The Tiger's Mate: (Book 12, Grey Wolf Pack Romance Novellas) (7 page)

Chapter Twelve

Simone sighed as she watched the mating ceremony taking place in front of her.  It was Lauren and Carrick’s big day.  Lauren looked green.  Carrick looked big and intimidating.  The Alpha looked pleased.  He was the only one who did, except for Lauren’s parents.  Their eyes were practically bulging with dollar signs.  Being related to Carrick was going to be very fruitful for them.

Her tiger let out a plaintive cry.  It had been more than four days since she’d left Acksel.  Barely a moment had passed when she hadn’t pictured his handsome face or remembered the way he had touched her, the pleasure he’d given her…  Her body felt tight and itchy.  She’d tried to bring herself to release with her own fingers, but it wasn’t the same.

She wondered what Acksel was doing at that moment.  He was probably enjoying himself.  He’d probably met another female already.  Probably a blonde wolf shifter, who didn’t have issues and wouldn’t seduce him and run off in the middle of the night.  Lord how she hated that imaginary bitch!  Simone breathed in and out, soothing her beast and forcing her claws back into her fingers.

The Alpha wrapped the binding cord around Carrick’s and Lauren’s hands.  Even curvy Lauren looked tiny next to the huge male.  Simone felt a twinge of sympathy for the young tigress, but she considered that Carrick wasn’t that bad.  A lesser tiger would have told the Alpha about her indiscretion, or more likely in this pride would have tried to blackmail her.  Carrick didn’t seem inclined to do either, for which she was grateful.

It had been a quiet few days.  The tension between her and Parker had been fraught, and they had taken to avoiding one another.  It was preferable to actually talking.  Her mother had come home.  She hadn’t been allowed to fetch her, and since she didn’t have a car anymore, she couldn’t ignore her Alpha's orders.  No, Patrick the Beta had been sent to do the job.

She watched with ill-concealed loathing as Patrick wandered through the gathered tigers, eyeing them all, wishing they would act out so he could punish them.  Her mother hadn’t complained – her mother rarely did in spite of everything that had happened to her – but she hadn’t been happy when she arrived home.

Simone heard a rumor that Carrick was offered the chance to be Beta, but he chose instead to be an enforcer.  He never explained why, but then Carrick rarely said very much.  Patrick was a tiger who Simone suspected was actually a coward, but he hid behind Locke the Alpha, so no one dared call him on it.  He was courageous enough when punishing a scared, fifteen-year-old female tiger who was being restrained between two enforcers.  But if anyone challenged him, Simone doubted he’d stick around long enough to even submit.

The Alpha declared the two tigers mated and let out a roar.  The whole pride joined in the roar, even Simone’s tiger, although hers was fairly half-hearted.

The ceremony was followed by a pride run where everyone shifted and hunted.  Those who couldn’t shift and some of the younger females stayed behind to set up for what was fast becoming an excruciating party.

Nita looked smug; she was the center of attention around her posse of simpering females.  In spite of her earlier jibes, Nita seemed to be trying to include Lauren in her little circle of friends.  Luring her over to the dark side.  The females were cackling with laughter, but Lauren just looked uncomfortable.

All the males congratulated Carrick and tried to crack tasteless jokes about the mating night.  He glared at them until they left him alone and looked impatient as more turned up to take their place.

Simone tried to avoid talking to anyone.  She was monosyllabic enough that anyone who tried to get through to her gave up and walked away.  But when Lauren migrated in her direction, she found she couldn’t stay aloof with the young tigress.

“You okay?” Lauren asked concern painted all over her heart shaped face.

“Huh?”

“You seem quiet.”

Her tiger whined.  “Just… nothing.”  Nothing had been the same since she spent the night with Acksel.  Her situation in the pride had been difficult before; now it was intolerable.  But even though she liked Lauren, she couldn’t tell her the truth.  Instead she smiled, or at least gave Lauren a close approximation of a smile – she could feel her cheeks almost cracking with effort.  “Are you okay?”

Her eyes flickered to Carrick, who was staring at the two of them.  “Yep.”

“He’s not that bad,” admitted Simone, grudgingly.  She could think of at least ten male tigers in the pride that would make much worse mates.

“No, he’s not,” sighed Lauren.  “He’s been very… respectful.  Tansy said her mate demanded…” Lauren paused and looked around her before mouthing the words ‘oral sex’.  “Tansy said he demanded that from her before they were officially mated.”  Her cheeks bloomed dark red in embarrassment.  “Carrick hasn’t even tried to kiss me.  He makes it really hard for me to resent him and I’m really trying.”

