the Tiger Shifter snarled. “You best fuck off, teddy bear. That little she-Cat is not for you.”
That was it. The leash Javier had around his beast snapped. He vaulted over the floor and had the man by the throat. Of course, that meant another one of the Neta’s guards attempted to subdue him.
Not that two alone could do that. He didn’t want to cause any more damage than necessary, but this little shit needed to be taught a lesson, and Javier was just the man to do it.
The sounds of footsteps running towards the office, where he was currently wrestling two of the Tiger Shifters, barely registered. He heard Elissa, the Nari of the Pride, gasp, and Hunter growled angrily, barking orders, but Javi was not under his rule yet.
He planned to be. Just as soon as his feisty mate claimed his furry ass, but until then, he disregarded the order to cease the fighting. Uncle Uzzi shouted something, and he felt a small zap of the male Witch’s powers, but the beast was too angry.
Whatever.
He didn’t really have time to think. The Bear wouldn’t listen, anyway. The animal wanted recompense for the Tiger’s mouthy words. He needed them to understand that regardless of the past, Pamela was his now and forevermore. No one talked about her. Ever.
The females were still yelling when he turned and saw Hunter grab Pamela’s arm. Whatever bit of control he’d had fled in that moment. Javier roared, but since he had allowed himself to get distracted, one of the Cats tackled his big furry Bear right outside. Now he was separated from his Pamela with three Shifters on his ass. And that really pissed off his Bear.
Fuck it.
He embraced his Dire Bear’s power and roared his fury. Swatting the little fucker’s tail and pinning him under his bulk. The Black Bear would cause some issue, but the Cats, fast and lethal as they were, were simply no match for his strength and size. Then the strangest thing happened. His mate yelled, and he turned to see her cub—his cub, the Bear corrected—running over to him.
That stopped his animal like nothing else could. The sweet-smelling little boy climbed up Javier’s bulky, fur-covered body with enthusiasm. His little sneakers dug into parts that Javi would rather not admit, and yes, he yanked his ears and stuck a finger up one of his nostrils, but the Bear was overjoyed. The huge beast chuffed happily. His animal more than willing and ready to be a playground for their cub.
Eventually, Javi changed back into his skin, breathing heavily, and meeting his mate’s awestruck stare as he gently placed the boy on the ground. He knew he had explaining to do, but nothing could’ve prepared him for what came out of Paulie’s mouth next.
“You gonna marry us?”
Marriage? It had never occurred to him that traditional marriage was something he would ever want, but as soon as his cub uttered the words, he knew there was only one possible answer.
“Well?”
Paulie interrupted his thoughts and he realized he had yet to respond. Javier made sure the towel was tight around his hips before kneeling down to look Paulie in the eye, ignoring the big ears of the adults who, though they’d left, were still close enough to listen in.
Warmth filled him as he realized the remarks the young Tiger had made were to test him. This was Pamela’s home, her Pride, and they cared and protected her. Yes, he saw that now, and he respected them all the more for it.
“Marriage is a big step, Paulie, but we are Shifters, you understand this, yes?” He waited for the cub to nod before he continued.
“We do things a little differently. You see, your mother is my fated mate. That means she is a part of my very soul, like my Bear. I love her more than anything, and since you are a part of her, that means I love you, too.”
“You do?”
“Yes, sweet cub, I do. I would very much like to marry your mother, but I think I need your permission first. Would that be okay with you, Paulie, if your mama and I get mated and married?”
“Does that mean you would be my dad?” Paulie looked down at his hands, but Javier lifted his chin and met his golden stare that was so much like his mother’s it made his heart squeeze inside his chest.
“I would very much like to be your dad,” he said and blinked back tears.
“Okay, but if you make her sad, you will be in trouble,” promised the little boy.
“Paulie,” Pamela ruffled her son’s hair, and the boy looked up, giving her a wide smile.
Javier reached out and took her hand in his, keeping his place on the floor, he inhaled her cinnamon honey scent and spilled his guts right then and there.
“Pamela Brown, I have known since the first time I saw you that you were my fated mate. I love you, I have loved you since that very first time, and I promise I always will. Your safety and happiness, yours, Paulie’s, and whatever other children we have, will always be my first priority. I need you, querida. I love you. Will you marry me?”
Pamela covered her mouth on a sob, and he waited patiently while she nodded her head and wiped at the tears that streamed down her face. Javi grinned and stood up, cupping her face in his hands and bent his head. Then, suddenly, pain exploded in his right shin.
“Ouch!”
“Paulie!”
“You made Mommy cry! It’s my job to protect her,” the indignant boy said and looked at both adults with a confused expression.
“Oh, sweetie, no, I am not crying because Javier did anything wrong,” Pamela explained, and bent down and hugged her son. “In fact, I am crying because he made me very, very happy.”
“Oh! Like when I draw pictures for you, and you hang them on the fridge and get all wishy washy?” he said, then grinned mischievously and shrugged at Javier.
