A Game of Cat & Mouse

by Astrid Cielo

  “Still scared?”

  “Spitless,” she whispered.

  “You’ll do just fine, Miranda.” She nodded, but her panicked expression never changed.

  “I told everyone that we would start at noon, but not everyone is here yet,”

  Zackary said as he approached the table where Caleb and Miranda sat. Caleb released Miranda with a small kiss on her forehead, wishing he could do more to alleviate her anxiety. He turned to speak with Zackary.

  “No one ever comes to these things on time. But now that you’re here, I do need to speak with you about something.”

  Caleb turned to Miranda because he did not want to leave his zombie of a mate by herself without first informing her.

  “Sweetheart, I’m taking Zackary someplace where we can talk privately. Why don’t you get up and mingle?” Caleb almost laughed at her wild-eyed look from his suggestion.

  Caleb leaned down and whispered in her ear, “Remember, we need to sniff out the person behind Gunner’s adventure in the mine.”

  Miranda nodded, took a deep breath, and stood to make her way out into the crowd. Caleb whistled, gaining the attention of those who’d already gathered.

  “Attention, I’d like everyone to meet my mate, Miranda. I’m sure she’d love to get to know each of you.”

  Miranda turned her wide-eyed gaze back to him, and he could hear her voice saying, “I can’t believe you just did that.”

  However, like a trooper, she turned and started mingling.

  Caleb entered the kitchen to find

  Zackary placing some food onto a plate.

  “I got some of the people in the pride to come early and make snacks for

  everyone,” Zackary said.

  Miranda was right. This boy was always doing things for the pride. Nonetheless, Zackary had some questions to answer.

  “Zackary, I went to speak with Gunner last night and found a distraught Essence.

  She’s under the impression that there is no way she can afford to put you through college. Now, she told me her story, but I know she didn’t tell me all of it. Look, I know how smart you are and there is no way that I believe you wouldn’t know about all the avenues to pay for college.

  So, why don’t you enlighten me about your sudden ignorance?”

  Zackary sighed and concentrated on

  arranging some kind of sandwich on a plate. Caleb studied the boy that he knew very little about. He knew the boy was intelligent because he proved it on a regular basis. The hazel-eyed boy was an exact male version of his sister, down to the golden tan of his skin. He differed from his sister in only size and muscle.

  “Zackary?”

  “Look, if I go to college, then I can’t work to help Essence. I failed her once before. I can’t do it again!”

  Caleb watched the usually jovial male slam his fist on the counter, sending the plate shattering to the floor. Caleb didn’t know how Zackary had failed his sister, but he wouldn’t allow one of the brightest members of his pride to throw their future away.

  “Zackary, Essence isn’t alone. She’s a member of this pride, and we take care of our own. We have a college fund set up for our pride, so there is no excuse for you not to attend college. As for the being close to home, it isn’t Harvard or anything.

  It’s thirty minutes from Pinewood Creek, and I think you’ll make a perfect addition to Creekmore College. Now, Miranda has the information you need. After our conversation with Essence last night, she spent some time searching the web.”

  Zackary nodded and stooped to pick up the broken plate. “Thanks, Caleb.”

  “Don’t fret it, man. You do so much for the pride it is the least we can do for you.

  When are you two going to tell me the entirety of your tale?”

  “I don’t know, Caleb. Maybe never,”

  Zackary said, and he could not completely hide the shamed look that crossed his face. He would have to be ready for whatever had happened to Essence and Zackary when they deemed it the time to share.

  “What are you planning on majoring in?”

  “Computer programming or chemistry.”

  “Hell, do both, you’re smart enough.”

  Zackary smiled, and his usual jovial personality came to the forefront. He clapped Caleb on the back with a big grin plastered on his face. “So, you finally claimed her, huh?”

  Caleb growled low in his throat, and Zackary laughed as he popped one of the finger sandwiches that had survived the destruction into his mouth. Shaking his head, Caleb headed back to his mate –possibly to rescue a mouse in a room full of cats.