Simone tried to dredge up some words for comfort, but she really had no idea what to say.

Lauren looked at her hands.  “I’m still really nervous though.  I’ve never even made out with a guy.  Never mind…  How did your mating night go with Parker?”

“It was… fine.”  They’d spent the night playing cards.  There was nothing to tell.  The night she lost her virginity was awful and her only other experience was Acksel… and that was wonderful.

Lauren wouldn’t meet her eye, but she squeaked out the words, “Any tips?”

Simone flushed as Acksel once again fluttered through her mind.  What could she say?  Although she had started it, Acksel had been the one guiding her, showing her how pleasurable sex could be.  He must have known she was inexperienced.  He had taken things slowly and ensured she was never too uncomfortable.  She had serious doubts about Carrick doing the same.  “Maybe Nita…”

“I’d rather die,” muttered Lauren.

“Just… remember this isn’t all about him.  Don’t let him go too fast.”  Not great advice, but it was the best she could manage.

Carrick, finally giving in, walked over to them and placed a hand on Lauren’s neck, she looked anxious, but at least she no longer flinched under his touch.

“It’s time,” he said, gruffly.

She nodded and Simone squeezed her hand.

The Alpha stepped forward, followed by Nita and the Beta.  A smiling Alpha slapped Carrick on the back; he looked unimpressed.

Nita smirked at Lauren.  “Have a nice night, you two.”

The Beta let out a dirty laugh and Lauren blushed.  Carrick gave Nita and the Beta a steady gaze; they cringed slightly.

The Alpha blessed both of them and hoped that their union would be fruitful.  Carrick nodded and carefully led Lauren away to the mating hut, before she exploded in bashfulness.

It was a small hut away from the larger settlement.  Newly mated couples were expected to stay there for at least four days.  It was to ensure that they definitely consummated their union.  It was always stocked up with food, towels and clean sheets, so the couple didn’t have to leave.  At the end of the three days, they were supposed to produce the soiled sheets with the virginal blood.  Simone used chicken blood for her mating night.

Nita stroked her huge stomach.  “If I know Carrick, he’ll have her pregnant before the night’s out.”

This was a cue for lots of female sycophantic laughter, plus the Beta joined in.

Simone’s tiger sneered.  “How do you know Carrick?” she asked, furiously.

Nita flushed in annoyance.  “I didn’t mean…”

“Oh, what did you mean?”

Her eyes flashed, but being pregnant, she wouldn’t be able to shift.  Instead, she whined, “Alpha, she is out of line.”

“Nita,” said the Alpha, softly.  “Leave us.”

She looked like she was going to argue before she stalked away, followed by her bevy of female followers.  After a stern look, the Beta oozed away, too.

Locke smiled faintly.  “I imagine she may be right about that, Lauren is coming into her heat.”

Simone tried not to look too disgusted that the Alpha sniffed the females for their ‘heats’.  He tried to mate all the females off before they had their first heat.

“Don’t be hard on Nita,” he said.

Simone narrowed her eyes

He laughed.  “Clearly, you don’t like her.”

“I… well…”  There’s really not much to like she added silently.  Her tiger concurred.

“The females of the pride need a strong female leader and with no other female stepping into that place, she takes that spot.”

Simone was about to say that Nita was a bully, but then what was their Alpha if not a bully?  He didn’t rule them by being fair.  It was done through fear, and unfairness.  He gave the stronger members of the pride what they wanted so that the weaker members could never rise up against him.

He gave her a look that she couldn’t determine, but it made her tiger uneasy.  “Nita’s not a natural leader, but at least she is fulfilling her role in the pride.”

Ah, this again
.  He meant cubs.  Nita was on her fourth cub.

“Alpha…”

He was smiling, but there was no warmth in it.  “My son not producing cubs makes me look weak.  He needs to prove that he is a strong male like me.”  She froze as he placed his hand on her shoulder.  “And if he can’t manage to produce cubs with a female as attractive as you are, it starts to make pride mates wonder why.”

“I… I’m not sure I’m ready,” she finished, lamely.

“You’ve had four years to be ready.”  He squeezed her shoulder, his thumb lightly caressing her skin.  “If Parker isn’t up to the job then someone else will be.”

The Alpha’s eyes flashed to yellow before he turned and walked away.  Her tiger yowled in seething fury.  Did he really think she would let him touch her?

