Claiming Her Mate

by Jess Buffett

  Her pace was relentless as she rode him, her rhythm never faltering. He could tell she was running on pure instinct and it wasn’t letting her down as they both cried out in pleasure. Never had he experienced a feeling of being taken, owned, and claimed. That was exactly what she was doing though, and he was loving every minute of it.

  They worked together, both desperate to reach that peak. Just as he thought he was close enough, Evan shoved his hand between them, his thumb stroking her clit. Summer broke, throwing her head back and screaming as she came. Evan followed over the edge, his orgasm slamming into him as he stiffened below her.

  Laying on the floor of the kitchen, he struggled to catch his breath. Damn.

  “That was…”

  “Yeah,” she whispered from where her head rest on his chest. He could hear the smile in her voice. “That was…”

  Evan burst out laughing and Summer joined him, both too exhausted to even move, and too damn happy to care.

  He groaned when the jostling dislodged him from where he had been inside of Summer, feeling the loss of her tight walls around him. When Summer suddenly tensed above him, he stared up at her, confused by the look of horror on her face.

  “Sum—”

  He cut himself off as he felt a small trickle down the inside of his thigh. Oh shit. They hadn’t used protection.

  Chapter Six

  Oh shit. They hadn’t used protection. What the hell had she been thinking?

  Shifting so she sat up, Summer groaned. “Oh God.”

  “Damn. Summer, honey.” Evan ran soothing hands up and down her arms. “It’s okay, love.”

  She bit down on her lip to stop herself from shouting at him. How was this going to be okay? They had barely began to sort things out after years of miscommunication. Summer knew she wasn’t ready to be a mother, and Evan certainly needed time to adjust to the world that he had now become a part of.

  “What are we going to do, Evan?” she asked, her voice trembling a little toward the end. “You’ve spent years dancing around the edges of our society. You have no real idea of what it’s like to be fully submerged in it. You need time to adjust. We need time to adjust.”

  “Hey, I’m not going anywhere,” he murmured, sitting up and wrapping her in a tight embrace. She buried herself deeper into his strong, wide chest, feeling safe and secure. “I know I’ve stayed away from a lot. I never really felt like I belonged, but that doesn’t mean I have no clue, or the moment I do I’m going to run.” He cupped her cheek, and she leaned into the caress.

  Her gaze met his and she lost her breath at the amount of love she saw shining through. How long had she prayed for him to look at her just like that?

  “We mated, for better or worse. I love you, Summer. You just need time to believe that and I understand that. Nothing is for certain, you may not be pregnant, but if you are, then consider me the luckiest man on the planet.”

  Relief, so strong it was palpable, washed through her at his words. She hadn’t realized how afraid she was of Evan taking off until he had said the words. “I love you, too.”

  “I’m getting that,” he chuckled. “Let’s go take a shower and then give your family a call to let them know it’s safe to return, hmmm?”

  She groaned, dropping her head in embarrassment. “Oh God, I really just did that in front of my father and brothers, didn’t I?”

  “Don’t worry, they left before we got to the good part...but yeah, they knew what was coming.”

  Summer felt the urge to swipe the sly grin off her mate’s face, but took some satisfaction in the shocking blow she was about to deliver. The man thought it was funny, did he?

  “Well you better get used to it, you have another few days of it at least,” she said casually.

  Standing up, she tried to hide her smile at his confusion. It wasn’t until she made it halfway down the hall that he called out, “Get used to what?”

  She turned back to him and shrugged. “Me jumping your bones.”

  He walked toward her, eyeing her warily. Smart man. “Not that I’m complaining, but why is that?”

  She gave him a seductive look, racking her eyes up and down his delicious body. “Welcome to the mating heat, love. Should only last a few days but...you may want to call in sick for a little while. You know...until you recover.”

  With that she spun on her heel and headed for the bathroom, chuckling at the shocked look on her mate’s face. He really had no idea what he was in for.

  Once she was turning on the water, Summer stepped under the spray. It wasn’t long before thick arms wrapped around her from behind, and she settled back into the solid chest.

