Purring with His Mate (Miracle Book 1)

by Shea Malik

  Life had taught him the only person he could depend on was himself. Getting mixed up with Edrick would only end up with him being stepped on and eventually kicked to the curb when Edrick realized what a pain in the ass Nole was. Or at least that’s what every member of his family, not to mention his colony, said.

  Apparently having a voice and sticking up for himself was a bad thing. Nole had no idea why, but the last beating by his Alpha’s enforcers drove that point home with him barely able to crawl away and more broken bones than he ever thought were possible.

  “Answer the question,” Edrick demanded.

  Only because he hadn’t used the demeaning term, did Nole decide to answer him. At least that’s what he told himself. He didn’t even want to contemplate the reason he feared it to be instead. That he was compelled to answer to the more dominant shifter, for there was no way Nole was going to allow himself to be ruled by another Alpha. He’d run before he let that happen.

  “You name it, and they have chased me.” Holding up a hand, he raised his first finger. “The alpha of my old colony, to start off with, wants me dead, so he sent his enforcers. When they couldn’t catch me, he sent trackers. When that didn’t work, he sent mercenaries.”

  He lifted a fourth finger to join the other three and added, “Oh, and then there are the hunters, who I recently crossed paths with. They were some nasty sons of bitches, who were harder to lose than I would have thought.”

  Being human, without the enhanced senses of shifters, hunters were usually fairly easy to get away from, but Nole had to admit he’d nearly been caught. He’d put it down to being tired, but he wasn’t so sure that had been it.

  “Hunters?” Chadwick said. “That’s the last thing we need on top of everything else.”

  That was ominous. “What is that supposed to mean?” he asked Edrick even though it had been Chadwick who’d spoken.

  His mate sighed as if he had the weight of the world on his shoulders. “We didn’t leave my pack under ideal circumstances.”

  Well, that was vague. “If you don’t want to tell me, fine. I have places to be.” That was a whopper of a lie, but Nole couldn’t help it. He was hurt that Edrick wasn’t sharing, which shouldn’t have mattered since they’d just met, yet it did. Damn this mate thing. It was making him all sorts of crazy.

  What he should be doing was getting as far away from Edrick as possible, not trying to get more involved in the man’s life by asking questions. Sure as hell, he shouldn’t feel like he’d just had his heart ripped out of his chest.

  Anger surged through Nole. When was he ever going to learn? No one had ever cared about him his whole damn life. So why would he expect his fucking mate to be any different?

  Refusing to stand there and subject himself to being tossed out like yesterday’s trash yet again, Nole jerked his arm free of Edrick’s grasp and strode away. His animal begged for him to go back, but Nole wasn’t going to, no matter how much the urge to do so nearly had him stumbling to stop him from leaving his mate.

  Nole wasn’t going to be thrown to the curb yet again. That his family and colony had done that had stung enough. He wasn’t so sure he’d be able to handle his damn mate doing it, too. It was better just to walk away.

  So why did it feel as if a hole was being carved in his chest when Edrick didn’t try to stop him?

  CHAPTER 4

  Edrick blinked as Nole stormed away from him. He’d thought, for a moment there, Nole was starting to warm to the idea of having a mate. Okay, maybe warm was too strong a word, but at least Nole had stopped struggling to get Edrick to release him. His mate had even stepped closer to Edrick as he talked about having to run and hide from his colony.

  Instantly, Edrick felt the loss of his mate’s slight body against his own. As much as it pained him to bring Nole into his insane world, Edrick knew the second Nole stepped away from him that he would never be able to let him go, not without a fight anyway.

  A growl ripped from his chest as he stalked after his mate. Grabbing Nole’s upper arm, Edrick spun him around and slammed their mouths together, not giving the mouse shifter a chance to deny him.

  At first, Nole struggled, but Edrick refused to relent on his onslaught as he nipped and licked at the lushest lips he’d ever kissed. Nole’s taste was ambrosia and Edrick couldn’t wait to delve inside his mouth to get an even better taste.

  A soft groan arose as his sweet little mate sank deeper into his embrace. Nole’s lips parted on the sound and Edrick took full advantage and dipped his tongue inside. Then it was his turn to groan.

