The Tranquil Hunters Pride

by T. Cobbin

  When she was six and living in her second foster home she remembered waking up from a dream to find her room filled with colored balls. Her foster parents had ranted and screamed at her and each other. No one knew where they had come from. She remembered several other occasions when she’d been wrought with emotion and strange things had happened, but she’d never put things together until now.

  A tiny giggle came from her when she remembered an incident when a teacher had yelled at her one morning for not completing her homework. The teacher had found her desk full of live frogs later that day. Had that been magic too? That one she hoped she’d done...the miserable cow deserved it.

  Maddy sighed, knowing she was going to have to face the rest of the day. Although the shower was refreshing, it was time to face whatever was on the outside of it. Thinking of the sexy male who’d kidnapped her wasn’t as scary as it had been when she’d woken this morning with her laying on top of him. Her lips lifted as she wondered if tomorrow morning there might be a chance of waking up to that again.

  Her mother’s words ran through her head. If you doubt this in any way, it could hurt you both. She was beginning to believe a little more.

  She dried herself with one of the huge towels hanging in the bathroom. The material rubbed against her sensitive breasts which had perked up at the thought of Grey’s hands running over her body. Yes, she was willing to find out just how far this would go.

  The shirt Greyback had left her slid down past her knees, drowning her. She didn’t mind as long as it covered most of her. She washed her thong and bra and left them in the bathroom to dry.

  Walking down the hallway, she went toward a delicious aroma wafting from the kitchen. Seeing the place was empty, she went over to the saucepan and lifted the lid. Her mouth watered as the scent from a pot of chili filled the air.

  “It will be ready soon,” a soft female voice said.

  Maddy squeaked, dropping the lid back onto the pan haphazardly.

  “Sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you.”

  Maddy turned to see a woman about her age with a full figure and long brown hair. She had amazing eyes. They were a light blue with an inner amber color.

  “Hi,” she said, holding her hand out. “I’m Vista, Mace’s mate.”

  Maddy took Vista’s hand and shook it. “I’m Maddy, although from what I have found out I was named Leia when I was born.” She tried to pull the shirt down as much as she could. Although the shirt came just below her knees, she felt embarrassed at being caught with virtually nothing on.

  “About time he brought you home.” Vista chuckled. “You are the reason my mate has been away so often, but don’t worry...” She patted Maddy’s hand. “When he comes home the sex is phenomenal.”

  “Why are you here, and where did Grey go?” She didn’t think she’d been in the shower that long.

  “Oh, he and Mace had to go off and do something, Alpha stuff.” Vista rolled her eyes and checked on the pan of rice. “Mace is Grey’s beta, and he’s here more than he’s home, so I come over and make myself useful—help out where needed, cook and clean the house, and so forth. Are you hungry?”

  “Starving. It’s been a long day.” Maddy sighed.

  “Sit down, and I’ll bring it over.”

  She took a seat in one of the sturdy oak chairs. Vista brought over a couple of bowls of steaming chili and sat down to join her.

  Maddy ate a spoonful of chili. “Oh God, this is delicious,” she moaned.

  “Do you cook?”

  “Usually only on the weekends. During the week I often just live out of the microwave. It’s easier.” She shrugged, eating another spoonful.

  “So has Grey told you about us and your parents?”

  “Yes. It was difficult to believe at first, but then I had some kind of dream, and my parents spoke to me. You know, saying it out loud makes me sound nuts. I wouldn’t believe... Do they...you really turn into lio... Holy fucking crap, you do!” Behind Vista outside the patio back doors stood two huge frigging lions.

  Vista turned and looked at the lions. Standing, she went to the slightly smaller one and threw her arms around its neck and kissed its snout. “Hey, baby.”

  The air shimmered around the lion and suddenly the man who had been in the van stood there. She gathered he must be Mace as he grabbed hold of Vista, swung her up in his arms, and kissed her. Maddy turned her attention to the lion that still stood watching her with its sparkling amber eyes.