  “So...this mating heat…”

  “Yes?”

  “Recovery time?”

  She laughed at the concern in Evan’s voice. “What’s wrong, love? Afraid you won’t be able to keep up?”

  He growled, nipping her neck. “I’ll show you how capable I am of keeping up.”

  Oh yeah, she was going to like this.

  ****

  Since it was the middle of winter, darkness had fallen by the time they had arrived at Sage’s property, the open lands surrounded by dense bush filled with tiger shifters and their families who made up the Pride.

  “Summer!” His eyes widened when an extremely bubbly, young woman came charging toward them, wrapping her arms around his mate. “Oh my God. Are you okay? Your brother told me what happened to you. I’m guessing they haven’t found that bastard yet?” Before Summer could respond, the newcomer’s eyes slid to him, a sly grin on her lips. “So, does this mean what I think it means?”

  “Evan, this is my best friend, Avery.” Summer laughed as she introduced the perky blonde. “And to answer your questions...I’m fine. Which brother? No they haven’t found him yet, and yes, Evan is my mate.”

  He blinked at both women, feeling out of his element. What the hell just happened, and was he supposed to have kept up with that? Cause that shit was way out of his league. “Ah...hi?”

  “Hi, Evan. Nice to finally meet you properly.” Avery’s grin as she turned back to Summer made him nervous. “And Chase, of course. Your other brothers know how to keep their mouths closed.”

  “I should have known.” Summer shook her head, clearly amused. “All right. We better join the family, but I’ll catch up with you after the meeting, yeah?”

  “Of course,” Avery bid them farewell, joining group of shifters not too far from them.

  Evan couldn’t help but notice some of the odd looks a few of them sent him, and the further they made their way through the crowd the more frequent they became. Though he much preferred them to the expressions of distaste he received from a few others. What the hell was their problem? He knew he wasn’t the only human here.

  Summer walked beside him, her hand firmly in his. She too frowned at the people they passed.

  “Summer. Why are they looking at us like that?” Tension ran through him, every nerve alert.

  She shook her head in confusion. “I have no idea.”

  Moving their way through the crowd, Evan grew more uncomfortable. Tugging Summer close, he headed for the Alpha family. He never thought he would willingly want to be in Sage’s presence; however, the looks they were receiving made him thankful the Alpha stood only meters away. Just as they were in speaking distance, Evan suddenly felt claws digging into his side, sharp and painful, right before he was sent flying.

  Evan landed hard on the damp grass, all the air leaving his lungs. The set of claws returned, piercing his skin once again, only this time Evan felt an intense electrical current race through his body, not unlike the one he had experienced the night before with Summer. A loud hiss echoed in his ears and the claws disappeared instantly.

  Snarls reached his ears as he tried to sit up, the noise becoming almost unbearable until the vicious growl silenced the rest. He flinched when something cold and wet nudged him. Turning his head, he was momentarily mesmerized by the stunning snow-white creature besid
e him. Summer. Her fine, silky coat shimmered in the moonlight, and her brilliant eyes sparkled. Those eyes so familiar, he’d know them anywhere.

  “Enough!” the powerful and domineering voice commanded the now quiet area. “Sean. Explain yourself, or I’ll rip your throat out for attacking the mate to a member of the Alpha family.”

  Beside him, Summer began to shimmer, her coat fading to reveal the bronze top and black jeans she had been wearing before. It wasn't until just then that he suddenly realized he had worried with the thought of her being naked in front of anyone else. Having never witnessed a shift, he didn’t know if like in the movies they lost their clothing, the material tearing into pieces.

  Relief washed through him that it wasn’t the case. Who knew he could be such a territorial bastard?

  “Are you okay?” she whispered, pulling him into her arms.

  He winced when pain shot up through his side. “Been better. But what the hell was that?”

  Summer growled, her gaze pinning the prick that had taken a swipe at him. “That’s what I’d like to know.”

