A Lion's Pride

by Susan Bliler

  Hands shaking, Maia took the rifle. “Y-yes.”

  Then Rall was shoving a loaded shotgun into her hands too. “This is for if they get close.”

  Heart hammering, Maia followed numbly as Rall barked, “C’mon!”

  They rushed out onto the porch. While Maia leaned the shotgun against the house behind her and lifted the rifle to quickly familiarize herself, Rall rolled his head on his neck then let a shift explode from him.

  In a flash a tawny mountain lion was pacing the porch in front of her. Rall’s lion was huge with lithe muscle. Not as big as any of the bears in her clan, but close. It made her feel a little better knowing Carter’s, Deacon’s, and Zander’s lions would be much larger.

  Headlights lit up the darkness and had Maia’s belly filling with acid. It was too dark to see if the vehicle was familiar, but she supposed that wouldn’t tell them anything. If the Red Dead defeated the Major Clan, then Major property became Red Dead property, vehicles included.

  A second set of headlights behind the first car had tears filling Maia’s eyes. “No!”

  Lifting her rifle, she aimed at the first truck as it drew closer. Beside her, Rall abandoned the porch and leapt down the stairs. Hackles up, he growled and kicked dirt at the approaching vehicles.

  All at once, Maia recognized Carter’s truck in the front and Major’s blacked-out Raptor behind it. Hands shaking, she didn’t lower her weapon as she prayed like she’d never prayed in her life.

  The trucks pulled up beside each other facing the house. Blinding headlights shining right on Rall and Maia had Maia breathing a quaking, “R-Rall?” She didn’t know if she should shoot or wait, and now she had the added worry of hitting Rall because of his stance in front of her.

  Out of the darkness a thunderous voice boomed, “Maia!”

  Relief like none she’d ever experienced flooded her at the sound of her brother’s voice.

  “Ramsey?” Lowering her weapon, Maia was already crying as she raced down the front porch steps. “Ramsey!”

  Stepping in front of the lights, Ramsey’s massive frame blocked out some of the light as Maia rushed him.

  Dropping the rifle, she slammed into his chest and hugged him tightly with a relieved, “Ramsey!”

  His light chuckle vibrated against where her face was pressed against his chest.

  “It’s alright. We’re okay. We’re all okay,” he reassured.

  Maia jerked back, her imploring eyes landing on his as she wheezed, “Carter! Where’s Carter?”

  With a knowing smirk, Ramsey’s eyes slid from hers to land on the mark on her neck. His eyes grew dark just a moment as he asked, “What’s this all about?” He reached up to touch the mark, but Maia jerked back.

  “Where’s Carter?” she demanded again almost frantic now.

  With a snort, Ramsey jerked his head toward the second truck. “He’s fine.”

  Another looming figure stepped in front of the headlights of the second truck. Even without being able to see his features, Maia knew it was Carter. She felt it.

  Eyes on the form, Maia stood stock still. Carter didn’t move either, just watched her. And she knew he was watching. She felt the weight of his gaze as it bore into her and had yearning pulsing within her. Hesitating only a moment, she shoved aside all uncertainty, and before Carter could step away from the lights, Maia was racing to him.

  “Carter!”

  As she got closer, she could see blood on Carter’s forehead and smeared across his cheek. He looked haggard, but when his eyes narrowed on her, they lit up like the Fourth of July. It had her running faster with a disbelieving, “Carter!”

  Holding his arms wide, he caught Maia as she launched herself at him. Legs wrapping around his waist, arms circling his neck, she cried against him as he spun them slowly and buried his face in her neck where he sighed, “Maia!”

  For long minutes, they stayed wrapped up in each other. Arms like bands around her, Carter finally loosened his hold to stroke her back as he crooned, “It’s okay, baby. It’s okay.”

  Maia sniffled at his chest, reluctant to let him go. “We thought . . .” But she couldn’t finish the sentence. Even now knowing that it wasn’t true, it still hurt even to think it.

  “What about us?” Zander pouted from behind them. “You happy to see us too, or just your brother and your man?”

