Page 7 of Pretty Kitten

And, unfortunately, they had an enemy who would be likely to take advantage of that, given half a chance. The pack of wolves who’d wanted to destroy them had relented, but there was no doubt that they’d try to attack again when they could.

Because of that threat, the small Wyvern Pride was currently recruiting. Rye had been reluctant at first, but they needed more members to efficiently protect their kids and survey the area. Their territory - without even counting the potential extension they’d probably purchase - was too large for ten adults to oversee.

They’d accepted applications for the last couple of months and agreed to look into potential candidates after the baby was born and Ace was back on her feet. Knowing his sister, Daunte realized that wouldn’t take long.

“Also, I picked up Emily in those woods. It’s obvious that whoever attacked her is using the territory for their illegal activities. It’s too close to home - if something happens there, the suspicion will immediately fall on us.”

That settled it in Rye’s mind.

“So, we buy the land. And if they still use it afterwards, well… It’s been a while since we’ve gone on a hunt.”

Rye’s eyes flashed silver and he smiled. His Alpha had turned into a damn monster since his mating with Aisling; he’d always been scary as fuck, but now he looked more frightening in his human shell than he did in his animal form - and that was saying a lot, given the fact that Rye turned into a damn saber-toothed tiger.

Daunte was grateful for his Alpha’s freakishness; he loved his position as Beta, and he would have hated the responsibility that came hand in hand with being an Alpha, but he would never have been able to follow a weaker man. If it wasn’t for Rye, he would have had to form his own pride, or become a loner. The former held no appeal; the latter was often a death sentence for a shifter. His sister had been a loner for a decade, and managed to thrive. But she’d never felt comfortable in their old pride, so leaving it hadn’t been an ordeal for her. Daunte and his animal loved socializing. He played with the kids, joked around with the females, was the real life of the party. The loner life really wasn’t for him. Thanks to Rye, he’d never have to experience it.

Chapter 6

Unexpected

She’d won. The following Monday, an enthusiastic girl, with dark doe eyes and pastel makeup against her golden skin, was waiting for her in front of the bakery when she got in at five thirty.

Clari concentrated on the kid, so she didn’t have to think about the grumpy, colossal, and overly sexy brooding figure leaning against the wall a step behind her.

“Hey, Niamh,” Clari said, smiling at the kid, who practically skipped.

“Ace said it was your idea. She said you asked for me so I could get out of the pride house.”

Her eyes gleamed at Clari.

“Sure did. Daunte was against it, though,” she smirked when the kid elbowed him in the abs. Finally acknowledging his presence, she spared him a glance while fiddling with her set of keys. “I thought Ian was supposed to be our assigned bodyguard?”

“We set up a schedule,” he growled, everything about his stance making it clear that he was here against his volition.

Clari shrugged it off, refusing to let his reluctance bother her.

“You didn’t have to be here this early. The bakery won’t open until nine, you know.”

Niamh grinned, “Sure, but Aisling said you bake the cakes at this time. If I can bake, you’ll pay me more - plus I get to eat the rejects.”

“Smart girl.”

She’d found the right key, but the keyhole took a bit of fumbling; then, she had some trouble pushing the heavy duty door open. She could practically smell frustration emanating from the shifter behind her.

“You could let me…”

“I can manage,” she snapped, not letting him finish that sentence. She’d opened the door by herself for months, at least five days a week – and, yeah, maybe it took so much effort that she considered it her daily workout, but she managed. She wasn’t a helpless princess, and he didn’t have a white horse or shining armor, dammit.

“Suit yourself. The view’s certainly worth the wait.”

Slowly, Clari turned her head to see that the dickhead was shamelessly staring at her ass - she had needed to bend down.

“Fine.”

Glowering, she took a side step to give him the room to step in. Of course, the man pushed the door effortlessly, without breaking a sweat.

“You need to get that repaired before you pull a muscle.”

She would genuinely have kneed him in the nuts if he’d said it in a condescending way, but he frowned, concerned.

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