The Maverick Pride Tales - Chapter 152: Chapter 152

Toni
How goes it on Operation Claim the Cock?
The message from Toni popped up on Annabeth’s laptop screen while she was checking over her itinerary for the New Jersey Convention for Quality Food Products.
A few boring lectures.
A promising speech on new FDA regulations.
Boring. More boring, boring, and meh.
But Toni had her mind flying right back to the core of all her woes. Of all the shitty things to happen to a girl, Annabeth had finally met her mate, only he didn’t want her.
Irony of ironies—she’d been fated to a straight-faced, polite Shifter, who was currently acting as her chauffeur, and the motherfucker had turned her down.
Rejected.
There was just no other way to look at it. Though, to be fair, they’d both been kind of knocked over the head with the truth of their fated status. Uncle Uzzi had some serious explaining to do. But she wasn’t mad at the older Witch.
Not really.
He couldn’t be responsible for Hank’s actions—or lack thereof.
Being one of four fiery Lioness sisters meant Annabeth was used to fighting for what she wanted. But how could she possibly put up a battle when he’d all but told her, sorry not interested?
Annabeth
There is no Operation Claim the Cock, and could you be more vulgar?
She wanted to snap at her older sibling.
Toni
What do you mean? Oooh, you dirty kitty! I meant Cock as a euphemism for a male bird. But I see how it is. Speaking of which, have you seen it? And how is the old ? (Look, I found an eggplant emoji! —it means DICK!)
Annabeth was snorting with laughter at the several dozen eggplant emojis that filled her screen.
True, he’d stripped in order to shift in front of her Lioness last night, but the feline had been too preoccupied with his animal form to pay attention to certain male parts.
Annabeth
Jury is out on the grounds of not having enough evidence.
Toni
Fine, party pooper. FYI, that’s a no go on that elixir we talked about.
They need like a month at least to study your genetic makeup to come up with a solution. I had the lab send them samples, but it will take too long. Sorry, sweetie.
Well, crap. That sucked.
Adrianna
Just get him to boink you.
Ariella
For realz.
Okay, so her relationship with her sisters comprised of plenty of TMI and, over the top, banter. But, in her defense, the Golden girls had grown up with a pretty unusual mother. Patricia Golden was one hot mama. Not because widow set hearts on fire with lust whenever the sassy older woman was in the presence of the older Pride males.
Barf city.
Rather, Patricia was known as hot because of her mother’s penchant for practical jokes, which she played mercilessly on the Pride. Such as the big s’mores cookout, which turned out to be even more fun when you added lighter fluid to everyone’s individual tabletop fire pits.
Thank goodness Cousin Leon was a firefighter, Annabeth thought idly. But in all seriousness Patricia Golden loved her four girls, and one son—though George was a bit of an oddball, always preferring to stay on the outside of their wilder antics.
Their upbringing might not have been conventional, but theirs was a fierce and loyal kind of bond no one could break. And if someone tried, they best watch out cause the Goldens played rough.
Rawr!
“Everything alright?” Hank asked from the driver’s seat, and she nodded her head and gave him a thumbs up.
Speech was a little impractical considering all the still dancing across her screen, and the fact she was very, very interested in trying to recall what she’d seen in that photographic memory of hers.
Darn feline had been mesmerized by the way he’d grabbed his ankles, wings sprouting from his back, hands and feet morphing into two incredibly strong legs with wicked looking claws. She’d never seen anything like it.
Of course, her own Lioness was pretty dang awesome, if she said so herself. But his Gyrfalcon was a sight indeed. The spotted plumes of his feathers were regal looking and austere. As was the keen cobalt stare he’d given her before hopping onto the bed to share the space. Like it was their own little nest of blankets and pillows.
Sigh. If only.
Annabeth had done some quick-thinking last night to get through the uncomfortable situation of having to share a room with the male. Her heat was imminent, so much so, she’d even downed two more of the pills designed to stop a young feline’s unwelcomed heat cycle from starting.
The fact the pills stopped working the older one got, did not mean she couldn’t mess with the dosage, right? She still wasn’t convinced she could keep her hands to herself, and that was why she’d decided on paws.