  Damn, but his mate’s mouth was so fucking sweet. Edrick would die a happy man for the opportunity to kiss Nole for the rest of his life.

  Stroking Nole’s tongue with his own, Edrick nearly came in his pants when his mate starting giving as good as he got. Lust slammed into Edrick so hard he wasn’t sure he could control it. That they were out in the open, with Chadwick watching, didn’t seem to faze either of them in the least.

  A menacing growl rumbled from deep inside him at the thought of Chadwick, or anyone, seeing his beautiful mate naked. That Chadwick was witnessing the pleasure on Nole’s face as they made out was bad enough. That was only for Edrick to see.

  Ripping his lips from Nole’s he growled once more at Chadwick, who raised up his hands and said, “You’re the one making out in front of me when we have things to do. I get you want to fuck that tight ass, but there is only so much day-” Chadwick squeaked out a noise as Edrick’s hand wrapped around his neck, cutting off the rest of his sentence.

  Lifting his friend several inches off the ground, Edrick got right in his face and threatened, “Don’t talk about my mate’s ass again, or I’ll rip your throat out.” That Chadwick had been one of his best friends since they were in diapers didn’t matter right then. All Edrick knew was the rage that flowed through him at Chadwick having looked at Nole’s butt.

  He watched Chadwick’s eyes grow until they looked ready to pop right out of his head. Edrick knew he needed to gain control, but he just wasn’t sure he could, not when it meant allowing someone, even one of his friends, to disrespect his mate.

  A soft hand touched his arm. Chocolate eyes gazed up at him. “Hey. He was joking. You need to put Chadwick down, even if he is an idiot.” Nole shot Chadwick a withering glare. “I’m sure your friend won’t make that kind of mistake again, will you, Chadwick?”

  Chadwick’s mouth opened, but Edrick held him too tightly around the neck for him to speak. For a second, Edrick squeezed even tighter; then he tossed Chadwick to the ground. The umph that left Chadwick’s lungs as his body hit the dirt packed earth sent a twinge of guilt through Edrick, but only a twinge.

  As far as he was concerned, if Chadwick was stupid enough to disrespect Nole, he deserved what he got. There was nothing more sacred in their world than a mate. They only got one, and a shifter would gladly defend that person with their dying breath if necessary. Hell, Edrick had only known Nole a few minutes, and he already knew he’d lay down his life at his mate’s feet if that’s what Nole wanted.

  Keeping their mates protected and happy was ingrained into their DNA. So why had Nole been more than willing to walk away from him?

  He wanted to ask. He did. It was just Edrick wasn’t sure he wanted to hear the answer. There were some shifters who had been able to ignore the mate-pull, and he was afraid his mate was one of those. It would mean a tumultuous mating for sure since Edrick wasn’t about to let his mate just walk away without a fight. Oh, he’d let him leave if it was what Nole wanted, but Edrick would also do everything in his power to change his little one’s mind.

  But Chadwick was right. They had a lot to do and not much daylight to get it done. “We’re heading to buy a truck and get supplies to rebuild. Would you care to join us?”

  Edrick had never prayed so hard in his life that Nole would agree. It would mean going back to the house to get Chadwick’s motorcycle, but if it meant spending time with his mate, it was more than worth
the slight delay. Just the thought of having his mate behind him, with his arms around his waist as they drove the two hours to the farm where they were buying the truck, had Edrick’s dick throbbing.

  There was uncertainty in Nole’s eyes. Edrick was more than willing to beg if it meant Nole said yes. “Please. I’d really like a chance for us to get to know each other.” When Nole still didn’t appear sure, Edrick said, “We are mates, after all. You may not like that you’re mated to a cat, but fate paired us up for a reason. I’m hoping to discover what that is.”

  Nole stepped back, and Edrick’s heart broke as his mate shook his head back and forth. “No. I can’t. I need to find a new place to hide out. With so many people here, this place isn’t going to be safe for much longer.”

