The Bridal Hunt (Brides of the Hunt Book 1)

by Jeanette Lynn

  "Veck loves Meanie, too,” he purred sweetly, crooning his words softly as I stomped and stormed about, his oversized arse dodging my boot moments later to watch as it sailed past his head.

  ✽✽✽

  "What do they think they're doing?" I asked as we left the cottage.

  Curious and mildly concerned, I eyed Kirch and Bia warily as they stacked baskets of materials and bundles of wood along the outside side wall.

  "Building," Veck said unnecessarily. Glancing down into my upturned face, he pecked my lips and shrugged.

  "Building what?"

  "Bigger cot-tage."

  "Cottage? They're building a cottage?" Eyes darting to their little makeshift construction site, I blinked, flabbergasted. “Really? What for?”

  “For Meanie.” At the look on my face, Veck nodded, holding his hand out. I grabbed it and intertwined our fingers, steering him in the opposite direction of the construction happy cousins.

  "Well, they can play Bob the Builder all they want, and they can live in it, but you're staying with me in our house." Lips sucked in like I’d just kissed a lemon, I glared up at my mate challengingly, daring him to argue.

  Shrugging his massive shoulders, he winked and offered me an indulgent smile, saying simply, "Yes, wife."

  Why did I get the feeling he was just humoring me? His placating attitude did nothing to lighten my mood. My stomach churned.

  Shaking his grip loose, I gave him a dirty look and marched off ahead of him. "At least have the decency to say it like you mean it." Grumbling, I huffed under my breath, pouting quietly until we reached the path that led to where all the women meet up for the day to start our chores.

  Oh, joy. Today is laundry day. Ugh. I hate laundry.

  Day already proving to be rotten, I started to walk off without telling Veck good-bye, grumbling more unflattering mutterings towards the male sex, but he snatched me up and stole a heated kiss. Nipping at my lips hungrily, my mate was not letting me go until I thoroughly reciprocated the gesture.

  Dazed and a little wobbly on my feet, he let me go right as I was about to climb his furry ass like a horny monkey and attack him.

  "Be good, wife," he teased, tapping my ass to get me going.

  "Aren't I always?" I retorted saucily. Tossing a wink his way as I added a little more sway than necessary to my hips, I grinned as I sauntered away.

  His groan and amused chuckle was music to my ears as I started my day.

  Maybe today wouldn’t be as rotten as I’d thought after all.

  ✽✽✽

  "There has got to be an easier way to do this," I complained, swiping my brow with my sleeve, wringing out yet another garment. Finished, I passed it on to the next gal so she could hang it out to dry.

  "Afraid not," Dorothy said laughingly from her spot. Flapping a soggy dress to untangle it, she wrung clothes out right along with me, offering me a crooked, commiserating smile when I grimaced.

  The way her lips kicked up, happy and carefree, made me think of Bia, which just served in reminding me of yesterday and all that had gone on. Staring off after her as she went to gather more wash, the whole thing gave me pause.

  Laugh lines creased her face, the good-natured kind, showing off just how much time she spends smiling or laughing, which she's proven since the day I met her.

  "So... three mates, huh?" The woman next to Dorothy chuckled, nodding, her chin dipping as she plopped down another wad of unwashed clothes in front of us. Absently noting the conversation, it took me a moment to realize the woman was addressing her comment to me.

  "Oh. Me? Uhhhm... nope.” I shook my head in denial. “I have one mate—Veck. The last two are delusional." Rubbing at my forehead as the beginnings of a headache came on, I sighed heavily, then remembered Dorothy was standing right next to me. "No offense," I added, shrugging in her direction.

  Dorothy burst out laughing, shoulders shaking as she shook her head. “Hah! Honey, none taken.” Bright blue eyes smiling kindly, she waved me off.

  I was so thrown off by it I found myself blinking over at her dumbly, thinking she'd have been offended on behalf of her nephew and son, not laughing like a madwoman.

  "No wonder those two are so smitten with you." Snorting into her hand, she chortled, swiping at her eyes. "You're going to run those two ragged."

  "You mean, if I don't maim them first.” Lips pursing in a moue of distaste, I grunted—sounding very much like a Lo denaii myself—frowning over at her.