To hell with this place!  She stomped away from the gathering, ignoring the glares from Nita.  She can just go suck it!

The sooner she got away from the pride, the better.  Although, she felt the twang of guilt about what he said.  Was he really suggesting that she ought to try and lead the females?  Surely he wasn’t serious.  She was hardly a strong tiger.  Okay so she didn’t exactly kowtow to Nita, but she was hardly aggressive.  Isn’t that what true leaders were supposed to be?  If her experience with Alphas was anything to go by, yes, they were.

No, she couldn’t be what the females needed, she needed to get away from the pride, she needed to get a better life for her mom.

*

“Acksel!”

“Not now, Britt,” growled Acksel as his sister ran after him trying to keep up.

“But, Acksel…”

His wolf roared.  “Not now!”

“I know how you can find Simone!”

“What?!”  He came to a dead stop, and Britt crashed into his back.  He righted her and gave her a minute to puff, pant and regain her breath.

“Simone, I know how you can find her.”

Acksel narrowed his eyes.  “Who says I’m looking for Simone?”

“Hans might have said something.”

“Hans?”  When the hell had he become such a freaking gossip?  Yes, he was trying to find Simone, but he wasn’t getting very far.  Britt, on the other hand, seemed to be bouncing up and down with excitement.  “Well, what is it?”

“Part of my punishment was helping out with the books for the pack finances…”

“Really?”

Britt shrugged.  “Alec figured I was a better choice for the job than Craig.”

“Goes without saying,” he muttered.

“And I saw that the check the pack gave her was cashed at a bank in a town called August Springs – it’s like a four-hour drive from here.  Look, I printed off a map from my computer.”  She produced it with a flourish from her backpack.

His wolf was virtually jumping around like an excited pup, but Acksel tried to remain grounded.  “There’s nothing to say that she lives there.  She could have just cashed the check there.”

“But did you know that the SEA website has a list of animal packs and where they’re located?  The website doesn’t give specifics about pride members.  I guess they can’t because of privacy and all that, but the actual packs and prides…”

“Britt!  What’s your point?”

She beamed, triumphantly.  “There’s a tiger pride located in August Springs.  Pretty big coincidence, huh?  Don’t you think?  Huh?”

Britt nudged him and winked several times, but he wasn’t paying attention.  Was it possible that she could be so close to him?  Didn’t he owe it to his beast to find out? 

A few doubts picked at him.  Given the way she left, would he really be welcome?  The wolf grumbled at him.

The animal was right.  He had to find out.

Chapter Thirteen

Simone glared at the cans of soup.  Okay, she wasn’t actually pissed at the soup.  She grabbed a few tins without even looking at the labels and dropped them into her cart.

Her tiger harrumphed as Nita’s braying laughter floated in her direction.  The pregnant female was driving her insane.  Ever since the mating ceremony a couple of nights ago, Nita had been weirdly clingy.  Simone just didn’t know what to do.  Wherever she went, Nita just seemed to turn up.  It was kind of creepy.  Over the past few years, the two of them could barely stand to be near one another.  Now Nita was going out of her way to be in Simone’s way.

She considered that maybe the Alpha had asked Nita to spy on her.  If that were true, Nita wasn’t exactly being subtle about it.  But after flying under the Alpha’s radar for the last four years, she worried about the interest he was showing in her.  She had a horrific suspicion about his intentions regarding her having cubs. 
Ugh
– she and her tiger shuddered every time she thought about it.

But, hopefully, soon, she wouldn’t have to worry.  Cross her fingers, she’d be able to leave.

Over the years, Simone had been very careful with money.  She’d wanted a job, but the Alpha wouldn’t allow it.  Very few females in the pride were permitted jobs, and certainly not the Alpha's daughters-in-law.  Instead, she had saved as much as she could, only replacing clothes and shoes when she had to and taking couponing to crazy extremes.  She’d been saving for a rainy day… on which she could get away from the pride and take her mother with her.  Honestly, her savings hadn’t amounted to much over the years, but the check from Acksel’s pack had really given her a boost. 

She’d agonized over whether she should cash it, but after what the Alpha said about cubs, she decided she didn’t have a choice.  She wanted out of the pride.  Besides, someone had to take the money.  Her Alpha had the chance to cash it, and he tore it up.  He’d already supplied her with a new car.  The pride was doing well; they could afford it.  Plus, Acksel’s pack were expecting for the money to be taken anyway, so it didn’t make any difference to them who cashed it.  She guessed Acksel was already disappointed in her – so what would it matter if he ever found out?