  ***

  Miranda watched as Caleb left her to

  mingle amongst the pride. If she was going to be their alpha female, then she had to start somewhere getting to know them. Miranda had never particularly liked meeting new people, preferring instead to remain in her comfort zone. She also never understood how she could handle teaching when the thought of being around so many people was abhorrent to her.

  But it had always been that way, her clamming up in one-on-one situations. But she thrived on public speaking, and although teaching involved lots of one-on-one situations, she didn’t see them as such. So maybe if she viewed her current situation as she did teaching, then maybe she could meet some members of her new extended family. Besides, she needed to figure out who’d put Gunner into the mine.

  Maybe the bigger question was the why of it. Why had someone placed Gunner in the mine in the first place? When Gunner went missing, everyone had banded

  together to find him, but no one had thought the child kidnapped. Essence had been beside herself with worry, but more so because she didn’t know where her kitten was. Was everyone so trusting of each other that they did not suspect each other until the three-year-old’s story sounded suspicious?

  Sure, she’d smelled someone besides Zackary, Essence, and Gunner in Gunner’s room, but it’d been faint. Faint enough that Essence and Caleb didn’t smell it. To be honest, if it hadn’t been for Gunner eating the tuna fish sandwich, he would still be lost. She wasn’t sure that the faint whiff of the person she’d smelled in Gunner’s bedroom would lead to a

  definitive match, especially in this room full of smells.

  Taking a deep breath, she walked up to the nearest group of people. It was do or die time. She discreetly wiped her sweaty palms on her jean capris.

  “Hi, I’m Miranda.”

  Warm smiles met her introduction, and blonde-haired woman in what Miranda assumed was her fifties grabbed Miranda into a hug. If her nose hadn’t confirmed her a cougar, Miranda would have sworn the woman was a bear.

  “Oh, you must be Caleb’s mate. We’ve all been dying to meet you! Word was that a female snagged our alpha! Oh, but where are my manners? I’m Carolina Rogers, and this is my mate, Alvin.”

  Carolina pointed to the gray-haired male who stood patiently beside her. His bright blue eyes twinkled when he shook

  Miranda’s hand, and she instantly liked the couple. Carolina introduced her to the rest of the group sitting in the seats beside them.

  Colleen, Elena, Darius, and Mark all extended their hands after Carolina’s introduction, and Miranda knew she would never remember everyone. Colleen was married to Darius who was Mark’s brother and Elena was married to Mark. By the time she’d extricated herself from the likeable but gossiping Carolina, she was so confused. It would take a lot more than luck to learn the ins and outs of this pride.

  Spotting Aspen, Miranda made a beeline for her. At least she knew this one person. The smell of sadness wafted from her new friend, something only slightly evident from last night when she’d first met her.

  “Hi, Aspen, I’m so glad you’re here!

  Besides Essence, you are the only one I know.”

  Aspen offered her a small smile, but it never reached her eyes. It looked as if Aspen had undergone a complete change overnight. Her skin was pale, and her black hair lacked luster. Miranda could have sworn she hadn’t looked so
haggard last night.

  However, Miranda had not really looked at Aspen last night as a friend, but as a potential encroacher on her territory –Caleb. Even Caleb had not noticed the sadness, though to be fair, the mating urge was insistent.

  “I see Caleb has you mingling with the pride.”

  “You must be the little mouse

  everyone’s gossiping about!”

  Miranda jumped at the booming voice that came from behind her. Turning, she saw a woman in her sixties with her silver hair fixed in a bun on top of her head and standing with a male with short salt-and-pepper hair. The woman was curvaceous and tall. Miranda felt like a child standing next to her. The male was built much like most of the cougar shifters she’d met, tall and muscular.

  “Miranda, I’d like you to meet Mrs.

  Evelyn Dawson and her mate, Mr. Winston Dawson. I’m staying with them until I can get my house furnished. My stuff should be delivered next week.”