  Sean, a member of the Pride, dangled from Sage’s grip, gasping for breath. When the Alpha lowered him enough so he could answer, he began to sputter. “H-he attacked Summer.” The man’s gaze darted from Evan, to Summer, and then to Sage. “D-don’t you k-know what he d-did?”

  “What he did?” Sage shook the other man hard enough to force Sean’s eyes to roll back into his head. “Evan never attacked Summer.”

  “B-but Brad s-said—”

  “Brad attacked Summer, not Evan.” Sage brought the man’s face close to his. “He drugged her, tried to rape her. Evan was the only thing that stopped it from happening. Do you hear me?”

  Sean’s eyes widened, his mouth doing a great impression of a fish. “Brad?”

  The Alpha snarled one last time, shoving the other man backwards and to the ground. Evan slowly sat up with Summer’s help as Sage addressed the crowd that gathered. “Listen up. This was exactly why you have all been called here tonight. I have no idea how many of you Brad has gotten to, but whatever he told you was a lie.”

  Hushed voices murmured through the open air. “Last night at the Ashcroft and MacKenzie annual event, he drugged Summer with a narcotic enhanced to affect shifters. We haven’t worked out where he got a hold of it, but we are looking. If it wasn’t for Evan, I think we all know what could have happened. And before anyone says anything else, you should know...Evan is Summer’s mate.”

  “Holy shit,” someone shouted from the crowd. “Does this mean the prophesy is starting?”

  “Yeah. He is the first non-White Tiger to mate into your family, after all?” another person voiced.

  “We don’t know. And for now that isn’t what matters.” Sage waited until everyone was silent before he continued, “Brad is on the loose. All we know is that he headed straight for the border of Pine Cove Pride.” Shouts filled the night air. “Yes, I know what that means. If any of you have any problems with our neighboring Pride, or Aidan, you let me know...immediately. Understood?”

  There were resounding answers of yes, but Evan was distracted by the tingling sensation he suddenly felt in his side. “What the hell?”

  “What’s wrong?” Summer asked, reaching for his shirt. Her brows knitted together as she lifted the material. “Huh. Well at least we know the advanced healing has kicked in.”

  Her lopsided grin had his cock stirring in his pants. “Well, that’s a good thing. Because that hurt like a bitch.”

  “I’m so sorry,” the man who had attacked him said. “I honestly thought you had hurt Summer. I shouldn’t have believed Brad, but he was so convincing.”

  The man looked absolutely gutted.

  “He deceived us all, Sean.” Sage comforted the man. “You all need to be on the lookout. As much as I wish I didn’t have to, I have no choice but to call for a hunt. If anyone catches sight of Brad you are given permission to take him down by any means necessary as long as he remains alive. We need answers.”

  Evan watched silently as everyone in the Pride agreed to the Alpha’s orders.

  Damn, he was so ready for this day to be over now.

  ****

  While the wounds caused by Sean’s claws had healed, Evan’s body still throbbed by the time they arrived back at his place.

  “Dammit,” he cursed, tripping over an eager Ally who he found currently winding her way through his legs. “Would you quit it already?”

  “Hey,” Summer soothed. “She can sense something is wrong. It’s part of being your familiar.”

  “Seriously?”

  “Yes. She probably felt the moment you were attacked.”

  Evan snorted. “All the way from here?”

  “It doesn’t matter where you are, she will always sense you.” Summer shook her head, leading him into the lounge room. “I don’t think you fully comprehend who and what she is to you.”

  He followed her, thinking about that. Hell, he barely understood who he was anymore, let alone his damn cat.

  Sitting down on the lounge, he let out a sigh. “No, I guess I don’t.”

  “I know it’s frustrating, but I’m here if you want to talk,” Summer reassured him, taking a spot next to him. “I know a bit about witches, or at least certain types. And I think after that little display back at the meeting, it’s safe to say you’re an Electrical type.”

  He chuckled mirthlessly. “Yeah. That was weird as fuck. How the hell did I do that?”

  “It’s your DNA. No other reasonable explanation.”

  He cast her a sideways glance. “Honey, I love you, but since when did any of this suddenly become reasonable. Hmmm?”