  "Oh, you forget, sweetheart, I know those two. If you ended up slapping one of them over the head, givin' em what for, I wouldn't be surprised in the least.” Shaking a finger at me, she grinned. “Give one of those two an inch and they'll take a mile." Dorothy laughed again, her chuckling ending on an exasperated sigh. Shoving her sleeves back up, she pushed her long, mousy brown hair away from her eyes with her elbow, her large blue eyes dancing in her expressive face.

  "You're awesome, Dorothy, did you know that?" I smiled and couldn't help the chuckle that escaped me as I shook my head at her.

  "My mates say it every damn day."

  ✽✽✽

  We stopped to eat lunch when the sun was setting high overhead, helping Elsie dish out bowls of stew to all the women in our group as fast as possible.

  It was Elsie’s job to handle lunch this week, of which involved standing over a giant pot to stir it all day long, and readying all the water skins, bowls, and eating utensils needed by herself in between. I didn’t envy her the task.

  Once every one was served, we all scattered about, enjoying the warmer weather we'd finally been having lately. Wishing to soak up the bright, sunny day, I took advantage of a patch of bluish-brown looking grass that wasn't covered with snow or ice, sitting down to eat quickly, hurrying so I could have a little time all to myself.

  Lunch eaten and stomach full, I set my things off to the side under the shade of a nearby tree, placing my small water skin by my side to glance over the lake. Gaze uncertain and troubled, I stared off over the water, balancing my chin on my knees, contemplating the warm springs pool just beyond as steam rose up from it in frothy white misty puffs.

  Someone sat down next to me, and I peeked through the corner of my eye to find Bia.

  "Did you mean it?" I asked seriously, the first to speak, making sure I got to have my say.

  "Mean what?" Long legs stretching out next to mine, he settled himself. Reaching out, he ran a long, pale, furry finger along the seam of my boot.

  "Any of it. Being my friend, the talks we'd have, secrets we've confided in each other...? Was any of it real? Or was it all just a ploy to get into my pants?" My eyes started welling and I stared down at my feet. Clearing my throat to cover up a sniffle, I played with a blade of grass, unable to make eye contact with him. I was afraid of what I'd see if I did.

  "Every word." He spoke quietly, slipping his hand into mine as we sat there, staring out over the lake.

  "Good." I gave his fingers a small squeeze. "I miss my best friend."

  Clearing his throat roughly, his mouth kicked up at the corners, the beginnings of a rueful smile, as his thumb stroked along mine.

  "I miss mine, too." Peeking over at me, blue eyes shining, he swallowed thickly. Turning and leaning in towards me when I smiled slightly, he made as if to go in for a kiss.

  Thrusting a hand up, I put it right in front of his face, mushing my palm into his nose until he got the picture. Well, that’s one way to stop ‘em, I thought.

  "I'm still mad at you, ya know. You lied to me." Pressing my fingers into his forehead hard enough to leave a mark when he went to lean in anyway, I gave him a dirty look, but he just grinned and kissed my palm. “I’m serious, Bia.”

  "Fair enough,” he agreed. “Can’t blame a male for trying, though.” Nuzzling my hand affectionately, he kissed my palm one last time before he pulled back, rolled, and got up to leave.

  At his cheeky words I stared, just stared. A teasing glint in his eyes, he grinned and winked.
r />   "I swear! All of you are just a bunch of hard headed, stubborn sons of..."

  "Ready, Mina?" Dorothy called, interrupting my little fit. "We're all heading back now." Her gaze flitted between us and her eyes crinkled smilingly.

  "Yeah, I'm comin’," I grumbled, hopping up to hurry towards her. Feeling a set of eyes on my back, I waved my hand behind me in a half-hearted farewell. Picking up my pace, I didn’t bother looking back to see if he’d left.

  ✽✽✽

  I floated around on the surface of the water, staring at the sky as puffy white and orange clouds, like Creamsicle marshmallows in the sky, rolled by. We'd finished the laundry up earlier than planned and it was my turn to skip out early. We rotated, letting one lucky lady call it a day early when the majority of our workload was done.

  This time it was my turn. Oh yeeeaaahhh. Lucky me. Smiling a little to myself, I hummed the song stuck in my head aloud, glad for a bit of free time. Veck was still busy, so I’d had to go solo today, but it wasn’t so bad. Right now, floating around dreamily in Veck’s pond—not a care in the world—that was just fine with me.