“Sorry, Dad!” he giggled and ran away, and Javier stood there shocked.
“He called me ‘Dad’,” he whispered.
“Is that okay? I can talk to him if you’d rather⁠—”
“It is more than okay,” he said and wrapped her in his arms. “Come on, let’s go on our date.”
“Okay, I’d like that,” Pamela smiled up at him and he kissed her soundly on the mouth.
“Everyone happy now?” Uncle Uzzi came outside with a bundle in his hands and the newly engaged couple smiled widely at him.
“Yes, we’re going to go to dinner now,” Javi told him.
“Wonderful,” Uncle Uzzi said, watching amusedly as they walked away. “Osito, don’t you think you should put on some clothes first?”
“Oh crap! Yes, uh, I will be right back,” Javi said, blushing and turning to accept the package Uzzi held with a sheepish grin. “Thank you, please excuse me for a moment,” he said and ran inside to dress.
“Well, dear?”
“Uncle Uzzi, you were right, as usual,” Pamela replied happily.
“This Christmas is definitely going to be the best one I ever had!”
Epilogue
“I
still can’t believe you bought the house,” Pamela sighed, and stretched.
Javier’s cock stood at attention at the subtle move of her curvaceous body. Fuck, he was one lucky Bear. The little she-Cat was gorgeous inside and out. He turned on his side and rested his hand on her hip before leaning in to capture her kiss-swollen lips.
They never made it to the restaurant, but that was okay, because Javier had his staff stock the fridge earlier that day. Tomorrow was Christmas Eve, and he’d intended on handing his mate the keys to their beautiful new home then, but he couldn’t wait.
“You are satisfied, then?” he asked.
“Oh, I am satisfied, and I plan to be satisfied again.” Kiss.
“And again.”
Kiss kiss.
“And again.”
Kiss kiss kiss.
Pamela growled and giggled as she licked the seam of his lips until he opened them. Javier groaned against her tongue.
His sexy little mate did the most wonderful things to him whenever they kissed or touched. It was like he was perfectly attuned to her body and soul, and vice versa. The kiss grew hotter as she pressed her hardened nipples against his hair-roughened chest and Javi growled louder. Need and desire swelled, as did his ever growing love for her.
“Need you, mate,” she moaned and brushed her lips across the new mating mark she’d just given him.
His Bear grunted happily, satisfied now that she’d claimed him. Her touch sent shivers down his spine and his cock grew harder still. The scent of her arousal increased as she mounted him and slid her slick pussy lips along his thick length.
“Fuck, kitten, you’ll finish me before I get inside you,” he growled and nipped her lower lip, but his naughty little mate didn’t stop.
Instead, she increased her pace. Her hot, wet sex glided across his shaft from root to tip.
Slide, grind, swirl, in a steadily building rhythm until his fingernails pricked her hips and lifted her slightly. Her amber eyes glowed gold with her she-Tiger and then she slammed down, encompassing him in her heat.
Javier bucked his hips, driving deep, filling his sexy mate until she was purring his name and the sound of skin slapping against skin and their hearts pounding in time filled his ears. Her pussy quivered, squeezing him as her orgasm claimed her.
“Mine,” he roared, chasing her to completion.
Javier filled her with his seed, hoping against hope that tonight it would take root, and together, they would begin to grow their family.
“I love you, Javi,” she whispered against his skin as she slumped against him, too tired to move.
“I love you so much, Pa-mela,” he said, enunciating his Latin accent in a way that had her giggling happily against him.
“Merry Christmas, my mate.”
Pamela looked up at him with her amber eyes shining and he knew it would be a Merry Christmas indeed, for Pamela, for Paulie, and for Javier, from now until eternity.
Back in his mansion, where his staff was taking down the decorations from the ball…
Uncle Uzzi sat sipping the special vintage wine his nephew had brought him from Quito. He scrolled through the photos osito had sent him after Javier, Pamela, and Paulie had received the Christmas present he’d sent.
A Labrador was definitely going to complete the little family until Pamela was ready to announce her secret news. Uncle Uzzi grinned as he imagined the set of twins the she-Cat would deliver, one Tiger and one spectacled Andean Bear—perhaps with a certain genetic mutation.
Only time would tell that. Uzzi sighed happy for them both. Multiples were common for feline Shifters, especially when conception occurred during the female’s heat.
His mind wandered as he opened the next email and read the thank you note Gabriel Auberon, the Baron, had sent him in return for him accepting his invitation to vacation with him for the new year.
Yes, Uncle Uzzi thought, this was going to be a very special case.
Cards from all the couples he helped match up were hanging above the hearth and the softly glowing fire there. Uncle Uzzi hummed Christmas carols and sat under the brightly lit Christmas tree while he made his travel plans.
It had been a very good year, and he could not wait to see what came next.
“To the future, liebling.” Uzzi lifted his glass and toasted his dear wife, who he knew was smiling down at him.
As long as he could bring joy and love to others, the future would always be bright.
The end.