  “Greyback,” she whispered more to herself than anyone else.

  His huge body was covered in golden fur, and his mane was a deeper brown. She stood and stepped forward. As she watched him swish his tail she held her hand out. Grey took a step and laid his muzzle in her hand. She could feel as well as hear the deep purr that rumbled from him. She knelt and buried her face deep into the soft fur and nuzzled him back. She smiled as a thrill ran through her. She was inches from a huge frigging lion, and it wasn’t because she was lunch either.

  “You are gorgeous. Oh my God, this is amazing.” She ran a hand over each of his front legs in awe. “I’m freaking stroking a huge arsed lion,” she muttered excitedly.

  She curled her head into Grey’s mane when he started snuffling at her ear. She ran her hands over his silky fur on his back as far as she could reach, feeling his fine pelt slipping through her fingers. The spell was broken when his coarse, wet tongue licked up the side of her face.

  “Eww, come on, I just had a shower, thank you.”

  Her eyes widened as the huge lion suddenly begin to shimmer and a few seconds later a very naked and aroused Grey stood in front of her with a massive, sexy smile. His smile turned playful.

  Oh shit. Quickly getting to her feet, she placed her hands in front of her to hold him off. “Don’t even think it, mister.”

  He advanced.

  “L-look, Vista made chili.” She stumbled backward, hitting the dining room chair she’d left out.

  He still advanced. Her body was heating with arousal at the way he was watching her, licking his lips. She wanted to nibble on them. She glanced down at his crotch. His cock tapped against his stomach as he walked, tall and proud, with a small drop of pre-cum on the end. She inwardly moaned. He looked like the lion he was stalking his prey.

  “Umm, Alpha...” Vista’s voice reminded them they were not alone.

  Grey stopped, stiffened, and sniffed the air. He moved his lips as if counting. Reaching what looked like three he swiftly turned and scooped up a tiny lion cub behind him.

  “Think you can hunt me, little one?” he asked gruffly. Chuckling, he then proceeded to tickle the little cub’s belly.

  Maddy watched in amazement as the small, golden lion cub shimmered and shifted into a blond-haired toddler. The little boy threw his arms affectionately around Grey’s neck and laughed.

  “I nearly caught you. I is getting better.”

  “Yes, your papa is teaching you well.” Grey placed the lad on the floor and the boy toddled off to his mother.

  The tall, sexy man with muscles on muscles turned and looked at Maddy with a this-isn’t-over look before he grabbed a pair of jeans that lay over the couch. She wanted to fan her face. It was very hot all of a sudden.

  Damn, it was a shame to cover such a fine piece of work.

  She nearly fell over when he pulled up his jeans and there were two missing pieces of material where his butt cheeks were. Mace let out a booming laugh, followed closely by Vista. Maddy couldn’t help it...she folded over in laughter too. She watched through tear-filled eyes as Grey felt around the back of his pants. Feeling nothing but his own skin, he turned, looking at her in amazement.

  “It would seem your magic is getting stronger already, princess. Cheeky.”

  Did I do that?

  After the laughter died down Tommy—Vista and Mace’s cub—cried out that he was hungry, so they all sat down and ate.

  “So seeing Tommy in his cub form, it seems you can shift from an early age,” she said, nod
ding toward the toddler.

  “The cubs that have Alpha in them can shift slightly earlier than those who don’t. Our Tommy could shift when he was only a few months old.” Mace smiled at his son, and Maddy could see just how proud he was. “It can be more of a challenge in their teens to control the beast. Grey and I often take a couple of the teens into the woods and have them challenge each other and us.”

  “I gather then the children are schooled amongst you?”

  “Yes. In fact, Vista is one of our teachers.” Grey nodded at Mace’s mate. “It’s important that our children are kept from main schools as they often shift not being able to control the beast inside of them yet. You can imagine the grief it would cause. We actually tend to keep on pride land mostly. Grow our own vegetables, etcetera. It’s easier to stay hidden.”