  Summer laughed. “True.” He watched as she kicked off her shoes and stretched her long legs out, crossing them at the ankle on top of the coffee table. “What I meant was when a pair of different species mate, their DNA is altered, allowing them to be able to survive in one another’s world. There is a significant change in humans. It’s possible that mating with me has triggered your witch DNA.”

  Evan’s mind spun with the implications of what this meant. “I knew I would grow stronger, heal quicker, but to know I’ll have actual power is mind blowing...and a little intimidating.”

  It killed him to admit that weakness, even to his mate, but it was true.

  “Perhaps we could speak to someone,” Summer offered.

  His brows furrowed in confusion. “Like who?”

  “Well, we have our Elders. There is also our Seer. Maybe they have some of the answers you are looking for.”

  “Seer? Like the one who foretold that prophesy?”

  Damn. When he thought things couldn’t get any weirder…

  “Yes, I know, it’s a bit weird,” she chuckled as if hearing his thoughts.

  Her face lit up with her smile, and Evan drew in a breath. Summer’s beauty had always blown him away, but now he felt free to actually look and enjoy, she captivated him. The hidden tiger underneath shone through in her glimmering honey-gold eyes, the way they tracked him made Evan feel like the prey being hunted. It was a heady feeling.

  He leaned forward, wanting to kiss her, to sip at her lips until they were both drunk with pleasure, however, a knocking at his front door prevented such a move.

  “Damn people, and their timing,” he grumbled as he stood, making his way over to the front door. Opening it, Evan was wholly unprepared to be confronted by an aging woman with gray, almost white hair pulled back into a severe bun. She only stood around five foot six; however, she had the same predatory gleam in her eyes as Summer and the rest of her family. Whoever she was, she was a tiger. “Can I help you?”

  “Actually, I believe it is I that can help you, young man,” the woman stated matter-of-factly. Holding out a wrinkled hand, she grinned. “My name is Ruth Eversteen. I’m the New Hope Valley Pride’s Seer, and I know you have plenty of questions, Evan. Perhaps if you would be so kind as to allow an old woman into your home, I would be able to a
nswer some of them for you and your new mate.”

  Evan, feeling properly chastised for making her stand out in the cold, stumbled back and held the door open for Ruth to come in. The older woman made it to the edge of the lounge room before Summer leaped up from where she had been sitting and embraced Ruth.

  “Ruth!” Summer exclaimed. “What are you doing here? Wait, never mind, of course you're here.”

  He watched numbly as Summer ushered Ruth over to take a seat.

  “Yes dear, you shouldn’t be surprised,” Ruth chuckled. “Your poor mate, however, seems like he has seen better days.”

  Summer peered up at him and he shrugged. There was no point in lying, he was well and truly ready for this day to be over.

  “If you could give us anything, Ruth, I’d really appreciate it.” Summer’s sympathetic, yet worried gaze met his and suddenly Evan felt like a heel.

  She must be thinking he was ready to run. He had known her for so long, and somehow everything between them just seemed so...right, that he forgot it was only the night before that everything had come to a head. Had it really only been twenty-four hours?

  Walking over to her, Evan cupped her cheek, stroking it lovingly. “I’m not going anywhere, honey.”

  “No, he isn’t,” Ruth injected. “Trust in that, child.”

  Summer’s eyes watered but she nodded. “I do.”

  The older woman suddenly chuckled, and Evan sent her an inquiring look. “Something funny?”

  “Not really, just hearing those words. I do,” Ruth said, a coy smile on her lips. “Just reminded me of something.”

  Evan stared at the woman, feeling slightly unnerved by the knowing glint in her eyes.

  “I’m guessing that means you’ve had a vision, Ruth,” Summer asked, snapping him out of his thoughts.

  “Yes, I did. However, it was a phone call from your sister that prompted my visit.”

  Summer’s eyes opened wide in shock. “Ella? Is she okay? Is it her friend that’s coming?”

  “Your sister is fine, dear,” Ruth reassured Summer. “She merely had a dream. One that concerned her enough to seek my counsel.”