Shifter Romance Box Set

by Unknown

  “Now, Miss Thomp—”

  Carly growled, little pink nose twitching. If he wasn’t mated and devoted to Maya, he’d likely find it to be cute.

  “Shut it.” She punched him in the chest and he flinched. “You knew what could happen to an unfamiliar human in your den during the moon, and you not only let her stay, but you bit her, and get mated. Argh!”

  Alex frowned. “I understand your concerns.” He then sighed, ran a hand through his hair. “It wasn’t my intention to let her go this morning, but one of my pride—”

  The small rabbit bristled, and he imagined that if she were shifted, her rabbit hair would be all puffed-up in anger.

  He wasn’t going to smile at the image.

  He just wasn’t.

  “Let her go? Let her go?” She bared her little white teeth at him, which kinda reminded him of Chiclets, and then spun on her heel, curses trailing behind her as she stomped away from him. “You deal with the lion, Ian. I swear I’ll gnaw through his jugular if I have to talk to him another second! Rabbits can be carnivores, too!”

  Alex watched as Carly plodded in anger, then turned his attention to the buck. “I’m sorry if I, or my mate, have caused your warren any undue stress. If you’ll just take me to where you’re keeping her…” He let the sentence trail off, to see what type of response he’d receive.

  Ian huffed out a breath, not unlike a frustrated sigh, and dropped his shoulders. “You couldn’t have picked anyone other than my sister’s best friend? Really?”

  Normally, the leaders of the various shifter clans got along well, and they tried not to cause any unnecessary trouble amongst themselves. It seemed that turning Maya, his little she-cat, had caused a fuck-ton of grief. For everyone involved.

  Ian began, “Well, what’s done is done, I suppose. I’ll try to talk my sister’s anger down to a manageable level. I’m sure once she’s had time to think—” A loud, thundering crash, followed by a spine-shivering scraping of metal-on-metal, echoed from the basement. “Fuck!” Ian spun and ran toward the commotion, feet pounding on the solid wood floor, with Alex following closely on the buck’s heels.

  The deeper into the house they traveled the louder the roars became, until Maya’s hisses and growls surrounded them…

  His she-cat’s sounds of anger were echoed by another, but lower, softer one.

  “Oh, shit.” Alex recognized it. He’d chased his share of natural rabbits through the forest to know that his mate was about to make her best friend—dinner.

  Ian dove for the closed door, but Alex got there first. Pulling the man out of the way, he said, “I’ll get her, Buck. I’ll take care of this. The last thing you want to be is Maya’s next course.”

  The leader of the rabbits narrowed his eyes at him as he took a step back. “Calm her, and get my sister out alive, Prime, or—”

  Alex didn’t have the time to argue with the man, nor did he have the time to remind the rabbit about who was who on the food chain. With a quick nod Alex turned, yanked open the basement door, and delved into something he could only describe as a “furry” hell.

  A dim light enveloped him as he stormed in, shedding his shirt and undoing his belt as fast as his hands allowed. Partially into his shift his arrival did nothing to distract his mate. Not when the scent of fresh meat clouded the air. No, Maya’ focus rested solely on the far corner of the room. Undoubtedly where her rabbit friend hid for her life.

  Alex’s lion clawed at him, hungry for both its mate and the tempting scent of raw meat that filled the air.

  Another high-pitched hiss sounded. Alex tried, “Maya!”

  She glanced at him, but returned her attention to her unfortunate prey.

  “Mate!” He allowed some of his beast to filter into his voice, into his command. When Maya swung her head around and glared at him for the second time, it was with bared teeth and a fierce snarl. “Come on, baby. It’s me.” He circled the room, watched as she trailed him, following his every movement with her fiery gaze. He toed off his boots and unsnapped his jeans, exposed more of his body.

  She’d either attack and he’d have to go “furry” to pin her, or she’d shift back and pounce on him in human form. God, untimely as it might be, he was really hoping for the latter.

