The Maverick Pride Tales - Chapter 16: Chapter 16

She kept her breathing even and turned her back on him. Bullies were only effective when given attention. She’d learned that lesson long ago. Unless ignored, they held all the cards.
So, instead of dwelling on the man who obviously hated her for whatever reason, she chose to tend the food. Cooking was always her safe place. Where she went to escape. She donned a pair of oven mitts and checked on the several baking dishes she’d filled with pasta, ricotta, fresh basil, tomato sauce, and a dash of grated pecorino romano cheese, topped with a drizzle of olive oil.
The meatballs were almost finished, as was the huge tray of chicken thighs and legs topped with panko breadcrumbs and slices of garlic and lemon. She also had a platter of roasted veggies she’d added on a whim.
Thank goodness, too. The guys who’d just run through the kitchen looked huge and hungry.
“You know, I wouldn’t make myself at home if I were you,” Blake said, suddenly right behind her.
The creep had slunk across the kitchen without making a single noise. Elissa gritted her teeth, refusing to retreat. Instead, back straight, she turned her head and met his glowering gaze with a single raised eyebrow.
“Yeah? Why is that?”
“Hunter knows better than to let some human stand in the way of what’s best for the Pride. He might fuck you for a while, but that’s all you’ll be. Just some whore he keeps to swallow his cum,” he spat.
Elissa was proud of herself for not blinking. That was the vilest thing anyone had ever said to her. Blake was a fucking pig, not a Tiger, and she was not going to sink to his level.
“I might be a human, but I believe it is the Neta who decides what is best for the Pride. That’s not you, is it, Blake?”
Elissa tossed that little bit of snark back at the now growling male. She knew she’d hit the nail on the head when his eyes glowed with his Tiger. Did Hunter see what she did when she looked at his so-called Beta?
She needed to tell her mate. Protective feelings rose inside her, and she was practically trembling in outrage. The bastard was after his position, whether or not Hunter realized it.
Blake was staring at her with an angry, crazed expression on his face. With a mockery of a smile plastered to his mug, he took another menacing step towards her. Elissa swallowed hard, wondering if she should call for help.
“Nari?” inquired a rumbling voice from behind her. “You need a hand in here?”
She exhaled, grateful for the interruption and turned with a wide smile on her face. She was determined not to show Blake how afraid she’d been.
“We’re fine—” Blake began, but she cut him off.
Asshole.
“Actually, I need a hand. These trays are heavier than I thought. Would you help me bring them to the table?”
“Of course, Nari. How about you Blake? You gonna help?”
The tall Shifter’s voice dropped to a low growl, and she wondered if this was one of those posturing things she’d seen on Animal World.
The shorter man growled and walked past them both, slapping his work gloves roughly in his palm as he left the room. With any luck, he’d leave the house too, she thought.
Elissa closed her eyes and swallowed, relief flowing through her. Shit. She had that cramp again and pressed her hand to her stomach until it went away. She almost forgot she wasn’t alone when the large man cleared his throat.
“If I may be so bold,” he said, waiting for her nod to continue. “If anyone bothers you when Hunter isn’t around, Nari, you just let me know. I’m not a Tiger, and maybe I was raised different, but us Bears know better than to growl at a female, and a mated one at that.”
“Thank you, uh, I don’t know your name,” Elissa replied, feeling more relieved by the second.
“My name is Brayden Smith,” he nodded, but didn’t move to take her hand.
More Shifter customs, she supposed.
“Nice to meet you, Brayden. You can call me Elissa. Did you say Bear?”
“Yes, Elissa,” he grinned. “I am a Black Bear Shifter, but Hunter still took me in when I left my Clan. He isn’t prejudiced or a hard ass like some other Shifters.”
“I see,” She said, appreciating the glimpse into her mate’s past.
“Blake is the Pride Beta,” Brayden further explained.
“And he should know better than to snarl at you. Oh, and the reason I’m not taking your hand is because I’m not suicidal.,” he said with a wide grin.
“When your mate gets here, he’s gonna want to be sure you carry his scent alone. Blake already got too close to you. I imagine Hunter will take him to task for that. I know, I sure as hell would,” Brayden finished.
He nodded, and she felt her nerves loosen under his kind gaze. The male seemed friendly and polite. Definitely more respectful than Blake had been.
“Thank you, Brayden,” she said.
Elissa meant it, too. She was truly grateful for his intrusion on what was a very uncomfortable meeting with the Pride Beta.
“Oh, uh, I think those meatballs are ready.”
“Oh! Yes, you’re right. There you go,” she handed him a set of oven mitts and pointed to the right oven.
While she worked to get the other trays of food sorted, the other men came in one at a time to carry food and introduce themselves.
They each carried more than she could have, and the trays of food were waiting on the table when she walked into the dining room. Jessica sat with her eyes on her plate, and she wondered what had upset her friend. She noted Lance had not come down to eat and cast a sympathetic glance at the pretty redhead.
“Oh, uh, Lance had a date,” Jessica explained, nodding at the empty chair.
Elissa smiled. He was a kid. It wasn’t unusual for them to date and blow off meals with family, er, Pride, was it?
“Nari? I mean Elissa, please allow me to introduce Tyler, Mikey, Reg, and Pierce. The five of us work under Blake. He’s the foreman for the state road crew,” Brayden said, interrupting the awkward silence.
She stared at the five huge men and swallowed. These guys had muscles on their muscles, each one handsome as sin. Though no one came close to Hunter.
He was in a class all by himself. Just thinking about him did things to her insides she couldn’t possibly explain and didn’t want to name. Did it make her a total slut that she was drooling over the guy she’d only just met?
Maybe.
But whatever. She knew her mind, trusted herself, and she wanted him. The end. Period. Nobody’s business but her own.
Mine, that new voice in her head spoke up, and she felt warm to her toes.
Hunter had explained a bit about his business last night. Maverick Development was a small but well-known construction company that specialized in demolition. Shifter strength and all that.
He’d also explained he was trying to renew contracts the company had with the federal, state, and municipal governments for years. Everything was happening at once, and he was busier than usual.