Prideless

by Kasey Belle

  She looked around to make sure they were alone. “What are you Max?”

  “I’ll tell you in the car, not here. Can you trust me enough to let me take you home?”

  Did she? She thought back on every little thing he had said and done since the moment they met earlier today. God, it hadn’t even been a full day. Did she trust him? Would he hurt her? He had plenty of opportunity since they left Fiona’s house. Hell, he could have killed them both when he was alone with them. No one would have known.

  ****

  Max wanted to grab her and haul her back to the car, but he knew he couldn’t. Shelly had to make the decision to trust him. She had to choose him. He watched as every thought and emotion played across her beautiful face. As he waited his mind played the ‘woulda, coulda, shoulda’ game and no matter how many ways he played it, the outcome was the same. He took the only action possible. His primary purpose was to insure the safety of his mate even at the detriment to his own safety and happiness. He fulfilled that purpose. Although regret filled him at the thought that he may have lost her in the process, he knew there had been no other choice.

  He waited for what felt like an eternity, the vice around his heart tightened with every second that passed. When she finally nodded, he had to lock his knees to keep from collapsing. He practically wept with joy when she took his hand and let him lead her to the car.

  He helped Shelly into the passenger seat, pulled the seat belt around her, and secured it into place. She said she wasn’t afraid of him and he believed her for the most part. He scented no subterfuge, but he also scented fear and felt the slight tremble of her cold hands. He hoped that it was because of tonight’s events and not because she changed her mind.

  Max started the car and turned the heater on full blast. He looked at Shelly. She looked so lost. She sat there staring at her hands clutched tightly in her lap. He wished he could see her face, but it was hiding behind the fall of her hair. He went to reach for her hands but stopped himself. He wasn’t sure if he should touch her. Yes, she had let him hold her hand, but he didn’t want to assume that meant anything.

  He cleared his throat and spoke softly so he wouldn’t startle her. “Shelly?”

  “Hmm?”

  “Put your hands up the vents and warm them.”

  Her head remained down, focused on her lap, but she slowly placed her hands in front of the vent.

  She was killing him. He could not lose her. “Doll, please look at me.”

  He sighed in relief when she did as he requested. The relief was short lived. The hurt in her eyes gutted him. The pain was so real that he rubbed his abdomen to make sure everything was where it was supposed to be. A knee to the balls would have been less painful.

  He had no clue where to start. His mate obviously didn’t suffer from the same uncertainty. “What are you Max?”

  “A lion shape-shifter.”

  “Excuse me?”

  “A. Lion. Shape-shifter. Part human. Part lion.”

  “That’s a real thing?”

  “You saw it with your own eyes, Doll.”

  “Were you ever going to tell me?”

  “I was. I promise I was. I wanted you to get to know me first. Maybe like me a little before I had to tell you, so you wouldn’t run away screaming.”

  “I guess I can see that. Would you have really killed him?”

  Max wanted to lie and say no, but he wouldn’t lie to his mate, not about this. He would lie to protect her, but he wouldn’t lie to protect himself. His stomach churned at the thought of the possible negative outcome to his honesty. She waited patiently and the look of understanding in her eyes told him she knew he was fighting an eternal battle. He mentally braced himself for the possible end.

  “Yes. He threatened what is mine and for that he deserved death.”

  She didn’t seem surprised by his answer. She looked past him out the window and she nodded slowly with a faraway look in her eyes. One final nod as though she had made a decision, she looked him in the eyes once again. “Thank you. I know you wanted to lie, but you didn’t, even knowing I could have told you I never wanted to see you again.”

  A little kernel of hope began to form against Max’s better judgement. He knew it was foolish. Shelly hadn’t given any indication that she had made up her mind one way or the other. However, she was still sitting next to him and that had to count for something, right?

  “You called me Mate several times; does that mean what I think it does?”

  “What do you think it means?”

  “That I’m the one chosen to be yours, forever.”

  Well that wasn’t the answer Max expected. “How do you know that?”

  A sweet shy smile graced her lush mouth and pink colored her cheeks. “I read.”