Swapping skin for fur, she’d been surprised at the sheer awe that practically saturated Hank’s features as he took in her Lioness’ form. Most felines suffered from a teeny-weeny problem with vanity. And while Annabeth was aware her inner kitty Cat was exceptional, it was still nice to be admired.
Especially by her mate.
Unmated mate, her Lioness huffed, annoyed at the little reminder.
Adrianna
Spill, girl.
She rejoined the chat, and Annabeth relented, filling in her other siblings, who’d joined the conversation, on the details of the night before.
Adrianna
Of course, he petted you. Lions are the best.
Toni
The trick is to get him to pet your other pussy.
Ariella
Girls, please, we aren’t helping Annabeth here by being crude. Love, are you okay?
Her sudden insightfulness and sympathy made Annabeth’s eyes burn with tears. Her sisters, despite the snark and mischief that went along with being a feline, were all remarkably close. And they loved each other fiercely. She could depend on them for support. No matter what.
Annabeth
Look girls, the thing is, I know he is my mate. My animal picks him. But he made some promise to his parents before he met me, right before they died, to continue their line by only mating another Gyrfalcon.
He’s explained it to me, but I just can’t understand why his folks would make him promise something that would only hurt him. Maybe he just doesn’t want me and doesn’t want to be mean.
Toni
No fucking way.
Adrianna
The ass!
Ariella
Let’s scalp him!
Annabeth
NO!
Ariella
Spoilsport.
In fact, her quieter sister surprised Annabeth by adding a few knife emojis followed by birds, promising violence to the male.
Toni
I say we tar and feather the birdbrain. On top of his real feathers.
Ariella
So, that would be tar and feather his feathers, right?
Annabeth
Girls, please!!! No hurting Hank!!!
Toni
Fine. If you say so. But we got your back, Anna-banana.
Sighing, Annabeth went back to the list of eligible males Toni had actually sent her. These Shifters would be at the convention, and as far as her sister knew, they were eligible bachelors.
Ugh.
She so did not want to go into her heat now, but what choice did she have?
“What’s got you looking so serious back there?” Hank asked gently.
“Nothing,” she said, shaking her head.
If only she could tell him the truth. Her she-Cat hissed and spat. The idea of bedding any other male had her shaking her leonine head firmly in the negative. The second she’d scented him, she knew he was the one for her.
Stupid male.
Why did he have to have principles? Sure, he’d made the vow to his family when he was a kid, but the fact he was still trying to honor them meant he was a man who kept his promises. That was a good thing, right?
Unfortunately for her.
Annabeth scrolled through the list. It was slim pickings, as usual. Aside from Judd McCullen and Freddy Gennaro, there was Luca Bianco from Brooklyn. The man called himself the Cheese King, as if that were in some way appetizing. But the Bull Shifter did have the finest line of imported and organic cheeses Annabeth had ever tasted.
He was no Hank, but Luca had hinted the last time she’d seen him that he would be happy to plow her fields. The imagery had left her wanting. And not in the way the Bull had hoped.
Nope. No way.
In fact, it was quite the opposite. Annabeth had gone home alone after that event. Looked like this convention would end up with the same results if she somehow managed to stave off her heat.
For fuck’s sake, Luca Bianco? The thought of the Bull Shifter slipping past her defenses made her ovaries want to shrivel up and die. And that would truly suck. Annabeth wanted cubs someday.
Or hatchlings. Fluffy little feathered ones.
Sad rawr.
A ping alerted her to the fact she’d gotten another PM. Annabeth really had to set some stronger boundaries with her sisters. Sigh.
UU
Annabeth, how are things going?
She paused. Reading and re-reading the missive until she realized who would be asking.
Annabeth
Uncle Uzzi?
UU
Of course, it’s me. Your mother gave me this address.
Annabeth
I see, well, to be honest, I have a bone to pick with you.
UU
I know, dear, Hank emailed me last night. First, let me apologize for my nephew’s unfortunate hardheadedness.
Annabeth
I understand he made a vow to his dying father to mate a Gyrfalconess. Hank is just too good a son to go back on his word, Uncle Uzzi.
UU
Hank’s father was an ass. But Hank has potential, Annabeth, I should know. I stayed in his life all these years, and there is no one who is more loyal or true than that man. The real question here is what exactly do you plan to do to snap him out of his misplaced notion that his bigoted parent should ruin his future?