The Maverick Pride Tales - Chapter 19: Chapter 19

After a grueling day dealing with a bunch of bureaucratic assholes, Hunter could not wait to get home.
All day long, his inner beast had been pacing. Pissed off and missing his mate, his Tiger had threatened to make more than one appearance in the office. Finally, upon arriving home to find his sexy mate in the kitchen, Hunter had felt a pang of need so forceful, he had no choice but to give in.
He'd expected to find her sulking or angry that he’d been gone so long. It hadn’t been his intention to stay away, but the entire Pride depended on his ability to take care of them. They needed these contracts, but the Shifters he usually dealt with, ones who’d inserted themselves among the normals, had heard the rumors. They were reluctant to sign papers when they did not believe he could hold on to his Pride.
When he found the motherfucker responsible, Hunter was going to tear the guy’s head off. But back to Elissa. She hadn’t been pouting or complaining as other past girlfriends had when he needed to work.
In fact, she’d been busy caring for the Pride, and that made his beast want to roar his pleasure. Hell, he’d almost devoured her on the spot. Were it not for Jess and her untimely interruption, he might have done just that.
So sweet and tempting, so sexy and fierce, Elissa was proving herself more than capable to run the Pride right beside him. That was something he never dared even dream. To find a mate who was a true Nari, capable of ruling at his side. And a human to boot! His Tiger chuffed and growled appreciatively.
Grrrrrrr.
When they retreated to the dining room, he found some of his Pride waiting for him.
“Neta,” Brayden spoke in that respectful way the Bear Shifter had about him.
It was one reason Hunter liked the man so much. Brayden was a good man and Bear. He’d survived the unthinkable and had joined them after leaving his Clan.
It was a terrible thing, losing one’s mate. Hunter did not know the details of the Bear’s history, only that he’d almost gone rogue after nearly being driven mad by the loss. Suddenly, he understood and shuddered at the thought. Having just found Elissa, Hunter couldn’t fathom not having her in his life.
Even after only one day, she had managed to change everything. Her natural warmth and energy had him turning to her like a flower searching out the sunlight. She was like that.
His sun. His moon. His entire world.
“Here,” she’d said in her sexy little voice, and he’d obeyed.
Sitting down as she handed him a plate. Hunter took the heavy dish from her hands and began filling it with the wonderful meal she had prepared.
He gave himself a heaping serving of pasta, meatballs, chicken, and veggies and soft, fluffy rolls that appeared freshly baked.
“You made all this?”
“Do you like it?” she countered.
“Like it?” he scoffed, and took her hand, kissing the palm.
He moaned at the heavenly scents that assaulted him. So many delicious flavors to try, but none as sweet as her. He tugged her closer and stole a kiss, just to thank her once more, but dammit, he never wanted to stop.
He loved the way she opened for him, kissing him with intense heat before shyly ending their kiss with a pointed glance at Brayden.
Fucking Bear.
Hunter had forgotten about him.
She’d offered to get the pie and make some coffee, and he thanked her. Smiling so broadly, his face hurt as he watched her move about the dining room. He did not like the way she hefted the large tray back into the kitchen, and one glance had Reg running to take it from her.
The other males stood, clearing the table as they left. Hunter made a mental note to remind every Pride House resident and guest to clean up after themselves. His mate was no one’s maid.
He would also hire on more household staff. Someone to task with things like cleaning and carrying the heavy stuff so his Nari could be free to do what she loved and not be burdened by the mess.
Elissa might love to cook, but she was by no means required to do so. She was the Nari and would be treated as such. Even more amazing than his increasingly possessive and protective feelings for her after so short a time, was Hunter somehow knew that something inside her already recognized her role.
He’d watched how she’d stood up and managed to set the Bear at ease while placating her mate’s hunger for food. A true matriarch for their Pride.
“So, Brayden, what can I do for you?”
“Neta, thank you for talking with me.”
“Of course,” he waved away the formality of Brayden’s response and dug in.
Damn.
The woman could cook. He might have mated her based on the things she could do to a dish of pasta alone.
“Good, isn’t it? Reg damn near got down on his knees and proposed after he tried a meatball.”
The Bear grinned, and Hunter growled.
Fucking Bear.
“Mine,” he said.
“Yes, Neta,” the Bear said, and stopped grinning.
“I need to talk to you about a couple of things. The foremost being, I think something needs to be done about Blake.”
“Blake? You may want to rephrase that, Brayden. Blake is the Beta.”
“And we both know better,” said the Bear.
“There is something not right with Blake, Neta. I think you know that.”
It was then that the true dominance of the Bear Shifter before him revealed itself. Hunter grunted, staring at the Bear for a full second before the other animal lowered his gaze.
Satisfied with the show of submission and respect, Hunter released a chuff. His Tiger had taken in the Bear when he’d been alone in the world. He recognized him as an ally.
“What are you saying exactly, Brayden? Are you declaring you would like to challenge Blake formally for the position of Beta?”
“I don’t think I have a choice,” Brayden replied with a heavy sigh.
“Why do you say that?”
“Because I saw him with the Nari⁠—”
“What did you say?” Hunter spoke carefully, easing back from the table.
He looked down at his empty plate. Since when did he inhale food like that?
Since it was fucking edible, answered his beast.
He couldn’t remember the last time he tasted such an exquisite meal. But that was not the issue right then. He needed to understand exactly what Brayden was saying.
“I couldn’t hear what he was saying too clearly, but the Nari was not happy with whatever it was. Also, Blake was close to her, Neta, too close. He should have treated her with more respect⁠—”
Brayden stopped, his inner Bear pushing forward as Hunter’s growl built and built until it reverberated in the room. A tiger in the wild had the ability to paralyze his prey with a low frequency infrasound that rendered its prey frozen still.
A Tiger Shifter, specifically an Alpha, could sometimes emit such a sound. Specifically, when his or her mate was threatened. Right then, Hunter’s Tiger was really pissed off.
The beast demanded the blood of any and all who threatened his precious mate, even for a second. If Brayden was telling the truth, and everything said he was, Hunter was going to have no choice but to throw down with his second.
“Get me Blake,” he commanded.
Brayden rose without saying a word and left the room to do his bidding. He appreciated the man wanting to challenge his Beta, but if Blake was out of line with his mate, that would be for him alone to rectify.
Five minutes later, Blake strolled into the room. The fucker was pretty damn arrogant to be walking in like he’d done nothing wrong, but Hunter would play his game.
For now.
“Hunter, I mean, Neta,” he said, and casually bared his throat as he took his seat to Hunter’s left.
“Speak,” Hunter commanded.
Blake shrugged, looking everywhere but at Hunter. He seemed agitated, but still, he did not challenge him directly. Hunter would have to wait for satisfaction.