  Pulling back from Carter, Maia laughed a watery sound as she sniffed again and shoved at Carter until he reluctantly put her on her feet.

  Grinning, Zander accepted her hug and reassured, “You had nothing to worry about, little bee. Those wolves ain’t got shit on grizzlies and lions.”

  “I’m glad you’re safe, Z.”

  She released him and then turned to Deacon. “Oh, Deek.” He lifted her off the ground in a back-cracking hug. “Good thing you were there to save Z’s ass, huh?”

  Zander’s offended, “What?” ricocheted off the front porch and had Carter and Ramsey bellowing great booming laughs.

  Zander sounded offended when he groused, “He didn’t save me.”

  Pulling back, Maia cupped Deacon’s face and whispered, “You did, didn’t you?”

  Beaming a smile that twinkled in his eyes, Deacon nodded.

  With a laugh of her own, Maia let Deacon settle her back on her feet and watched Rall, who’d shifted back to his human skin, hug his brothers while Ramsey stepped up to her side.

  “Things were getting iffy before your boys arrived,” he admitted quietly. Even more quietly, “I’m glad they showed up when they did.”

  Maia simply nodded, too overcome with all the emotion she’d been cycling through to speak. She was frazzled and felt as tired as Carter looked. Eyes on him, she angled her head. “You need to eat.” Looking up at her brother, she asked, “Stay for dinner? I need to get these guys fed.”

  But Ramsey’s look grew confused. “I . . .” He looked between her and Carter. “I came to bring you home, Maia.”

  His admission had Carter leaving his brothers and walking up to tower at Maia’s side, one hand snagging hers and holding it possessively.

  “I only sent you here to keep you safe,” Ramsey explained. “But the threat’s been taken care of.” While he spoke, though, Ramsey’s eyes dipped to her mate mark again. He frowned, and his gaze slid to Carter. “You did that to distract her, right? It’s not real.”

  Distract me? Not real? Maia felt like her legs had just been swept out from under her. Holy hell. Had Carter marked her as a favor to her brother?

  Chapter 21

  Carter didn’t know what to say, but what he did know was that Ramsey was ruining everything. Nostrils flaring, he scented Maia’s confusion before it twisted into something much darker, and when Maia turned to look up at him, Carter knew she was trying to school her features, to mask her hurt, but her eyes were too damn expressive for her to be able to pull it off.

  “You . . . you bit me to distract me from the fight?” Disbelief filled her tone. “You did it to keep me here?”

  “No.” Carter glared at Ramsey. “That’s not what happened.”

  “Well what then?” Maia snapped.

  Good, he’d take her anger over her anguish any day.

  “Because one of two things happened today, Carter,” she continued. “Either you marked me to distract me or you meant it and then barred me from helping my clan. Either way, you’re in the wrong.”

  He shot Ramsey a scathing look before he dipped his eyes to Maia. “It was my gift to you,” he explained. “It was me trying to make up for all the shit I’d done wrong.”

  “Biting me was a gift?”

  “No!” Fuck, everything was getting so confused. “Keeping you here and going to fight alongside your clan. That was my gift.”

  “You took away my choice,” Maia accused.

  Losing his temper, he snapped, “I had no choice!” Maia’s tear-stained eyes glared at him, but he continued. “Even before I put that mark on your neck, I knew you were mine. Mine, Maia! And I also knew t
hat Ramsey had planned sending you here to get your stuff so that you’d be away from The Den when the Red Deads attacked. I didn’t realize it until Zander came rushing in on us to tell us what was going on, but it was easy to figure out. Ramsey wanted you someplace safe. And I needed you safe. Taking you with me into battle was never an option, Maia. Not then, not now, not ever. It’s not how lions are built. It’s my job to defend you, to protect you, and if you can’t accept that then we’re fucked because I don’t know how this can ever work.”

  Some of the anger bled from Maia’s eyes.

  “What kind of man would I be if I took you with me to war and something happened to you? I not only would have let down myself, but your brother and your clan as well. They were doing what was best for you just like I was.”

  “Because I’m human,” she spat.