  Smiling as I thought about my husband-mate, I rolled lazily, turning to my stomach to swim. A cracking sound echoed across the small clearing, like a shot, and my head shot up. Eyes darting everywhere, dancing about wildly, I tried to figure out where the noise had come from.

  Trees rustled off to the side, just beyond a thicket of sticky pink and purple bushes. Holding my breath as I waited, my heartbeat sped up as my eyes fixed on the spot, glued to it. Veck is usually with me, so I’d never thought to worry about things that go bump and snarl in the forest.

  A second later Kirch stepped out, shaking off a sticky branch full of sap, and walked to the edge of the water. Careful not to get too close, he prowled over to an open, wide enough spot along the edge, no orange-y brown bur bushes or sticky plants at risk of sticking his fur. Sparing me a quick glance as he hunted for a dry spot, he found one and, dusting it off with his foot, plopped down. Scooting to the water’s edge, he dipped his feet in, a serene look on his face, calm as you please.

  This was eerily familiar to our last run in, with the exception of whatever zen he’d found. Studying him warily, I didn’t know what to think.

  Kirch leaned forward, balancing his weight on his knees, and smiled, bright yellow eyes wandering lower, his smile growing into a full out grin as he took all of me in.

  Gaze darkening, lips tugging up in such a way, like a sexy bad boy, exposing the tips of all those sharp, pointy teeth, he looked downright wicked. My libido reacted and I flushed. Stupid body. I cursed my loins as my sex moistened, tingling with awareness—awareness of a giant, lion-maned beast with a temper.

  Skin on par with a tomato, pinkening rather unbecomingly, I sank down a little lower. Where's a bucket of cold water when you need it, damn it?

  Grumbling low in his throat absently, Kirch leaned forward a little more, as if to get a better view, but I splashed water at him, paddling farther out.

  He just wiped the droplets off, unperturbed. “Meanie... no clothes.”

  Yes, Mina has no clothes. That’s what happens when you go swimming, remember you don’t have a suit, and decide skinny dipping is better than running around with wet clothes. And I got caught red-handed doing it, I thought, trying not to be too embarrassed by the fact that he’d caught me playing Let’s Start a Nude Beach in my favorite swimming spot, but his open gawking didn’t help matters.

  You know, it's not like they have beachwear just laying around out here, growing off trees or anything. All things considered, I’d thought this the best solution. There’s freezing your tits off, and then there’s freezing your tits off. Thank you—no, thank you.

  Other than Veck, and then Kirch that one time, no one else ever comes here—I’d thought I’d be fine. Stupid of me, really, but I hadn’t been particularly worried someone might stop on by and discover me in the buff.

  Turning my back to him, I tried to slowly float towards the vicinity of my things, hoping he didn't catch on. Who knew what kind of crap he’d pull.

  "Could I use your fur?" I asked sweetly, smiling shyly at him from over my shoulder, trying to distract the typically curmudgeonly beast.

  Kirch unglued his gaze from my ass, his thick mane of hair whipping about his face as his head snapped to attention. "Kirch's fur?"

  "Sure," I said quickly, maybe too quickly, smiling agreeably, waiting for him to take off and go get it.

  "Meanie want Kirch to warm her up?" His chest rumbled and he offered me a small, secretive smile.

  A sudden gleam came over those startling yellow orbs of his as he watched me intently, startling me with their intensity. I was beginning to feel like helpless prey under that sharp, predatory gaze.

  Tittering nervously, I swallowed hard, gulping as his smile grew. "Uhhh... you mean with your fur, right?"

  He nodded, licking his lips.

  "O-o-okay," I mumbled slowly, wondering why he seemed so pleased with my answer.

  Hopping up to brush his legs off, he started edging towards the bushes, right where I’d set my stuff.

  "The fur, Kirch, remember?" I prompted.

  He just smiled, nodded, and kept going.

  "Kirch?"

  His response, this time, was a purr, rumbling up and out of him as he crept along the bank.

  Oh, the ass! He’d known the whole time. He’d tricked me! "Kirch," I warned.

  He ignored me.

  Splashing noisily as I made a mad dash, arms and legs chopping the water to slosh it everywhere, I reached the crusty, muddy sloped edge and hopped up, nabbing my clothes before the giant, white baboon could.