  “Grief? Yeah, I can guess and a whole lot more. You said my father warded the place and there’s another shaman now who does it, a female?”

  “Yes...Amier. She lives at the edge of our land, keeping the wards going. She makes sure no humans step onto the property. If they get too close, they have a sudden urge to go home. Your father was a powerful man in his own right. The only way Jerrick could have beaten him is by taking him by surprise.” Grey looked at her, and she could see sorrow in his eyes. “If anyone needs Amier’s expertise, they go visit her. She does healing, fertility, charms, all kinds of stuff.”

  “When they found me and were looking for my parents, my picture was in the papers and on the television. Why do you think Jerrick didn’t, or hasn’t, come for me if I’m such a threat?” she asked Grey who had finished his meal and was sitting looking at her.

  “I’m not sure. Maybe Amier can help answer that question.”

  “So how did you do it?” Vista asked.

  “Do what?” Maddy asked in confusion.

  “The butt holes.” Vista chuckled.

  “I have no idea. I was just thinking...” Unsure what to say, Maddy scooped up another spoonful of chili and shoved it in her mouth.

  “Thinking what, princess?” Grey asked before running a tongue along his lips, a naughty grin on his face.

  “Umm...it was a shame to hide your butt.” She scrunched her nose up, looking down at her bowl. Damn male asking stupid questions.

  “Well, you can certainly see it now. Talk about a chilly behind. Do you intend to do that to all his jeans?” Mace roared with laughter.

  Maddy picked up her bowl and walked to the kitchen, placing it in the sink, feeling her face heating up. The main area of the house was open-planned, then there was a hallway that led off to several guest rooms. The living area was in beige and browns with a thick oak dining room table to one side. The kitchen had all the normal modern conveniences, all shiny and silver. The cooker itself was huge, double oven, eight rings. Someone liked to cook! It was placed so the person cooking could look over the house with a breakfast bar on the other side of it. Food could be cooked and pushed over to the bar without carrying it through the kitchen.

  Huge hands reached around her waist. Pinning her to the sink, Grey’s front pushed at her back. “It’s okay. Things like this are going to happen. You’ll learn.”

  She lowered her head. “What if I hurt someone, Grey? What if I had made someone disappear instead of your jeans?”

  Grey’s hands slid up her sides and cupped her shoulders, turning her around to face him. “That’s what you’re worried about?”

  “Well, of course. What did you think?”

  “That you were embarrassed you ruined my jeans,”

  “No, I thought your butt looked quite nice to be honest,” she said, looking up into his amber eyes with a smile.

  “Can I see yours?” he asked, cupping her butt cheeks and pulling her closer toward him.

  She could feel his erection against her stomach, and it made her whimper. She knew she was wet, she could feel it as it dampened her thighs.

  Grey sniffed the air, and a sexy smile rose on his face. “Tell me you want me,” he demanded, his voice dropping to a low, husky sound.

  “I want you.”

  “Mace,” Grey barked, not even turning around. “Dinner is over. Time to take your family home.”

  With that Maddy was hoisted up in the air and thrown over his shoulder with her legs flattened against his naked chest. Grey carried her down the hallway, Mace’s laughter ringing in her ears.

  Chapter 6

  “You’re being rude,” Maddy admonished, looking down at the circular missing patches in the butt of Grey’s jeans. Damn, it was a fine arse. She wanted to plant her teeth into the luscious cheeks. Lifting a hand, she brought it down on the bare skin, relishing the slap and feeling of her hand stinging and burning.

  “You’ll pay for that, princess.”

  “Yeah, yeah. Big brave lion man can’t take a hit from little ole me,” she taunted. She clenched her butt cheeks, thinking of the previous spanking he’d given her. She’d needed that she supposed, she had been so angry at the time. She wondered what it would be like to be spanked while he was hot and hard inside of her.

  “Oh, baby, I have no idea what you were just thinking but...”