  Miranda held her hand out for Evelyn and Winston. Winston shook her hand, and Miranda couldn’t contain her squeal when Evelyn wrapped her in a tight

  embrace.

  “Evelyn, don’t scare the poor girl,”

  Winston said.

  “Oh, Winston. I’m doing no such thing!”

  Evelyn released Miranda from the bear hug and turned to place a kiss on her mate’s lips. Winston grabbed his mate and, in a flourish she’d only seen in movies, dipped her before placing a smacking kiss on her lips. Winston righted his mate, and Evelyn’s face shone bright red. It would seem that Winston Dawson could still turn his mate into a giggling schoolgirl.

  Miranda cried out as hands turned her.

  She found herself looking into the dancing golden brown eyes of her mate, and her heart rejoiced in his return. It didn’t matter that he’d only been in the next room. Their new bond ensured they

  wanted to be close to their mate at all times, and if Evelyn and Winston were any indication, that heat never faded.

  “That looked like fun,” Caleb said.

  “What looked like fun?”

  A smile lit up his face, one that promised something sinful. Miranda’s breath caught in her throat as he dipped her and claimed her lips. And just like that, she forgot where she was. There was Miranda, and there was Caleb. No one else mattered in that moment when his tongue dipped into her mouth to duel with her own. Nothing remained but the feel of his arms holding her mere inches from the ground as his lips and teeth nibbled and sampled her mouth.

  Miranda’s arousal swept her fast and without mercy. Her nipples beaded, and her core became liquid heat.

  Miranda whimpered as Caleb released her from his spell. Opening her eyes, she felt the telltale heat of a blush creeping up her neck and face at the audience they’d acquired.

  “Everyone, I’d like to introduce Miranda Sullivan, soon to be Miranda Anderson, my mate and your new alpha female,” Caleb said, his voice echoing in the room.

  Just when she was sure her blush could not get any worse, Caleb proved her wrong. Miranda was surprised when the sound of applause and whistles broke the deafening silence. Phew!

  ***

  Aspen’s gut clenched at the public

  display of love that Caleb and Miranda had shared. She didn’t begrudge them their happiness, but her own soul cried out for its mate. Aspen discreetly wiped the tear as the pride applauded for the new couple.

  Evelyn patted her on the shoulder and gave her a pitying look. She realized that Evelyn sensed something was wrong, but she wasn’t ready to talk about it. The unspoken offer was not lost on her as Evelyn nodded before joining in with the applause.

  Most of the pride showed their support for their alpha. According to Evelyn and Winston, stated over dessert the night before, Caleb needed Miranda. For a little over a year now, he’d been a shell of himself. Several of the eligible females of the pride had attempted their hand at seducing him, but he always refused. The entire pride knew he was grieving the loss of his parents and some of the older members of the pride said Caleb never thought he’d become alpha so early. His parents' deaths had come as a surprise to everyone. Despite his grief, Caleb always addressed the pride’s issues or problems.

  Aspen had loved Caleb’s parents. They always welcomed her within their home when hers was not such a great place to be. It made her wish that they were here now. They’d know exactly what to do about her mate.

  Despite her wanting the mate that fate had provided, Aspen still held onto that glimmer of hope that it was a blessing in disguise he didn’t want her. If there was one thing her parents had taught her, it was that just because fate stepped in didn’t mean that fate was always right.

  Her father and mother were together in a relationship that neither of them wanted, yet neither could get out. Mating was for life.

  Aspen had heard many people wonder

  how anyone couldn’t fall madly in love with their mate. Their mate was the second half of their soul. However, some people had internal conflicts, didn’t they? And what of depression? Depressed people didn’t exactly like themselves, did they?

  Deep down, way down where she wouldn’t have to deal with it, Aspen knew she was just making excuses to console her own bruised heart.

  Aspen followed Evelyn and took a seat for the meeting. Plastering the fake smile on her face, she nodded when Evelyn spoke to her about the current gossip.