  Focus now squarely on him Maya licked her chops, her gaze curiously intent on what he revealed. “Hey, sweetheart. I’m sorry about this morning, about what’s happening—” Alex didn’t finish the sentence, didn’t know how to explain himself at this very moment. He’d been a selfish prick, but for good reason. Maya and he belonged together. “I-I couldn’t help myself. Please…let me make it up to you. You, my mate, shouldn’t have had to deal with this alone.” He inched his pants down a little farther, let his dick pop free.

  He was turned-on by his mate’s fierce display, and he wanted nothing more than to take her. Right here, right now. Fuck, his dick was rock-hard, long and thick before him, and more than ready to claim the beauty crouching merely a few feet away.

  Alex stroked his dick, smiled when she snarled, her focus fixed on his cock. “Shift for me, mate, and let me feed your hunger.” She snarled again, but didn’t approach, her attention flicking between his groin and his face. “You are my mate, sweet Maya, and all you need to do is slip back into your human skin for me, and I’ll prove it to you.”

  A blur of white to his right snagged both of their attention, but Alex reactively snapped his fingers to reclaim Maya’s concentration. “You don’t want that, baby. I’ve got what you need. Right here.”

  Maya growled and stepped closer, closing the short distance between them. Alex reached out to her, ran his fingers through her golden fur as soon as she was within range. “That’s a sweet mate. She-cat, you need to let Maya back out to play. Let her claim her mate, and then we can find our fur together.”

  The lioness huffed, but then sat back on her haunches and closed her eyes. Thank god.

  In moments the distinct sounds of popping bones, as her body reshaped and returned to her human state, filled the room. Alex winced at each and every noise that spoke of her transformation, knowing that her first few shifts would often be painful and tiring. He really was a selfish prick, wasn’t he?

  Seconds ticked past as golden fur receded, her face reshaping to its previous form, her body becoming a study in curves that he would forever remember. Alex crouched down, careful not to touch her until the change was complete. The last thing he needed was for her to snap back into her animal state to claw the shit out of him.

  Before long she lay naked on the carpet, breathing heavy as she found herself. Inhaling deep she raised her attention to him, and he smiled, preparing for the meeting of their gazes. Sure, he’d gone about things in an ass-backwards kind of a way, but he could only hope that once he had the chance to explain himself, that Maya and her she-cat would reciprocate the feelings that he and his lion had for them. And then, things should fall into place…and it should all go smoothly…

  “You ass-sniffing, butt-crack licking, litter box-using fuckhole!”

  Or not.

  Chapter Five

  Maya panted and heaved as she lay sprawled on her best friend’s basement floor, staring at the cause for her personal hell with blood boiling through her veins.

  “Now, Maya…” He held out his hands as if to placate her. Fuck that. Fuck him.

  She pushed to her knees, and then to her feet, pain slowly receding as the seconds passed. “Do not ‘Now, Maya’ me.”

  Feeling more herself again, she stood tall and filtered through the mixed emotions coursing through her body. Of course, the human half of her brain, because there were two sides now—woohoo!—was pissed as all get out, and ready to go crouching lioness on his stupid ass. Regardless of how hot he was. But the feline whore within was all about rubbing her furry body on the gorgeous man.

  Traitor.

  Even worse, the she-cat ached to sink her teeth into the man’s flesh and claim him as her own.

  Slut.
<
br />   It had to be the whole “make-me-into-a-hairy-lioness” thing that had the two of them on edge. What else could the reason be?

  Alex lowered his head and kept his mouth shut, and staring at the man before her only made Maya want to snap at him, rip his head clean off. Where was his fucking groveling, damn it?

  When no such words were forthcoming, she figured she might as well let him have it. “Alex, you goddamn—”

  “Baby, please…”

  She snapped her teeth at him, and her beast inside was in agreement. Just because her lioness wanted to mount the handsome man like a bronco, it didn’t mean that he’d get off easy. Heh-heh. Get off.

  “Don’t baby me. Where was I? Ahem… Was there a tiny little detail you failed to mention last night, Alex? Like, maybe the fact that last night wasn’t just some run-of-the-mill sex fest, but more like your semiannual “get-every-fertile-girl-pregnant” party? Or, let me see, the small fact that your little nibble that pierced my skin was a mating mark, and now, because of it, my she-bitch is stuck with your lyin’ ass?” Her tone of voice rose higher and higher with each question, until she started to yell. “Oh, I dunno. That, that I’d grow fucking fur, and have the urge to eat my best friend! Huh? What about that? What do you have to say for yourself?”