  “No,” Carter snarled in frustration, then softened his tone. “Because you’re important. I didn’t go racing to your clan’s aid for Ramsey’s approval. I went for you. I went because you’re my clan, my pride, my family. You’re my mate, Maia, and that makes your people, my people. I get that you’re mad. You’re entitled to it, but . . .” He heaved a weighty sigh and scrubbed a hand down his weary face. “. . . I want you. Make no mistake about it. Marking you was intentional because I want you more than I’ve ever wanted anyone or anything in my whole damn life.” Dropping his hand, he took a step back. “But I’m not going to force you. You gotta want this too.”

  Maia’s eyes narrowed on him as he retreated another step.

  “You choose what you want, Maia. You do what you think is right for you, but know two things. First, my marking you was me and my animal agreeing on making you ours. Period. There was no ruse, and there’s no regret. Second, if you choose us, if you choose me, I will never allow you to go into battle.” His jaw ticked up and his eyes went hard. “Not ever. With me and my pride, there’ll be concessions you’ll have to make. But we’ll be willing to make some too.” He backed up another step. “You choose. But if you stay, it’s gonna be for good.” He shot Ramsey a challenging look, daring him to say something, but surprisingly the Major of the bear clan remained silent, a look of near approval flashing in his eyes.

  Turning his attention back to Maia, Carter shot her one last look that he prayed wasn’t pleading. “It’s your choice.” Giving her his back, he fisted his hands to keep from turning around and stalked toward to house. Walking away from his mate was the hardest thing he’d ever done.

  ***

  Maia stood dumbfounded watching Rall, Deacon, and Zander follow Carter into the house. When they disappeared and she was alone outside with Ramsey, he rested a hand on her shoulder. “He wouldn’t be my first choice of mate for you.”

  When Maia shot him an incredulous look, he grinned and shrugged up a shoulder. “He wouldn’t be my last choice either.”

  “Ramsey Major, are you giving me permission to mate Carter Concolor?”

  Rolling his eyes with a snort, he asked, “Do you need my permission?” His eyes went to her shoulder. “Because it doesn’t look like it to me.”

  Maia wouldn’t tell him exactly how she’d gotten her mate mark because if she did, he might not give her what she was about to ask for.

  “You’re right. I don’t need your permission. But what I’d like is your blessing.”

  Ramsey looked from her to the house. His gaze going sharp as he clipped out, “You sure this is what you want? He’s what you want?”

  “Yes,” Maia breathed.

  “Be sure,” Ramsey growled. “Make sure this isn’t about gratitude, M.”

  “It is about gratitude.” When his brows speared down, she continued, “And compatibility and safety and longing and . . . love.”

  Looking at her, he asked, “You in love with Carter Concolor, Sister?”

  Eyes filling with tears, she nodded. “I am.”

  “Then there’s only one thing to do.” Grabbing Maia’s hand, he lifted it to his lips and kissed the back of it. “In my eyes, no man, nor shifter will ever deserve you, Maia Major. But I’m thinking Carter is up to trying to prove me wrong. And as much as I hate to admit it, I trust him to protect you. He’s already proved he’s willing to do what it takes to keep you safe even if you don’t agree with it, and while it’s not enough, it’s a start. You have my blessing, Maia.”

  Chapter 22

  Carter fought the urge to rush back outside. The need to go toss Maia over his shoulder and carry her inside to ensure she stayed was nearly blinding. The need to have her with him, to have her beside him, was strangling him slowly. He’d already marked her, which meant he’d claimed her, and having his mate outside considering if she wanted to walk away from him had his palms itching and his canines elongating.

  In his bathroom, he stripped out of his bloody and tattered clothes then tossed them into the trash before blasting on the shower.

  All while he showered, he went over what he’d said to Maia and wished he’d have been more eloquent. He was worried that he’d fucked things up and wished he hadn’t given her a choice. Maybe he should have just gone all Apex and hauled her up to his room to finish his claiming. Just the thought of it had his dick going hard.

  With a groan, he turned the knob on the shower, shifting the water from an almost scalding hot to ice cold. He was positive that Maia had left with Ramsey. After all, she’d already walked on him once, and hadn’t he been the one from the start who kept letting her know just how much he despised her kind? Leaning forward, he pressed the top of his head into the shower wall then head-butted it hard.