  She found herself flying through the air and bouncing on the soft mattress she’d woken up on that morning, the mirrors glinting above her. Geeze, has it really only been a day?

  “Keep thinking it,” Grey said. “The scent of your arousal is driving me wild.”

  The view of herself lying amongst the beige bedding was obscured when Grey crawled over the top of her and smashed his mouth to hers. His coarse tongue slid over hers, filling her mouth. Her pussy pulsed, aching to be filled. Her clit throbbed, wanting to be touched. Her hard nipples pressed against his chest. Grey rolled his hips, pushing his erection against her core. He lifted his head, their panting breaths combining as he looked down at her. She pushed back some of his golden locks that fell over his face.

  “You’re going to think this is weird...” She grimaced. “I’ve only ever had one guy get this close before, but he never entered me. I kinda kicked him in the nuts before he had the chance. It’s something that I can honestly say I have had control over all my life. I’ve fought hard to stay innocent.”

  She inhaled slowly, trying to moderate the thundering beat of her heart. At the last foster home she’d been in there had been another foster lad there, and he thought because they were both in care and no one really cared about them he stood a chance of raping her and getting away with it. Dumb shit. All he got was a case of blue balls that had nothing to do with not getting off, it was due to the humungous kick she gave them before she ran away.

  A slow crook of a smile lifted Grey’s lips. “Innocence, huh? You have been wondering around the house in a shirt with no underwear on all day while we had visitors.”

  “You know what I mean.” She could feel her face heating up. “And I wouldn’t have been walking around with no underwear on if you hadn’t kidnapped me.”

  “I like you walking around virtually naked, but only in front of me in the future.”

  “There’s to be a future?”

  “If I get inside you now, princess, there will be one, and after that I’ll be inside of you so often you’ll feel lost without me.”

  “Oh, really?” She lifted her hips slightly, pushing against his rigid length. “Shall I let you in on another secret?”

  “Do tell, princess,” he answered, pushing his groin back against her.

  “There has been one to enter me and deflower me, so to speak.”

  “Who do I have to kill?” His voice came out rumbling.

  “That would be BOB,” she said rather smugly.

  “Bob?” He growled.

  “My battery operated boyfriend.” She giggled at seeing his irritation.

  He growled again and nipped at her neck. “There is only me from now on, nothing enters this pussy but me.” He emphasized this by again pushing his rigid length against her clit, making her breathe in through gritted teeth.

&
nbsp; She was more than wanting him to be inside her right now. Every time she’d been approached for sex in the past she’d curled up inside. She couldn’t control her life, but she sure as hell could control who she gave her body to. Even during the long years she’d spent on the street before finding Frannie she’d kept her virtue.

  It had been a cold day when Maddy came across the elderly woman lying in the gutter. The poor old dear had fallen on her way home. She’d been such a tiny woman Maddy had cradled her in her arms until the ambulance had come.

  A few weeks later she came across the woman again, only this time Frannie was looking for Maddy. If fairy godmothers existed, then Frannie was Maddy’s. For the next few years Frannie gave Maddy a roof over her head while she went to college and worked hard, all the time helping Frannie all she could in return for her love and friendship.

  When Frannie died Maddy had been devastated. Frannie had always seen the positive side to things. Things happen for a reason or there’s always something around the corner were her favorite sayings. To this day, Maddy had adopted those and lived by them. If Grey was her reason and corner, then she was going to grab them by the horns and relish it.

  “So, princess, will you become my mate ’til the day we die?”

  “Are you proposing to me, because if you are, shouldn’t you be on one knee or something?” She started to giggle but it turned into a gasp after he ground his erection against her clit. Throwing her arms around his neck, she pulled him down against her lips and kissed him lightly. “I don’t know, I mean if you go wearing jeans with holes in them in certain places it will attract other women and I don’t share.”

  Grey’s eyes turned a little more amber with the black specks becoming more pronounced. “I don’t share either, princess.”

  He leaned down and kissed her hard. She closed her eyes and relished the feeling of his tongue in her mouth again.