  The man before her narrowed his eyes and had the balls to growl. “I’m sorry.”

  “Sorry? That’s it? Yes, well, that just makes things so much better.” She bit out the words and planted her hands on her hips.

  “Damn it, Maya. I wanted you from the moment you walked through the doors. The very second your scent hit me I was hooked, and the instant I tasted you, I knew you’d be mine forever.”

  “You expect me to believe you? How…why?” She blinked back the tears welling up in her eyes, overcome with emotions. So many parts of her warred with one another. Could she trust him? Should she trust him? He hadn’t been honest from the start…

  But the lioness within…stupid fucking cat craved him like her next breath.

  “He’s telling the truth, My.”

  Maya spun and faced the interloper, body instinctively at the ready. She relaxed when she realized it was just Carly.

  “But…” Carly quieted her with a glare. Damn her.

  “You may not know everything there is to know about furballs, but you, and now your cat, should know that he’s telling the truth. Hell, if you weren’t inside a makeshift butcher shop, with the remnants of raw meat strewn about, you’d be able to smell it on him.”

  She quirked a brow. “Really? I’ll be able to tell if he’s lyin’, just by his scent?”

  “Yup. And also…if he’s been with another woman.” Carly nodded.

  “Ooh…that’s promising.”

  A low snarl snagged Maya’s attention. “I’d never cheat on you.”

  “Carly?”

  “It’s true.” Her friend shook her head. “If he’s really your mate, which I believe he is, then no, he won’t.” Carly turned bright red in the face and gestured at Alex. “His, uh, equipment, would be less than useful.”

  Maya snorted, the idea of Alex not being able to perform, whatever the reason, seemed rather hilarious to her. The previous night he’d been insatiable, taking her time and again without much rest in between.

  “Fine.” Maya sighed deep. “I suppose I’ll believe him. For now.” She took a few steps toward her friend, careful to dodge the bits of meat her kitty hadn’t gobbled up. “I’m sorry I tried to eat you, and not in very fun way.” Maya opened her arms and hugged her best friend, happy that the cat in her didn’t perk up at the idea of having Carly for dinner. “And thanks for not letting me eat Andrew. Or Ian. Or the people in the parking lot. Or…”

  Laughing, Carly pulled back a little, but didn’t release her hold on Maya. “As if I’d let you end up in furball jail. And not when they won’t let you have your boy toy behind bars.”

  Maya pulled her friend close once again, stiffening when she heard growls and snarls from behind. Fast as, well, a lioness, she spun and placed her still nude body between Carly and her…mate? “Alex…” Her voice deepened. “Back off.”

  Her mate narrowed his eyes. “Quit touching her.”

  Maya snorted. “What? You think I’m suddenly lesbian because I hugged my friend? Are you on drugs? Seriously?” She huffed, puffed. “I may be tied to you for my suddenly long life, asshole, but you’re not going to get all pissy whenever I happen to touch someone else.”

  “No touching. I can’t take it. The beast…it can’t take it.”

  A single finger tapped her shoulder. “Uh, My, you should listen to him. He’s a little too furry for my taste, but I really don’t want to be on the lion’s menu. Remember? Mates and stuff? We’ve talked about this. He’s on edge, and you should, you know, humor him for a smidge.”

  Maya crossed her arms over her chest and glared at him when his attention shifted from her face to her breasts. Men! Ugh. “How long is a smidge? And how much humoring are we talking about? I wanted a one-night stand, Carly. Not a fucking Neanderthal who thinks he owns me. And he has his fucking dick hanging out for heaven’s sake!”

  The she-cat inside her purred at her last comment. Horny cat.

  Maya watched in fascination as fur receded from each of his pores that coated his arms and chest. He then picked up his clothes and slipped them back on, neatly tucking his cock back into his pants and zipping them up. Okay, so maybe he was the tiniest bit pissy. And maybe it was because she’d pushed a little too hard. But damn it, she’d had good reason!

