When a Lioness Hunts (A Lion's Pride Book 8)

by Eve Langlais

  “Growr.”

  It startled him, but he understood it wasn’t for him. “A good thing I’m not planning to tell anyone about this. And not just because they wouldn’t believe me. I won’t do anything that hurts you, Melly. You have my word.”

  She’d wager that word was worth its weight in gold.

  He glanced down. “Is it weird that it feels like we were meant to be?”

  What do you know? Even humans could feel the hand of fate.

  Arriving at the house, no one thought it strange at all that her furry ass had a human following it. If anyone had dared to say a word, things might have gotten clawy, but lips were sealed, and for once, Theo kept his mouth zipped.

  Until they reached her room and she shifted. Twice in one day. It left her tired, and she flopped on the bed, naked. “I need a nap.”

  “I thought I was getting answers.”

  She peeked at him out of one eye. “I was born this way. My people have existed since the dawn of man. You won’t change into an animal, unless it’s during sex with me.” She winked.

  “Only you, right?”

  “Were you eyeballing someone else?” she snarled, suddenly awake.

  He smiled. “No. Just making sure we’re exclusive.”

  As in a couple.

  A mated couple.

  That quickly, the fatigue left her, and she crooked a finger. “Come here.”

  “Are we done talking?”

  “For now. I missed you.”

  He fell on her, his mouth hot and ravenous, his cock hard and ready.

  He rode her, and then she rode him. They spent the night making up for the two days they’d spent apart and fell asleep in a tangle of limbs on her small bed.

  The door to the attic slammed open, causing them both to jolt. Theo, on the bottom, didn’t have to worry about falling out of bed, but lying on top, she didn’t have a chance to move before someone grabbed her by the ankle and dangled her in the air.

  The joys of being the shortest in a family of tall, blonde giants.

  Her mother scowled at her. “So it’s true. You’ve taken up with a human.”

  “Mated him actually. Mother, meet Theo.”

  The head of the pride army, known as Goldie the killer, sneered. “There’s no point in learning his name given he won’t be living past breakfast.”

  Chapter Sixteen

  “You will not kill him, Mommy!” Melly shouted, still dangling from her mother’s hand.

  Theodore caught up quickly on the situation but had no idea what to do about it. There was something a little daunting about a woman who outsized a man and made no bones about her dislike of him.

  “I am head of this family. I will do what has to be done.”

  “He’s my mate!” Melly twisted and ended up on her feet, but that didn’t stop the epic row with her mother.

  About him.

  “Either you get rid of him, or I will!” Mrs. Goldeneyes declared.

  “Theo’s not going anywhere. I claimed him. Did you hear me? Claimed. Him. He’s mine.”

  In other circumstances he would have argued the fact that no own actually owned him, but this seemed a good situation to try keeping quiet.

  “He’s human.” Again, with that disparaging note.

  “I don’t care.” A vehement reply that warmed him and not just the parts blushing because he was naked under the sheets.

  He rolled out of the bed and wrapped the sheet sarong style. The fight continued.

  “How do I know you’re not simply claiming him to embarrass me?”

  “If I want to embarrass you, I will.”

  “If he’s yours, prove it.”

  “I know you can smell my mark.”

  “Anyone can bite a human. I want proof it is fate.”

  “Seriously? Whatever. Let’s have at it. What will make you happy?”

  Mrs. Goldeneyes tapped her lip as if in thought and her gaze turned cold and calculating. “Make sure the pride wins the football match today.”

  For some reason this brought laughter bubbling to Melly’s lips. “Is that all? Piece of cake. We win every year.”

  “So you agree?” Mrs. Goldeneyes seemed pleased with the reply.

  “I agree. I win and you leave me and Theo alone.”

  “Deal. But if you lose…” No need to finish that ominous sentence.

  “Pride won’t just win. We’ll do it by at least two touchdowns,” Melly boldly declared before Theodore could jump in.