  Sienna McBride was reportedly dating an unknown beau. Kelsi Peters had snuck out of the house to meet her human boyfriend at the mall after being forbidden. The list went on forever. Yet all she could focus on was the fact that she felt as if she were dying inside.

  Chapter 17

  Caleb held his mate’s hand as he led her to the podium. Heartened by the warm response to his announcing Miranda as his mate, he dove in with the suggestions that Miranda proposed. “I am happy to see all of you here today for such an important announcement. I want to thank each of you for bearing with me this past year. I know that I have not lived up to my father’s image. But I’m not sure that I can, and I actually doubted my ability to perform my role as alpha until a little mouse gave me hope and direction.”

  Caleb looked into the eyes of his blushing mate and reveled in the love shining in their brown depths.

  “When I met Miranda, I failed to tell her of my alpha status. I’ve come to realize it was because I did not see myself as an alpha. From day one of learning her new role as an alpha, Miranda began asking questions and learning what was required of her. Her first questions were, ‘what other members of the pride are there?’ and ‘what exactly does the status of alpha female require of me?’ She was in shock when she learned that the only positions within the pride are alpha and pride member. She said that wasn’t good

  enough because there would be no checks and balances.

  “I believe her own words were ‘what keeps the alphas from crossing the line?’

  And while we are a fortunate pride to have had such respectable leaders, there are probably many other prides that are not so lucky. I agree with my mate, so, effective immediately, the following positions will be available within the pride. Beta, or second-in-command, will fill in when the alpha cannot or is absent, and enforcers, who will manage security for the pride. I believe we’ve all heard of Gunner’s adventure in the mine. It’s our belief that this was a calculated event and Gunner is innocent of wandering where he was

  forbidden to go. We’re still investigating that, but we believe that our own type of police force will aid in keeping this sort of thing from occurring again.

  “Treasurer, as the name states, will handle the financial aspects of our pride.

  We have several channels that bring money into the pride and several projects we use pride money for, including the scholarship fund. Miranda feels it’s irresponsible to have a couple of people with all the power and all the money. I agree wholeheartedly. Besides, with duties spread between members, I will have more time to ensure the efficient operation of the p
ride. Are there any questions or concerns about the proposed status changes within the pride?”

  Caleb placed his notecards down and waited. He anticipated many questions.

  They were cats, after all.

  “How will these positions be chosen?”

  Winston said.

  Caleb looked at Miranda, and despite her wide-eyed look, she stepped up to the podium and answered. “That’s a good question. We haven’t actually determined what would be best, but I think those interested should see Caleb, and we can go from there.”

  “Not that I’m knocking the come-tell-Caleb idea, but why don’t you just do applications?” Zackary said. Everyone turned to stare at him, and Caleb almost laughed when Zackary said, “What?”

  “That’s actually an excellent idea.

  Thank you, Zackary.” Miranda said.

  When Zackary sat back down next to his sister, Essence whispered into his ear.

  Zackary turned red and Caleb knew she’d scolded him for being sarcastic. Zackary looked at Miranda and mouthed, “I’m sorry,” but Miranda just smiled and shook her head.

  “Any more questions?”

  Though he’d expected more questions, it seemed Miranda’s speech was solid.

  Although he did think she’d gone a little overboard with the whole “I agree wholeheartedly.” Caleb was sure that no one mistook this speech as his own work. The meeting dragged on with requests for a playground for the children and various other requests. Miranda dutifully listened and wrote down each request.

  “Well, if there is no other business, I say we dismiss this meeting,” Caleb said.

  A shrill whistle interrupted the sound of people standing and shuffling to exit.

  Caleb and Miranda’s attention flew to the source. Her black hair was pulled back into a ponytail, and her crystalline-blue eyes were shooting sparks. Caleb knew the female as Brenna James, had even spoken to her on a few occasions, but he truly knew nothing more about her. His father had admitted her and her mother about four years before, about a year before Essence became a member of the pride.