  “No, I don’t own you, Maya…”

  “Don’t talk to the boobs, buddy.” She clicked her fingers to encourage him to raise his gaze. “Up here. Look at my face.”

  He huffed. “I don’t own you, but the cat is…possessive.”

  She sniffed, realizing she had the same sort of possessive-y feelings, too. But she sure wasn’t going to admit that out loud. Nope. Not yet, anyway. “Fine.”

  “And I’m sorry I didn’t explain things last night.” That was like the third or fourth or fifth apology, she didn’t know which, but perhaps he actually was…sorry.

  She edged a little closer. Okay, she could deal with the apologies. Apologies were nice when sincere, and her little cat was rubbing against her mind, telling Maya she’d be more than happy to rub all over Alex. “Thanks. I accept your apology.”

  “And I promise to never whip my dick out…unless you ask for it.” His lips twitched and she glared at him.

  Maya returned, “And what about the claim-y, bite-y thing?”

  “I can’t apologize for the act, but I absolutely should’ve talked to you first.”

  She nodded. “Good.” She tried to be mad, tried to show how upset she still was, but her body wouldn’t allow her to—she was drained.

  That settled, she invaded his personal space, rested her face against his broad chest.

  “Huh? What’re you? I mean…” Alex sputtered.

  Aw, poor little confused lion. Her human half was still pretty damn angry, but she’d at least forgive him…just a little.

  “Come on cat-boy. I figure we’ve got some talking to do, and I’m starting to get hungry again with all this meat lying around. Speaking of which, Carly…”

  Her best friend squeaked and rushed up the stairs, heavy footsteps trailing in her wake. Maya followed, but only made it two steps before a muscular arm wrapped around her waist and tugged her back. “You’re not going up there like that.” Alex’s words were nearly indiscernible, like his lion had wrenched control in that moment.

  Maya growled at his firm tone, the she-cat not at all happy with being manhandled, and her annoyance came through, loud and clear, in her voice. “Well, seeing as my clothes got shredded during my first shift, when I didn’t even know I was a shifter, I didn’t have much of a choice this time either, did I?”

  Alex released her, spun her around, and replied, “No man but me sees you naked, Maya. No one. I’ll cut out the man’s eyes rathe
r than let him glimpse a single part of your naked body.”

  Maya smirked. The lioness reveled in his possessiveness, and she had to admit, the woman did, too. “Fine. But you’re buying me new clothes.”

  “Done.”

  Huh. Too bad everything else in her life couldn’t be fixed this easily.

  * * * *

  Shit, fuck, damn, and growl.

  Okay, at least, Alex had managed to get Maya out of the buck’s house without exposing any more of her lush body than he had to, thanks to Carly and her enormous wardrobe. And hey, they’d even snagged some new clothes for Maya at the mall.

  At least, the shopping was done, and his relatively sweet mate was well-clothed. And dare he say, semi-happy. Semi, because he’d brought her back to Genesis, and partially against her will.

  “I’m not going in there.” Maya balked at the door and dug her heels in.

  Alex clenched his teeth and fisted his hands. “Please, my sweet. The pride would like to meet you, and besides, being around them will calm your lioness.”

  She sighed deep. For the umpteenth time. Damn it, she’d been doing that a lot with him, and his cat was pissed that the man couldn’t do a freaking thing right.

  “Fine, I’ll go. You know, all you have to do is explain things to me. Preferably before you want me to do something.”

  With a nod he pulled open the front door and the comforting scent of his pride surrounded them, soothed his inner cat.

  Until Jenner ran to meet them that was, tripping over his lovesick feet with every step he took toward Maya. “Prime! Oh, you found her!”

  Good god, man. Alex hoped he wouldn’t have to deal with all the males tripping over themselves to get close to Maya. Then, he’d have to kill them. Not really, but he hoped he didn’t have to make a choice.

  The rest of the pride trailed in Jenner’s wake in a swarm, each of them anxious to meet their new prima. They were all cleaned up and ready for her arrival, thank goodness. Though she hadn’t yet claimed him, he’d already bitten her, and that was more than enough to ensure the pride’s initial acceptance of her.