  Given her response, he could guess what types of books she read, and by the fates, he hoped he was right. Several of the men he served with in the Marines and worked with at the shop in Portland had women that read erotic romance. They were constantly going on and on about the benefits of having a woman who like to read sexy books.

  He didn’t resist the urge to tease her a little. “Really? What kind of reading material has such helpful information, huh?”

  Her blush now covered her entire face, neck, and chest. Max want to strip the clothes from her body to see where it ended. She ducked her head and peered up at him from underneath her lashes.

  “Just books.”

  “Uh huh. Would these books happen to have half naked buff men and lush damsels in distress on the cover?”

  She mumbled. “Not all of them.”

  He placed two fingers under her chin and nudged her head up so he could see her face. She grabbed his hand and removed it from her face. He expected her to push him away, but she kissed his palm instead. He let out the breath he had been holding since that drugged out asshole stepped out from the shadows. She wasn’t leaving. The revelation made him want to weep.

  “Well?” She whispered. “Does it?”

  Does it? Does what? It took him a moment to figure out what she was asking. A simple kiss to his palm and she scattered his brain. The merriment that danced in her eyes as she waited for him to answer said she enjoyed the effect she had on him. He used his free hand to run a finger down her cheek. He would never grow tired of touching her, of feeling her soft skin.

  “Yes. A mate is your other half, the one the Fates have chosen to complete you, and be yours forever. We all have mates, but not every shifter is lucky enough to meet theirs. When a shifter finds his or her mate, our law considers that mating sacred, cherished, and protected. You, my sweet mate, are sacred. I will cherish you for eternity and protect you with my life.”

  “My parents had a relationship like that. I remember their friends always commenting how perfect they were for each other. I think they were mates if humans can be mates.”

  “I think they can.”

  She cocked her head and studied him. “There’s more isn’t there?”

  Despite the situation, elation filled him. Their bond though weak, already connected them.

  “Yes.” He hoped she was accepting of his ‘alpha without a pride’ status as she had been with everything else.

  “You’re freaking me out, Max.”

  He raised his eyebrow. “What you weren’t freaked out before?”

  She frowned.

  “What is wrong with you? She had obviously forgotten. Why are you reminding her?”

  “Would you shut up, I’m handling this. It’s your fault she was freaked out before.” His lion growled, but didn’t deny what they both knew was true.

  “Please Max, tell me.”

  Without any finesse what so ever, he blurted out, “I’m an alpha.”

  “Okay. Doesn’t that mean you’re the boss and in charge of others like you? Does that mean if I agree we have to move?”

  The sadness in her eyes and the hitch in her voice shredded him. Knowing that he could make his mate happy by assuring her they cou
ld stay in New Orleans, made him more thankful than ever, that he was an alpha without a pride.

  “Yes, usually I would be the boss and no we wouldn’t have to move.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  Moment of truth. “I don’t have a pride, Mate. I wasn’t lying when I said I was loner.”

  “I never thought you were lying. I don’t understand though. I thought all alpha lions needed a pride.” Blushing, she admitted. “Well, according to Big Cats Week on the National Geographic Channel. Shouldn’t you have a pride? Are you like wild lions?”

  She worried her bottom lip with her teeth. She was adorable even when feeling self-conscious.

  “Yes.”

  “Yes what? You need a pride, you should have a pride, or you are like wild lions.”

  “All three, to some degree at least and we just call them lions.” He coaxed another blush out of her with his teasing. God, he didn’t want to get into the why’s and how’s, but his mate deserved the whole truth. “When I was eight an alpha from another territory challenged my father. My father was a very strong alpha, not easily defeated. In order to beat my father, his challenger had to weaken him. So, the alpha killed my mother.”

  Shelly gasped in horror and her hand flew to her mouth. Tears filled her eyes in sympathy. If he didn’t already love her that would have done it.

  “Oh, Max, I’m so sorry. Please tell me your father killed that bastard.”

  “I wish I could, but no. My father never answered the challenge. He buried my mother, packed up our things, and walked away. He gave up his pride. He said he couldn’t lose me too.”