  Edrick wanted to take Nole back into his arms and comfort the mouse shifter, but his mate appeared stiff as a board as if prepared to run if Edrick tried that. So, he kept his own posture loose and relaxed. “Then can I drop you somewhere? That way you don’t have to walk as far.”

  It wasn’t what Edrick wanted. Hell, his cat was hissing in his head and scratching to get out and claim the sexy mouse. But Edrick didn’t want Nole to run. He worried if that happened, he’d never find the man again. And Edrick had every intention of finding his mate once more so he could convince him to give them a chance.

  “I…” Nole started. Those liquid brown eyes peered up at him as if judging his sincerity. He must have passed his little mouse’s test, for Nole gave a nod. “Okay. That would be great.”

  Relief flooded Edrick as he prayed even the limited time he had with Nole would give him a chance to prove to his mate they were worth fighting for. At the very least, he would make it a little harder for Nole to want to leave him.

  “Chadwick.” Edrick turned to find his friend about twenty feet away and trying to appear as if he hadn’t heard every word they’d spoken. Shifter’s hearing was too acute for that to have been possible. “Go get your bike and meet us back here.”

  His friend’s brow furrowed as he glanced from Edrick to the several miles where the houses were located, then back at Edrick. “That’s going to take close to thirty minutes.”

  Maybe, but it would also give Edrick more time with Nole. But they had wasted enough time. “Then shift and run.”

  Grumbling, Chadwick stripped off his shirt and started shoving down his pants. White hot jealousy ripped through Edrick as he noticed Nole staring at Chadwick with interest.

  Stepping in front of his mate, blocking his view, Edrick growled at his mate, “No looking at another man.”

  Nole just turned his face up, giving Edrick a beaming smile. “It’s not like I plan to do anything about it.”

  Edrick didn’t give a fuck. “You want to see a naked man? I’m more than happy to strip down, but you aren’t to look at other men.”

  Light flashed in Nole’s gaze. It was the only warning Edrick got, before he found himself lying on the ground with the air knocked right out of his lungs and Nole standing above him smirking. “I might be smaller than you, but that doesn’t mean I take orders from you. Got it, mate?” The derisive way he said that last word had Edrick cursing himself for handling things so badly.

  At the same time, he wasn’t sure what else he was supposed to have done. Nole had been staring at Chadwick with way too much interest, something he wasn’t about to tolerate. They were mates, damn it. Maybe it didn’t mean anything to Nole, but it meant something to Edrick.

  CHAPTER 5

  No matter how hard he tried to stop himself, Nole couldn’t seem to help but piss his mate off. It was probably for the best that Nole didn’t plan to stick around. Still, Edrick hadn’t deserved any of his snarky attitudes. Even for Nole, looking at another man as he got naked was low and something he never would have done in any other situation.

  They were shifters, being naked in front of each other tended to happen more often than not. But there was a line one didn’t cross. Ogling someone when they are shifting was one of those lines. That his mate had been standing right next to him should have stopped Nole from staring, yet, he couldn’t seem to help himself.

  Which was just weird. He really couldn’t care less to see Chadwick naked. Sure, he had a nice body, but Nole wasn’t at all interested in the man. He’d just wanted to piss his mate off. The thing was, Nole didn’t quite understand why.

  When Edrick offered to drive Nole somewhere and drop him off, like the man couldn’t get rid of him fast enough, he’d felt an ache in his chest. That, in itself, was absurd. Nole didn’t want to stay, so why was he upset that Edrick was giving him what he requested?

  It was becoming apparently obvious that, being mated sucked. Nothing was as Nole thought it would be. Then again, how was he supposed to have known he’d be paired up with a cat shifter? No. Not just any cat shifter, a fucking Alpha.

  Nole had enough of self-serving, narcissistic alphas, who thought they could just order people around like it was their God given right. So, when Edrick had given him an order, Nole had reacted.

  Okay, so maybe, just maybe, he’d overreacted. Edrick not wanting him to look at other men was very normal for a mate. It hadn’t been what he’d said, so much as the way he’d said it that had set Nole off. Then again, hadn’t that been what Nole had been goading him for in the first place? To force that Alpha out of Edrick, proving that they would never work?