  He had a feeling she’d walked into a trap, and the smirk on Mrs. Goldeneyes’ face confirmed it a moment later.

  “Excellent. I’ll be watching from the stands. Oh, and by the way, I guess now would be a good time to mention your star quarterback is throwing up in the main floor bathroom. Something about a batch of bad moonshine.”

  Melly’s smile faded. “Patricia is out? That’s fine. We still have Lily.”

  “Actually, she’s not going to make it. Her audition for that television spot is today. Don’t worry, you still have Robin.”

  At Melly’s groan he could only discern that as a bad thing.

  “Is Robin not any good as a QB?” he queried.

  “Oh, she’s fine. Problem is we always lose at least one QB a game. We tend to play rough,” she explained.

  He got to see how rough within two hours of the massive breakfast being served. He’d never seen such a mound of pancakes—per plate. When he ate only two of the eight stack and declared himself full, forks came stabbing for the rest. As for the last piece of bacon he couldn’t manage, there was definite jealousy in more than one gaze as he fed it to Melly.

  There was much good-natured jibing and more than one pointed stare his way, but other than an initial comment—“Ah look, the pride got themselves a dorky mascot”—everyone steered clear of him.

  It was only as Melly left to get ready for the match he got worried. Mostly because her mother pounced him, literally, dropping from a porch roof, grabbing his arm, and declaring, “You will sit with me. That way if the pride loses, I won’t have to waste time hunting you down.”

  There was no way to call for help, and even if he could, what would he say? Hi, can you come rescue me from shapeshifters that are planning to kill me if the lions lose to the bears? No one would ever believe him. The NFL versions of those teams weren’t even playing this weekend!

  The field of play was surrounded by a motley collection of odd people and seating. Lawn chairs, cushions, blankets, even a few picnic tables carted over by golden-haired people. So much golden hair all around. Melly’s dark hair stood out in many respects. Odd how her lioness didn’t match the hue.

  Odder still how he was already accepting this facet of her. He kind of looked forward to learning more because obviously shapeshifters had existed for some time and managed to coexist with humanity.

  “You look serious, human. Are you contemplating your imminent fate?”

  “Actually, I was wondering how it is everyone knows about werewolves but not the rest of you.”

  Mrs. Goldeneyes lip curled. “Because they’re hot-headed idiots. The wolves that belong to packs tend to be kept in line by their alphas, but they’ve had more than their fair share of lone wolves who just can’t help themselves scaring townsfolk and carrying off woman on a lark.”

  “And when people”—he couldn’t bring himself to say humans—“find out, you kill them?”

  “Not all of them. Some are ridiculed to the point they question what they think they saw. Others are drugged to make them forget. Then there are the ones that become one of us.”

  His eyes widened as he said, “I thought Melly said you were born this way!”

  Her laughter rang out loud and sharp. “Of course, we’re born. When I say become a part of, I meant merely that they’re mated into the pride, sleuth, pack, or whatever group they’ve become aware of.”

  “How does that make them keep quiet?”

  A golden gaze fixed him. “Because if the human betrays his
or her mate, the death is a prolonged and painful one. It acts as a deterrent in most cases, and when it doesn’t, a video serves as a reminder to those who might have loose lips.”

  It wasn’t manly to gulp, and yet he did feel a bit of a tremor. His ordered world had been turned upside down. Hard to be brave when sitting alongside someone so blasé about your death.

  The match started with a literal roar. Bears against lions, with the bear team a mixed blend of male and female, but on the lion’s side… “It’s all girls.”

  “Did he just call the Baddest Biatches girls?” someone shout-whispered behind him.

  “Only the best play for the team,” Mrs. Goldeneyes announced with pride. “I was a line blocker in my prime. Melly, being more petite on account of my husband’s side, is fast, hence her position as running back.”

  There were no helmets, no padding, not even any cleats, only bare feet, tiny gym shorts and tank tops. The lions wore gold and black, the bears red and white.