But, with Nita following her around, Simone had to be careful.  She didn’t want the Alpha catching wind of her plans.

Nita turning up at the grocery store was just the last straw.  Encouraged by her tiger, Simone abandoned her cart and stomped in the direction of Nita, currently gossiping with another pride member.

Simone was about to give her a piece of her mind when a ripple of awareness rolled through her body.  Her tiger let out a heated rawr.  She smelled something, spicy, something delicious.  Oh god, that was a wonderful scent.  She moved through the store, desperate to get to the source.  She allowed her beast to guide her.  She felt like a cartoon character drifting through the air on the waves of a delicious scent.  She felt… oh, good lord!

Her tiger bounced up and down ecstatically.  Acksel!  Acksel was there.  He was there talking to one of the cashiers.  She’d recognize those broad shoulders, golden hair and silky voice anywhere.  Her body shuddered as arousal surged through her.  Had it only been a week since she last saw him?  Had it only been a week since they met?!

Why was he there?  Did she dare hope that he had come for her?  Or had he tracked her down to yell at her?

He must have sensed her.  He turned to look at her.  A sexy grin spread across his face.  Oh, he was pleased to see her!  Her knees wobbled as her tiger purred like a kitten.

Acksel took a step toward her, and she instinctively stepped away as she saw the interest on the cashier’s face.  Hurt marred his handsome brow, and she felt a stab of guilt.  No, she didn’t want to hurt him – she wanted him to be safe!

She inclined her head and strode down the cat food aisle.  Acksel followed, wordlessly.  He opened his mouth to speak, but she cut him off.  In spite of her animal’s vehement objections, she whispered, “I’m sorry.  You shouldn’t be here.  You have to go.”

He sniffed the air and frowned at her.  He could scent her arousal.  She pressed her thighs together; it probably was confusing that her mouth was saying something completely different to the rest of her body.

“Why’d you leave?  I’ve been going crazy.”

“You have?”  Damnit!  It was just what she wanted to hear, and just what she dreaded hearing.

“Simone, what’s going on with you?  I thought that we… well, I…”  He growled in frustration.  “Just, tell me why you left without even saying goodbye.”

“It’s complicated.”

“Simone!  Fancy seeing you here!” 

Nita waddled up to them.  Acksel took a step back from Simone and watched Nita, cautiously.  Nita for her part was trying to devour Acksel with her eyes.

After a few moments of silence, Nita said, “Aren’t you going to introduce me to your… friend?”

“This is Acksel,” Simone said with forced civility, while wishing a hole in the ground would open up and swallow Nita whole.  “He helped me after the car crash.  He’s just passing through.  Acksel, this is Nita.”

Nita gave him a finger wave.  “Our mates are brothers.  They’re sons of our pride Alpha,” she told him with a horrific amount of smugness.

Crap.

The polite smile on Acksel’s face froze.  His eyes shone amber as he looked at Simone.  She changed her mind – she wanted a hole to swallow her up instead.

Acksel nodded at Nita.  “It was nice to meet you, Nita, but I gotta run.”

Nita pouted.  “Oh, so soon?”

“Yeah, I just stopped by to say hi.  I better get going.”

Stiffly, he turned and walked away, refusing to look at Simone as he went.

“Bye!” called Nita.

Double crap.

*

Acksel growled and grabbed Simone as she walked out of the grocery store.  “It’s me,” he breathed as she started to struggle.  With a sigh, she went limp and allowed him to carry her into the alley, away from prying eyes.

Gently he pushed her up against a wall and placed a hand on either side of her head, ignoring the distressed look on her face.  His wolf was ecstatic to see her again, but there were one or two things that they needed to talk about.

“You’re mated,” he said, roughly.  He wouldn’t hurt her, but his patience was holding on by a mere sliver of a thread.  He needed answers.  Although, he was grateful that at least she didn’t bear a bonding bite on her shoulder.  He would have noticed a thing like that the last time they met.

Simone met his eyes with such a look of sorrow that he almost caved and said he was sorry for upsetting her.  Almost.  He wasn’t quite that mushy.

“Yes, but it’s complicated.  It’s not what you think – we’re not really together.”

“You’re mated,” he hissed through gritted teeth.  His wolf paced, irritably.

