The Maverick Pride Tales - Chapter 40: Chapter 40

Claim.
Now.
Fucking shit.
His Bear had been reduced to one word grunted commands. The animal pushed at his skin, demanding to be set free once more so they could find and claim their mate.
His Bear was furious with the Neta for interrupting what was surely to be the beginning of one off the fucking charts mating with his she-Cat. And she was his. There was no more questioning what his beast had always known.
Ignoring it was no longer an option. And fighting it was no longer appealing. Not since he’d had the briefest of tastes of his ginger flavored, she-Cat. He couldn’t wait to dip his tongue into her honey. Would it be spicy, sweet like the rest of her?
Fuck. Stop thinking of her honey.
But he couldn’t stop. Not since he’d scented her sweet cream as it pooled between her thick thighs. Damn, now he had a boner, and it was impossible to hide in the light gray sweats he’d grabbed before heading to Hunter’s office.
He stood outside the door for a beat, willing his beast to calm down before he had to face the Neta. Too late. The man had scented him, and he was beckoned by his Neta’s roar.
“Get the fuck in here, Brayden,” Hunter commanded.
Shit.
The last thing he wanted to do was piss off the one man who could stand in the way of his happiness. The Neta led the Maverick Pride with justice and a sense of caring that most leaders lacked. He was more than fair and stronger than any other Tiger in the Pride.
But we are not a Tiger, his Bear growled.
Some species were a little sensitive about the mixing of Shifter groups, but Brayden had given the man and the Maverick Pride his undying loyalty. He would continue to do so and to serve the Neta well. As long as he didn’t try to stop Brayden from claiming his mate.
Roarrr.
Now that he’d sipped ambrosia from her sweet lips, Brayden would not let her go. He couldn’t. She was his one true and fated mate. The only being in the entire universe who made his heart and soul complete. He would do anything for her. She was his world now.
The knowledge made him dizzy with expectant hope. She was so sweet, so beautiful, and so much more than a fucking Bear like him deserved. But he would endeavor to be worthy of her. He would give his life for her. The things he was willing to do just to see her smile were fucking shocking, but no, not really.
Mine, growled the Bear.
Yes.
First, attend the Neta. Second, seek out Jessica.
Grrr.
The Bear quieted, accepting his terms, and settling down before Brayden opened the door. Inside. Mikey, Reg, Pierce, Lance, and Hunter were all waiting on him.
These were Hunter’s top men, after Brayden of course. They formed an elite unit in the Pride. The Neta’s personal guard, positions of honor indeed. They were good men. Brayden knew them well as they also made up the crew, he led for the Pride’s construction company, Maverick Development.
“Thanks for gracing us with your fucking presence,” Hunter growled.
His words were sharp, but Brayden allowed them to roll off his shoulders. Nervous energy filled the room, and he knew it was the others reacting to their Neta. Hunter was pissed.
“Neta,” Brayden greeted him.
He averted his gaze, baring his neck slightly to show Hunter the respect he deserved while acknowledging his position as the Pride leader and Alpha male in the room.
“I just received a phone call,” Hunter began, allowing his razor-edged teal gaze to stop and land on each of the men in the room before he continued.
“The rumor the Council warned us about the streak is confirmed. These fuckers are encroaching on our area. They are too lost within their beasts to be reasoned with. We need to come up with a plan.”
“A streak?” Brayden asked, vaguely familiar with the term but wanting clarification.
“Yes. This small crew is definitely a streak. And it gets worse,” he went on.
“It seems our former Beta, that fucking piece of shit Blake, had tried to recruit some sympathetic rogue Tigers to his side. While they were not swayed to act when he was alive, they now feel his death was unjust. These young rogues have formed a streak.”
“I am sorry, Neta, I have not heard that word,” Brayden replied, hoping for clarification.
“Yes, Bears do not have them. You see, much like our wild cousins, a Tiger Shifter streak is a rogue group of males acting together to hunt and kill, or in this case, to attempt to do just that.”
“This streak is making death threats?” Reg asked.
The younger man had gained some maturity after almost siding with Blake before the Neta had chosen his Nari and presented her to the Pride.
Reg had gained even more respect after taking every shit job the Pride could throw at him as his penance. He was then given the position as one of the Nari’s personal guards, doing a hell of a job at it too.
The now deceased Blake had caused a lot of issues with his perversion of Pride laws. He’d tried to cause dissension amongst the ranks by claiming an unmated Neta was not in control of either his Tiger or the Pride. His plan backfired when Hunter found his mate.
Of course, as Brayden looked at the slimmer man with his tawny hair carelessly pulled back in a low ponytail and his lowrider jeans clinging to his hips, he felt his Bear rise up. This was the fucker who had thought to compliment Brayden’s mate, to seek out her company.
The Bear didn’t like that. Not one bit. In his defense, Brayden had not even been aware of his own intentions to claim the sweet Jessica as his own.
But now that he was aware, his Bear was ready to end the first person who even thought about looking at her with anything other than distant respect.
Okay. So he was a jealous fuck. What could he say? He swung his head back towards Hunter, who looked at him with one black eyebrow raised.