  “I can see that. He must have loved you very much.”

  Sometimes Max wasn’t sure about that, but he didn’t voice his feelings on the matter. His mate had enough to deal with; she didn’t need his daddy issues on top of it.

  “Does that alpha still rule the pride?”

  “No. Last, I heard, his son ruled now. From what I understand he’s a good guy, not at all like his father.”

  “Don’t you want it back? I mean couldn’t you ask his son to give it back to you?”

  “If I wanted it back I would have to challenge him, but I don’t want it back.”

  She looked so confused and overwhelmed, the need to comfort her too strong to resist. He put one arm under her legs, the other behind her back, gently lifted her across the seat, and set her in his lap. He felt ten feet tall when she sighed and laid her head on his shoulder.

  “Why not?”

  “I’m strong, stronger than my father. If another alpha wanted to challenge me, his best bet would be to weaken me. It would be his only chance at a win. I won’t risk my mate or my cubs for status.”

  “I understand.”

  “Are you okay with this? With me not having a pride I mean?”

  “I don’t care about status, Max. I’m not sure about the whole mate thing, though. It’s a lot so soon.”

  “You don’t have to make any decisions tonight, Doll. I know this is a lot to take in, especially finding out the way you did. It, certainly, wasn’t the way I wanted to tell you. I sure as hell didn’t want you to see me like that. I don’t ever want to you to fear me. I would never harm you, ever.”

  She exhaled. Her warm breath on his neck ramped up his lust. She went rigid, and he knew she noticed his erection against her thigh. His cock was so hard it could pound nails. He rubbed his hand up and down her back soothing her.

  “Ignore that. It has a mind of its own.”

  Her head popped up and she gave him an incredulous look. “Sure I’ll get right on that.”

  He huffed a laugh and pressed her head back to his shoulder. “You do that, sweetheart. It’s a constant state around you, so you will have lots of practice.”

  He closed his eyes and thanked the Fates for sending him such and understanding mate. He kissed the top of her head and breathed in her sweet scent. “Thank you for not running, Mate.”

  “I’m sorry I can’t give you an answer right now, Max. I-”

  “Like I said no decisions tonight. You’re still here and that’s enough. There is one thing I need you to do for me.”

  “What?”

  “You can’t tell anyone, not even Fiona.”

  She sat up and looked at him. “Why not? She won’t tell anyone.”

  He started to explain when the shrill ring of Shelly’s cellphone filled the small space. Shelly scrambled from his lap to reach for her purse. “Shit. Shit. Shit. I bet that’s Fee. I should have called her. She’s going to be frantic.”

  “I’m sure it’s a coincidence. There is no way she knows.”

  “You don’t know, Fee. She has eyes and ears all over the city. I recognized a few of the police officers from Emma’s House. I also think one of them was a friend of David’s from school.” She looked at the screen and cursed again. She swiped the screen and didn’t bother with pleasantries. “I’m fine, Fiona.”

  Max touched her arm and silently urged her with his eyes, not to say anything. She nodded reluctantly, and the look she gave him said she expected an explanation.

  Max didn’t need his shifter hearing to hear Fiona’s panicked screeching response.

  “Shelly, what the fuck? I had to hear from Spencer Fuller that you were almost murdered by some tweaker?”

  Shelly looked at Max and rolled her eyes when he smiled. “Fiona, Spencer exaggerates. I wasn’t almost murdered.”

  “Really? He pointed a loaded gun at you. According to Spencer, he demanded money and threatened to shoot you. I heard he actually shot Max. Oh, god, is he okay?”

  Max growled. What the hell? Weren’t cops supposed to keep that shit confidential? Shelly looked at him and pointed to her ear. He nodded. He laughed quietly and his lion preened when she mouthed, “cool.”

  “Fiona.” Shelly spoke softly, trying to calm her friend. “Max would never have let that happen. He grabbed me, pushed me out of the way, and disarmed the guy.”

  “Is he alright?”

  “It was just a graze Fee, he’s fine.”

