Page 42 of Purrfectly Kissed
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.