  I tried to keep my belongings safe, holding them up and over my head, attempting simultaneously to both make sure they stayed dry and get my butt back into the water. Foiling all of those plans, Kirch plucked me up and spun me around, pulling me roughly against him.

  "Hey!" I shouted out indignantly, limbs flailing wildly, following it up with a squeaking squeal. "Put me down!"

  "Meanie needs Kirch to warm her up." Chest rattling hard enough to make my back tingle, he purred in my ear. Wrapping his arms around me tight when I suddenly froze, he carried me over to his furs.

  Kirch ignored the bellows and punching slaps that followed, and sat down, tugging me firmly into his lap. Running his thick fingers caressingly over my skin, he pulled my hair away from my neck.

  “Kirch!” I snarled his name.

  Growling softly against my exposed flesh, he nuzzled the sensitive skin. A heavy purr rumbled from deep within his chest, kissing its way up my spine, and I shivered. He did it again and again, until I was a shivering mess, my body tensing as I stilled.

  "Meanie warm?" he rumbled out against the smooth column of my throat, a little snarl in his voice.

  "Uh... yep. Eep. All warmed up. Thanks. You can let go now," I squeaked out with false cheer, trying to ignore the heat radiating off of the fat, lead pipe he calls a cock, which just so happened to be cuddled a little too close to my ass.

  Kirch shifted his weight then, pressing his thick erection into me as he slid forward. With his cock poking my lower back, I froze for a moment. Realizing just how big that thing was—rather sure I wanted none of it, if any at all—I tried to get up, but the brute held firm, his big, brawny arms banding around me. Sucking at the skin of my nape as his fingers teased my shoulder blade, he nipped the spot warningly.

  Some of my fight left me then, I’m ashamed to say, and I whimpered.

  Rumbling happily at my acquiescence, he sniffed at my neck and purred. Burying his face against the tender flesh, his tongue snuck out to give the spot a lick. I felt the drag of his tongue—hot, rasping, and thick—as if he was running it along my cunt.

  Biting my lip hard, I muffled a moan.

  Aghast at myself, my eyes snapped open and I tried to jump up. "Kirch! Let go!" I demanded.

  He snarled against my ear, grunting when I elbowed him in the stomach. Hissing
through gritted teeth as he glared at me from over my shoulder, practically seething as his yellow eyes lit up warningly, I could tell I’d gotten him good, but didn't relent.

  "Let go!" I bellowed, kicking out.

  Twisting, I managed to slip to my side and elbow him near his groin. A growl following his muffled howl, this time he released me.

  Rolling forward, I tumbled and turned until I was facing him, scrambling back fast as his meaty fist slammed the ground.

  Hands fisted, leaning forward on his knuckles, he glared at me as I tried to crab walk back a few feet. Stumbling to a stop, reaching out for my things, I clutched my ruined clothes to my chest, trembling slightly. Sliding my knees beneath me, I sat up and slid back, continuing to put space between us as a low growl built in his throat.

  Not paying any attention to where I was going exactly, eyes glued to Kirch’s angry face, I tripped on a particularly deep puddle, sliding into a slimy pool of mud and guck. Crying out, I gasped and flopped backwards.

  Kirch stomped towards me as I fell with a splash, sloshing muddy water everywhere. Towering over me, snapping his jaws, his upper lip curled up over his sharp teeth as his eyes flashed.

  "Oh, don't you snarl and growl at me!" I yelled, flinging a mud soaked finger at him.

  Kirch crouched low, kneeling on all fours as he advanced. "Meanie mine!" he snarled out menacingly.

  "No, I'm not!" I snapped vehemently.

  "Yes!" Bright eyes glowing like yellow fire, he hissed.

  "No!" I hissed right back.

  Snapping his jaws, he bared his teeth at me, a fierce expression on his face. Sad as mine are compared to his, I bared mine, too. Thinking to one up him, I snarled and spat, smacking a fist into the ground.

  Jerking back, the snarling beast stopped dead in his tracks. Scowling hard, his eyebrows lifted in confusion and he grunted, blinking from me to the spittle on the ground, to my muddy fist, in disbelief.

  The look on his face right now... priceless. My lips quirked.

  He caught it, grumbling low, and his expression quickly turned sour, right back to scowling.