She looked at him with pleading yellow eyes.  Her tiger was close to the surface.  “We don’t even kiss - never mind anything else.  It’s not a real mating.  I’m sorry.  I didn’t want you to get involved, but I… I couldn’t help myself.”  She lowered her eyes in embarrassment.  “I wanted you.”

Acksel could feel himself softening.  “You’re trembling,” he murmured.  He cupped her cheek.  “Why’d you run?  Why didn’t you talk to me?”

“I left you because I worried you’d get hurt.  I still do worry.”  She looked up and down the alley, furtively.  “My Alpha’s not a good man; you should leave.”  She pressed her hands against his chest and tried to push him away; he didn’t move.  “Acksel, I couldn’t bear it if you were hurt because of me.”

“Is that what you want?  For me to leave?  For us to never see each other again?”  His wolf protested – he didn’t like the sound of any of that.

Her face tightened, and she looked like she was going to argue, but she didn’t.  Simone’s fingers curled into his shirt.  “No, that’s not what I want.”

His wolf whooped.  “Come back to Rose with me,” he entreated softly.

“But…”

“No buts, whatever it is, I can help.”  He rubbed his thumb over her cheek.  “This last week has been hell.  “I want you; I need you.  I don’t feel like I can breathe when you’re not around.”  He took one of her hands and placed it over his heart.  “Do you feel it too?”

She nodded.  “It’s strange, I feel like my beast and my heart are reaching out to you.  It felt like I was tearing in two when I left Rose.”  She wiggled her fingers under his hand and giggled, bashfully.  “It’s corny.”

“Yeah, but I like corny.”  He brushed his lips over hers and for the first time in days, his animal seemed to be at peace.  Simone sighed against his mouth.  “Come home with me.”

“I can’t leave my mother.”

He shrugged and peppered kisses over her cheek.  He’d almost forgotten how soft her beautiful skin was.  “Will she come with you?”

“Yes.”

“Then bring her,” he groaned as he inhaled her glorious scent.

“The Alpha, the pride…”

The wolf pawed the ground, impatiently as she tried to come up with excuses.  There was nothing she could say that would scare him away.  “My pack will protect you – and your mother.”

“But, I could be an axe murderer for all you know.”

He chuckled at her teasing tone.  “Are you?”

“No.”

“Good enough for me.”  He kissed her, full on the mouth, enjoying the pleasurable moans he elicited.

“Acksel,” she entreated.  With a grunt, he allowed her to push him away, and he tried to put on his serious face.  Not easy considering he was dealing with an excitable wolf and arousal that could pound nails.  But her face had a serious mien – she wanted to talk.

“Don’t you want to hear my reasons for running out?  Don’t you want to hear about my… mating?”

His beast growled.  Yes, he was trying to avoid thinking about that – it was only palatable because she insisted she didn’t have sex with her,
grrr
, mate.

“Baby, I’m not happy to hear you’re already mated.”

“I swear we only did it so the Alpha…”

“But,” he interrupted, “you said you’re not really mates, and I trust you.”

Simone frowned.  “You don’t know me.”

“I do,” he insisted.  “I may not be able to tell anyone what your favourite color is, or your favourite ice cream flavour, but I do know you, deep down.  I know my mate.”  His wolf roared as he admitted it – yes, she was his mate.  No matter what happened, she was his.

Simone pulled him to her and hugged him tightly.  “Blue and pistachio,” she whispered into his ear.

His chest vibrated with laughter.  “Well, there you go.”

“But, don’t you want me to explain first?”

“You tell me there’s a good reason, and I believe you.  I’d like for you to tell me what it is, but I don’t need to waste time with explanations now.  I can see you’re worried, and the only thing I care about right now is making sure you’re safe.”

She raised an eyebrow.  “You’re disgustingly perfect, do you know that?”

“Everyone who’s come into contact with me since you left might disagree with that.  I’ve been in kind of a bad mood.  Will you come back to Rose with me?”

“My Alpha…”

“I don’t care; you’re worth the risk.  I won’t leave without you.”

A couple of happy tears escaped her eyes, and she nodded.

“How long do you need to get your things together?” he asked, delight burning a path through his heart.

She thought about it for a moment.  “Three hours, it’ll be dark by then, and I can sneak out.  I don’t need much; I just need to pack a few things and get my mother.”

“Where do you want to meet?”

She bit her lip.  “The bar at the end of this street, it’s called Hannigan's, I’ll meet you in the parking lot.”

“I’ll be there… mate.”  Mine.