  What followed was the most violent game of rugby ever, because this wasn’t the football he grew up with. There were no referees or flag on plays. Just a boisterous gamesmanship that had him on the edge of his seat.

  The sheer raw strength and power was astonishing, but even more enthralling and heart stopping was watching Melly play. She seemed smaller than many out there, but she was fast, plucking the ball midair and sprinting like the wind. When she scored, he wasn’t the only one stomping his feet and whistling.

  By the end of the first quarter, they were ahead by two touchdowns and on fire. Toward the end of the second quarter, with the lions only up by a touchdown, their quarterback was taken out. The blow from the sizeable player lifted Robin straight off her feet. She might have recovered if she’d let go of the ball, but she didn’t, and so the bears piled on. A groaning Robin had to be carried off the field.

  He gaped. but Mrs. Goldeneyes snorted. “She’s fine but a pussy. In my day, it took broken bones before we gave up.”

  A time-out was called and much hand waving by the huddled team.

  “Do they have another QB?” he asked.

  “Nope.” Mrs. Goldeneyes popped the P with too much pleasure.

  As the third quarter started, two people tried to play the position and not only got sacked, they were picked off. Suddenly the bears were up by a touchdown and a field goal. The dire situation wasn’t helped by Mrs. Goldeneyes asking someone to fetch her a plastic tarp for the blood.

  “I need to talk to Melly,” he muttered, rising from his spot beside mama lion.

  “Best say your goodbyes now. I’ll want to finish you quick so I don’t miss the start of dinner,” she said with a cheery wave and a smile.

  He shoved his hands into his pockets as he headed down to the lion bench where Melly was pacing and freaking.

  “Surely one of you biatches can throw a ball downfield.”

  Judging by the shaking heads, none of them were willing. Melly spotted him, and her face illuminated for a moment, the happiness at the sight of him not feigned. Real. Warm. And about to be cut short.

  She pulled him aside. “Listen, if things don’t turn around, meet me by the edge of the woods and we’ll make a run for it.”

  “Do you really think your mother will let me escape?” He arched a brow.

  She blew out a noisy sigh. “No. But I can’t just let her claw your throat open either.”

  “Surely someone will stop her.”

  Melly glanced over her shoulder where her mother held court. “Don’t count on it. The only person that might be able to is Arik.”

  “Your lion king? Can’t we ask him for sanctuary or something?”

  “We could,” she said slowly.

  “But?”

  “He kind of wants you dead, too.”

  “I thought he was married to a human.”

  “He is, and they’re very much in love.”

  Implying he and Melly weren’t. “Who says we’re not?

  “Do you love me?” she asked softly.

  “I don’t know.” He had to be honest. “But I want to find out, which means we have to win this game.” He glanced at the field. “What’s it take to become a part of the team?”

  “You have someone in mind?”

  He’d regret this probably. Might even die. “You’re looking at an ex-college football star.”

  She blinked. “You?”

  “Yes, me. I still have the record at my school for most completed passes, I’ll have you know.”

  “You know how to play against your kind. We’re talking about lions and bears here.”

  “I am very much aware.”

  “They could pulverize you on that field.”

  “Yes. But if I’m going to die, I’d rather it be fighting.”

  Melly’s lower lip was sucked in as she pondered his offer. The rest of the team had no qualms.

  “Let the boy play! We’ll keep him safe,” Joan announced.

  “Well?” he asked.

  “Let’s go kick some bear ass.”

  Chapter Seventeen

  It was crazy and awesome all at once. She and Theo might have been thrust together and accidentally mated, yet there was something right about him stepping up, wanting to fight for their future together.

  Of course, her mother didn’t see it that way. She was the first one to call out a wager against him. “All-paid vacation to Tahiti to the first person who takes out the human quarterback.”

  To Melly’s surprise, Auntie was the one to offer a counter. “I’m going to wager my Colorado chalet against your Bahamas condo that not only will the lions win this game but that we do it by at least two touchdowns.”