Fuck.
He’d have some explaining to do after this meeting, he just knew it.
We will make a good mate for her, his Bear said.
The Neta will be proud to have us for his sister. We are strong, loyal, and trustworthy. We can protect, honor, and love-
Love?
No.
He stopped that thought dead in its tracks. He wanted Jessica more than anything in the whole world, but he wasn’t ready to admit any more than that.
Not yet.
He’d only just come around to facing the fact that they were meant for one another. All those years he’d spent mourning John and condemning himself for his role in Valerie’s suicide.
Shit.
That was a situation he did not want to be thinking about right now. Even though he felt better after discussing it with his mate. He knew now that there was nothing he could have done for Valerie. Her heart had died the moment John’s baby’s heart had stopped beating.
He tried to refocus on the present. The deep tones of his Neta’s voice both soothed and interested his animal. Possession and protective instincts raced through him at the mention of danger. No one would hurt his mate. If they tried, it would be the last thing they ever did.
Grrr, his Bear agreed.
“We will not allow anyone to harm the Pride, much less a bunch of misled cubs. This streak will be stopped. Reg and Pierce, I want you two in charge of upping our security measures. Lance, I want you to talk to the Pride. Go house to house if you must, but make sure everyone knows we are here, and we are watching. Mikey, I want you to make sure we have plenty of medical supplies should there be a fight,” he said, issuing commands like the born leader he was.
Hunter’s anger rose and the Shifters in the room could not help but react to it. Heads bowed, and jaws clenched. Brayden’s body tensed, his animal on edge with the need to shift under his Neta’s rage.
“Brayden, you are my Beta and head of my security team, you will set up sentries around town. I want Maverick Point protected.”
“Yes, Neta,” Brayden answered.
He noted more shuffling of feet, the baring of necks, and the low rumble of growls filling the air. But he remained still. There was something Hunter wasn’t saying.
“Neta? Excuse me, but what else did the Council say?”
His Neta exhaled deeply. Whatever it was, the news was troubling his leader and Brayden braced himself. He was the Beta of the Pride. It was his job to support his leader in every way he could.
“Everyone is dismissed except for you, Brayden,” Hunter said.
His face was impassive. His expression that of a leader and Brayden had nothing but respect for the man.
“What happened outside? I thought you were not taking a mate.”
“Neta?”
Brayden was not sure if he wanted to just come out and tell his leader that he had been seconds away from claiming his mate. Or that he had every intention of fucking and biting his sister the second this meeting was over. Neither was probably wise at the moment.
“You and Jessica. What is that all about?”
“With all due respect, I think I should discuss things with Jessica before I speak to you,” Brayden carefully lowered his gaze.
He had no wish to challenge the Neta, but some shit was private.
“Brayden, you are the best man I know, but I don’t want to see Jessica used or hurt in any way. She’s my sister,” he emphasized.
“And she is my mate. I’ll kill the man who says I am using her,” he growled, raising black eyes to his Neta for one brief moment.
Brayden’s voice had grown deep and thick with his Bear. The beast did not like Hunter’s insinuation. How could he think Brayden would use a woman? Especially his sister.
Fuck.
The answer hit him hard.
The streak.
That rogue group of assholes must be starting some shit about his being a Bear in a Tiger Pride. Hunter snarled and stood up. He was angry, but even Brayden could see it wasn’t with him.
“Is she really your fated mate?” the man asked.
“Yes, she is. I will not let anything happen to her, Hunter. Not while there is breath in my body.”
Hunter’s teal eyes glowed for a split second before a huge, shit-eating grin broke out along the bald man’s face.
“You and Jess, huh?”
“Yes,” Brayden repeated, and slowly, his face mirrored Hunter’s grin.
“Have you claimed her yet?”
Hunter asked, all serious once more.
“No, uh, in fact, you interrupted our first kiss.”
Brayden felt his face burn with the admission.
“Really? Shit bro, my bad,” Hunter replied and shrugged.
“Okay, listen, this streak is claiming I have polluted our Pride by allowing a Bear to become my Beta. One of theirs has apparently been sending direct messages to one of the Council.”
“What does that mean?” Brayden asked, heart pounding furiously.
The Bear wanted to protect what was his, that meant defending his position and his woman. And not in that order.
“It means nothing,” Hunter growled.
“I am the Neta of the Maverick Pride, and no little shit is going to tell me who I can choose as my Beta.”
Brayden smirked, relief flowing through his veins. He hated to admit he’d been scared for even a moment. But whatever else happened, he was still Pride Beta. and Hunter had his back.
“What does the Council want us to do?”
“Fuck the Council. They don’t run this Pride either. I do,” growled Hunter.
His voice heavily laced with his animal, he tapped his hand on his desk.
“I will deal with them. You go find your mate.”
Brayden’s eyes flashed. His Bear pushed against him, but he remained in control. Nodding to Hunter before he turned around to leave.
Whatever problems the rogue Tiger streak was causing could be dealt with later. His Bear grunted and rumbled deep in his chest. Muscles bunched, stomach tense, he made his way out into the Pride House. No more delays or misunderstandings.
Brayden had a mate to claim.