  Guilt rode him as he stared down at Edrick where Nole had dropped him. The surprise that Nole had gotten the better of him showed on Edrick’s face, which only served to wipe any regret that he’d been feeling from his mind. Served the jerk right if he thought that just because he was smaller, and a mouse shifter, Nole couldn’t defend himself.

  He’d learned long ago how to fight. The only time he lost was when he was severely outnumbered. Something his Alpha had known, which was why when the man had ordered his enforcers to beat the shit out of Nolan, there were five of them.

  Having already made a big enough mess of his mating, and not wanting to make a bigger one, there was only one thing for Nole to do. Get out of there.

  “Thanks for the offer to give me a ride, but I think I’ll walk.” Nole didn’t wait around for an answer. He just turned on his heel and walked away. If only his heart didn’t feel as if it were being ripped right out of his chest as he took one step after another.

  It didn’t help that Nole was damn sure this was the biggest mistake he had ever made in his entire life. Even worse than letting one of the Alpha’s brothers, Harper, fuck him right there in the Alpha’s house.

  What an idiot he’d been. But Nole had been on a dry streak that had lasted two years, and he’d been desperate to feel a nice thick cock in his ass. He’d known Harper was gay, no matter how hard the Alpha tried to hide his brother’s transgressions. So Nole had taken a chance.

  Little did he know Abdiel had been watching his brother like a hawk so he could stop Harper from fucking another male. The enforcers had been on Nole in seconds, forcing him in front of Abdiel to pay for his crime of trying to seduce the Alpha’s brother.

  As dumb as he’d been to allow that to happen, Nole was sure this was, by far, worse. He hadn’t known too many who’d been able to leave their mates behind without going insane. It was why so many of same-sex mated pairs tended to leave their homes and take a chance on their own.

  Nole had met several same-sex mates after running from his colony. Other than being tired of having to frequently move to new places as other shifters they ran across felt it a sin to be gay and would attack, the couples appeared happy to have made the choice they had. In fact, several had told him they wouldn’t have made any other choice. They loved their mates.

  Not even being on the run changed how they felt.

  That wasn’t something those who tried to ignore the mate pull could say. The need to be with one’s mate wasn’t easy to walk away from. Having to ignore the other half of one’s soul caused anger and resentment to boil. In the end, the shifter often turned
feral and had to be put down.

  Not exactly what Nole would want to happen. So, why was he still walking? Because he couldn’t allow anyone, not even his mate, to think he could be ordered around like some servant. Nole wanted his mate to be a partner, an equal, not someone who thought he could control Nole just because he was an alpha. It wasn’t something he would tolerate, even if it meant going feral.

  * * * *

  Edrick didn’t move from his spot on the ground. Even as the anger at watching his mate walk away seeped into him, Edrick found himself smiling at his mate’s spunk. Damn, but Nole was an alpha mate to the core.

  The rumble of Chadwick’s motorcycle could be heard as he headed toward town. Edrick’s gaze narrowed in on Nole’s ass as it swayed while he walked. Seeing his mate walk away shouldn’t be this enjoyable, especially since it was obvious Nole didn’t plan to come back, but Edrick couldn’t help the way his body reacted to his mate’s enticing backside.

  Chadwick cut the engine, and Edrick pulled himself out of the daze he’d let himself sink into as he continued to stare after his mate. He wasn’t about to just let Nole leave, but at the same time, he didn’t want his brave mate to get the impression that Edrick was going to stifle him.

  Admittedly, finding a balance between keeping his mate safe and not taking away his independence would be difficult. Then again, Edrick was ready for whatever challenge Nole threw his way.

  “Where is Nole going?” Chadwick asked as he rounded the corner of the pile of rubble the destroyed building created. Chadwick glanced his way and stopped in his tracks. “Why are you on the ground? Did you hurt yourself?”

  “My mate put me on my ass for ordering him around.” Edrick couldn’t help but grin as he admitted the truth. He was proud of Nole for being able to take care of himself.

  Chadwick’s look said his friend thought he might have lost his mind, which was a real possibility at this point. “And you’re happy about that?”