  With the stakes so high, a flurry of betting began, which Theo appeared to ignore. Once he’d offered to join the team, he’d only had a half-second to voice a protest as hands tore his shirt from him—which almost resulted in some biatches getting their faces torn off. Then his pants were ripped away—which did get the ass-pinching Natalya tossed into the sidelines—leaving him clad in boxers. One of the players with thicker thighs loaned him her spare pair of shorts. The tank top fit him nicely, and more than one of the biatches eyed his upper body with admiration. Enough Melly had to snarl at them to back off.

  Mine.

  All mine.

  But in order to keep him, they had to win this game.

  It took a few plays before he lost some of his stiffness. It had to be daunting knowing he was the only fragile human amidst bloodthirsty shifters, yet he kept his cool, pulling a first down on their third play, surprising everyone by darting into an opening and running eleven yards. Smart man knew to throw himself to the ground before he could get tackled.

  A few downs later, he threw a pass, a beautiful long one that got batted down. But knowing what he was capable of, Melly ensured she put herself into the right spot and caught the next one. She got tackled right away, but it didn’t matter. They’d gained thirty yards. After that, all she had to do was catch his eye a moment before the snap. Depending on the tilt of his head, she chose a direction to sprint.

  Run. Run. Leap. Grab. Her lioness told her what to do, and she listened, hands reaching up blindly and gripping the ball when it would have passed through them.

  She hit the ground with a grin and ran for a touchdown. By the middle of the last quarter, they were only down by three points. They stuffed the bears quick when it was their turn then marched themselves to a field goal.

  The game was tied.

  She really hoped mother was sweating. She couldn’t help sending a smirk at her, to which her mother replied with an arched brow and a mouthed, “It’s not over yet.”

  It was as if their exchange tweaked fate’s tail. The next play she could only watch in horror as Percy barreled through the biatches, aiming for Theo, who threw the ball at the bear’s head. It bounced just as those ham-sized fists swung.

  Theo ducked but lost his glasses in the process.

  Crunch. Percy ground his foot onto them a
s he offered a non-apologetic, “Oops.”

  If anything, it only firmed Theo’s resolve. On their next huddle, he eyed them all, serious as he said, “Melly and Joan, run long. Natalya and Bethany, I want you both to weave.”

  “What about me?” asked Meena.

  “How do you feel about making a grown man cry?”

  As it turned out, Meena felt quite good about it, which led to a sobbing Percy being led from the field, holding his brutalized nut sac. More than one male in the crowd winced in sympathy. But it served as a warning—touch Theo and pay the price.

  Melly cast a peek over at her mother and aunt. Perhaps it was a trick of the light, but she could have sworn her mother’s lips held the hint of a smile. Surely not. She’d made it clear she wanted Theo gone. Melly couldn’t worry about her mother’s thoughts. The game still needed to be won.

  As with all games of import, it came down to the last play. Ten seconds left on the clock. They were still tied and had marched that ball to within fifteen yards of the goal line. They could have kicked for a field goal, but Theo shook his head.

  “We need to make this a decisive win.”

  “We just need to win,” Melly grumbled.

  He eyed her. “We do this my way.”

  The biatches oohed at his commanding tone, which caused him to blush.

  Melly nodded. “Fine.”

  Everyone took their spot. The ball snapped, and Theo backed up, looking for a clear pass. Only Melly was covered, as was everyone else in the end zone.

  So what did her stupid geek do? Ran into the end zone, scored a touchdown, then converted it into two points.

  The lions went wild until Percy, having recovered, bellowed, “Don’t get so excited. There’s still three seconds left on the clock.”

  Seriously?

  They could have grounded the ball to run out the clock, but honor said they had to give the bears their last miserable chance. She saw her aunt whisper something to Theo, who then had a chat with their kicker. She should have expected what came next. An onside kick. And her dumbass mate was the one to get his hands on it.

  He ran down the field, the bears taking a moment to regroup and converge. As they neared, Theo jumped and soared and, as he was midair, caught her eye and winked.