  Max felt like shit when he heard Fiona sob into the phone. He reached for Shelly’s hand when her eyes filled with tears. They may not be family by blood, but Shelly and Fiona were family by choice. He could only imagine how Fiona felt at almost losing what was left of her family.

  “Fiona, I’m fine I promise you. Please don’t cry.”

  “You swear?”

  “I swear.”

  “Do you need me to come get you or meet you at the hospital?”

  “No. Max didn’t need the hospital.”

  “Then what are you doing? Why aren’t you home?”

  “We’re talking and chilling out.”

  “Oh. Okay. Well, um, I guess I’ll see you when you get home.”

  “I won’t be much longer, Fee. I promise. I’m okay.”

  “Okay. Love you Shell.”

  “Love you, more.”

  She hit the end button, dropped the phone in her purse, and pinned him with her gaze. “In all the time I’ve known Fee; I have never once lied to her until now. Why can’t I tell Fiona? She’s my best friend. I trust her. She hates lying, Max. You don’t understand. If she finds out I am lying to her, she will hate me.”

  “You really think she’s going to ask you if I’m a lion shifter?”

  “Of course not, but a lie of omission is still a lie.”

  He thought about hauling her into his lap again, but he wasn’t sure how receptive she would be right now. Instead, he opted for holding her hand. Damn, this relationship stuff was complicated.

  “I know she wouldn’t tell anyone. If it were up to me, I wouldn’t care if you told Fiona, but it’s not up to me.”

  “Then who’s it up to?”

  “The alpha.”

  “But you said, you’re the alpha.”

  “No, I said I was an alpha. I am not the alpha of this territory and he makes the rules. Two alphas usually cannot occupy the same territory, but we are trying to m
ake it work. I can’t and won’t become a member of his pride, but in order to stay in the territory indefinitely I had to agree to follow his rules. He specifically told me, that he didn’t want you divulging our existence to anyone, including Fiona.”

  “He named Fiona specifically?”

  “He did.”

  “He knows her. Not surprising really, Fiona knows everybody. Who is it?”

  “John St. Pierre.”

  Her mouth opened and closed like a fish. His mate had a very quick mind and he could see her putting a few things together. He didn’t have to wait long for what he knew was coming next.

  “Jordy! Is he a shifter, too? What about the kids? Oh, my god, the entire MC is made up of lion shifters.”

  “Yes.”

  She sat back and stared out the windshield. “Holy crap.”

  Max drove Shelly home after he dropped the bomb about St. Pierre and Shelly’s realization that the world as she knew it, did not exist. He wouldn’t ply her with any more information tonight, no matter how much she insisted. The tiredness around her eyes and her pale face told him the night’s events wore on her and right now, she needed sleep more than she needed information. She held his hand, but didn’t say anything as they made their way to Fiona’s house.

  He turned onto her street she finally spoke.

  “Max?”

  “Yes, Doll?”

  “I won’t say anything to Fiona. I don’t like keeping things from her, but this isn’t about just me. It’s about an entire race of people. I understand that. If people found out that shifters were real, it would endanger you and all the others.”

  He brought her hand to his lips and kissed it. “Thank you, Mate. I know it wasn’t easy for you to make that decision.”

  “For the record, I trust you Max. I just need to think about everything else. It’s a lot of information to take in all at once.”

  He needed to do more than kiss her hand. He pulled into the driveway, cut the engine, and hauled her into his lap. She let out a squeak, but didn’t protest the move. He growled when her eyes glazed with lust. She was so fucking beautiful. He buried his hands in her hair, tilted her head, and placed his lips on hers. He didn’t just kiss her; he ravaged her mouth. He told her without words that she was his and he wasn’t going to let her go. The soft mewling sounds she made ramped up his own need, and he was quickly approaching the point of no return. He forced himself to end the kiss. He placed his forehead to hers and they both worked to get their heart rates under control. They were both breathing so hard they sounded as if they had run a marathon. The thought made him smile. He was a shifter in peek, physical condition and one kiss from his mate left him gasping for air. He could only imagine what it was going to be like when he was finally between those sexy, soft as silk thighs. His heart would probably explode, but what a way to go.