  I’m a fucking idiot!

  The thought of Maia gone gutted him, and aside from the insurmountable frustration filling him, there was another more foreign emotion bubbling up to the surface. It took him a moment to place it, but it was easy once he realized that it was the same emotion he’d felt when Maia had tried to race from the barn and back to The Den to aid her clan in attack. It was fear. Right now, Carter was feeling intense fear, and the emotion was so goddamn foreign to him that he didn’t know how to process it. And with each second that ticked by without Maia walking through his bedroom door, the more his fear escalated.

  She walked.

  Tilting his head back and letting the spray shoot him right in the face, he clenched his jaw against the pain that was shredding him up. It felt like his lion was raking his claws down Carter’s insides, except he wasn’t. Carter’s lion had gone eerily silent. He was sulking, and that was new too. Hell, Carter didn’t even know that his lion even knew how to sulk.

  Resigned to what he’d done, and Maia’s inability to get past it, Carter turned off the shower and quickly dried off. Dressing in boxers and a pair of lounge pants that hung from his lean hips, he padded barefoot out of his room, drying his hair before he plastered on a mask of indifference that he already knew wouldn’t fool his brothers. Still, they needed to discuss the battle and any implications or retaliation they may need to prepare for, which meant hiding out in his room and sulking with his lion wasn’t an option.

  Draping the damp towel over his footboard, Carter sucked in a fortifying breath and opened his bedroom door.

  Halfway down the stairs, he heard the excited chatter of his brothers. They were still hyped from the battle and were no doubt going over each blow they’d landed with painstaking detail. Stalling a moment, Carter relished in the comforting tug of their familial bonds he felt just having his brothers safe in his kitchen. Today could have gone badly. Thank fuck it hadn’t because his brothers were his world, and if he lost all else, he still had his brothers.

  Stepping into the dim kitchen, Carter slammed to a halt.

  The lights were off and there were lit candles all along the counter and centered on the table. Zander, Deacon, and Rall were seated at the table with plates of half-eaten food in front of them. A large platter of sub sandwiches sat in the middle of the table beside two large bowls of chips and a tray of cookies.

  “There he is!” Zander crowed,
holding up his bottle of beer. “Here’s to the Apex of the hour!” He took a healthy swig of his beer and shot Carter a wink while Rall and Deacon each took a long draw of their beers in silent salute.

  “Hungry, brother?” Rall stood and paced around to pull Carter’s chair out. “Come and eat.”

  Carter didn’t move. He couldn’t. His eyes were locked on where Maia sat in her usual seat at the table. She’d stopped with a bottle of beer halfway to her lips and just stared at him.

  Lowering the beer, she offered him a soft smile and motioned toward the sub sandwiches. “Hope you don’t mind sandwiches. It was quick and easy.”

  But Carter didn’t respond. Didn’t even move.

  “Hey, boys.” Zander stood. “How ’bout we leave Carter and Maia to eat alone.”

  Deacon and Rall shoved up out of their seats, but Maia barked, “No.”

  Then more calmly, she said again, “Naw, guys.” Her eyes left Carter’s to touch on where the guys lingered at the table as she waved them back into their seats. “A successful battle is meant to be celebrated by the entire pride.” She looked up at Carter. “Right? This win should be shared with the whole family.” Reaching into a bucket on the table that was filled with ice and bottles of beer, she pulled one out, twisted off the top, and held it out to Carter. “Join us?”

  Eyes never leaving hers, he walked up to the table and took the bottle from her hand. His fingers brushed hers, and hot a jolt of electricity ripped through him.

  She stayed. She chose us. She chose me!

  Everything inside of him was telling him to play it cool. He needed to take a seat, pile food on his plate, share a beer with his brothers. He needed to pretend like his heart wasn’t doing elated cartwheels. Inside, his lion shot to his feet. Ears pricked, he was pressing hard against Carter’s skin trying to ensure that what they were seeing was legit. Carter was having a hard time holding his lion back.